All of us here on the Feisty Mountain wish you a very merry Christmas! We have a good deal more snow and cold than the day in October that Philip snapped this picture of Andrea.
Monthly Archives: December 2007
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A Golden Birthday
My youngest just turned 17 on the 17th and therefore dubbed it a golden birthday. He even asked if he happened to be born at 1700 hours – I told him “yes, somewhere in the world, I am sure it was 1700 hours. 1743 to be more precise.”
In 17 short years he has accomplished many things that still remain only a dream for me: performing internationally, singing on TV, soloing on the stage of Boettcher Concert Hall with the Symphony, creating movies, playing bass, jamming, forming, and performing with a band…
He has also done many things I have never dreamed of doing and will probably never attempt: back-flips on a trampoline, wall flips in a school hall, snowboarding, skateboarding.
He is also very tech savvy. As we were downloading this picture from his cell phone camera, he ran into a snafu and called, “Dad, what do I do now?” Doug (who can figure out anything computer or mechanic when given time enough) said, “Here, let me see,” and reached for the mouse. We all groaned (given time enough is the key word here), and said, “No.” Doug exited the room and Philip figured out the problem and had the pictures downloaded and accessible in 15 seconds…..Sometimes you only have to offer unwanted help to a teenager to get results
Launch
A Golden Birthday
My youngest just turned 17 on the 17th and therefore dubbed it a golden birthday. He even asked if he happened to be born at 1700 hours – I told him “yes, somewhere in the world, I am sure it was 1700 hours. 1743 to be more precise.”
In 17 short years he has accomplished many things that still remain only a dream for me: performing internationally, singing on TV, soloing on the stage of Boettcher Concert Hall with the Symphony, creating movies, playing bass, jamming, forming, and performing with a band…
He has also done many things I have never dreamed of doing and will probably never attempt: back-flips on a trampoline, wall flips in a school hall, snowboarding, skateboarding.
He is also very tech savvy. As we were downloading this picture from his cell phone camera, he ran into a snafu and called, “Dad, what do I do now?” Doug (who can figure out anything computer or mechanic when given time enough) said, “Here, let me see,” and reached for the mouse. We all groaned (given time enough is the key word here), and said, “No.” Doug exited the room and Philip figured out the problem and had the pictures downloaded and accessible in 15 seconds…..Sometimes you only have to offer unwanted help to a teenager to get results
Marathon Week and Happy Holidays!
My marathon week is finished so now I have time to stop and wish you a very Merry Christmas and holiday season! Last night’s most excellent performance of “Mystery of the Manger” (Celeste Clydesdale) by my children’s music and drama team at church wrapped up my Christmas performance season nicely. The night before I directed a Core Knowledge concert and Mythical Musical (script mine) at the academy at which I teach. Monday was Philip’s 17th birthday. Sunday morning the church team did their first performance in the Gym of the church (last night was in the sanctuary which seats 2,000; state of the art sound, lights, and stage). Sunday afternoon I spent 10 and a half hours with Philip and his band (UPC) for Battle of the Bands. Saturday was the dress rehearsal for the church music and drama team. Saturday afternoon I treated myself to a ladies tea. This afternoon Andrea arrives from college. The tree is up on the deck. The snowmen are arranged on the dining room table. Today I am off to school to give and receive my final Secret Santa gift. Let the holidays begin!
Wearing Luxury
For the past six months I have been wearing a beautiful handcrafted necklace of Turquoise and black glass beads. It is the precise length for my diminutive neck and everything from tank tops and skirts in the summer to velvet and candlelight in the winter. A workplace friend designed and presented this necklace to me on my birthday. She now has a number of designs available at http://www.sonothomemade.blogspot.com/ Check it out! And be generous with yourself and others.
Ben Feisty
Feisty Berg, Ben Feisty, Mighty Mountain, Terrible Mountain; ornery and challenging.The beauty of the sun setting on 10 inches of snow yesterday as I took my only walk of the weekend. It makes one want never to leave such a place.The irritation of rising at 5:50 AM in 12 degree weather and donning heavy robe and coat over the two nightgowns, lacing up snow boots, negotiating slippery stairs (no snow to sweep first this morning) to trek to the outside entrance of the basement where the alternate potty is. Now that makes one want to take the first train toward civilization. On the other hand; who needs a train when one has the world at ones’ fingertips with high speed internet? I should feel guilty for complaining: others are homeless and without electricity. Dear readers, I must run. Today I must prepare for three holiday and concert performances AND post grades via the internet. Happy Monday!
Thanksgiving Vacation
Over Thanksgiving break, I had a real vacation. My brother and SIL rented the Ranch House at Pack Creek and we met them there along with our parents. Andrea drove to Western Colorado, so I got to relax a bit (I hate driving). We car-pooled with my parents on to Pack Creek (outside Moab). We had a wonderful time of long walks, talks, setting by a fireplace, playing games, eating, and living in the lap of rustic luxury. The trip back was rather harried because we did it all in one day: dropping Andrea off at college meant I had to drive the final three hour leg home over sometimes snowy roads; always on the lookout for wildlife; and the last hour after sunset. None-the-less: I had a vacation!
Life Right Now
Life right now is:Teaching K through Sixth Grade Music
Teaching private piano lessons at home
Rehearsing the children’s music and drama team at church for a Christmas production
Rewriting the Mythical Musical for the 6th grade at school so that everyone who wants to speak can have a part
Encouraging and challenging a talented 16, almost 17, year old
Getting the Cabin ready to show and sell
Feeling hopelessly weighed down with debt, bills, and splintered relationships
Knowing that I have changed and that some around me may never
Loving the fact that another young adult has launched and is a successful college freshman
Struggling to light a woodstove after 6 years of practice and success
Searching for kindling in the snow
Sweeping up the mess of sawdust and chips after lighting a fire
Trying to keep sinks clean when the men are working dirty jobs
Going outside and down stairs to the composting toilet because the septic holding tank is full
Putting my boots on and lacing them just to walk to the car or the downstairs
Actively trying to find and build relationships with other women while knowing I may move soon
Wanting to give my best to those close to me and knowing I am empty emotionally, and bankrupt financially.
Remembering to make my walk and sunshine time a priority as a spiritual, emotional, and physical health prescription
Why do the essential things always get crowded out in the clamor of the urgent?
Dancing the Night Away
We did it! After 53 years of living with a great sense of toe tapping rhythm, but not knowing which foot to put where. After years of childhood in which I felt condemned if I danced and knew I would pop if I didn’t get the rhythm out somewhere. After learning the drills for marching band and the choreography for stage productions; after sending my kids to Cotillion to learn social grace and ballroom etiquette and joyfully experiencing Colorado Children’s Chorale performances where-in my son eclipsed my wildest dreams by singing and dancing internationally; we finally did it.
Doug and I took ballroom dance lessons for three months and then, early in November, we bought tickets to the Jazz Dinner Dance at the high school. Sure, it was a fund –raiser for the instrumental music department where our kids have enjoyed a combined five years of music experience, and just as sure that we could have enjoyed hearing the music for free by signing up to set up, serve, and clean-up. I have done that a couple of times before and each time I got very itchy feet, had no partner, and surely didn’t know which foot came first. This year was my year. We dressed up. We went to the dinner. We ate. We danced to all the Jazz band standards. We were uninhibited enough to cut up the dance floor; laugh at our faux pass, hazard some turns and twirls and work up a healthy glow.
Done. One more thing crossed off my “to do before I die,” list.
By the way; I highly recommend ballroom dance lessons for married couples! It can be a great “reframe” at the end of a tense day. It is good to learn something together. It is great exercise.