So...the tuxedo and shirt went to the dry cleaners to be picked up before the next practice. I picked it up, checked the bag for all his gear, put studs in the shirt and put all into the closet ready for practice since formal pictures are to be taken for the website and other advertisements.
Bob awakens me on practice day because I have a training session to attend over at the college - one that will take me out of the house before he's ready to go. After a shower and playing a few games on the computer, I yell upstairs...I'm leaving (it's about a 20 min drive and I now have about 30 minutes before the training starts). "Wait a minute, where's my tux?" Together we pull out the hanging case, the tux and the shirt and take cleaning tags and plastic bags off. Where's my red cummerbund?...(keep quiet, just look through drawers and closet) Look in the pocket of the tux...Honey I took that to the cleaners...there was nothing in the pockets...never mind I found it! Shoes - where's my black shoes and socks? Did you check the carrying case? Yep, got up. (10 minutes gone.) Honey I have to leave...okay give me a hug and kiss. Be careful see you later.
I'm a part time instructor of English composition and pre-composition at Central Ohio Technical College. More than 30 years of administration and teaching for state universities, private colleges, and one school system allows a little privilege in getting into a job, the Doctorate in Higher Education does the rest. So I teach...not because of the money, benefits or retirement system (I'm already drawing my retirement)...but because I love to teach. The lead instructor has just started her presentation when I walk in, grab a water and a sweet roll and a seat at the back of the room. What I really need right now is caffeine and there's none in sight. Take a few minutes to catch my breath and catch up to the topic - I've missed the lead in - why we are here...so I have to wing it and ask questions later. Two hours later I'm chatting with the other teachers and comparing notes...I want to be outside with a cup of coffee!! It was a good session. I learned things I've been just muddling through and they have been right! Guess sometimes you operate on instinct, and thank goodness mine was right on. I also learned that the other teachers have the same problems in class, and the same concerns for some students and the "system." As a part timer, I really wish there were more opportunities to have contact with the lead instructors and other teachers...But it's time to head home and see how the practice went.
Bob comes in a little after I arrive home. Grouchy, no voice, and everything took longer than expected. Some of the group planned a surprise for Girard and he decided not to be in picture...guess it was a little chaotic until he was convinced to be in picture so that the planners could surprise him - and he was pleased with the surprise. But practice, professional pictures, changing outfits from formal to informal and with different cummerbunds and ties plu a long afternoon of practicing leave my bass-o tired, hungry and grumpy - ears are ringing - a side effect of his years on locomotives before safety hearing covers were required. The ringing gets worse after singing or after any event that has a lot of sound at differing volumes and pitches. Something the doctors say could be tied to a med he takes and needs, or just the noise from the trains. No real cure - but I can tell when it's really bothering him because he doesn't want to talk and he has a hard time hearing me. So I just try to be sensitive to the fact that after a rough practice or concert, he' s going to need his own version of quiet time...usually playing some games on the computer or reading or just sleeping. Tomorrow will be better and he'll be ready to talk about the practice, upcoming events or even happenings with other members of the group.
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