A Concert...

I went to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's year-end performance. Their conductor is Salvador Brotons, who lives in Spain year-round, and comes in early for his concerts. I've been to the last 3 - and this one ... by far... was the best.

He has as guest performers a mezzo-soprano, Angela Niederloh, for the opening half, where she sang with the orchestra in Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) - He had as a mentor Aaron Copeland - both of these men are my favorites ...

... and I want to add another favorite ... Salvador Brotons ... the second half of the program started with a Catalanish (Spanish) group named "Cobla de Cambra de Catalunya" ... 11 men who placed these intruments -- 2 Tenoras (a very long, belled, double-reed oboe-ish instrument); 1 Flabiol (a very small flute-like insrument, but with a reed, played with one hand); 2 Tibles (a smaller Tenora-like insturment without the large bell); 2 B-flat Trumpets; 1 Trombone; 2 Fiscorns (a double french horn/small tuba like brass); 1 Double Bass ... Groups like this play in the streets of Barcelona on the weekends for the pleasure of the crowds. They have a conductor, and they played about 6 pieces for us before the closing piece.

The principal player & composer, Jordi Molina, who plays the Tenora (a tenor shawm, or high-pitched tenor oboe) also played a featured solo part in the final piece, Catalanish Concerto, composed and conducted by Salvador Brotons, and which premired today in the USA. It was simply one of the most beautiful, exciting and peaceful 3-movement pieces I've ever heard. What an exciting day...

For new subscribers to the 6-concert season, you get a 50% discount if purchased in the next 2 weeks....guess what I'm purchasing !?!? ($78.00 for 6 great concerts - oh yeah!)

Before...

Okay - here's a list of things to do before June 29th...and hopefully in this order (or something like it, anyway) The important thing to do is get all this done before the shipment from Singapore is delivered to my house - it's already in port waiting clearance from customs:

1) Finish clearing out of the 'blue room' of the few remaining things of Tim& Liv's
2) Organize what's left in the 'blue room' (that would be my things, in boxes)
3) Empty all the other boxes out of my bedroom and put them into the 'blue room', leaving just my bed (which needs a new mattress), my desk and my dresser
4) Re-organize - again - all the things in the shop and make room to put more stuff in there

Then, the next step:

5) Make sure that all of Tim & Liv's things are in the front of the shop for easy removal for when they head out for Florida (approx June 29th)
6) Make a single spot for all of Bryan's things for his easy removal
7) Consolidate the rest of the stuff, mostly which is still Gg's and Manda's things (mine are organized along the shelves mostly, from when I lived in Singapore)
8) Put what boxes don't fit in the 'blue room' in the shop along the furniture and things that I am keeping
9) Tim and Liv are almost done packing their non-essentials - whoo whoo!!

And we really only have this Memorial Weekend to do it, among a full schedule of fun activities

Wish us LUCK!

American Idol Rewind & "So You Think You Can Dance"

I think all of the top 4 will get their contracts! They're all super!
Go Kris, Adam, Danny and Allison!!

Tonight starts my summer TV addiction! I love to watch the talented dancers - as long as they're modest in movement and costume - yeah, right!

They're still amazing :^)

Adam! Kris! Adam! Kris!

augh!! who's gonna' win??


I think it's going to be.........



..........Adam.......



well, I missed :(

I did the "spin" class today??

I think my legs will break, wobble and break off - ugh! I'm taking the ramps as school today - going down the stairs is to dangerous :-(

My English Paper -- GRADE :^)

I don't want to include my whole paper (it's 5 pages long) on the blog - but I will put down the whole comment from my instructor --

"I enjoy the way you interweave all the pieces of this essay. The Clark's story provides a nice framework - inspiration for the rest of us to wake up and take action. Your own personal story works well in this context: explaining the way we have lived for so long and showing what caused you to start making changes. Informative, thought- provoking, and ultimately persuasive."

Grade:?? 30/30 - A

(My first essay got a 29/30 - A, also) hehe :^)

Not Snow ??? mid April

A good hail storm that lasted about 15 minutes; left a remnant of winter...

Check out the other entries below - there's a couple more new things to look at :^)

Spring is in the air -- well at least this day it was ;-p

Perfect weather - perfect fun!

family time is the best time!
I know you can't see the little buggers, but when Tim lifted a rock up out of the garden...he unearthed an ant colony - they were scurrying by the thousands to protect their babies...

more fun!
Isn't this beautiful :^) Can you feel the beautifulness of it???

Birthday Boy :)

My boy turned 26 recently -- it was a fun day!

The Blazer's didn't win tonight and lost the division title -- sorry Georgie :-(

wonder if he won anything?

love!

I gave him this card - it plays the "chicken dance song" when you open it - it's the song that plays in Georgie's head when nothing else is occupying his great expansive mind ;-p

sharing a moment with Jules

More Pictures

Cool colors, 'eh!?!? Julian did the artistic looking ones - he's very creative :)

Dad helping Jules

Nana getting her hands in for a couple of dark eggs

and then back to homework...what else are kitchen tables good for, anyway? hehe :)

and more homework :-) I'm doing well and having fun, besides

Some Pictures

Gorgeous tree across from my neighborhood

In a neighbor's yard

Tristan Angel-face at the LDS Easter Presentation over a 3-day period - this was one of the inter-active things for the kids to do

The boys are playing in a wheat-tent

Trissy and I went to Heaven to see Jesus

I can't find it!! -- FOUND IT!

Pictures soon :^) :-p

I can't find the cord to the camera so that I can down-load and put up some photos of the past couple of weeks...

Yeahyeahyeah :-):-):-)

Well...it's done :^)

I've just finished my 2nd Essay - an argument paper - on the needs for more small farms...I will let you know what my grade is when it gets returned later next week.

In the meantime, I've registered for Summer Quarter - ENG 102 (1 large paper for the term) and Math 090 (then one more, 095) before College Math (100+).

Tim & Livvy will be moving to Florida sometime at the end of June or early July, so this will keep me busy and not as lonely as I might be otherwise...sniff...Dooooonnn't gooooooo..........

I also finished reading the Twilight series, again...it's better the 2nd time around :-p

...And the Church Roadshows are done!! Tim and Livvy are very happy about this...they had a GREAT time writing the script, directing and choreographing the show, but it was long and hard and FUNFUNFUN but 'it's done'...They won the "Best Choreography" award (done by Tim to Michael Jackson's Thriller) and Livvy got a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers as a gift! the show was awesome, by the way :~)

Food??

Okay - here goes....My English instructor has had us reading many essays and articles on...

** environment & industrialization
** ecology
** fast food vs 'slow food' (never heard of that!? - me neither!)(decades old!)
** The Transition Movement (started in England decades ago)
** Permaculture (Tim added this one- started in Australia decades ago)
** CSA's (thanks Lynnette and Melissa)
** Oil, gas, coal depletion
** Wind, solar, hydro and nuclear power options
** Suburbia (taking last of the good farm lands)
etc etc

I'm interested; I'm reading and studying; the Stake has us planting (for food and family-time)

All of these things are pointing towards Americans taking a careful look at the food we eat, where it comes from, whether or not it's actually healthy, how we eat (and how much!) - who tells us how , when and how much we should eat (government?)...as a country and as a culture, we WILL have to learn how to grow our own food, cook our own food and we WILL have less of it -- and all that's a good thing!

Anyway, my interest is peaked - I'll keep you posted :^)

YEP ! :^)...

Just a new 'face' :^)