West Virginia Day 1863-2013

Today we celebrated the sesquicentennial of WV becoming a state. Ned, Royal, and I went to the Capitol grounds this evening for symphony, light show, and fireworks. Below are some pics. We had a great time. The light show appeared on the front columns and top of the portico. It was amazing and appeared to be in 3D. It included a history of the state even to Sen. Byrd playing his fiddle and Mary Lou Retton tumbling. I never saw anything like it. Here's a link http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=4dgXq77UkFw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4dgXq77UkFw for the light show and fireworks.

Ned and me at fireworks

Patti, Jeff, Royal, Ned and I at sushi

Ned and Royal awaiting fireworks

Spectacular display taken from across the river

Slippery Pickers

Below are two videos of the Slippery Pickers playing Old Joe Clark, Orphan Girl, and Cripple Creek.  The video camera is set on me, however, but I was joined by Pam and Phyllis that night at the City Tap open mic.  I had lots of friends there but it was really crowded and noisy.  This was almost a month ago but couldn't figure how to upload the videos. Here's a link to the video recording.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96759087@N07/

 

 

 

Big Night

The Voices concert on June 1 has come and gone.  I sang the alto solo in Mozart's Missa Brevis in F.  Then we sang McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum. I was most pleased with our and my performance though I messed up one note in my solo and was told I could not be heard by three different folks who sat in the back of the auditorium.  There were microphones for the CD recording but not for the Hall.  Folks sitting in other areas could hear me.  Attendance was very good. Below are some pics from Memorial Hall. I'm in front on the left side next to the soprano in blue.  Here is a link to more pics and some of our music.

Here's a pic of Sim and me out to dinner at ACME in Carrboro the other evening.

The night before the concert I went to a concert by Paul McCartney's son, James.  None of us were too impressed with his stage performance or singing but liked his guitar playing.  I have continued to get estimates for the kitchen redo, but the estimates get higher rather than lower.  Will have to do some more thinking on this.

ML and R made it across country in 4 days and I enjoyed tracking them on my iphone.  They and Georgia are in their new apartment in Novato CA.  I think she starts work very soon.  Not sure when their pods arrive with their furnishings or when the audi arrives.

Happy Birthday , Robert!

I could not resist putting up this adorable picture of my son-in-law when he was a little boy.   He still loves pizza and just celebrated a big Bday last Wednesday on the West Coast.

Pics from 1968 Camp Ann Bailey CIT unit

Early Spring 2013

After returning from my trip to Florida, I was immediately into the final week of rehearsals for the Pirates of Penzance.  I was again in the Royal Chorus but this year we had two weekends of performances rather than one.  Many friends came to see the show and all loved it.  ML and Robert came the final weekend.  It was great to have them here with Georgia even if it was only for 2 nights.  After the run, Holy Week was upon me (which is always busy).   I helped my friend, Sim, prepare his Seder by making kugel and an unleavened cake for Passover.  On Easter, I went to a lovely brunch at the Carolina Club with my friend, Joyce.  I seemed to pass the anniversary of Moody's death without difficulty but it was nice to have ML and R here on that day. 

Springtime finally rolled in with April and it went from right chilly to damn hot in a 24-hr period.  The pollen came up with Bill and Melva who visited on their way back to MD from a month in FL.  Below are some pics.

Irina, Veronique, and me - ladies of the Pirates of Penzance ensemble

Sim's Seder

Weeping cherry in bloom in first week of April

Carolina jasmine in bloom in my courtyard.

What I don't have pics from was the debut of my old timey band at an open mic on April 10th.  Pam on banjo, Phyllis on guitar, Mike on fiddle, and me on fiddle and vocal-- performed 4 songs at the Pittsboro Roadhouse.  We had a nice crowd because it was Sim's birthday and many of his friends came for dinner and to hear our string band.  The next day was ML's 30th Bday.  I was sorry not to be in Baltimore with her for that celebration.

Meanwhile..... I still have my tennis elbow.  I was able to get through a tennis clinic last week but I didn't have to play all the time.  I am now seeing my chiropractor for the elbow, but it still hurts.

Florida trip

I had a very nice time on my winter vacation to southern Florida.  I met Cathy Dippo who was in the midst of a 3-month progress throughout FL.  She picked me up in Ft. Lauderdale and we drove to Key West.  The weather was quite cold and wet.  Even though it was a pretty bad day for it, my favorite part was our ferry ride out to Ft. Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas.  It is an old military fortress used to protect the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico that during the Civil War housed Union prisoners (e.g., deserters & other army infractions).  But the most famous prisoners included Dr. Mudd and 3 other convicted "conspirators" in Lincoln's assassination.

After several days in the Keys we then drove up to just south of Miami and enjoyed the Zoo, a botanical garden with at least 500 varieties of palm trees, and Viscuya.  The sun shone brightly but it was still quite cool and breezy. The last night in FL I spent with John-Mac, Lani, and little McConihay.  John-Mac gave me a copy of his singing and guitar CD and it is fabulous! Below are some pics.

Cathy at our first night of margaritas and Key Lime pie

The roosters run wild and cockledoodledoo at all hours of day and night.

Dr. Mudd's cell with the channel he made with his spoon to try to catch the rain water.

Hemmingway's writing studio

Little Key deer (a bit bigger than a dog)

Glass bottom boat ride

Orchids at Viscuya

Viscuya

Flamingos at the Miami Zoo

The Terry family

Proud great Auntie with McConihay (age 2)