Today (Fallon's Dance Teams, Danny Tarkanian, and students getting locked in a cage)

Some days subbing go better than others.

Danny Tarkanian, who is in the US Senate Republican Primary (to go up against Senate Majority Leader Harry--may he be voted out of office by a worthy candidate this year--Reid), was going to speak at the high school today during lunch, so I wanted to be there. Therefore, I was very happy to get a job subbing for the music teacher (bonus-I would be next door to Glen!).

The day started out well as I had prep and the dance class (whose 2 teams both took first place last week in the Gem State Competition in Idaho), which meets next door, came over to use the TV/DVD player in my room and I got to see the clips of their winning dances. I just tried (with Hannah's help of course) to steal the clip that was posted to facebook of one of their performances. Let's see if it worked:






However, after that, boredom ranked high. One good point was that I was able to finish a book I've been reading for the last 2 1/2 months..."Digital Photography for Dummies."

The music teacher hasn't been there in over a week and I got to watch the first 90 minutes of "The Music Man" twice (btw, "Marian the Librarian" is my favorite scene and it will be in my head the rest of the evening, but that's OK. If you want to have it in your head too, click on the link and enjoy the blessing of youtube video clips).

Anyway, I also had 90 minutes of guitar where no one ever really accomplishes anything and I feel like I'm just babysitting and not really helping the kids but just trying to keep them out of trouble. Eric was in 2 classes with me today--choir and guitar, but I had him in the library working on an assignment for his credit retrieval math class. But once again, I digress...

Back to the boredom of guitar class. Towards the end of class, the boredom was broken by a few guitar students (Trouble with a capital "T" right there in River City...OK, trouble might be too big of a word as it, thankfully, turned out).

One of these guitar students is the son to a friend of mine. He shall remain nameless, but for those who want to know who it is, the hint is that he has great hair.  Mr. Great Hair and another student went into a "cage" where some band equipment is kept. I see the 2nd student putting the padlock on the handle just when I'm saying that the boys can't be up there and need to get out. At which point another boy quickly goes over and pushes the padlock shut. I don't have the key. I'm afraid the teacher has the key. I wonder how long the boys will be locked up.

So another student takes a picture of the boys in the cage and a minute later informs me that he's already posted it on facebook. Sigh. Maybe I should have confiscated his cell phone, but I was still thinking about the boys being locked up.

I go next door and get Glen. I doubted he had a key, but thought I'd check because he can get into a few rooms on the music side of the auditorium. He didn't have a key, but luckily there was a key in the teacher's desk (why didn't I check there before bothering Glen? Don't know. Wish I had). So the 2 students were liberated before the bell for lunch rang and I was able to go listen to Danny Tarkanian speak to the government students.

Danny Tarkanian should be another post (click on his name to go to his site if you're interested). I don't like making long posts, but I seem to write them anyway, so I might as well talk a bit about him.

Now I have to say his father, who used to coach UNLV basketball, drove me NUTS and so I had a negative feeling about Danny going into this (same for Rory Reid who is running for governor but I can't see ever changing my mind about Rory and I think I have about Danny).

Anyway, I thought Danny presented himself well and he mentioned a few ways that he differed from Sue Lowden, who is also in the Primary. Danny seems to line up more with my beliefs...is conservative, doesn't believe the bailout should have ever happened (this is where Sue Lowden differs), is for lowering taxes and growing the job base...

One thing he mentioned that I have to think about. He talked about having Yucca Mountain be a nuclear spent fuel reprocessing plant.

So, it was an interesting day and I'm glad I'm home. No olympics to watch, however.

this week in review (honor choir, Klondike)

Alex had his Cub Scout Blue and Gold Dinner on Tuesday night. He and Glen made a lovely 2 layer pink cake with an Eagle on it made with sprinkles. I, of course, forgot my camera (I do that a lot...or bring it and never wind up taking photos), so sorry, no photos to post. But Glen and Alex seemed to have a great time working together in the kitchen, and that's what it's all about.


Eric and Hannah were involved in the High School and Middle School Honor Choirs concert in Lovelock this week (Lovelock is about an hour from Fallon). They practiced all day Tuesday and Wednesday and then the concert was Wednesday evening, which Glen and I attended. No camera once again, but since you really shouldn't take photos during a performance, I guess it doesn't matter.

First the Honors Jazz Band performed. Try as I might, I just don't seem to enjoy jazz music. I would have much preferred a marching band, but the kids were definitely talented. The song they did that I kind of liked was The Haitian Fight Song (click on the link to watch a youtube video of the Wakefield MA High School Jazz Band performing it).

Then Hannah sang with the Middle School choir. Most of the numbers were just gorgeous. They had just the girls do Loch Lommond and just the boys do Tutira Mai (a traditional Maori song) and they were both great.

And then the High School choir with Eric in it finished the program. They started off with the students surrounding the audience for 2 pieces (Statsis --click on the link and then listen starting from about 5:22 to 6: 40 to get an idea of this unusual piece --and MLK by U2). It sounded fabulous...only Eric was behind us, so I was glad when they moved to the stage and I could watch him...he's fun to watch as he really enunciates and gets into it.

Last night was the boy scout Klondike Derby where they camp in the snow. Does it need to be said that I think they are insane? I'm so glad I don't have to participate in this. This year they went to Carroll Summit, which is east of Fallon. There was a storm coming in from the west, but they didn't see any flakes until they said their closing prayer today. After many years of worrying about them being warm and dry, I have finally stopped concerning myself as they have always survived. Seems like they had a good time. Eric didn't go (wise move in my opinion), but Glen and Ryan did. I watched some TV and got some projects done while Glen was gone. It was nice. But it's also nice to have him home.

Tonight is a church dance which involves everyone but Alex and me (so much for Glen being home ;). I guess I'll try and get some more things done.

Thursday I went to the temple alone and used it as a way to try and get my rear in gear. I'm trying to do more of what I should. I'm using the treadmill, reading my Conference issue of the Ensign, trying to have better prayers, and trying to take care of things around the house instead of letting them bother me. Three days down and so far, I'm still motivated.

The high school's competition and performance swing dance team has been in Idaho for a competition...and they took first place! Here is a link from a performance last year: Footloose