It's what makes it all worth it...

I don't make much money as a teacher; my dad told me as much when I was eighteen and wanted to go to school so that one day I could teach. But, being the Taurus that I am, and the fact that teaching is in my bones, I decided to go ahead with it anyway. It's not the money that makes it worthwhile; I don't know too many teachers that do it for the money. I teach because I love it and I can't imagine not teaching -- it hurts my heart to think I might not be teaching in the fall...

But I digress.

Nights like last night -- meeting up with two of my former students for dinner, drinks, music, and interesting conversation are what make suffering through some endless days of grading, or dealing with difficult students (or faculty/administration for that matter!), earning below a living wage, or any of the other myriad of frustrations that come along with teaching -- all worthwhile!

Knowing a student genuinely learned something from me and appreciates it is food for my soul. And knowing a student genuinely likes me is icing on the cake -- or whipped cream on the apple carmel tart or the hardened sugar on the creme bruele, or a plate for your cock bones (inside joke!).

So, that's why I teach - not for the money - but because I genuinely care for my students and their learning; I want them to succeed and I want them to inform me of their life accomplishments; and because when it boils down to it, teaching is in my bones and in my heart!

Cheers for now...

Three weeks...

Has it really been three weeks since I've written? So much has happened in such a short period of time, it's pretty unbelievable!

*April 10th marked a significant date for Terrence - he returned to LMC as the featured guitarist for the college's music recital - a real thrill for him, especially since his mom and grandmother were in the audience.

*On April 20th Terrence hosted the Breakfast at the Oakland Chamber, making more valuable connections

*Had a fantastic birthday thanks to my husband (Friday @ The Commodore Yachts [we were actually on Bay Area Bargains on KRON 4, The Purple Onion - How We First Met), my girlfriends (Saturday @ Cha Cha Cha, Amnesia, and the Metronome), and my mom and aunt (Sunday @ Horatio's & Chevy's... ooooey goooey....yum!). I definitely celebrated 35 in style!

*And tonight... Terrence had his first on-air interview at KPFA a local station out of Berkeley. Greg Bridges of KPFA and KCSM interviewed T and gave him the highest compliment saying that off his new CD's The Calling: Volume One and Volume Two would be new jazz Standards -- totally awesome compliment!

In case you missed the interview, you can log onto www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=13777 and then click Play Stream.

If that doesn't work follow these steps:

log onto www.kpfa.org
Click on Programs (upper left)
Scroll down until you see in the far left column a link for Transitions on Traditions - click it
Then click on the link that comes up in the next page
Then click on the archives for Monday, April 24th
Then click on Play Stream

Once the program has loaded you can 'fast forward' to one hour into the program and shortly thereafter you'll hear Terrence! The entire interview is about 45 minutes and has some talking, songs from the CD's, as well as Terrence playing live solo guitar!

Stay tuned for more musical musings...

3 (gulp) 5

How could the next box appear so quickly? The box that puts me in with the 35 - 49 year olds is less than two weeks away. I find myself filling out forms and questionnaires online just so I can still choose the 25 - 34 group. Why is this such a big deal to me?

I remember being so happy to turn 25; I was a quarter of a century! And 30? It was my best year yet... I ran a marathon, received my master's degree, and got married. But 35 is different. T is still in that 25 - 34 box and I'm moving ahead but don't feel any real accomplishment for moving there.

Is it such a big deal because maybe by societal standards I'm expected to have kids by now... I don't want to use that as an excuse, but I'm not coming up with too much more. Is it because I think at 35 I should own property (a house) or have a higher paying job (I know that money isn't everything but it does make things a bit easier at times)?

What else could it be? Any suggestions for thoughts from those of you approaching this odd number or from those of you for who it is well behind you?

I have a feeling I'll be contemplating this for at least another 13 days...

MUH MUH MUH MY SHARONA.....

Or how about 'Oh, Donna, oh, Donna?'

The Knack, Ritchie Valens... Terrence Brewer!

Even though there are no words to it, KCSM played my song on the radio at 7:44:57pm - Cat Nap (For Cathy).

So, I'm at home, sittin' in my comfy chair with my Turbo Boot off, listening on my iBook to a live stream of the Bay Area's most popular jazz station - no not KBLX (no offense, but that's not real jazz - that's smooth jazz -- and fyi: Kenny G is not allowed in our house!) but 91.1fm KCSM all the while thinking of the homework I should be doing instead of the 50 things I was doing. When all of a sudden, I heard a familiar melody coming from a familiar sounding guitar - and - OH MY GOD! THAT'S TERRENCE PLAYING CAT NAP!!! MY SONG!!

Before I actually knew what I was doing, I jumped up from my chair and ran to the door, actually jogged or hopped or possibly even flew out to the car to hear it on the car radio! There is was loud and clear, my husband on the radio! I knew the station had been playing songs from his CD's since Tuesday, but it was the first time I actually heard him on the radio and playing my song (okay, enough of 'my song', I know, I know - I'm just so excited!).

So, as I'm listening I call T (who didn't answer because he's playing a gig at Butterfly), then my mom, then Janet, then Angela and as my neighbor pulled up, I yelled, "Hey do you hear this?" and he said, "Yeah", and I said, "That's my husband on the radio!". I wanted to start the engine and drive through the streets yelling "THIS IS MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND THEY'RE PLAYING ON THE RADIO!!!" at the top of my lungs - but, I did show some self-restraint:)

Sidebar: I'm so excited at this point I feel like I'm going to throw up.

So, when it finishes, the DJ, Greg Bridges says, "That's new music from guitarist Terrence Brewer off The Calling: Volume One. Terrence brings special sounds to the night with Cat Nap, for Cathy". So, you know when I hear my name being said I did let out a squeal of delight that I'm sure the whole neighborhood, well at least two neighbors down on either side of us, heard.

After some minutes pass talking to my mom, recounting the entire episode, I decided to call the station and thank the DJ for playing it.

So, here's how the conversation goes...

Me: "Hi, if my husband knew I was calling, he'd probably kill me, but I just wanted to say thank you for playing the song by Terrence Brewer - Cat Nap"

Him: "Oh, you know the song?"

Me: "Yeah, it was written for me!"

Him: [with surprise] "Oh, your husband doesn't know that?"

Me: [getting tongue-tied] "No, he does, he is my huband"

Him: "What?"

Me: "Terrence - Terrence Brewer is my husband!"

Him: [laughing] "Oh. Sure. No problem, I really like the albums."

Me: "Oh, thank you, that means so much coming from station guys like you"

Him: "Where do you live?"

Me: "We live in Alameda."

Him: "Oh, you're local?"

Me: "Yeah"

Him: "Well, I DJ at a station in Berkeley, KPFA, and I'd love it if Terrence came in and brought his guitar and played something and we could talk."

Me: [grinning from ear to ear] "Well, you're talking to the right person. I do marketing and promotions for him. Do you have an email address where he can contact you?"

Him: "Yes, it's..." [you didn't think I was going to give it away did you?

Me: "Oh, he'll definitely be in touch with you; this is great. I'm so glad I called."

Him: "I'm glad you called too. Gotta run - we'll be in touch"

Me: "Bye"

Him: "Bye Cat"

EXHALE NOW......

See, you just never know what a phone call can do for a person... or expressing your gratitude in the present, for that matter!

So, another live radio interview soon... details to follow...

HERE'S THE PROMISED... EXCITING NEW POST

Have you ever just felt like YELLING FROM THE ROOFTOPS with joy!

I did for the better part of today.

I had a great class today; heard some pretty entertaining impromptu speeches from my studnets, who, by the way, I love this semester -- but really, I love every semester! I love teaching... if I could change my last name to represent what I like doing, I would change it to Teacher : -P. I really miss my former students; I love hearing from them and learning about what they're doing in their lives. I'm always amazed at how attached I get to a group of students after only 18 weeks -- thank goodness I don't have year-long courses - I can't imagine the separation anxiety!

And now.... for the exciting part.

So, yesterday was Terrence's official CD release date. At lunch today, he called a few press contacts to see if they received their press kit including CD's. He just so happend to speak to Chewy Varella from 91.1 KCSM, who said HE LOVED TERRENCE'S CD'S AND THAT THE STATION HAD PUT THEM INTO ROTATION ON TUESDAY -- THEY PLAYED THREE SONGS!!!

You can't imagine my elation when T called to share this with me -- I can't get a grasp on it myself! All I know was that I couldn't contain my tears of joy! And then he said that CHEWY INVITED HIM ON FOR A LIVE RADIO INTERVIEW ON MONDAY, MAY 22nd AT 1pm!!!

OMG!!!

Of course the interview happens to fall on the day of my final at the college (it's gonna have to be a quick one folks!) but I'll race back home and we'll head off to the City together! I'm not even the one who is going to be interviewed but I AM SOOOOOO FREAKIN' EXCITED!!!!
I even told Joe that I had to take the day off to go with him... I think he understood:) - Thanks, Joe!

There, so how's that for an exciting entry?

To have or not to have?

So, T and I spent the better half of three hours last night talking about babies - to have or not to have... that is the question.

And you're probably sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what the answer is, huh? Only if your name is Grace:)

Well, I think my answer is 'yes'. Yes, I eventually want to have kids. I want the experience of having a family and raising a little person and experiencing life through a fresh pair of eyes.

So, yes.

Now, the next question is when. When should I (okay we) have kids? Well, that's the part that always trips me up. There are sooooooooo many things I want to do, did I say sooooooooo many things ... I want to travel - to New York, to Italy, to Paris... That's about it - that's not asking a lot is it?

But society is pressuring. No, not any one person in particular, just society as a whole -- I mean, I am in my mid-30's in a few weeks and there's no turning back - YIKES! And, if I'm really honest, my biological clock is pretty much tick, tick, ticking away -- not that I pay too much attention to it.

I think if I'm meant to get pregnant it will happen when it's supposed to happen. If it's not meant to be then it's not meant to be... that's pretty much the attitude I have about everything in life - I think it's a good one to have... that everything happens for a reason.

Okay, if your a student of mine reading this, you probably know a little more about me than you wanted, so I promise not to burden my blog with baby babble.

I promise the next entry will be way more exciting!