Another Monday almost in the books

I am sitting here at dance practice. We are in the busy season now, preparing for the Fantasy of Trees...or as The Brain calls it th "Phantasm of Trees". For those people who are not familiar with this event, it is a holiday event sponsored by and benefitting our East TN Children's Hospital. Organizations of all types can get an artificial tree and decorate it with a theme. Now let's be very clear, these are not any slapped together trees with someone's day old popcorn and plastic Garfield ornaments from Big Lots. Not that there is anything wrong with that. These are in categories in terms of size, theme, organization and probably urine sample. You are given specifics on numbers of lights per branch, erc.. The reason they are so picky is that these trees are then sold and the profits are given to ETCH to buy new machines and technology for the hospital. They also have a gingerbread house competition and sale as well. There are sections to buy ornaments and decor and kitsch and crap and food and games and Santa shows up and the news is there and the sports radio show broadcasts from there and it is INSANE! While all of this selling and shopping and looking is going on, there are different groups there to entertain the masses when they collapse from the sheer madness of it all. Lots of singers and dancers and musicians. The girls have danced with their dance group there for several years. This year is no exception and the song they are using is exciting to me. I can't wait to see it. While the FOT is a bit crazy, it certainly gets me in the holiday mood. The girls always dance the evening before Thanksgiving, so when we return home the house is full of excitement and yummy smells.

Well, friends. I took a break to get a sip of fountain water and it is now three hours later. I got involved in excitement, not the good kind, outside. One of the girls in the class found out her family van window was smashed and her mother's purse was stolen as they walked in the park. It was in the matter of 30 minutes. I did not think my evening would consist of talking to a third grader about why someone would do this to her parents' car, but it did. That is a hard one to explain, but my friend, MC, and I tried our best. I did get to do something that I have never been...the Internet expert. I happened to have the iPad with me and was able to assist them in finding numbers to their banks and credit card companies so they could stop and cancel things. I was glad to help and it was interesting to see how the whole process works. I watched the police officer talk to the credit card company and struggle to control his anger at their lack of cooperation. The crime lab came and the video expert came to analyze parking lot cameras. All I have to say is, don't leave your valuables in the car....I am the guiltiest one of all. Always be an angel to someone in need...you never know when the roles may be reversed. Now time to go to sleep and see what in the world. Tuesday is going to bring.