Home Sweet Home

I don't even know where to begin!  It was a trip of a lifetime and we are all so proud of our kids.  Not only were we very pleased with their performance, but we were thrilled with their behavior in New York City.  Glad to report that many of our students are home with a few still to return later this afternoon.  I missed my family so much but then realized I was surrounded by my second family at our Thanksgiving meal so it helped!  I will have pictures later and will share little at a time.  Saw Jessica Simpson, Jimmy Fallon and Sandra Lee at the Parade and Pink in Times Square.  It is great to be home with my daughter and my dog!  Also enjoyed watching MU beat KU!  :)  I have 2 very SWOLLEN feet, a bad knee and a VERY sore throat.  I think it is going around but at least it didn't hit until the travel day home.  I am feeling a little overwhelmed knowing how far behind I am in my class work...I just wish I felt better.  Thanks for all the well wishes I received already and the compliments.  Apparently I had a close up of me on the CBS coverage.  I don't think I have ever made it on National television before! 

And the journey begins...

Well...I have finished for the week and I am going up to finish packing.  My suitcase is probably half way to New York right now on the semi.  That is going to make tomorrow much easier at the airport.  I am meeting my flight at school at 2:10 a.m.  No much sleep tonight!  I know the students are very excited and the staff very stressed but we will survive.  The weather does NOT look too promising this week so if you all could help me out send some nice sunny days!  Looks like rain every day even on our parade.  Don't worry I personally packed 300 raincoats on the semi!  Please do watch on Thanksgiving on NBC at 10:08...we are supposed to be on air.  The name of our band is the Golden Regiment from Blue Springs Missouri.  I am not taking my laptop but hope that the hotel will have one in the lobby.  I will try to post or tweet when I can!  If not I will be taking lots of pictures and post when I return home...even if it rains!  Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the holidays!

In great anticipation...

Well...the last of the preparations are in progress.  I finished putting all the uniforms back together with a crew of parents!  It is always nice to end up without extra items!  Now I have to load them on the semi with all the hats.  Hopefully that will happen tomorrow.  I believe all the lists are final...flight, bus, and room lists and are ready to copy for the director's packets.  I am in hopes of packing a suitcase for the semi tomorrow night in order to save money on the airline.  With Sunday only a few days away I find myself in great anticipation.  I don't plan on taking my laptop but I am in hopes that the hotel will have a computer available.  You probably won't see any homework happening but I am going to try to keep my blog rolling with trip updates...but don't hold your breath!  Again please watch Thursday morning for the Blue Springs Golden Regiment marching band.  I am on the very last row so you won't see me buy please just keep your fingers crossed that my ankles will make it through the parade!  :)  

Technology...a brand new day!

A new day!!!  Take three...four...five...and six!  This is amazing what a good nights rest will do!  I worked all day with my podcast and was so excited about using it this Monday in class.  I confidently tried to add to Ning and my blog and became VERY frustrated.  The only thing I can figure out is internet problems???  Because now I am able to add to both by doing the EXACT same thing.  I feel like I am going crazy!  Oh well...I worked on Macy's last night anyway!  I had to take orders for 302 travelers at 4 different restaurants.  Then I had to email the numbers by the bus list!  Oh so much fun!!!  After working on all the food order I even skipped dinner...don't worry I will be fine!  :)  Plenty to do so thanks for listening to me vent! 

Rough Day!

Just wanted to share that one of my co-workers was diagnosed last night with breast cancer.  It was a real shock!  She is actually on staff with our band traveling to New York and she has a senior in the band.  We are in hopes that she will be able to still make the trip... she finds out tomorrow.  I just lost my best friend and co-worker in July.  She had been battling colon cancer for 10 years.  I actually had surgery in September to remove a lump but I was one of the fortunate ones.  It feels like I have been in a dream for the last day...maybe denial.  Make sure you hug your family tonight!  Sorry to be a downer tonight but would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  (And thanks for listening!)

We have our big trip meeting Thursday night.  I think I am close to having all my lists ready to go.  I know I have killed a lot of trees in the process.  There is so much paper work involved!  Rehearsal went great today...the weather was FANTASTIC.  I didn't even wear a coat.  I do not remember a marching season with such beautiful weather.  Hope you all have a great week! 

School - what they don't teach you!

Thanks Janine for your kinds words.  We just finished our big showcase concert today and it is always such an emotional one for parents and seniors but most of all the staff!  What an amazing adventure we have with our students.  We get to watch them come in as frightened 9th graders and mature to nice...not all the time...young ladies and gentlemen.  Most teachers don't have this same luxury and I feel very fortunate.  Now without my own children in the program I have just adopted all the other students!  It was a great day for ending our competition season. 

But back to what Janine brought up...they don't teach you in education every thing you need to know.  After I finish my Masters in Technology, I plan on applying to nursing school, getting a psychology degree, after this year banking, and because this year we are without a custodian in our part of the building I plan on becoming a mover and cleaner!  I applaud all educators for all their "extra" that we do just to make it through the year!  For all those complaining parents I invite them to follow all of you for a week!  Have a great week and thanks for listening!  :)

Trip Meeting

We have scheduled our big trip meeting for next Thursday.  I have to have everything done and copied by then and I am still working on the bus lists!  I did get a peek at the itinerary and it looks like it is going to be a fantastic trip!  I am getting so excited now.  I can't believe we leave in a couple of weeks!  Looks like there will be some free time to shop in New York too!  My only regret...my kids won't be with me.  This is the first band trip without them.  With both kids in school and both working they just didn't think they could make the trip.  Of course...I don't get to spend a lot of quality time with them.  I did notice that we would be kept VERY busy which means I will probably average 3 to 4 hours of sleep a night.  We are going to see Wicked which I have never seen.  I just hope I can stay awake!  Last time I saw the Lion King and I kept nodding off.  It was embarrassing!  What I saw of the musical was fantastic.  I better get back to work!  Lots of paper work and checks to complete!  P.S.  I also have to take 4 different meal orders for all 302 travelers!  When I went into education I had NO idea this was going to be part of the job!

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!  After a long four frustrating days (still denied from my first blog), I decided to start a new and fresh blog!  After careful consideration and contemplation I decided to write about something that right now has taken over my life...marching band!  Last Saturday we just completed our busy and very successful competition season for the year.  It was WONDERFUL weather and the students were right on!  We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to always improve.  Because our football team is doing so well...we have the pleasure of performing tomorrow night one more time (maybe more???).  We also have been practicing for two days for our indoor concert which takes place this Sunday!  It is more of a "thank you" to all of our supporters.  I also look forward to hearing Janine's daughter play before our portion of the concert!

But what is weighing heavy on my mind is the upcoming trip with 300 travelers to New York City where we will be performing in the Macy's Day Parade!  This will actually be my second march through the streets of New York.  It is one of my FAVORITE parades.  I still remember the feeling of marching down the streets...in the freezing cold...but not noticing because of all the bodies crammed in the city.  There were millions...it seemed like it...of onlookers crowded in the streets and in the buildings along the way.  But the best part...taking stage on the "star" in front of Macy's.  It is such a magical time and I am looking forward to that feeling again.  Last time I actually had my daughter in the parade but this time I am going solo...a little sad about that! 

However...there are still a million things that have to take place before we load that plane on the 20th!  That is what I am so stressed about.  In fact the travel agent is waiting for my bus list right now so I better get back to work.  I look forward to sharing more about my trip and when I come back...I will be more than happy to share some of my pictures.  Just keep your fingers crossed for good weather!  Looking forward to sharing more with you later.