WEDNESDAY, 8/20/14

The students in the Orchestra Club at BHSFIC, want to rehearse some music to perform for the Club Fair. They’ve decided to rehearse Sunday afternoon, and need some music. My job is to figure out what to play and arrange it. I bought a few ensembles at TBA in San Antonio to chosoe from.

Of course, I can’t remember all the “Finale” tricks when I start arraning. It’s like I’m a beginner again. I spend way too much time trying to figure out how to find the necessary tools for inputting the music. I bought a little midi keyboard in San Antonio, and once I figure it out, it does speed things up a little bit.

I managed to break up the monotony of fighting with “Finale” with a visit to wet market. I found some great looking green peppers that I added to some chicken in the wok. Tabasco and hot chili pepper sauce really “spiced it up.” I managed to cook it without getting it all over the kitchen, which is an improvement over my earlier encounters with the wok. I’m not quite ready for “Iron Chef Beijing” just yet.

THURSDAY, 8/21/14

More “Finale” fighting for me today. It begins to come a little faster, but it’s still tedious. When I get buried in a project, the time goes pretty fast. I just wish I could retain some of this for when I have to do it again. I think I’ll try to do all the arrangements right now before I forget all the little tricks. I’ll see how motivated I am in a few days.

I also had some “back home” financial stuff to work through. There’s nothing like trying complete paperwork with financial institutions in the US, relying on the really slow and intermittent internet we have some days. I finally got through it all. I’m almost looking forward to getting back in the classroom in two weeks.