Potato In Salem 34 (39)

I'm recovering.

It's Finally Caught Up With Me

I am a person who is known to take on to much. I'm also a bit of a control freak. I hate surprises.

Last Wednesday I got a sore throat. By Friday I figured it was strep. I had school all weekend so there wasn't much I could do. By Sunday I had added a cough and I was feeling it.

I went to work Monday. I couldn't not go. By the end of the day I had lost my voice. Still I thought I was getting better otherwise. I stayed home Tuesday figuring I'd see a doctor just to make sure. There were no other days that were good to stay home.

I couldn't get an appointment until yesterday afternoon. I was mad. I wanted to go back to work. Two days is too long to stay out. I debated whether or not I should go in for a half day before the doctor's. I chose not to in the end.

At the doctor's my strep test was negative. I figured it'd end up being a bad cold and I was feeling a bit silly for wasting everyone's time. He sent me for a chest x-ray. My chest felt fine. I doubted it would show anything. My throat still hurt.

Well, it did show something. Pneumonia to be exact. And then, when he ever said that I couldn't go back to work for at least a week, I wanted to argue with him. A week? I couldn't stay out for a week? My boss would kill me and I couldn't leave my kids for that long.

They wrote me a note and I weighed my options. Could I go in today and then stay out? What about my club on Friday? I slowly realized that by turning in the note, which I had to, I also had to follow what it said. Slowly I've accepted that I'm stuck at home for awhile.

It's finally caught up with me.

In Which I Become A Jerk

I have watched every episode of American Idol since season 1. There, I said it. Even though I am horribly made fun of and as a music person am someone who should scorn this "overblown karaoke contest", I absolutely love it.

I was pregnant during season 1 and it was the only night I'd fight exhaustion. I went into labor during the Tuesday finals and watched the results from a hospital bed the next day. I just want you to know my commitment.

I've loved Paris and Taylor from the beginning. Early on I wondered why they'd let Paris in because she blew everyone away. I didn't think it'd be much of a competition. I still love her voice and her style. My music teacher friend and I agree she was the most talented.

Taylor I just love. I was amazed during his audition. I was amazed by his harmonica (and was really hoping he'd get a chance to pull it out last night- is there a no instrument rule?). As the season goes on, though I'm not blown away by his vocals, I still love his style. Plus, everytime he lowers his head as his eyes look up (that sheepish, shy face), I confess- it makes me smile. And so I've developed a bit of a crush on him- a new experience for me as I've never been into celebrities.

As for Kat, she's been my FIL's favorite all along. She has a really beautiful voice. But voices like hers are a dime a dozen. There are girls like her playing starring roles in local theaters all over the country. Her voice is amazing. But, she has never moved me. Never. I find her hokey and trampy and manufactured. Her mom teaches voice. To me, all the great voice stuff becomes so much less impressive. Yes, she has to have a pretty voice and she does, but anything she does with it is a result of getting vocal training from mom.

One of the things I love about Taylor is the incredible feeling in his songs. Bum notes or raspiness can be forgiven from someone who so obviously feels the music all over him. Kat doesn't feel the music, she just sings it. As many others have pointed out, she also has an uncanny knack for using her sex appeal at inappropriate moments.

Can you tell I don't like Kat?

As for last night, it was pretty good.

There are alot of folks blaming someone else for Kat's dreadful performance of "My Destiny". I realize that I'm not backstage, but I've always gotten the impression that the singers have some control over the key and their interpretation. From Taylor's performance, it was clear that he took the basic melody and worked with it. Kat's song was absolutely in the wrong key. I think it could have been much prettier. She has a pretty voice. So why didn't little miss music ask to change the key? Her heart wasn't in it last night. She lacked enthusiasm and spunk. I think that it's quite possible she has a cold or something because some vocal stuff that usually comes easy for her, was a stretch last night. I wonder if the horrible key was because she wasn't feeling well or something.

Still, Taylor blew her away last night. And in my fantasy world, he and I are releasing our own version of "Endless Love" (Sorry, Jay!) right after Eddie Vedder does a new version of "Black" with me.

Buy Nothing!

You have to read it for the full effect. Nothing is 100% guaranteed and shipped via FedEx.

Potato In Salem 33 (38)

Happy Sunday!

I had school all weekend. It was absolutely wonderful.

My only complaint is that I'm very sick so I'm planning for soup and sleep tonight.

Hope all are well.

Potato In Salem 32 (36)

Happy Mother's Day!

Great Picture from the Ice Planet Hoth

 

A Little Update

So April 10th rolled around and life did slow down- for about a week.

I enjoyed the slow time, but it left some things undone- like all the Thank you cards I've been carrying around with me since March. If you are my dad or my uncle or any of the friends who helped me celebrate my birthday- I'm very sorry.

I'm getting my kids ready for the dreaded standardized tests. The more I teach-the more disgusted I am at the new national testing. While I get them ready, I am also getting depressed. They lead difficult lives.

I attended the wake of a student's mother a few weeks ago. While impressed by the many staff attendees of varying roles, it certainly was sad to see a student deal with this. I read an article about another student's father's federal trial today. A homeroom student has a dad who recently murdered his girlfriend. Several others are discovering drugs and hanging out with grown men to get them. These are 12 and 13 year-olds.

So I try to be kind and I try to get them ready for an exam that means little to them.

It's midterm week and far too many of my kids are suddenly failing.

Next week I have my first class for my Master's. It's an intensive weekend program. I'm terrified. I'm always terrified when I have to meet new people.

The other math teacher is trying to steal my after school math club. I shouldn't have been surprised but I was.

I miss game days.

I've been going through old boxes in preparation for a community yard sale this weekend. It's fun and sad all at once. Most of the boxes have been packed since I was twelve and made the move from mom's house to dad's house.

I saved everything.

Now I have to decide what to keep, what to sell, what to toss. I've thrown away very little. I've spent lots of time looking up all my old toys to figure out if any are worth money.

I am selling my Matchbox Sounds of Service garage, the cars that go with it, and my Sylvanian families house.

I'm seeing lots of old friends this month, but not enough of my steady ones.

My sister is moving far away. This leaves almost no family here.

I'm tired.

I still need a massage.

I've never been so out of shape in my life. I get winded walking up the street to my car on the days I can't find good parking. Just as the weather started to get nice enough to motivate me, winter came back. I haven't been warm all day despite the courderoys and sweater I wore to work.

I've been spending less time on the computer and more time singing. That's a good thing.

I hope all of you are well.

Potato In Salem 31 (35)

Let's see.....I attended an informational meeting about the Master's program I started. I went to see a play at my old elementary school. Took potato into the city for the day yesterday.

The weather has ranged from winter to summer this week. Hopefully the nice weather will stick.

Make Taylor Dance

Once again, I need to confess that I love American idol.

Taylor Hicks has apparantly inspired a lot of games. This DDR parody is great!