these are
just too funny...we give my Mom a hard time about reading romance novels, but these "covers" just got me laughing out loud.
I hope you laugh, too.
I'm having a terrific time, here in Iowa. spending time with the family, and good food and conversation. I wish we all could be here. we had a great time last night, at Susan and Thom's wonderful "NYC loft" in the heart of Mechanicsville, Iowa. what a wonderful place! I'll get some pictures posted when I get home. beautiful.
Mother has a couple of roasts slow cooking for tonight's supper, with carrots and potatos... yum!
ok, enough for now. can't believe it's Friday, already...
getting ready
to go...finishing up packing, making sure I have everything I need. that and getting ready for tonight's Counterpoint rehearsal; I'm leading it as Robert and Louise are down in NYC making contacts... it should be fun, we're working on our Israeli program including my arrangements. lots of work to do, but it's starting to shape up.
a busy day here, as I've been putting this weeks' bulletin together, and also this months' newsletter. the newsletter I'll finish when I get back, but I had to fudge the bulletin, as I didn't get all the info I needed. a little nerve-wracking on a deadline... oh well. it looks good, anyway.
a few odd jobs around the house, and now we're nearly ready to sit down to an early supper. roast chicken! yum. I need to head into Barre for rehearsal fairly soon, so, I'd guess I'd better post this. have a great rest of the week, I'm not sure whether I'll be blogging from Iowa or not, we'll see. some of you (out there!) I will see tomorrow! yeah!
updated
pictures...some new, some old...
enjoy!
we're getting a lovely snow here, hope things are nice where you are.
an amazing show
among other things...no, I'm not talking about the Counterpoint concert on Wednesday night, although that was good, too. I got to see a preview concert of the new Pat Metheny Group tour that starts this week. they did a test show at Johnson State, and it was mind-blowing. so many times I found myself smiling, no, laughing, blissfully, at the sheer virtuosity and musicianship of this band and this music. it rises so far above most of what passes for music these days. complex, which adds its own interest for me, but also so melodic, and rhythmic, that one could hardly sit still. I'm sure the guy next to me (who I think was dead) was not happy with my uncontrollable need to move to the music. the new album is called The Way Up, and is a four-movement piece, rather than several different songs. it is all based around common themes and ideas, much like a symphony. which it really was, for jazz/rock ensemble, though I think that makes it sound so pedantic. incredible. almost life-changing, in its inspiration. I want to write, to play, to perform, to experience music at that level. something to work for.
well, obviously, things have been busy, but vacation started today after school, and I'm ready. though, of course, I already have too many things on the plate. oh well. the best thing, however, is that I am taking a quick trip to Iowa to see my folks. definitely looking forward to that. I'll get four or five days of quiet time, talking, relaxing, and undoubtedly eating! I fly out on Wednesday. I'll blog about it when I return, or maybe while I'm out there, we'll see. Marnie and the boys will be here enjoying their vacation, hopefully the weather will cooperate for lots of outdoor time. I know that Marnie would appreciate that!
ok, maybe another blog later. have a great evening.
Tigger!
or Tigger until we come up with something better....we got a new cat yesterday! right now his name is Tigger, we're thinking about some possibilities for other names. not that Tigger is a bad name, but. anyway, we got him from the Humane Society, and he's 2 1/2 years old, and very friendly, although Indigo hasn't figured that out yet... silly dog. Tigger and Rocket are getting along famously, and we have no doubts that Indigo will come around before too long. anyway, here's a picture:
without
power...well, we've been without power for more than three hours... it's starting to get old. although the song that Chellis is making up right now is quite interesting. heh. we've played cards, and read by candlelight, and now it's pretty much bedtime for the boys. we'll probably all go to bed pretty soon, if the power stays off much longer. not looking forward to not getting a shower in the morning, if it stays off that long. we've gotten about a foot of heavy, wet snow, so it's not surprising that power is off. but, I'm ready for it to come back on.
anyway, I'd better preserve the battery on the iBook. have a good one.
snow
day...well, looks like I didn't jinx it! going to be a nice day at home. though Marnie says the snow is very heavy. well, we've got three strong boys that can shovel...
hope you have a great day, too!
a quote
and an article...my Dad sent me a quote and a link to an article from the Nation:
and this great article, by Brooke Allen:No matter his electoral victory, Bush will never be absolved of sending young people to kill and be killed in a war without moral justification. -Brent Skowcroft
worth the long read. too bad George can't read...
on happier news, and speaking of my Dad, and my Mother, I'm going to make a quick trip out to Iowa over part of the February break. I got a good ticket price, so I can visit for a few days. hopefully, all three sisters will also be able to get there at the same time, and we can all be together. that would be great. regardless, it will be great to see my folks, and spend some relaxing time with them.
things are still busy here, but we're finally getting some snow. maybe enough for a snow day?...
preaching
to the choir...I know, but this is good stuff.
explore the rest of the zompist site, too. lots of stuff there. (thanks, Maverick!)
ok, that's enough for today. I AM at work...
slow
for you, too?just wondering if anyone else is having trouble getting the site to load, especially the home page? I'm wondering if it may be the comment spam filter that is slowing everything down, or if it's just me...
hope you have a great day!
more spam
shakes my faith...I have spent the morning (nearly two hours) removing more than 120 pieces of comment spam from the blog. this is like people coming and dumping their trash on my front yard. if I ever met any of these people face-to-face I would be moved to violence.
checking
in...just thought I would say hello. still busy here, and taking stock of my online time. today is the first day of the Jazz Festival; I'm conducting the jazz chorus. should be fun. I've picked a very challenging program, including a New York Voices arrangement of Sing, Sing, Sing which will put the singers through their paces. another day of rehearsal tomorrow, with the concert in the evening. Counterpoint tonight, and then a calm weekend, I think. that will be good.
I finished another arrangement for Counterpoint this week, and spent some time tweaking the older ones, getting them ready so I can print instrumental parts. that will be the real test, to see if my writing works for guitar, accordion, and bass. we'll see...
the boys and Marnie are busy, as well. E & L have had frequent basketball games (Emerson scored four points in their game on Saturday, and two more last night! and Lincoln is becoming a pretty good guard. his dribbling is improving with every game.). Chellis has play practice or something several days a week after school, and Marnie is subbing regularly. I think Indigo is lonely...
ok I'd better be getting ready to go. have a great rest of the week.