But what made this last streak so crazy was the number of commitments I had on the weekends. Usually my “all-music weekends” (as I refer to them) consist of two or three engagements over the two days, but this time, there were many Saturdays or Sundays that I had three things lined up!  This stretch included 5 concerts and 5 shows (17 performances). It’s no wonder I got sick. And while I’m looking forward to the summer break and practicing all my instruments (and getting the bassoon up from beginner to novice level), there’s also that part of me that is FREAKED-OUT that I have nothing scheduled!

So, if you need a pit player, call me!  I drive long distances, play all the woodwinds (well, about that bassoon…), orchestrate reeds books to make one super book, and I’m very flexible with the pit setup. Need a sub? I can do that too!  I’m a great sight reader, and I like the experience subbing provides. Want to experiment with a band or group? Email me! I’m always looking for new things to play!  What, you actually need a violin? No problem, I have a C clarinet!

From Lewis Evans

This past year I have been helping out at GHS with the drama club as their Tech Director. While the first few months were a little tough, I couldn’t be prouder of the work that they have done. They are currently working on Little Shop of Horrors, which goes up May 11th-13th.

In the past few years the program has been in a decline and this year Kim Trigilio stepped up as the club adviser and we have been trying to rebuild the program. As many of you know, there have been huge budget cuts in the city. Part of way was cut was all the funding for the drama club and the productions. The club relies entirely on fundraising to produce the shows and we are in desperate need of funds. To help in fundraising to put on the show, we started a ChipIn page. I know times are tough for many of you, but if any of you could spare some money I know the kids would appreciate it.

Thank you, and I apologize for the mass email.

http://ghstheatreboosters.chipin.com/ghs-theatre-boosters-little-shop-of-horrors
ghstheatreboosters.chipin.com

Ker also made us a proper English breakfast, replete with beans, tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, eggs and bacon.

We also had Babci (Vin’s mom) and Nani (my grandmother) over the house. My brother Greg was sick, so he didn’t come up at all. Hopefully we’ll see him on New Year’s.

Nani just loves Dot, and fortunately, the feeling is mutual. Poor Nani, she’s a bit out of it with old-age dementia, so keeping up with Dot is about all she can do.  Nani didn’t stay at our house the entire day, but considering we had her here by 9am, she did pretty well for the 5 hours she was over!

Babi stayed until the very end of the day! She enjoyed our Christmas breakfast, the cinnamon buns Kerri made in the afternoon, and then the pork roast, lasagna and cannelloni Vin and Kerri made for dinner. I made 2 kinds of cheesecake, which Babci enjoyed with her wine.

Next up: New Year’s Eve! We’re having a Hobbit Day during the day, our annual Chinese food marathon for the evening, and Tim’s parents over on New Year’s Day.

I have really great holiday music.  In addition to the Time-Life Treasuries (who doesn’t have them!?), I have “Best Carols 100” which has some awesome choral work on it; “Broadway’s Carols for a Cure Vol. 12” from 2010 (one day, I shall get them all!), The “Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice” (which a co-worker gave me and I love!), and “Karolju: Christmas Music” (probably my favorite holiday CD), which includes composers Christopher Rouse, Witold Lutoslawski and Joaquin Rodrigo. I also have albums by various singers, such as Josh Groban, Amy Grant, Sarah Brightman, Celtic Women, and Jingle Dogs (Dot’s favorite)! Then there is all the instrumental music, such as The Nutcracker, brass groups, jazz groups, and a really pretty album “A Christmas In The King’s Court” which features Celtic harp and pan flute. Throw in some Vince Guaraldi and Peanuts gang, and that is one incredible holiday mix of music!

• The Shepherd on the Rock (Der Hirt auf dem Felsen)
• Romanze (from Die Verschworenen)
• Erstes Offertorium, Totus in corde lanqueo

The Totus is a nifty piece for C clarinet, and since I have a brand new C clarinet, I can’t wait to play it!

In addition to these pieces, I am playing a solo piece for clarinet and piano:

• Norbert Burgmuller: Duo for Clarinet and Piano

This is a wonderful and rare piece written in 1834. Burgmuller was only 26 when he tragically died; he left behind some great music, but think of all the music he never wrote.  Of course, Franz Schubert was only 31 when he died. (Both lived less than Mozart.)

If you have the afternoon available, please come to hear the music!

I’ve never been to Fenway Park, and that statement will probably be true for the rest of my natural life. However, I have heard others say that it is one of the most beautiful baseball parks in the country. Don’t know about the park, but the sky is gorgeous!

• Sudafed at least every morning; as often as allowed when necessary. I use the CVS store brand, but only the one that you get “behind the counter”.

• Once or twice a day, a Mucinex tablet; every morning, and in the evening if I need it.

• Daily sinus rinses with NeilMed Sinus Rinse.  I used to do it twice a day with 1 packet of saline, but now I do it once a day with 2 packets.

• Four capsules of echinacea a day. Natrol makes one that is corn-free.

• Daily use of fluticasone propionate nasal spray, especially in the late afternoon when my sinuses are tight and stuffy.

• Avoid allergy triggers like hairspray, perfume, and cleaning products. These products seem to cause the allergy reactions in me that lead to sinus issues.  Kind of obvious when you think about it.

• Sleep! I make sure I get as close to 8 hours of sleep a night as possible. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people that can skip sleep and still function, let alone get run down and sick.

• Use a humidifier in the bedroom at night. We have hot air heat (as opposed to electric), so our rooms get very dry. The humidifier works wonders.

With this strict regime, I now get only one or two sinus infections a year. What a relief! Sinus infections are not only painful, but I am very limited as to what antibiotics I can take. Not to mention that my doctor’s office has a policy of making us wait 10 days from the first symptom before they will prescribe antibiotics. While I completely agree with that policy, being sick for 10 days (or even a week if it clears up on its own) is pretty rotten!

I wonder if William Shatner would still have made this if he knew YouTube was coming…

The album has 4 more unique sounding pieces like this one.  I bought the last one at Amazon, but more are available from CD Universe.

Some of them are quite ironic. California with the dirtiest air (I said ironic, not bewildering) and Utah with highest porn usage (and all those Mormons, many of whom are not even supposed to own radios or TVs!).

But Rhode Island with the most drug use? Washington and bestiality? (How do you even begin to measure that? never mind, I don’t really want to know.) Maine the dumbest? But I think the most shocking ones are tornadoes in Minnesota and ugly people in North Dakota. I can’t recall ever hearing of a tornado in Minnesota.  Blizzards, yet, but tornadoes? Actually, I’ve never heard that North Dakota is brimming with ugly people either.

Here’s a link to the map directly. Maybe you’ll learn something too!