Between the Memes

I had some posts in my head today - while I was cleaning.   But I cleaned and didn't post anything.  And then I ran out of time because we had to go to school, because tonight was opening night of Cory's play, Night of the Living Beauty Pageant.  Cleaning was because it needed it, and because the Cast Party is here tomorrow night.  The whole time I was cleaning I was wondering if I'm not doing things backward.  I mean, people are coming over, things will get messed up, and I'll just need to clean again.  Maybe I should just wait?  Except that cats and cat litter and bathrooms... well, things did need cleaned.

Overall the play went really well.  It was fun to see how some of the kids really stepped it up from the other night in rehearsal.  Things came together really well, even though it didn't look too promising earlier in the week.  Cory is a natural on the stage and fun to watch no matter what he is doing. (and Jenna, too!)

(Hey!  I was liking the new add an image dialog.  What happened?  It's back to the old one.)

Anyway, opening night went well.  Two more performances, so that's what we're doing this weekend - and concessions for a track meet tomorrow.   (Yay, fundraisers)

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Looking at the Sky on Friday - 55

I’m so glad there’s a meme like Looking at the Sky on Friday, because it means all the time I spend looking at the sky, and taking pictures of it, has a purpose! Click the badge for more info.

Like I mentioned earlier this week, I walk every morning.  I probably should, (Misty says I should) but I don’t always take my camera with me.  Mainly, I’m walking to get outside and for exercise, not to take pictures, or look for used golf balls, which is good, because we don't live on a golf course, so I'd be sorely disappointed on that front. I also have a limited amount of time, because I need to get back home before Jeffrey leaves for work and sometimes have to take Cory to school for Jazz Band.  So it’s usually better if I leave the camera at home so I don’t get distracted or stop too often.

But, the other day I walked out the front door and thought the sunrise was so pretty that I turned around, went back in, and grabbed the camera.

Maybe Misty’s right – maybe I should take my camera more often.  What do you think?

If you enjoy skies as much as I do, be sure to check out Looking at the Sky on Friday.

Photo Tag

Tammy tagged me for this fun photo meme. Rules for the photo tag follow the photo and short description.

 This is one of the first robins of Spring last year.  The grass wasn't even green yet, but those robins are a sure sign that Spring is on its way!  I was probably thinking I could use this photo for Camera Critters, though I can't remember if I actually used it or not.  The cats just seem to always jump into my Camera Critters posts.

Now the rules:

1. Go to your photo files, select the 8th photo folder.
2. Select the 8th photo in that folder.
3. Post that photo along with the story behind it.
4. Then challenge 8 blogging friends to do the same!

This is actually the 8th photo in the 24th folder - because the 8th folder didn't have 8 photos, so I went to the 8th folder after that, and it didn't have 8 photos in it either.  So I went 8 more, and finally found a folder with at least 8 photos.  All the folders are by date, and some days I only take a photo or two.  Other days I take hundreds, I think.

Anyway, I'm tagging:  (do I have 8 blogging friends who would want to do this?)

1. Tammy (at her other blog)
2. Sassy
3. Jaye
4. Darryl
5. Dad
6. Frigga
7. your name and link could be here
8. your name and link could be here

Yes, I stopped before I got to 8 because I'm lazy.  If you'd like to play, let me know, and I'll add you to the list.

Mosquito Magnet, Save My Summer!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mosquito Magnet. All opinions are 100% mine.

You have to see this:

Those are mosquitoes, lots and lots of mosquitoes.  You know how irritating the little buggers can be!  Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to take care of them - catch them, kill them, and keep them from biting?  I hate being out in the summer right when it starts to get dark.  The stupid things won't leave me alone.  Sometimes, when they're really bad, they don't care what time of day it is, and they bite all day long.  It really makes spending time outside practically impossible, not to mention the fear of diseases they can spread, like West Nile virus.

Since Jeffrey and Cory built the deck last summer, I know we'll be wanting to spend more time outside when the weather warms up.  It's a great place to sit and eat dinner - as long as we can avoid getting eaten ourselves.  We did buy some Citronella candles, because that's supposed to do something, though I haven't yet figured out what.  Attract mosquitoes maybe?  And I don't particularly like the smell, either.

Last summer I was reading some mosquito magnet reviews and doing a little research on the Mosquito Magnet, wondering if it really works.  I was reading some customer testimonials tonight, and judging from what these people are saying and the pictures they've included with the reviews, this thing really works.  They are eliminating thousands of mosquitoes.  One guy said he'd buy them for all his neighbors if he could.  Imagine how nice that neighborhood would be!  That is one great thing about summer - all the neighbors spending time together outside in the yards.  No mosquitoes would make it even better.

If I thought it would be nice to have one of these before, I think so even more after reading some of these customer testimonials.  The Mosquito Magnet has helped so many people be able to enjoy their yards, without being mosquito bait.  Sounds great, doesn't it?  Now I just have to convince my husband that we need one of these.

Sax Quartet

Besides performing his vocal solo at this past weekend's State Solo & Ensemble, Cory also performed with the Sax Quartet.  I think they did well, and we were all proud of them.  Here's video of the performance.  Too bad that music stand is blocking Cory, and you can't really understand what he says in the beginning, but...



Sax Quartet @ State from bcmom on Vimeo.
PEHS Sax Quartet performs at WSMA State Music Festival at Whitewater

They scored a 2 - not as well as they might have liked, but nothing to sneeze at, right? Besides, understanding how the judges think is about as easy as figuring out what pronexin is - at least to me.  Just qualifying for State is an achievement in itself, and they all did their best.

Update:  Cory just told me that they found out today that they were 1 point away from getting a 1, so they're not too upset about that.  It was close.

500

I've been logging my miles with BeeWell for Life since the beginning of April last year, and tomorrow I will hit the 500 mile mark.   I've been walking practically every morning now for 17 years.  I wish I had logged all those miles - just to know how many miles I've walked.  I suppose I could do the math...

If it takes about 13 months to walk 500 miles, how many miles will I have walked in 17 years?  Sounds too much like a word problem, doesn't it?  Anyone who wants to solve it, feel free.  I'll just be happy that all that walking means I don't need diet pills!

...and I'll probably end up doing the math, just because.

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Teen Writers

I was checking out the list of free stuff tonight and came across this site.  The offer is for a free issue of Teen Ink.  It's a magazine entirely written by teens and distributed to thousands of schools nationwide.  Students can also submit their own work - creative writing, art, or photography - for free.  Cory took a creative writing class in school this year, and the class put together a book of their work, which is really neat.  This looks like the same idea, only better.

I'm not sure my request for the print magazine went through or not, because I kept getting an error message.  It looks like there is plenty to see on the Teen Ink website, though, and I'd like to go back and read some of it.  And maybe see if Cory wants to submit some of his work.

Our Son Can Sing

We don't know where he got all his musical and artistic talent, but we DO know he didn't get it from us.  Regardless of where all this great talent comes from, he's got it.  He's been in band throughout middle school and high school, but this is his first year in choir.  He never sang before last year when he was in the musical Oliver.  And this year, he had time in his schedule, so he took choir.  His choir teacher really wishes he'd started earlier, because he really puts his best effort into it, and he's improved so much in just this school year.  And because it's really hard to get boys in the class - and hard to hear the ones there are over all the girls.

Anyway, first year in choir - Cory sang two pieces for Solo & Ensemble, a Class A* solo called Deep River and a musical theater piece, The Kite from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown - a musical he was in, but he didn't sing that song because he played Linus and not Charlie Brown.  He wanted to do the musical theater piece because he really enjoys it, but he had to do the Class A piece in order to be able to do musical theater. 

He scored well enough to go to State with Deep River, and was one point away with The Kite.  This past weekend was the State Solo & Ensemble Festival, and he scored a 1 on his solo!  Gold Medal, baby!  1st year in choir, 1st year singing a solo for Solo & Ensemble, and he goes to State and scores a 1.

The boy has talent.  One of these days he's going to be singing and dancing in acneticin reviews, I mean, Broadway Reviews, and being all famous or something.  He may not have gotten it from us, but we're definitely proud of him.

* Class A: The most advanced skills are required for Class A performance. (WSMA)

Camera Critters (#107)

 
Our sweet boy Weasley loves to look out the window, whether we open the blinds for him or not.

This face makes me wonder what he saw out there!

Camera Critters is a fun weekend meme hosted by Misty Dawn.Visit the Camera Critters headquarters and join in.

Things I Didn't Blog About

This week:

• Beth & Tim signed a lease for an apartment, so she'll be moving out soon.
• Jeffrey got a new motorcycle.
• Pick 'n Save doubled 10 manufacturer's coupons on Wednesday, instead of the usual 5 - and I made sure I had 10 $1 coupons.
• Cappuccino Heath is my favorite Blizzard flavor - coffee, chocolate and Heath bar.  We had to make sure we got to DQ this week for the buy one Blizzard get one for 25¢ deal.  And a large Blizzard is good for at least two nights - just don't freeze it with the spoon in.
• They found out today at school that one of the students has scabies.  She's in the play with Cory and was trying on all the costumes yesterday.  Everyone was freaking out at school.
• Tomorrow we have to go to Whitewater for State Solo & Ensemble where Cory will be singing a solo and playing with the Sax Quartet.
• and, I've been spending way too much time researching flights to and hotels in Vegas - trying to decide if we really should go and, if so, where we should stay.  It would be nice to get away, because we never do anything like that, but then again - Jeffrey bought a new motorcycle this week.  Do we really want to spend the money on a trip?  Or do we just stay home, buy those Santana tickets and ride the new bike to Summerfest so we can park for free?