Could it really be Finkday, finally? I think so.

Jake arrives tonight for a weekend with Grammie & Grandpa Thriller. Taking this child to a wedding will be fun; he positively loves to dance, so here we go.

Last week, the textbook arrived for the Very Last Graduate Course I Will Ever Take in My Long-Legged Life. On 13 December, it’s all over. Par. Tee. Time. But it fills me with a bit of angst, you know? It’s been awhile since I balanced the whole “teach all day, rehearse till 8 p.m., then come home and start working” thing. I mean, I’m fifty now…the university (and indeed, the universe) should cut me a break. Give me extra time. Stuff like that.

So what are your weekend plans? Football games? Gigs at Chamberlain’s in Dallas (I really wish I could be there)? Playing a club in Florida? Having family over? Chained to homework? Share. I covet your articulate and compendious thoughts.

But for now, I am late for the shower and the Mighty Ford Ranger. Off into the rainy morning I go.

Ciao!

Not that you asked, but here it is.

1. I think Milton Bradley needs to embrace the whole “ya makes yer choices and ya lives with the consequences” paradigm. RD, you follow the Cubs – what’s his problem with the fans? He was totally not a troublemaker when he was with the Indians. (Of course, that was his rookie season, or close to it.)
2. PK sent me an e-card for my birthday (thanks PK!) that featured a memory test to see if my advanced age was affecting my recall. It had 7 slides with photographs; after a few seconds of viewing the picture, you had to answer a quiz question about a specific detail (stuff like, “What color was the lady’s hat?’ and “What was the number on the license plate?”). I think you should look at my score.
3. A kid I know (no kid, he’s 24-25 now) is serving a full 12-year prison sentence for selling two friends some Xanax, after which, tragically, they crashed their car and died. Yet, Leonard Little and Donté Stallworth get 90 days and 30 days, respectively, for actually driving drunk themselves and causing the death of other people. I think I do not understand this. I know, there are mitigating/aggravating circumstances, but sheesh, come on, now.
4. I think everyone should experience a Fluffernutter at least once in their lives. I miss them. *sniff*
5. Even if you’re not a fan of his politics or what he did in his personal life (sadly, he would never live down Chappaquiddick), Ted Kennedy was a giant to his family and his causes. If only everyone were as committed and passionate about their jobs…

It’s Thursday; can you see Finkday from here? That is good news (unless you’re a high school band director).

FO

So yesterday was fantastic, even though it was the first (insane) day of school.

Stein and I spent most of the morning getting 5th and 6th grade band/choir schedules straight (Bando, I **ALMOST** did it all by myself!! OK, it was mostly Stein because I needed a left brain in on the process, but I did the final pretty chart.) Then before I knew it, I’d seen all my other classes and wondered where the day went. Didn’t sit down until 2:00, when I finally wolfed down the lunch.

Even so, I had the grooviest, neet-o birthday. Emails, texts, in-person wishes, Facebook posts, cards, and the awsmic gifts from colleagues and friends were so nice. Topped it off with a delightful dinner with Simone and Jon, and a visit from BFFs Kay and Bob. Next week, we’re having a family get-together. It’s so rare that I get them all in one place at one time — I’m looking forward to that as well.

One of my gifts from the Thriller was this nifty car kit for my Storm that fits in the cup holder of the Mighty Ford Ranger. It’s the neatest.

!

And speaking of the MFR…again, I must jet. I left my music bag at school yesterday, and it contains my makeup kit. Yikes. Gotta get there early so as not to leave permanent scars on anyone’s childhood.

Fink out.

Rat Fink logo: Sphinx Productions