Bennett attended a county-wide elementary school band clinic this weekend. Mark and I were totally amazed. 91 4th grade clarinet players spent there Saturday at the band clinic. They learned new notes, techniques and 3 new songs (check out video for a sample). After that they performed for the parents. To think Bennett couldn't play the clarinet in September of 2009 and now he can do this is just amazing to us! The other part of this is that Bennett doesn't practice his clarinet. Mark and I decided not to harp on him about it, as long as he was keeping up with it in school. Hoping that he would just get an appreciation of the playing and instrument and learning to read music. Just think what he could do if he actually practiced! The greatest part of this whole experience has been that he really likes it! :) It appears next year this will become an after school activity for him (like he doesn't have enough of those!) because the lovely county we live in has cut the elementary band program....but you can read about that a few posts down in my blog :)
Remember when your birthday meant something? Double digits, you could drive, you could vote, you could drink, you could rent a car and then all of a sudden all your birthdays mean is you are another year older...well this year we wanted to wish a very Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law, Mark's mom and Bennett's Nana-Marianne. This one is a BIG birthday that leaves the rest of us working schmucks jealous! With this birthday Marianne is retiring! WOO HOO!!! So 
Happy Birthday and an even happier retirement to you!
Today an old friend of mine, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, is having her surgery. I found a great quote this morning about breast cancer that said: Cancer is a word, not a sentence. I think that says it all. I am sending positive thoughts and love to Kristi and her family today, I hope you will too.
thought it was as bad as it could ever get we would get a fabulous teacher who would change our year. All this to stay, we have a fantastic teacher this year so we were going to be nervous about next year anyway...So now our lovely county doesn't have enough tax revenue to support all the schools in the county...so the answer is CUT programs (band is officially being cut). Really we are cutting programs in education? It is such the typical American philosophy, they put caps on taxes when times are good...well guess what happens when times are bad?? You don't have enough money. DUH! We all seems to know this except politicians. What school is going to look like next year for Bennett scares me. Cramped classrooms, bare-bones education, teachers right out of college with no experience because they can't afford experienced teachers. It is bleak.
This leads to me the ugly. There is a politician who is running on the platform of getting our part of fulton county (North Fulton) out of Fulton County and into Milton County. This would mean that our tax dollars would go directly into our own community. So what could be ugly about that? This particular politician is a Republican. I try not to be completely closed minded. I don't vote just based on party. BUT with what is going on Washington at the moment. It scares me to death to think that I could cast a vote for a politician based on 1 issue!!! I will tell you that this particular makes such a difference to whether or not Bennett is thriving. I would do it. I guess my democratic brothers and sisters aren't going to win any elections in Fulton county right now talking about raising our taxes by 1 point. So I am stuck with the ugly truth that I may have to do what parenting is all about...sacrifice yourself for the betterment of your child.
