Vegan mom takes on Disney..... Dec, 2011 PTR

[veggiemama]

This is not good.... not good at all!!! Pretty sure I will have lost any readers now that it has been weeks since I have been here! OUCH!

I have a good reason.... though I'm not sure it's good enough to be ditching the DIS boards

See I went from teaching 22 students last year to teaching 54 students this year.... and I just signed up 2 more students tonight! YIKES! There is A LOT of work that I am doing trying to get ready to start my teaching year. Add to that... I took on a new position with our Symphony and I'm a bit overwhelmed trying to get that all put together. AND my teacher has persuaded me to do my intermediate Harmony theory PLUS do my next performance exam next June. She has stated that I need 3 hours a day to practice piano plus 2 hours a day for Theory and somewhere in there I have to find time to teach, prep, work at the symphony and somehow still keep house, cook, manage my kids and spend time with my hubby. PHEW! I'm exhausted and the year hasn't even started yet!!

Because of all of this, I have not even had a chance to look at Disney stuff. Thank goodness I did all that planning during the summer relax months.

I got a little stressed about the Disney thing a couple weeks ago because we ran into some financial problems and thought I wouldn't be able to come up with the rest of the payment. NOT GOOD!!! I think we have it all figured out now though it is still a bit tight.... pretty sure we will be able to do it though.

I have a lot of planning to do yet... haven't even had a chance to talk with the kids about rides they want to do or shows they want to see.

oh I miss the summer

Thanks for hanging in there with me, those of you who might still be following.

I think, hope, PRAY that things will get better in the next 2 weeks as the routine of school starts (my kids started school last Thursday) and all my students and classes start.... sure hope it doesn't stay this crazy!

I really want to get back to planning.... and reading! I have managed to jump in and read some of your posts here and there... not time to post anything but I'm trying to read.... I miss all this .....

 

[shocky5]

Still here and definitely understand busy and not being able to post all of the time! I hope everything will work out just fine for you all to go. Sounds like you have it under control and will definitely deserve / need the vacation!

Hugs to you! You have a lot going on right now so make sure you take care of your health in all of the business!!

 

[annmarieda]

I too am still around... can't get rid of me that easily.

wow, that is an increase in students!!!

 

[TiggerFan3590]

Still here..... Looking forward to your updates.....

 

[momabaarjo]

I am still here... Hoping everything works out for you and things settle down...

 

[swwake]

I'm here!!

 

[Monknmom]

I know that it's a lot of wok, but that is so awesome that you grew your business that big! Be proud of yourself!
Don't worry about it, I am still here! I wasn't on for almost a month I think.... but my DIS friends stood by me! Oh and I hope that the financial situation is worked out so that you guys can go and have some fun-sounds like you would really need that break!!

 

[momabaarjo]

Still thinking of you!

Hope you are doing well...and finding some time to plan your trip!

 

[veggiemama]

Hello, my long lost dis friends!

I'm still here.... sort of

I keep thinking Disney and want to plan and then all that pesky work comes back to haunt me again!

I have been really really sick for the past 3 weeks or so ( I kind of lost track of time) and have had no energy to try to do anything. I have a DR. appointment in an hour so I hope that I might get some answers to what is wrong.

On top of that.... Member that piano theory course I am taking..... Well, it's not going so well at the moment.

I have had 2 weeks of my teacher whipping my *** and full out fighting with her... not like me at all!! She overstepped her place BIG time and I, well, in the end I kind of said something but, you know how it is....when someone starts yelling at me, I shut down. Not good I know but honestly I have worked with this woman for almost 10 years and never had a blow out like this before. She basically told me (well she said a LOT of thing but the bottom line was...) I'm not keeping up, I need to be more efficient, learn faster, remember everything not only from last year's course but from theory I learned more than 20 years ago! I need to not 'mother' my children, need to not get distracted and I need to focus on me and my stuff and leave everything else for everyone else to do, including cooking, cleaning and driving my kids!



needless to say, I cried and cried and cried. I NEVER cry. NEVER!!! And so after listening to this 2 weeks ago in a private lesson, I then had to sit through a group lesson and get the snide comments about "It's hate _______ day" (fill in teacher name) and comments on how university students have to study hard... blah blah blah. Don't get me wrong I know how hard students study but I took this course semi privately because I'm NOT in univeristy and I CAN"T study they way they do. She just does not understand.

Last week was much of the same. She hammered me for not knowing what I should know and for not practicing as much as I should and not connecting the dots between theory and my playing. I'm frustrated! SOOOOOOO frustrated with it all right now.

So this is all before I even started thinking "I must be sick" I know it seems a bit like a Duh! moment but really, I think I have been so busy just trying to keep up that I didn't even realize how sick I have been. I know that is affecting my studying and my practicing and my teaching.

Well, gotta run now. I'm off to see the Dr. I sure hope they figure out what is wrong.

 

[annmarieda]

Being yelled at is never fun....

Being sick is never fun....

I hope your dr. appointment goes well and you get answers!

 

[veggiemama]

I went, I saw, and now am on meds and in the next few weeks will be seen a bunch more!

I am going for a battery of tests in the next few weeks. CT scan, ultrasound for hip, mri ... you name it I think I'm having it done. Don't know if this is good or bad yet. If it gives me some answers I guess it's good but I can get pretty stressed with all the tests. About 3 years ago they did an MRI and CT scan and for a while they thought I had MS. Thank goodness that got ruled out but now with all the new problems going on, they once again want to make sure that things are still stable and not getting worse.

I'm also on penacilin again. Hopefully this will help me finally get better from the upset stomach, achy, feverish part of the problem I am having.

CT scan and MRI and all that is because I have been suffering from headaches/migranes for the past 3 weeks and am having some vertigo problems. I just hope that I am better again by the time we fly!!


There is some good stuff a happening on the Disney front.... Am planning to post about it tomorrow

 

[Monknmom]

I am really sorry about the teacher hammering you like that! I know it's hard being a mom and juggling all of the kids stuff and on top of that your own things and the house! Just take it easy though! Your in my thoughts and prayers with all of the tests and I hope that nothing is wrong or if something is it's fixable!

 

[annmarieda]

Hopefully you will get answers after you have those tests... in the mean time, I hope the penicillin helps.

I can't wait to read about your good news in regards to disney planning!!

 

[shocky5]

Hang in there Laura!! You are right - the tests will give you the answers you need and help you form solutions so you can feel good! We stress ourselves out so much with our mom, wife, worker hats...

Can't wait to hear the Disney news!!!

 

[Monknmom]

Hey I saw this floating around on facebook and thought you could use it!

 

[veggiemama]

Being yelled at is never fun....

Being sick is never fun....

I hope your dr. appointment goes well and you get answers!

Thank you. It's amazing how being ill can change your perspective on things.

I am really sorry about the teacher hammering you like that! I know it's hard being a mom and juggling all of the kids stuff and on top of that your own things and the house! Just take it easy though! Your in my thoughts and prayers with all of the tests and I hope that nothing is wrong or if something is it's fixable!

Sometimes I start to wonder if I am completely nuts trying to do all I do BUT I have no clue what I would stop doing..... good thing I love what I do everyday!

Hopefully you will get answers after you have those tests... in the mean time, I hope the penicillin helps.

I can't wait to read about your good news in regards to disney planning!!

I'm on my 2nd dose of meds. So far no changes but I'm sure I'll start feeling the effects soon. Good news coming right up!

Hang in there Laura!! You are right - the tests will give you the answers you need and help you form solutions so you can feel good! We stress ourselves out so much with our mom, wife, worker hats...
It's hard to wait for tests, and in Canada it could be months before I get in but it will be good to know what is going on. I'm working really hard to not get stressed.... but guess what....that's stressful too!! Vicious cycle!
Can't wait to hear the Disney news!!!

good new coming up! How glad I am to finally share some good news instead of whining about health stuff

Hey I saw this floating around on facebook and thought you could use it!

Thank you! I needed that!!

 

[veggiemama]

Ah Finally! A Happy Disney Update!

So as I said, I have had some good Disney moments last week. It is a good way of keeping me balanced because I can tend to be a bit pessamistic.

I have been concerned for a little while about all things finacial. The kids starting school sure has a lot of costs!! I spent a whole lot of money in the month of Sept that I really didn't have which left me worried about spending even more on a holiday. BUT it's not like I feel we really have a choice, the kids know, the tickets are booked it's kind of hard to cancel at the point.

So my hubby and I sat down and started working the numbers. I was pretty frustrated with the whole process. I don't have a lot of patience all the time for money talk and now looking back and realizing just how sick I have been it makes even more sense that I was feeling soooo frustrated by the whole process.

Just a couple of days later my Hubby calls me on the phone and tell me....


He got a RAISE!! and on top of that he's up for a major promotion next June!!

well now, that changed everything! All of a sudden not only is Disney going to be paid for but a MAJOR renovation that we have been wanting to do is now going to happen as well! See, I really need to be more positive.....

So my first good news is that Disney will be paid in full next week! and not a moment too soon as our deadline to pay in full is looming.... it's next week as well but now I will be able to pay it. Phew!

2nd good news. We sat down with our wonderful banker and have been approved and have the plans in motion to do our basement reno!

This reno will give me a private, sound proof studio in my basement and the kids will be able to go to their rooms and move around without disturbing me. Right now they can't be in the basement 3 night a week and it's kind of frustrating since their bedrooms are downstairs.

This is the part of the basement that will be turned into my studio. Where you see the couches, there will be a hallway and at the bottom of the stairs there will be a small waiting area for students/families. There is a door to the right hand side (behind the white chairs) which at the moment my pantry but that is going to be turned into my office.

Here is my studio at the moment

As you can see my office and studio are combined. Where you see my office... that is going to be turned into a bedroom for my son. Right now, though he is in the basement, he is in a back corner, behind the furnance and has to go through our storage area. Not so nice for him. My DD's room is behind me in this picture and the space between the room will be turned into a tv recroom type area for them to hang out in.

Soooo excited to do this.... and guess when it will be done??!!!


The week we are at DISNEY!!!! The contractor is a friend of ours and since all the decisions are basically done already, he will work and email us during the week. All I have to do when we get back is paint.


So there is good news 1 and 2.... but wait it gets better!



In the mail on Friday I got this

hard to read, I know. It was express post and you know it MUST be good when it comes Express.

Inside was a fun little envelope

And inside that??

 

[veggiemama]

I found my FREE Tickets!

So all in all a good week last week to make up for the blow out I had with my teacher.

This week so far (and it's only Tuesday!)

I have my quote in for the doors and windows that we are replacing upstairs and it came in much lower than I expected!

I stepped on the scale and have lost a total of 15 pounds so far!!!

And my hubby and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on monday and he bought me these:

We don't have 'time' to celebrate during the week but we have tickets to a Jeff Beck concert on Saturday so we will head out for dinner and a concert that day.

So there you have it. All the good mixed in with the stress. I guess that is just how life works sometimes.

Oh, and just because he is so darn cute! had to get my puppy's hair cut and ended up having to shave him the mats were so bad!

I was teaching when the groomer called and the conversation went something like this:

Groomer; Well I am going to have to shave him

Me: That's too bad but kind of what I expected. How's he doing.

Groomer: He is being very good..... now

Me: Uh Oh, what did he do?

Groomer: Well, you were right he is shy. he was fine as long as I didn't touch him.

Me: And?

Groomer: Well, i tried to hold him and he was not very impressed


Me: And?

Groomer; Well, he peed on me......

Me: Oh no.... and???

Groomer: Then he bit him

Me; OH NO!

Groomer: I was bleeding pretty good but I'm fine

Me: CRAP!

Groomer: He submitted after that and is fine now.

ME: *thinking* I better give her a GOOD tip for this one!!

So here he is, shaved and all. This is taken three weeks after the groomer trip, so a lot of hair has grown back already.

Poor boy! I almost feel sorry for him!

 

[shocky5]

WONDERFUL NEWS!!! Congrats on getting trip paid in full next week and for DH's raise and the renovations your basement will be getting while you are on vacation!!

I giggled at the dog groomer story! That's not true... I laughed... A LOT!

 

[annmarieda]

Wow! Lots of good news!! And... your pup is awfully cute.