She was twitchy, and had had enough of the resting thing. Time to get back at it.

Not that I don’t love a good vacation, mind. You know I do. But for the last two days, I’ve been reading, relaxing, eating, and reading. And reading and relaxing. I’m about to go out of my nut. As I’ve said on several occasions before, sometimes I don’t do well with unstructured time.

I think it would be easier on me if Thanksgiving  — a rather dubious holiday, to be sure — didn’t signal the beginning of the craziest weeks of the semester for me. In fact, I thought to myself yesterday, What if I could just look forward to the Christmas holidays without all the stress of umpteen gigs squeezed into the next 18 days? Truth is, I haven’t known what that could be like for, oh, 20 years.

But of course, we always want what we don’t have. Perhaps, when I’m a pensioner, I’ll regret the craziness and excitement of getting 200 5th-8th graders gathered in one place for a concert, making sure everyone’s behaving and dressed correctly and soloists are ready, and that sound, lights, programs, rhythm section players and music are all taken care of. Oh, then I have to play, which is always stressful. (They can mess up and be fine; however, if I blow it…)

For now, though — let’s get back on the horse. I’m ready for them to hand out some Christmas cheer to the community. Should be fun!

Oh, and the Christmas shopping, she is finished. Saints be praised. Now to start wrapping gifts…

Heh. Can you relate? ^^That’s me today.^^

I don’t usually put too many animated images up here, since they basically become unbearable after five seconds, and then you can’t unsee them, no matter where else on the page you look. But this one sums me up perfectly this morning.

Lots of public school teachers are looking at their last day of school before break today, but not us. We go Wednesday as well, which means I am eternally grateful to Mavis and the Thriller for getting the Hamsgiving ball rolling while I’m putting in that last day tomorrow.

I hope you’re someone who gets Thanksgiving day off…unless you’re Suzanne, who lives in Europe, or my favorite pensioners (and you know who you are), to whom every day is a national holiday.

Share time! Thanksgiving plans, GO.

Nosyfink

Yeah, yeah, I know I complain about it a lot (goes with the job), but Christmastime is actually pretty cool, even though December contains twice the insanity for a choral director as it does for most other folks. S’ok though. I asked for it. No regrets.

It all begins in earnest today, with my select ensemble doing their first gig of the holiday season. Only four performances this time, not counting the concert on the 17th. Today, we sing for senior citizens who gather for a monthly luncheon. Nice people, all.

We’re thinking of flash-mobbing “Carol of the Bells” at a busy, upscale grocery store here in town, just before Christmas. How fun is that? My fiends have good ideas. I never would have thought of it.

Hey, you’ll have to come meet us there for it. You know, be part of the charade. That, and we’ll need someone to clap when it’s over. Haha

At least it’s not Monday today. That was rough. I sometimes have trouble getting psyched for work. But only on days that end in “y.”

Happy Tuesdag.

Hey you.

Guess what’s coming up in 41 days?

I must say I do love holiday shopping. Mostly because I do 99% of it sitting right here at the box. Two years ago, I went with my daughter-in-law and her mom to do the whole Black Friday, get-up-at-2-a.m. thing. It wasn’t as bad as what I thought it might be, but I ended up coming home with fewer items than I wanted. So, I went back to chair shopping, and I really do like it. Merchants are much more savvy to the online holiday shopper now, and they fashion their BF sales to meet those needs. I like it.

Do you have a special “event” that you make out of Christmas shopping? Any fun traditions? I’m always up for starting a new one. That, and I love reading your stories.

What’s your favorite thing to bake over the holidays? (Or if you don’t bake, tell me your favorite thing to eat.) Jury’s still out on how much I will bake this year, since I can’t eat just about all of it. Blah! I have committed to making cake truffles for my high school choir again, while of course saving some back for the family, but not sure what else I’ll make. I’ll take your ideas. Gotny?

While looking at a hundred pictures on my hard drive (an activity that Jake enjoys in the early mornings, when it’s just the two of us, and the house is asleep), I found this graphic I made a long time ago for something.

First one who explains it gets the great big fat ol’ Hershey bar in the mail.

Set, go.