15 Miles, 76 Trombones, and an 8-Question Hodgepodge

1. I've read several posts and status updates recently describing end of year school field trips. Do you remember taking school field trips as a kid? Where did you go and do you recall a favorite? For any parents responding today, have you ever chaperoned a school field trip, and if so where?

I remember only ONE field trip from my school days. Isn't that sad? Surely we took more, but really, all I remember is a trip to Philadelphia with my 5th grade class. I remember the crack in the Liberty Bell,  I remember the Planetarium, and I remember that it really was where I fell in love with American history. 

As for me, I've taken kids on umpteen field trips as a homeschool mom and a few as a 5th/6th grade teacher.  I'm a firm believer in them and so is the principal of our little Christian school .  This year alone I chaperoned  a trip to the Meyerhoff for a concert, to the nursing home to sing to the residents, and ...

most recently as a parent chaperon I went with my husband and 7 other adults with our son's 6th grade class to New York City!!!  That was just this past weekend, so I'll be blogging our wonderful experience in that  electric place. 

In two days, we walked more than 15 miles. I.kid.you.not. Someone tracked it on her fitness app.

Here's a sneak peak:  (when we were only about 459 steps into our trip)

2. What's something you're tired of seeing online?

Self-promoting people.  I am tired mainly of people promoting their own book all over Facebook.  Every other status is about their book.  I also don't like when people with a business or a band will not give it a rest.  It comes across as very self-serving and arrogant.  If I ever publish a book or start my own business, please remind me of this very thing.

3. June is the month for roses. Which of the following expressions would you say has most recently applied to your life-'everything's coming up roses', 'there's no rose without a thorn', 'came out smelling like a rose', or 'wearing rose-colored glasses'? 

No rose without a thorn.  The "rose" I received last week was the diagnosis that was the best of the possibilities: I have a labral tear in my right shoulder.  A tear in the labrum is not as bad as a rotator cuff tear nor frozen shoulder. In my case no surgery is needed at this time. But the "thorn" I got was a cortisone shot (ouch!) and the prescription to start physical therapy, which I know is going to hurt. 

4. When grilling outdoors do you prefer gas or charcoal? Who does the grilling at your house? What's the last thing you ate that was cooked on a grill?

Gas.  Who has time for charcoal?  My husband does 75% of the grilling.  Last thing I ate that was cooked on a grill was on Mother's Day at my son's house. I had a burger. 


5. Are you afraid of the dark?

No and yes.  Not afraid of the dark for sleeping (in fact, the only way I can fall deeply asleep is in the pitch black darkness).  But I get freaked out if I don't or  can't see a darn thing or I've not got a clue where I am. 


6. Share a favorite song with a number in its  title.

"76 Trombones"  takes me back to being on stage playing Amaryllis in "The Music Man" when I was 11 years old. 

http://youtu.be/y_IAI1xIjAI

7. "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."(C.G. Jung). Do you agree? Why or why not?

Absolutely agree. In fact, my mom always has always said, "Suspicion of others comes from the knowledge of oneself."   Chances are, everything that irritates me in someone else is only because the tendency toward it in myself and wish it weren't there.   A few examples: impulsiveness, overtalking, sometimes being obtuse, selfishness, a take-charge attitude that borders on controlling, a "that's just the way I am and always will be" statement that sounds like justification for a character flaw when there is one that needs to be changed. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I took a picture of this placard at Ellis Island. What do you think of the "dilemma"?