Note to Self

Next time, when you think you're done with the Nutella jar...wash it out...put it in the TRASH...and don't try to retrieve it. Because, this business of putting it to the side of the counter with the recycling just isn't cutting it. You know what the latter leads to? Scraping of the Nutella jar over a sink, with challah in your other hand...chocolate all over your face and a sudden realization that you've managed to consume half a loaf of challah and have basically licked the jar clean. Damn Nutella.

But, tomorrow is the indoor tri. I was just carb loading, right? ha.
Unfortunately, the bike is measured this time around (somehow they found a gym with spinning bikes that record distance...), so I'm going to get my butt whipped. No ribbons, I'm afraid...

Oh...OH! I'm a movie star.

Well. Not quite. (you knew that was coming, right?) But, I'm going to be on the TNT swimming videos of the Northern Ohio Chapter for years to come. I helped out Coach Kurt today and swam some drills while he recorded me. I'm definitely NOT looking forward to watching that video at the swim workshop on Tuesday though. Now, I'm a ham. It's almost embarrassing, actually. I usually have absolutely no problem with being photographed or videoed. (I actually pose. like, hey-- look at me I'm 3 years old and pose for pictures)...but...with a swim cap on? and goggles? and a stupid speedo? (yes, it would be worse if I was a guy, I'll give you that one) All I can say is...blech...at least I didn't have to demonstrate my ridiculously off flip turns... And, if worse comes to worse, I'll just step outside during the workshop.

Now for the music comment of the day...auditions suck. They are a completely off-base way to measure who should be in an orchestra, not to mention a stupidly unfair process. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of watching other people go through it, and I'm sick of having to do it. It's not worth it. I swear each audition must take at least a month off your life span. It's that bad. There needs to be an alternative way. I don't have the answers. And even if I did...no one would listen. But...it's just dumb. Enough.

I've been practicing well though...more piece, less exercises. Not only will this increase my chances of getting to live for free in Colorado over the summer (right, Bold?), but it also makes me more prone to actually practicing new things...instead of the same ole crap every single day...and never getting past that beginning crap because it's just too boring to finish. So. Get it going. That's my new flute motto. Kind of lame, but it works.

In other news, I babysat last night. As a preface...I am not good with kids. I don't hate them or anything...I just don't 'connect' with them like some people do. So...I had forgotten how to play. What do you do with the doll? I don't know what it's supposed to say or do and I was just kind of lost. Have I lost my imagination? I could play cards just fine...and watching a movie was great...even the bedtime story had its moments of cute charm. But, the playing? I just didn't get it. The girl quickly realized this and asked for some dinner...she was a good kid. I'm sure I was a total brat in similar situations. (I definitely remember quite a few 'I want my MOMMMY!!!' incidences.) So, no more babysitting for a while (ever?). It's not my thing.

Which is kind of funny, because teaching (at times) is. But teaching...well...you're not at the mercy of someone else. You're the boss. And it's rewarding to see people improve. I don't pretend it's all because of me, but I like to think that I'm helping...and I'm at the very least inspiring them to work at it a bit...and guiding them to work in a manner that will help the most.

And for a new kind of teaching...I signed up for a spinning certification class. I'm totally pumped about it because it'll (hopefully!) allow me to make a little bit of extra money doing something that I was doing anyhow. So, as of February 11, I'll be a spinning teacher. I'm going to do some research over the next month about which places I could possibly pick up a class...or maybe just substitute. Maybe it'll be a lot harder than I think to pick up the work, but it's worth a shot. At minimum, it'll give me some good ideas about how to conduct my own spinning classes on my trainer.

So. That's all the news from Lake Erie....where the women are pasty and the men are crazy. And the kids? We'll leave them out of the picture (for now). The dogs are still man's best friend, by the way.