Make Me Super

I should already be on the road to APU but couldn't resist posting this:

Super Teri

I made one for Bob too:

Super Bob

(HT benjamincanady)

Would You Consider Helping the Homeless of Long Beach?

The Long Beach Marathon will be run next Sunday, October 12. On that day instead of going to church, my church family and I are volunteering at the Marathon to help raise money for the Long Beach Rescue Mission.

If you are interested in learning how to make a contribution to the Rescue Mission click here. All money raised goes to the Long Beach Rescue Mission.

I'll see you at the Marathon!

Whirlwind Bruckner Encounter

I just finished my whirlwind encounter with Bruckner's First Symphony. A week ago I'd never heard it. Now I've played it. Successfully.

It was a rewarding experience.

Details to follow...at some point.

Entitlement Issues

Entitlement Issues.

This lady has them:



I pray for the grace this 911 dispatcher was able to extend.

Wow.

The Day of Shofar Blowing

I love the shofar blowing!

"The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

* It is the Day of Judgment
As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins

* It is the Day of Shofar Blowing
As the Shofar (the rams horn) is blown in temple to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days

* It is the Day of Remembrance
As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel

* And of course it is New Year's Day
Celebrated with it's holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and sweet foods (to ensure sweetness in the New Year)"

Shana Tova!

BooHoo WaMu

I am a Washington Mutual customer.

Imagine my delight yesterday when I learned my financial institution had failed.

Just as quickly as the federal regulators seized WaMu, JPMorgan Chase swooped in and bought it for 1.9 billion.

A "seamless" transition is promised.

I actually need to make a DEPOSIT today. I'm wondering if I will run into long lines of panicked customers.

I may opt out of that experience.

As for me, I'm not panicking. It's only money, and I don't have that much to begin with.

I'll do a drive-by after I go to the library and before I go to Trader Joe's to scope things out.

I'll keep you posted.

A Failure to Communicate

I love giving flute lessons. I love my students, I love the process, I treasure the relationships that are forged.

I have been teaching flute since I was 16 and afraid that I would render the junior highers under my care permanently un-fluteworthy.

It has always been easy for me to anticipate and spot lame excuses for not practicing, being late to lessons, and general laziness. Why? Because I employed each and every one of those lame, lazy excuses myself.

Frequently.

I can safely say that in all my years of teaching I had never been taken by surprise by an excuse. Ever. That was until Saturday.

A talented high school senior had been encouraged by her flute teacher to schedule a flute lesson with me. This young lady is considering attending APU in the fall. I am always happy to meet with prospective students, and this one came highly recommended.

She called me last week to set up a lesson time. I asked her if she wanted an hour or a half hour lesson. After agreeing on an hour lesson we went through our schedules to find a time agreeable to us both.

After comparing schedules we agreed on Saturday afternoon. I said, "I have you scheduled for an hour lesson at 2pm." She said she would send me her contact information via email and asked that I send directions to my home in reply.

Said email arrived and I sent the following reply (along with directions to my house which you don't need to see here):

"I will see you Saturday from 2-3. I'm really looking forward to meeting you."

Saturday afternoon 2pm came and went with no sign of the student. 2:05. Nothing. 2:10. Nothing. 2:20. Nothing. At 2:33 my phone rang. It was the student cheerfully informing me she would be there in about 15 minutes. I gently (go me!) told her that I was expecting her for a lesson at 2pm.

She was utterly horrified, apologized very profusely, then said, "Your email said the lesson was from 2 to 3 so I thought I could show up any time between 2 and 3."

I had never, ever heard that one before.

What we had was a failure to communicate...