Chilling in Cambria

Bob's wonderful mom Nellie and his excellent sister Merilyn flew out from Oklahoma City to treat us to a long weekend in Cambria.

The view from the front porch is pretty great:

I like the ocean, too.

The blogging table:

Loving my Muni Band shirt:

Our cozy group kicking back:

You may not hear from me for awhile.

I'm on vacation!

Bon Voyage B-1 Bomber

Bob and I spent a lovely hour yesterday afternoon sitting in the shade in front of our home, watching birds and waiting for the B-1 Bomber to take to the skies from nearby Long Beach Airport. Bob had his camera at the ready.

It was easy to tell when the jet began its take-off roll.

It was LOUD.

Soon the war bird rose siftly over the trees:

It made a graceful arc over our back yard:

...and flew off into the wild blue yonder:

See the KCAL 9 video here.

It was a rare sight indeed.

What a pleasant way to spend an afternoon!

Opera Finale

Today I headed back to the boat for the last 2 Long Beach Opera performances of "The Emperor of Atlantis" and "The Clever One".

Many people were in attendance for the 11am pre-performance lecture:

Meanwhile, out at Will Call...

...blog hero beFrank and lovely wife Dellis check in.

They scored some pretty sweet seats - second row, third and fourth seats in:

The set changed for Act 2:

beFrank and Dellis said they had a great time.

I love it when friends come to work!

Opera Reviewed

The reviews are in.

The Orange Country Register thought "there was plenty of tuba":

"Long Beach Opera Has An Orff Night" by Timothy Mangan, Orange County Register

The Los Angeles Times said, "In an ideal world, Long Beach Opera wouldn’t have to operate as a poor theater. But at least Mitisek knows how to create magic with minimal means. It boggles the mind to consider what he might do with a decent budget.":

"Long Beach Opera in the Hull of the Queen Mary" by Chris Pasles, Los Angeles Times

The Press Telegram liked the venue: "Despite the huge, empty, steel-walled interior (this was the Queen's boiler room before the ship was decommissioned), the sound was clear and bright, without uncomfortable echoes."

"Shipshape Operas at Queen Mary" by John Farrell, Press Telegram

We'll be back under water for 2 more performances this Sunday, May 17.

I'm looking forward to it!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day Mom!

See more pictures here.

Boat Opening

It's almost time to head out for opening night of opera on the boat:

The sold out audience will sit here:

...while I will be located here (in the dark):

Opera ahoy!

Opera Ahoy

I'm heading out shortly for opera dress rehearsal.

It is very fun being on the Queen Mary.

Hope the show goes well so we don't have to abandon ship...

Opera On A Boat

Okay, it's really a ship.

And what a ship!

I was on board the Queen Mary last night for a rehearsal of Long Beach Opera's production of "The Emperor of Atlantis" and "The Clever One".

My chair is right in front of the trumpet player in the white shirt:

It's an impressive venue:

Step up to the stage:

I'll be back on board tonight.

I love my job.

Lean Muni Band Season

First the good news:

The Long Beach Municipal Band's 100th Year Summer Concert Season has been announced.

Now the bad news:

The season has been trimmed from 8 weeks to 7 weeks.

We're doing our part and cutting back along with every other department in the City of Long Beach.

The season may be shorter, but it will certainly be sweet.

Please join us in the parks of Long Beach beginning Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

Click here for the official schedule.

See you there!

What Exactly Will You Be Celebrating?

Disneyland has an excellent promotion going on in 2009 called "What Will You Celebrate?"

If you come to Disneyland on your birthday, you get in FREE.

THAT'S a good deal.

The celebrating doesn't stop there. You are encouraged to celebrate True Love, Triumphs, Reunions, and First Visits.

The resort is decorated with balloons and looks very cheerful.

The characters are there to celebrate with you (I'm not necessarily calling Disneyland Band Director Art Dragon a character):

I was more than a little taken aback, then, when one of the first displays I saw in a shop window on Main Street featured this:

What exactly is THIS guy celebrating?

The Afghan That Ate My Blog

I've been blog silent for a long time.

I've got an excuse.

Really.

See, there was this afghan that ate my blog...

My beautiful niece Bethany was expecting her first child on April 26.

Being the loving aunt that I am, I began crocheting a baby afghan in October.

I worked on it.

I really did.

But Bethany's baby shower in early March crept up faster than the afghan's finish date.

Rather than blog, I got to work.

I'm not kidding when I say that every spare minute went to the construction of Baby Sammy's blankie.

I finished it the day before the shower:

Bethany liked it!

Someone else also showed up right on time.

Samuel Edward was born ON HIS DUE DATE last Sunday, April 26, 2009.

He's looking none too happy about it:

Daddy Tim has a way with his son:

Sweet newborn Sammy slumbers wearing the hat I also crocheted for him:

Less than a week after his birth, mommy and baby went to their first mothers group "with Sammy on the outside" as my niece would say:

Now you know the whole truth.

The afghan ate my blog, but my great nephew Sammy makes it all worth while!