An interesting time for some updates...

Well the madness of Spring events is over! Now we're in the middle of some madness of our own. First for some updates...

After basketball we had a "break" from work. However, this break was just before the Spirit Competition which is my biggest event. I spent a lot of that time in the office getting ready for the Competition. It was worth it...my very first Spirit Competition (under my direction), at a new venue, with a new category, and many other changes that caused some anxiety, went off without a hitch. The kudos I've received from coaches all over the state have been so encouraging, and I'm ready for the next one!

A couple weeks later, the State Band Contest came rolling around, and was another great event. We had a little bit of a schedule change which I got some heat for, but I really didn't see any other option. A quick run down...the father of two band students (one HS, and one MS) and the husband of the band booster president, died while the band was on their spring trip. It was completely unexpected. Obviously, he had been a large part of both bands seasons, and the majority of both bands wanted to attend the funeral. The funeral just so happened to be during the High School's performance time. So I bumped them to the end of the day and bumped the schedule back about 30 minutes. Well, some directors weren't so happy with my executive decision, but I really don't think that another decision could have been made. I think eventually the directors got over it and realized that it was the right decision. I'll tell you one thing, I will never ask a kid to choose between supporting his classmate and a band contest. I know what decision I would expect my own kid to make.

So at the beginning of May, Band Contest is over and the office is working together to get ready for Spring sports. Enter the Swine Flu...let's just say that due to decisions made by national, state and local associations, all 7 Spring state championships were pushed into the same week. WOW! That's a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of stress. Our office started handling it like champs.

In the middle of all of this, my dad calls and tells me that my grandfather is going downhill fast. My boss, incredible as always, says that family comes first and that there's no option but for me to go to PA with my family. As I write the office is closing up the crazy week of championships while I am sitting vigil at my grandfather's house.

So my family and I were planning on driving to PA, but "Pop Pop" was fading fast. So we hopped on a flight on Monday and have been in Frackville ever since. It looks like we are coming back next weekend, but we're kind of at his mercy as far as timing goes.

Now that I'm getting some sleep, I'm enjoying my time out here. The first two nights, I was close to smothering my dad and brother because of their nighttime noises...ok, snoring. At one point, I had my iPod on, a pillow over my head, and a hand over the pillow and they were still cutting through. I cried myself to sleep out of frustration at about 4:30 that morning. Now I'm staying at my grandparent's with my mom and sleeping like a baby.

We're in a holding pattern right now, and don't really know what the next step is. I'll try to keep everyone updated, but my last blog was 2 months ago, so no promises!!! Love you all, and I miss talking to you too!