It looks like this is the Tea of Day! And why not? It’s pretty awesome, so I’m drinking a cup.
I’m not really a happy camper today…so I’m drinking a cup.
I have issues on my mind, like indecision, which unfortunately causes problems for me, like clumsiness.
Exhibit A: I broke the lid of one of my favorite cups, a lovely white porcelain with blue lotuses on it (have I ever mentioned I love white porcelain with blue?). I’ve been dragging this cup all over my garden since spring, & guess what…it didn’t break in the garden, it feel off in the house & broke clean in half. Glue suggestions for porcelain? Gorilla glue not recommended for anything that will have steam or hot water, I know this from experience.
Exhibit B: Last night I tripped over basically nothing as I was approaching my front steps, & fell forward, smacking my right forearm on the edge of a step. I immediately applied an ice pack, & would have took Arnica, if I could find it. It throbbed all night. I’m pretty sure I didn’t break anything, but I have a hell of a bruise.
So here’s what’s up:
Years ago I taught Harp for St. Louis Visual & Performing Arts Magnet schools, on both Middle School & High School level. I had a great program, some of my kids have gone on to study the Harp in college, and they always make a point of letting me know what they’re doing & stop by to play for me when they’re in town. Others have gone on to other degrees, but still check in with me from time to time. None of these kids would ever have played the harp if I hadn’t been there, because they wouldn’t have had the opportunity. I was there for 12 years or so, & over that time things changed, including loss of funding, but the main reasons I quit were that the new principal was an asshole, & the quality & behavior of students I was getting got worse each year. Also, I had reached a point where I could get by without the money.
So now there is a newer principal, who I’ve met & really like, & he called & wants to start my harp program up again. It would be Mon, Weds, & Fri, 7am – 2:30pm, starting aug 11th. I have to apply for a substitute teacher’s license, which I’m in the process of. Admittedly, I have a lot of mixed feelings. Nothing has really changed there: I’ll have three groups of 10 per grade (6th, 7th, & 8th), most likely only 1 or 2 in each group will actually want to learn anything harp related; I don’t do well with concrete floors, loud noises (I’ll have to bring & wear earplugs), or bratty kids; I also don’t do well with ‘authority figures’, especially the kind that expect to be fawned over, but I’ve met the new guy, & I actually like him, so that’s one of the reasons I said yes.
Reason no. 2: One of my students from that school is graduating from Ball State in the coming spring, & it is her dream to teach there, so I want to set up a nice program for her, if she still wants it, for a graduation present.
Reason No. 3: The pay is pretty good, & I wouldn’t mind having a little extra money for awhile.
Final Note: I’ll have to rearrange my mon, wed, fri teaching schedule, because I have a lot of private students on those days, but my students are awesome, so that won’t be a problem.
Other Final Note: Sorry this is ridiculously long…I know I’ll sound like a spoiled brat, but I’ve really gotten used to doing whatever the hell I want all day, & I already don’t have time to do everything I want to do…1st world problems, I guess….
I need this tea…
People who liked this
Comments
YAAAAAY! that’s so exciting!
I like reason #2
So… a gig that lasts only two semesters, and all the money, minus gas, can be applied towards tea? ;) Seriously, I taught or tried to teach drafting to Junior High kids one semester while in college, it was the longest 7 years of my life – its a time dilation thing. This was definitely not my calling. You’ll make the right decision for you.
Have good tea, enjoy your trip and you will know what to do when you have to give them the answer. I hate when I have discombobulation – it makes me EVEN MORE clumsy than I already am.
Have I mentioned that I love you guys?
:)
p.s. Yeah, it will be nice to have more money
I think that passing your “talents” to others will give them real inspiration. Learning new things and not being afraid to try new things too. Music is an inspiration to lots of people.
It IS MrM, & I do enjoy doing that. It’s so exciting when students are inspired. The frustrating thing is that I end up with kids in the class that really don’t want to play, & although I’m a pretty fun teacher & pretty good at coming up with novel activities to engage & entertain my class, I’m not always good at dealing with misbehavior & frustration.
But it will be fun spending the money, & I’m gonna work on keeping positive thoughts :)
I think you will do fine. I think making the attempt whether or not it is successful at first may manifest itself in the later years of a students progress. I always say if not today there is always tomorrow.
Oh, I know this to be true! Even when students don’t necessarily stick to playing the harp, the benefits of playing an instrument are multiple, & kids who took my class years ago call me to let me know how they’re doing, email me pics of their kids, & it does feel good to know that I helped them to develop self-discipline & focus, & that they want to maintain a connection :)
One of my former students that came over for tea recently will be working on her Masters in Fine Arts Administration in London this fall. That’s pretty exciting! :)
Thanks for the pep talk!
The truth is, I like sitting around in my PJs all day sipping tea, crawling around in my garden, etc, & pretty much doing whatever I want. It will probably be good for me to have a routine for awhile, LOL
Everything has already being said so….one more thing: <3
:)
Reason 2 is so sweet! :)
YAAAAAY! that’s so exciting!
I like reason #2
So… a gig that lasts only two semesters, and all the money, minus gas, can be applied towards tea? ;) Seriously, I taught or tried to teach drafting to Junior High kids one semester while in college, it was the longest 7 years of my life – its a time dilation thing. This was definitely not my calling. You’ll make the right decision for you.
Have good tea, enjoy your trip and you will know what to do when you have to give them the answer. I hate when I have discombobulation – it makes me EVEN MORE clumsy than I already am.
Have I mentioned that I love you guys?
:)
p.s. Yeah, it will be nice to have more money
I think that passing your “talents” to others will give them real inspiration. Learning new things and not being afraid to try new things too. Music is an inspiration to lots of people.
It IS MrM, & I do enjoy doing that. It’s so exciting when students are inspired. The frustrating thing is that I end up with kids in the class that really don’t want to play, & although I’m a pretty fun teacher & pretty good at coming up with novel activities to engage & entertain my class, I’m not always good at dealing with misbehavior & frustration.
But it will be fun spending the money, & I’m gonna work on keeping positive thoughts :)
I think you will do fine. I think making the attempt whether or not it is successful at first may manifest itself in the later years of a students progress. I always say if not today there is always tomorrow.
Oh, I know this to be true! Even when students don’t necessarily stick to playing the harp, the benefits of playing an instrument are multiple, & kids who took my class years ago call me to let me know how they’re doing, email me pics of their kids, & it does feel good to know that I helped them to develop self-discipline & focus, & that they want to maintain a connection :)
One of my former students that came over for tea recently will be working on her Masters in Fine Arts Administration in London this fall. That’s pretty exciting! :)
Thanks for the pep talk!
The truth is, I like sitting around in my PJs all day sipping tea, crawling around in my garden, etc, & pretty much doing whatever I want. It will probably be good for me to have a routine for awhile, LOL
Everything has already being said so….one more thing: <3
:)
Reason 2 is so sweet! :)