So, this week didn't start out so great.  Monday my cooperating teacher sent me home with a HUGE stack of scores--7?--to look through, making it sound like no big deal... and then at the end of 6th period asked me to spend all of 8th period middle school band rehearsing one of them.  Gee, thanks buddy.  Then afterwords, of course, we spent a good 20 minutes or so discussing how it went (not so hot, thanks to my minimal prep time!).... My teacher needs to work on the GNP "praise-suggestion-praise."  Just a thought.  So I went to tuesday night sem quite grouchy, and of course tired... And I didn't want to drive myself to sem, since Katie and Bekah were already going, but they wanted to go out for wings after--which is fine, except for that whole I-don't-eat-meat thing.  But we went out, and a lot of the other student teachers came as well and it ended up being a very nice time.  

I was still pretty grouchy yesterday, but today we started pull-out lessons and it. was. wonderful.  We're starting with the high schoolers (middle schoolers are my favorite), but it was so nice to have something to do every period.  The last week I've just had two classes every day--in the 8-block day--and so much down time has been KILLING me.  I get so sleepy and grouchy just sitting in the office doing paperwork or watching my teacher type out emails soooooo slooooooooowly.  But I enjoyed sitting in on the lessons today, and actually learning some students' names--and having kids stop me in the hall and say "Hi Miss Mayo!"  It was wonderful.  Also, the high school band has been practicing marching during class for the homecoming parade in October.  I. LOVE. marching percussion!  I tend to get in trouble with my teacher, because I want them to be BOA good, and that's just not where this school is.  At all.  By any stretch of the imagination.  Like, they don't even have a marching posture.  Seriously, kids--SET!  It means nothing to them.  If they were my band, they would be running SO many laps and doing crazy pushups.  But they aren't, and that's ok.  It still warms my heart to hear drum cadences and see guard flags, even if they are just practice flags and everyone's out of step and it sounds questionable.  It makes me think of the beginning of the season, early summer, when everyone's still excited to be there and cute little freshmen look scared and intimidated and new seniors are starting to be leaders.  I love it.  Mmmm...I love band.

Also, I'm going to Houghton this weekend! How exciting, right?  Bekah has to go down for a piano lesson, and pestered me to come with her. But she has to be there by 4:30, and I usually don't get out of school until at least 4 so there was no way. But! The orchestra director is flying to Virginia for the weekend for a... wedding shower?... and her husband couldn't get out of work to take her, so I said I'd drive her since the airport is so, so, so close to my apartment.  She wants to be at the airport around 3, which gives me plenty of time to get to Houghton with Bekah!  Mrs. K just told me she needed a ride for sure today, so I'm quite excited.  It's funny how I've spent the past 3 years trying to find excuses to leave Houghton, and now I go out of my way to find excuses to go back.  But, I'm excited. 

What are YOU excited about?