Dogs, and the vet!

 

So, I had to take the dogs to the vet for their annual shots, which is always quite the ordeal.  I took them to the park first so they would have less energy when we arrived.  I always dread the embarrassing wait room antics from my dogs.  Usually, they are pulling towards some animal, or trying to lick some random person.  BUT today they got inside, and plopped on the ground, and waited,…huh, who knew.  They didn’t fuss when they had to be weighed, and here comes the best part. 

We got into the exam room, and I explained that Buddy had a history of being aggressive, and he thanked me for my honesty, and proceeded with the exam.  Buddy just stood there, and let this strange man poke and prod him for 20 minutes, and then give him two shots. WOW, no growling, squirming, nothing.  Abbey, wiggled, but only because she was trying to lick his head the whole time. 

A pleasant and uneventful trip to the vet, wow!!!  Three cheers for Dr. Alex. 

‘Penthouse” crew!! from CBDNA

The late night practice crew from the CBDNA symposium!!

Headed to WASBE

I am in London until next Monday.  After which I will be headed down to the University of Cincinnati for the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles-Conference. 

I will get to see some amazing ensembles such as: Royal Northern College of Music’s Band, University of North Texas, CCM Chamber Players, a band from Japan, and from Brazil, the New Sousa Band, and the International Youth Wind Ensemble conducted by Hunsberger, Reynolds, Frank Battisti. 

AND I will also be going to a bunch of amazing clinics, and meeting so new people.  SOOO excited. 

On the downside

MY POOR DOGGIES-I can’t find anyone to doggy sit so they may have to go to the kennel, and the vet.  They will have to get a kennel cough shot,…boo

AND-this will be kind of expensive. 

Back from Colorado

Things I learned in Colorado

• Allan McMurray, and Craig Kirchhoff are AMAZING!!
• Boulder Colorado is gorgeous
• Michael Colgrass is totally inspiring!!  His Kumi book is awesome!
• I would jump in front of a bus to save any of the “penthouse crew”
• I have learned a lot about the limitations of my body

CBDNA Symposium Day 1

ew,…. the alarm went off at 3:43 AM.  Abigail got up with me while Buddy slept,.. I am not surprised.  After some gentle prodding,.. Jennifer got out of bed to drive me to the airport.  I love you cutie pie!! I am going to miss her,… boo!

After an uneventful security screening, I completed a harmonic analysis of the opening chorale of Chester (which oddly reminded me of working on a crossword puzzle.  10 of us boarded a knuckle-dragging airplane held together by duct tap (an SF340,..for ED) for our short flight to Detroit.  The plane was loud and only a half hour long, but they still served us coffee.  Judith, our flight attendant, served me coffee, and then came back five minutes later to take it away from me because we are landing. 

Detroit is large. Again more security screenings, and bad coffee

A Series of Unfortunate Events

1)  I have to go through the security screening twice because “I didn’t do it right!”

2)  I get through the screening and then I hear my name over the PA system-“Christopher Unger, Please report to gate A30 immedietely”  When I hear this I am at get 5!  I hustle to the gate and the lady at the gate asks me to switch seats so that she can sit with her son.  Reasonable request.  I agree, so now instead of a window seat now I am in an aisle seat.  After I agree and the mother is all excited, the lady says “oh shoot, Christopher was in a premium seat, oh well, too late now.” 

3)  The lady at the airport counter’s printer is broken so she tells us to to switch seats.  I am now in 19D(with no printed ticket indicating so), and the mother is in 20D. 

4)  I board the airplane, and someone is sitting in 19D, and the mother and son are happily in 20D.  I ask the lady in  19D if she is in the right seat and she shows me her printed ticket (Indeed it said 19D).  SO!!  Now I have no seat,…. the plane is full, and I have to wait at the front of the plane, standing, everyone staring at me while they figure it out.  They eventually bump a standby passenger (split up a couple), and now I have to sit in the cramped middle seat, by the angry wife because her husband was bumped off the plane.  We left 15 minutes late because of this mix up, and I think the whole plane thought it was my fault. 

5)   Cramped flight (757 airplane), food- apple croissant  ($7), apple and cheese platter ($7), Traul Mix ($4), Pringles ($3), and M&M’s ($2), free beverage. 

6)  Arrived 30 minutes late, and then had to wait at the terminal for another 20 for a parking spot. 

7)  My bag was the 2nd to last bag to come of the belt, it took 30 minutes for it to come. 

A series of niceties

1)  After all of that, not entirely unexpected, nonsense, I had a lovely charter bus ride into Boulder.  I met a fellow symposium participant on the bus.  She is a master’s student at the University of Georgia.

2)  The campus is lovely.  I can’t wait to get out and take some pictures. 

3)  My dorm room makes UBC look like a five star hotel.  I have a bunkbed,…REALLY?,…..  Oh well, at least it has it’s own crapper. ( a small clarification, a I would usually describe this room as a bathroom, or a washroom, but only REALLY special rooms with toilets get called crappers. 

4) I have a reception at 6:30 tonight to meet everyone.  It’ll be fun I’m sure. 

5)  Tornado Warning. There have been tornado warnings here in Boulder so I have to keep my ears peeled because I might have to take cover. 

gulp,..

not ready

symposium approaching

have to get money orders

have to practice

have to get travel goodies

get everything ready for packing

do you think they will have a camera?

sigh

One week to go

One week to go and I am going to ramp up my practice and study.  I have to focus on chamber music this week.  I had a lesson with my teacher and I was on the right track with Lord Melbourne.  We tweaked a couple of things and I feel better about it.  That movement is a wee bit awkward.  I am flying to Colorado, I am staying in residence, and there is a possibility that I will get to see my mom. 

Chores and fix it list,…

Boo!! CHORES are a necessary evil!! We are doing a spring/summer cleaning and the house is starting to sparkle.  I spent 2 hours cleaning every inch of our bathroom.  Part of the time was spent fixing the lousy diy work the previous owners did.  I also put quarter round on a bunch of the baseboards that the previous owners “forgot” !

Jennifer is currently painting all of the trim in the lower floor! Talk about tedious work! She spent two hours today sanding and preparing walls, doors, stairs. 

We still have a small, but cheap, list to complete for this summer.

• finish the trim
• paint the exterior doors
• scrape paint off the light fixtures (previous owners)
• stain the spare bedroom floor
• quarter round-spare bedroom
• stain front deck
• fix/paint master bedroom wall/trim

House