My Heart Attack -- I got the Cost for Angela to do High School Marching Band.....

My kids are already out of school for the summer, but that doesn't mean she is finished. Here in Georgia, kids are never finished with school stuff....I mean Angela has homework in both math and Engish for the summer, along with a project for English. ICK!
Well, Angela was called by the band instructor at the local high school for marching band. Ang didn't sign up for marching band, and apparently her middle school band teacher noticed and spoke to the high school person. The head of the brass section has been emailing Angela the last week, so I did allow her to go to the 2 days of mini band camp this week. I wanted Angela to get a taste of marching band, and I wanted more information.
Okay, so I thought the cost would be a couple hundred dollars for the uniform....no cost for instrument, since Angela owns her trumpet (a Christmas present a couple yrs ago). Boy was I WRONG!
The preliminary fee that is totally due by September 1st is $799.....plus $40 for shoes and $5 for gloves....and that does NOT include the cost for the uniform or anything else. OMG. We can't afford this....and by Sept 1st....um, no way. I don't know what to do....and the fundraising this particular school doesn't help us.
OH, and you also sign your life away. It is amazing what I have to sign.....and nothing goes directly to the school....it goes to the band boosters.
Okay....anyone know anyone that wants to sponser a child for band????? We need help.
What does band cost in your area? Back home the cost is minimal.

Bzz: Cross Pen

I am a Bzz agent and my new campaign is the Cross Pen. I think I owned a Cross pen once years ago, but I don't really remember. I've been waiting for my bzz kit to arrive, because it is graduation season. Cross Pens would make great graduation gifts, and I know we have a lot of graduation parties to attend.

See, the pen is such a pretty blue color......and no, NO ONE IS BORROWING it.....or I won't get it back.

I Can't Believe it....I WON a Trip....

I can't believe it....I enter contest and sweepstakes all the time, but I don't really expect to win anything. I got this email the other day....and yes, I've already contacted them. I actually had to have the forms resent. Now I have to figure out how to get them all notorized, so I can fax them back in the next few days. I'll have to pay taxes on the trip, but I figure it is once in a lifetime.....and now I need to get a passport.

Hi Janet,
You recently entered the “Born to Be Wild” Sweepstakes on Fandango. Well CONGRATS! You were chosen as the Grand Prize Winner!
You have won the following:

• Round-trip economy airfare for 2 from Washington Dulles International Airport on Ethiopian Airlines to Nairobi, Kenya
• Kenyan Safari for 2

If you would like to accept your prize, please respond to this email. You will also need to fill out the attached affidavit and fax back.
 *ATTENTION: according to our rules and regulations you will have 3 days from the timestamp on this original email, to claim your prize.  If we do not receive any contact from you within 3 days you automatically forfeit your winnings and we will choose another winner.
 Congratulations!

Melinda Petrow 
Marketing and PR Manager
Fandango, Inc.
12200 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Reading 50 Books a Year -- April update

Now that April is over and May is here, things just seem to get so busy. I don't have nearly enough time to read anymore,( exept the other night at the airport).
1. Skate Crime                                  by Alina Adams
2. Surrender the Heart                     by M. L. Tyndall
3. Killer Weekend                             by Ridley Pearson
4. Decorated to Death                      by Pam Marberg
5. The Christmas Secret                   by Donna VanLiere
6. Gone                                            by Michael Grant
7. Hunger                                         by Michael Grant
8. Evermore                                     by Alyson Noel
9. Blue Moon                                    by Alyson Noel
10. Lies                                            by Michael Grant
11. Like Dandelion Dust                   by Karen Kingsbury
12. Night Star                                  by Alyson Noel
13. Dark Flame                                by Alyson Noel
14. This Side of Heaven                   by Karen Kingsbury
15. The Tapestry                             by Maryann Minatra
16. Surrender the Night                  by M. L. Tyndall
17. Septimus Heap: Magyk             by Angie Sage
18. Septimus Heap: Flyte               by Angie Sage 
19. Best Little Stories from the Civil War: More than 100 true stories  by C. Brian Kelly
20. A Time to Embrace                   by Karen Kingsbury
21. Cape Refuge                            by Terri Blackstock
22. Southern Storm                       by Terri Blackstock
23. River's Edge                             by Terri Blackstock
24. Breaker's Reef                         by Terri Blackstock
25. Black Hills                                 by Nora Roberts
26. The Listener                             by Terri Blackstock
27. Virals                                        by Kathy Reichs
28. The Gifted                                 by Terri Blackstock
29. Killer Summer                            by Ridley Pearson
30. In Harm's Way                          by Ridley Pearson
31. Science Fair                              by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson
32. Nothing But Trouble After Midnight  by Kimberly Blackadar

I finally was able to read the book by Gather's own Kimberly Blackadar, and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it for all girls over age 12, and I think I'm going to get it for my neice for her birthday. Rebecca is turing 13 the end of June.
Kathy Reichs's book Virals was a fun read, and quite different from her series of books about forensic anthropologist Temperance "Bones" Brennan. I do hope she creates a series from Virals, as I'd keep reading it.