I love the mountains. That's why I live there. I spent Thanksgiving all by myself on a mountain. But I wasn't really alone because I had the mountain. That's how I think of mountains. And at least once a week I drive away from the mountains and come up here to DC so that I can sing in my choir.
But this weekend I'm here in DC and still on a mountain. Tonight was our last piano rehearsal before our afternoon and evening at the Verizon Center on Friday singing with Andrea Bocelli. Now that we're getting the music down, I have to say it is going to be beyond thrilling, and it will all go by way too fast.
For the most part we're singing opera. In no other circumstance would my voice ever be considered for an opera chorus. I just don't have a big colorful voice. But I lucked into this performance and I'm pumping out the pipes with the best of them. We're singing music from Aida and other operatic pieces that almost anyone would recognize. . . even if they've never been to an opera. We're singing Amazing Grace and Ave Maria and Adeste Fidelis (in what is apparently a Salute to Pieces that begin with "A"). Our first encore will be the rollicking Funiculi, Funicula. But the piece de resistance (say it with a French accent) will be the fabulous Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot.
When I went off to college to study music, it's embarrassing to realize how little classical music I knew. I had to learn it all there. One day I went to the Phi Mu Alpha house. This was the music fraternity (as in boys) that had a house. Our sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota, was a music sorority that had a house. Our house was two doors away from their house. I remember going up to Chuck Setchel's room and having him play a recording of Turandot for me. I was transfixed. Especially with Nessun Dorma. . .perhaps the most famous opera aria of all time. Just get on YouTube and write in Andrea Bocelli Nessun Dorma and you will hear what the audience will hear at the end of the concert on Friday night. Although, frankly, our choir is WAY better than the one on the YouTube presentation, and we will be singing a bigger ending than that version. But you will get the idea.
I'm pretty sure there is going to be no way that I am going to get through that piece without either wetting my pants or just weeping uncontrollably that I'm on that stage singing that piece with such a world class tenor. I'm going to be wet one way or the other. I hope I can muster up the professionalism that is expected of me and soldier through this experience.
It's a mountain of the most wonderful kind for sure. I'm not sure if I should actually buy Depends or not.
Tomorrow, Thursday, I will be part of a group from the choir that is going to sing at the memorial service of one of our sopranos, who lost her husband just before the concert a few weeks ago. This is when I really realize the power of music. We'll sing a piece from that concert, and also the Dona Nobis Pacem from Bach's B minor Mass. Stellar stuff. Musical nirvana. I'm so blessed to be able to be in the group that makes this contribution to her husband's service. I just really hate it that everyone does not get the opportunity to experience what this is like. Mountain tops. One right after the other.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
FAST FORWARD!
Here's how yesterday went, house-wise. I worked out at 9:45, and once again, from the treadmill I could see workers hard at work across the street. It makes staying on the treadmill a lot easier, let me tell you!
After the workout I went over and found the house drastically changed from the day before, Sunday. It was totally open. I asked the crew if this was the air conditioning system!
This shot is looking from the back yard into the opening for the sliding glass door in my bedroom!
I was so pleased with the difference since yesterday, even though it looked like there was less of my house than before! So I went out to lunch with Sandy and afterwards took her by the house! OMG! New big changes! I now had an opening for the front door!
Not only that, but the back deck was gone! It had been there a couple of hours before. But it was gone!
So I went to meet with Duncan the builder about many issues involving floors, potential gas fireplace, locations for lighting and switches, etc. Such fun. And I decided to drive by one more time. It was getting dark out so it was a little hard to see. But Holy Cow! The wide open house was now a totally closed in house! It looked like a prison because the window openings, which are framed in, were not cut out yet!
That's quite a lot of progress for three guys for one day! In the meantime, check out the view that I will have from my bed:
And now how about the one I will have from my bathtub!!!
The windows may go in today. We're getting ready to measure for the kitchen. In the weeks to come the changes won't be quite so dramatic as electric wiring, plumbing, heating, etc. go in. But we are on the move.
And so am I. As I write this I'm not sure if I have been selected to sing in the choir for the Kennedy Center Honors or not. More people signed up than the 60 people needed. My fingers are crossed. I will head up today for the rehearsal tonight and hope the word comes in. I'm having lunch with Casey tomorrow so I'll go up today anyway. At any rate. . .I'm still on tap for Andrea Bocelli. I have my black performance clothes packed and ready to go. Stay tuned for more exciting updates (well, at least I'M excited!).
PS - Several hours later. . . . I DID get chosen for Honors! Stay tuned for celebrity sightings!
After the workout I went over and found the house drastically changed from the day before, Sunday. It was totally open. I asked the crew if this was the air conditioning system!
This shot is looking from the back yard into the opening for the sliding glass door in my bedroom!
I was so pleased with the difference since yesterday, even though it looked like there was less of my house than before! So I went out to lunch with Sandy and afterwards took her by the house! OMG! New big changes! I now had an opening for the front door!
So I went to meet with Duncan the builder about many issues involving floors, potential gas fireplace, locations for lighting and switches, etc. Such fun. And I decided to drive by one more time. It was getting dark out so it was a little hard to see. But Holy Cow! The wide open house was now a totally closed in house! It looked like a prison because the window openings, which are framed in, were not cut out yet!
And so am I. As I write this I'm not sure if I have been selected to sing in the choir for the Kennedy Center Honors or not. More people signed up than the 60 people needed. My fingers are crossed. I will head up today for the rehearsal tonight and hope the word comes in. I'm having lunch with Casey tomorrow so I'll go up today anyway. At any rate. . .I'm still on tap for Andrea Bocelli. I have my black performance clothes packed and ready to go. Stay tuned for more exciting updates (well, at least I'M excited!).
PS - Several hours later. . . . I DID get chosen for Honors! Stay tuned for celebrity sightings!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
SCURRYING
So I look at my calendar post-Thanksgiving, and I think maybe I have a couple of days to breathe. . . . . . . . NOT!
I'm due at a late Tuesday rehearsal for the piece we are going to sing at the Kennedy Center Honors taping on Sunday (YIKES. . . . .THIS Sunday!). And since Andrea Bocelli needs us on Friday, I'll just stay up there for the week. So I'd better check in on the progress on the Crappy Little House (PLEASE. . . no more pleas that I stop calling my house that. It's a term of endearment. . .trust me. The Crappy Little House doesn't seem to mind so why should you?).
So let's review:
BEFORE
AFTER . . . . . AND
SAID WALL FROM THE INSIDE
And voila! I have added a significant few square feet to the inside of the house. We are now a perfect rectangle. The good news is that the house actually feels BIG with the moving around of the walls. The windows are framed in and they are much bigger than the previous windows. And they are taking copper pipes out of the house which I understand I can take to the recycling facility and get some $$$ back. That should be interesting.
Took former builder Ed by the house today and he loved the progress and was vociferous in his complimenting the quality of work. I then went to Lowes for a kitchen consult and a floor search. Will meet with Duncan the builder tomorrow prior to my trip to DC. There should be a lot of progress by the time I get back next week!
Scurrying here. . . scurrying there. A flurry of activity is my life right now! Stay tuned for reports from celebrity central later this week!
I'm due at a late Tuesday rehearsal for the piece we are going to sing at the Kennedy Center Honors taping on Sunday (YIKES. . . . .THIS Sunday!). And since Andrea Bocelli needs us on Friday, I'll just stay up there for the week. So I'd better check in on the progress on the Crappy Little House (PLEASE. . . no more pleas that I stop calling my house that. It's a term of endearment. . .trust me. The Crappy Little House doesn't seem to mind so why should you?).
So let's review:
AFTER . . . . . AND
SAID WALL FROM THE INSIDE
And voila! I have added a significant few square feet to the inside of the house. We are now a perfect rectangle. The good news is that the house actually feels BIG with the moving around of the walls. The windows are framed in and they are much bigger than the previous windows. And they are taking copper pipes out of the house which I understand I can take to the recycling facility and get some $$$ back. That should be interesting.
Took former builder Ed by the house today and he loved the progress and was vociferous in his complimenting the quality of work. I then went to Lowes for a kitchen consult and a floor search. Will meet with Duncan the builder tomorrow prior to my trip to DC. There should be a lot of progress by the time I get back next week!
Scurrying here. . . scurrying there. A flurry of activity is my life right now! Stay tuned for reports from celebrity central later this week!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
I'M BEING FRAMED!. . . and other good news
After a slow start, the framing guys at the crappy little house are going like gangbusters. The inside of the house looks completely different as walls are moved, floors ripped up, and window frames created. Yesterday after my workout I walked over with George, my trainer and original demolition guy. He was pretty impressed with the progress. The dumpster in back has been filled and replaced. I'll post pictures in the next blog entry. Let's just say I'm pretty much thrilled with the progress.
But I'm pretty much thrilled with everything as I sit atop Devil's Knob mountain in a condo that overlooks the valley in which I live. With binoculars I can see Jean's house! Which makes sense because I can see these condos from down there. I arrived yesterday around noon in a fierce wind. It took a long time to unpack as I had brought everything I ever owned. . .maybe that's an exaggeration. But I brought stuff to cook. I shall spend Thanksgiving cooking, and all next week eating. And all Weight Watchers recipes because I have now lost 10 pounds and nothing could keep me from continuing this easy and satisfying program. Yesterday afternoon and evening I threw together a chili recipe which is very tasty and hearty. Today (Thanksgiving) I shall put a pork loin and butternut squash combo into Sandy's slow cooker for my Thanksgiving dinner. Also some fresh roasted brussels sprouts. Never have liked them. . .but they seem to be the new "it" vegetable, so I better get on board. Cooking, listening to my music, hopefully walking the golf course this afternoon. . . . fabulous break from my routine of living in someone else's house and making multiple trips weekly to DC.
And speaking of multiple trips weekly to DC. . . we are in the throes of rehearsing for our appearance with Andrea Bocelli on Dec. 2 at the Verizon Center in DC. This is beyond exciting. No sooner got home from that rehearsal than I received the email that we ARE going to sing Kennedy Center Honors this year as well. . . .two days after Bocelli! The honorees this year are Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Sonny Rollins, Meryl Streep, and Yo-Yo Ma. And all of them but Meryl are musicians, but I'm guessing that by the song we are singing which is the one we sang for Stephen Spielberg (Leonard Bernstein's "Make Your Garden Grow") that we just might be doing that for Meryl Streep. We'll see. We were the very end of the program when we sang it for Spielberg, and it is a glorious finale type of piece. Which might mean that this year we won't be cut from the TV version that airs later in December. But we shall see. And all of this excitement happens the first week of December. . . coming right up! The only other more exciting thing that has happened to me during the first week of December was when my beautiful Chad was born, 33 years ago on Pearl Harbor Day.
Blessed Thanksgiving to all. As I sit here typing and overlooking the purple mountains majesty outside my window, my gratitude is exploding inside me.
But I'm pretty much thrilled with everything as I sit atop Devil's Knob mountain in a condo that overlooks the valley in which I live. With binoculars I can see Jean's house! Which makes sense because I can see these condos from down there. I arrived yesterday around noon in a fierce wind. It took a long time to unpack as I had brought everything I ever owned. . .maybe that's an exaggeration. But I brought stuff to cook. I shall spend Thanksgiving cooking, and all next week eating. And all Weight Watchers recipes because I have now lost 10 pounds and nothing could keep me from continuing this easy and satisfying program. Yesterday afternoon and evening I threw together a chili recipe which is very tasty and hearty. Today (Thanksgiving) I shall put a pork loin and butternut squash combo into Sandy's slow cooker for my Thanksgiving dinner. Also some fresh roasted brussels sprouts. Never have liked them. . .but they seem to be the new "it" vegetable, so I better get on board. Cooking, listening to my music, hopefully walking the golf course this afternoon. . . . fabulous break from my routine of living in someone else's house and making multiple trips weekly to DC.
And speaking of multiple trips weekly to DC. . . we are in the throes of rehearsing for our appearance with Andrea Bocelli on Dec. 2 at the Verizon Center in DC. This is beyond exciting. No sooner got home from that rehearsal than I received the email that we ARE going to sing Kennedy Center Honors this year as well. . . .two days after Bocelli! The honorees this year are Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Sonny Rollins, Meryl Streep, and Yo-Yo Ma. And all of them but Meryl are musicians, but I'm guessing that by the song we are singing which is the one we sang for Stephen Spielberg (Leonard Bernstein's "Make Your Garden Grow") that we just might be doing that for Meryl Streep. We'll see. We were the very end of the program when we sang it for Spielberg, and it is a glorious finale type of piece. Which might mean that this year we won't be cut from the TV version that airs later in December. But we shall see. And all of this excitement happens the first week of December. . . coming right up! The only other more exciting thing that has happened to me during the first week of December was when my beautiful Chad was born, 33 years ago on Pearl Harbor Day.
Blessed Thanksgiving to all. As I sit here typing and overlooking the purple mountains majesty outside my window, my gratitude is exploding inside me.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
WHOO-FRICKIN'-HOO!!!
This is a red-letter day. I am pleased to announce that 16 months, 2 weeks and 4 days after purchasing my "crappy little house," the work has finally started on the renovation. I was working out this morning at 5 Star Health and Fitness. I work out at this location every day that I am in Nelson County except Sundays when 5 Star Health and Fitness is not open. I love working out there so much that I bought the crappy little house across the road from there. From the treadmill I can see a part of my house. And this morning while I was "treading" I saw the white truck parked in the driveway. EUREKA!!! Could this be the start of something big???? It could be. I mean I finally signed a contract and wrote a great big check for the down payment. So wouldn't it be reasonable to expect that the work should start at some point? Dare I get excited?
After my workout I drove across the street to check it out. And sure enough, there were three guys hard at work on demolition. Now you may recall that I did a fair amount of demolition myself last spring, helped significantly by George, my trainer at 5 Star Health and Fitness. But this is capital D Demolition now. They had gotten the flooring up to the subfloor throughout the house. The three guys were great. Friendly, knowledgeable, and hard working. They are also the framers, so I feel this phase of the house is in very good hands.
Other progress that has been made is that the kitchen design is pretty much locked in. The doors and windows are ordered. The exterior colors are picked. I will do my best to include pictures whenever possible. Take a long last look at my crappy little house as it is today because by tomorrow it will begin to look very different!
Now for Whoo-frickin'-hoo #2!! (Say that 10 times really fast). I'm at Dave's having just attended a choir rehearsal. It's our first of three rehearsals for a pretty big event. We're singing back-up to Andrea Bocelli (The World's Most Beloved Tenor according to his PR) at his concert at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC on Dec. 2!!!! Whooofrickinhooo indeed! Tickets start at over $100 bucks for the nosebleed section in this huge venue. Tickets down front are a whopping $1500 for anyone who would like to come to support me! We're singing mostly opera music with a Christmas carol or two thrown in for good measure. Oh yes. . . and Funiculi, Funicula at the end. What a hoot. Worth the drive. Stay tuned for that as well!
Life is good here in Virginia!
After my workout I drove across the street to check it out. And sure enough, there were three guys hard at work on demolition. Now you may recall that I did a fair amount of demolition myself last spring, helped significantly by George, my trainer at 5 Star Health and Fitness. But this is capital D Demolition now. They had gotten the flooring up to the subfloor throughout the house. The three guys were great. Friendly, knowledgeable, and hard working. They are also the framers, so I feel this phase of the house is in very good hands.
Other progress that has been made is that the kitchen design is pretty much locked in. The doors and windows are ordered. The exterior colors are picked. I will do my best to include pictures whenever possible. Take a long last look at my crappy little house as it is today because by tomorrow it will begin to look very different!
Now for Whoo-frickin'-hoo #2!! (Say that 10 times really fast). I'm at Dave's having just attended a choir rehearsal. It's our first of three rehearsals for a pretty big event. We're singing back-up to Andrea Bocelli (The World's Most Beloved Tenor according to his PR) at his concert at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC on Dec. 2!!!! Whooofrickinhooo indeed! Tickets start at over $100 bucks for the nosebleed section in this huge venue. Tickets down front are a whopping $1500 for anyone who would like to come to support me! We're singing mostly opera music with a Christmas carol or two thrown in for good measure. Oh yes. . . and Funiculi, Funicula at the end. What a hoot. Worth the drive. Stay tuned for that as well!
Life is good here in Virginia!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
CALL ME FLO!
Yikes! I didn't mean to wait so long between blogs! So much has happened.
Obviously I returned safely from my trip to Indianapolis. The second flying day was spectacular. Clear, calm skies. Views of the ground and all the autumn foliage the whole way. Sat next to the nicest man. A psychiatrist from Muncie, Indiana who's afraid of flying! How interesting and timely is that? I was comforting him. Seriously, when I got off the flight and found out that it took me longer to get from the plane to the parking lot where my car was than it had taken my to fly home, and then when it again took longer for me to drive to my rehearsal from Dulles than it had taken for the flight, I became a believer. I'm seriously looking into my next opportunity to fly!
I was home for a week or so when I got the call from Dave. This is my ex-boyfriend who owns the house where I stay when I'm up in DC for rehearsals. I've mentioned him before. He called to say that he had lost the sight of one eye while out of town, had returned to find that it was a retinal detachment, and that he was going into surgery the next day! YIKES! So I cleared out my schedule and got up here a day before my regularly scheduled trip. Picked him up at the hospital following the surgery. Charisma Dubois becomes Florence Nightingale! Call me Flo!
What I've learned about retinal detachement in the last 5 days is amazing. Dave has to stay in a face-down position for a whole week. This is not easy. We ended up renting a seated massage chair. . .the kind they have in malls for short, seated massages (hence the name "seated massage chair"). He spends the entire day in that chair with his face in the little pad. He has his Kindle, his TV and his computer so that he can intake info all day. . . he just can't move. There are 4 different types of drops that have to be administered 4 times a day. He can't do it himself since he is still blind in that eye and has no depth perception. So I'm here to make sure he stays in the chair, gets his meals and drops, and gets his eye taped up for the night. Between those times I can come and go at will. I'm actually having a great time. . .much greater than the time he's having.
A doctor's appointment this coming Monday should result in him being able to raise his head. The lowered head is to facilitate the gas bubble that was placed in his eye to hold the retina in place. You can see all of this in vivid, gory detail on YouTube. It's a frighteningly gruesome experience to watch it. Dave was not up to it. Also. . . of course it's not Dave's actual surgery. But now I understand why his eye is so beat up. Not for the squeamish! The good news is that he's beginning to see shadows in that eye, and this morning could make out that the table he was sitting at is yellow.
Yesterday I had lunch with Casey at his new place of work. Unfortunately he introduced me to a new game App for my phone which I like even better than Angry Birds! Train Conductor Australia! Yikes. I love it!
Also am finishing up my book club book this month. . . Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire. Very interesting and compelling but sometimes not as compelling as Train Conductor Australia! I'm supposed to tackle Les Miserables after this. Can I leave my IPhone alone long enough to absorb 1400+ pages? Stay tuned.
I'm going to see Chad and Oscar (The Big O and Dukes) at an appearance at a new Steak 'n Shake in Fredericksburg at lunch today. It will be fun to be Mama Dukes again.
I'll be up here until Wednesday. When I get home the framing in the house is supposed to start. Let's get this house going, shall we?
So, to summarize. Flying. . . kind of love it. Train Conductor Australia. . . really love it. Fulfilling my life long desire to be a nurse. . . . fun, but glad there's an end in sight.
Seeing my kids. . . .priceless!
Obviously I returned safely from my trip to Indianapolis. The second flying day was spectacular. Clear, calm skies. Views of the ground and all the autumn foliage the whole way. Sat next to the nicest man. A psychiatrist from Muncie, Indiana who's afraid of flying! How interesting and timely is that? I was comforting him. Seriously, when I got off the flight and found out that it took me longer to get from the plane to the parking lot where my car was than it had taken my to fly home, and then when it again took longer for me to drive to my rehearsal from Dulles than it had taken for the flight, I became a believer. I'm seriously looking into my next opportunity to fly!
I was home for a week or so when I got the call from Dave. This is my ex-boyfriend who owns the house where I stay when I'm up in DC for rehearsals. I've mentioned him before. He called to say that he had lost the sight of one eye while out of town, had returned to find that it was a retinal detachment, and that he was going into surgery the next day! YIKES! So I cleared out my schedule and got up here a day before my regularly scheduled trip. Picked him up at the hospital following the surgery. Charisma Dubois becomes Florence Nightingale! Call me Flo!
What I've learned about retinal detachement in the last 5 days is amazing. Dave has to stay in a face-down position for a whole week. This is not easy. We ended up renting a seated massage chair. . .the kind they have in malls for short, seated massages (hence the name "seated massage chair"). He spends the entire day in that chair with his face in the little pad. He has his Kindle, his TV and his computer so that he can intake info all day. . . he just can't move. There are 4 different types of drops that have to be administered 4 times a day. He can't do it himself since he is still blind in that eye and has no depth perception. So I'm here to make sure he stays in the chair, gets his meals and drops, and gets his eye taped up for the night. Between those times I can come and go at will. I'm actually having a great time. . .much greater than the time he's having.
A doctor's appointment this coming Monday should result in him being able to raise his head. The lowered head is to facilitate the gas bubble that was placed in his eye to hold the retina in place. You can see all of this in vivid, gory detail on YouTube. It's a frighteningly gruesome experience to watch it. Dave was not up to it. Also. . . of course it's not Dave's actual surgery. But now I understand why his eye is so beat up. Not for the squeamish! The good news is that he's beginning to see shadows in that eye, and this morning could make out that the table he was sitting at is yellow.
Yesterday I had lunch with Casey at his new place of work. Unfortunately he introduced me to a new game App for my phone which I like even better than Angry Birds! Train Conductor Australia! Yikes. I love it!
Also am finishing up my book club book this month. . . Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire. Very interesting and compelling but sometimes not as compelling as Train Conductor Australia! I'm supposed to tackle Les Miserables after this. Can I leave my IPhone alone long enough to absorb 1400+ pages? Stay tuned.
I'm going to see Chad and Oscar (The Big O and Dukes) at an appearance at a new Steak 'n Shake in Fredericksburg at lunch today. It will be fun to be Mama Dukes again.
I'll be up here until Wednesday. When I get home the framing in the house is supposed to start. Let's get this house going, shall we?
So, to summarize. Flying. . . kind of love it. Train Conductor Australia. . . really love it. Fulfilling my life long desire to be a nurse. . . . fun, but glad there's an end in sight.
Seeing my kids. . . .priceless!
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