Professor Ellis

Today at about 10 minutes till six when I was just getting ready to leave from work, I get called away from my daily cleanup by my boss Rex. He asks me point blank if I would mind teaching the woodwind part of the classes we are having for the Affiliates that VIR trains and employs. Originally another co-worker was suppose to handle the class, but at the last minute they decided to shuffle things around and I was next on the list of competent people.

Teaching a class of 15 or 20 people the basics of repairing clarinets and flutes is not something I've ever really seen myself doing. I like fixing instruments, but I don't really consider myself much of a public speaker or teacher. Only having one night to prepare isn't helping my confidence level, but at the same time I'm excited. I think it will be entertaining and while I'll probably get stumped by a question that I can't answer or stammer through some parts of my presentation, I hope that the people in the class learn and enjoy it.

I have no idea what the age of my students will vary between. I've seen gray haired affiliates and people barely out of high school. I've given the suggested outline for my class a good bit of looking through and although I've made a few changes I've stuck with it for the most part. My biggest concern is not having the right supplies and trying to teach something to complex.

When someone says basic repair, I think about lots of things. Replacing a cork is basic, but then again finding where something goes can be tricky. Proper regulation is vital for any woodwind instrument, but how do you explain the particulars of an instrument when it took me a good week to be comfortable with where to bend and what to move? Add to that the fact that I haven't really touched a flute in three months and a clarinet in over a year and I have a feeling that tomorrow will be quite entertaining to someone who actually knows what I'm trying to teach.

Luckily my class is suppose to know nothing, and while that may turn out to be an exaggeration, I'm going to hope they know at least next to nothing. Tomorrow will be something different regardless of how it turns out. But I'll cross my fingers for everything to turn out alright. LOL

On a much more exciting note, my cousins will be here tomorrow for about a week to visit. So yippee for family coming down. Now I just have to make it through my impromptu teaching career. LOL

Fray's Donuts

I recently posted about how I had found a Dunkin Donuts by the house and had enjoyed having donuts in my life again. Last night though, I happen to see a place called Fray's Donuts. Jacki and I were going to a Rockband party and I decided to stop off for a donut to help me make it through the late night.

Fray's Donuts is like an old style diner. The signs were faded, the floor was off yellow colored, and the donuts were AMAZING!!! Jacki called them "sinkers" because they had a weight to them. I called them heavenly. I only purchased 2 donuts last night for the show, but they were enough to prove to me that Fray's blows Dunkin's out of the water.

Dunkin Donuts is a chain. I usually am not much of a small town enthusiast when it comes to shopping. I mean if you can by it cheaper, then I'm all for it regardless of who you buy it from. But Fray's donuts were the same price as Dunkins and infinitely better. You could actually see the kitchen in the back where they make donuts, and the workers were the old matron-like cooks that you see in cafeterias and home cooking diners around the country.

My only complaint was that I didn't have any milk to go with my donuts last night. A donut as good as Fray's deserves the proper drink to accompany it. But I remedied that tonight by going back to Fray's and buying a dozen donuts to bring home and enjoy. My theory is that they will stay moist and awesome far longer then a Dunkin donut, although I may not be able to prove my theory if I eat them all tomorrow. LOL

Doggie Graduation

Zoey passed class today. Who hoo