Video Days

It seems like the kids have been doing a lot of video stuff, pretty much every week, and it’s pretty cool. The book club is working with videos for their book projects, and on alternating weeks, they also have a video club with CATV. The beauty of both these clubs is that all kids can take part, including N and a few other kids his age. They don’t necessarily read the books, but they can contribute and have fun with it, and that’s all that matters.

In addition to all this, A is doing the after school video club, which is mainly school kids, and she is enjoying that. She gets a huge kick out of creating movies and videos, which entails writing a script, acting and filming, and then editing. It’s really cool that they all get to oversee the process, with minimal adult interference.

It’s nice to find something that the kids enjoy that involves cutting edge technology and creativity, a combination that is not always easy to find.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to MarkBTomlinson for the pic.

Keeping Things in Perspective

I tend to get myself involved into too many things and get way in over my head, and the current state of my life is no different. The biggest time demand is for hockey, for which I’m doing the scheduling. It’s nuts, not only because I’m new at it, but it’s a hard job. So many moving parts and so many people to placate.

I am also a corporation member of the Howe Library, whatever that means. That’s one of the best libraries I’ve ever been to, and I love to help. In the past, I’ve attended meetings about policy, and they asked me to help again to discuss some issues. Of course I said yes, but when the time came, I couldn’t do it. I told them as such, and though I felt bad, I tried to keep things in perspective and realize I’m volunteering my time and if I can’t do it, I can’t do it.

It happened with hockey, as well. They were having a meeting on Friday, and I was swamped with things to do. I had to bail out on that, as well, but again, I can’t feel too guilty about this. I’m volunteering my time, and they know this, and I’ve put a great deal of time into it as it is.

That, of course, doesn’t stop me from feeling bad, but as long as I don’t keep it up, thing should be fine. Yeah, right.

We have some big events coming up this weekend which, you guessed it, I’ve volunteered to help out with. Oh well, sometimes you just never learn.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to romano carrattieri for the pic.

Scored on Some Skates

Winter gear is starting to show up at the Listen Center, though it’s strange to me how it’s seasonal. You’d think winter gear would appear throughout the year, and to some degree it does, but for the most part, winter stuff begins appearing as winter nears. People probably prepare for the season as it approaches and clean their houses accordingly.

What this means is that hockey and ski gear will start showing up. This is beautiful when you have two rapidly growing kids who partake in sports whose equipment demands are expensive. I’m constantly looking for next year’s stuff. I was over there the other day and they had used hockey equipment out. I scored a killer pair of skates, which were in great shape, though they’re a little big. Not a problem, I got them for N to use on ponds, which seem to thrash your blade.

My next goal is to get A some pond skates, and we’re in business. Of course, if I find the next size up for the other gear necessities, that would be great, but I’ll take it one day at a time.

Until then, thanks for reading.

No Reply At All

I had this glorious plan of enrolling A in a language class at the school, and I even got the big thumbs up from the new principal, who for the record, in addition to being young, is very cool. Either way, I’ve emailed this teacher several times, and I’m getting nothing in return. It could be she doesn’t get her emails, or that she’s not open to the idea of letting homeschoolers jump in.

I think I need to take my communication efforts to the next level before deciding, but I find the whole situation strange, if not a bit of a bummer. Oh well, c’est la vie.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Jessica M. E. for the pic.

Finally Back

Boy, our recovery from our last trip sure seemed a bit drawn out. I think we’re finally back on our regular sleeping schedule, and we seem to have our health back. It was a pretty rough road with GI issues, sleep deficits, and overall readjustment issues, not to mention scrambling to get our feet back into getting domestic projects done before winter.

I’m still working on that last one, and it could take months, if not years, but what else is new? Then again, I’m somehow managing to get some of them done, and it sure is empowering. In fact, at times it makes me feel downright invincible, though the feeling never lasts. Bummer.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to BirdlandCreations for the pic.

Christmas Show

Like most towns around here, we have an annual Christmas show that rocks, thanks to the volunteer efforts of the residents. They have music and carols sung by the amazing local choir, and all in all, it’s a nice show. I have heard, however, grumblings of discontent in various arenas, including the performers not being happy about the oversight (too dictatorial) and the community not appreciating certain aspects of the show. I can understand the former, but the latter part I find surprising considering that the show is free, and the performers are all volunteering their time. Sometimes people just need to complain.

This year, things are going to be different. They are going to make it more of a show rather than just a choir performance, and they want to include more of the community. It should actually be a great show, they do an amazing job when they set their minds to it, and they always set their minds to it. Kids are going to be more involved in the overall show rather than just having their own choir, so it could very well be like a regular community theater gig. Should be good.

A&N have both expressed interest in being involved, A on stage and N behind the scenes. I think N would be great on stage, he is good, he just doesn’t like the idea of it, at least until it happens. Then he seems to have fun, but we won’t force the issue.

We’ll see where this one goes. One thing for sure, if the kids are involved, it means that I’m going to be busy this holiday season. Prepare yourself for the ride.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to mlamprou for the pic.

Musical Progress

The kids are continuing with their music lessons, and even though they express ambivalence at times regarding their respective instruments, I want them to continue learning and practicing. I think it’s good for music to be part of their lives, and at times I can see and hear that it’s sinking in, especially when they talk music theory. It’s fabulous when they express or demonstrate their understanding of music. Plus, their teacher, JB, has indicated that they are progressing nicely and has referred to them as "musically inclined." How cool is that?

Somewhere down the line in their lives, they might even appreciate the fact that they can play an instrument, and the benefits of musical knowledge carry over into other facets of our lives. I will say this, one of my biggest regrets in life is not learning to play an instrument. While I agree that it’s never too late, somehow learning it when your young is the best way to go.

Finally, there’s a cool factor that is hard to dispute when you’re a kid who can play an instrument, especially a cool instrument like guitar or drums. Then again, what do I know about cool? If you ask our kids, the answer would be nothing.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to gipiosio for the pic.