Summer time!

So, I have officially finished my first year of teaching here...I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday that I was setting up my classroom! I am actually really going to miss my students over the summer. It makes me sad to see everyone go. But, I'm so excited for this summer! I'm taking off for Japan early tomorrow morning and will be back in about a month. I'll have regular access to email there, so I'll try and keep everyone posted. Have a great summer!

Japan here I come!

I'm such a slacker...not too good with this whole blogging thing. Anyway, I can't believe it, but school is just about over; only 9 MORE DAYS!!! Can you tell I'm excited for summer? The crazy part is that I'm leaving the country at 5 am the day after school gets out. It's official...I'm going to Japan! When I was in Illinois, I taught twin girls violin for a few months. Their dad's in the air force and was later stationed in Okinawa. They found a great Suzuki teacher (who actually studied with Dr. Suzuki) and invited me to come study with him. I am leaving right after school's out so that I can make it there in time for his studio's rehearsal and concert, which by the way, I'm performing in :-~ ! So, for a month, I'll be doing more observing, teaching, and playing Suzuki in Japan, living it up on a tropical island, and stuffing my face with sushi! I've been only thinking about it for so long that now it seems so surreal. I'm so not ready to leave in two weeks, but I am very excited. I never thought I'd ever have opportunities like this!

Anyway, there's one update. Another one is that I had my first very own performance with my group class today. I was a little worried about it all coming together, but they definitely came through...I love my students and think I'll actually miss them this summer! The cutest thing was when this little 1st grade hispanic boy who was watching the program came up to me while I was talking to my principal and said, "Ms. Benne, your concert was beautiful!" and then gave me a hug. I teach him lessons and he can be a handful, but he also has a huge heart! Another funny part was when I thanked several people at the end and started getting choked up. I turned to my class and they were all looking at me wide-eyed...they couldn't believe it! How embarrassing...in front of teachers, students, administration, and parents! I'm finally starting to feel relief from the stressful past couple weeks. We have another performance on Monday at a retirement home, but now that today's over, I feel much better.

I guess I should give an update on my neck as well. I'm still extremely sore...it's unbelievable how long the pain has lasted, but I've been going to a doctor that specializes in a technique that helps loosen muscles and heal injuries. They do physical therapy and show me exercises to do at home. I've always had back and shoulder pain, anyway, so now that my neck's starting to get better, we're working on getting my back and shoulders loosened up. Their goal is to heal people, so that they don't have to come back. I've gone 6 times now and I think it's really helping. Anyway, hooray for Fridays!

What was I thinking?!

I'm a little embarrassed to tell this story, but it's a pretty good one, so here it goes...

Last weekend, I went to an activity at a gymnastic's center with some of my friends from church. I was really excited about it because it's been so long since I've jumped around on a trampoline, balanced on a balance beam, swung from uneven bars, etc. Anyway, within the first 10 minutes of being there, I tried a backflip on the trampoline (I used to do them all the time) and didn't quite make it all the way around. To avoid landing on the top of my head, I cocked my head back and landed on my face, scraping my lip, chin, and bridge of my nose. I hopped right up, but after about 15-20 min., I had to sit down because my neck hurt so badly. I don't think I'd ever been in so much pain! A few minutes later, this guy who happened to be a paramedic came over and started asking me all these questions. The next thing I knew, I was laying on my back with tears streaming down my face and tons of people surrounding me (one of those situations everyone dreads being in). To make a long story short, I got a blessing, decided I was fine, and had my friend drive me and my car home. By Monday, my neck was still really bothering me, so I made a doctor's appt. for that afternoon. The doctor asked me a bunch of questions, had some x-rays taken, said I was probably fine, and sent me on my way. On Tuesday, I got a call from someone in the office who told me that I had a small fracture in one of my vertabrae and did something to a ligament! He said I needed to make an appointment with a spine specialist and would likely need some physical therapy and to adjust my lifestyle! So, after 29 years of never breaking a bone, I can now literally say that I broke my neck....unbelievable!

I wasn't able to schedule an appt. until Friday, so I spent the rest of the week working and wondering what I had really done to myself. Thankfully, I went in Friday and the doctor said that besides the pain, my strengh and range of motion were good. Apparently, the fracture is not even a crack, just a small chip. So, no physical therapy, no brace (thank goodness...I can't imagine how my students would react!), just heat/cold, pain killers, living my life the way I normally do, and massages (can't complain about that one!)

So, that's my story. I'm still in a lot of pain, but it gets progressively better each day. I am so thankful that it wasn't anything worse and am so glad that I have such good friends looking out for me. I'm so blessed!

Baseball and Bluebonnets

My bad luck streak is over...the Cardinals won the game! Hopefully my friends will now let me go with them!

The proof: final score was 5-3.

Victory shot

At a park near my apt. Texas is known for it's bluebonnets, which only are in bloom in April and May.

Random sculpture in the park

Spring Break Adventures

I know...it's about time I posted more pictures!

At the end of my spring break, my sister Erin (she's the youngest) and I drove down to Houston in my brand new car...a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. We made it safely to my apartment in about 13 1/2 hours. Long day, but pretty uneventful; we had perfect weather the whole day! I need to take some more pics of my car so I can post those, too. I love it!

On Easter Sunday, Erin and I went to my friends' apt. to dye eggs. I think it was the most elaborate and detailed egg-dyeing I've ever done! We then had a highly competitive Easter egg hunt. It was lots of fun and nice to do something in the Easter spirit. Erin and I had a yummy dinner together, but we definitely missed being in St. Louis for our annual family get-together. Here is Erin with "Her Egg-cellency, the Queen" egg, her bomb egg (which had a hole in the top), and a pretty plaid egg.

This is my violin egg, "most traditional egg", and a pretty one that I made using paper towels.

I also had the Monday after Easter off, so Erin and I went down to Galveston to play on the beach (one of my favorite places!) We walked down the beach to find a fisherman who had caught two pretty good size fish.

After the beach, we went to Kemah Boardwalk, which has carnival rides and tons of nice restaurants. A fun place to visit! I love being near the ocean!

I also took Erin to the Galleria, the 4th largest mall in the country. She had to get something "Texan" before she left, so we stopped by the everything Texas store. I don't even have a cowgirl hat yet!

So, there's a little bit of our adventures. It was so much fun to have Erin here...she's the first out of all my friends and family to come visit me (hint, hint)! I also took her to school with me for a day and to eat the best Mexican food I've ever had! I was sad to see her go.

On a side note...to make all of you suffering through long, snowy winters jealous...I am currently typing this while sitting outside by my pool (see below). I'm actually in the lounge chair on the far right! It is a beautiful day! (Now you really want to come visit me, don't you?!) Just wanted to give you a visual image!

New posts on the way....!

Okay, okay, more to come soon! Not to give excuses, but we have lost the internet at my apt, so I haven't spent as much time on the computer (not necessarily a bad thing). But, for all of you who are dying to see my life happenings in the last month or so, I promise I will add more soon. The last month has been fun: 1. flew down to St. Louis during spring break for my friend Amy's wedding then drove back down in a brand new car with my sister Erin! 2. spent several days roaming around Houston with Erin including Galveston, Kemah Boardwalk, the Galleria, and Dave and Buster's 3. spent a relaxing weekend watching conference at my apt. with some friends in the area 4. continuing to teach my wonderful violin students, but counting down the days until a couple months of freedom!

So, the Cardinals are in town for the Astros opening home games and I'm going to a game tonight with one of my co-workers. Cross your fingers for me; I can't remember the last time the Cardinals won a game when I was in attendance and I've been to several games in the last several years! It's the "curse of Beth"! Maybe my luck will change in a different stadium! This streak has got to eventually end!