Author Archives: wfeatherston

Anna & Silver Strings

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Anna is in her second year as a member of Silver Strings – an honor strings ensemble for the 5th and 6th graders of the Shawnee Mission School District.  The rehearsals are at 7:00am on Friday mornings at a school about 5 miles away.   They meet, practice, and are then bussed back their respective schools in time for the beginning of the school day.  This, obviously, requires a lot of commitment by the kids (and also their parents that drive them to rehearsals).  Fortunately, we’re part of a carpool of 4 girls and Linda has only had to drive for 2 months this whole year.

They had one of their concerts the other night and it was a real joy to listen to really motivated elementary string players play together.  Great job, Anna.

KCMTA Multi-Piano Concert

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This weekend is filled with rehearsals and concerts for the 2010 Kansas City Music Teachers Association Multi-Piano Concert.  This concert involves 18 grand pianos on stage with 2 players at each piano.  This duets-only concert includes around 20 pieces that have different sets of players on each set.  It’s like an orchestra of pianos.

All four of us are playing again this year.  I’m playing with Anna; Anna is playing with Emily; Linda is playing with Emily and also with several other students.  It really is a lot of fun.

The picture is from the yesterday’s rehearsal.

Happy Valentines Day to Bill

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Linda told me yesterday that I had to be at the house between 3:30 and 5:30 today.  She  mentioned she had found the perfect Valentines gift, but I had to be here for it to work.

Would you believe – my wife went all out – she sent me a Singing Valentine done none other than one of the quartets from the Heart of America Barbershop Chorus.  I have always loved barbershop and am very vocal about the fact that I wished I had the time to join the Chorus.

The piano lessons were interrupted and we all gathered in the piano studio to hear these 4 men sing me classic barbershop love tunes (e.g., “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”).  They gave me a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a single rose.  The girls will likely get all the chocolates.

Anyways – it was an awesome Valentines gift – especially since we’ve not given Valentines gifts to each other in over 10 years (her idea, not mine).

 

Cheer class

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Anna and Emily have been on an extended leave from their dance class due to an ankle injury sustained by their dance teacher (who is over 80 years old).  Having these 2 extra hours in their weekly schedule, it was decided to let them take a Cheer Class that was being offered at our gym.  They have had an absolute blast!

Pictured here is the final pose in one of their routines – they really looked like they were having fun.

Hero Wax Museum

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Emily’s 5th grade class recently had to complete an in-depth report on their hero – including speech in full costume.  Last night the parents were able to go to the “Wax Museum” up at the school.  All of the kids were lined up in their costumes with a red or blue “button” on the palm of their hand.  Upon pushing the “button”, the character would come to life and present their life story.  It was incredibly cute.

There were many heroes – Harriet Tubman, George Washington, Jonas Salk, Jackie Robinson, Theodore Roosevelt, Pocahontas, and many, many more.  Emily was Mary Lou Retton.

P90X Begins

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My P90X program arrived and today was Day 1.  I’m a little sore – but I feel great.  I’m really looking forward to completing this thing in 90 days (May 5, 2010).

I’m not fully disillusioned in seeing myself as becoming one of those ripped hard-bodies, but I hope to shed some fat (i.e., love handles) and gain some defined muscle mass.  At least my pants will fit better.

Fortunately, I’ve got a good friend in the area that is doing the same program.  He’s about 3 weeks ahead of me and will be able to give me plenty of advice and encouragement.

Wish me luck.

The mind of Emily

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Working several 12-hr shifts in a row creates stretches where I don’t really get to see the girls – I leave the house before they get up and I get home after they go to bed.  So, this morning I called Emily to say hi and tell her how much I love her.

Me:  “So what have you got planned today?”

Emily:  “Oh, I’m gonna take some tests and do other crazy stuff.”

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Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the big game with #2 Kansas Jayhawks travelling to Manhattan to take on our beloved #11 KSU Wildcats.  Go Cats…EMAW.

Exercise…exercise…exercise

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Linda has been using her new bike on the trainer and loving it.  She’s riding up to an hour at a time – and getting caught up on her TV shows.

I finally put my bike on the trainer this morning and rode for 30 minutes before I had to leave for work.  What a great way to get a ride on the bike.  Comfort of your own home, no one watching you, your own TV with your choice of channel, and a shower just moments away.

I pulled the trigger yesterday and purchased the P90X program.  Went to the store and bought my pull-up bar and some more dumbbells.  The program should arrive in the mail in 5 to 7 days.  Best piece of advice I got from a friend doing the same program – get a big bottle of ibuprofen.

Not looking forward to seeing me “before” picture; really looking forward to my “after” picture!

Linda got a new bike

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I have been talking to Linda for the past year about getting her a new bike.  Actually, it’s been more like begging…and it’s been more like 3 years.  Ever since I fell in love with biking, I’ve wanted her to join me.

Now, I really prefer to be ride my thick-tired, full-suspension mountain bike on dirt trails over big roots and even bigger rocks.  Linda, however, prefers pavement.  Actually, Linda prefers her 1980 Schwinn 10-speed that she got in 6th grade.

I’ve asked many times to help her find a new bike that is lighter, faster, and more adult-sized.  However, she has threatened me with bodily harm if I ever brought a new bike home – and then she’d take the bike back after I lay bloody on the floor.

In the past year, Linda found the exercise bike at the gym to be a great workout that also allowed her to read at the same time.  She also recently decided to do a portion of the Bike Across Kansas trip this year.  If she was going to do this, a new bike was in order.

Today was the day we found just the right bike – a Trek FX 7.3.  She won’t admit it, but I think she’s VERY happy.  Along with the bike, we also purchased a CycleOps Magneto trainer so we can use our bikes inside during not-so-great weather (I also have a road-hybrid for pavement riding).

Congratulations, Linda, on getting such a cool new bike!