Why am I such a slacker

yes, yes, I know I've already published something today...just be grateful that you have more to read now. Today is the end of the 3rd quarter (yay drinks all around). So I SHOULD be doing grades and such. But I just don't wanna. Is that wrong? Instead I'm surfing the internet for fun things. Here's what I found:

A really cool flash website that has a cartoon to go along with Coltrane's "Giant Steps"

and something that I'm totally geeked about (even thought I think Microsoft windows is craptastic): A movie of what the new Office 2007 will look like...VERY COOL! The interface looks suspiciusly like the "Aqua" interface of the Mac...HMMMM. It looks great, althought I think the name they came up with for their new toolbar needs to be changed "ladies and Gentlemen I present "THE RIBBON". What? That's dumb. It's a tabbed interface dufuses. "The Ribbon"? C'mon with all that geek power at Microsoft I expect something more creative. So, join me in slacking off!

My frustration is growing

This morning I get an email from one of my ringers saying that she will not be at rehearsal next week and begins complaining about the schedule of performances in the next coming months. I wonder if they all realize that we have not had a full choir rehearsal since before Xmas and that out of the entire year, so far we have had about 5 or 6 rehearsals with everyone in attendance. It drives me crazy. My frustration level right now is VERY high. Grrrrr! It's one of thoes days where you wake up with a headache and you just know that things are going ot be difficult. But the good news is that today is the end of the third quarter and there are only 9 more weeks left of school! Can you beleive that? 9 weeks! Let's hold on to that happy thought today.

Just couldn't resist

okay folks, I just couldn't resist putting this on my website. It's a 13 minute clip from a 1975 PBS pledge drive featuring an interview with Monty Python just as they had finished filming the Holy Grail...Enjoy:

Son of a Beach...day

Today in my little elementary school world, it is Beach day. Who
would have thought that the mere addition of a colorful shirt to a
childs wardrobe could cause such chaos? Well, take my word for it:
colorful shirts + small children = pandemonium. The kids are just out of control. Strike yet another blow for uniforms in schools. I'd be all for that. Studies have shown that kids are better behaved and achieve better scores in schools with uniforms. Can you imagine if this happened in the work place? Hey everybody, friday is pajamma day! Or C'mon and get your swimsuits on cuz friday is come nearly naked day! Well, that one could be fun :)

Happy friday everyone!

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Guess I'll say something...now

Hey kids! Not much is going on, but I know you have been on pins and needles waiting for the next post. So, here it is...

Ta Daaaa

Just got a paper back from my current class. All my citations were wrong. Gee, I don't know what happened I followed the guidelines that my last teacher gave us...oh wait, she didn't. When I got the final paper back from the class that was supposed to teach me how to write there weren't any comments on it. What the hell? So I figured I had done everything correctly. Wrong. I had done nothing correctly. Good thing is that I can re-do the paper for full credit.

So, today's topic of dicussion is: Should I change my school schedule next year so that I see the classes twice a week for 30 minutes or should I keep it at once a week for 60 minutes? I'm leaning towards the 30 minutes, although I like the pacing that the 60 minute classes allow. Thoughts?

Looks like We made it

The following was in the AGEHR e-notes sent out this week:

Handbell Podcast (No iPod Required)
In the last few weeks, we happened upon a delightful new forum for handbells. Dean Jensen and Paul Weller record a lively and informative handbell podcast. For those new to podcasting, Dean Paul tell us that podcasts are like radio shows that you download from the Internet for free. You can listen to the show on your computer at http://handbell.libsyn.com, burn it to a CD, or transfer it to an MP3 player like the iPod. You can also subscribe to the program using any podcast client (such as iTunes).
On their program, Dean and Paul discuss many different topics as they relate to handbells, handchimes, music, and ringing, and they interview different people in the handbell world. If you'd like to contact Dean Paul, you can email handbellpodcast@gmail.com.

Cool eh? Although the sound on this weeks edition is a bit wierd. Sounds a bit like Dean and I are drunk and sluring our words. href="http://handbell.libsyn.com it out for a giggle before Dean fixes it.

Tales of a church musician Part VI

Okay, so I'm looking at the most recent edition of the ARea VII clapper chatter newsletter and I was so excited to see my bio and picture in there that I completly missed the very large and prominent letter to the editior on the front page. It reads as follows:
"I'm wondering if anyone informed you that Paul Weller, pictured in the January Clapper Chatter, resigned his position at Salem Covenant last May or early June. Bev Scripter is the music minister and coordinator of handbell at Salem"

I'm sorry, I did what? I was fired and humiliated, and discriminated against...I did NOT resign. What the hell. I'm getting really tired of defending myself to churches and people who work in them. What a load of crap and who is this person who feels it's her duty to correct this mistake. I'll just say that it wasn't Bev who wrote in.

Do I write a letter as well or do I just let it go?

My sleepy girls...awww

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Bragging just a bit

okay, so we aren't Dawn and Drew...yet!  But the handbell podcast is averaging over 200 listeners per episode!  How cool is that?!?!  Someone out there really likes us!  So if you aren't already on the bandwagon...it's time to "get all up on's"

Bell fest-schmell fest

okay, so how does Bill Mathis get a HUGE write up in the Star Tribune about Bell Fest?  

I am quite insulted by this line of text from the article "most players wear cotton gloves.  A few wear funny hats, and they learn as they go along".   Funny hats?!!  What kind of shit is that.  This is a serious musical art people.  Not to mention that the word handbell is spelled hand (space) bell numerous times in the article.  And what the hell is "body English?"  and why do ringers need to use it to dodge an adjacent player? 

This is probably the thing that makes me most upset: "Bill Mathis...has never played bells himself, but he leads Bells ofo the Lakes, an accomplished group of 14 ringers..."  um, excuse me?  He's never rung bells?  That's like saying a Dance teacher has never learned how to dance!  

Fellow bell geeks give me your reactions to this article.  

handbell Traveler

Dean and I have been getting emails from this guy Danny Lyons who is traveling around Europe as a solo handbell ringer.  As he travels, he listens to our podcasts and sends us emails from wherever he is.  It's pretty amazing. 
Check out his website: Handbell Traveler

On a diferent note...the plague has hit my school.  EVERYONE is out sick and it's gotten so bad that the Nurse has issued a letter warning parents about it and advising them on keeping their kids home if they feel sick.  ahem (cough), I'm feeling a bit sick myself (sniff).  :)

Also Podcast #5 is up and posted! Y'all check it out now or face the consequences from the "revered Mr. Weller"

for thoes dying to know

Okay, so some of you have already emailed and really want to know what happened at church on Sunday.  So, here's how it went down:  

Got to church, rehearsed with my group and things were great.  I was sitting there during the service singing a hymn when all of a sudden, somone taps me on the shoulder.  It was Cindy.  She is crying and says I've ruined her life and that she is leaving the church.  I tell her that this is not the time or the place for this.  She begins to scream, all eyes focus on us and the organist stops playing.  Two ushers rush down the aisle and wrap her in a jacket and drag her literally kicking and screaming obscenities out of the sanctuary.  Then her husband comes up and clocks me right in the jaw.  The police are called, the bells played without a director as I filed a report.  and I'm totally kidding.  I did not even see Cindy and had a wonderful morning.  The bells played beautifully and elicited thuderous applause from the congregation.  It was a good day.  Still waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I'll keep y'all posted. 

missing elements

Sorry, did carrots  instead of paren's so some of the text didn't show up.  Here's what you missed:

After Cindy said she wanted to bring someone she started yelling at her husband to come with her.  And thus escalting her anger. 

The very last line, was Cindy screaming incoherently into the phone at me.  

Fun times eh?

Tales of a church musician part-V

"why do we need a 3rd person at this meeting?"-cindy

"becasue I would feel more comfortable with an impartial person there to help" -paul

"Fine, then I'm bringing someone too.  "-cindy

"I really don't think your husband would be an impartial party" -paul

""-cindy

Paul Hangs up phone.  Thus went the phone conversation with Cindy.  Anyone want a church job directing a great handbell choir?  The choir is great and amazing, but this lady is making me afraid for my safety.  Anyone who wants to show up on Sunday to be a part of my entourage to help keep me safe...just let me know.  

Happy Friday Everyone...let's drink!

Tales of a church musician - Part IV

Today I get an email from one of my ringers stating that she is having trouble finding a sub (gee what else in new) and has asked Cindy to sub next week . For thoes who don't know, Cindy quit the bell choir soon after I took over. She quit rather loudly in the middle of the church one SUnday and yelled at me saying that I was treating her like a child...at which point she turned and stomped off refusing to let me say anything in my defense. In response to this ringers email I said that I would prefer she did NOT call Cindy ever and that I would rather have the position unfilled. Obviously my ringer then told Cindy about this because guess who called me tonight? Yup Cindy!

She again accused me of be vengeful towards her and that she was "only trying to help out a friend by subbing". I tried to tell her that i didn't think she would want to sub and that after things ended I didn't think ti would be a good idea for her to come...she just didn't understand. She kept on insisting that I had it out for her and was treating her unfairly. I REALLY DON"T LIKE THIS WOMAN!!!! ARGGGGGHHH!! I can't wait until I don't have to work at churches anymore. The word HATE comes to mind.

Let's just say that the choir has been drastically different since she left. It has been much BETTER than when she was there. Less stressful and more productive and more musical.