Lett's See DC - Mom Schlepped Here, There and Everywhere

I brought my Mom back to DC with me after Christmas. We spent a few days gallivanting around the Nation's Capital before a quick trip to the Big Apple. I coaxed Mom into writing up her experience, and what you will get is a four(?) part mini-series of the Mother Fish Out of Water. And let me tell you what, she was out of water! At some point along the series, I'll add my own brief recap of the events - you know, two sides to every story. Part two of my Mom's four(?) part mini-series of her trip to Washington, DC and NYC continues with her first full day in the Nation's Capital.

There is a two hour time difference between Arizona and DC this time of year so getting up early for Chelsea is even earlier for me. But rise early we do. We have memorials and monuments to see! One of Chelsea's roommates, Abigail, generously shared coffee. We ate breakfast, bundled up, then headed out. First stop – the Capitol Building. A short walk and we arrived in time for an 8:30 tour (I believe Mom is on AZ time still – there’s no way I would’ve been functioning for an 8:30am EST tour especially since I was still functioning on AZ time). There were probably 30 people in our group. The guide did a fair job sharing info, but I felt like there should have been more. Chelsea gave Capitol tours when she worked for the Congressman, so she was able to provide more in depth anecdotes – such as the painting containing a person with six toes on one foot, because the artist didn't care for the person being depicted (Mom is so PC – the artist didn’t like Native Americans so he gave Pocahontas’ brother an extra toe). We saw the old Supreme Court chambers, the catafalque dating back to President Lincoln, models representing the Capitol Building and grounds showing changes over the years, the Statuary Room – each state is allowed to send two statues to be on display. It's so much to absorb in such a short time.

Moving on, we walked through a tunnel to the Library of Congress. We arrived in time to join a tour. The guide seemed very knowledgeable. The architectural details are just astounding. When the tour was over, Chelsea left me on my own; she had a hair appointment. I wandered back through the displays to look more closely at maps, (I love maps) paintings and Thomas Jefferson's personal library. So my time was up at the library. I walked back home to meet Chelsea for lunch. Oh, her hair cut was cute. We used this time to book a night time trolley tour of Washington for the evening.

After hearty tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, we headed out for round two – Arlington National Cemetery and The Kennedy Center. We walked back to the Metro stop and boarded to ride out to Arlington. This trek required transfers and I'm so amazed at how comfortable Chelsea is with all this (No transfers on this one, but I can understand being confused – I carted my Mom everywhere in such a small amount of time). She's so at home here. We arrived at Arlington and inquired about a tour at the information desk. We're pressed for time, so the attendant provided us with directions and a map that we can use for a self-guided tour.

We headed to John F. Kennedy's grave site. The view back toward the Washington Monument is very pretty. We walked by Robert Kennedy's and Teddy Kennedy's graves as well. We then headed over to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The white crosses marking the graves are still adorned with wreaths that were placed before Christmas. Chelsea was able to participate in the wreath placement. What an honor. We arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and watched the sentinel pace back and forth before the tomb. It's hard to find the right words to describe this event. Proud, sad, grateful, among so many emotions. We didn't have time to stay for the changing of the guard, though I could have stayed there all day. We then made our way through the Memorial Amphitheater on our way to the Mast of the USS Maine, Space Shuttle Challenger/Columbia Memorial and Iran Rescue Mission Memorial.

We left the cemetery and took the Metro to Foggy Bottom (I love that!) where we picked up a shuttle to the Kennedy Center. This is home to the Washington National Opera for which Chelsea interned for three months last fall. She was the tour guide at this attraction, showing me all around, inside and out. Most impressive – a very beautiful center. We headed back outside (Brrr-it's getting colder) to shuttle back to the Metro stop and then home. I was beginning to feel like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation. We walked home to eat dinner but really only had time for a snack before we had to walk back to Union Station to catch the trolley. I did take the time to add a pair of long underwear and a second pair of gloves. Yes, the very same Isotoner gloves mentioned in Chelsea's Christmas remembrances, with knit gloves over those. So, appropriately layered against the cold, we walked to Union Station.....

~ Susan

Lett's see DC - Leaving on a Jet Plane

I brought my Mom back to DC with me after Christmas. We spent a few days gallivanting around the Nation's Capital before a quick trip to the Big Apple. I coaxed Mom into writing up her experience, and what you will get is a three(?) part mini-series of the Mother Fish Out of Water. And let me tell you what, she was out of water! At some point along the series, I'll add my own brief recap of the events - you know, two sides to every story. I now present my first guest blogger, my Mom in part one of her series.

I promised I would report on my whirlwind trip to DC and New York City. Now a month later, it's obvious the gene for procrastination is not recessive in my family. Chelsea's Christmas gift to me was to join her at the opera der Rosenkavelier in New York City on New Year's Day. John graciously agreed to stay home (self-preservation?). It would be our first New Year apart in 33 years.

So, to packing....My desert (read casual and not warm) apparel would have to suffice for the cold weather and opera. I managed to squeeze five days worth of garments and shoes into a small carry-on and backpack. John drove us to Las Vegas very early Tuesday morning. I was a little nervous. I hadn't flown since 1984. Chelsea is a seasoned traveler, so that helped put me at ease. We said our goodbyes at the curb, checked in, breezed through security, and headed for the gate. With about an hour before our flight, we had plenty of time to people-watch. We boarded the plane on time, stowed our bags and settled in. As soon as we were aloft, Chelsea dozed but I was "too excited to sleep!"

The flight leaving Las Vegas heads out over the Grand Canyon. What a great perspective-it was…so cool to see the snow dusting the red landscape. I watched our progress eastward until we rose above the clouds. Near the Mississippi, land was once again visible, so I tried to determine our location all the way to Charlotte where we had a short layover. We wolfed down a sandwich before being called to board our flight to DC. My wariness returned when a dark complexioned man with a mustache took the seat next to Chelsea. He kept getting up to talk to the attendant – about what, I don't know. Five or six times he got up then sat back down... On top of that, across the aisle and up a row or two, is a large bearded man with turban-like head gear. No one else appeared distressed or even interested. So up, up and away we went.

I'm so glad it was evening when we flew into Ronald Reagan airport. The skyline was so beautiful. Visible on approach and brightly lit – the Washington Monument, the Capitol building, the White House – Wow! We bundled up and grabbing backpacks and luggage, headed for the Metro which would put us within walking distance of our final destination. This was becoming a very long day. We exited the train at our stop. Chelsea said she needed to pick up milk. "Safeway is in the opposite direction we'll be walking, so you can wait here while I run up there. Will you be okay to wait here?" How sweet, she's worried about me. "Sure, I'll be fine," I say. She LEFT me there, in the subway station, tending the luggage! She returned about 20 minutes later and really, I was fine. We gathered our luggage, backpacks and groceries and headed to the escalator. We at last would begin the final trek to the Harry Potter house.

OH MY GOSH!!! COLLLLLDDDD!!!! The remnants of the massive snow storm ten days ago have been piled along the road sides and the cold definitely remained. To our left, the Capitol Building, all lit up. Beautiful! We headed up the street away from the Capitol, past the Supreme Court Building, and The Library of Congress. Unbelievable – Chelsea Lives Here!!! Then we walked through her neighborhood and arrived, at last HOME! We unwound and hit the sack. Our plan was to tackle major sight-seeing for the next two days.

~ Susan

MUSIC TO MY EARS!!!

I broke my thirty-hour music fast with Dancing Queen in the middle of a not very crowded yet slightly noisy Busboys and Poets. But it was the trio from der Rosenkavalier that put me back into my happy spot. After dinner, I ran upstairs and stood in the middle of my room and let the gloriousness of these three beautiful voices pour over me.

Just listen...


...do you hear that? It's like the heavens opened up and rained down this glorious awesomeness of pure rapturous ecstasy that sweeps you up ever higher with each progressing note. The three voices dance and intertwine and by the very end I have found myself on the tips of my toes. I almost shed a tear.

That's the beauty of music, and that is why I listen. And that's why giving up music for thirty hours was a challenge. I suppose that sometimes I listen to the point of distraction and the reason for the fast was to let the absence channel my thoughts to the Almighty. In some instances that happened. It also allowed me to be more aware of my surroundings and the natural music in the world around me - the birds chirping, the rustling of the leaves, the car sirens at one in the morning... And for a few hours this afternoon I was alone in the silence. It almost made me nervous to be alone with my thoughts - mulling over all of the grown-up things that are staring me down and give me unease.

Well that's deep enough for one night. I try and keep it light-hearted around here. So for know the music is back...and the beat goes on!

"Obama probably failed lunch." - A. Hilter

So when you're fasting music for thirty hours, you need something to command your attention for part of that time when you're not conversing with the Almighty. Max to the rescue! He sent me this hilarious redubbing of a scene from Der Untergang. Try not to laugh - I dare you!

* Click on the video twice in order to watch directly from Youtube so you can read the supertitles. They're super funny, but you'll miss out if you can't read them all.

Sounds like a winner to me.......

A conversation I had w/ CT Sam via text message late last night. No need to thank me.

Sam: So the guy Marco* with the bad haircut is asking about you

Me: Was he the one that wouldn't leave me alone and dated that one girl you don't like?

Sam: No... The short one in politics we wanted to give a makeover too

Me: I don't remember him. Where did I meet him?

Sam: He was there both nights... He remembers you!
He had like the shroom cut

Me: Seriously not ringing a bell... Did I even talk to him?

Sam: Yes lol and we talked about how we wanted to make him over... But he got a haircut thank god!
He was nice and talked to us but was slightly shy

Me: I don't know why I don't remember. Is he good looking minus the weird haircut?

Sam: Not really lol

Me: Awesome! glad to know I made an impression on someone...
Does he know I'm republican?

Sam: I'm not sure but he know your cute!

Me: Fabulous.. He thinks I'm cute and all I got is he's short and formerly sported a shroom do. Is it bad I don't remember him?

Sam: Yes it is cuz he talked to us the most... And then we were bitchy and judged him
Is our judging no longer sacred?

Me: Did someone roofie my drink or something b/c I don't remember having that much either night.

Sam: You cought me... I slipped you a little something
Stalk him on facebook. He is one of my friends... Marco Polo*

Me: I knew it! You b***ch! You can't be trusted/ You roofie my drink and then try and set me up w/ the dude we totally judged. That hurts sam...

Sam: I'm sorry: Next time I drug you I will get your consent first

Me: Apology accepted. Is he dateable material? I mean I'm no gold medal, but I don't need a schmoe.

Sam: You are a gold medal!

Sam: He's sooooo sweet. I like him alot but he is no looker

Me: Awww you're a platinum medal in my book.

Sam: He's not horrible... Needs work

Me: Oh lord! Bless his heart. I'm flattered, but um...

Sam: Lol

Me: So could this be like a samantha thing from sex and the city where I make him pretty and then he finds some younger hotter babe? You know, the guy was balding and a bit of a goob

Sam: Lol I remember that one!

Me: He looks like a thug in his profile pic. And not at all familiar. Maybe I was too traumatized by the other guy

Sam: Lol we did run into some characters. Ya his profile pic is super weird

Me: I think I remember snarking on someone, but I don't think I'd be able to pick him out of a line up.


So apparently Sam is trying to fix me up with a fixer-uper... A shroom cut - really, are we thirteen? I'm thinking a big fat no!

*Not his real name

The Day the Music Died

My bible study has decided to participate in a church-wide fast that lasts from this evening until church service tomorrow. The gals in my group decided to give up food, which would be totally doable. They'll eat dinner on Saturday, give up breakfast and lunch on Sunday and break the fast at 6:00pm at dinner.

I decided to go a different route, mostly because I had scheduled a brunch with a friend weeks ago. So instead of parting with my planned crepe and peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I will be fasting the Tunes starting at noon on Saturday until 6:00pm Sunday. No music. Period. No opera, country or anything in between via the Zune. No Saturday matinee broadcast from the Met. No Youtube or opera dvd's. Just silence. Unrhythmic, deafening silence. "No big deal," is what you're thinking. Oh, but how wrong you are! I have music playing ALL THE TIME. I sleep with it on (this started when we had mouse issues), I listen while I'm drying my hair, eating, surfing the web, talking on the phone. If I'm home, the music is on. But now it's not. And it's freakishly quiet in here.

I took a walk to the Lincoln memorial today minus the music. I could hear a lot of clatter and chatter, but mostly the squeak squeak of my orthotics with E.V.E.R.Y. S.I.N.G.L.E. S.T.E.P. I. T.O.O.K. Even though my own walking was annoying myself, it's pretty funny to listen in on what others around you are saying. Especially in and around the Mall area where tourists abound. They say the darndest things!

This time of fasting is meant for reflection and conversing with the Almighty. But I find myself singing a lot of Dwight Yokam and Celine Dion to myself instead. Random selection, I know. We'll see how the night goes when it's REALLY quiet. Torture, I tell you. You don't know how bad I want to push play on my Zune right now. I miss Renee...

Photo courtesy: www.passportnewsletterblog.com

A 26 looks at 40

Forty – doesn’t look so bad surrounded by a group of friends sharing laughter and memories.

Kari G threw herself a birthday bash to commemorate 40 years on this planet. It was a gathering of new friends, childhood buddies and coworkers. I was one of the fortunate few who feasted with Kari at Crispo. Much feasting and beveraging was followed by more beveraging and loads of laughter that lasted until the wee early morning hours at the Regency.

This wasn’t a typical 40th birthday party. No lame Over the Hill jokes or people dressed as old ladies. Kari’s not that kinda gal, especially since she makes 40 look like the new 29. It was just a classy celebration with a woman and her friends. And what a fabulous group of friends she has surrounding her! I’m fairly new to the bunch and only know her New York opera and theatre buddies Sarah, Roxie and Sally. It was such a treat to be invited along to meet her friends from home and school who have shaped her and made her the Kari I know today (could I sound any cheesier???).

Sometimes it’s undiplomatic to choose favorites, but of the new friends I met this weekend, my favorite has got to be Kari’s friend from high school, Kris. She’s a cop (detective) in the Madison, WI area and she is hilarious! When she was first starting out on the beat, she was called to a scene. Being the resourceful and time saving cop that she was, she decided that the quickest way from point A to point B was going right through a volleyball sand pit instead of around it. She rationalized in her head that her vehicle was rear-wheel drive and for crying out loud they do it on Baywatch all the time with no problems!!! So in true Baywatch style, Kris drove her squad car across the sand and was successful…….until she got stuck! But you know they do it on Baywatch all the time.

Anywho, Happy Birthday to Kari! Here’s to 40+ more awesome years surrounded by good times and great friends! Thanks for inviting me along for the celebration.

Taking Stock (and exposing my inner nerd)

***Warning*** ***My opera nerdiness is about to be exposed. You have been warned. ***

When I started going to operas almost two years ago, I began to keep a list of the operas I had seen. Since my outings to live performances were pretty infrequent but trips to my library's opera dvd/cd collection were not, I decided to keep track of all the operas I listened to as well. In order to make the cut, I had to have listened or watched the opera in its entirety (exception made for Puccini's Il Trittico, which is a series of three smaller operas). Today I decided to transfer my opera tracker from paper to excel spreadsheet. Here's what I have discovered:

• I have watched (live or dvd) or listened (cd or radio) to 52 different operas by 24 different composers.
• The composers that show up the most on my list are Verdi (8), Puccini (5 1/3*), Strauss (5), Massanet (5) and Wagner (3).
• I have been to 55 live performances of 26 different operas - nine of those were the Met's Live in HD simulcasts.
• Clearly I am a repeat offender when it comes to live performances - I see/hear something I like, I go back for more. Four seems to be the magic number. I've seen Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia, Rossini's Barber of Seville, and Massanet's Thais four times each, and Strauss' der Rosenkavlier three times. But Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos takes the cake with a whopping eight viewings** in a span of about four weeks.
• Adding the multiple live performances to audio and video recordings, it seems that Verdi is my go-to guy. He has 20 hits with Otello receiving six and La Traviata receiving five.
• Strauss clocks in at 17 with Ariadne at nine and der Rosenkavalier at five.
• Surprise, surprise! Renee Fleming is my diva of choice appearing on my tracker 40 times.
• The next closest competitor is my recent find, Swedish soprano Iréne Theorin, making 14 appearances live and recorded.
• Placido Domingo shows up 13 times both as conductor and tenor.
• The language breakdown: Italian-21, French-11, German-10, English-7, Russian-2, Czech-1

Final thoughts: Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera seems to be the most obscure on my list and I'm surprised I don't have more Mozart on there. I would like to explore more Russian and Czech opera. I had attended a recital in the fall that featured some wonderful music from Russlan and Ludmilla and War and Peace (both Russian) that sounded really awesome. I'd also like to give Katya Kabanova and The Makropoulos Affair (both Czech) a shot. Don't ask me to monetarily add it all up. I probably could have purchased a new car by now. And in case you were wondering, Verdi's Otello was my first in house live opera.

* 1/3 = Suor Angelica from Puccini's three mini opera series Il Trittico
** I can't believe I just admitted out loud to seeing Ariadne eight times. I feel like I need support group or something.

I PR things...Ariadne, Seville, WAGNER!

This past fall I got to PR things. I didn't get to PR Lulu, but I did get to PR opera for Washington National Opera. It was an unpaid internship and perhaps I'm on the cusp of being too old for an unpaid internship, but it was something I wanted to do and could afford to do.

Maybe it was the fact that I didn't have to be there that made me want to be there, but I thoroughly enjoyed going to the Watergate office everyday. It was a challenging, engaging and rewarding experience that has left me with so many wonderful memories. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'd count myself lucky/fortunate for having prior work experience, which allowed my supervisor to give me some kind of big deal tasks. I staffed a reporter at one of our operas, was one of the point persons for press at Opera in the Outfield, coordinated interviews between artists and reporters, pitched the hell out of our Costume Sale and staffed press at the sale, and talked to grade-schoolers about PR and opera. I also had to guard the Diva Rack with my life at the Costume Sale. Let me just say that probably aged me ten years. All those crazy patrons clamoring over Anna Netrebko's Susannah frock from Nozze....

Yes, I loved this internship because I got to PR opera. But I loved it because for four months I felt like I was part of a team again. WNO has a great internship program and the staff (from my experience) treats them as one of their own. The interns really do play an integral role in the company and I believe that the employees recognize that.

Sure there were a lot of perks that came with the internship - free tickets to dress rehearsals and performances - but the coolest perk for me was learning and seeing how an opera company operates and functions. From top to bottom, inside out, organizational to artistic and everything in between. I used to sit in the opera house thinking "Wow! It must take so much hard work to put on an opera." It does, but back then I was thinking in macro terms and only on the artistic level, which don't get me wrong is truly important - all the rehearsals, learning the music, building sets, lighting etc. - but there's more. So much more. Seasons are generally planned far in advance. And there's the money issue. Who's going to pay for it all? How do you inform and excite your audience? There are so many details and departments involved in keeping an opera company successful and thriving. The interns had an opportunity to meet with most of the department heads - Finance, Artistic, PR, Development and Special Events, Tech, Costumes, Production - and get a peek into their world and their role in the company. It was so cool to see how each department is a piece coming together to make the WNO puzzle complete. Without one, the company could not succeed. I appreciate opera so much more now knowing how much work goes on - on stage and off.

Perhaps there is a chance to continue on with WNO, or perhaps not. Regardless, for four months I got to do something that I truly wanted to do and truly enjoyed for a company that I regard highly. For those four months, I had my dream job.

And so it (re)begins

Let's be honest. I've kinda sucked at this whole blogging thing. I was doing pretty good there in the beginning, but computer woes and the overwhelming-ness of wanting to put everything on here was just too much. So I ignored it all together. But now equipped with a new computer and a New Year's resolution to become a better blogger, I'm ready to give this another go. It's like a new beginning. And it starts today!

But I don't want to forget about yesterday or all those other yesterdays that didn't make it into the blog because of my neglect. So as I get going, it might be a little rough around here as I put up some past happenings. There will be no order - expect chaos and unchronologicalization.

Winter Dedication

I guess since winter insists on sticking around for awhile, we might as well bunker down with a cozy blanket, a warm beverage, and a delightlfully dreamy Strauss song. If Strauss is Renee Fleming's desert island composer, then her rendition of Winterweihe is my snow-capped moutain song. Winter be damned! You are no match for this heart-warming Winter Dedication!

Winterweihe (Winter Dedication)
In these days of winter,
now the light is veiled,
let us uphold in our hearts,
and confide to each other,
that which fills us with inward light.

That which kindles gentle ardour
shall burn for ever,
let that which tenderly binds souls,
builds bridges of the spirit,
be our quiet watchword.

The wheel of time may roll,
we scarecely catch hold of it,
lost to the world's illusions,
we would, on our island,
dedicate day and night to blissful love.