i love to hear...

my top ten most listened to albums of 2009 so far:
(no, this does not mean they came out in 2009).

This is Us - a collection of wonderful artists such as Aimee Mann, The Byrds, The Constantines, Mark Geary, etc. this album makes me think of family, friends, and home...which is it's exact purpose, well done.

Juno Soundtrack - so playful, so fun, hours of joy with this cd.

Kings of Leon: Only by the Night - enough said.

Feist: Open Season - i have a feeling one of her cds will always be in my most listened to list. this is a cd of remixes and collaborations. wonderful.

The Waiting Kind: In the Land of Hope - first full length! it will change your life, truly.

Cat Power: You Are Free - her breathy vocals melt my heart.

The Honey Trees: Wake the Earth - i've said it before, Becky Filip and i are meant to be best friends. her melodies are some of thee most lovely i have ever heard.

Pedro the Lion: Control - i miss them often, but am forever glad Dave Bazan is still making great music. this album tells a story...it has always intrigued me. i could study Dave's lyrics for probably years and never truly figure out what he means in some of his lyrics.

Brandi Carlile: The Story - one of the greatest lady performers i have ever seen. she writes brilliant music. and what a voice!

Kings of Convenience: Quiet is the New Loud - indie folk pop duo, delicate tunes, warm guitar melodies.

i could probably give a top 25 list, but we'll stick with 10 for now. cheers to good music!

imagination is the funniest.

my 6th grade drama class is preparing for a program. they will be performing an array of skits and improv. i am so excited! part of the night will be similar to "Who's Line is it Anyway?" today, we were working on improvisation - the lesson was titled, "Imagination is the Funniest." the objective was to imagine and create a vivid scene, with the emphasis on believability, that supposedly happened in the past. everyone did a pretty good job. Aaron was up last...his prompt was: i witnessed a murder. here is how he told us his imaginative story:

"oh hey guys. let me take you back to one of my most vivid memories.... a few years ago, i was walking home from school all by myself and i came across a light alley. you know how alleys are usually dark?...well this one was light, very light. and there were two guys in the alley...one had a lollipop, and the other had a...(long pause)...lollipop. and they were staring at each other and looked so mad.
then the first guy said, "don't you know tutti frutti is better than peach?"
the second guy answered, "no way! peach is the bessssssst."
then the first guy said, "oh dang!"
and the second guy said, "oh snap!"
and the first guy said, "don't DO IT!"
and the second guy said, "oh i will DO IT!"
and then, the second guy pulled out a knife and stabbed the first guy....(long pause)...right in the lollipop. and the knife went through the lollipop and hit the first guy's epidermis. and the first guy was like, "dude, not my epidermis."
and that was the day i learned that murder... can be funny."

newest addition to our very colorful home.

this will be waiting for me when i get home! i adore this mirror...courtesy of etsy.com, of course.

cheers to this beautiful dayyyy!

the story of a Walmart parking lot on a Wednesday night.

i wasn't going to blog about this, but i keep thinking about it and getting mad and then laughing (repeat).

i ran to Walmart last night to look for some kazoos...yes, kazoos. as i was walking to my car, about four feet away from me were three teenagers (two boys and a girl) walking to their car as well. the boys started to make comments at me and "hit" on me or whatever. of course i kept walking and didn't look at them but believe me, i hated every word they said. as we both got to our cars, which were right across from each other of course, the girl said, "nah, that's just some skinny a#& anorexic white girl." of course she said it in a booming loud voice, just in case i couldn't hear her from a few feet away. i still didn't look at her or the guys - why give her the pleasure of knowing i was so angry? the thing that bothered me the most about this is that these teenagers were black - and what she said to me was racist - especially the way it was said. now, i have replayed this story in my head ten or twenty times today and really, it makes me chuckle - but she was still way out of line. one time i was replaying the story in my head and i punched her in the face...we all know there is no way that would have happened - but it's a fun thought. ok, not a fun thought, but that is what i felt like doing! what i do know for sure is that it was God's grace that Derek was not walking with me - i feel like things would've turned out a bit different.

there's my story. i don't know why i told it. but i do know that i am thankful God gave me the grace to keep walking and quietly get in my car.

(oh, and thanks Jeff for helping me laugh it off :))

someday! sigh.

marionette class.

most days we have at least a few families who take a tour of Rolling Hills (the cool school i teach at). often times i have the priviledge to meet them. today was one of those days. and, wow. i mean, i have met some very interesting people in my days but i'd say this mother and her children are in the top. i don't mean that to be rude, they were very nice, blunt people...just interesting.

one of the perks (or not so) of being a teacher is having parents give you suggestions - what you should be teaching, how you should be teaching, if you should be teaching at all, etc. prior to this afternoon, i would have said i had heard them all...

persistent parent obsessed with woodwinds because he played the clarinet in high school: "Mrs. Henbest, have you thought about starting a woodwinds ensemble?"
me: "i'll see what I can do, sir."
me thinking: "i asked my Jr. High classes last week, again, how many would be interested in a ensemble of woodwind sorts, and i had one interested - just one. your daughter. hmmmm... i guess i could give her private clarinet lessons but that would require me learning to play the clarinet. not on your life, mister."

Mom who loves to give me suggestions but isn't musical even one little bit:
"Mrs. Henbest, when are you going to start an orchestra for Jr. High kids?"
me: "well, i will see what the interest level is and get back to you."
me thinking: "an orchestra?! sure, let me learn those lovely string instruments as poorly as i can, and then try to teach like i know what i'm doing. i have some incredible violin/cello players in the Jr. High - do you want me to make them worse?!

Ex-Cheerleader Mom:
"Mrs. Henbest, is there any way you would consider doing a dance class?"
me: "No."

those are only a few. and don't get me wrong, i do love suggestions...just not ridiculous ones like - start a Rolling Hills Philharmonic or dance squad.

ok, back to my story of thee best/worst (best only because i will laugh about it for ages) suggestion ever. so the blunt but kind family waltz into my class today and mom immediately asks, "so, what are you doing with the 7th and 8th grade for music?" a bit taken back, i gathered myself and explained to her all that is going on until the end of the school year. i finished and she just watched me for a bit with a "hmmmm" look on her face. i'm not quite sure what that look meant...hmmmm...

she then stood up from her chair and boldy asked: "are you going to start a marionette class?" i tried not to choke on the water i had just drank but it was too late. surely this mom was joking, right? nope, no smile there. so we talked it out...
me: "marionette class? i've never thought of that before. well, those dolls are pretty expensive and i don't think the school could..."
interrupting mom: "they have this big sale on marionettes right after Christmas time...but darn, we already missed it. my family bought a whole bunch this last Christmas for $12.00 a piece. we could shoot for next year. and my son is really good at building things and he could make some marionette stages and wouldn't that be fun?"
me thinking: "little marionettes in my music room sounds more like a horror film!...wait, am i having a nightmare?"
me: "well, that is a good idea. i just don't think we have the budget or time to start a marionette class."
mom: "i'm sure you could find a way."
me: "um, ok, well it was nice to meet you guys and i hope you choose Rolling Hills."
me thinking: "if i am greeted by scary little marionettes in my classroom tomorrow..."

phew. i know, i'm a bit of an over.reacter (and the people laugh)...and i do know that there isn't anything wrong with puppets or marionettes...in fact, i think they are quite fun....but, marionette class?! hmmmm...

Raising Sand.

i have been enjoying this album for quite some time now so this is by no means a belated cd review. i think you all know i would only have good things to say about it anyway. rock god and folk goddess join forces to form smoky harmonies and relaxed midtempo rockabilly. what could be more grand? oh ya, add T Bone Burnett. but, as i said, this isn't a cd review (just a little plug)...

The Grammys a few weeks back...enjoyment for the most part. those of you who watched saw Robert Plant and Alison Krauss win Album of the Year. i believe i let out a yell or two of pure joy when this happened...and i also believe i was thee only one in the house to do so - it's cool. yes, i do understand who they were up against - Radiohead and Coldplay to name two. yes, i love both of those bands, quite intimately actually - but you know, i was really happy Raising Sand won. some would say they just won because of who they are and not the quality of their album. nah. i say to them, give the album a good listen and you might fall in love, as i did. and i refuse to comment on the reaction of the crowd - i was ashamed that people could be that rude.

phew. i got that out.

cheers to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss!