A nice November week, even with a cold

Have you ever driven down the road in the middle of a leaf flurry?  Steve and I did this morning.  It was pretty fun.

This week started off bright and early Monday morning in a seminary class room.  I am now a substitute seminary teacher – I know, I know, I was needing more to do in my life, right?  It was a pretty easy gig –a class of six students and only four were present that day.  And, all four were pretty subdued – fairly typical, I suspect.  So, it went well but it DID throw a kink in my usual morning routine.  So did Friday’s Rock Bridge orchestra’s quartet gig at a big state-wide teacher meeting.  We all had to be at RBHS by 7:00 a.m. so the kids could play background music for 45 minutes.

Some home-improvement activities lately.  Steve and I cleaned the garage last Saturday and have been dropping unused/unwanted items off all this week at the curbside for trash pick-up, or to Hazerdous Waste disposal, or Habitat for Humanity, or Second Chance, or Goodwill.  We WILL park both cars in the garage by Thanksgiving, by gum.  AND, I resumed painting – I STILL had to paint the downstairs hallway and the three remaining doors (studio, bathroom, pantry)that were not done when the sports room and Noah’s Ark room were painted in June.  Got that project done Thursday/Friday.  Now, all I truly have left are the bedroom-sides of the quilt room and family history room doors upstairs.  I plan to do those this week.  Again, Thanksgiving is my self-imposed deadline for completion. 

Speaking of house.  Remember that our house has a shifting problem?  And that we decided to NOT pursue a 30K+ foundation repair?  I am SOOOO glad we made that decision because in the last six months our front door stuck and now it doesn’t and our back door couldn’t be locked and now it can.  Go figure.

Steve and I attended Rock Bridge’s fall musical, Seussical, on Friday night.  We went partly because I got two comp tickets and partly because I wanted to support my orchestra students in the pit and on stage and partly because Bryce Lafond had a lead role as Horton.  And, I expected a typical high school-quality performance:  out-of-tune pit (especially trumpets), average singers, cutting-out microphones, and awkward acting/dancing.  Well, was I completely surprised!  It was an amazing production from stellar pit (well, they DID get a ringer to play 1^st trumpet – a band teacher at OJHS) to fabulous singing/acting by all the leads (female  AND male) and the entire cast.  Bryce has a wonderful voice.  The girl who was the Cat in the Hat was Broadway-level good.  AND, all the microphones worked ALL THE TIME!   In spite of a rather random plot, we were entertained and impressed.  

Finally, we went to the temple yesterday and then joined Emily and Joe and kids in Historic St. Charles for an hour or so of just wandering.  Here are a couple of photos….

 

Two very intense weeks

I am going to get music stuff out of the way right now – As you know, my poor cello – Gertrude – had to have a new bridge fitting.  Then, less than a week later, as I was tightening the end-pin screw at the beginning of a Civic Orchestra rehearsal, the threads completely stripped and I could not keep it tight. Back to Tom Verdot’s it went.  Works like a dream now. 

Civic Orchestra had their first concert of the season last night.  It went very well – we played Schumann’s Fourth Symphony and then a new work that was described by our principal horn player as morse code for orchestra and she pretty much pegged it.  Our final work was the Bartok piano concerto which was 30 minutes of insanity for the pianist and the winds and brass.  I will never purposely listen to that work ever again in my life but last night, I was in awe of the brains and skills involved in playing and conducting that piece.  Ridiculously difficult.  

Back mid-October, I had my fall orchestra concert at Rock Bridge and six students didn’t/couldn't attend for various reasons.  So, their make-up assignment was to perform at Candlelight Lodge this afternoon.  I selected a few simple duets and we entertained the residents for about thirty minutes. 

 

 I had my fall studio recital yesterday afternoon here at the house.  The size of my studio has dwindled this past year and some my students are currently working on their orchestra music rather than solo works so I had only four perform at the recital – short and sweet. 

Finally, last Monday was the all-city instrument extravaganza where all the 5^th graders are bussed to Jesse Auditorium to listen to  the band and orchestra instruments prior to attending the Try-Me-Out nights so they can choose which instrument they want to learn next year in 6^th grade.  Two of the members of Prairie Strings are string teachers so we asked the two who are not to join us and we played Harry Potter excerpts to a VERY appreciative group of 10 year olds.  Let’s hope it boosts the orchestra numbers next year!  Two of my evenings last week were then spent helping an endless line of ten-year olds try out the string bass.  SO EXHAUSTING!  Holding the bass with either my raised right or left hand at all times to make sure it doesn’t fall, asking every parent “do you have a vehicle that can transport a bass?”  “Are you prepared to pay $70 per month to rent a bass?”  Ugh.

 OK, music stuff is now done….

The truck had to get a new starter.  Sarah borrowed it Tuesday to move her old twin bed out  and it died in the driveway at the Lamb’s.  Dad and I went out that dark and rainy night hoping all it needed was a jump start but, alas, it needed a tow truck and $455.00 of repairs. 

Emily and I went to Wisconsin last weekend.  She has two friends in the Milwaukee area – one who just had a baby – and I have a cousin, Charlotte,  whom I had never met, in Portage.  So, we packed up her little Honda  and Quinn and headed on up.  It was a beautiful weekend to travel – the peak of autumn colors for most trees – and we had a great time.   We stayed with Charlotte and her husband, Fred, Friday night and had a great Saturday morning visiting.  

Fred and Charlotte Reckling, me

Quinn on our trip (notice his Linus shirt)

 We got a hotel room for Saturday and visited Samantha that night, went to the Brookfield Ward Sunday morning and then visited Stephanie after that.  We got to St. Louis around 9:00 and I was so tired of driving that I just stayed in St. Louis and got up at 5 a.m. on Monday to get to Columbia in time to pick up my cello from repair and head over to the Instrumental Extravaganza.

 

Finally, the most important news is our dear Alfred.  He really fought a good fight and the veterinarians at Noah’s Ark Animal Hospital were so great – they all loved him and wanted him to get better just as much as we did.  We gave him many chances to heal and he just kept pulling out his catheter.  Who knows if he had kept it in long enough for his urethra to stay opened but on Friday morning, even the vets said that it was time.  Steve and I were able to be with him as he passed.  And we buried him in our back yard yesterday morning.  We still have Littlecat – I am changing her name to LC or Elsie – and I will still try to find a home for her, if I can. 

 

Even though he was not feeling well, he still looked so handsome. I loved that very fine cat!

October

Well, like so many others, I have BO (blogging overwhelm) due to the length of time it has been since I last made an entry.  So, I will just dive in

I last wrote about Hawaii.  Since then, the entire month of October has happened! 

The first week, we had Rod and Karen Smith over for dinner on Friday– they are such great people.  And, we had a fabulous Saturday and Sunday of General Conference.  How can you top such a weekend?

The second weekend, eight of my Rock Bridge students played in a double quartet for wedding of the principal of our school, Jen Mast.  

 

 It was outdoors at her parent’s farm east of town and the weather was picture perfect.  

 

 And, I was completely surprised when Jenna McAllister and her parents walked up to me as the kids were tuning up!  Jenna (can’t remember her married name) played on the RBHS basketball team with Jen in high school.  She flew all the way from Italy to be at this wedding!

Before the wedding, Steven joined dad and me on a shopping trip to the Amish. 

 Oh, it is such a fun store to explore.  They have a gluten-free section and  their bulk candy and spice prices cannot be matched anywhere.  They do not have electricity so the store is a bit under-lit.  And, the family who owns and runs the store live above on the second floor and it is always fun to hear the tromping of little feet running all around.  I love going there.   

this is how the store building looks

Amish vehicle

 Another highlight of that Saturday was a celiac carry-in at noon.  The attendees were few in number and the food was ho hum – either because some of the dishes were not only gluten but also egg and corn and dairy and pretty much everything else-free which equals taste-free OR the cooks were not very good.  But, it was good to hob nob with my fellow celiacs for a bit.

The third week was a doozy because I had two BIG EVENTS to carry-out.  Rock Bridge Orchestra’s first concert of the year was on Thursday, the 17^th.  Of course, we have been preparing since the beginning of school but concert day is always crazy.  First, we rehearse in the Performing Arts Center which means setting up 54 chairs and stands, stuffing programs, addressing any last minute glitch in the music.  Then, I have to go home, get in my concert black, eat something, and dash back to the school in time to help the boosters (Friends of Rock Bridge Orchestra) get refreshments set up and tune instruments.  And, then the concert –which I programmed too much so it lasted over an hour and a half (we DID have an intermission in the middle). By the time I was conducting the last page of the last piece, I was SO READY to be done. 

 The second big event overlapped the concert – Julina, Alex, and Imogene arrived Thursday afternoon from Indiana for their open house the next evening.  So, early in the week I went shopping for decorations and refreshments.  We kept it simple, thankfully, so shopping wasn’t too ridiculous.  Emily and Joe and family arrived Friday morning.  We set up the cultural hall after my class at Lange (yay for not being an A-day and going to Rock Bridge).  I was a little disappointed with the attendance that night but, hey, we have a year’s supply of ice cream in our freezer now.   

Noah and Lucy helping with the set-up

No receiving line!  Juli and Alex just visiting on couches with the guests.  As you can see, it was very casual.

 Because it was a simple décor, take down was fast and we were all in bed by 10:30 so we could all leave in a timely manner on Saturday – Emily and gang at 7:30 to be at the First Congregational Pre-School Fall Festival by their start of 10:00, Julina and gang at 8:00 to get back to Greenwood, and Steve and me at 8:15 to meet the Southerlands at the Fall Festival (well, we picked up Lucy but left Joe with a napping Quinn and met Emily and Noah at the event).  

 

 

Lucy was courageous enough to take a donkey cart ride

  

We only stayed until noon because there was a stake presidency/high council temple session at 1:00 that we attended.  But, we returned to the Southerland home afterward for hanging out and a chili and cornbread dinner before driving back to Columbia.  Because, Sunday, Steve had to speak in Moberly Ward and I had to speak in the Macon Branch.  Wow, I am tired just re-reading this paragraph!

Last week had a few out-of-the-ordinary events (who wants to read about Lange, Rock Bridge, private students, CCO, and church all the time???) First, on Tuesday, I was interviewed about the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra) by Paul Pepper in his new radio show called “Radio Friends” (his television show, Pepper and Friends, was cancelled a few years back) that airs every morning on KBIA.  The show will air on Wednesday, October 30^th.  And, I think anyone can access either a podcast or a vodcast of the show through KBIA’s website.  Check it out.  On Wednesday, dad and I actually went to a movie!  On Beckie’s recommendation, we went to see “Gravity” in 3D.  Wow, it was an incredible movie.  Well worth the effort to see on the big screen and worth the 3D price.  Thursday, I had a doctor appointment and a haircut.  And, Sadie broke my cello bridge that evening during a lesson.  She was lunging for Littlecat and knocked over the cello and SNAP!  Thankfully, Tom Verdot, our local luthier, answered my frantic phone message the next morning and I dropped the cello off twenty minutes later. By the time I finished teaching at Rock Bridge, it was done.  Whew – especially since I had a wedding the next day!  Dad and I made another quick trip to St. Louis to attend the Southerland’s ward Trunk or Treat Friday night, stay overnight with them and go to the temple Saturday morning.  

 

We had to return from St. Louis by noon so we could attend an RTO rehearsal and then I had the wedding out at the winery by the river.  What a view, huh?

   We came home at noon to a very sick Alfred.  Although, we didn’t know how sick he was at the time – he was just barfing.  But, as the afternoon progressed, he got sicker and sicker so that when I returned from the wedding, both dad and I felt his condition was emergency status and we called the vet.  She agreed – he had a blocked urethra and x-rays showed a bladder four-times the normal size with kidneys also enlarged.  We left him with her and immediate surgery. He had to have oxygen during the surgery because his lungs were also bad (he was mouth breathing – a bad sign) and the vet really didn’t think he would make it through the night.  He did, however but he is still not out of the woods.  There may be extensive kidney damage and possible muscle damage to his urethra to the extent that he cannot urinate on his own.  So, the next couple of days will tell.  Until then, he is staying at the vet.  

OK, that was long.  Most of you who read this also follow me on Facebook so you saw the video I took of the mass leaf drop from our big tree out back.  Well, it is now completely bare – in 24 hours!  

Check out my bonsai maple all decked out in red....

 

Hawaii

Wednesday, Sep. 18                       Our intention was to leave at 5:30 for St. Louis and a night stay-over with Emily and family.  But, as I pulled into the garage after teaching at Rock Bridge (and pulling off that afternoon the first ever flash mob done at the school – the orchestra played Viva la Vida), in trotted Trissy from the street covered in black slimy mud.  Obviously, she had managed to get out of her collar that was attached to the tie-out in the back yard and she made a visit to the pond in the park across the street.  SO, she had to be bathed before we could leave.  Thanks, Trissy.  That set up back a half hour but we arrived in time for Emily and Joe to catch a movie out while we watched a movie in:   “The Impossible”.  Not the best movie to watch just before flying to an island surrounded by ocean, I admit.

Thursday, Sep. 19                            Our plane departed at 1:30 so we had the morning to spend with Emily and the two youngest.  Steve stayed home so Quinn could sleep and Lucy and I accompanied Emily to a photo shoot at Noah’s former pre-school.  Lucy and I played with toys.  Our flight, first to Los Angeles and then to Honolulu was fine.  We flew over a part of the Grand Canyon, we think.  

 

"Into Darkness" was the movie- I loved it a second time.  Beckie greeted us with leis.  That really tickled me because I can remember as a little girl hearing about people all receiving a lei as they departed their plane.  Of course, this was in the sixties when airlines were a WHOLE lot more accommodating to their guests.  So it was really special that Beckie remembered that little detail.  She also had a yummy dinner waiting for us back at her apartment .  And, she gave up her very comfortable queen size bed for us to sleep in all week.

Friday, Sep 20                                    Here is the view from her lanai (or balcony).  

 

 They are REALLY close to the art museum café and you can see the tower that sits next to 53 from her window.  It is a small apartment but really nice.  It has a washer and dryer, a dishwasher, and air conditioning.  Parking is provided but you have to go down the driveway of doom to get to the garage.  

 

 This picture does not do it justice.  Steve estimates it to be a 70-degree angle.  Our first order of business on Friday was to rent a car for us to use.  It took us a bit to find the rental office which was tucked in a random location on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus.  We visited the Honolulu Museum of Art and had lunch at the café where both Kyle and Beckie work.  

 

 

 

Delicious food, fantastic service.  Home to nap and, when Beckie got off work, we went to a nearby beach for a quick swim.  

 

 

 Home to get a picnic dinner ready and we went to another beach to eat 

 

and watch the fireworks that a hotel in Waikiki has every Friday night.   

 

 

We had a brief visit with Jared Seibert 

 

 who is an ear,nose, throat doctor in the Army and stationed in Oahu.   

Saturday, Sep. 21                             Beckie took us to a farmer’s market that was swarming with busses of Japanese tourists.  We got breakfast there and admired all the beautiful flowers and produce for sale. 

 

 

Then, while Beckie and Kyle worked, Steve and I drove to the northeast part of the island and Laie where the temple and BYU-Hawaii are located.  Beautiful drive, beautiful temple, beautiful campus.  

 

 

  We connected with Chad and Cynthia Compton who we knew back in the late eighties when they were living in Columbia.   

 

 They are both professors at BYU-Hawaii and we had a great visit with them and went out to a nice restaurant for dinner.  

Sunday, Sep. 22                                                Beckie lives in the Makiki Ward that meets in the Honolulu Tabernacle that was built in 1941, just before Pearl Harbor.  

 

 The chapel is enormous – maybe you can see how large the choir loft is.  There are TWO cultural halls.  And the Christ mosaic with the reflecting pond in front is magnificent.  

 

 

 After lunch and nap, Beckie took us and the dogs on a drive around Diamond Head.  Beautiful beaches everywhere we went.

 

 

Monday, Sep. 23                              Beckie, Kyle, Steve, and I all spent the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center – back in Laie.  It was a great experience.  It is divided up by the various islands and we visited many of them- Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand.  We watched the canoe pageant in the afternoon.   

 

 

We had the luau dinner in the evening.   

 

 And, by the time for the evening show – the BIG EVENT, we were so weary that we only stayed for the first half.  I guess there is only so much dancing and fire twirling and drumming we could handle.    

Tuesday, Sep. 24                              We relaxed and took the dogs to a gorgeous beach on windward side.   

 

 

 

On the way, we stopped at an amazing lookout.   

 

Many Japanese tourists LOVED the poodles.  Here is some random guy holding Max!

 

 At the beach, little squalls would blow in and blow away with bright sunshine in between.  It was windy enough that day for the wind-surfers to be out.  They were quite fun to watch.  Then home to bathe (dogs included),

 

 nap, and then out to dinner at a hamburger place called The Counter (offering gluten-free burgers!!!) and to Barnes and Noble to buy Brandon Sanderson’s latest book for me. 

Wednesday, Sep. 25                       Our first stop was to the famous  swap meet held at Aloha Stadium.  It was there I found my purple mumu and most of the souvineers we brought back.  We tried to visit Pearl Harbor right after but couldn’t get tickets until 2:30 so we did a bit of other shopping the rest of the morning, went to the apartment for lunch and a nap, and then back for an afternoon at  Pearl Harbor.  So glad we went – it was really a meaningful experience to see the film and take the boat ride out to the Battleship Arizona memorial.   

 

 

We had take-out Thai food for dinner and we watched “ What’s Up Doc” (Kyle’s first time to see it!)

Thursday, Sep. 26                            We hiked up to see Manoa Falls in the morning.  Beckie says that parts of Jurassic Park were filmed there – not surprising.  It was very primeval.  Very green and lush. 

 

 

  It wasn’t a tough hike, just a bit muddy from recent rain.  We carried umbrellas just in case it started to rain during our walk but it never did.  It rained on others parts of the island, though, and we were afraid our last day at the beach would not happen, but, it is often the case that the rain clouds will hang out over the mountains and the beaches will be bright and sunny and so it was at the beach at Waikiki where we spent a couple of hours in the afternoon.  Before dinner, we watched a co-worker of Beckie and Kyle’s from the museum restaurant do taiko drumming in her class. 

  It was really fascinating.  Then, we ate seafood at a restaurant called Uncles that was located right on the pier.  Yum.   

  

Friday, Sep. 27                                   We had to wake up bright and early to catch our 7:30 flight to Los Angeles.  In-flight movie was “Monsters University”.  American Airlines doesn’t have the small movie screens located on the seat back in front of you.  They have screens on the ceiling over the middle aisle.  If you happen to have a window seat, you can only see half the picture.  Dumb.  So, Steve didn’t even try to watch the movie.  He read and slept.  After landing at LAX, we rented a car and drove to Newport Beach to the hotel where my 40^th high school reunion was being held.  It is about 30 miles south of LAX.  Only, on a Friday afternoon, the trip took us almost an hour and a half.  UGH.  Fortunately, the luxury of the hotel helped to sooth frazzled nerves and it was wonderful to connect with three of my friends from high school days.   

Susan Getz Lyon, David Palmer, me, Susan Lendroth

We were part of a group that always ate lunch together.  Sadly, the others could not make the reunion. 

Saturday, Sep. 28                             We had breakfast with my reunion friends before our drive back to LAX – which took only 30 minutes this time.  Our flight was delayed, however, due to navigational issues with our plane so we had to wait three hours for another one to be available.  Flight home was uneventful.  We had a short stop to see the grandkids in St. Louis before driving home to arrive at 11:30 pm.  The end of a MOST AMAZING vacation.