The latest Symphony project has been a concert version of an opera called "Nixon in China." It catalogs the historic event of 1972 when, yep, you guessed it, Pres. Nixon visited China. Strange topic for an opera, you say? Wait till you hear the music! It's written by the American composer John Adams, and they call his work "post- minimalist" music, meaning that there is a LOT of repetition, and steady rhythmic pulses. It's a little out there. But it's actually really fun to sing, and I think I might love it.
Click here for the Phoenix Symphony's Video preview of Nixon in China
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Cousins!
When you live far away from your beloved fam, it's SO nice to have someone you're related to nearby! (Photo credits: Ivy Stewart)
And even more fun when you're only 1 month apart in your pregnancies...
And how fun is it when your kids are only 6 months apart and become instantly inseperable?
Thanks for a fun afternoon, Kim and Boston!
And even more fun when you're only 1 month apart in your pregnancies...
And how fun is it when your kids are only 6 months apart and become instantly inseperable?
Thanks for a fun afternoon, Kim and Boston!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Print this if you're lost. Except if you need to find North.
Here is a writing sample Lizzie's teacher sent home with me tonight at Parent/Teacher Conferences. Sadly, it appears that Lizzie has inherited my sense of direction.
"Direction Hunting"
Telling the direction you're facing is actually really easy and a good habit for hiking and long trips, and you don't even need any tools! But before you start, make sure it is either sunrise or sunset, or close to one of those. Next, think of this poem; it's always handy:
'The sun rises in the East and sets in the West"
What's important about this rhyme is that it's true wherever you are in the world. If it is sunrise, look where the sun is/is supposed to be. The direction you are looking is East.
If it is sunset, look toward the sun or pink clouds. That way is West.
If you'd like to put them all together, or find all the directions, guess where you think South ought to be. If it is fall, look for a big flock of birds that are flying South. That way must be South.
North is the last direction left. To be frank, I don't know how to find North. But if you're doing all directions, North is the last direction.
Good luck on you're direction hunting!"
Yes, honey, good luck! You'll need it! ;)
And since I've teased Lizzie, I will share with you a compliment as well - her teachers love her creative writing! One said that not only does she have an excellent voice and word choice, but she is able to keep her writing focused without rambling - a tendancy of many writers her age. There you go. Who needs to know North and South when you can write stories about those places instead?
"Direction Hunting"
Telling the direction you're facing is actually really easy and a good habit for hiking and long trips, and you don't even need any tools! But before you start, make sure it is either sunrise or sunset, or close to one of those. Next, think of this poem; it's always handy:
'The sun rises in the East and sets in the West"
What's important about this rhyme is that it's true wherever you are in the world. If it is sunrise, look where the sun is/is supposed to be. The direction you are looking is East.
If it is sunset, look toward the sun or pink clouds. That way is West.
If you'd like to put them all together, or find all the directions, guess where you think South ought to be. If it is fall, look for a big flock of birds that are flying South. That way must be South.
North is the last direction left. To be frank, I don't know how to find North. But if you're doing all directions, North is the last direction.
Good luck on you're direction hunting!"
Yes, honey, good luck! You'll need it! ;)
And since I've teased Lizzie, I will share with you a compliment as well - her teachers love her creative writing! One said that not only does she have an excellent voice and word choice, but she is able to keep her writing focused without rambling - a tendancy of many writers her age. There you go. Who needs to know North and South when you can write stories about those places instead?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Scarier than a Haunted House...it's...
...Traffic School!
I know, I know, you want to hear about the kids' cute Halloween costumes, but it's Traffic School that's on my mind...
Yep, the reason I'm blogging today is to share with you my new knowledge of traffic laws and how to violate them. For example, did you know that it's illegal to honk for any other reason than to avoid a collision? I didn't, but I do now, thanks to Joe, the Master Traffic School Teacher. And did you know that in Arizona, it is perfectly legal to change lanes in an intersection??? What the? I'm going to start doing it, just because I can.
Master Joe was entertaining and lively, and provided much live footage of Arizonans breaking traffic laws right and left. We saw an (empty) car get hit by a train, a view from the Light Rail system of cars turning right onto their tracks, and red light runners that make your hair stand on end.
All this reminded me of my last time in traffic school, back in 1997. I was living in Provo, Utah, and I was about to meet Adam, but hadn't yet. We spent several hours in a musty UVSC classroom subjected to a movie titled "LEMON LAKE" - cataloging the series of poor decisions a group of kids made while taking a road trip to "LEMON LAKE." It impressed me, but probably not in the way they wanted. It left me yearning to fill a void of quality film making in my life - please let me watch a B-grade movie! Or something that got raspberries on Rotten Tomatoes!
Apparently, I must have been more impressive than "LEMON LAKE" to one traffic school colleague of mine. With his shaggy half-bleached hair and a hackey sack at the ready, he unabashedly told me during one of the many lulls of "LEMON LAKE" that he was illegally parked. Imagine my surprise when the next day, when the fog of the traffic school spell had worn off, when my roommates left me a message that "Dirk" had called for me.
I warded off any potential advances this time, (12 years later, but you do get some desperate guys in traffic school), with my Skeleton Maternity Shirt.
I know, I know, you want to hear about the kids' cute Halloween costumes, but it's Traffic School that's on my mind...
Yep, the reason I'm blogging today is to share with you my new knowledge of traffic laws and how to violate them. For example, did you know that it's illegal to honk for any other reason than to avoid a collision? I didn't, but I do now, thanks to Joe, the Master Traffic School Teacher. And did you know that in Arizona, it is perfectly legal to change lanes in an intersection??? What the? I'm going to start doing it, just because I can.
Master Joe was entertaining and lively, and provided much live footage of Arizonans breaking traffic laws right and left. We saw an (empty) car get hit by a train, a view from the Light Rail system of cars turning right onto their tracks, and red light runners that make your hair stand on end.
All this reminded me of my last time in traffic school, back in 1997. I was living in Provo, Utah, and I was about to meet Adam, but hadn't yet. We spent several hours in a musty UVSC classroom subjected to a movie titled "LEMON LAKE" - cataloging the series of poor decisions a group of kids made while taking a road trip to "LEMON LAKE." It impressed me, but probably not in the way they wanted. It left me yearning to fill a void of quality film making in my life - please let me watch a B-grade movie! Or something that got raspberries on Rotten Tomatoes!
Apparently, I must have been more impressive than "LEMON LAKE" to one traffic school colleague of mine. With his shaggy half-bleached hair and a hackey sack at the ready, he unabashedly told me during one of the many lulls of "LEMON LAKE" that he was illegally parked. Imagine my surprise when the next day, when the fog of the traffic school spell had worn off, when my roommates left me a message that "Dirk" had called for me.
I warded off any potential advances this time, (12 years later, but you do get some desperate guys in traffic school), with my Skeleton Maternity Shirt.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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