Fun Work Call

Just got a work call for Idena Menzel's concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, November 7 at 3:00pm.

Many of you will know her as Elphaba, the green witch in Wicked:



I loved her as the girlfriend in "Enchanted":



As always, I am so tickled to be a small part of a performance of a musical hero of mine, and very, very grateful for the work.

Overcoming Fear

A large part of my job is facing fear and overcoming it. I've worked for years to calmly assess my flute playing in the midst of fearful circumstances and make corrections on the fly without collapsing into a quivering mass of nerves. It hasn't been until recently, however, that I started taking an inventory on the everyday things that I fear.

I fear parties, so I have forced myself to go and MINGLE (I'd prefer a quiet night at home with my husband, or a corner where I can hide sit and observe at a safe distance).

I fear math, so I forced myself to learn Sudoku and not freak out over it. I can do medium puzzles with no problem now. I don't really care to hurt myself on the hard ones.

I fear, no, LOATH shopping for clothes, so I force myself to go WITH AN OPEN MIND and try things on that I might not like at first. If I don't find something on the first try, I force myself to keep trying. I'm getting better, but I still hate shopping for clothes.

One of the biggest fears that I nursed for decades was the fear of knitting. I can crochet with no problem, and enjoy it immensely. When it came to knitting, though, I gave up after multiple attempts that ended in dismal failure.

After repeatedly turning a blind eye to the "K" word, I realized that I had ignored the elephant in the living room long enough. I was going to gird my loins and plunge into the knitting arena.

Thank God for YouTube. After just a little searching, I found numerous basic instruction videos. It was then that I discovered that I was not stupid, I was just wrapping my yarn incorrectly when I purled. After that simple correction, I was suddenly able to knit rows of the kind of even stitches that I had secretly been longing to produce for years.

Here are some of my summer projects:

Easy Lace Scarf

Ribs and Ruffles Scarf

Heaven Sent Baby Blanket

Another Easy Lace Scarf

Drop Stitch Scarf

Seeded Rib Scarf

I am still fearful of dropped stitches, have started and re-started projects, and ripped out a good number of rows. I am finding, however, that knitting simple patterns is soothing and comforting. I love the feel of the (pricey) fibers and the beautiful results. I am learning to let small imperfections remain as a hallmark of a handmade product.

Overcoming fear. I'm working on it...

Back At It

Surgery recovery has been slower than originally anticipated due to multiple incisions after the laparoscopy turned into an abdominal incision.  All is well, but 3 weeks later I'm still limited in my activities.

I lasted through the 4 hours of flute auditions at APU yesterday, and am planning on teaching Flute Choir tomorrow afternoon.  Then I'm hitting the bed until lessons start next week.

I'll keep you posted.

Muni Band Flute Section - A Different View

The Long Beach City Council met today for round two of Municipal Band budget talks. As I lay in the hospital recovering from this morning's surgery, I wondered how things were progressing. I was really tickled, then, when fellow Muni Band flutists Patti and Eileen stopped by to bring official tidings and a get well balloon. To hear tell, it was another emotionally charged scene. When I recover a bit more, I'll watch the video online. Meanwhile, I'll remember the emotion and joy my two lovely colleagues brought with them. Thank you, friends!

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KCAL At Marine Stadium Tonight

Suzie Suh and photog Ken Koller from KCAL9/KCBS were at Marine Stadium tonight covering the Municipal Band.  Here is the package aired during the 9pm broadcast:

 Photog Ken Koller with Suzie Suh

Live truck WITHOUT beFrank in it

Conductor Larry Curtis gets interviewed

My view from the stage

Ken getting the crowd shots

The mast over the Muni Band

101 Years And The Long Beach Municipal Band Is History?

I've been employed by the City of Long Beach as a flutist with the Long Beach Municipal Band since 1985. Last night the 40 members of band were shocked to learn that, after 101 years of service to the citizens of Long Beach, the band's final concert of the 101st season would be the last one in the band's history. Do you think the 70,000 people we see every summer will miss us?
Can this be stopped? The city council has the final say.
I'll keep you posted.


UPDATE: The City Council will meet on Tuesday, August 10 at 3:30pm at Long Beach City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd to decide the fate of the Municipal Band.

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New Clothes!

The 101st season of the Long Beach Municipal Band started at 1:30 this afternoon with our first rehearsal. Besides reading through our concert music for tomorrow, we got WARDROBE:

My men's small shirt means I can eat anything I want this season and NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!

I actually like this shirt which is fortunate because I've got 2 of them.

Our first concert is tomorrow, June 30 at 6:30pm in Los Cerritos Park.

You know you want to come see these shirts...