Gravite on Vimeo

My brother sent me this really cool video ... I'll be doing another post about my brother soon, but I thought I would post this since it is so cool.

Gravité from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.

Junkestra

Those of you that are aware of my respect for Junk Percussion will know that I would thoroughly enjoy seeing this group perform.

Cnet Article on Junkestra

Argentina, Carmen, Baby Spitz, + Update of Sorts

Hello my blog reading friends and family. This is a quick post to give a brief update and show some pics from Argentina where we celebrated my niece's 15th birthday. I hope to write a detailed description of how they celebrate birthday parties in Argentina. Why you may ask ... because that's how I'd like to celebrate my 40th ... but for now here are a few pics from Argentina.

This is our Argentinian family (from left to right): Mario (our brother-in-law), my Mom (who I learned is a great dancer at the birthday party and has a good sense of humor too), Tere (Mari's Sister), Jimena (the birthday girl), Mari (the greatest wife in the world), Matias (our nephew), Carmen (Mari's amazing mother), Florencia (our older niece), and me.

This is Jimena the day of her party.

I had a chance to play the Bonbo and learn the Argentine rhythm called Zamba.

Of Course we had Assado made by Mario (Argentine BBQ).


Mario took us to his fishing club.


The day we flew back Mari, Carmen and I went to DC to check out the cherry blossoms.


Here are the two ladies w/ the Washington Monument in the background.


Here is the first meal Carmen made for us @ our house, Pollo Suprema (a great chicken meal).


Carmen wasted no time working on our house and jardin (garden):

smooth transition ...

Here is the 12 week sonogram of our baby:

Overall things are going very well. It's been busy since we've been back from Argentina with a few school activities. Also, since leaving my last part-time job in February, I have a new one working with the DCYO teaching percussion. I am looking forward to this new educational opportunity.

I hope things are going well for you, and I thank you VERY much for taking the time to read and look at these pictures. Stay tuned for a time-line post of the birthday party in Argentina so you can help me plan my 40th.

Brief Photo Esther Update

Here is a picture of the set-up I'm using for Esther. So far it's been a great experience. Here's a link if you want to attend this weekend or next.

Spitz-O-Matic songs possibly played on the video game Rock Band

That's right people ... anyone can submit their song onto Rock Band. Here is a helpful post and a link on how to do it. Maybe the single, "Everyone's a Spitz-O-Matic" could be on the game someday.

Gettysburg Weekend/ Esther/ Stuff

Mari and I are going to celebrate 3 years of Marriage on Thursday. We went to Gettysburg last week to celebrate.

On Saturday, my brother, sister-in-law, and little niece came over to visit.

I'm playing drums for our Church's youth drama in late March. Click below for ...
Details

I performed at a Pep Rally @ U.P.E.S

Someday I'll write more in a blog entry, but now it's back to editing some audio from the rehearsals this weekend.

Public Education Thursday (3/4/2010)

So today was a day full of public education. I started my day @ Hyattsville Elementary School. That's my normal Thursday routine, but today I did not teach instrumental music. I decided I would go to all seven of the classrooms where I normally pull out students. Our school system is preparing for the standardized tests next week. I wanted to help out, so I cancelled my lessons today.

After being in seven different public school classrooms I went to my Leading Instructional Improvement class at the University of MD, College Park. We had a two hour discussion on the pros and cons of accountability. It was fascinating ... we were talking about how data has helped identify specific areas in need of improvement but also how it seems we are teaching to the test as well.

So that's my day filled with public school education and pontification about the restoration of our proliferation.