Profilo di Lisa E~*My DeSk DrAwEr*~FotoBlogElenchiAltro  |  Strumenti Guida |
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~*My DeSk DrAwEr*~OrGaNiZeD cHaOs 21 novembre Still here........OH my goodness, has it really been three months since I have blogged? I really didn't feel like anyone really read my words so I didn't worry about it too much. Sometimes; however, blogging feels like therapy....just a lot cheaper!!
 Right now Melody is at work. Justin is at a 17th birthday party for a friend, and Ed just left for work, too. So, I am alone. Solitude. That is okay.
Melody has officially been accepted to Ball State's freshman class for the 2009 fall semester. She will also be a part of the Honors College, as well. Today I sent in the acceptance form along with the $100 registration fee. Meli is on her way to college! Another positive is that she was also given a Presidential Scholarship by the university which amounts to 1/2 tuition for four years due to her strong academic standing in high school.
 What a blessing that will be. Now she just needs to get through her senior year and all is well. Her senior year has kept her busy. She recently was selected to participate in the Senator Evan Bayh Leadership Summit in Indianapolis. She has also been selected as our school's D.A.R. Good Citizen.
 Justin, too, has been doing very well. He was selected to participate in the All-District Honor Band and last weekend was the rehearsal with musicians from 22 different schools. The concert was last Sunday and was spectacular. He is now practicing auditions for Interlochen as well as the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble contest this coming January. He is also a member of the Science Olympiad Team, Student Council, and Spanish Club. He takes weekly private saxophone lessons at Purdue University, as well, to improve his skills necessary for the collegiate level. He now plays piano, drums (quads and snare) and alto sax.
 This is a milestone year for both kids.  Melody turned 18 on election day and voted in her first general election. Justin will turn 16 in two weeks. That officially makes him eligible to date according to our family rules. He can get his license in January.  31 agosto Senior/Sophomore 2008We have completed three weeks of school . It is hard for me to comprehend that this is the LAST school year with both of my children at home together. That is a tough pill to swallow. I have a senior and a sophomore. Each of those milestones has its own specialties, but that SENIOR status is one that is life-alterning. Along with the grade level distinctions come age distinctions : Melody turns 18 on November 4th..........election day. She already voted in the primary so she is an "experienced" voter. Justin turns 16 on December 5th. That is the ever important year in our family because one is granted parent permission to date.
I am feeling so old. I turn 52 on Sept. 8. I had a rough time when I turned 50, but 52 just add fuel to the fire. Fifty-two!!! In my head I don't feel that age, but my body is starting to rebel a big. I have creases that didn't used to belong. I have things that hang that didn't use to hang. Can one grow extra skin, because I sure have some! I'm finding that support hose no longer "look yucky"!! I can't image my legs without them. I'm finding that I am needing braces again; I thought that when they were removed in 1974 that I would have chiclets forever! I use a mouthgaurd at night to avoid whittling my teeth down more than they already are. I'm told it's stress.
I was given my 30-year service award the first day of school at our opening corporation meeting. You know what, I am the "old lady" of the staff now. The teachers are all looking so doggone young. I COULD legally retire if I wanted because I have the service credits , but let's be realistic....we have a mortgage and two children to put through college. My estimated date of retirement is 2015! I have taught special education for thirty years; I have outlived the lifespan of a special educator numerous times. When I get up in the morning to prepare my day I wonder just how much longer I can do this and be effective. I often think I care more than the families serve and it exhausts me.
May 31, 2009. Commencement. It is far away, yet oh, so very 20 giugno Another Road TripSunday leads us to venture into the Malibu Maxx for another road trip only this time to take Melody to Indiana State University in Terre Haute for Hoosier Girls State. She will spend a week living in the dorms of ISU learning about responsibilties of citizenship and state government in action. She was selected in March by the faculty of her high school as one of two delegates to attend. There will be over 700 young women from all over the state attending this program. This was quite an honor. So, we've been getting her all the things she needs for her week. Once she returns she will be attending the American Legion Auxiliary meeting to give a presenation of her experience at Hoosier Girls State.
Once Meli returns then we go right into a week of Vacation Bibile School. Then on June 6 both kids leave for a week of Senior High Institute (aka church camp!). This is usually the highlight of their summer but with Justin's music camp at IU and HGS at ISU for Meli I think they will be making lots of memories this summer.
Meli is still working two jobs this summer which hasn't given her much "down time". She works at the public library and has been helping with the children's summer reading program. She also works on Friday night's at her uncle's restaurant as hostess.
Meli is struggling with the changes that will begin to be noticeable in the next month. Her best friends have just graduated from high school. She was an usher for graduation and I could see it in her face that it was absolutley painful for her to see her friends walk out of that gym no longer as students. Things are changed forever and it has broken her heart. She does have friends her own age but they do not have the close bond that she had with this graduating class. Her own age-group aren't the ones who call her up to go shopping, or come over to the house to watch movies, or just "hang out". She's sort of in social limbo and it is really scaring her for when school starts in August.
Wow, Meli is now a senior....and Justin is a sophomore. Where has the time gone? Meli is my adorable redhead who wants to please. Justin, my musician, is now taller than I am. I have a REAL problem with that one! HA.
Anyone have any advise for a mom who will have her last year with both kids at home. Admittedly, I'm a bit nervous, too!
Oh, and Justin passed Drivers Ed with an A. Now her has to wait until January to test for that all-important license.
Two teenage drivers.....I need another job just to pay for the insurance!
To my blogging pals....keep in touch. I miss you. 09 giugno Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!!This is absolutely unbelievable. The thunderstorms.The tornadoes. The unrelentless wind. The rain. The floods. Indiana seems like one of those nature disaster flicks only this is REAL. So far we (in my county) have escaped an actual tornado touchdown but we've have numerous sightings thus warnings. We are still under a flood warning but my property has been spared. From Indianapolis and south they have not been as fortunate as we have. Even our floods of New Year's day don't even compare to S. Indiana and they were monumental. Our school year was extended because of them.
We were fortunate to get Justin to Bloomington (Indiana University) yesterday so he could attend the IU Summer Music Clinic. With the flooding it was doubtful we'd be able to get him there. Most areas south of Indy were shut off from the N. part of the state. I finally was able to get alternate routes to get there but it extended the length of the trip since they were not major roads. Our goal was to get him there and we succeeded. I didn't get much sleep the night before because I had all this road planning to do and made many calls to the state police to check on roads as well as the internet. I was amazed at the gravity of the situation. I considered not taking Justin but that was out of the question. As long as there was ONE road open I would try. He has looked forward to this musical training since January. He has called a couple of times thrilled to be there but humbled at the same time. He is a talented musician but compared to others attending he is mediocre. That is a tough pill to swallow. But he is being trained by woodwind and sax specialists so he is in the best place. He already has been taught he is not holding his mouth in the correct position on his mouthpiece. WHAT? He has been playing the sax for 5 years and no one has ever told him that and he attends this clinic and they find out in the first session today! Wow. He was a bit disappointed that he didn't quality for the "first band" (more experienced musicians)but is a member of the "second band" ; he is only a soon-to-be sophomore so he is still young with lots to learn. Who knows, if he wants to go back next year maybe he'll have more skills honed and can make that first band.
Back to the floods. We drove right through the areas hardest hit. Fortunately the roads that we were able to travel were elevated high enough that they were still safe. I sure hope when we return on Saturday to pick him up that there will be no closures. Our goal is now to get hiim home! It is still raining in Southern and western Indiana and as long as the clouds open up the areas are still under flood warnings. Many people have lost everything they own. NO MORE RAIN. 25 maggio ModelMel has a new job...that of sales representative for a local photography studio known as Portraits by Doren. She recently had a photo shoot as a model for the soon-to-be senior class of 2009. She had 79 shots taken and we selected the 25 that best captured Meli and her personality. It was really difficult because there were so many we liked. She will soon hand out business cards for the studio that will discount future clients ' orders IF they redeem her business card when scheduling the appointment or at the photo session.
Any class of 2009 member can see Meli for her card. If she doesn't get to you first... just ask!!
The largest discounts will be in effect in June and lesser discounts after that.
Go to the website to see Meli's portfolio as well as photos of members of the senior class of 2008. Many of these are friends of Meli as well!! Anyone from surrounding schools can get discounts if they have Meli's business card. Just contact us and we'll get one in your hands for some good savings for a top-notch studio. There is no need to travel to larger cities to get quality and price. We have it right here and there are no gimmicks to draw in a client only to find out there is lots of fine print. That won't happen at "Doren's". That's a promise! Think of all the gas $$ saved that can be used towards portraits that will provide memories for a lifetime and at a value unmatched by other studios in the area....and we've checked them out before we settled with Doren and his artistry. No carbon copy /cookie cutter pictures at "Doren's"!
Studio website is : www.portraitsbydoren.com. Just look for Melody's link and peruse the other seniors pictures as well. If you have any questions , feel free to contact Doren or Meli. But remember that to get your discount the client MUST redeem Meli's business card and there is a limited supply. Hurry and don't delay; you won't be disappointed. I was at the entire photo shoot as I watched Doren work his magic, and it was a wonderful experience.
10 maggio Prom 2008Well, the kids are now Prom-ing. The dates and parents all met at Jill's house for pre-Prom pictures as they awaited the limo which would deliver them to Prom at the Shively Club on the campus of Purdue University. Before arriving they were stopping for dinner at Spurlocks in Lafayette. The guys and girls were so excited that I don't know how they would be able to eat!! After Prom the girls were having a sleep-over at Jill's where I'm sure no sleeping will occur! They will all sleep through Mother's Day I am sure.
And now for the pictures of the handsome gents and the beautiful ladies... 20 marzo Spring......almost One more day......1/2 day at that and it is then officially Spring Break. One whole week of NO school. I am more anxious that the kids!!We had to work until 8:00 pm tonight. In addition I had to give a presentation to my peers regarding differential instruction and I was scared to death. Afterwards I got a nod of approval from the principal so that was a good thing!!
Meli has been notified that she will be inducted as a member of the National Honor Society. She has waited for this day for a long time. She has worked hard and has earned this membership. We are very proud of her. Justin will be playing his state gold medal sax solo at the program, that is, unless things have changed. This would be the first time I have heard it with accompaniment.
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE is now just memories. But , oh the memories that were made. If anyone is interested in seeing candid shots of the closing performance as well as video clips of some of the scenes long onto www.newton.k12.in.us and click on the Thoroughly Modern Millie Link. Meli is the redhead with curls. She is also wearing a print dress with pink hat in the one video clip and is wearing the blue dress is another. You can easily pick her out in the still shots.....print dress, red dress, blue dress. What do you thinK? Me, I'm in the black dress holding the looooong cigarette holder and wearing that fashionable white beaded beanie hat. It was so cool!
15 marzo Opening NightAmazing. That is the only word I can use to describe how it feels when that curtain rises and there is only the pit orchestra separating those on stage from the audience. Thursday's opening of Thoroughly Modern Milie was just that. Amazing!
It wasn't perfect but some of the best performances were given that night. One exception was my own. I flubbed a line and the actors had to improvise as did I to get that scene back on track. We did it very well but I felt like such a doofus that I hid in the wings for a good scene and a half before I could show my sorry face. I was embarassed and felt like I had let those with me down. It WON'T happen tonight!
Melody gave a fabulous performance. I have never been so proud as I was of her that evening. I'm always proud of my daughter but this was a feeling like I've never had before. I was proud of her because she put her heart and soul into a character she was given.....not one she wanted....and played "Dorothy" to perfection. She just didn't play Dorothy, she BECAME Dorothy. I arrived home before Meli did after the performance and my husband's response was "Wow, you didn't tell me could "really" sing. She can act too!" My reply, "Don't you EVER listen to me!"
 At curtain call she earned every clap and vocal "yay" she received.I really miss seeing Justin on stage but he wanted to try the pit orchestra with his sax since he plans to be a music major. I could hear that sax during the overture and during the show and it brought a contented feeling. He was down there not only helping himself perfect his sax skills but he was there helping us, too! That was comforting. He did share at dinner last night that he did have a twinge of regret for not doing the show. "Maybe next year" was the comment. I REALLY hope so.
Meli was very fortunate in that her role was not double cast. She performs for all three shows!! So, tonight is curtain #2 and she acts with a different Millie and Jimmie. Make up at 4:00....and the curtain rises at 7:30.Tomorrow is the closing show and then set strike....always emotional.
Break a leg!!!
09 marzo "Curtain" is almost here..........Rattled nerves......missed notes......dropped lines.....missed cues......these are all a part of the rehearsal process and are to be expected. Hopefully these situations will diminish by Thursday......opening night of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE.
Tomorrow through Wednesday is dress rehearsal. That means looooonnnnnng evenings after a full day of school. Homework doesn't end just because "The show must go on"....school stuff will be finished between scenes or upon return home. No one is looking forward to this part of the theatre experience!!! Meli and I will be on stage (Meli: Miss Dorothy Brown and Lisa is playing a minor role ofDaphne). Justin will be playing saxophone in the pit.
Tuesday I am preparing dinner for the cast/crew/pit since no one will really have time to go home after school due to make-up application and costume fine-tuning. This evening I began making two roasters full of mostaccioli. I need enough to feed 50.Ten cans of pasta sauce, three cans of diced tomatoes, one large onion, eight boxes of pasta, and ten pounds of hamburger, and enough mozzarella cheese to top off each roaster. I hope I have enough. Denise will add the french bread/garlic bread and I will whip up a cake and there will be real food for all......no fast food!!! We have lived on that for the past two months! Ewwww. I cannot look at another burger.
I have not blogged for awhile. We have had some real joys in our household recently. First of all, Justin's sax solo at district contest earned him a gold placing in division one (difficulty of music)and this gave him the opportunity to compete at the state solo and ensemble contest in Indianapolis. He proudly earned a GOLD medal for the state performance. Way to go, Justin!! He also was selected as a member of the school's math team in the Algebra II division. (Meli was a member of the same division last year.) Meli was recently selected by the faculty of her/our school as a Hoosier Girls State Delegate. This is a big honor and she was thrilled. She also found out that two of her short stories made is through the first round of the Project XL competion. That was a first for her. She is currently in her room finializing her National Honor Society information sheet as this is required for the selection process. She's on pins and needles hoping she'll be accepted. Wednesday she will be performing in town at a senior citizens luncheon. She and Kasey will sing their duet from "Millie". And now for another announcement: Meli is going to prom!!!! She mustered up enough courage to ask a young man from the play and he said "Yes".! I have never seen her so excited. We went dress shopping on Saturday and actually found a dress she fell in love with. She and her date will also be in a group riding to prom in a limo!! Everything seems to be falling into place for her.
Goodness, I think Lisa needs another job to pay for all this!!!!
This summer will surely be busy for the kids with Meli at Girls State and Justin attending the Music Clinic at Indiana University. 26 gennaio Thoroughly Modern Millie
............For the next three months Melody will now be known as Miss Dorothy Brown in our school's production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" It is a great part even though she has a strong affinity for the Millie character. From what I know about them both...I see both Millie and Dorothy in her. This will be a fun show for the kids. Justin opted out this year must to MY disappointment. He has decided to put the acting on the back burner and concentrate on his musical skills. So, he has decided to play in the "pit" for this show to hone his saxophone skills. He's a great actor but a talented instrumental musician. Since he plan to major in music in colllege, maybe he made a wise choice. How I loved watching him on stage! This year I will just have to concentrate on watching my baby girl perform (which is oodle of fun) while listening to my son. So, the countdown to the performances of "Millie" begins...... 05 gennaio Spring-likeIt is warming up outside. There is suppose to be a 50 degree temperature difference by tomorrow. It is already 38 degrees which is a heat wave comparing to the last couple of days where is has been below zero or in the single digits. The weather report is calling for thunderstorms by Monday. In January? Only in Indiana.
Right now the snow is melting and it is VERY windy. With the wet snow it shouldn't blow across the roads to cause drifting. I am a basket case when Melody drives in snowy/icy/drifting conditions. I know she has her license but she is still a novice driver experience wise. That license doesn't make one experienced. It just makes one legal. I drove her to work on the icky bad days because it made me more confortable and her as well. She isn't ashamed to be driven by hom mom.
Back to school for me on Monday; the kids go back on Tuesday. Ah, tranquility and fantasy end. 03 gennaio Baby It's Cold OutsideI have been enjoying reading this holiday break. I got John Grisham's book "Playing for Pizza" finished. Admittedly, it was not my favorite. It sort of ranked up there with "Bleachers"....and I didn't like that one at all. Maybe the fact that I am NOT a fan of football americano had something to do with it. I am currently reading "Amish Grace" about the ability of the Amish to extend forgiveness after their tragic loss at the Nickel Mines School in Oct. 2006. It is heartwrenching yet thought provoking.
I had hoped to see a movie or two this holiday break but the weather sort of put a damper on that plan. I really didn't see anything that I said "I have to see this". The last movie I saw was "Hairspray" with Meli. That was splentabulous. She is the owner of a copy of that movie. Her goal is now to see it on stage. We would also like to see "Wicked" again. We hear it is traveling so we are keeping our ears and eyes open. We missed seeing "Hairpray" on stage due to other committments the night of the performance at Purdue. That was a disappointment, but hey......there will be other shows.
Back to school for me on Monday and the kids return on Tuesday. It seems to take forever to get to spring break once school begins again in January. We already have two make up days due to snow/ice so we hope the winter begins to calm and allows us to have a normal schedule. Hey, two hour delays are just fine.....so are early dismissals....we just need to be at school for 1/2 day at least for it to count.
Right now I hear the wind howling which means the snow must be drifting again. More digging out tomorrow.
Time to read..........
Later. 24 dicembre Merry Christmas Merry Christmas 2007 Wishing all my friends the peace of the season and infinite blessings for the new year. 25 ottobre Yep, this is how we talk in Northwest Indiana!!!!! (This is too funny!)CHICAGO SLANG 1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for 'garage key' as in, 'Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach?' 2. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun. 3. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in 'Da Bears' or 'Da Mare' -- the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called. 4. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. 'I'm goin' to the Jewels to pick up some sassage.' 5. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called ' Carson 's.' 6. Tree: The number between two and four. 'We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night.' 7. Over by dere: Translates to 'over by there,' a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, 'I got the sassage at the Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere.' 8. Kaminski Park : The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was renamed U.S. Cellular Field (da Cell) 9. Frunchroom: As in, 'Get outta da frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes.' It's not the 'parlor.' It's not the 'living room.' In the land of the bungalow, it's the 'frunchroom,' a named derived, linguists believe, from 'front room.' 10. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun 'you!' 'Where use goin'?' 11. Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo) and north of Soldier Field. 12. The Lake: Lake Michigan (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, 'cooler by The Lake.' 14. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. 'Gimme a braht wit kraut.' 15. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb 'say.' For example, 'Den he goes, 'I like this place'!' 16. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender. 17. Pop: A soft drink Don't say 'soda' in this town. 'Do ya wanna canna pop?' 18. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle , a popular Midwestern burger chain. 'Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs.' 19. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday. 20. 'Jeetyet?': Translates to, 'Did you eat yet?' 21. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, 'What are the two seasons in Chicago ?' 22. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for 'a couple, two, three' which really means 'a few.' For example, 'Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by dere?' 'Yeh, a cuppa too-tree.' 23. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire! 24. Junk Dror: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk. 25. Southern Illinois : Anything south of I-80. This is where Smothers' is from.... 26. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ('da Ryan'), the Stevenson, the Kennedy (da 'Kennedy'), the Eisenhower (da 'Ike'), and the Edens (just 'Edens' but Da Edens' is acceptable). 27. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes! =============
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