critters of the south

October 10, 2007 at 2:02 AM

Besides infinite numbers of enormous BUGS, there are a lot of critters down here in Macon. The armadillos that are not currently on permanent roadkill duty have left numerous tunnels next to our creek, and Woody Woodpecker is now keen on rapping near the top of the house.

The school critters are vexatious as well. One of my string students who told me I couldn't give HIM detention. And now, not only do we have a "behavior matrix" for students, our leaadership has decided to implement one for teachers as well. There are many other things to say GRRR about, but it's the same old same old.

My musical events are quite varied for the rest of the month. A week ago, I played a quartet gig at a military college. Any time there was mention of "the southern states who decided to join together..." there was a sudden hush in the room. This weekend I am playing a concert with a newly formed orchestra about an hour away. Most of my $$ is going to the babysitter, like usual, but it's a new adventure. Then, at the end of next week, I am playing Ferdinand the Bull as it is being acted out by elementary students. Then there are two more gigs-a wedding reception and a freebie that helped raise money for my daughters' school. The end of the month is a regular symphony concert featuring a hodge podge of orchestra pieces and a violinist who plays violin, piano, and is a soprano.

Now, as my brain is totally fried, I am going to stare mindlessly at the tv and pretend that my day is not starting at 5 a.m.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 3:30 AM

Behavior matrices for students and teachers, indeed! Can you explain briefly what a behavior matrix is? I'm glad you have some gigs to enjoy in contrast to your teaching. Enjoy them to the max, and think about them sometimes when your students are...your students.

From Patricia Baser
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 9:32 AM

A "behavior" is a plan that is followed in an attempt to control behavior, with incentives for following the rules and consequences for breaking them. It's a mystery as to why teachers need one, as the teacher evaluation process should be sufficient.

From Patricia Baser
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 9:40 AM

should say "behavior matrix"

From Anne Horvath
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 1:05 PM

Here are some nifty tunes for your next quartet gig:

John Brown's Body
Marching Through Georgia
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The Battle Cry of Freedom

That medley should get an interesting reaction...

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 10:30 PM

Greetings,
you think you have bug problems?
Last night a ferocious looking bug fell from the ceiling onto my finger board and then got trapped uner the strings.
Sheesh, need more prunes.
Cheers,
Buri

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on October 11, 2007 at 5:23 AM

Buri, yuk!

From Anne Horvath
Posted on October 11, 2007 at 5:11 PM

The bugs here in the Southeast are really something special. We have giant cockroaches, politely called "Waterbugs". The biggest I have seen is 2 1/2 inches long. They fly too. They also have a fondness for book spine glue.

When I was in Grad School down in Florida, my old tuxedo cat would hunt waterbugs. She would carry them around in her mouth, their little buggy legs helplessly wiggling, and the cat would make her impressive hunting noises. "Mee-oooow, Look What I Got, Mee-ooow". Then she would eat them. Then she would upchuck. Now THAT was gross!

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critters of the south

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