Pumpkin Coach used for Cinderella

Hey Great Big Beautiful Cyber-Space World! (And Music Theater Geeks and Directors!)

Have I got a deal for YOU! While I was away in Japan, my colleague/replacement teacher procured this fabulous Pumpkin Coach for a production of Cinderella. I was not here to see it, but folks tell me it made a lovely stage picture. The fabric that makes the pumpkin is lit from inside...there are 2 working seats- one up front and one in the rear. It rolls on caster-like wheels, so the large wooden wagon wheels are for show only. The frame is metal and really sturdy. The paint is in pristine condition. It is in lovely, stage-ready condition for your performance and is being stored in my barn here in Upstate NY.

I have to say, while this piece of set would be an amazing find and treasure for someone currently working on a production of Cinderella, it is fast becoming an albatross in my world. It is free to a good home. If you want it- come and get it. This pumpkin is ripe and ready for pickin'.

Please contact me at: alice.ploss@gmail.com

Spring Break

Annie and Molly on Christmas morning...from our production of Annie.


The possibilities are endless, as the week stretches before me. Yard work, spring cleaning, some decorating projects, preparing for the coming push toward the end of the school year. You might think: yuck! Sounds like too much work.

I have just completed co-directing Annie at my middle school. It was an all-consuming project that I enjoyed very much, with the end result being a darn good show! But anyone who does these types of shows with constant rehearsal- every day, every weekend, (while wearing several different hats) knows that the house falls into a state that resembles something close to hell. (When the show is over, and you have the option of actually going HOME in the sunshine after school instead of to a 3 hour rehearsal in a windowless auditorium with 50 kids- it is like coming out of a dark tunnel and taking in a deep breath of fresh air!) Plus- my helper went to Florida last week, the week she was supposed to come and clean my gigantic old house. So having the time to actually empty the compost, take out the garbage, walk my dog, tackle the huge pile of laundry, rake some of the leaves out of the flower beds...you get the idea. It's a little bit gratifying- especially when the weather cooperates as it has this weekend. Today it may rain. But oh well.

I received many text messages from my friend, and co-director in Florida yesterday who was being dragged around IKEA by her family when all she really wanted to do was lay by a pool and relax. So there you go. It's the control over my day that is a relief. Instead of have-to I want-to. So today I want to: walk the rim trail, cut down some trees, clean a college son's room, plant some pansies, go to the bank. It's a good start.

Cherry Blossom Time in Tokyo

I gave my husband strict orders to take as many pictures as he could of the blossoms this year so that I could still be a small part of it. The pictures you see here, (with the exception of the distant water pictures from last year) were taken on the first morning of the first openings. They were trembling, newborn and glorious. He caught them in the act!

Snow Days

What a fantastic gift- snow days. We got two of 'em here in Upstate NY. A 4-day weekend that couldn't be beat.

May I shoot you?

When teaching Middle School choral music, it is crucial to have a way to happily motivate students. One tries to choose music that will motivate, to have a classroom that is welcoming and a fun place to be, but sometimes that's not enough. For the last 10 weeks, I have been awarding the ensembles by placing stickers on a chart. Each chorus earns points for behavior, posture, vowel shape, tone, great answers, observations, you name it, I reward it. Positive reinforcement is the only way to go. During the last period of competition the 5th and 6th grade groups TIED in first place. Too bad for me, as I find myself baking cookies for these sweet kids on a lovely Sunday morning. I promised them that the winners would get a cookie party.

The other great motivator I have is an air cannon. It is a plastic conical thing that shoots a big ball if air about 30 feet. I pull back a tightly stretched plastic diaphragm, and then let go and Bam! The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE to get shot by it. I am pretty stingy with it. If a student can define a musical term, or does something particularly outstanding, or is always focused, or whatever catches my attention on a particular day, I very seriously and apologetically look them in the eye and say something like, "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to shoot you." Then a thrill runs through the group and there is great anticipation as I take aim, shoot and bombard the outstanding student with a puff of air that blasts their hair or their clothing. Kids BEG me to shoot them. I usually refuse. You have earn it in my class. Do these motivational techniques have anything at all to do with music? No. But in these days of instant gratification of iPods, video games, Smart Boards, and computers, I find a bit of randomness, unpredictability and home-baked goodness goes a long way.

Snickerdoodles
Chocolate Chips
Molasses Crinkles
Oatmeal Raisin

Phoenix for Valentine's Day

When Robin and I decided to spend this year apart, I mentioned to him how much it would be fun to meet on the West coast for a weekend. I didn't really think it would happen. He's busy with work, I'm busy with work and family. But wait! He happened to have a gig in Phoenix the same time I had a 4 day weekend! By golly, with Expedia's plane ticket prices, we could do it!
So here are some pictures we took last weekend in sunny AZ. Phoenix is basically an oasis in the desert. A fun place to visit, especially for me because that's an environment I'd never seen. We managed to shop, hike, swim, soak, spa, see some wild life and eat great food. The best part was just hangin' with Robin. He's the guy I married and now live apart from. While in Phoenix, my sons were well taken care of by family, and the house was still standing and all pets alive on Tuesday evening when I got home! So it was all good.