Join Jen and the other Quicktakers over at the Conversion Diary.

1. I think it is very important for only mature people with a modicum of study in psychology to man the front desks at mammography centers! A woman at Izzy’s art class told me that she had a lovely chat with the receptionist at our local mammography center. But when her mammogram showed something suspicious, that same receptionist could barely look her in the eye on the way out.  Something even more disconcerting happened to  SLO    (although I’m sure we will look back at this in later years and laugh.) SLO sat in the waiting room and watched woman after woman come out, pay their bill and get a receipt before they walked out the door. But when SLO left the office, the receptionist chased her down to hand her a breast-cancer-pink Teddy bear with a look and voice that just oozed sympathy. Handing it to SLO she said with big doe eyes, “Here,” and then walked away. I guess the moral of that story is that if your mammography center tries to give you something sentimental and comforting after your mammogram – run away. And if it’s a pink Teddy bear, threaten to beat them with it!

2. Mr. Pete is back from his big New Mexico adventure.  This has been the second big legal battle of my lifetime and what I have learned from both of these experiences is that when it comes to law- might makes right.  The guy with the deeper pockets has the advantage. Which doesn’t mean that the little guy can’t win – but it will cost – a lot.

3.  Part of the flexibility of homeschooling means- homeschooling on Saturday, which we are going to do this week because I don’t know what next week is going to be like with SLO and chemotherapy. Flexibility also meant that all the kids could stay up last night until their Daddy got home after midnight, but could sleep in late the next day and still get a full school day in.  People ask me all the time how I manage to homeschool, but I don’t see how people with kids in regular school manage having to work extraordinary circumstances into set time parameters.  My hat is off to the folks that can do it.

4.  So last night we had our first rehearsal with the church bell choir for Riu Riu Chiu.  This is the first time EVER that Gabe has had to play drums with a group outside of his rock band with Sam and it unnerved him a little bit. This piece is in 4/4 and 5/4 and even some 2/4 time so it demands a lot of COUNTING!  As I had my own flute part to play I couldn’t stand by Gabe to coach him, but Sam did and by the end of the rehearsal Gabe was doing pretty good. At least we were all ending together and that’s something!

Afterwards, Sam walked over to his guitar lesson and was telling his teacher that he was helping Gabe play some funky piece in 4/4, 5/4 and 2/4 time and the teacher said, “Sounds like, Riu Riu Chiu!” and Sam was thoroughly impressed!

5.  A beautiful version of Riu Riu Chiu!

6. I finally broke down and bought my own copy of the O Antiphon music for our home this Advent season! Can’t wait to play it.

7.  Funny article on the “dirt” the 11 AP fact checkers came up with on Sarah Palin’s new book,

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