Here we are at the last week of January 2023. It seems impossible for time to fly any faster than it has in years past- yet somehow it still does. I am not quite sure how we are here in our new year already. Well, actually it's quite clear how we got here: 5 Schubert performances, one trip to NYC, ski patrol trainings and shifts, and the continuous motion of daily life running underneath it all.
We finished up our Cleveland Schubert run on January 14th, with each concert more fun than the last. Such a pleasant peice of music to sing, and so well received by our hometown audience.
Celebrating with the chorus crew after our concert. Singing is such a joy in my life already-- and friends like these ladies (smart, funny, irreverent, talented humans that they are) are just the icing on the cake.
You know what else is icing on the cake right now? This hot tub. Ivy is a fan and hot tubbing has been added to the ranks of activities she and I can do together. The chemical maintenance is still a learning process for us, but so far I have no regrets about this purchase.
Just a photo of a cat and a rabbit, hanging out by a cardboard box.
And a kitten in a window.
The wet and warm start to the year has not boded well for skiing, with only Boston Mills running at full capacity and Alpine Valley closed for Nat and my first two scheduled shifts. But we did get a sublime afternoon of family ski time on my blessed Sunday off from singing.
Here's a photo of Sunny the noodle cat in one of her preferred positions.
We have successfully made a terrible mess of the kitchen and bathroom at our new tiny house. Next up: Cleaning, flooring and painting. And asking the universe to provide affordable cabinetry, appliances, a few nice exterior doors, and a corner shower stall... and maybe a little more time to work on it (something that has been in exceedingly short supply for pretty much the entire time we have owned the place).
But who has time to renovate a house when they have to run off to NYC?
Here's my view at 3pm on Tuesday (this is what sub plans for two days away look like)...
... and here's the view of Midtown Manhattan from the Starchild bar on Tuesday night.
... and the view on our walk to the Stardust Diner for breakfast the next morning..
What a hoot that place was! Definitely the most "party" atmosphere I've every experienced at 8am!
The waitstaff serenade you the entire time you are there, and the atmosphere is joyful.
It was fun to chat with some folks who are brand new to me- and to see the faces of some of my section-mates for the first time! Here are Katie and I, being twins.
And here is Carnegie Hall! View from rehearsal...
After rehearsal we went to the Chelsea Market to meet up with Mika's family.
I love the Chelsea Market, it turns out. I kind of want to live there. We had a wonderful lunch in the little heated picnic arbors.
Vegan mock-duck noodles!
Then walked the high line together.
A 55 degree sunshiny afternoon in the city? Thank you very much, NY.
Then, time to change and sing to a sold-out crowd! It was a phenomenal show, even if the stage was hot as blazes. We poured our hearts out for NY and they poured on the applause (and the lovely reviews the next day). It was just such a supreme honor to be a small part of this amazing event.
Late-night dinner at the Carnegie Diner after the show...
And coffee with one of my oldest and dearest friends in the morning.
Could I have handled a few more days in the city? Of course. It would have been grand to take in a Broadway show, and to walk in Central Park and pop into shops in Soho. But I've had that NYtime in the past, and will again. It was a gift to have even this little bit of time away from it all, to immerse myself in performance and time with my friends.
And it always feels good to come home.
Here on the home front the newest fad is chess. This board has moved in on our dining room table and Jack, in that way of his, has become both obsessed and startlingly proficient already.
A gorgeous snowfall on Sunday encouraged a day of hibernation. Sledding and cocoa with friends, then an afternoon spent making soup and muffins.
Looking foward to keeping this winter wonderland around for a while, fingers crossed.
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