After a long weekend at the beach with warm temperatures, I feel like summer is finally here!  I guess we just skipped spring.

 

Our Memorial Day included a visit to Ocean City, MD.  We had a great time.  It's one of the few times Jessica will be able to go with us this summer.  She is off to Spain to see her Grandparents for 2 and a half weeks in July.  After that, she comes home for 3-4 days and is off to her Summer Stock Theatre camp for 2 weeks.  It will be "different" for me.  I have a lot of projects to take care of during that part of the summer.  Let's see how much I get done!

 

We had fun working around the condo, doing those chores necessary to "open up" for the season.  The family was all down and we celebrated my Brother-In-Law's 50th Birthday at "The Shark".  It was an amazing dinner and we all had a great time.  Tom and I bought new "beach bikes" and rode them around.  We got an amazing deal on the bikes  -- we got both for under $200.  They don't have gears, but hey, it's flat there.  Jessica already had a bike down there.  We walked on the beach and couldn't believe that folks were swimming.  The water HAD to be 50 degrees.

 

The BIG news is the Jessica was chosen for the Hayfield Chorale.  She was soooo excited because she really didn't expect to be chosen.  The auditions were grueling.  She made it through as one of the 7 Sopranos in the ensemble.  They chose 3 new Sopranos.  We are proud of her.  It's a big honor for a rising sophomore to be chosen.  She is stiill floating.  I'm working with the guidance counselor to get her classes worked out.

 

There are chores to be done before my tutoring students arrive.  Enjoy the day!

 

 

We became the proud owner of a brand, spanking new Ford Edge yesterday.  I have hated the van for years - it has a rough ride and drives like a long bed pickup truck, so I was happy to oblige when Tom decided he wanted to go look at the new Ford Edge. 

 

We called up my sister, who very happily allowed us to drive one.  It is sooooo smooth and quiet.  It has a double sun roof, navigation system, leather interior, heated seats and dual climate control - my side can be 80 and his can be 65!!!  We have never treated ourselves to a car like this!  I adore my Focus and our van was adequate, but this is a real treat!

 

We took it out for a ride last night and played with all the gadgets.  We are very excited.

 

Now, if I can just get Tom to quit punching EVERYWHERE we go into the Navigation system.......

 

Today is "Preakness Day".  After growing up in Baltimore and going to the in-field for years, I get a bit nostalgic.  I never bet on the races, but I sure enjoyed the fun party atmosphere!  In fact, I don't recall even seeing a horse all those years!  It looks like "Street Sense" is the favorite, but don't count out "Hard Spun".  I'll be watching the race!

 

 

 

 

Wow.  It's Finally Friday.

 

Today was busy.  I worked at Weight Watchers this morning, filling in for a friend.  We were busy!  76 members.

 

After that, me and the GFs hung out for lunch.  I live for Friday lunches.  They are my anchor! 
We went to Mike's American Grill and had great soup and salads, as well as good talks and good times.

 

Jessica is excited.   She was called back for "Chorale"!  That is amazing since she is only a rising sophomore!  We are so happy for her.  Even if she doesn't make the ensemble, this was quite an accomplishment.  She is going to a color guard info meeting on Monday.  She is excited about being part of the Marching Band Color Guard.  A good week, all in all.  Call backs for Chorale are Thusday.  It is an exercise in "blending",  which Jessica is very comfortable in doing.

 

Jessica is at Ardonna's Sweet Sixteen Party tonight.  We will pick her and her pals up around 11 p.m.   We bought a new Ford Edge today.  It is very cool!

 

Enjoy your weekend.

 

 

The show was AMAZING.  The kids did great and everyone that I spoke to really enjoyed the show.  The costumes and hair looked good and the dance numbers were energized and fun.   The storyline was also really cute.  Saturday night was the last erformance and after striking the set, I think everyone was exhausted.  They did the whole show from Audition to Opening Night in just 6 weeks.  It was well worth all the effort.

 

Today I went back to my knitting group in a bit of a funk.  The cotton stria tee is in a place where it requires concentration and none of my winter projects feels appealing when it's 80 degrees out.  After chatting with Perri and Penny, I decided to make the old standby "Simply Beautiful Tee" in Poppy.  I'm making it on size 11's so it will go fast and be really nice and soft.  I'm using Color 12, which is light to medium blues with white.  It is very textured and will be fun.  It will also go FAST.  I need a quick WIN right now.  I did my gauge (good girl!) and have about 2 inches done in just about an hour.  I'll hopefully get some knitting time this afternoon.

 

As for "Idol", I hope it comes down to Blake and Jordan.  I just can't get past the fact that Melinda is a pro.  She also just feels "too old" for me.  I love Blake and he does the most contemporary songs.  It's hard to say at this point who will go.

 

I'm also getting excited for the "Grey's Anatomy" season finale this Thursday!

 

Things are quiet here.  Jessica has an audition for the "Hayfield Chorale" tonight.  The audition piece is very hard and must be sung acapella.  Sophomores hardly ever make the ensemble but it's good audition experience.  If she gets in, she will most likely have to take Algebra II online so she can keep both Drama and Chorus in her schedule.  I wish she could drop Spanish but she needs 3 years of a language.  She is going to be a fine arts major in college so fine arts electives what's important to her.  Good thing her mom is a Math Tutor!!!

 

This is basically "catch up" week.  Lots of chores, errands, etc.

 

I think I'll go outside and enjoy this awesome weather (sunny and 80 degrees) while I wait for a repairman to come!

 

 

 

"Opening Night" is finally here.  Rehearsal ran until after 9 p.m. last night but Jessica thinks the show is "ready".  She is very excited.  She even stayed awake while I was putting up her hair last night.  Now, all the hard work is done, and we get to enjoy the performances.

 

During the Hair last night, we watched "American Idol".  Lakeisha is finally gone.  Phew.  I think Blake is the next to go.  I was just tired of seeing Lakeisha take NO advice from the "mentors".   This year's Idol is extremely lame.  Why do I watch????  I'm as bad as Mr. Tony.  I can't help myself.

 

I really need to carve out some knitting time soon.  I've just been way too tired and busy.  Maybe tomorrow.

 

Today, call is at 5:30 so it will be finishing the hair, makeup and dinner!

 

Break a Leg!

 

 

My good friend, Jean, took these amazing pictures!!!!  It was hard to pick which ones to put up on the site!!!

 

Things are crazy!  Hair spray, pin curls, setting gel, dancing shoes, costumes.......rehearsal after rehearsal.  The kids are tired but are working VERY hard.  Right now, they only see what "isn't working" rather than what "is working". 

 

I'll keep adding photos as I get them.  I just loved this one of Jessica and Cole!

 

Yesterday was disappointing.  We thought the pictures were at 3 p.m. so Jessica went to school with her hair in curlers.  We fixed her hair and it was ready to go.  The photographer had the wrong date -- the photos are TODAY.  Yes, another evening of doing hair.  At 10 p.m., the poor kid literally fell asleep while I was putting up her hair.  She kept nodding off.

 

Tonight we should have a night off from HAIR.

 

Stay tuned.....

 

This week has been consumed with preparations for "The Boyfriend".  Jessica has the part of "Nancy", which is one of the friends of the Leading Lady, Polly.  It's a great part and she was the only freshman cast in a speaking/singing role (shameless brag).  Although she would have been happy with a chorus part, she is REALLY excited to get a lead role.

 

The hair requirements for this show have been brutal.  The boys were asked to cut their hair short in the fashion of the 1920's.  The Leading Man, Matt, had beautiful long hair which is now coiffed in a short but stylish cut.  The girls on the other hand were not required to "bob" their hair, although they have to look like their hair is bobbed.

 

Jessica decided to cut 5 inches off her hair to make styling more "doable".  Hair is not my strong point so I was grateful.  We wanted to simuate finger waves without all the icky gel so we went with tightly wound pin curls.  You put them up the night before, sleep in them, and take them down before the show.  She wore her pin curl "do" to the South County High School show last night.  She was going to a sleepover cast party and didn't want to do the curls at midnight.  All the girls were wearing curlers or pin curls!  They will wear the curlers to school on show days!  Life on the stage!

 

I spent the week sewing costumes.  I finished up Jessica's dress on Wednesday.  Isn't it cute?  I finished the last of the dresses I needed to sew by 3:45 yesterday to meet the 4 p.m. deadline.

 

Today is Tech Saturday.  The kids had call at 11:00 a.m. and will be done around 11 p.m.  Pictures are Monday and Tech Week after school on MTuW. 

 

Opening Night is Thursday!

 

All I can say right now is I'm tired of hair and I hope this "do" passes the hair inspection today!