Month: July 2014 (Page 2 of 2)

This weight isn’t exactly falling off me, but I’m continuing in a downward direction. My official weigh in for this week showed a total loss of 11 1/2 pounds, so I have 8 1/2 until I reach my first 20 pound goal. I can tell clothes are fitting looser and Dad said he can see it in my face.

Dad reports that he is stuck right now. Still, he has lost close to 15 pounds, which certainly makes a difference in his health. I think his problem is sugar free chocolates, which have only a couple carbs each, but if you eat several, those carbs add up, not to mention the calories. I can only eat two before I start to get gas, but apparently they don’t bother him that way!

So, we continue to put forth the effort and believe we can contribute the promised 15# each by the end of August.

After tonight’s performance, I’ll have 7 trips to the Red Barn done and 7 to go. Last night, the 6th time through the music, I finally felt I had it all down. It is really a challenge for me to be playing off a part that has no vocals written in, because I’m so used to playing off a conductor’s score. But I’m getting all the entrances and where they are in my music figured out. I still have no idea what most of the soloists are singing about, since the band is so loud, but if I really cared, I could listen to the c.d. It is really rock and roll-y, and isn’t something I’d listen to for enjoyment, so I haven’t listened to it more than once and I’m not sure I made it all the way through then. Another good thing about this show is that we’re done and on the way home by just a few minutes past 10:00!

I probably mentioned that I agreed to play Keyboard 2 for Footloose up at the Red Barn. Well, tonight is opening night. It is a very, very solid show. Isaiah Jensen and Scott Jensen both have lead roles (remind you of Smoke on the Mountain, Erica?) They are both phenomenal. Emma Martin also absolutely shines in her role. You probably remember her as a very little girl, but she has turned out to be quite the singer, actress and dancer.

We have a rather big pit band, with three keyboards – John Dutmer on main piano, me on the backup sounds, like organ, string, brass, etc. and a revolving door of people on the bass part on the other one. Actually I guess we have an actual bass player one or two nights. Then we have an amazing guitar player and an equally amazing reed player, who plays flute, clarinet, tenor sax and bari sax, depending on what is called for. Then we have Jim Hurst on percussion, and he is the best money can buy. So, yeah. We have a good pit. Unfortunately we are mostly told we are too loud! I’m enjoying knowing that I can miss a note here or there and no one on stage will be the wiser. It was such pressure being the main pianist, because they count on you always playing it the same as you have before and being there for all the entrances and following if you get on the wrong verse. On Keyboard 2 I can just do my best and go home! And still get paid the same amount.

here is the link: http://youtu.be/u8il-FNCVrc

We sold out of food by 12:05 today at our brat and hot dog fund raiser. First we ran out of brats, then hot dogs, then hamburgers. We had cheese and buns left. Anyway, that meant that we could clean up a lot before the parade was even over, so we were home by 2:00. Amazing! And the weather was perfect.

I’m thinking of getting some large prints made of some of my flower photos for decorating my fitness studio and I was wondering if any of you had a suggestion of a website that has fairly decent prices on large enlargements, or even enlargements on canvas like the one Luke and Krista gave us of the family.

Here are some of my latest for your flower viewing enjoyment:

Aren’t flowers grand??