Daisy's Top Ten List: #6 is is false.

#6: I speak three languages, (including English).


I speak American English (Wisconsin style, y'know).
I speak Spanish very well; with a little practice I could become near fluent. I spoke it better in high school and college when I used the skills more often. Occasionally, I'll have a chance to use my language knowledge when I have a Spanish-speaking child in class and the translator isn't available.
A third language? Not unless you count PigLatin or Gibberish.

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Daisy's top ten list: #5 is both true and false.

5. I drive a soccer-mom style minivan and live in a basic three bedroom ranch.

I drive a minivan, but I don't live in a three bedroom ranch.

I gave in and bought the van when La Petite was 14 and we found ourselves car pooling groups of her friends to various places. It comes in handy now when we move her to and from her college dorm room.
The house? We bought an older, character home instead. This one spoke to us the first time we walked through it. It needs a lot of work -- always -- but it's worth it. It's not big, but with the high ceilings and the roomy spaces, it feels big. The neighborhood is lovely, complete with full grown trees. You'd be amazed at how many of La Petite's friends envy our trees! There's enough room for a few pet rabbits.
And the backyard has room for a garden, too. :)

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Three things I hope my children will inherit

There won't be any heirlooms or trust funds, surprise visits to the Antiques Road Show, or other unexpected windfalls for my children to inherit. Instead, I wish for them these three thoughts, these three concepts.
I hope my children will inherit a passion for learning. Whether they seek knowledge through books, the Internet, or quality cable television, I hope they will always want their minds to grow.
I hope my children will inherit an attitude of caring and stewardship for the world they live in. They might take on the reality of slogans such as Think Globally, Act Locally and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Maybe they'll grow gardens or have compost bins of their own. Their generation may find new, more efficient ways to care for and preserve our Earth. Whatever the future holds for the land around them, I hope my children take an active part in it.
And finally, I hope my children will inherit an appreciation and enjoyment of stories, their own and those of others. Family stories, often passed on in the oral tradition, are part of the fabric of our lives. ("Brother, you're adorable." "Mom! She called me adorable! Mom, what's adorable?") Those stories we learn from others are part of their fabrics, woven to complement and contrast our own. Stitched together, they make a patchwork quilt of both harmony and dissonance, and ultimately a richness that cannot be equaled.

Would you like to join the Group Writing Project organized by Jordan at MamaBlogga, click here for more information or a submission form.

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Daisy's Top Ten List: #4 is TRUE

4. My favorite teams are the Green Bay Packers, The Milwaukee Brewers, and Gryffindor House Quidditch.

Yes, yes, and yes.

Oh, and the Packer Petunias are thriving.

* * * * * * * *

MamaBlogga has suggested another Group Writing Project, one I couldn't resist. Her topic is: "Three Things I'd Like my Children to..." and then it's open ended. Scribbit, in a departure from her usual cheery self, wrote a serious yet optimistic post about "Three things I'd like my children to appreciate." Jordan, the MamaBlogga herself, has a growing list of all submissions, including links so that you can read them yourself.
Reading Scribbit's monthly Write-Away contests can be fascinating. I've found many, many good blogs and read too many great posts to count. This Project looks quite promising in that vein. If you'd like to read my post on the topic, it'll be up tomorrow in honor of Love Thursday. If you'd like to enter, the link will also be up tomorrow.

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Daisy's Top Ten: #3 is FALSE

3. I am an expert in flower gardening.

This is a trick question. I grow vegetables; La Petite is in charge of the flowers around here. I thoroughly enjoy the process: the planting, the weeding, and of course, the harvest. Preparing compost for next year is slow and steady, much unlike my fast-paced and stressful work as a public school teacher. The garden and the compost help me slow down in this speedy and multi-tasking world. I grow a few herbs, too, and I'm still learning how to incorporate them into my cooking. Harvesting fresh basil smells so good!

So no, I'm no expert. I learn a little more every year. I grow a simple vegetable garden, and my darling daughter puts flowers around the deck and the house every year.

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Daisy's top ten: #2 is TRUE

2. I rode a motorcycle before I drove a car.

My brother and I learned to ride a mini-bike (50cc) and then an on/off road Suzuki 185 when we were in our early teens. The day I got my driver's license, I took the test for my motorcycle temporary, and followed that with the regular cycle license soon afterwards. It came in handy. During the fuel crisis of the late 70s (hmm, sound familiar?) I was filling the tiny tank much less often than my friends were filling theirs. I actually saw more of my paychecks from my summer jobs because it took so little gas to run my "wheels".

So when Husband insists he's getting convertible and calling it his "midlife crisis," I counter with the statement that when he gets his convertible, I'm getting my Harley. We'd have a lot of fun following each other down the highways!

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Funday Sunday

It was minor league baseball time last night. Amigo's Little League team had tickets, so we joined the other families to cheer on the locals. A game at Fox Cities Stadium is more than just a game; it's an event. Contests, freebies, fireworks, and more, make this a great family fun night.
A local band was playing outside the stadium, and Fang the mascot was dancing with fans. Oreo cookies' equivalent to the weinermobile was outside with their own mascot, a giant cookie.
We didn't catch any foul balls or flying t-shirts, but Amigo responded when the announcer asked fans to stand up and hold their Pepsi products in the air. Apparently his enthusiasm with the Mountain Dew bottle was obvious, because the usher chose him to win a prize. Free soda? A gift certificate for Pepsi products? Nothing so mundane.
He won four tickets to a White Sox game two weeks from today.
I guess it's time for a road trip to Chicago!

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Daisy's top ten list: #1 is TRUE

#1: I believe in the three Rs, with a twist. This one is TRUE.
Reading, and Writing ('riting) and Math ('rithmetic) are the basis for many learning skills. However, the three Rs to which I refer are actually Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

My family likes to tease me about my penchant for reusing instead of throwing things away. I don't hoard junk (at least I sure try), but I re-use a lot. For example, I haven't bought file folders in years. I often run copies for my class on the backs of old, unused papers. And yes, I buy from used book stores and clothing consignment shops, as well as donate our no-longer-usable clothing and household items to local thrift stores.
I recycle a lot, too. On the rare occasion when we order a pizza delivered, I will recycle all parts of the box that did not touch food particles. Tissue boxes? Tear out the small piece of plastic and recycle the rest. Finish off the cereal? Recycle the box, compost the inner wax paper lining.
Compost is another form of recycling. Grass clippings, food scraps (within limitations), coffee grounds, and more, will end up in the compost bin instead of the garbage can. Seeing the natural process of decomposition and knowing that I've contributed in a small way to lessening landfill use is very, very satisfying. Tilling the finished compost into my small garden in the spring is a part of this. We've reused that which we recycled, and in the end we're reducing our purchases of vegetables trucked in from elsewhere, which reduces... well, you get the picture.
Think globally, act locally. It works.

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To Tell the Truth: or Daisy's Top Ten List

One Wacky Mom from "Murphy's Law" tagged me with the Random Eight meme. I wasn't sure if I could come up with another random eight that wouldn't put readers to sleep (no comments from the peanut gallery, please), so I'll link you to my last random eight and offer you a variation on a theme.

One of the latest "quizzes" going around the blogosphere isn't a meme or a "who are you" test: it's a true/false list made by the blogger. Vodkarella (formerly Troll Baby) and Dana, among others, have posted lists like this one, and I've found it fun to keep up with their answers. Here's mine. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to guess which are true and which are false. Feel free to post your guesses in the comments. I will reveal the answers one by one.


1. I believe in the three Rs -- with a twist.

2. I rode a motorcycle before I drove a car.

3. I am an expert at flower gardening.

4. My favorite teams include the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, and Gryffindor House Quidditch.

5. I drive a soccer-mom style minivan and live in a basic three bedroom ranch.

6. I speak three languages, (including English).

7. I resist buying wrapping paper whenever possible.

8. Whenever possible, I shop early for Christmas. In fact, I've already started.

9. I am older than my husband.

10. My real name is Rose.

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Love is -- family conversation

Ever since last summer's lightning strike, we've been very careful. The conversations in our house run something like this.

Husband: I hear thunder.
Daisy: I'll turn off the computer.
Husband: Don't forget to unplug the modem!
La Petite: Must you be so paranoid?
Daisy and Husband: YES.

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An open letter to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Dear Mr. Kennedy;
I was concerned with the tone of your recent article on The Huffington Post. I speak as the mother of a child on the autism spectrum, and I also speak as a teacher. Frankly, your writing was inflammatory and biased. Here is my professional assessment.
You chose to use dramatic vocabulary such as "brain-killing poison" rather than defining such chemicals or citing actual resources and studies. You referred vaguely to "patronizing" and "poisonous" attacks on a specific group of people (mothers of autistic children who espouse a particular viewpoint), but you did not support your point of view with details or examples. Leaning on your own personal experiences, no matter how extensive those conversations, emails, and letters, does not prove a particular side or argument correct.
By describing Katie Wright and her group as "calm, grounded, and extraordinarily patient....highly educated..." you managed to imply that parents who disagree must be otherwise. By claiming that "...a rational person might do some more investigation", you again imply that those who disagree must be irrational and have not done their homework.
The only source you quote is your own personal web site. Where are the "hundreds of research studies from dozens of countries..." to which you allude? Where are the links to the other research, that which you call"flimsy" and "borderline fraud," part of the "...campaign of obfuscation and public deception"?
The piece is, quite simply, poorly written. It is laden with assumptions, name-calling, and emotionally charged words. It is missing research, references, and "dispassionate and diligent investigation" of its own.
Grade? D minus. Mr. Kennedy, in order to be convincing, even opinion needs to be backed up with facts.
Sincerely,
Daisy

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Fragile, hope shatters

Benjy didn't make it. Amidst the many missing persons stories on tonight's news came this update: Seven-year-old Benjy Heil's body was found in a creek less than a mile from his home.
So many searchers, so many caring people -- and such a sad ending to this story.
My heart goes out to his parents, his siblings, his extended family, his friends.

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What's up your sk*rt?

A close friend snuck a sign on my classroom door last year when I wasn't looking. In a typically artistic font, mounted on two colors of tagboard, and laminated to boot, it announced: "Caution: I have a tuba and I'm not afraid to play it!"
Well, it's not 100% accurate. I did play tuba for a long time, but I haven't picked one up in at least 20 years. I like to claim that I wasn't a very good player, just enough of a musician to fake it. Sometimes I've even joked that I knew how to end up where the boys were -- sitting in the low brass section of the band. At that time, (the mid to late 70s if you must know) instruments had not yet gone unisex. The one boy who played flute (now a professional musician) and the few girls who played trombone and tuba tended to be free spirits, those gutsy types who were willing to try something out of the norm.
My friends from those days are surprised to hear that I joined a traditionally female profession, teaching elementary school, got married and had kids, and now drive (gasp) a minivan.
But inside this teacher's skirts you'll still find:

• a politically active mom, passionate for causes that matter to my family and my students
• an environmentalist who thinks globally and acts locally
• a "pundit blogger" who will say what she thinks and grab the bull by the horns
• a closet biker who keeps threatening to buy a Harley for her midlife crisis.

I wouldn't judge a book by its cover, and I'll let all of you know -- don't judge a woman by her skirts. You never know what's on her Blackberry, her laptop, but most of all, her mind.

Parent Bloggers Network and Girl Con Queso are featuring a new site called sk*rt. Sk*rt bills itself as a "new social bookmarking site for women (and the men who want to get in their heads)". They're sponsoring a creative Blog Blast this week under the topic, "What's up your sk*rt?"

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Hope can be fragile

Benjamin "Benjy" Heil went missing Thursday night from his rural home in Saratoga, Wisconsin. Searchers, including local people, officials, and even bloodhounds, have been scouring the area for any sign of him. His footprints were spotted, and someone found a ball that may have been his, but other than that, Benjy has been gone from home in this hot, muggy, stormy weather.
Benjy has autism. He is somewhat nonverbal, from reports, and will not respond to his name. Searchers will have to make visual contact to know they've found him, since he will not answer their calls.
This story is scary on so many counts. Any seven year old is in danger if he's been missing for four days and nights. He is lost in rather unforgiving territory, too. Within walking range of this young boy, last seen barefoot and in shorts and t-shirt, are a campground, woods, and the Wisconsin River, not to mention bogs and marshes.
I keep hoping he's holed up in a doghouse, shed, or hunting cabin. I don't like to think of the river.
Keep searching, people. And Benjy's parents: please keep hoping. I'll be thinking of you and hoping, too.

update: While not precisely good news, at least it's not worse news. Searchers have almost ruled out the possibility of Benji's falling in the river. They believe he's on land.

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Funday Sunday

One fun thing about having a fireplace is decorating the mantle. Well, you know I'm not exactly a conventional decorator. My mantle is currently "decorated" in two themes: bunnies and baseball. Yes, one of the bunnies decided to take a swim in the martini glass. I'm more of a wine cooler or gin and tonic person, so the pretty glass, a gift, serves a decorative purpose instead.

We're still working on the baseball side of the display. I know we have bendables of three other racing sausages (directly to the right of the cap, the Hot Dog guy), so I'll keep looking. Amigo and husband brought home the bobbleheads last year. The plastic souvenir cap was either filled with ice cream or nachos (yes, I washed it) at another game in Miller Park.

Well, bratwurst, Polish, and Italian sausages, you can run, but you can't hide. I know you're around somewhere!

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Good morning, and good news

I resist checking my school email during breaks, especially summer. Both my left and right brain need a mental break from the stress of the school year. I check in once a week at first, and then less often as I begin to relax and let go of the year's baggage.

I checked in this morning and found this piece of correspondence.

"The reviews of your articles are back. The decision is that we should publish these in the fall issue of the WSRA Journal. Congratulations! Thank you for thinking of the WSRA Journal for your work."

I think this calls for a toast. Coffee, of course, in my Wisconsin State Reading Association mug.

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Love Thursday and a new coffee mug

Mmmm...coffee. And camping, too.

My camping teacher friends gave me a little goodbye gift last week. They got together and managed to buy a small backpack-style bag filled with camp goodies. It had a camp pencil, a pen and notepad with the camp name across the top, a keyring, and (you guessed it) a coffee mug. The mug, however, isn't an official camp mug. I kept hassling the camp director (nicely, really, just teasing her) that she needed to have mugs in the camp store. I even suggested a few simple designs for her. Since they didn't carry mugs (yet), my friends procured a dining hall mug left over from a long-ago fundraiser. I'm sure I drank from this one or its twin several times over the three-day trip. Now I'll sip from this and remember my camp co-workers and how much I loved getting up in the crisp, cool, woodsy mornings and having my coffee outside the main lodge. Oh, and I'll smile at how hard my friends worked to get this perfect little souvenir.

(Oh, D., camp leader, I hope you don't have a shortage of mugs now. I'll make it up to you if you do. Really. Just say the word.)

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I am, i said

According to the new family everyday site, I am most like TV Mom Carol Brady. Huh? Moi? Some quizzes are better than others. I'm still waiting for my Alice to show up and cook for us.

According to this one, I am a Pundit Blogger. Pundit? Oh, Mr. Word Person (aka Husband), is that accurate? I'll let you decide. If I answered the questions correctly and honestly, I guess i could take this as a compliment. I don't know about "truly appreciated by many" because my readership is loyal, but limited. Insightful? Maybe. I like to think some of my posts might show insight of a sort.

You Are a Pundit Blogger!

Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read. Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

Curious? Try it yourself!

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Mom's playing in the dirt! And she likes it!

Assignment: Why do you enjoy weeding? Explain. Support your thesis with details or pictures.

I enjoy weeding because I can see progress. My garden is divided into small sections, set apart by my stepping "stones" made from old deck and fence pieces. I set a goal of weeding one section at a time. When that's done, I can quit weeding or choose to finish another section. This is a managable goal; I feel productive when I can see the results in one part of the plot. It spares me the frustration of not "finishing" the whole thing, which is of course an impossible goal. Today I chose one triangular section of the garden and weeded out the many mini maples that flew in from the lot behind ours. If I ever abandon this small plot of ground behind my garage, I predict the mini maples will take over, leaving room for a blanket of clover underneath. But for now, look out maples! I have garden gloves and I know how to use them. Bwahahahaha!


Below, left: Mini Maple Farm Below, right: Mini Maple Farm battling with Zucchini squash

Who will win this dramatic battle of wills? Stay tuned for more, on Mom's Playing in the Dirt.

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Summertime, and the livin' is, well, easier

Today is the official start of my summer because it's the first Monday that I didn't have to get up at 5:30, get Amigo on his bus, and head to my own classroom to work at my desk and get ready for the day. We had commitments today, mainly to get Amigo started in his virtual summer school class, but it was still easier and lighter than a typical school day for both of us. We got up an hour later than usual, had breakfast as usual, and then headed off to his "First Day of Class" orientation meeting with the teacher. He won't see the teacher in person until his final exam. All of the work will be done at home and submitted online.
Now that we're home, I'm looking at my to-do list. I've divided this into two main categories: long term to-do and short-term to-do. Long-term includes items like "Prepare for Rummage Sale in July" and "Work on landscaping in front of house." Short-term is more like "Fill out and send in Lion's Camp paperwork" and "Call Red Cross to schedule CPR class" and "Pick up new curriculum manuals at school office." Of course, there are a lot more items on each list.
But the first thing on my to-do list for today is already on the "ta-da!" list: Amigo's virtual school orientation.
Now I plan to add a little mental health break to the list. Cappuccino, watch a little CNN, maybe pick up a new book to read. That is, a book to read for pleasure.
Ah, summertime, and the livin' is easy.

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Funday Summer Sunday

The garden center calls these "Lemon Zest Petunias" in a green basket.

I call them Green Bay Packer flowers. I like to display my loyalties year round.

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#300 and an Appropriate Meme

Memes, or suggested questions, permeate the blogosphere. I got "tagged" by Believer in Balance, and I thought Post #300 would be the perfect place to complete it.

When did you start blogging?
I started almost a year ago, in June 2006. Just a few months earlier, I had mentioned to someone that I make time to read, but I don't make time to write. Now, with a blog that wants refreshing regularly, I make time to think like a writer and post my thoughts.

What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?
It started as an attempt at self-therapy. To that end, it's been successful. Posting my experiences, hearing from others, and reading blogs from people in similar situations, contribute to a general feeling that hey, I'm not alone after all! The act of thinking something through and rephrasing and summarizing it for a concise, clear blog post can help me clarify it in my mind as well.

What makes your blog unique?
Unique? Well, where else can you read about a Cheesehead mom who teaches, gardens, composts, reads, and occasionally writes poetry, among other adventures? Come back often enough, and you'll find something you enjoy.

What's your best quality?
It's a cross between creativity and patience. My friends might add intelligence, but I think by itself intelligence is overrated. It needs to be applied and injected into life. Jeopardy would be fun.

What is your worst quality?
I give in too easily. I don't like conflict, so I become a mediator and peacemaker. That, while it sounds like a positive, causes stress which in turn affects my health and well-being.

I really can't think of enough bloggers who haven't already been tagged for this one, so I'll leave it wide open. Just leave the link in the comments so we can find you if you decide to do it!! Consider it part of my "tri-centennial" celebration. Let the fireworks begin!

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time -- supermom's Kryptonite

It was said jokingly, at least the first time. Husband looked at me, trying to balance three or four hours of errands and chores and quality time within about 60 minutes on the clock, and announced, "Supermom just met her Kryptonite: time."
It's true. I buy extra underwear for the entire family just in case the laundry doesn't get done. While not rigid, we do have a routine to make sure homework gets done and rabbits get fed, not to mention the people in the house. If I blogged an entire day during the workweek, some would be amazed, and some parent-type bloggers would say, "Me, too!" because their days are as chock full as mine.
A typical timeline starts at 5:30 with my alarm. To make a long story short, because who has the time to read every detail, I usually fall into bed between nine and ten at night, earlier if the day has been difficult and tiring. The hours in between play host to everything from watching for Amigo's school bus to figuring out a simple supper that doesn't take much energy to cook or clean up. Oh, yes, I teach full time, too. I spend a very intense day with those pre-adolescents we call 6th graders. They can be delightful, but they can also be a drain on my energy. Whether I'm planning, teaching, refereeing, scoring papers, recording scores in my gradebook, or cleaning my desk, it's a busy and high-energy day at school.
Where does the time go? I'm not sure. I just know it usually goes too fast. After all, time is money and money is time and, well, I can't spare much of either.
But as long as everyone has drawers in their drawers, life is good.

Now if only I could teach the pet rabbits to do the laundry....


This blog blast topic suggested by Light Iris: the best of Google for moms and the Parent Bloggers Network

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Love Thursday, Teacher style

I woke up Tuesday morning feeling tired, looking forward to the end of the week and sleeping in. What a concept! As I staggered through the routine of feeding bunnies, showering, and getting breakfast ready for Amigo, I realized that I had a lot to accomplish before I could get to the end of the week, the end of the school year, the end of my tenure at this particular elementary school. Robert Frost's words started to echo ominously through my head: "...miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep."

My friends at work wouldn't let me panic. They offered a Babe Ruth bar, a Snoopy doll, and a giant Hershey's Kiss, all in addition to more packing boxes and strapping tape and a plan for Thursday that leaves me time to finish packing and preparing for the move.

This left me with time to spare on Wednesday. I posted a new cartoon in the staff lounge. I snuck into the classroom next door and changed the "Good morning" on her white board to "G'Day, mate." I finished emptying my desk and found a classic picture of our building engineer wearing an elf hat and holding a big bag of something (chocolate covered raisings = deer droppings, if you must know). I borrowed (no, I won't return it) coffee from the office when we ran out in the lounge, and recycled pile upon pile of old papers.

Today, Thursday, is moving day. I will allow (trust me, they'll love it) my students with ADHD and my highly kinesthetic learners to carry boxes galore to my minivan. When it's full, we'll pack the rest in Mrs. Sip's minivan. Then they'll hang out and have an end-of-year movie, pizza for lunch, and an overwhelmingly relaxing day. I hope the relaxing summer-is-here feeling extends to me, their teacher, as well.

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Here's to the ladies who lunch!

I grew up in a district that was an anomaly; we had no hot lunch program. We packed a lunch or went home to eat.
My students eat lunch at school, and very few go home. Since my sixth graders are the oldest students in the elementary building, they have the privilege of 'working' lunch as well. They beg to do this! I like to think it's altruistic on their parts, but I think a large part of the attraction is the thirty minutes of class that they miss when their crew is on duty.
It's definitely a point toward their social status to be able to "work lunch". When the crew needs subs, the kids often take care of it themselves. They'll notice, "Hey, Mrs. Teacher, Mike's absent. Can I work for him?" I have very little to do with the whole picture other than picking the next group off my list of volunteers. These eager kids are learning about work ethic and self-motivation outside of the classroom. It's real learning, and all around lunch.


And here's to the parents who are looking for good child-friendly web sites, too. Schoolmenu.com and Familyeveryday.com are two that may satisfy your taste for safety while fulfilling your kids' appetite for fun. Games, nutrition and fitness suggestions, and fun cartoon art are just a few of the links. There's an email newsletter and a contest or two, and several other information and enjoyable links. I took the quiz to see which TV Mom I most resemble. Carol Brady? Me? Where's my Alice?
Check out School Menu and its parental counterpart Family Everyday, two sites that work together with School Food Services Directors to provide and promote healthy eating and physical fitness for kids and their parents. Enjoy!

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The quest for a -- jello mold?

La Petite wanted to make a jello mold for her boyfriend's birthday. It's a long story, but she watches the show "The Office". Never mind.
She's handy in the kitchen. I can trust her with the boiling water needed to make this fine cuisine. The only problem is: we own no jello mold. Not one. None.
I owned two such molds at one time in my life. In our first year of marriage, we used to go Rummage Sailing, and I picked up the cutest little jello mold for a dime. A dime! It was just the right size for one box of jello with a little canned fruit. How cute is that? Later on, my mother-in-law (or was it my mom?) gave me a nicer quality mold, complete with pretty flowers or stars or some other shapes. I don't recall, exactly.
After years (I tell you, years) of non-use, I finally gave in and either donated both or sold them myself for a few quarters. I no longer own a jello mold.
La Petite went to WalMart. She went to the grocery store. She checked the Dollar Store on the same commercial strip. The only jello mold she found wore a $10 price tag, too high for an underemployed college student.
She called Goodwill. Success! She looked over the three molds, bought the cheapest, and came home.
I can't wait to see what she puts in it.

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with apologies to Tevye and his daughters...

Tradition! Tradition is the new topic for Scribbit's Write-Away Contest. The June prize is the cutest darn moose you've ever seen. I won't mention its Moosie talents; you'll have to go here to read about those.

I entered this post from last summer. It seemed to fit.

So get out your violin, head up to the roof, and let's go!

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