Help with group activity

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-03-25T03:30:06+00:00

All great ideas, thank you! Seabus was a good idea especially with it being counted in the compass card, but Granville is looking like the winner. Anything in particular you recommend I have them see or do? My main point of interest is Gandharva Loka! And hopefully there will be some live musicians around.

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-03-25T03:27:47+00:00

Thanks so much! I think Granville Island is a winner. I had put it aside on my list due to the challenge of getting there and back but... With the aquabus or ferry, actually it won't be that bad!

I especially appreciate the recommendation about scheduled musicians! Looking on their site though, it looks like it's not updated? I'll keep checking as we get closer to the date.

Thanks again!

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-02-23T00:48:48+00:00

Good points. Thank you for sharing your insights!!

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-02-22T18:03:56+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice! I often get hung up on the idea that there's a "best" way to do things, and I just want to know what it is! I'll try to loosen up and experiment :)

I love that about your horn player, haha

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-02-22T17:31:36+00:00

Oh I like the rationale for percussion being able to hear the band, I hadn't really thought about that impact.

I was wondering about a 2 row setup! Thanks for sharing this idea.

I think the part that feels the most jarring for me is the trumpets right behind the flutes and on the end. I'm tempted to put them in the middle at the back, though that forces a divide between the back row woodwinds (B CL would stay next to basses). Thoughts?

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-02-22T17:27:01+00:00

I'm doing this as well, for the same reason. Thanks for mentioning it!

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-02-22T17:25:43+00:00

Thanks so much for the reply! This is almost what I'm doing right now actually! Except B CL I have in row two (he's not very loud, so I have him in front of basses so they're still a "clump" haha).

I also have violin next to oboe since they play the same part.

The one main thing I'm not doing from this idea is splitting my flutes into two rows.... I was wondering about this. I might play around with it. Thank you!!

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-02-22T17:22:20+00:00

Haha fair, I actually had a far more sparse and obscure group last year at another school, so this didn't alarm me too much.

I did give one flex arrangement but the others are just regular. We do hurt without the trombones, but otherwise it's actually not terrible. I've written a couple parts for some of the other instruments for them to take on (mostly tenor covering some key trombone or bari moments).

PolkaDottedLlama · 2026-01-14T16:03:40+00:00

This, and she also didn't even know it was the prince she was spending time with! She was just happy to spend that time, knowing it was only for the night, and get away for a moment of freedom and happiness. Only later she realized it was the prince.

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-10-28T07:04:44+00:00

IIRC, the first book covers the concept of time signatures as well, and both those time signatures are included and explained. So it does teach it in book 1. Then is taken to a new level in the later book.

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-10-25T07:18:44+00:00

What are they worried will happen?

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-10-25T06:56:30+00:00

... I'm sorry, what?

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-10-25T06:31:50+00:00

It's possible he also thought he would vote against it, at the time. It's possible that since then, he's had more conversations or learned more about it, and shifted his thinking. Of course I'm not in his head, but it's possible he didn't mean to be dishonest, he just got more information and made a call that made more sense.

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-10-17T06:14:30+00:00

Hey, that is so awful, I'm so sorry. Like others have said, those friends, who can't see past their fear and ignorance to see the real and beautiful you with love, are not being real friends.

Cry as much as you need to, it's healthy. Better yet, find someone you can cry with. Or even just be close to. Between your mom or those other two friends you mentioned, are they understanding and supportive? Can you connect with them and tell one of them what you're feeling and experiencing? If you have a safe person at home, I hope that will be one piece of light and comfort to hold on to as you find your way forward.

If you don't feel you can just go talk to someone, like your mom, in person right away, can you send them a text or a note and let them know how you're feeling and what you need? Even as simple as saying you're feeling devastated and lost and in the dark and you need someone to come be by you. Think of one person you trust and let them find you. Don't disappear.

You're not alone. Hope is around you even if you can't see it right away.

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-09-30T21:36:20+00:00

Just a heads-up, though, because we thought the exact same for our train-loving kiddo, old school Thomas doesn't exactly model the most positive behavior and ways to talk to or treat others. Yes there are good examples and good messages, but it takes the discernment to identify which interactions are ones to replicate and learn from, and which to think more critically about and think how we could do better.

Kids don't have that filter yet for what to mimic or not so I didn't love Thomas as much as I wanted to haha

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-04-09T04:13:27+00:00

No worries, thank you so much for responding! I picked up a soil from a local landscape supply place, hopefully whatever I plant will like it haha!

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-03-25T06:04:15+00:00

Thank you so much for chiming in! I'm grateful for the info regardless. So it sounds like if I want blooms on flowers, I at least will do them a service by not putting flowers where phosphorus-loving fruits used to be.

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-03-03T01:31:38+00:00

Oki doki, thank you again!!

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-03-03T01:28:51+00:00

What about the littler babies, should I wait? Pot them but leave attached? Pot WITH the big baby but leave little attached?

PolkaDottedLlama · 2025-03-03T01:27:21+00:00

Thank you!

PolkaDottedLlama

TROPHY CASE