Teacher and I took many trips to Chicago during our college years: field trips to art galleries for his art classes, road trips for Blackhawk games, fraternity formals, etc. We discovered Giordanno’s on one of our trips, and it’s been a favorite ever since. In fact, when we lived in…
The El is definitely a new experience for the kids; and many of the adults too. This year we were riding the Orange line around the Loop to the Art Institute. Even though we’ve ridden the El almost every year I’ve gone on the trip, I’m always worried that someone…
After our pre-dawn bus ride and intense clinic at VanderCook we were all hungry and ready to eat. The sign welcoming us to Chinatown is a welcome sight; we’re almost there! I remember the first time I had Chinese food. It was the summer after my Freshman year of…
I thought I’d awaken groggy and bleary-eyed at 3am Friday morning, but an overabundance of adrenaline and worry that I’d forgotten to pack had me bouncing staggering out of bed more awake than I’d anticipated. At 3:45 am the streets in my town are dark and quiet. My camera…
At the time this post is published Teacher are I have already been careening down the highway in a coach bus filled with middle school band students for an hour and a half. It’s our annual middle school band trip to Chicago for the Music in the Parks competition. The…
I was so excited about going to handbell festival this year. We hadn’t gone as a choir before, although I’ve attended some handbell workshops and several choir members had gone with other choirs, so we knew how much fun it is to ring with a huge group of people. Saturday…
I’ve directed the handbell choir at our church since it began in 1999, but this is the first year we’re going to Festival. In the past we hadn’t gone for various reasons: not enough ringers were free that weekend, it was too far away, there wasn’t enough money in the…
This is the first year the Midwest Clinic was held at McCormack Place. Before this it was held at the Hilton, which provided a festive atmosphere, but was too small and cramped for the conference. McCormack Place was more sterile, but had plenty of room for everything the Clinic offered.…
Who goes to a conference the week before Christmas when they haven’t started shopping and don’t have a single Christmas cookie made? Teacher and I, of course. Last year we didn’t attend the Midwest Clinic because it was so close to Princess’s due date so we were really looking forward…
I’m terrible, I know. I promised to write more about the Midwest Clinic. And I haven’t done it yet, but what can I say? First there was Christmas, and New Years, and new children in the daycare, and puke, and… and… OK, no more excuses, time to write. Teacher and…
