Jack played in the pit orchestra for their spring musical: Sweeney Todd. He did an amazing job with the difficult score by Sondheim. He grew so much as a musician due to the rigorous rehearsals and extended playing time. He also helped build the sets when he had spare time! The kid lived and breathed Sweeney Todd for several months!
Tech week dinner break - I volunteer to cook and serve a few nights. Snuck a pic of my boy.Lots of practice at home in addition to rehearsals. Double the shirts!Double the credits on the mural!Spying on him beforeI made bloody keychains for all the pit people. They are so underappreciated and they did so good!Seeing it again with Amanda, Andy, Ben, and SamUncle is not as afraid to embarass his nephew.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXuvgmkNL3U
Here's the ending outro that they played after bows - my only chance to sneak some live video without being totally uncouth!
Seriously, we are super impressed with Jack's dedication and improvement with his musical journey. What a kid!
This spring we completed a huge house project that I've been meaning to do literally since we moved in 12 years ago. Our master bathroom was dreadful. Skinny, mold-prone shower. Scalloped edge sink that was hard to clean. Woefully out of date brass fixtures with mauve and gray tiles. And CARPET. The house only had carpet in the basement theater room, spare room, and our bathroom! What the heck?
I spent weeks looking for a builder and many more weeks planning the new layout. Then many more weeks shopping for the endless list of items we'd need to complete the job. I'll skip over writing out all the details and obstacles I tackled in getting this remodel finished.
The minivan proved itself over and over again while I hauled materials to the house. I'm glad I decided to hire builders instead of DIY-ing it. This project was definitely above my skill-set.
Before pictures:
That was Ben's closet. We bought a wardobe for the bedroom instead. We discovered a heating baseboard in the back of this closet! (??)
After pictures:
Same view from the bedroom.Heat lamp for after shower chillsShower replaced the closetMore spacious! (Still narrow as ever though)Three-way showerhead options, and I took out the regulator for max water flow (shhh, don't tell!)Corner shelves, moveable teak stool, safety grab barThe color in this pic is the most true-to-life - rich green with a hint of blueToilet moved slightly away from the wallCute new plants and a doctored-up photo from out Japan tripAdjustable light tones. Solid wood vanity and tower.My cool swiveling sink faucetI ultra-organized my bathroom goods.
In the end, it took exactly one month (March 3 - April 3) with the builders from demolition to finish, plus another week or so for decorating/organizing. Although the room is not any larger, the layout if much more useful and the shower is a DREAM. Each day I use the shower I appreciate how blissfully beautiful and large it is.
It's a delight every time I enter the bathroom, even months later. Hoo-boy it was a lot of work of money. I'm glad we finally did it and also that it's finally over.
Springtime means theater! I wrapped on the middle school musical "Once Upon a Mattress." The kids did very well and there were not as much drama as in some other seasons. Working with the new Music Director was a delight. Amanda got us tiaras to celebrate!
The boys both had spring concerts with their orchestra classes. I fear that I'm so behind in blogging, I'm just going to dump the videos here for posterity without further description!
My parents took me and the boys, plus Amanda and Andy, on a glorious long weekend in New York City. There were many shows and museums and snacking. Jack really expanded his theater experience. The kids have both been to NYC before but say they hardly remember/don't remember at all. Now they have a head full of memories of the sights, smells, and strangeness of that great city. We had such a wonderful time!
I'm gonna make a huge picture dump and caption just a few things. I wish we had pooled all our photos before splitting up at the end. Alas!
DAY 1: Traveling, hotel, food near Grand Central
Made it! So hot!Bryant Park, almost to the hotelDinner at Upside Pizza nearbySam ate here every day
Day 2: Meeting with Amanda, Museum of Broadway, RiseNY Musem
Jack does NOT like Times SquareOriginal Sweeney Todd music scoreI could have looked at costumes for so long!This "museum" was pretty poor, but the ride at the end made up for it and we all left in a good mood.
More Day 2: Splitting up. Me to K-town, Jack and Amanda to Hamilton, me and Sam to Central Park
Oh yeahNew album, I'm seeing them later this summer. The store was abuzz with engenes, including me.Tanghulu was as good as in Japan! I'm was hot and tired though.At every asian drink display I searched for Barley Tea. No success. Sam needed some nature timeThe rocks were funner than the playgroundOur robin friend.Animal searching in the preserveLate night dessert for all our hiking.Meanwhile :-D
Day 3: All together now! Met Musem, Show, Show, Show
I love textile exhibits. Show #1 Maybe Happy Ending. So good!Quick refreshmentWe got soaked in rain on the way to both theatersShow #2 Oh, Mary! Also great, can't believe I brought Jack to see thisMeawhile Sam went to the Spy Museum and got treats.Quick refreshment at Kochi ChickenShow #3: The Play That Goes Wrong - what fun!I insisted on going afar late at night to get Salt & Straw vegan ice cream.
Day 4: Brunch, Shopping, Show, Dinner
Pastry kiss!Pirates! A Penzance Musical - loved it, but the newbies didn't enjoy it as much as us old fans.Familiar faces about town - SoobinSeventeen lightsticks, but why?KazuhaGelato after dinnerOn the walk back we happened upon a Tony's watch-party during the Hamilton medley!French dinner all together!
Featuring Jack's Birthday, Gardens, and more Theater
The ground is brown but the blossoms are here!PhloxTulips came back!Got my concert lightband (in lieu of a stick this time)Addams Family at the DCPAIce cream breakLittle Shop of Horrors at the Denver CenterI got obsessed with Blue Prince for a whileAP test completion lunch celebration!"Race car" themed dance classDid I deliver on the costume??I chaperoned A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with Amanda's musical class. Jack's class came too.Quick work selfie while doing education modules.Yes, I am on the A.S.S. Team.Sam was recognized for Honors OrchestraGarden orach in the soupStrawberries, wild strawberries, asparagusIrisPeonyRosePoppyMy rose bush went berzerk!New tree, coming soon!Jack had a sleepover with his besties for his birthdayI love the Ray-bans from AndyStrawberry chocolate cake&Juliet with Amanda!Ramyun shop date with BenTrying out my new glass dip pen! Loaf catSkating with Sam and friendsPride month is lit in the dance studios. I liked this outfit and repeated it at the other placeThe legwarmers and garter got tons of compliments even though it was freakin' sweatyFancy Father's Day dinnerSoy curls bulgogi in perilla leaf wraps.
