This One Time At Band Camp...

Yes, I hear that quote every time I mention band camp to anyone. I'm sure every band director hears it pretty often around this time of year. I'm happy to report that I successfully survived a week of band camp at Bow. I was pretty nervous before it started - it's been 5 years since I last taught marching band and even then I was one of two people teaching it and Mike had all kinds of marching band experience, so I was really just along for the ride. This is the first time I've ever had to teach it myself. Luckily it came back to me pretty quickly and everything went great. The kids are fun and they worked hard this week - we actually learned to march and play all four of the tunes for the show this week. That never happens and I didn't think it was going to here either, but the kids stepped it up the last two days. And it helps that we're doing a Billy Joel show and the kids like the music. It looks like our marching band season is off to a good start!

Ted Kennedy

“It's better to send in the Peace Corps than the Marine Corps.” -Ted Kennedy

My fascination/love of all things Kennedy dates back to middle school. I don't really know what prompted it, but I remember collecting magazines and reading books about them and just being incredibly interested in their lives and the mystique surrounding them. I found the image of Camelot inspiring and remember saying I wish I had been born decades earlier so I could have voted for JFK.

While the coverage of Ted Kennedy's death has been a bit overwhelming, I've also found myself in tears as I've watched footage of the procession through the streets of Boston and the pictures of the Kennedy family, and the rest of Massachusetts, gathering at the Kennedy library. And then there is this obituary in the New York Times. What can I say, I'm a sucker for this stuff.

10 Things

My friend Amanda did a list on her blog today entitled "10 Things Thursday" which listed 10 things that made her smile this week. Since I've been horribly lax in posting to my blog lately, and it is always good to be reminded of the great things in my life, I thought I would present to you a list of 10 things I love right now.

10 Things I Love Right Now
1. the excitement, and nervousness, of starting marching band camp tomorrow
2. the new AC I bought and installed in my bedroom - I finally slept well last night and wasn't melting
3. the piles of beautiful fabric I have lying around my apartment just waiting to be sewn into great things
4. living in Concord and feeling truly settled for the first time since I got back from Peru
5. my new students who keeping stopping by my office at school just to introduce themselves and say hi - I think they are very curious about me and are just too cute about it
6. knowing that my mom is at Georges Pond right now - I wish I could be there too, but it is nice to know she is there and enjoying a place we all love so much
7. all the times I got to hang out with Sean and Victoria this summer - it has been great to reconnect with them
8. my goddaughter Christel and her little sister Faith (and their parents Stacey and Fred) who I got to see on Tuesday - I hadn't seen them in months and it was so much fun to spend time with them at the Hedding pool
9. my sunburn that is turning into a tan - the sunburn wasn't fun at first, but it is nice to finally have a tan after being inside the office at camp all summer
10. spending time with Mom at Hedding at the beginning of the week - I was there for 24 hours and it finally felt like I was on vacation for the first time all summer - Mom and I shopped in Exeter, had dinner at Zampas, walked at Hedding, and sat on the porch and read - it was wonderful!

The Girls

Karisti posted this great picture of the three of us on her Facebook page and I couldn't resist stealing it for the blog. It was taken on the Sunday morning of our weekend in DC when we were at the family brunch. Good times + good friends = a sweet life.

Harry

When Marc and Megan broke up, she took Ralph with her which means Marc has been without a dog for a few months. He was a bit lost so he quickly decided to get a new dog. It took a little while for Harry to arrive, but he was well worth the wait.

I met Harry for the first time today and I am already in love. He is a super sweet dog - and he is a little peanut! Marc was told that Harry is 2 years old, but it doesn't seem possible. He has such a puppy brain and still trips over his own feet. Here is "Grammie", taking Harry for a walk around the yard.

Harry was rescued from a kill shelter in Ohio - can you imagine someone wanting to get rid of this adorable face? He is a love muffin and I'm so happy to have a great dog in the family again.

The Hedding Fair

Today was the annual street fair at Hedding. I've been so busy this summer that I haven't had a chance to get over to Hedding at all, but Marc, Mom and I had lunch plans so it gave me a good excuse to check out the fair. It was nice to see people I haven't seen since last summer and it was a beautiful day at Hedding. The fair is a big deal for everyone at Hedding and it is always fun to wander around and see what they are selling. I did very well and only bought a new Hedding t-shirt (for a whopping $5) and some homemade dog biscuits for Harry.