Food, Random thoughts, Running

Friday news round-up

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TGIF!  What a crabby week I had.  But now it’s Friday night and I’m excited to hang out with friends and relax.

I had a workout with Mike today where I only cried once…well, by cried, I mean got super whiny because one of the moves he wanted me to do really hurt my wrist, and then the modification hurt my hand.  I didn’t run after because I am saving up for tomorrow’s scheduled 11 mile run and my right knee was feeling less than great.  Weather looks good for tomorrow. 

Then it was onto Whole Foods to get a few supplies for tonight—some cheese, wine, and veggies.  I’m going to be hanging out with some friends.  I made a fabulous dinner of Artichoke and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken (I used this recipe’s filling and this recipe for baking), Goat Cheese Grits, and canned green beans.  Sometimes a nice canned vegetable really hits the spot. (It’s an old family recipe.)

I have earned my upcoming weekend.  Tomorrow:  nothing.  Sunday:  a bunch of different FUN activities.  Next week is a semi-spring break (i.e. THREE of my schools go on breaks) so I get two additional evenings free and one morning free. 

Oh, and a review of Winter Opera’s recent performance was published online. 

Okay, I’m off to finish my prep for the evening.  Have a fabulous Friday!

Random thoughts

Funny searches

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I love blog visitors.   So, if you are reading this, THANK YOU and please tell your friends.

I am able to see what it is that people search for that brings them to my blog.  I don’t have any fancy way to track statistics, just the ones that come standard with a word press blog.   (Blog).

Some of the searches are pretty obvious, such as:

Hannah violin

violin teacher

hannahviolin.com (why not just type that into the address bar and see what happens?)

hannahviolin banana bread

Then there are the people searching for my friends: 

Jen Gartley

Asako Kuboki violin

Valentina Takova cello

or sort of searching for my friends:

Gina Galati violist

Or famous people I’ve mentioned:

Mark O’Connor

Andre Watts

Leila Josefowicz

But then it starts to get more interesting, and I hope the people found my blog helpful:

pf chang half marathon medal

Suzuki group class ideas

rock n roll marathon tech shirt

spassfest

bacon bread

race to cure lymphoma

Washington Missouri catholic church

nachi cocum pictures (ah, I miss nachi cocum!)

Isabel Wilkerson

pancake wrist

You get the idea.  People probably find my blog helpful on occasion, right?  But then there are the funny search topics:

Colorado Christmas ornaments

rock and roll bathrooms

stage deli cheesecake

wedding church in front view

quartet music stand table

“Louis symphony”

what classification apple kuchen butter cake belong

strawberry shake the cheesecake factory

aught two 2002

what is word for recital pieces

salads for thanksgiving sooner

weightlifting Christmas ornaments

cat cutie sad

is there 6 more weeks of winter febuary 2nd 2011

code of pork with polenta

pf chang half marathon – I had to run for 30 minutes to reach the start line!

If you have a blog, what funny search terms have people used?  Also, does anybody have a better way to track my visitors to suggest?  Lastly, what is “code of pork”?

Random thoughts, Teaching

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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Whee!  I had to work all day, and now I’m too tired to “celebrate” but Happy St. Patrick’s to those of you who are celebrating.

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I took a variety of “self-portraits” while I was waiting for students today.  Many who did not show.  Which I am getting tired of:  not the no-shows (well, those too), but the parents who think they don’t have to pay.  I sat there for 30 minutes.  I have a waiting list.  I have other things to be doing.  If I am waiting for your child, you are paying me for it unless you canceled within the appropriate window of time.  And I am going to start making parents sign a form agreeing to that.  Once that time has passed, that time is gone for all of us.

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I also wore festive socks.  And my lovely purple shoes.

I was sitting on the front steps between students today, next to a student, and a man walked by the house with his two dogs.  One of whom pooped RIGHT in front of us, and the man just kept going.  So that’s the second thing annoying me today (1st is parents who don’t want to pay me for my time, 2nd is people who don’t clean up after their dogs).

Here’s something delightful today (so you don’t think it’s all me complaining…I mean, it totally IS, but still.)  Do you read Pioneer Woman’s blog?  Usually it’s a great blog with excellent recipes.  Today it’s “Cappuccino and the Kitty.” If you like cats (and who doesn’t????) you should check it out.

Remember my excitement about the women’s fit tech shirt for the St Patrick’s Day race? Leslie and I had been annoyed that the Phoenix RnR race didn’t have women’s shirts, even though the race was more than 50 percent women.  We had thought that perhaps for once, the race should provide ONLY women’s shirts, if that were easier.  Why should we have to wear boxy, men’s shirts?  Well, I mentioned this to Mike, and he said, well, I’d rather see a woman in a man’s shirt than a man in a woman’s shirt.  To which I replied…well, it’s not all about you.  What is my point?  Well, this blog IS all about me…so I am going to continue to write this post.

I am feeling bad because I left a message for a parent that was a little harsh re: missing lessons and expecting to not pay,(in fact, specifically canceling because they don’t want to pay) and how this is NOT okay, and they should simply drop if that’s the case.  I shouldn’t feel bad.  I should feel good for being assertive, right?

One thing I’m glad about:  I have my kindle with me at all times when teaching outside the home, and I’ve just started a fantastic book:  “A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness.  I got it after hearing an interview on Talk of the Nation, and so far I am loving it!   (I’m also loving how quickly I got through this month’s “required reading” though frankly with all the students missing, some due to sickness, some due to “forgetting their violins”, or “didn’t feel like coming to their lesson” I’ve had so much reading time).

Okay.  That’s enough complaining and randomness for one night, I think?   Enjoy your holiday!  (Chris says it’s not really a holiday since he had to work…I said, it’s not all about you!  That is my new  mantra.)

Edit:  Here’s a fantastic article about makeup lessons.

Books, Running

Beautiful day!

I am blown away by today’s weather.  Today I got up to head to the same school that on Monday I canceled due to snow…and today it is the most perfect day ever.  Seriously.  Sunny, 60 degrees…beautiful.  (I know that’s cold for some of my friends, but trust me, it’s perfect.)

I ran outside for 6 miles too.  I love when I get to wear my Phoenix RnR t-shirt to work out Smile.  I don’t know why, I just feel fancy wearing it.  It’s a little challenging as it is navy blue, and sometimes I get bothered wearing a navy blue shirt with black shorts or capris (my usual color) so today I paired it with blue capris.  Then I put on my black water belt…so I’m not really sure what I accomplished.  A six mile run, I guess.  No one is concerned about my fashion—I’m sure they are just wondering why somebody would run so slowly.

I started reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.  There was quite a bit of press about this book when it came out, so naturally I have to read it.  Here’s a link to the NY Times article about it, and here’s a link to the Wall Street Journal article.  I’m reading the book from the standpoint of a child, a violin teacher, and a hypothetical parent, and it’s interesting thinking about her story from those angles.  And my upbringing was a little bit “Chinese” as well, so I can definitely relate!  Have you read the book?  Thoughts??

Random thoughts

The Ides of March

I’ve decided (after yesterday’s post) that there are still good people in the world, people who care about others and all that good stuff, regardless of religious affiliation.  I’m just being overly sensitive.  It also helps to turn off the news—I love listening to NPR while I’m driving and I love watching CNN at the gym, and not doing those things really helps with my mental state.  I’m going for CD’s in the car and something else at the gym (I like to listen to my ipod while watching tv, a bit of overload, but it distracts me from the treadmill pain.)

I had an awesome day: 

First, a workout with Mike during which I wore my new St. Pat’s Day shirt.  He was totally jealous since he didn’t get one even though he claims he ran the race in 30 minutes or so.  Whatever, if I don’t see it, I don’t believe it Winking smile We also discussed poo, weather, the 80’s 5k in May that I am hoping to get a group of friends together to run and dress up, if you can bring anyone’s child to the gym’s day care (free to members), and some woman who likes to do crunches on the stretching table…I also ran a bit before and after the workout.  Go me!

Secondly, I met my friend Melissa at California Pizza Kitchen for lunch.  I had the fish tacos.  We had a great time.

Then I went grocery shopping at a different store than usual (on my way home from lunch) which made grocery shopping a new and exciting experience!  There were different brands and a different layout (okay, yes, I lead a fairly mundane life.)

Next was the work portion of my day, during which I had to teach.  Today’s students were delightful.  (Actually it was just one student.)  Everybody was considerate of everybody else.  I love my Tuesday student!

I came home and ate some delicious enchiladas—beef, mushrooms, a bit of cheese, tortillas, and enchilada sauce.  Yum!  With a side spinach salad—gotta have those green vegetables.  Hmm.  That makes today a very “mexican” day.  (fish tacos, enchiladas). 

Now I am heading out for a quick catch-up with friends at a local pub.  Two more workdays left!

My friend Sarah posted this on my facebook wall today: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cat_vs_internet.  If you haven’t seen that cartoon, and if you are a cat owner or a cat lover, you should definitely look at it.  If you don’t like cats (or worse, fear cats) you will NOT want to click that link as it will just reaffirm your dislike or fear.

 

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Teaching

Surprise Snow-day

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Yesterday I got up early as usual to get ready and head out to St. Peters (about 45 minutes west).  I happened to glance out the window…and it was snowing!  I checked the traffic and it said the traffic was a mess, the roads were a mess, etc, so I made a snap decision to cancel my morning.  I didn’t want to mess around for a very small amount of money and two classes.  Sorry guys!

I taught the rest of the day as the snow changed over to rain and became very slushy.  I had a new adult student today, and another new adult next week (the adults are easier to squeeze in as they can come a little later than kids).  Do other teachers find they are getting more adults wanting to play?  I have quite a few 20-somethings.  I’m glad—I think anybody can learn violin at any age if they are willing to practice a bit, and it’s a great skill to have.

I got really upset today at something a student said (I didn’t show it).  One of my students had mentioned the Japanese tsunami/earthquake situation, and I was concerned they might be worried about it, so I asked “how do you feel about it?”   They thought a bit, and then said “well, more people will be in hell now.”  I was completely shocked.  I asked what they meant, and evidently they had been studying Japan and learned that the primary religion was Buddhist, and therefore those people were going to hell, as they weren’t Christian. What’s more, the student didn’t seem that concerned either way.  I just didn’t know what to say, so I quickly changed the subject.

I went to the bathroom after the student and cried a bit.  Where is the compassion for people?  Where is the love for humanity?  Where is the concern for others?  How is a child being taught this? 

I’m almost done with the book I’ve been reading “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration” by Isabel Wilkerson. The book has been an emotional read (perhaps I was also quite raw from reading it beforehand) that really brings to life the atrocities brought upon African Americans in the past, particularly the Jim Crow laws in the South—some being in place into the 1970’s—the decade of my birth!  Something that seemed so long ago to me suddenly seems so real and so recent, and the author does a terrific job really bringing the stories to life (I highly recommend reading this book.)  What really hits me is that not only are some of the people who were treated in this way still alive, but those who TREATED THEM THIS WAY are still.  And imagine what they may have taught their children. 

I’ve mentioned I was raised in the south, and racism was very present in my hometown.  Racism is still very much alive in our country today everywhere, no matter what anybody wants to think.  If it’s not African Americans who are being judged and discriminated against, it’s people of Arab descent, or SCHOOL TEACHERS.  Why can’t we all just respect one another and live together, and realize we can all coexist peacefully?  Don’t we all want similar things in life?  Food, shelter, love?  Isn’t the world a more interesting place with all different kinds of people?

Being a Suzuki teacher is about teaching love.  Where love is deep, much can be accomplished.  Suzuki was a from Japan.  Maybe that is why that comment hurts so much…to think that somebody could condemn such a wonderful, loving man to hell…it’s just ridiculous to me.  It makes me nauseous.

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.