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Our house around Christmastime a couple of years ago.


Time sure flies when you are and aren't having fun.

First an update: Madeline (Madeline's Album), as of yesterday, was able to be up in a wheel chair, but she is still in the hospital and a long way from being well. Please continue to pray for her. Thank you. The past couple of months have been really bad for her and, of course, very stressful for her family.

Barb and Carmen, you know all of this. For the rest of my friends and readers, here goes.

I'm home. Aunt Amelia, you can stop worrying now. :)

We have basically finished moving out of my mom's house. My husband and I got home about 2 AM a week ago Thursday. After getting a little sleep, unloading the car, and J getting a couple of his jobs done, we took off for a Costco run. From there J drove me another 40 minutes to our daughter's place. Poor J had to turn right around, make another Costco stop for the things there wasn't room for earlier, and drive back home.

Friday bright and early Daughter had oral surgery. She was supposed to snap right back from it, but it really knocked her for a loop. So, instead of coming home Sunday like I planned, I stayed. She is feeling better now, thank God.

I don't know about you, but I especially appreciate and enjoy performances where someone I know (or at least know a little about) is involved - in this case, the student performers. Makes the experience so much more personal. My daughter and I had the pleasure of attending two very different presentations where my daughter knows almost everyone involved. (Pardon my grammatical errors.)

Thursday night Daughter and I attended a UI music grad student's piano recital. WOW and DOUBLE WOW! That young man can really play. One piece was his own composition - a piano concerto with full orchestration. I really hope he gets it professionally recorded and released.

Since the UI theater students were putting on the musical Grease, I decided to stay a few more days so I could see it. The "kids" did a fantastic job. As an added bonus, Margaret Travolta (John Travolta's sister) played Miss Lynch, the high school principal. The cast played to a full house, which is always encouraging.

Margaret Travolta

So, now I'm home again to a huge mess. I don't have a clue where to begin. Guess I'll pay the bills first, then worry about the rest later.

Hope this finds everyone well.

Ray Says It!

Ray Stevens singing We the People

Update: The actual YouTube video was too big to keep posted here. Click on We the People to see the video. Enjoy! It is great even if you don't agree with him.

MAGNIFICAT

You are cordially invited to attend:

J.S. Bach's Magnificat in D and other seasonal music of Britten, Lauridsen, Mendelssohn and Robert Shaw/Alice Parker
Type: Music/Arts - Performance
Cost: Usually around $5 to $7 each, less with student ID
Date:   Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time:  3:00pm - 4:30pm
Location:  University of Idaho Administration Auditorium
Description: Magnificat in D - Johann Sebastian Bach
Pamela Bathurst, soprano
Sheila Converse, mezzo-soprano
Scott Miller, tenor
Chris Thompson, baritone

UI Festival Orchestra
University Chorus and Vandaleer Concert Choir

Dr. Michael Murphy, conductor

*********

My daughter will be singing in this.  She has had both Pamela Bathhurst and Chris Thompson for vocal instructors.

If you have never seen the inside the University of Idaho Auditorium, it is almost worth the trip just for that.  It is beautiful.

Tessa, you know where this is. :)

Adrienne?

If anyone can attend, be sure to go really early so that you can park right behind the Admin Bldg and not have to hike a half-mile or more.  Look on-line for a printable parking map.  I chose the map for people with disabilities "just because".  No University parking permit is required during performances.

Unfortunately, it is snowing, and the driving conditions will probably be horrible.  But, as long as it isn't "blizzarding", we will be attending.

This could drive one nuts

I "stole" this from Laura at One Woman's Thoughts. Thank you, Laura. It was too good not to share.

Susan Boyle 1999

Wow, this woman can sing!

Christmas Song in Lent

Why am I posting a Christmas song during Lent, especially when Holy Week starts Sunday? (This year, April 5th is Palm Sunday.) I'm posting it because I'd like to share it with my readers, partly because this is a beautiful song, and partly because I needed a nudge, an elbow to the ribs, or a smack upside the head (probably all three). I hope you can understand the words; I've posted the lyrics below the video just in case. (This song always make me cry.)

I love Wendy White's voice. Ms. White is a mezzo-soprano with the Metropolitan Opera. http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/issue/article.aspx?id=5153&issueID=331 (Sorry, but you'll need to copy and paste.)

This video is not professionally recorded so it starts out a little wobbly. Please bear with it; I hope you will find it worth it.

If a message says "Video no longer available" click on the play button anyway. Thanks.




By Lowry and Green(?)

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the "Great I am".

Vandaleers and University Chorus

December 9, 2008
Join the [University of Idaho] Lionel Hampton School of Music’s Chorus and Vandaleer Concert Choir for a night of great music. Place ..., time ..., admission cost students and seniors citizens (55 and over) $3, adults $5. It seems that some of the best and least expensive entertainment is the least advertised.

Take last night's performances by the the University of Idaho's Vandaleers and University Chorus. The music wasn't just great and the performance wasn't just great; it was spellbinding.

The combined choirs performed Mozart's Kronungsmesse (Coronation Mass) in C, KV 317. The performance was so powerful and beautiful that I found myself alternately holding my breath and getting goose bumps. I can't remember when a half hour sped by so fast.

There were nine more pieces, each beautiful in their own right. Noel by Todd Smith (arr. by Brad Holmes) was a African Christmas carol. There were drummers, and the singers moved to the music and used clapping and other hand movements. It was very impressive, and judging by the applause, everyone loved it. The Vandaleers performed Hodie Christus Natus Est, O Magnum Mysterium, El Rorro, Arise, Shine for Thy Light Has Come. The Chorus sang the nonsense song Sweater Weather by Kenneth Jennings; this had everyone chuckling. (This is quite cute with pretty music.) Then the combined choirs sang Put Memory Away (by Bob Chilcott) with a beautiful string accompianment arranged by Adam Smith, a UI student. Then, the audience got to be involved. We all sang Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and O Come, All Ye Faithful. It sounded pretty awesome.

And, I should also mention that the accompianists and soloists - orchestra members, drummers, pianist, organist, and guitarist - all performed beautifully.

Where we sat in the auditorium, we had to wait until most of the people left before we could get out. The comments we heard were all positive; everyone seemed really excited and up-beat.

Now for your listening pleasure...

About an hour ago I sitting at the computer playing solitaire instead of cleaning the house. I suddenly paid attention to 2 plastic bags that for several months have been on top of the computer paper. (They weren't in the way, so why look in them?)

One sack has an external DVD or CD burner and/or player in it. I remember that this one quit working on our daughter's computer. My husband was supposed to test it out and then do whatever with it. (We think the hub quit not the player).

The other sack - what a wonderful surprise! I found my long lost mp3 player, stand with speakers, and earphones! I have been sitting here "rocking out" to Listz, Schumann, Beethoven, Bobby Vinton, Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Enya, the sound track to Top Gun, and ???.

My daughter loaded the music on my mp3 player last May before we went on our trip, but we never listened to it. (My husband only listens to classical music when he is forced to go to our daughter's recitals.) I have no idea what else is loaded on here, and the player is set to shuffle so each piece that comes on is a surprise.

How cool are daughters and surprises?!

Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)",

I hope not! I got dressed for work this morning and proceeded to spill my tea down the front of me. Then, I sloshed the dog's water (I thought the bowl was empty!) into a drawer of office supplies. (That's what I get for trying to do too many things at once. Multi-tasking doesn't always work.) After a few other crazy things, I decided maybe I'd better eat breakfast - it did cure the clumsies. But, all this made me almost 2-1/2 hours late for work.

I finally made it to work to finds that another co-worker was late getting to work. Another called in sick. Another went home sick at noon. Another was supposed to be back from vacation today, but couldn't make it in. Of course, the phone rang off the hook this afternoon - everyone needed information NOW. (That's okay. I rather be busy than twiddle my thumbs.) I talked to several customers who were having bad days, too.

Now, to the happy part!

Last Saturday night our family went to the Lewiston (ID) Civic Theatre's annual fund raiser "Jukebox Saturday Night". This year's theme was Surfin' the Jukebox (think Annette and Frankie beach movie). (We try to go every year. Of course, we had to go last year because my daughter was in it.)

The whole point of Jukebox is family fun (and to raise money for the theatre). The cast puts on a goofy play using oldies to tie it all together. There's romance, gags, lots of singing, dancing, and of course, the audience gets involved with some woohooing, booing, clapping, and singing. The cast usually consists of little children to great-grandparents.

This year's pre-show entertainment started with Hannah singing Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay. Move over Otis; Hannah can even whistle (really well)! Then Jeanene sang Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad). I still get goose bumps thinking about it. Can that woman sing!

Those were just the openers...

Harmoney sang Under the Boardwalk so beautifully (better than Bette Midler) that I almost cried. DJ, Mason, Taylor, Mike, on and on - outshone the singers that made the songs popular.

The band is (as always) fantastic. This time BB King move over.

I am still always amazed at the talented people in our world. (How do those untalented people get famous???)

The last performances are Thursday through Sunday. Call ahead for tickets, or you might not get in.

September - Footloose

December - Peter Pan

March - Mystery play and music (can't wait!)

May - Miss Saigon

Live theatre for about the same $ as going to a movie.

Can't Believe It

The old cliche "my how time flies..." fits whether I'm having fun or not.

If you like Il Divo try listening to Amici Forever http://www.sonybmgmedia.com/streams/rm.ram?id=2262050 . As my daughter says, "WOW". Also, If you like Josh Groban, listen to Vittorio. If you like Sarah Brightman, try Valencia Vas. There are some realllllly talented people that I don't ever hear about unless someone tells me about them.

I wish our country (as a whole) was more interested in the arts than in sports.