Answers

So, Ken (B) had some questions about the kids accomplishments, so I will elaborate. It's what I'm good at.

Michael started playing the trumpet last year and joined the intermediate band at Middle School this year. He seemed to make a lot of new friends who were into the music thing and he followed suit. Jake helps him (when he listens) with some fundamentals. He practices way more than Jake ever did at this stage. I think at this point it is an interest mainly because of the group of friends he has, but you never know, maybe some day we'll have two starving musicians in the family.

Jake is looking at music education as a major. He started out first semester with just some general requirements, but focused pretty heavily on music the second semester. At this point, I think he sees himself as a music teacher or possibly a music minister. I think his love for kids will move him more toward the teaching, but we'll see.

So, the job thing. I gave my manager a list of things I do (mostly so that he understood just how much I was doing for other managers in the building, and to help boost my case for the raise.) Friday I had a meeting with him and the controller. They had taken a red pen to most of my job duties. He said because of his position he wanted the best dedicated to him, and basically everyone else was on their own. No extra money, 1/2 my job gone, I screwed some people who I've been helping, and who I like. Basically, it probably was a bad move. But we'll all survive. I am fishing to see if there is something else, but the market is pretty slow right now. I am determined to work my 7 hours and go home. No more checking e-mails at home, running errands on my own time, and volunteering for extra work. I just do the three things (an exaggeration of course) on my list and refuse to do anything else. It'll be great fun!

That is "the rest of the story" so they say......