River Reeds
River Reeds was a community built for clarinetists in and around Louisville, Kentucky to connect, share, and support one another. It was built for students, teachers, hobbyists, and pros.
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So I went to start up Beauty and the Beast for Kiddo, and they picked The Big Lebowski instead. I’m sure Mat is very proud. [read more]
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Kiddo saw their first big screen movie last night. Wreck-It Ralph was a hit! [read more]
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I got to take Kiddo to daycare (I do that every morning, but we sang songs on the way there today). I shadowed a band director at a school that I’m now excited to teach at, be it as a sub or volunteer. I finished my day earlier than I have in weeks and was able to get my chores finished before picking up Kiddo from daycare a FULL HOUR AND A HALF EARLY. I played clarinet with Jon Rohner at a musical rehearsal. I had warm squash soup made by George when I got home. I’m now organizing music… [read more]
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Changing (back) careers
If you saw my quotes from a few days ago, you saw one I posted that read, “I think if you’re afraid of something, it means you should probably do it.” If I’m really honest with myself, it’s teaching that I’ve been afraid of. I’ve always been happy doing sectionals and teaching private lessons, but my early experience as a band director scared me out of wanting to do that again. The irony of that is, I love band. I love teaching. So, as my last day of work in my most recent attempt at working in IT comes to… [read more]
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Kiddo looks so much older today! They picked out a turquoise and grey striped Henley top and jeans… and then it went south with the shoe choice: pink “Oma shoes” (bright pink Crocs with Disney princesses on them). [read more]
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“I think if you’re afraid of something, it means you should probably do it.” ~ Bettina (Kathy Bates), “Six Feet Under” [read more]
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“I don’t even care if it works out fair in the end. I’m sure it doesn’t. I still have to haul my own ass out of bed in the morning.” ~ Bettina (Kathy Bates), “Six Feet Under” [read more]
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Philosophy of Music Education
Music is an academic subject which ties together other subjects such as math, reading, history, and writing. It is also a subject in which a student can learn qualities that are not academic, such as self-discipline, respect for other people, and how to work alone and with others towards set goals. It is a learning experience that can shape a student, make them a more well-rounded individual, and prepare them for the rest of their lives. However, this process does not involve only the student, but the parents, the teachers, and peers. It is through this interaction that the student… [read more]
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Stapler function broken on our Heidelberg printer. So, today I’m getting paid to staple. For the luvvapete…. [read more]
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“Decaf is cruel and unusual punishment.” ~ Rachel Morgan (character), “White Witch, Black Curse” by Kim Harrison [read more]
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When I was 5, I had a crush on a guy named Joshua. He owned a model replica of the Millennium Falcon and let me be the Empire Strikes Back Princess Leah “Hoth” version. [read more]
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Be comfortable with growing older.
Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, for you shall only live it once. Be comfortable with growing older. Louise Hay [read more]
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Kiddo loves Wallace & Gromit. I’m ok with this. [read more]
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As we drove home from tonight’s movie, at least ten cop cars were blocking Dixie Highway near White Castle (our “corner”). We’ve gotta move. [read more]
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Mat just came home, and as he walked in the house, there was a gunshot. Then, a car came barreling around the corner onto our street, skidded on the pavement, slammed into the neighbor’s embankment across the street, and crashed into their yard. The driver and passenger turned in the hazard lights, got out, and started walking down the road. Neighbors came out of their houses, asking, “HEY! Whuur y’all a-goin’?” An ambulance and a police car is here now. My neighbors are sitting outside on their porches, watching this happen. The people in the car are no where to… [read more]
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First Reply from CDC Complaint Update Request
I emailed them on April 17, 2012…. 5 months after their first response…. asking for an update on their “investigation.” This response is the last I heard from them. April 17, 2012 Sharon Murphy, Complainant Dear Ms. Murphy: I am writing to notify you of the current status for the inquiry into your complaint against Fort Knox Child Development Center in Fort Knox, Kentucky. The complaint review remains open at this time. As you can appreciate, and as provided in the NAEYC Complaint Policy, “communications regarding complaints are confidential and not shared with the public.” NAEYC is not a regulatory… [read more]
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Kiddo jerked my iPad from me and said, “mine.” First time they’ve used that word and first time that ever happened. Crap. [read more]
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Tolerance
Recently I’ve had a lot of exposure to Christian intolerance through the news, friends, etc. Due to this, my thoughts about Christianity have been a bit confusing. So, I decided to do a Google search for Christianity teaches tolerance. One article in particular caught my eye. Note: sections taken from the article will be indented. The definition of intolerant: Not tolerant, especially: The really remarkable thing about the definition of intolerant is that those who say we Christians are intolerant and should not express our religious beliefs are the ones who actually fit the definition. Tolerance is not about accepting… [read more]
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Sis took Baby downstairs, and I slept in for the first time in… I can’t remember the last time I got up after 6:30am. [read more]
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Baby has what seems like hundred of toys; they’d rather play with my set of Sharpie markers. They don’t use them, they just enjoy pulling them out of the pencil holder, matching up different colors, and putting them back! 🙂 [read more]
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Baby had 102°F temp at 11:45pm, hit 104°F by the time I made it to the ER. Their ear infection is back. They were shivering so bad teeth were chattering. I’ve never been so scared in my life. They’re fine now, started ear drops and antibiotics. Just about to go down for the night. [read more]
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Baby isn’t just getting care during the day anymore, they’re getting an education! Thank you, Brilliant Minds Academy! 🙂 [read more]
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When Mat went to pick up Baby today, he saw them leaning against some stackable toys, just staring off into space. No one was checking on them, no one was involving them in an activity. Of course when Baby saw Daddy they brightened up and ran over. And the teachers call them anti-social why? Because they aren’t engaging them??? They’re plenty active when at home. Ugh… only 2 more days…. [read more]
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Text from Mat, “Baby is having braunschweiger and blueberries. Do you see what happens when I’m in charge? Things get awesome.” [read more]
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Letter to Fort Knox CDC
First Letter: Ms. Jones, This letter is written to inform you that, as of October 14, I have reported Fort Knox Child Development Center to the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The incident on October 12 was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. I requested a phone call from you after the incident on October 12 and again the morning of October 13. My husband appreciates you having Ms. Clay call the morning of October 13, however she indicated that you would be calling either me or him before the end of the day. We… [read more]
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Got Baby ready for daycare this morning, only to find out they’re closed today. Thanks for letting me know, CDC. [read more]
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I thought I was going to miss out on seeing Baby at all today. Then someone surprised me by driving to my work… munchkin in tow! Thank you, Mat Murphy. 🙂 [read more]
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Cutest thing: Baby was in their little Elmo plane and started to nod off! First time I’d ever seen that. 🙂 [read more]
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I had a great first day of work, though I was in serious baby withdrawal. Home with them now and couldn’t be happier. [read more]
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First day at my new job after not working for over a year. Adam Sandler’s “Back to School” song is playing in my head. [read more]
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Baby finally slept for a 4-hour stretch last night. It’s amazing how sleeping for 4 hours feels so different from sleeping for only 2. [read more]
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Trying to fall asleep but my darling baby’s nose is whistling. It’s not annoying, it’s hilarious and cute! 😉 [read more]
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Pets and the Army
The treatment of pets in relation to the military travel is unacceptable. I didn’t understand fully just how difficult it was to travel with pets until the travel agency didn’t include them on our first itinerary. Something needs to change. Six weeks ago, my husband (sponsor) made travel arrangements through SatoTravel to get our infant, our two cats and myself back to Louisville. I received plane tickets for myself and for our baby to fly on United Airlines from Frankfurt to Chicago and then on to Louisville. To confirm that we were in compliance with German travel regulations, I called the airline to… [read more]
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Baby was sitting peacefully watching Baby Einstein, when they stopped playing with toys and got this glazed over look on their face. I should’ve known something was up. I hate poopie pants. [read more]
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I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is Baby rolled over for the first time. The bad news is that it was from the couch onto the floor. She’s fine, but I’m a hot mess. [read more]
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I’m staring at Baby while they sleep, thinking, “when they’re a teenager, they’re gonna call me a stalker…” [read more]
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Yesterday, baby was in mom’s lap almost upside down and head buried in her arm at a 45 degree angle, and they were passed out. Last night, baby slept from 1am-6am, all because I put them on their stomach. Books be damned, babies can sleep in all kinds of positions! [read more]
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Well, I won’t be putting mustard on any food at any time in the near future… [read more]
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The Baby is Here!
Baby was born on July 8, 2010 at 4:47am at St. Josef’s Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany. Talk about a whirlwind of an experience… we barely made it to the hospital. [read more]
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Bedrest… really? Ugh… [read more]
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I want to spend the whole day at a 45° angle… just enough to keep the preggo bellly from pulling me forward or backward! Also, preggo cankles FTW!! [read more]
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I am stuck at home with sciatic nerve pain and an empty fridge. I guess I’m braving the commissary in a few minutes… [read more]
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71° and pregnant… and it’s not even May yet. Loving the weather, hating the clothing options [read more]
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Mat and I saw the baby today… and its little heart beating so fast! It has finally hit me I think, and now I’m prone to spontaneous fits of uncontrollable happy crying. [read more]
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while driving – gas pedal stuck, auto accel on its own. brake won’t depress. put in N, engine revved. rolled to side, turned engine off, put in P. never been so scared. [read more]
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Amazing Accident
We were backpacking across Ireland and were relying on buses and walking to get us where we wanted to go. We’d just left Galway and were headed to Kinvara, which we realized after boarding the bus headed west was not a usual stop for the driver. Mat and the driver agreed to keep an eye out for a particular road about an hour’s drive away, and the driver would be sure to drop us off. About an hour and a half later, Mat and I woke up abruptly, not sure where we were. After talking with the driver, he admitted… [read more]
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Sandhofen, Germany
This is one of my absolute favorite photos I took while walking around Sandhofen (Mannheim) after a rather snowy night. [read more]
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Ireland
I wish that I could describe Ireland in a way that truly honored what this photo shows, but words constantly fail me. It was an experience that I’ll never forget and have triedunsuccessfully to replicate. This photo shows how the forest looked all around us as we walked on paved, gravel, and dirt paths throughout Killarney. The whole area is this color green. This photo may look like a random snapshot of trees and wild grasses and moss, but for me this was a small glimpse into how the ordinary in Ireland was the extraordinary to me. [read more]
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Evolution of the Clarinet 1600-1800
The so-called chalumeaux may be allowed to voice their somewhat howling symphony of an evening, perhaps in June or July and from a distance, but never in January at a serenade on the water.1 With the stream of negative comments like the one above found throughout writings of the 16th and 17th centuries, it is a wonder how the early clarinet, known as the chalumeau, survived to become the instrument we all know today. Surely Mozart would not have written his Concerto for Clarinet for an instrument described as having such a harsh and intolerable sound. While listening to the… [read more]