First Days

The first day of school. Always an exciting moment (for the mother)...new books, new locker, new friends (OK, so I don't get the new locker). This last week was the beginning of Lisi's Senior year, or what she calls her "last year of compulsory education". She willingly let me take the obligatory "First Day Of School" picture, as I have for every year that she has been in school. My favorite remains the first day of pre-school (above, obviously). The look of intent upon her face is a true display of the person she has always been: Ready for the challenge. As she drove us to school (see earlier blog) I was acutely aware of the passing of time. Now, we all know that it is usually about me, so why be coy? I wonder what my days will be like next year after driving her to college. I have given up the idea of following her (all breath a deep sigh of relief). She refused to join a sorority with me any way, so what's the point? (And to think, I had matching outfits picked out). So as she begins her senior year towards independence, I too begin mine.

"I Promise"

I think that's the name of the Band field show this year, but I am referring to the promise that will not inundate my blog readers with numerous blogs about Band. Yes, I have kept my famous "All Band, All the Time" quote, but am attempting to keep my Mexico promise to have a life. ( I definitely hear my band-parent friends snickering...and there is always Arlene's eye-rolling to deal with..more on that later).

Any way...today a few of us gathered together to attempt to create a prototype of the field show prop for this year. Arlene the Artist (and eye-roller) is the brains behind this endeavor. She located some material from a friend in the "business", therefore saving us a bundle while we tested out the concept. It is a pyramid that will eventually have one of the words from John Wooden's Pyramid of Success on it. There are many stipulations to this prop...it must have quick entry for a student, as they will be inside it and moving around the field. It must be light, and yet not light enough to take off like a kite if the wind is strong. You must not be able to see in, but they must be able to see out. Etc. etc. You see the idea, right? Arlene is very disappointed in the finished product, but she is picky. I kinda liked it. And this little video is my interpretive moment of how it will work on the field. Enjoy!

Band Camp

Most of those who know me see the signs....the edginess, irritability, eye twiching, night sweats...

Yes, it is true: Band has started!

It began on August 11th with two weeks of Band Camp. I marvel at the fact that teenagers will actually show up at 8am in the summer to memorize more than 70 pages of drill, tons of music, and then march in the 90 + weather for hours until they go home at 5pm, sunburned and exhausted. And they show up again the next day. I keep waiting for them to unite, look up in the stands at the instructors and yell "HELL NO!" Visions of Norma Rae.

On a serious note, it is marvelous. I cannot comprehend how they manage to sound like a Band in 2 days! They are so very, very good. But it is not without effort. Above are some pictures of the first couple of days on the field. They march for hours, learning drill, then spend the afternoon learning music. The show emphasizes John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, and they demonstrate it daily.

Parenting

We knew it was bound to happen...the child being used as fodder for the blogger. Shhhh...don't tell her. I doubt she looks at my "lame" site. She's too busy on Facebook.

I have always considered being a parent a gift and a privilege. Sure it has its challenges. Yes, it has its joys. The ups, the downs.

You worry when they are babies about fevers and immunizations. They toddle into banged heads and broken bones. They learn passwords to avoid potential abductions, swim lessons are a safety "must". Then the teenage years come along and your friends warn of drugs, alcohol, sex and partying. So the shock comes when I look out my window and see the "Be Safe Driving School" car and realize the TRUE HIDDEN DANGER...the Teenage Driver! (hear the music...dum dum duuuuuuum). Yes, she began driving lessons.

Have you ever driven in Southern California? It is a competitive sport! No signalling! Are you crazy? They will know you want to change lanes, you idiot! 50 miles/hr in a school zone? Of course! 70 on the freeway? Move over, gramma! And don't even start me on the Hummer situation.

So imagine my surprise when they take my gem, my puddle duck, my baby, and place her in the driver's seat on her first time out! I grab the camera and slip it between the shades to document what I am sure is a true safety violation (right Denise?). Off they spin for an hour. I hope they told her where the brake is.

I bite my nails and contemplate drinking at 2:30 in the afternoon until her return. She bounces in the door and shouts with glee about driving on the freeway!! And the Norwegian grade (a narrow, twisting road featured in the Tour De Amgen). She poses the question that is sure to challenge me...Can she drive to the Farmer's Market with me?

This is a test. I hear the clock ticking. Or is it my heart beating?

Of course, I reply.

The rest is history. I am here to write the blog another day.

The Getty

One of the great aspects of living where we live is the close proximity to Los Angeles. We don't take advantage of it as often as we should, but we recently took a trip to the Getty museum.

On previous visits to The Getty it has been empty as a tomb. Not so on this trip! We hit it on Family Day, and stood in long lines to catch the train, which is the only access up the hill to the museum. It was definitely worth the wait. The exhibits were wonderful and the flowers were all in bloom in the garden. There was also music and dancing while we ate an exotic lunch of hot dogs (which have been featured before in this illustrious blog!). There was a foggy-smoggy haze over the city, but the views are still spectacular from there.

Time for an update

There was a debate going on (in my head) as to whether I should continue my blogging now that we have returned to Thousand Oaks. The conclusion is obvious....why the hell not? It seems to be the easiest way to stay connected, and lacks the voyeurism of "Facebook". So today I am documenting Denise's recent birthday. We had a few friends over for dinner, and one of the gifts from AnnaLise was a serenade on her guitar! Hope the pictures are viewable. (Ignore the plethora of wine bottles.)

Hasta Luego!

Well, it's time to say "adios" to San Miguel. It has gone impossibly fast, this last month. Isn't that aways the way it is when you are having fun? I have learned a lot, and not just about the Spanish language. Mexico is a country amazingly rich in culture and history. They also have muchas problemos with corruption and poverty. The so-called "middle class' of Mexico has a house, and a car, and food, but no extra money for medical needs and upper education. There are no government programs for the elderly. And in the campo (the country) children go hungry. In many families they have to chose which person eats that day. In spite of all that, the people of Mexico are warm, friendly,and loving.

I am including some pictures from Delores Hidalgo, a small town close to San Miguel where the revolution for independence began on Sept. 16th, 1910. Father Hidalgo led the people in a dangerous uprising, and the cathedral in these pictures is where it began.

And so today dawns much like the day we arrived...with roosters crowing, dogs barking and the hot air balloon rising from our "backyard".