back in action?

I am slowly re-emerging from a summer of all-consuming, all-intensive language teaching. I didn't intend to take a complete hiatus from blogging, but I guess I'm not surprised that it happened anyway. I'm often overly ambitious about piling on activities, social events, and travel during periods of academic stress. This summer, I toned it down and just focused on getting through each day, trying to have a normal conversation with Dave before bed, and then sleeping! Even then, I didn't always succeed, but at least I never got sick.

But now I'd like to get back into updating this blog! I briefly considered abandoning it entirely: I've got a long and intimidating list of things to write in this upcoming semester, and the fewer distractions, the better! But I do love looking back on the record of the things I do write up, and the challenge of finding visual material to enliven that record helps me think and grow in new ways. Besides, we all need to take a break from work every once in a while!

So here's a quick catch-up on some highlights from the summer, starting with May:

The dress rehearsal for my choir's spring performance (all Beethoven) at Carnegie Hall! I've decided not to rejoin this choir in the fall (too much to do), but I'm glad I had the chance to participate last year.

U2 concert at Madison Square Garden – the band is on the near part of the stage, and the spotlights are about to come on. 

Our tenth college reunion!

 Paint Nite with Katie and Julie in Manhattan

 Dave and I recently discovered Cedarmere, the summer home of William Cullen Bryant (of Bryant Park fame). It's a little estate on Roslyn Harbor, perfect for a picnic!

And now it's on to fall. But first – Dave and I get to go on vacation! We're headed to Costa Rica for a week. More pictures when we return!

'tis the season

There are lots of fun Christmas traditions in New York, but this year, for the first time, I got to participate in one – the lighting of the tree in Bryant Park! My chorus was hired to provide festive music before and during the program.

Here I am in my Bank of America-branded hat, with our precious corporate scarves:

We caroled in small groups around the park, welcoming visitors for the ceremony. It was just my luck to be stationed right by the Wafels and Dinges stand – smelled so good, but must. keep. singing.

Although it was drizzling, a large crowd turned out for the event. There were famous people on the program – Evan Lysacek (Olympic gold medalist) skated, Ingrid Michaelson performed a set of songs, and I even learned about a new sport, synchronized skating! Here is the US national champion synchronized skating team warming up:

The best part was that I got to lead a carol sing-along from the stage with about a dozen other folks from the chorus. I've often sat in Bryant Park and enjoyed the on-stage entertainment; I used to eat lunch there regularly when I worked at 42nd and Madison. So it was very exciting to be up there myself! Eventually an ice-skating Santa showed up, the tree was lit, and the whole chorus burst into Joy to the World.

Waiting off stage

Merry Christmas season!

There's always a first time...

Last weekend, I had a new experience: I was ignored by Sasha Frere-Jones! He's the pop music critic for the New Yorker, and I've been reading his criticism for years. So it was fun to go to a New Yorker festival event that featured a conversation between him and indie singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten:

Actually, his comments weren't too insightful; he often rambled on about whatever, cutting off what Sharon Van Etten was trying to say. Go figure. How did I know that he was ignoring me? Because I stood up in the balcony at the microphone to ask a question during the Q and A session, and when he saw that there was no line at the microphone downstairs, he decided that the session was over. Alas. But here's something he doesn't know: until 2010, I thought he was a woman.

It was a delight to hear about the ideas and experiences of the musician. I hadn't listened to her music before some friends suggested we go to the show, and it's pretty good! Her lyrics are dark and sad, but sometimes it can be cathartic to listen to that sort of thing. And in person, she is humble, unassuming, and funny. All in all, a lovely experience.

La la la

A sign that life might be returning to normal: I auditioned for and was accepted into a chorus today! Life was too chaotic last year to put another weekly commitment on my plate, but now I'm looking forward to getting back into it. Even when I'm tired and cranky (and annoyed at my fellow choristers), it's still a pleasure to participate in music and use a different part of my brain.

The group is called the Cecilia Chorus of New York. It's a large group (120-odd members), and we have two performances this season, both in Carnegie Hall: a Christmas-y concert in December of Poulenc and Vaughan Williams and a May performance of Beethoven. Time to dig out the ol' black folder and hideous choir uniform, hurray!