That's what has happened to me with this blog. So much to say and so little time to say it. Fortunately none of what I had to say was particularly important, so I suppose it can wait a little longer. I do have several more recipes to add, which I will eventually get to, and some comments to make about our elected representatives in Washington, who are not doing the job they were sent to do, regardless of which side of the aisle they sit on. I'll see if I can come up with a coherent statement to make on this in the near future. It's sort of like trying to make sense out of something nonsensical. I'll probably do no better than the millions of other Facebookers, Tweeters, bloggers and pundits out there flailing away at this mess, but at least I will have cleared my throat!
Okay, so back to updates. First, my shoulder; this is the seventh month since I had the rotator cuff surgery. It's coming along nicely, though it is in no way completely normal feeling yet. That will take a year to regain the strength that it had prior to surgery. Every so often it reminds me when I am reaching for something in an awkward manner that I need to remember to keep it in a little closer to my body. I am lifting some light weights, started in rehab a few weeks after the surgery. The goal is to build back muscle density around the repair site. It's a work in progress. It seems like I run into somebody weekly who have just had the surgery or have a diagnosis and need reassurance. Yes, things do get back to normal but it does take some work!
The other update surrounds the Mazda CX-5 that I bought in December. So far, it has been stellar at the gas pump, averaging exactly 32 miles per gallon in an mix of street and highway travel. The car will not not give you jack rabbit starts from a stop, and can be a little sluggish, but it does like to rev. I have never punched a car off the line anyway, so I have not really noticed any real lag in acceleration. There is always the option to shift through the gears manually if I needed to, but I haven't. The car's comfort has been good, and I really like the blindspot hazard system, which works well.
Someone did back into the car in a mall lot three months into ownership of it, causing about $1800 worth of damage to the rear bumper, hatch and right taillight. Parts took about a week to arrive, but once they did the car was restored to new condition. I did miss it during that period, relegated to driving a not so cool Altima, which bugged me for some reason.
And of course I started my 22nd year at Sahuarita High School this fall, the year beginning very smoothly for the most part. I have a student teacher working with me from the University of Arizona this semester, a choral major. It's a challenge to teach my classes, only because I am a hybrid music teacher, so to speak. I have taught instrumental and vocal music my entire career. Many vocal majors might balk at directing a jazz ensemble and teaching a guitar class if they have no instrumental background, but my student teacher plays flute and marched in the Pride, making it an easier assignment. We've got a great year lined up with many wonderful musical events and achievements to enjoy.
The Grammy Signature School buzz is still very much in evidence from our selection last April. We've used the money to upgrade and repair instruments. We were going to buy a new more mobile digital piano for our choirs and jazz band, but a man in the community eliminated that need by donating to us gently used two year old Yamaha professional grade keyboard a couple of weeks ago. We are looking forward to hearing this instrument with our groups.
One of the new things that is going on at school is the remake acoustically of my rehearsal space. The choir/jazz band room was built in 1998 with almost no proper sound insulation. Choir singers enjoyed the liveliness of the room, but man it was tough for a band to play in. And in the evenings the drumline rehearses in the room. It was definitely a hazard to one's ears. I've suffered from this over my time working there and have lost considerable hearing. I am currently using hearing aides.
This summer the district began making changes, extending the sheet rock between the choir room and the band room all the way to the ceiling, above the ceiling tiles. The tiles themselves were changed out to include those which can diffuse sound. What is happening this week while we are off is the completion of the work. Sound panels are going in on the walls of the choir room (yes, they never installed them in 1998), and sound cabinets, containing sound absorbent material, are being installed in the corners of the room. When instrumentalists use the room, opening the doors will soak up the boomy sound of drums and bass. Closing the doors reflects sound, which suits choir rehearsals. I can't wait to hear the results next week!