Our Family According to Mom

Mom didn't get the 'shades mandatory' memo.

It's family reunion time and ours is gearing up for a weekend retreat in the Hualapai Mountains late in June. Aunt Jackie (a loyal reader) is in charge of collecting individual updates for the family newsletter. My Mom (also a loyal reader) submitted the update for our family of four. She gets her writing skills from me. :)

"I'm sure more has happened in our family over the past two years than I can remember, but I'll give it a shot. I changed jobs last June - left the foot doctor for a dentist. It's a very small office – the dentist, the assistant and me. The Dr.'s wife was pregnant and I was hired so she could stay home with the baby, once born. I get to work 4 days a week (yay!!!), and it's a lot less stressful than my previous job.

"John retired from Edison in October of '06 and was fortunate to find work the following spring at a local boat shop (a return to his first career). He works from April thru October and takes off almost every other Friday. Since I'm off on Fridays, this allows us to get out of the heat just about every other weekend. We have a trailer we leave in Williams for the summer and stay there, sometimes taking the Harley for local rides or just hanging out in the COOL.

"Chelsea flew the local coop a year and a half ago and has settled in our nation's capitol. She is not currently working as the Republican Congressman she was working for did not seek re-election (read-indicted for some land trade deal). She is not letting that slow her down, however. She continues to follow opera the way most of us follow a sport. I wonder if they make Opera Trading Cards? I understand she is submitting her own update, so I'll leave the rest to her. Check out her blog – http://www.chelsealately.blogspot.com/.

"Kevin has also changed jobs. (At one point this past spring our household was at the 75% unemployment level!) He is working for a friend of ours who has a business cleaning up and maintaining foreclosed homes. They stay quite busy and travel all over the state. They get to bring home whatever they find at the houses. A couple weeks ago he came home with a box of about 40 LPs from the 80s. He was more excited about the album covers than the music. In August of '07, he bought a Harley (just like John's – a touring style). A couple of his buddies also had bikes and they rode quite a bit. A group of 7 rode to Sturgis in Aug '08-on the road 8 days (I believe) and about 3200 miles. Last December he traded it in on a FAAASSSST Honda Street bike. I pray for his safety every time he gets on it. He rides this bike a lot more than the Harley. He has a girlfriend, whom we have actually met and really like. Michelle is very nice, friendly and can carry on an adult conversation! She is also motorcycle savvy, having ridden dirt bikes most of her life."

"We had to have Fluffy (Himalayan cat) put down last May (he was 14) but still have Sophie (Lhasa Apso-12 ). I'm ready to be petless for a while but John would like to get another Persian. I think he's waiting for the cat fairy to leave him one on the doorstep. We're all healthy and thankful for the jobs we have."

A couple of comments: 1) If length is any indication, then my brother is the clear favorite child. :) 2) If there are Opera Trading Cards, then I want them! 3) I sure hope the cat fairy leaves dad a new cat soon (ahem, Mom, ahem wink wink nudge nudge GET A NEW CAT!!!)

P.S. Happy belated anniversary to my padres who celebrated like 50 million years of marriage on the 27th. Without them, I clearly would not be here. Seriously, I would not exist.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - Take It Easy Edition

I think it’s going to be a low-key weekend. Plus I’ve stood on the corner in Winslow, Arizona before.

Eagles - Take It Easy

And it's supposed to rain all weekend: Gene Kelly - I'm Singing in the Rain

My Dad and me standing on the corner in Winslow, AZ after a ride on the Harley.

The Pen Is Mightier

Norm MacDonald spoofed Bob Dole and his habit of always carrying a pen in his right hand. Well, there's a story behind that.

Via Sen. Bob Dole's wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dole

In 1942, Dole joined the United State Army's Enlisted Reserve Corps to fight in World War II. He became a second lieutenant in the Army's 10th Mountain Division.

In April 1945, while engaged in combat in the hills of northern Italy, he was hit by German machine gun fire in his upper right back. His right arm was also badly injured. As Lee Sandlin describes, when fellow soldiers saw the extent of his injuries all they thought they could do was to "give him the largest dose of morphine they dared and write an 'M' for 'morphine' on his forehead in his own blood, so that nobody else who found him would give him a second, fatal dose." He had to wait nine hours on the battlefield before being taken to the 15th Evacuation Hospital. He began a recovery that would last until 1948 at Percy Jones Army hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. His right arm was paralyzed; Dole often carried a pen in his right hand to signal that he could not shake hands with that arm.

Dole was three times decorated for heroism, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries, and the Bronze Star with combat "V" for valor for his attempt to assist a downed radio man.

Bob and Elizabeth Dole attended the Memorial Day Services at Arlington National Cemetery, and later, Mr. Dole spoke to veterans at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. He was a key player in raising funds and organizing efforts to get the Greatest Generation a memorial they so greatly deserved. At 86, Mr. Dole, though moving much slower, looks to be in fairly good shape. Both the Doles were quite poised this afternoon despite the heat and humidity that rendered me exhausted (and I wasn't wearing a suit). I have always been a fan of Elizabeth Dole's since Junior year of high school. No particular reason, aside from her being a hard working gal making her way in a man's world. Anywho, was thrilled to see them at the ceremony this afternoon!

"God bless the fallen."

A Veteran saluting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington National Cemetery, May 25th, 2009

President Obama speaking at the Memorial Day Service

Arlington National Cemetery, May 25th, 2009

(Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole on the far left)

Tip of the Day: Memorial Concert Edition

Times are tough in this economy and people are cutting back. If you are a wine aficionado but find your pocketbook not able to afford the luxuries of vino, then head on down to the Capitol this evening. It's the Memorial Day Concert and folks excited about the first chance of summer to picnic often pack a bottle of wine. Little do they know, or try as they might to sneak it in, the Capitol Police are pretty on top of cracking down. Stand by the entrance and wait for a culprit to get caught. They'll be forced to part with the wine before entering and you'll be there to take it. If you're unsuccessful, at least you'll be at the Capitol to enjoy the concert!

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - Turn Up the Heat Edition

Technically speaking, summer is a month away. But those temperatures outside say otherwise. Plus it's Memorial Weekend, and that always makes me think of summer. So in honor of those climbing temps I bring you the Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day. I'm feeling generous again, so I bring you two.

The first, Renee Fleming singing "Summertime" because it almost is and just because it's Renee Fleming.



Mom likes the verions by Don Henley, but Sam (CT Sam) and I used to rock out w/ the windows down to the version by the Ataris. Nothing makes me think of summer more than blasting the music with the warm air blowing through the open windows.

And we're done!

The final curtain has come down on my last opera for the 2008/2009 season. Oh and what a season it has been! Renee...Placido...Dmitri...Patricia...Nessun Dorma...The Meditation...Song to the Moon...Di Provenza...The Met...The Kennedy Center...Thais (four times)...Lucrezia Borgia (three times w/ Renee, once w/ Sondra)...Il Trovatore...Peter Grimes! (twice)... What memories! So many great memories. And all the good friends along the way. Can't wait to do it all again!

And oh my gosh LEONTYNE PRICE! How could I ever forget???

A New Approach?

I think I've been going about this whole job interviewing process the wrong way.

Running on Empty

Several of my friends ran the Captiol Hill 10k this past Sunday. I graciously relinquished my spot in the race in order to stand on the sideline to cheer on my pals. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. And if I have to be that someone, then so be it.












Top left: AMY. Top Right: Lauren. Center: Unknown girl, Jon, Mel practicing her victory pose. Below: Sherwin stopping to say "hello."

Other race highlights:
Father/Son or Older Brother/Younger Brother racing duo - I bet that little kid would've out paced me.

An older gent in the zone. There's seriousness written all over that face - you bet your ass he would've out paced me.

Major Disapointment at One in the Morning

Why is there not one decent place open at one in the morning willing to serve me an order of onion rings in this whole District of Columbia? Is that really too much to ask? I mean, if I was in Atlantic City right now, my pub would have been open and willingly served me a full menu. And in New York City, there are at least vendor carts linging the streets with food aplenty. And on top of all of that, I walked 1 1/2 miles to realize let down after let down. But I'm home now, with no onion rings when that's all I really want. If I didn't value my life so much, I'd venture on down to SE and grab some O-rings at the local Denny's.

Will the Real Helen Mirren Please Stand Up? (update)(updated again)

I've seen Felen Mirren in Blithe Spirit and that was awesome. But DC is getting the real Helen Mirren this September for 10 days and 10 days only!

In a HUGE coup, the Shakespeare Theatre Company here in DC landed the LONE American engagement of the National Theatre of Great Britain's production of Racine's Phèdre. And Academy Award winner Mirren will reprise her role as the tragic lead.

"Believing her husband to be dead, the passionate Queen Phèdre allows her forbidden love for her stepson to blossom. When the King returns from war very much alive, the entire family is catapulted into a desperate, impossible situation." (STC)

Holy WOW! This is going to be hot, Hot, HOT! And when I say "HOT" I mean steamy, intense, and just crazy good. Sarah, Roxie, Kari, and I are already scheming on ways to get our hot little hands on some tickets.

*** UPDATE ***

I'm going! I'M Going! I'M GOING!!!!

A dear friend and subscriber to the Shakespeare Theatre Company graciously offerred and successfully secured tickets for me and six other gals to attend the September 26th performance. The countdown begins....

Thank you times a million Cordellia.

***ANOTHER UPDATE***

If I didn't know someone with a season subscription, I probably wouldn't be seeing the real Helen Mirren this fall. From an email sent by the STC: "On May 1, public tickets for the live performance of Phèdre sold out in five hours!"

FIVE HOURS! That's crazy!

One to Cross Off the To-Do List

The National Mall is a hub of activity. It is a place where runners are never scarce. I’ve walked to the Lincoln and back from my house several times and have found myself wanting to break into a run, but I repress the urge and continue with my pace. Tuesday night I suppressed the urge no longer and ran the National Mall in the rain.

Okay, when I say the Mall, I mean the Washington Monument. And when I say the Washington Monument, I mean 14th St. And when I say ran, I mean jogged. But I did it, and in the pouring rain!

Photo originally uploaded by banter.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - The Inaugural Edition

So in order to promote a sense of consistency for myself with this blog posting business, I'm going to try and bring you a music clip every Friday to jump start my (and your) weekend. And because this is the inaugural post, I give you two clips.

The first, George Jones' "Finally Friday" (so fitting, I know).



And because I'm going to the ball game tonight and plan to hear this song, and because it's a great summer tune, and because Mom is a huge fan, I give you Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."

Bout that time again...

...to put a fresh dollop of peanut butter on those traps and line my doorway with dryer sheets. Unless I'm just REALLY paranoid, I think I heard the sounds of a mouse scamper beneath my door and into my room last night. It's been about 7 months since we last dealt with mice. I guess total annihilation was wishful thinking.

Photo courtesy: http://peanut-butter-toast.blogspot.com/2007/10/country-mouse-v-city-mouse.html

Summer Just Got a Little Less Awesome

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, and when you add the outdoors to fun activities, it equals a really awesome good time. This year, the awesomeness of summer was dealt two huge blows.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company generally presents one of its plays out in Rock Creek Park during one of the summer months. The outdoor amphitheatre nestled among the trees and under the stars is a magical way to experience Shakespeare. Last year all the roommates of the Harry Potter House went out to see Hamlet. It was a great production and such a fun summer evening spent beneath the warm DC sky. This year, their Free For All under the stars is under the stars no more. Citing unpredictable weather and trying to be more accessible, the Free For All is being moved to the STC's downtown location at Sidney Harmen Hall. I will be there, but with the production no longer under the stars, the twinkle in my eye will be missing.

The big sucker punch in the stomach of summer is the announcement that HBO is pulling its sponsorship of the Screen on the Green outdoor film festival on the National Mall. One night for several weeks throughout the summer a movie is projected to a giant screen right smack in the middle of the Mall with the Capitol in the background. It's one of the coolest things ever. Last year a group of us packed up our blankets and food, smuggled a bottle of wine, and claimed our patch of grass. On the screen that evening: Frank Capra's Arsenic and Old Lace - one of my favorite black and white films!! Just recently I had commented to some friends that I was looking forward to SotG and couldn't wait for the films to be shown. What a giant let down! Sure places like Arlington and Crystal City have similar events, but it's not quite the same. They don't have the Capitol in the background. Sigh...

Photos taken by Laura

Music Man

Eastern Market April, 2009