Beauty Tubes

I have totally fallen for the most ridiculous mascara ever. It's Cover Girl's (I think) Beauty Tubes.

The tube has two ends. At one end is some sort of white foundation substance, and at the other end, regular mascara-colored mascara. You apply the white stuff first, then immediately put the black stuff over it. It made my lashes so long I look like I have on false eyelashes. FUN!

(For those who have little patience/time for make-up, you won't like this two step process. For those who, like me, can spend hours playing with cosmetics, get some! It's way cool!)

I'm weary tonight

I'm pooped and going to bed early tonight--I had a stressful choir day yesterday and didn't sleep well. I've just begun my ninth year of directing the children's/youth music ministries (and growing the programs significantly, too), and I've never had a parent attempt to interfere in my musical decisions about the groups (as in "my child wants to do blahblahblah, and I insist she be given this part/solo/whatever"). Until yesterday. I lay awake and stewed about it all night. My objectives are that the children learn to love music, enjoy liturgical worship and have a fun time. I try to give the ones who are musically gifted the opportunity to use their talent when the occasion arises, but I also try to make sure that before the year is over, every child has a chance to shine in some special way. I don't quite know how to manage this development. My initial instinct is to remove the "special" part that this child/mother are angling for and just do the anthem as a unison anthem, thus eliminating the problem.

But the kids enjoy the challenge of more complicated anthems, so should they all have to miss out so I can avoid this problem? I am NOT putting this particular child on this particular part. It's too difficult for her. She is easily distracted and pays little attention during rehearsal. Yesterday she spent the entire rehearsal playing with a scarf she'd brought with her, which is why I was shocked when I received the call from her mother. I've given her other opportunities in the past, when I felt the part was right for her voice and focus level, so it's not like she's never gotten the chance to do a "special thing."

I just don't know...