Sunday, February 25, 2007

Comment please

As I seem to be unable to go back and allow for comments to my last posting...the place for any comments on that one is here. I did fix it si I shouldn't have that particular problem any more ;)
Frustration--I had just finished my post when I accidently hit a wrong key and poof! It was gone. Sigh.

Today I took action on an idea which had perculated in my mind for some time, thanks to Sariah and ABQ. I talked to my Relief Society Pres. and she agreed. We are going to do a pair-up of young families with older families/couples who have no other family in the area. The need for an instant babysitter arrives, but where to turn? This will make it possible to have a surrogate Grandma who knows the kids and their routines etc. It seems like the need is not great in our ward because there are so many who are related, but for those who are not...I think the need is enormous! So we are going to do it! :)

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After the fire last week in our housing development, we have a concern. We were blocked in or out for several hours. We need another way in/out! And it is in place, but blocked by poles in the ground. Apparantly, rescue vehicles know they can run right through these poles,
but what about the lady who has just gone into labor and needs to get to the hospital? Or the Mom who needs to pick up her child from school or wherever? That particular corner falls under the aegis of Columbus, so we need to petition them to open it up. It seems the problem is that it is not wide enough. So let's widen it! It is as wide as the street it leads out to which is now heavily trafficked because of the light shut down. If there had been another emergency of any kind in or whole housing development that afternoon, they would have just been out of luck! I am not the first person to be concerned about this, but I will organize neighbors and fight for what we need. I think we have a much better chance here that we ever had in saving our traffic light! So I'm off to the races again!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Help!!

Help! I'm trapped! I can't seem to comment on my own blog!!! No wonder everyone's moving if this is the kind of trouble you have. I'll be outta here too : )

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

A Review of "The Madrigal"

It has been a royal pain, but I finally have gotten onto the new Blog post. If I continue to have problems, I will follow so many of you others....

I wanted to post my review of The Madrigal at the local high school. This is year 17, so they've got it down to a science!

The school is built with a rotunda. The performance began with a Madrigal group singing there to seated audience. As I've sung in several madrigal groups, I was familiar with all the songs but one, so I think I can speak with some authority in saying that they did a great job! They were musically accurate [not always easy wit close harmonies acapella] and generally their diction was quite good [based on te other members of our group who did not know the music] Even the 16 yr old boy who went with us was impressed.

Next, a group performed an English country dance, then repeated it [under instruction from the Dance Master] wih audience members pulled up to partner. I was sad that none of our large party had been asked. But I did not sit us in the front row so that Dad would not be asked.

We were then led down the hall to the cafetorium. They had a proscenium stage which overflowed its corners. OK, thrust is correct, but oveflowed was the feel. The other corners also had stage sets. On corner next to the R thrust held a musicians stage.

The format was: Act I, course1 of dinner to music [also music between scenes] They had soloists, harpsichord, [well, that's what it sounded like] small groups a recorder ensemble, and a guitar ensemble, a couple of choirs, and various combibnations of the above. Well done!
Act 2, course 2, etc. [Dinner ended after Act 4.

The show: An edited version of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Again, I was very impressed. I was impress with first, the judicious editing. You got the majority of the play in a form the teens could understand, and so, therefore, could the audience. The number of characters were cut down to the essential, and audience members were used for others [such as for delivering messages etc.] Finally, in our performance, their principal was plucked out of the audience and given a long blond wig to be a brief character--to great laughter! They got a math teacher the night before.

The casting: Was excellent. While I think that those who played middle aged characters could have used their bodies a little more to show that--it is hard, for middle aged...what does that really mean? It was a concept they struggled with. As I was doing make-up, I'd ask a kid, "How old are you?" "16." "No, your character." "I don't know." That showed. Except for the old man, who did a superb job, And I noted especially with his cane--meaning he used it correctly!! Usually kids will try to use the cane along side of the affected leg. He used it correctly--opposite. He was also exceptionally good at stepping into and out of the show, adressing the audience several times in announcing the entertaining group between scenes. I wish only that his make-up had gone with the rest of him better [I didn't do his.] Also one girl told me she was middle-aged, and she did portray herself that way, but she was fighting a loosing battle because of her petit build she was picked up quite a lot, giving her a younger aspect than she miht otherwise have achieved. This is not neccessarily a negative comment, but it wold have worked better if the other women her age" would have remembered they were "middle aged" One 'man' did an exceptional job at using his body in that way. The boys, generally speaking were better at that than the girls.

Richard: Played Sir Hugh of no discernable age, who was a well respected friend to the main characters, and an indespesible background character. When he asked me what he could have done to better his performance, I said, "Have years of experience behind you." And I stand by that. He had a passably good Scots accent, which additional practice would have helped. He was fine, except a couple of times his own accent slipped through, though I doubt anyone who didn't know him well would have picked up on that. [The kids at school are all convinced he is Canadian, even though he says not...]

The technical: Each 'fake' corner's backdrop scenery was made by using scaffolding and hanging painted muslin from the floor of the top. On the top was a spotlight used to light other areas. The spot lighting crossing and occasionally alone, worked very well. The thrust corners held the two homes escept for the forest scene. The homes were turned around and being black, essentially disappeared. Gauzy curtains with leaves dropped down, and there was some sort of tree/bush thing C stage around which the actors wove on and off stage [led by Sir Hugh/Richad] in their guise as 'fairies' as the final humiliation of Sir Falstaff. Again, it is obvious that this was not the first year the director has done such a show. Excellently well done.

All in all: A good time was had by the players [Richard is sad it is over], the audience [we parents enjoyed it, so did the four teens who were friends from church who went], and the community [very proud of this anual event].

Richard is planning to audition for the spring show--different director. And if he doesn't get into the show, he still wants to work on it :) Now this I understand.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Wow--two posts in one day...these thoughts hit me and I figured if I was going to write them down, then I might as well come straight to the computer as write in the notebook by my bed and post tomorrow.

My husband did a very rare thing, he rented an R-rated movie: Flags of Our Fathers. We neiher one of us had gotten around to reading the book yet, but were interested in it and correctly figured the rating was because it was a war movie. Still, at first it was a jarring word here or there, then as they got into the military life, it became more. I missed a chunk out of the beginning of the film while I was on the phone about the assignment-- topic of my previous post. I returned in time for the landing on the beach. I saw the beginning of the battle, and at one graphic point, I had to close my eyes. I left. I could not take it. Mr. Allrie said that if that first incident bothered me that much, it was good that I left. As we talked we had some thoughts and realizations. First, war. Throughout history, men have gone off to war, usually not talking much about it once home, trying to forget the horrors they saw and of which they were part. The tried to protect their women and children from having that complete a knowledge. Now we make movies to honor those same men, but show just what they tried both to forget and to protect their loved ones from having to suffer.

I'm sorry, Jesse. I'd also apologize to my Dad, my uncle, and my father-in-law, but they're not around just now.

The second thing that bothered me was the casual use of profanity. I consider myself a lady. True, I wear jeans, and did before it was popular for girls to wear bluejeans. I go barefoot or wear boots or moccasins. I was a real tomboy who climbed trees and rocks and ran with the dogs on the hills. My chores were outside mostly. I didn't learn how to clean or cook or any of that kind of stuff until I got married. But still, I was a lady, I knew it, my friends knew it, and my friends were ladies and gentlemen as well.

I had one of the shocks of my life one day as I rounded the corner of the airport hanger and came up behind my father talking in a group of men. He swore! I had never in my life heard that before. And that is how that generation mostly was. Oh there were those that used that kind of language in fron of women and children, but they were "common" and they must have had very poor vocabularies as my mother explained, or they would use other words. I know that my generation is more coarse and common that my parents'. I do not, however, think that there is any good reason for it. Whenever I hear a woman swear, I think she is no lady, and my respect level drops dramatically. When I hear people use swear words in lieu of better vocabulary, I pity them, and assume that their educational level is not very high. With the next generation, I just pity. Were they not taught? Do they just not care? Are they such sheep that they swear to be accepted? I know when I was in college [pre-LDS days] smoking was a way to assert adulthood--is that what swearing is today? It didn't work out too well for those who started smoking just as their parents were struggling to quit. I suspect the swearing will be the same. But still, I pity those who have no better vocabulary with which to express their feelings.

What will my grandchildren who are just now learning to talk have to face?

HELP!!

No, I'm not referring to the ongoing family feud. Nor am I talking about our messy, messy weather. I need help. [Hush my daughters--no wise-cracks, I'm being quite serious here.] I have been asked to help with a program and my part is to work with a group of teens performing "She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain" with class. I know, we're in big trouble here.

Anyway, I remember learning [I think from my mother] that "she" referred to the train. I found info on that in Wikipedia, but conflicting info elsewhere. So, Music People, can you help me out here? I want to find the origins and meaning of this American Folksong. My research isn't getting me very far. Of course I am limited to the computer and our old Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopedia as we are snowed and iced in just now.

Of course there is no rush [the program is for Memorial Day] but I'd like to pin down what we are doing long before any execution.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Waiting For the Shoe To Drop

You know that feeling of just waiting...waiting for the other shoe to drop? Well, after last weeks 2 "cold days", 1 "snow day" and 2 2-hr delay days due to the cold [with the neighboring district taking out the whole week [their wacky over-crowded hs schedule does not allow for 2 hr delays.] And with a horrible or at least horribly messy storm due to come in tonight, everyone is holding their collective breath--cancel? 2 hr delay? but then what...it is supposed to get worse as the day goes on. In VA we had early dismissal days when it snowed a lot during the day, so who knows what to expect?

The phone rang about 10:30. The call was for Allied Weather. It was a young middle schooler asking for what the forecast was for Canal Winchester at 5:00am! I explained that forecasting was our business, and that a forecast cost money, but since we were in the same town, I said he'd just have to do what we will do. Get up in the morning and check the school closings, but there is a really good chance of a closing for tomorrow. He thanked me very nicely. It was so cute! My first "official" call! And I didn't even need to wake Dad! So now am I a forecaster, too? :)

I also have to mention that it has warmed up--at 25degrees it felt positively balmy out yesterday! Enough so that I got out on my bike. 1/2 a mile was enough. I was perfectly comfortable--except my face and head. Oh, I wore a ski mask, but that's only one layer. The rest of me had at least three--not even counting fat! The house is cooling down rapidly now [we turn the heat way down when we go upstairs, so it's been off awhile now.] Time to turn in--after I check once more for closings!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Ramblin' Updates

For those following the weather/school debates in the midwest: M-W no school--2 cold days, 1 snow day, Th & F 2 hr delayed openings. No Seminary all week. Poor Richard didn't get the no Seminary message for Thurs, but did get the message to pick up a couple other kids from someone elses house rather than their own--which is on the way. So R left extra early [cause where they were wasn't on the way]. Fortunately, Ruthie was up to tell him--in case he hadn't gotten a call. The call came after he'd left! So he's now at the top of the call list! We expect the same sub-zero temps all next week, so we will probably have delayed openings again. And then there's the mid-week snow expected... Then the following week looks like a warm-up--hooray!
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There is a little girl [2nd grade] in our town who is #1 on the organ transplant list. She needs 5. Yes that was FIVE. Her stomach and something else have already failed, and 3 more organs are in process. We are having a huge community fundraiser on the 17th for medical/travel etc. expenses for the family. A silent auction is part of it. Allied Weather [our company] is putting together a package for it. My heart just aches for the whole family. Please remember them in your prayers.
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Do you know how many film companies there are? And they come and go like...butterflies! Keeping trtack is a full-time job at the moment!
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I belong to our town's "Mainstreet" program, and got to go to a training meeting last Wed. It was really interesting as I learned first hand what it takes to have a vibrant downtown in cities large and small. As we talked on the "twice as long as it should have been" [due to snow] drive home, I was filled in more about what has happened in our village and what is going to happen. Even though we lost on the traffic light issue, I feel better about life again. First of all, I still cross at that corner--it is perfectly legal to walk across a highway, so I do, patiently and carefully. It is currently the safest route to town. We will get our overpass--I just hope I get to see it! Secondly--there are two sore spots in town--and both will soon be changed!

Of all the stuff the trainer's taught us needed to be done, I realized that our village is way ahead of the curve [no womder awards have been accorded]. I am excited to be part of this program, and to be able to share the information at the next Downtown meeting! [I feel very similar to the first time I was sent as my school's representative to a science workshop. It was hard to follow at times, but I have a new excitement which I am eager to share!] On our drive home I stated again that we need picture postcards of our town! My suggestion was applauded and accepted. Not to get the pictures taken--I had tried to get Jeremy [a photographer in town] to do it, but he closed up shop--he is now in Bentonville, AR, as head of the photography dept for Wal-Mart. So we need a volunteer. Not I! I inherited my mother's photography skills. Sad.
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Well that's my ramblings from a busy week. Oh, and I've got Erica's Been There, Done That book up through Maine. I'm toolin' along [and Sariah setting aside pics etc. for you as well].

Sunday, February 04, 2007

School closings

Aaah, the variety of it all. In our family we've had snow days, heat days, hurricane days, ice days, sniper days, and now add cold days to our school closings. Of course Richard's "hop-brothers" must be having fire days...am interested what arrangements their school is making...but, still...

Aparantly, the temps will be so uncommonly low that all the schools around have cancelled so that no kids are outside waiting for, or walking to or from the buses or schools. Forgive my being old, but I don't get it.

Are we that delicate a society? I'll bet Erica's friend's Siberian Dad would find it rather curious. I recall being sent to school walking one morning in blizzard conditions because my Dad couldn't get either car out. I was in second grade in northern Indiana.

I'll bet I see kids outside tomorrow. If not playing [which I fully expect] then at least going places--so why couldn't they have gone to school?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I've never had a child tell me it was too cold to play outside, only it was too hot. Cold? Put on another layer. And wear your ski mask.