We got a GIG!

Did I tell you I was in a band?

We are playing at the Boulevard Mall on April 7th. We're playing "La Bamba," "The Pink Panther," and "The Flintstones." I'm playing the saxophone and we're pretty good. Liz is playing "The Kazoo" after her preferred instrument, HER HANDS, was nixed by the bandleader. It took several times for me to get used to her musical stylings, as she doesn't just hum into the kazoo, she full out sings into it. She also makes faces at me while she's playing and renders me unable to blow into the saxophone. I have to keep my music stand at eye level just to get through practice!

I Guess The Ducks Are Staying...

I've named them Bill and Monica. He roosts alone in the backyard and we rarely see her. Plus, there's all those stains on the pool cover. If the squirrel in the attic doesn't die from "Operation Poison Storm," then I'm going to name him Kenneth Starr. Additionally, there is either a skunk or raccoon digging up the back garden that I will be naming Rush Limbaugh.

I'm changing my last name to Doolittle.

#1 H.I.T.S.: High Interest Teaching Strategies That Affect Student Achievement Through Connections With Popular Music

That is the title of my 93 page behemoth Master's Project that I finished today. My parents keeping wanting another grandchild...and this is it, 'cause I completely feel like I've given birth. Just thought you'd all like to know.

An update on the Squirrel situation...

So, there is STILL a squirrel going in and out of the attic, but he is not acting alone. We seem to also have a mouse. It has to be something small enough that can get in and out of the small animal trap we set, unless the squirrel is reaching his tiny little paws in there. At any rate, I've had enough of the "Snow White" method of capture and release. I decided my new strategy--"OPERATION POISON STORM" would be much more effective. In fact, I've not heard ANY scratching in the last couple of days. Hopefully that is a good sign.

Harry Potter and the Mystery of Discussion

I volunteered tonight to lead a retired teacher's discussion group on the first Harry Potter novel. None of the folks in the group had read it before. I took them letters from Hogwart's just like Harry got and I also took in Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans to share. We had a great discussion and many of the people reminisced about how things were when they were young and how Harry Potter spurred some of their favorite memories. I look forward to doing it again soon!

GRADUATION!

Finally!

I got a postcard today saying that I "SHOULD" graduate in May, though I won't be getting my degree until August because I have 2 summer classes to take. Since this FAKE graduation is highly reminiscent of my undergraduate graduation, I'll not be inviting people. In fact, I'm not planning to attend myself. You would think that for $18,000, you could look forward to something more than standing in line for six hours in a dress. (With an ugly square cap on.) Unlike the undergraduate degree, though, I will graduate in the year intended. Buff State offers no graduation ceremony during the summer or in December...so everyone has to "WALK" in May. I'm so excited I can't stand it. (Insert your own sarcastic comment here.)

I just want the piece of paper that says I'm done so that I can get a raise at work. (The real motivation for going back to school!)

Someone is quite full of themselves. 

We took some Easter Eggs over to Siobhan this morning. She spent a solid hour dumping out the Easter Basket and quickly putting the eggs back in.  

Well, there WAS a FULL MOON this week!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

SARS

Don't jump to conclusions! (Like I did, initially...)

SARS = Subject Area Representatives

I found out today that I am going to be a SAR for the New York State Science Teacher's Association. I'm not sure what it means yet until I go to the conference next weekend, but the name seems unfortunate.

SQUIRREL!

. We have a squirrel in the attic who seems to know EXACTLY which room we sleep in. Do any of you have a gun we can borrow?

We woke up to quacking this morning as two ducks settled in to our backyard "pool within a pool." There's quite a bit of water on top of our pool cover (I know what you're thinking...we're buying a pump to get it off as soon as it thaws...), but it's still partially frozen. I guess the ducks were thinking it looked like a good place to set up shop. We've all kinds of other critters...why not add ducks to the list? (Read previous postings...) I went out to photograph them, getting just one decent shot before they flew off (which I also captured!). I have a feeling they won't be back.

...

Dustings...

We've had little bits of snow here and there over the past few days, sandwiched between days in the 50's and 60's. The weather has inspired a new haiku:

Spring is a disease
Infecting my happiness
Winter, only cure.

I'm not quite ready for the warm weather yet...we didn't have much of a Winter and I don't want to give up hope!

POUTINE!

Well, I guess there's a first time for everything. We drove over to Canada today to get some meat pies and sausage rolls, and stopped at a restaurant over there to have some fish. The waittress gave us the menus and the first thing on it was POUTINE.

You know I laughed out loud.

Upon further inspection, I discovered that POUTINE is a dish consisting of French Fries drizzled with gravy and melted mozzarella. Evidently, it is very popular in Canada; if for nothing else than because people probably just like saying the name. (I've said it quite a bit since the discovery!)

So, of course, we had to order some.

I kid you not, it was the best thing I've ever eaten. The french fries were thick, with beef gravy, and tons of cheese. They served it on a trough-sized plate and we all shared it. The plate was spotless when the waittress came back to remove it. It was SOOOOO good!

Afterward, we all had emergency bypass surgery to unclog our arteries. They do it right there in the restaurant. It's called "The Poutine Routine" and you just lay back and watch Canadian TV while they vacuum you out. It's only $12.95 extra. (But that's Canadian money...so it's really only like $3.50)

Anyway...if you have the chance...try it. It's delicious! It makes me wonder what else would be good with gravy and cheese. It's a combination I hadn't before now considered, but now see a plethora of possibilities with.

Happy March!

This one is definitely IN LIKE A LION! We had four inches of snow today in a two hour period! The normal 20 minute drive home from work took almost 40. The flakes were gigantic and were just pouring out of the sky! It was incredible, and sadly, I believe it is to be the end of our Winter. (which was very disappointing this year.)