And I don’t mean the fuzzy cute kind like me.

I mean I’m tired of being in a hurry. Always late for somewhere (figuratively), or thinking about being late for somewhere. And from what I hear come out the mouth of every single retiree I know, it doesn’t get any better. (But I understand that the reasons for the busy lifestyle are more selective.)

At least this is the last day of school until after the new year, and I will get to spend some time with Jake and Justin and other family and fiends. Then I can start in on music and choreography for Dinner Theatre, and begin rearranging my kitchen for the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture inspection in January, shop for new choir music, design some Smart Board lessons, spend some time at school doing prep work…

Hey, wait.

Criminetly.

FO

Chocodoodles, that is. I will provide pictures, so maybe you will want to place an order. Eh, fiends? What say?

I read in the newspaper this morning about the heartbreaking 2-point loss our school suffered against a conference opponent last night. The columnist said that our players got into some trouble because they were “a little too aggressive” at times. Ya think?

Hahaha. Our resident basketball official, RD, has no doubt seen this and worse. I think it’s kind of funny. You know — coverage sack, basketball version. Way to play ’em, Trojans!

So today we make the Chocodoodles. I am going to take some to school for our faculty Christmas party on Tuesday. My colleagues will function as crash test dummies, per se. Then it’s off to the test kitchen over Christmas break, where Mavis and I will attempt to find and perfect the best sponge cake recipe ever. So much to do, so little time.

Happy weekend!

OH, and is PK the absolute best? She made me the most beautiful pink and black mini-pocketbook. It is the perfect size for my digital camera. She is top-drawer. Thank you, dear fiend!

Photo: Steve Stokes, Ashland Times-Gazette

It’s Finkday. It has been a heck of a long week, fiends. Like two weeks stuffed into one — and I’ve only had school four days. Monday’s snow day feels like forever ago. Maybe it’s because of the marathons of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Last night was nice. BFF Kay and Bob came over for our customary Thursday night dinner and movie, and they brought delicious gnocchi with beef. We watched Goblet of Fire. Maybe we can get Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince in over the next week or so, and then go to the theater to catch Deathly Hallows before it falls out of circulation and into waiting-for-DVD purgatory. Then we’ll be all caught up.

Perhaps the next Movie Night series should be the Narnia films. I’ve never seen any of them. Are they good?

OK, time to go make the donuts. And tomorrow — the Chocodoodles. Yay!

Not an attitude check, but attitude — check.

I knew last night was going to have a couple of rough spots, but I chose to not worry about it, and it was lovely. The kids came through, and I was proud of one and all. Two were out sick (both went home from school during the day, so at least they made an effort to be there), but everyone else showed up in the single-digit temperatures, and the audience was great.

There’s something to be said about the conscious decision to stop fretting. It took me a lot of self-talk. You know, the out-loud kind, when you’re alone. They’ve done their best; just about everything I’ve asked of them. There might be some cracks in the mortar, but no one will notice but us. Just relax and enjoy the experience of a bunch of teenagers actually choosing to make art. And it worked. Imagine that.

Those who know me also know that the above comes at a great price. In music (though not in life in general), I’m a fixer. I will go to almost any length to get “the sound.” Well, short of calling evening rehearsals before concerts. Even I have my limits.

Regardless, it’s all over with for another Christmas season after one more, and I’m certain I’m not alone in my relief. Every music teacher in America feels my happiness. Tonight is grades 5-8; should be fun.

Until the flip side…

School today. Concert tonight. Let’s do it.