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1. Mr. Pete has been gone since Wednesday – hobnobbing with his fellow music store colleagues and band directors. He was able to sell all but 5 of Izzy’s earrings and got some ideas from customers for more things that they can make. But so far, Izzy has earned $70 – not bad for her first time out!
2. One of my favorite things to do with kids is watch movies with them that they have never seen before. Last night, Izzy and Noah and I watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from 1954. My kids are so observant when it comes to movies – they know if they see the credits first with full orchestration – that it’s an old movie. If they hear a lot of saxaphones, probably a movie from the 1980s (which to them is still old). The plot is based loosely around the abduction of the Sabine Woman, with humor, music, singing and dancing thrown in. Izzy in particular truly enjoyed it!
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A definite highlight of the movie!
4. The lovely winter scene in my new header is from some property my sister and I inherited in Michigan. It’s been in my family for a very long time but the property taxes are about $2000 a year. We figured we could be better stewards of our money and probably of the property if we let it go. So if you’re interested – it’s for sale! More on that next week.
5. Izzy, Noah and I are going to be working a booth at the International Festival today – it’s a fund raiser for our Sanctuary Society and we got involved because my sister is the president this year. Funny story- a few years back, Sis decided that she wanted to become more involved with the parish, so she saw a notice in the bulletin that the Sanctuary Society was having a meeting, and she decided to attend. Keep in mind she was new to the parish, didn’t know anyone and this was her first meeting. The next day she called me to tell me that she was going to be the new vice president! That first year I helped her to call bereaved families to tell them that they were entitled to two frozen lasagnas courtesy of the parish. We also ran all of the games for the International Festival that year. This year, because she is the president, we have gotten stuck with been promoted to running one of the food booths.
6. Just got the news that I have been asked NOT TO PLAY the flute during the Lenten season. My first reaction is GREAT!! No rehearsals and I can go to whichever mass I want to go to at whichever parish I want to. It will also be easier to get my kids off to Sunday school without having to worry about getting my music and everything ready as well.
My second reaction though is… what did I do wrong? Don’t they like my playing?
and my third reaction is I rue the day when I was 4 years old and I gave my mom such a hard time that she quit giving me piano lessons! I wish we could have re-visited that at age 8 or so.
7. Got two bombshell revelations from my sons this week. Calvin tells me that he is thinking of going into the military as a paramedic private contractor when he is done with his training. He will have to do basic training and all of that, but when he is done he will be on the medical unit and most likely get sent close to where the action is. Some friends of his did it and made quite a nice chunk of change when they were done with their contract. Of course I am worried about him going into harms way, but at the same time I totally think Calvin is suited for this type of work and I think this could be very good for him.
My second son tells me he wants to be a luthier. When I asked him where on earth you go to learn that craft, he pulled up a link to a school that is very close to the property we are selling! Small world. I think we finally decided that since he will need at least $18,000 to attend this program he might as well finish up his College Plus work while he is working. A business degree with a craftsman’s skill could be a winning combination. And then I told Mr. Pete he might want to consider expanding his shop!
PLEASE ask Calvin to consider actually going into the military to do that job. He can sign up for a duty specific contract (I am a paramedic or I get out). We have many contractor friends who make loads of money. The problem is that they do the work with none of the protections. If something happens to them they have less injury insurance and no follow up. He should talk to a recruiter who knows about job specific contracts. There is a serious war still going on. We don't see it on the news- but I see it in when hundreds do wounded warriors arrive off the plane to our fort. Great money doesn't do anything for PTSD or a missing limb. Seriously, I'm worried.
I'll mention it to him Janette, thanks. He doesn't officially finish his training until June and they keep him pretty busy until then so we have time.