That Was the Week That Was - May 16-23rd
I think there used to be a news-type TV show on by this name when I was a kid. Since I never got around to doing a blog about Regional Competition or anything else this week, I'll use this title to give a brief rundown on "My Week That Was."
Competition:
I am a member of a Sweet Adelines chorus. If you don't know what that is, it's Barbershop singing, but for women only. Barbershop singing is A Capella singing without accompaniment (like piano, organ, full orchestra), very tight 4-part harmony. If you're familiar with "The Music Man," in that movie there was a group of four male singers who sang several songs throughout the movie. Most people who are familiar with Barbershop, can trace their familiarity to this movie.
A week ago we were in Spokane, Washington, for our annual Regional Competition. This was one of the high points of my week. We ended up with a third place medal in the mid-size (31-60 member chorus) for our efforts and hard work throughout the year. We also saw quartets perform, and at the Show of Champions on Saturday night, heard the championship choruses we were unable to hear because we were the last performers. Lots of good music!
Choreo Queen
The other highlight of the week came on Monday night at our chorus Installation banquet. We generally hold it the Monday evening after competition. We gather as a chorus to install officers for the coming year, announce the "Sweet Adeline of the Year," and "Choreo Queen." The Sweet Adeline of the year is chosen from among a group of ladies who are nominated by other chorus members for their outstanding support of the chorus throughout the year. We vote for our choice in March, but don't find out the winner until Banquet night. The Choreo Queen is chosen by our chorus choreographer and is the most-improved in choreography for the past year. Choreography is a big part of our repertoire. Not that we dance, but there are some choreographed moves, as well as facial expression, which is a part of our type of singing. Imagine MY surprise when my name was announced as Choreo Queen! This has been a difficult thing for me to do, as a quiet and shy person. I've been a member for 4 years, and it has taken lots of work to overcome my shyness and "perform" while singing. I have a nice plaque which says "Choreo Queen" and my name, which I have to give back next year so the next Choreo Queen can have it for the next year, but I am deeply honored that our choreographer thought I worked harder than anyone else in our chorus to achieve this distinction.
End of the Year Blues
Most of the past week has been spent in sorting out our money issues for the chorus. I am the Treasurer, and this is the beginning of the new fiscal year. Of course there are still some money matters that are unresolved for the past year, so this week has been busy for me as I sort out the incoming and pay bills for the outgoing. I will probably still be doing this into June, because Competition related-stuff falls into the past fiscal year, even though it occurs in May (year end is April 30th). At least this year I have a nice, new, fast computer to do the bookwork on.
Happy Birthday, Baby B!
Today is my youngest granddaughter's first birthday! We'll be leaving shortly for her home to bring gifts, pay homage, eat, and enjoy her company, along with other family members. Doesn't seem possible that a year has sped by already. Many happy returns of the day!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Whazzup?
Another one of those "catch-up" posts, because whenever I think of something to write, I'm not near my computer. Here's what's happened lately.
The Lost is Found
I wrote about our pickup truck being stolen last month, making us a one-car family and leaving me without wheels until about 2:30 or 3 p.m. weekdays. Well, some 11 days after it was stolen, it was recovered. The thief wasn't part of a ring that strips vehicles and sells the parts, nor was he part of a ring that puts the vehicle on a ship and sends it off to Mexico or Japan or wherever and collects big bucks for stolen goods. This thief was a stupid druggie, who wasn't smart enough to drive it around a different part of town. Oh no, he drove it around North Portland, where the police officer who took the theft report saw it, tailed him for a while to be sure it was the same truck and so she could ID the thief, then recovered it and arrested him all in one fell swoop. A red-letter day for our dd H, who drove in Portland for the first time, too. I needed to go to Portland and of course I had no car, and even if I did, we'd have three cars and only two drivers.
It's not in too much worse for the wear, and after a bit of a hassle getting it re-licensed (thief tossed the license plates and pulled off the vin tags), we are a two-car family once again. Welcome home, Ol' Blue!
Girls Weekend
A couple of weeks ago, our dd Hefalump came to visit for the weekend, sans dh & ds's, just herself and Baby B. Fun weekend, all the women in our family (with the exception of dgd who had to work) came over for potluck junk food Friday night, visiting and games. Saturday morning we went out to breakfast with Hefalump, then she disappeared for the rest of the weekend visiting friends and spending the night with her next oldest sister. We traditionally do at least one girls day/night a year, usually making Christmas cards. It was fun to do another one without waiting until November.
Sweet Adelines Competition
Is coming up this weekend, in Spokane. DD N & I will drive the 6-ish hours to Spokane Friday, getting there for Quartet contest. Then our contest begins Saturday afternoon. We have worked so hard to get ready, and are doing two great songs, "All of Me" and "After You've Gone." Along about 3:10 Saturday afternoon, May 16th, we'll hit the stage with our Comp package. Want to see us perform? Should be a link here:
http://www.sairegion24.org/
New to My Fishtank
Tuesday H (the younger) & I went to our local Petsmart and picked up 4 new fishies, to keep the Chinese algae eater company. Two Buenos Aires Tetras and two Scissor-tail Rasbora (sorry H, had to look, I couldn't remember the species name). Mafia-Cat thinks they're the greatest, because the algae eater was pretty quiet in his hideout. He has something he can look at. When he gets too close (ala on top of the aquarium), he gets shot with the spray bottle. He's been better today, being mostly content to watch from the ground.
Mothers Day
Can't do a blog without a mention of the latest Mothers Day. Nice day, went to church where the women in the ward were presented with two chocolate chip cookies. DH fixed breakfast for me, and dinner was prepared mostly by K & T, with help from from H. Gifts included a framed photo of me & my girls, a Cookie Monster T-shirt, a potpouri cooker complete with both dried and liquid potpouri, a coupon for breakfast/lunch or dinner with dd N, and plenty of my favorite candies (Good-n-Plenty, Sweet-Tarts, licorice, Baby Ruth cbs, etc). Nummy!
With that, I'm taking myself off to bed. Tomorrow is a busy day. Exercise at Curves early, spend the day at the genealogy society library, and finish getting ready to leave for Competiton.
The Lost is Found
I wrote about our pickup truck being stolen last month, making us a one-car family and leaving me without wheels until about 2:30 or 3 p.m. weekdays. Well, some 11 days after it was stolen, it was recovered. The thief wasn't part of a ring that strips vehicles and sells the parts, nor was he part of a ring that puts the vehicle on a ship and sends it off to Mexico or Japan or wherever and collects big bucks for stolen goods. This thief was a stupid druggie, who wasn't smart enough to drive it around a different part of town. Oh no, he drove it around North Portland, where the police officer who took the theft report saw it, tailed him for a while to be sure it was the same truck and so she could ID the thief, then recovered it and arrested him all in one fell swoop. A red-letter day for our dd H, who drove in Portland for the first time, too. I needed to go to Portland and of course I had no car, and even if I did, we'd have three cars and only two drivers.
It's not in too much worse for the wear, and after a bit of a hassle getting it re-licensed (thief tossed the license plates and pulled off the vin tags), we are a two-car family once again. Welcome home, Ol' Blue!
Girls Weekend
A couple of weeks ago, our dd Hefalump came to visit for the weekend, sans dh & ds's, just herself and Baby B. Fun weekend, all the women in our family (with the exception of dgd who had to work) came over for potluck junk food Friday night, visiting and games. Saturday morning we went out to breakfast with Hefalump, then she disappeared for the rest of the weekend visiting friends and spending the night with her next oldest sister. We traditionally do at least one girls day/night a year, usually making Christmas cards. It was fun to do another one without waiting until November.
Sweet Adelines Competition
Is coming up this weekend, in Spokane. DD N & I will drive the 6-ish hours to Spokane Friday, getting there for Quartet contest. Then our contest begins Saturday afternoon. We have worked so hard to get ready, and are doing two great songs, "All of Me" and "After You've Gone." Along about 3:10 Saturday afternoon, May 16th, we'll hit the stage with our Comp package. Want to see us perform? Should be a link here:
http://www.sairegion24.org/
New to My Fishtank
Tuesday H (the younger) & I went to our local Petsmart and picked up 4 new fishies, to keep the Chinese algae eater company. Two Buenos Aires Tetras and two Scissor-tail Rasbora (sorry H, had to look, I couldn't remember the species name). Mafia-Cat thinks they're the greatest, because the algae eater was pretty quiet in his hideout. He has something he can look at. When he gets too close (ala on top of the aquarium), he gets shot with the spray bottle. He's been better today, being mostly content to watch from the ground.
Mothers Day
Can't do a blog without a mention of the latest Mothers Day. Nice day, went to church where the women in the ward were presented with two chocolate chip cookies. DH fixed breakfast for me, and dinner was prepared mostly by K & T, with help from from H. Gifts included a framed photo of me & my girls, a Cookie Monster T-shirt, a potpouri cooker complete with both dried and liquid potpouri, a coupon for breakfast/lunch or dinner with dd N, and plenty of my favorite candies (Good-n-Plenty, Sweet-Tarts, licorice, Baby Ruth cbs, etc). Nummy!
With that, I'm taking myself off to bed. Tomorrow is a busy day. Exercise at Curves early, spend the day at the genealogy society library, and finish getting ready to leave for Competiton.
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