I was talking to someone tonight as I pulled into my driveway. I pulled into the spot my roommate usually parks in and she was in my spot (though this has never been contracted... it's just understood) And somehow we got thinking of territorial spaces in driveways and that maybe, perhaps, I should put up signs on metal posts that clarified the muddy areas of parking etiquette... it kind of went down a bunny trail after that and by the end of the conversation we had discussed some of the few parking signs available... "this spot reserved for employee of the month" - I decided I need to find one of those because I really ought to attach it to my garage... then everytime I come home... I am the employee of the month...

Incidentally, I am self-employed... so really... what is this saying? Do I really need this kind of validation?

I guess I didn't realize there was such a specialized niche.

Substitue Chronicles #0932

"And what is your name?" I asked the Kindergartner.

"My name used to be Samuel D. Adams... but I'm Superman."

And my question as I turned away was, "should I be more focused on the fact that he is named after a superhere... or a beer?"

Why I blog

My whole reason for blogging started with the pictures below. A year ago this was going to be my very first post but I had to pack and move instead... that's for another post.

There are two houses on the same street in Moline, Illinois that are beyond anything I've ever seen. It begins around the beginning of October and doesn't stop until New Year's: Holiday Lawn Decor. The pictures are poor and you can't get the full effect, but it was worth posting what I do have, regardless. I hope it can give you an idea...

In my friend Dan's words, "they are trying to contact aliens!"

This house is the lesser of the two.


But this... this is the tour de force...

These pictures take you on a virtual tour from the front to the back. Unfortunatly no digital image can give the the full impact of viewing these wonders in person. But please, please try.

It begins in the front with the hedgerow of orange lights, smoke and electronic skeleton butler greeting you streetside. The yard is replete with cobwebs, various styrofoam grave stones, your choice of the typical ghoul and goblin and then various other creepy accoutrement.


Here we are rounding the corner to the side display.


From the side, the fiasco continues with the smoke and lights. My favorite item among this all is the 2-D Americana styled Uncle Sam cut-out. It is posted by the trellis... Apparently their July 4th decor hasn't really found its niche.



We've now made our way to the back of the property and the the roof decoration where, every year, a new inflatable finds it's way to the reaching heavenly realms of this hades. Here we have the surprised pumpkin and the every playful toppling pumpkin inflatables. Sadly you cannot see the veteren purple sprawling spider or the witches brewing in the cauldron. (too dark for the shot). You might also note the trio of emerging casper-like ghosts in the left background of one of the shots.



Yes, what good holiday fun.

Keep an eye open for the updated late-December edition of this neighborhood's holiday hijinx. Their displays of everything Hanukhak, Kwanza, and pagan and religious understandings of Christmas are something to behold and really get you into the air-filled spirit of fun.

'til then...

Deja Vous Part Deux

So a bit of the difficulty of this teaching scenario is that there are a handful of elementary students that know me as Jenn… like my friends Darci and Paul’s son, Max, who is 5 and won’t do anything unless you give him good reason to believe this it really is the best idea ever. And there kind of has to be a little something in it for him too… like, perhaps, being in on a secret that NO ONE else has the privilege of knowing… which is the route I took when prepping him for his music class experience the next day… the one I would be subbing. I said, “Max, tomorrow I will be in your music class, but no one knows my name is Jenn, so my name tomorrow has to be ‘Miss Swift’ “ Because Max would be the kid that, because he knows my name is Jenn, would call me Jenn and not call me Miss Swift like the other kids should just because… and we'd have to have a discussion about it. So it was best to do the prep work necessary. Max also speaks “adult” very well and feels it is important to be on par with you, because, well, truth be told, kids his age are really beneath him. So Max played along the next day. He did very well, although every time he called me “Miss Swift” it was like an inside joke to him… Except, that’s all out the window this week because he got home from last Tuesday’s class and this was the conversation he had with his mom…

“Here’s the thing…” Max says. “I asked everyone and they all know her name is Jenn. They all knopw. We don’t have to keep it a secret!”

So, we’ll see how Kindergarten goes this week.

Deja Vous

I don’t know how I ever thought I would escape this. I don’t know how I had the audacity to believe it wouldn’t be me… or perhaps I was just oblivious. I shouldn’t have been, though. My mom was a teacher. 2 Aunts were teachers. My uncle worked in education administration. My cousin went on to be a teacher. My other cousin is doing Master’s work in education. That cousin’s brother just married a teacher. Another Aunt now works post-retirement in a school as a resource aid. Her husband, my uncle, does admin work at a college… And I thought I’d do something different? When I moved to Rock Island I needed a job to support ministry… I became a Kindergarten teacher… apparently you don’t need training to do this. And somehow it all just fell into place. I was a teacher. After 2 years of that I decided I would step out of school setting full time. However, a music teacher job found me.

I made NO effort to pursue the position. Heard about it from 3 random people, the last was someone who actually took the job and then quit it and thought I should take it. Somehow it ended up finding me… and I taught it for three years. I quit that position in ’05 and went on to teach private lessons full time. And here I am at the door of a school again... that same school… same job.

I have an excellent relationship with the school. LOVE the students. LOVE the teachers. Outstanding atmosphere. I just didn’t know if I’d be in the area long and wanted to be fair to them, so I resigned my position a school year ago.

A week ago the current music teacher quit. So I told the principle I’d be happy to fill the position until someone was found. However, knowing that the Christmas program (oh yes, the Christmas program) was upon us, no one would walk into a job in the middle of that. I knew I would be helping indefinitely and have the ability to do so. However, the principle called this morning and said, “I’d like to talk to you about possibly taking the job.” And I’m back in school again.

I haven’t said yes. I will ask for a few weeks. I don’t love elementary. However, I have always loved the idea of having current experience with a wide range of ages. And what it comes down to is education in the arts and that is what I’m completely sold on.

I’m just surprised to find myself here… again… for a job I’ve tried not to have… twice.

My love/hate week with NPR

If you love NPR, which... I have a small group of friends that really, truly love NPR (you liberals!) you hate this week and one just like it about 6 months from now. We are in the fall fund drive. EVERY YEAR it sneaks up on me! I feel so unprepared when I go to turn on Car Talk at 9am on the Saturday of the wretched week and hear the talking, the pleading, of Renee Montagne reminding me of their need this year. I am totally an NPR junkie. I am a listener no matter what. But I totally hate this week.

I was talking to a friend a few years ago during this time of year and we had the conversation... the one that discovered we were both die hard NPR-ers, but confessed that neither had ever pledged. (we sound like we're Greek's or something - Nu Pi Rho) We said so somewhat sheepishly because we both felt the guilt.

And that's the thing about NPR... I confess my undying adoration... but I hate right now... because I am so guilt ridden... Because Ira Glass... a voice I love, one I've welcomed into my home regularly, one that tells me great stories... and then during the fund drives turns on me. It's so manipulative... because he says, "If you've been enjoying the stories NPR has brought you but you don't contribute..." and they liken it to stealing. And then I have an inward battle with myself... "They have CHOSEN to publish themselves... It is my RIGHT to take and NOT give back! THIS is the system. THIS IS UNDERSTOOD!!! You should NOT be guilting me to support a service you have CHOSEN to provide out of good will!!!"

But Ira can't hear me and neither can Sylvia Pagioli or Veer Sing (I love him, he reports from New Delhi and has a wonderful accent). And that's the wonder of it all... they are so unaffected, but I am guilty. Hateful ones that I love. They even get David Sedaris involved... and that's just low. He was born with Greek guilt and could care less who it spills all over.

It's Tuesday... they will go until next Sunday and life will be back to normal programming... guilt free programming... for another 6 months... and then it will happen all over again, this abusive cycle. I'll apologize, tell them it was my fault. I've been listening for too long not to be a pledger and then I'll try to offer some sort of bargain of "maybe if I just convert more NPR listeners they won't make me feel so guilty..." but then it all start again. Who new NPR could be so unhealthy.

Holly, are you with me on this?

Irony

At stores I find signs that say "simplicity" ironic when nestled in among various fauna and flora, signs and containers, vases and candles and other sundry home decor items.

I walked by the sign and had to turn back around and stare at it a second thinking, "now... that's certainly missing the point a bit, isn't it?"

Brilliant moment 2,405

While locking a door don't try to flip your hair out of your eyes while holding a cup of water between your teeth.

I need to go dry off.

Hmmm... let's see what they're up to...

I'm reading my friend's blogs right now. I'm doing this because I have other things to do. Of course I'm reading blogs. I do this rarely enough, like read blogs in one fell swoop, so I don't feel bad about making the rounds... however, of course I chose to do so when I've got other things to get done. Between 9am and 1:30pm all my students will be coming to my house to gleen from the awesome experiences of their most awesome music-and-cultural-brainwasher teacher... I admit it. I am totally an arts snob and I think people who aren't are stupid. They annoy me a bit. There, I said it. I'll still be your friend, but now you know the truth behind my relationship with you. It will always linger in the background. The thing is I just don't ever want any of the young people I come in contact with the EVER have the option of saying, "I don't like it because I don't understand it." Unacceptable.

Anyway, I have work to get done for them... and I'm reading blogs. And now I'M blogging. In true fashion of the ridiculous creative lives of people I know and love... we procrastinate something fierce (and of course it's fierce because we're creative and it must be dramatic - did I spell fierce wrong? I have never fully taken hold of the "i before e" thing)

It will be a good day because I have a lot in my head and great stories to tell and I think I do that ok. But preparation... mm... this is why I won't ever function in a classroom (and why it was hard... and why I won't go back... at least today) preparation... yeah, it's good to have your own studio.

Ok... I've got 40 min before the little people arrive.

Everywhere and In Between

was where I felt like I was today. So I made a project for my piano and voice students to work on while I'm gone. They were given packets with stuff in them re: Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Though three separate generations of composers, their lives overlapped quite a bit, specifically in Vienna. So the packets contained information on the three, a CD of key songs that my students are playing in level appropriate forms and sheet music to study. They were, then, supposed to go through the packets and e-mail me questions and assignments to find things based on their research. They've come up with great questions for me scavenge out of the city... but what a day.

It began with a visit to the Haus de Musik which is simply that - a building dedicated to sound and how sound works and it's connection with music. A complete interactive exhibit. Next, a bolt out to Zentralfriedhof (the cemetary where Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms are buried alongside a monument for Mozart), made it back into the city for a walking tour of Mozarts life in Vienna, a trip through Mozarts last remaining house in Vienna where he wrote Figaro and the Requiem and then to see a String quarted perform the Requiem in a lovely old church. Whew... made everything right on time with none to spare. I felt like superwoman.

Tomorrow, visiting Beethoven's homes (not all of them because in 30 years, or something like that, he lived in more places that one can count...) but I'll see some key places where he composed some very large works.

On another note I ended up drinking bitter lemon at the end of my day which I'm crazy about. Managed to walk a whole 12 hour day without losing my pullover that was flung over my bag... to some a minor issue... but I drop everything I touch. Oh, and had a coffee at Starbucks because it's really the only place to get a coffee to go... yeah, and oh-so-Austrian... whatever. I just about hated that I was there.

Pictures are in this order:
Beethoven's Grave
Mozart Memorial
Map of Zentralfriedhof
Mozart's last home in Vienna

A Paddleboat

...is what myself and the teens rented this afternoon. I don't know that I explained what I've been doing while here this week, but I'm leading worship for a conference and then also hanging out with the teens for the week. Afternoons are free time. Today we went for a paddleboat ride. We probably paddled 3-4 Kilometers... In the middle of the ride a water skier came along and slammed water on us. It would've bothered me had it not have been done just so well. So I applauded instead. But we were very wet and still had quite a ways to go back to shore. When we DID get there, Eva and Josh grabbed the dock and pulled us in. However, Eva pulled one way from the back and the front of the boat went another. Josh, who was standing on the front of the boat and holding on to the dock started stretching out more and more until all of a sudden the things holding him up were too far spread apart and in the water he went. The picture you see is after this adventure, sans Eva - she was taking the picture. The others are just views from the lake.

Slovenia

Today I drove down to Slovenia. A friend and I borrowed a car and drove down for the afternoon to Bled (said "Blade") and just tripped around 'til about 10pm tonight. It took about 45 min to get there which just seems nuts. But it's true. I was a little disappointed at the border, though, when I handed the guy our passports and they just passed us on. I didn't get a stamp. It's EU's fault. Open borders.

It's a bit of a fairy-tale-esque sort of place with an island in the middle of a glacial lake in the middle of the Julian Alps with a grand castle way up high on a craggy cliff... just too much to handle. I'll post a web picture with an aerial view 'cause you'll get a better idea of it (the best one I could find has someone else's watermark on it).

There's a ton of history to this area as it the center of four main geological land formations. The castle in this town is also the oldest one in Slovenia.
View from the castle of the surrounding scenery.

View from the island looking towards the castle and St. Martens church.

The inside of St. Stephen's at night. Vienna, Austria.

Flight Wonderings

September 15 - flying from Vienna to Krakow. Flight time: 1hr.

"Last leg of our trip. Now in Vienna heading to Krakow. Moline - Chicago - Dullas - Vienna - Krakow... Not bad. All quick transfers. My body is in a tired place, though, where I'm hot, my breathing is tight and my mouth is dry.

I'm looking out the window at the surrounding Austrian Villages wondering if one of them is Rohrau. Little hamlets along the Danube. Each with their village church and tower that probably looked out for the Turk's at one point.

I'm right next to the prop of this plane and my butt is buzzing. I'm probably 5 feet from it... If it came off I'd be the first one dead. I wouldn't even make it to the crash.

So far this travel's been outstanding. Really not more than an ounce here or there of turbulence. Was so great.

I stole a blanket today from Austrian Airlines. it's a great green with red trim. Quite striking and fun. Does this make me a bad person?

Flying over England at early morning today was beautiful. I noticed in the darkness warm orange glows of light. Rarely have I had a chance to SEE England every time I fly over it.

It's been so interesting to look below me at the land thinking "this is Europe" - like, countless armies have marched these lands... The Moors, the Mongols, the Ottomans, the Hungarians, Alexander the Great... the Romans. How deep do footprints go in this soil. Plots of land that have remnants of life before lying ferral that perhaps were once Roman camps, battlefields, temporal town. It fascinates me endlessly.

All this below me was once the Eatern block, ruled by Communism... the U.S.S.R. I imagine we're over the Czech Republic right now.

Land formations also blow my mind... the general geology of places that you see from a plane. Rivers that used to flow here now flow there, but left a trace with a dry bed. Mounds in the ground. The natural shape of uncut forests. Even some of the man-made things like roads that followed the natural walking route of past people groups, in and out of hills, towns, forests... and the roads that took their place... before blasting away the earth was possible. The towns that developed around natural resources. Towns that never grew into each other so they really used to be able to say, "the woodsmythe three towns down the river..."

Pictures of Krakow and Vienna

Church of the 12 Apostles in Krakow, Poland



Cafe light in Krakow's Market Square



Vienna: St. Stephens Cathedral at night

Charlie & Lola

I am absolutely crazy about this show. I have been watching kids for a particular family a few days this week and they have two DVDs, 6 episodes each. I'm in. I love it.

It was introduced to me a bit ago and for some reason I never really got it. Shameful really. I should've. I should've really understood. I did not. Now I do.

Lola is small and very funny... and she loves pink milk. Charlie is the reasonable and ever caring, sometimes frustrated, older brother. Lotta is Lola's best friend. Marve is Charlie's (which, everytime they say it I think they're saying Mauve). Marv has a dachsund named Sizzles that Lotta and Lola love. Lola has an imaginary friend named Soren Lorenson. And they all have these lovely Brittish accents.

Aesthetically, the illustrating and writing is incredibly clever and witty and just so fabulous. And any show that could carry Badly Drawn Boy type music has got to be wonderful.

Clearly, I am enamored and I am ok with this. I may actually go rent the DVD's myself. "Do your kids enjoy this show ma'am?" they will ask me at the counter. I may lie or I may tell the truth... or I may just borrow the five kids I've been watching and take care of that completely; allay any question.

You may one day hear me speaking like a four year old Brittish child. At which point you may intervene. However, until then, I will be attempting to see as much of this show as possible. Carry on.

Odds'n'Ends... but mostly odds.

I'm glad that last post's behind me. Staci... thanks for taking the "no one noticed" route for me. You're a good woman.

Steve Erwin died... yesterday? How 'bout it. Thanks NPR for bringing the sad news... however, TODAY they followed it up with this guy, John Hodgeman. He's the guy from the outstanding Mac commercials. Apparently he's written a book and he is funny regularly... and he has a blog... "Areas of my Expertise". He used to be a part of "This American Life" which is really about my favorite of my many NPR shows.

Please listen to the interview... not because I sound pathetic asking you to, but because you believe me when I tell you it's funny... and the radio host can't contain his laughter. That's enjoyable.

Click on THIS and
from here go "listen"... and then do so.

Two sets of super good friends moved town last week. Packed one friend up Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for her to leave and then packed another Thursday and Friday. Wow. Hate that. I spent a fair amount of time actually mourning those losses. Very good people. When good people leave it makes you wonder what you're still doing around. I know what I'm still doing around... but you still have to entertain the thought if just for a few days. It's healthy.

In other news I leave for Autria and Poland in... 8 days? Something like that. Next Thursday. I'll be better at posting next week.

Play it again... Jenn

I have a regular gig of leading worship for the fine young people at our church every week. I love what I do. I love these teens. I love the band. It's an honor to do what I do. I mean it. However, I might be kicked out tonight.

It was a busy and somewhat rough night before our services began (plural because Middle School is first, High School is second so we play twice in a row) I had a run in with someone that left me unsettled, a few things weren't normal... it was just an odd night. So Middle School went well. No complaints. Was really proud of two newer students band peeps that were great on the fly. Good. Senior High moves right in immediately following. We open with the first song that one of my Jr. Highers lead - her first time. We play two more songs... and I flake. I tell our drummer to start song X... again... it was the song we began the night with... but in my head I had placed that first time in Jr. High's service... in my head we hadn't done it for Sr. High yet... except that we just had 10 minutes before.

My poor band of new people, so confused, not sure... looking at me like "are you sure" - so that made it more awkward... Everyone knew it. Everyone. The band. The teens. It was one of those moments and you just keep going because, well, because... But I just felt dumb. Not dumb like "I don't want to see anyone ever again. I quit!" but like... "Oh my gosh, I really just did that... that's funny.... and... dumb"

One of the band kids caught me afterwards and started opening his mouth with a question on his face and I just said, "I know... and no, it wasn't intentional" and we laughed and I said "It was just dumb"

I can't wait to go to bed.