Another Blogger In The Family

My intensely private husband Bob has made a bold move.

He has started blogging.

Please stop by BC-Composer for a look.

The blog, like my dear spouse, is wonderful.

Can facebook be far behind?

No More RAM

My brain's RAM is full.

Need more.

Here's how I know:

Yesterday I said goodbye to Long Beach Opera's production of "The Cunning Little Vixen" and collected my paycheck.

I came home after the demanding final performance, carefully put the sheet with the payroll information in the file folder newly set aside for that purpose, and threw the envelope in the trash...

WITH THE CHECK STILL IN IT.

I realized that something was amiss when I arrived at the bank parking lot this afternoon and couldn't find said check.

Bob was able to locate the errant check just where I thought it might be; IN THE TRASH CAN.

Fortunately, I hadn't shredded the envelope.

I would have, but I was just too tired.

The check has been safely deposited IN THE BANK instead of in the trash can.

See, slothfulness is not always a bad thing.

Brain RAM.

I need some.

An Inaugural Experience

I know exactly what I was doing 40 years ago.

On January 20, 1969 I was marching with the Whittier High School Cardinal Band under the direction of Allan Trefry in Richard M. Nixon's First Inaugural Parade.

This picture by Gerry Owens, showing us at a fundraiser at the Whittier Quad, appeared in the January 17, 1969 edition of Time Magazine on page 14 (that's me with my flute right in the middle):

Here I am at the far left with my flute rank FREEZING while waiting to step off:

Those band uniforms are SO flattering:

Here we are on the parade route:

It was very cold and WINDY as we marched by President Nixon. I was grateful for the warmth of the television lights. I'm on the near end of the third band rank from the left:

I remember thinking as this picture was taken, "I know my mom is at home going crazy right now, but I'm just going to look at the President."

We had a once in a lifetime experience, one that I will never forget.

Hail to the Chief!

Rusty Rocks!

Check out friend and colleague Rusty Higgins (shown here in a lovely Muni Band shirt) as he rocks the house with this arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue aired in a 1980 episode of The Toni Tennile Show (HT Mike Vaccaro). Pay close attention to the opening clarinet cadenza for an extra surprise:



Rusty rocks!

Miracle On The Hudson

I got the news during our final "Vixen" rehearsal: A plane had gone down on the Hudson River.

By the end of the rehearsal, reports were that everyone on board had actually survived.



Here the pilot is identified as Danville, California resident Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III.



According to reports, "Sully" was the last person off the plane, walking through the aircraft twice to make sure that every soul had been safely evacuated.

I have heard the word "miracle" used repeatedly to describe this event.

I couldn't agree more.

Vixen Venue

The orchestra moved into the "Vixen" venue at the Center Theater yesterday afternoon.

I arrived early enough to slither into my seat before the egress was blocked:

My colleagues settle into place:

My close companions, these lights are so near my chair that I can't hang a sweater on the back of it without the threat of ignition:

The violins are wedged in to my immediate right. Fortunately, the video camera that broadcasts the conductor to the monitors where the singers can see him absorbs the brunt of the piccolo playing, thus shielding a hapless string player from deafness and misery.

My view of Andreas is fairly unobstructed. The violist in front of me is extra tall, but is quite willing to adjust his position to keep out of my line of sight.

The carpool is coming in less than 2 hours for today's rehearsal.

I'm looking forward to what the "Vixen" brings.

Man vs Food

I took the day off from all things opera on Saturday to get rested and ready for the challenge ahead. Bob and I spent some time together perusing the Travel Channel. We came across a different kind of challenge:



We were weirdly fascinated by this show, but couldn't shake the concern that the good natured host was shortening his life span by several decades.