Trial and Error - Post #249

I can't imagine life without difficulties. Who can? Issues develop in the form of friends, family, school, jobs, everything. Each goal is masked by challenges, each happiness by tears. But life wouldn't be the same any other way.

Maybe that's the problem with society today. Everyone's trying to get rid of all the little difficulties, just get the shortcut to what you want. Don't exercise to lose weight, just have this pill. Don't read the book, just SparkNote it. Stupidity is not the enemy of the thinking man, but laziness.

It is said that parents of bright children should, while accepting their intelligence, shift the focus and praise instead to hard work and effort. It doesn't matter what you have. It's what you do with it. No one gets a free ride. Cheaters will receive their due, as will those who put into life all they have to offer.

Ehm. I was just thinking that not being able to chew for a couple days makes eating seem miraculous, having fitful, painful nights of sleep make a good rest blissful, and having a face the size of Texas makes even a bruised normal face a gift. I just think too much. =)

I don't want to go back to school. And I miss Tom. =(

--Iona

My 72 Hours Are Up - Post #248

So, I got two of my wisdom teeth pulled the day after Christmas. The two bottom ones are now history. Thank goodness. I'm definitely not looking forward to getting the two top ones out in three year's time. So, to sum up the past three days...

The fear was really the worst part of the actual operation. I mean, you're in a room with this one big chair, some machines, a heck of a lot of wires, and these two ladies telling you it's going to be okay and asking you questions about your life in a not-so-subtle attempt to distract you. Who wouldn't panic?

So they sit you down in the chair, hook your arm up to a blood pressure thing, stick your finger in another thing, stick three more sensors on to your arms with suction cup things, and hook it all up to a machine that reads your pulse (mine got over 200). They hooked me up to laughing gas before they put the IV in because I was so scared. It was weird. You feel kind of fuzzy. I thought I kept a straight head, but looking back I really didn't. It keeps you from being able to get scared. That's the only way to describe it.

They most weirdly reassuring part? Someone in there, or a product of my gassed up mind, sounded like Ms. Temme, and that really made me feel better. Like, "It's okay, I trust her, she knows what she's doing, she's smart." Apparently, when I was coming around, I told this to my dad like eight times (hence his comment on the previous post). I am such a head case. Really.

I don't remember waking up, driving home, much of that day at all, really. I can remember crying into my dad's chest in the kitchen because my lip was so numb and swollen I had to pull it open with my finger to try and swallow a painkiller.

I could hardly speak. I couldn't eat. My face was swollen and bruised, and my lips were dry and cracked beyond belief. I drooled blood all over the place, my nights were a tormented blur of pain, heat pads, and calling out for my parents. I couldn't stand too quickly without passing out.

I passed the time watching Bleach (Jess's anime...156 episodes...after four days I'm on 56. That's 28 hours of Japanese. o.O), coloring (yes, in coloring books, it's pretty calming), and trying to sleep.

I moved from water, to milkshakes, to pudding, to mashed potato, to being able to chew a little macaroni. It should be easier to get better from here.

I'm going to go watch more Bleach, I think. Only 100 episodes to go... =P

--Iona

Christmas: Merry vs. Scary - Post #247

Ah. Okay. Some catching up.

Thursday was crazy, the second to last day before vacation crammed as expected with five tests in seven periods. The band concert that night went well, though. My oboe solo in And To All A Good Night wasn't awful, and even got complemented by Matt Bellemare (that's really something). Then jazz band was AWESOME, especially We Three Kings. I played that one on my own, without Dan or Tyler. I had to practice for literally hours to get it, but I did! And in my own opinion, it sounded pretty fabulous.

It was a good Friday, because in chemistry we sang chem carols (The Chemistry Teacher is Coming to Town, I'm Dreaming of a White Precipitate, you get the idea) and plated the inside of test tubes silver. We got little furry moles wearing safety goggles for singing with such enthusiasm. She said we were the most energetic class she'd ever done it with. =)

After school we had the band party. We all watched my halftime show video, and everyone seemed to like it, then we ate massive amounts of pizza and watched the latest Harry Potter. Ari gave me a Christmas present, a Pirates of the Caribbean Mickey Mouse pin that I wore on my jeans all day. =)

That night was Rachel's third annual Christmas party. Yay! She was my Secret Santa, and got me an oboe shirt from the MAC championships, a Myrtle Beach shirt from when she went there over April vacation, frog socks, and a pen dude. Cat got me a present too - Christmas socks, lotion, candy cane Hershey Kisses (so weird, yet so awesome), a picture frame, an etch-a-sketch, so much awesome random stuff. =P

then Saturday was the Cosgrove's Christmas party, so I went with Tom to that and got to meet some of his family. They're really smart. It was a lot of food and CatchPhrase. They do this cute grab-bag thing with strings and a blanket, and I got to do it too, even though I didn't bring anything. I got a photo keychain and some chocolate and popcorn. It was fun.

After the party, Tom and I left and he gave me my Christmas present, a gorgeous silver heart necklace that I love to pieces and kind of haven't taken off yet. =) It's perfect.

The day after, I went with Tom to Tim's to watch Serenity with Diana, Bellemare, and their friends Koz and Olga. That was fun. The movie was good, and we got to make fun if the guys for completely missing the fact that one of the girls was crazy about one of the guys. Afterwards I have Tom his present, which he seemed to like, and said goodbye, as he is going to Florida for the rest of vacation. =(

Yesterday I play the second Harry Potter game with Calum for about two hours, then acolyted and read at the Christmas Eve service at church. Pepere came back to the house for a while, then it was time to sleep.

this morning, we woke up and opened stockings on the parentals' bed as always. I got some cool stuff, three coloring books, colored pencils and crayons, a shower radio, the Wicked soundtrack, PotC3 movie and calender, new goggles, some Bath & Body stuff, lots of chocolate, a Santa hat, and a clementine. How Arthur Dent.

As for regular presents, I got an iPod Classic (it's gorgeous), some ringtones for my phone, a sheet saying we ordered the Twilight bracelet (<3), an Indian bracelet, and an iTunes giftcard. Calum got a Wii, so there's been fun with that as well.

Pepere, Uncle JD, Janica, Aurora, and MaryJo came for dessert as well, so that was good.

So...the whole "scary" thing...I'm getting two of my wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow morning. just thinking about it gives me a stomach ache. I've been doing research. Mine aren't impacted, which is good, but now I'm really scared I'll get dry socket, which is when the holes get infected. It's apparently one of the most painful things possible. I guess it's good to get it done now, when I don't have to be in school and Tom is in Florida and can't see me looking like a chipmunk, but I'm still scared. I want to get a pill or something before I get an IV, so that the needle doesn't scare me, then get knocked out, and then have lots and lots of pain medication. Ughh. I'm scared.

My own personal plan is this. You know how when you have a stomach ache in the middle of the day it really hurts and all you want to do is go to sleep so you don't have to deal with it anymore? I'm getting my teeth pulled at nine tomorrow morning, right after I wake up, so I'm going to get as little sleep tonight as I get manage. That way, it should be easier to fall asleep when I get home. I kind of wish I was getting all four over and done with, but whatever.

Seven o'clock. Five hours left that I can eat, fourteen until they're pulled. Okay. I can't do this.

Looking for distractions.

--Iona

Ten Year of Dad's Christmas Letters - Post #246

Iona is 5 and has started school, sheis in kindergarten (= primary 1) at Frisbee Elementary School. She has a great teacher and is really enjoying it. Her day is so crammed full of things to do and learning opportunities that she is exhausted by the time she gets home. Her number skills are coming on well as is her handwriting and she is starting to read. By the time you get this she will have lost her first tooth. Outside school she goes to gymnastics and storytime at the library.

Iona is now 6 and in first grade. She has been blessed with another wonderful teacher. She is reading everything and loves to bring home books to read to Calum. Along with Mishy, she has joined the Brownies. She enjoys singing in the kids choir at church and is actually tuneful now on her violin. She is now swimming in the deep end much to her parents angst. Along with Calum she loves to kick her Dad off the computer and play Freddi Fish or on the PBS web site.

Iona is now 7 and enjoying second grade at Frisbee School here in Wolcott. Both she and Calum seem to have more active lives than their parents. They both played soccer this autumn, with Justin helping out with a bit of coaching and Iona has just started basketball. Iona’s violin playing is progressing well and she has played in a couple of concerts at her music school and at church. On top of this she takes swimming lessons, just completed a drawing class and is a Brownie.

Iona (aged 10) has taken up piano as well as violin, though she is even better at playing her parents is now in her final year in elementary school and thriving on the opportunities that affords.

Iona has taken the major step this year of moving up to Middle School (for three years before four years of high school). She loves it and all her teachers seem to be enjoying her. She is definitely more challenged there and also has the opportunity for more activities such as the writing and computer clubs that she joined. She has joined the school band in which she is playing the oboe. She plays the piano at home having taken a break from the violin. Outside school, she has joined a local swimming team. This has proved a huge success and Iona really enjoys competing against herself and trying to improve her times. This summer Iona seemed to spend more time away from us than she did with us. As well as spending a week at summer camp she also spent a week on Cape Code with a friend and her family.

Iona is 12 and in her second of three years at Tyrell Middle School. This year she has become involved with a number of extracurricular clubs including Writing, Social Studies, and Character Counts Clubs. Iona swims and swims and swims with the Southington YMCA Stingrays. This had been a very literary year for her. As well having a poem published in a multi-state anthology, she was selected to be one of two student judges for this year’s Nutmeg Children’s Book Award (www.biblio.org/nutmegaward). This involves her having to read and review about 140 books over the next year. You can keep up to date with Iona’s happening by check out her blog: iownapieceofbroccoli.blogspot.com.

Iona is in her last year at middle school (she’s 13). She’s been playing the oboe for the last couple of years, but wanted to be able to be in the High School marching band which has no oboes. We were preparing ourselves for the torture of starting a new instrument when a new solution was found. She’ll play oboe in the orchestra and base drum in the band (one go at We Will Rock You convinced her!). The easiest way to keep up with Iona is to read her blog (address below). It beats mine which is generally work related and Calum’s which focuses on toilet humour (if he actually writes!). Outside school Iona is doing a lot of swimming, including a solid week this summer, it was rather depressing when I tried to race her recently and lost hopelessly!

This is Iona’s freshman year at Wolcott High School (she’s 14) and she is loving it. She always seems to be doing something there after school. Up to now it has mainly been Marching Band where she plays the bass drum, but it could also be orchestra (oboe), or robotics, or who knows what else! She’s also swimming at the YMCA and preparing for a pilgrimage with her church group next summer to Cumbrae, Scotland.

My how things have changed...

--Iona

AHHHHHHH!!!!!! - Post #245

I DID IT!!!! AHHHHH!!!!

A recap may be necessary, due to a recent lack of postage.

--Flashback--
We see a girl, nervously attending her first jazz band meeting. She's new on the saxophone, only had it for two weeks, and doesn't have a clue why she's trying this except that she's crazy about a certain drummer over thataways. But we all know that.

Anywho, they're practicing out on the stage, and as she sits under the lights and struggles through the songs reading off Scaryman's music, she feels the magic of jazz sweep over her like the warmth of the sun on a cool morning. She feels alive. Here is a challenge, something she can work at and improve in, the challenge school just isn't giving her. Here is something to believe in.

Cut to a week later. She struggling, but loving it. She's putting in the time and the work, and she's improving, if only a little. Her teacher says she's crazy to try jazz band after three weeks, but she says she just likes it, doesn't hope to get anywhere. Still, when Mr. Duffman announces there will be tryouts, she's crushed. There's no way she can beat the other second alto, and no way she'd want to. He's a senior. She has no chance.

But still, she does her best, going over and over the two assigned pieces until her lips are dry and chapped and her fingers numb and sore. Her eyes tear with frustration. Where is the sudden rush of talent that comes in the movies? The sudden fast forward to excellence, to success? Curse reality!

The day comes. The audition. Her, the senior alto, and little Jerry. Of course, she has to play first. First, it's just with the rhythm section - the drums, bass, and guitar. Essentially a solo. Her mouth goes dry and her palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy (heh, moving on), and she struggles through. It's not perfect, shaky, bad tone, and she messes up a lot, but she makes it through. Then again, with Mr. Scaryman, the first alto. This is better, she's good backing up someone else.

Things could be made slightly better by the manila folder and pencil sign her drummer holds up from his corner of the room. "U ROCK."

Then the senior alto goes, blows them all away as expected, and Jerry, who's hardly been playing long enough to count, but who gives an amazing show for the amount of time he had.

Then the announcement from the Mr. Duffman. "I'm going to take Mr. Scaryman, Ms. Tenor Sax, and Mr. Bass out into the piano room to deliberate. I'll tell you this much." A glance straight at the girl. "I do not like to double up on parts. But there are a lot of options. I'll be back."

They leave. Time passes slowly. She's resigned herself to failure, but is okay with that. She put forth a noble effort, most would say. Perhaps a little too ambitious.

They get called in. Mr. Scaryman, Ms. Tenor Sax, and Mr. Bass are gone. Mr. Duffman looks seriously over the top of his glasses, and tells them the story. The senior sax's tone was amazing, in fact, he overpowered Mr. Scaryman. Because of his talent for saxophone, he is going to pick up baritone saxophone for the winter concert, then be granted first alto for the spring, a very challenging but impressive position. he is satisfied. Little Jerry will be playing clarinet, his native instrument, on two pieces in the winter, and has a shot at the baritone in the spring.

He turns on the girl. She doesn't dare to hope, but the words somehow some out of his mouth. She will be playing second alto for the winter concert, and the spring one as well. It will take work, but she balances Mr. Scaryman and later the senior alto adequately.

She leaves the room in a daze, is hardly able to tell her drummer, bounces back into the band room (getting a disturbed half-smile from Mr. Scaryman), and is on a cloud. She can't believe it. She did it.

---End Flashback---

Um. Yeah. I can't believe it either. Like...holy crap. I did it. This is going to take SO much work, but I did it.

Jazz band...

<3

--Iona