What Struck Me

Scott Muni died the other day. He’d had been sick for quite awhile, and honestly, I hadn’t really enjoyed listening to him as much over the last few years. So I surprised myself when I teared up immediately hearing that he’d died. On Q104.3, the station he’s been with since WNEW-FM deserted us, they’re playing tapes of some of his shows, and reading all kinds of tributes coming in from people like Paul McCartney. Hearing those old tapes is such a reminder of what we had back in the 70s, interesting, idiosyncratic, fun radio. DJs who challenged us to listen to something different. Personalities who became part of our lives. Everyone who was a teenager in the 70s and listened to FM radio is connected because of the amazing thing Muni built with WNEW-FM, which spread to stations across the country. Sure, I’d switch to other stations, sometimes I’d go months with barely a turn of the dial to 102.7. But I’d always return. The music they played was the music my boyfriend then fiance’ then husband and I shared.

So I guess when I tear up hearing the old Scott Muni tapes, I’m mourning the loss of another piece of my life.

I went to put something away in Andy’s room, and it was so cluttered… so I straightened up. It wasn’t terrible, just a lot of papers and stuff that need to be trashed (I just threw them in a box for him to go through.) Last week the cheap shelving unit in there collapsed, took him hours to get it put back together. It’s one of those modular thing, rectangles held together by connectors at the corners. As I was vacuuming I nudged it slightly and part collapsed again :horror:! Luckily only a bit of it came apart. I managed to put some back together but he really needs some furniture in there, so I didn’t go nuts with it. Also finally hung up the bulletin board that’s been sitting on the floor for over 2 years! Hope that makes up for the collapsed shelves.

Weather is tropical today. Wet, hot (for Sept. 28 anyway.) No wind, at least not yet. Just icky.

She’s worried about the jackhammers???

(swiped from my friend Robb)

My parents are in Italy on vacation. Tomorrow they head to Tuscany. I’m very jealous.

We went to Tim’s back to school night tonight. Managed to skip the speeches at the beginning, since they were just a rerun of the same people and the same speeches from the Middle School last night.

Last night was the usual craziness. The speeches went over the scheduled time, so then we had to run to the first period class, and all the teachers pretty much read off the same papers they sent home a few weeks ago for us to sign, about class rules and grading, etc. We skipped gym (found out later that they’re teaching sex ed co-ed, and the girls are freaking out of course.) Luckily Nick’s last period class is Art, so we blew that one off too and headed home before the crowds. At this point I only go to this thing out of sheer guilt.

The elementary school Back to School night is at least more informative, since there’s only one teacher you get to spend some time really hearing about the class. Tim’s teacher is very sweet and really excited, probably perfect for 1st graders. We saw Tim’s journal, it’s pretty much all about how he loves to play computer games, how he plays on the computer for five hours, how he’s sad to be back at school because he won’t get to play on the computer as much. Guess I know what I need to set limits on :oops:.

So I signed up to be a reading group helper (turns out they are going to be broken up by ability) and to be a mystery reader next month. I get to pick a book and a quick craft to do. It’s right before Halloween so that should be fun. I love this stuff.

Oh, and yesterday I worked the book fair with one of the other moms from Tim’s class, we hit it off really well, and guess what? She’s a graphic designer! I got all excited and asked for her card, she said if I need graphics for the PTO page to give her a call. Mine are ok, but it’s nice to know someone who actually has some training (and she’s even has a famous design, the original Arizona Iced Tea cans.)

I ran into my old bowling buddy Diane who works as an aide in the ES, she said they really need substitute teachers… I’m definitely leaning toward doing that in the spring.

On the off chance one of my readers isn’t registered to vote, here’s a link for you: Register Here.

Then make sure you vote on November 2nd.

Autumn is here. The lazy summer days of sitting on my ass playing on the computer are over. On hiatus, actually. The Cub Scout stuff is calming down. The new den leaders are settling in and taking charge, as they should, so I just need to be a helping hand for them now. PTO stuff is quiet lately, I’m waiting for the next batch of info needed for the next step with the web/email stuff for that.

In awhile I’m heading to the middle school to work at the Scholastic Book Fair. It’s one of my favorite things to do, especially on the first day. You hang out and get to see the kids on their turf, meet a few teachers and parents, and nobody’s buying on day one so you just help the younger kids with their wish lists and clean up after a class barrels through and tosses the books around. Easy job.

Tonight is Back to School night for my 6th grader, tomorrow for the 1st grader. I always come away very impressed with the teachers… that doesn’t always last. I do like Tim’s teacher (1st) and I knew her before so we’re friendly. But I have serious issues with the reading program and she doesn’t seem to have the answers I seek. Here’s a kid who at age six is happily reading Captain Underpants books, yet the books he has to read for school are of the “See the pig nap” variety. Ugh. She says they get tougher, but apparently there’s no ability grouping in first grade for reading. At least not from what I’ve heard so far :dry:.

In other news- the bathroom is essentially complete, in fact I showered in there yesterday finally! I bought all the doohickeys I needed but haven’t had time to install them (towel bars, etc.) Still need a cabinet for over the wc, but other than that I think I have everything. I’m so happy :rolling:!!!