National Anthem Tryout

Hannah tried out to sing the National Anthem for the Bridgeport Bluefish this morning.  The tryout was out in from of Macy's at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford.  They just set up the mike and let contestants sing, for better or worse.

5 Things on a Friday: Madness

It’s gonna be kind of a different blend of stuff this week.  The news is simultaneously boring and depressing, and on top of that, I’ve been busier than Hell.  It hasn’t been a bad week of anything, but my daughter Emma turned ten on Wednesday, and between that and a few other things, it’s been tough to find time to read, write, sleep, and think.  That’s fine, but it definitely adds a degree of difficulty maintaining the blog.

Tomorrow, One Last Time

Hannah reprised her role as Annie this weekend at her studio's fall show, probably for the last time.  I'm sad because I loved her as Annie--and also because her turn as Annie represents her first real triumph.

Hannah & Gabe "Shake It Off"

As promised, here's the video from the weekend's performance.  Our daughter Emma is the one who keeps photobombing the shot.

Weekend Update: Army Wins & Hannah Sings!

I don’t know about you, but my weekend was great.  It started Friday when I survived two near misses on my bike.  Both times trucks tried to put me into a line of parked cars along the side of the street, and both times I was able to dodge out of the way.  In the words of the immortal Hines Ward, “I always keep my head on a swivel.”

Friday night was pretty relaxed.  We ordered pizza, and eventually Sally, Hannah, and Emma went over to a friend’s house to do whatever it is that girls do when they go out.  I stayed home and watched TV, and then when Emma got home, the two of us caught up on the premier of Star Wars: Rebels.  We all still made it to bed by about ten.

Five Things: Coming Back Down to Earth

It's been a big week for my family. This is that story.

1. Annie

Watching my daughter Hannah play the lead in her school’s production of Annie Jr. this past weekend was a profoundly intense and surreal experience.  

Hannah as Annie

We worked on the play for months.  Sally took charge of props and Prop Direction while Hannah’s sister Emma ran lines with Hannah every weekend starting back in February.  The play has eleven or twelve scenes, and Hannah’s character was in almost all of them, so we encouraged all that practice.  Not only did we want to make sure Hannah wouldn’t forget what she had to do, we knew that the rest of the production needed her ready to rehearse.  Hannah also sang a half-dozen songs, with Scene Three (“Tomorrow”) essentially a solo mixed with a bit of dialogue.  

Hannah's Flowers

She really nailed it at this afternoon's show. She was awesome!  I'm so proud, I can't believe it.  Everyone brought flowers!

Tomorrow!

Five Things on a Friday: Talking to the Cheap Seats

It’s strictly low-brow this week.  Almost entirely television.  You have been warned.

1.  #CloneClub

My new favorite television show is Orphan Black.

Taylor Swift's "Fearless"

Hannah sang "Fearless" at Sunday's spring show.

Five Things on a Friday: Better Late than Never

1. The Red Skull never died.

You only think I'm dead.

I was watching Captain America: The First Avenger last night with my girls, and I noticed something.  The Red Skull doesn’t die at the end.  What happens instead is that he accidentally activates the Cosmic Cube, and it shoots him off into space—presumably to the throne of Thanos!  

I hadn’t noticed before, but I was paying attention this time because my daughter Hannah said that…

*spoiler alert*

Godzilla!

Meant to put this up yesterday, but the day itself was such a zoo that I never had a chance.

Among other things, my daughter Hannah has her first book report due at the end of the week, including an oral presentation.  At the same time, she's also got try-outs for the school play, which is a big deal when you've been taking voice lessons for two years.  So we've been dealing with an important life lesson this week, i.e. procrastination is bad.  However, we've had to handle it with kid-gloves because I don't want to risk wrecking Hannah's emotional state right before she has to perform; that won't accomplish anything positive.

The one good thing that happened yesterday was that I got out for a run at lunchtime.  Four miles in almost exactly thirty-one minutes, for a 7:40/mile average.  That is way faster than I probably needed to run, but like I said, this hasn't been the easiest week.  At a certain point, you have to balance the spiritual with the physical, and I tipped the balance in favor of fixing my soul.

Anyway, this is why I'm more than ready to see Godzilla wreck the City.

Christmas Letter, 2013

Dear Friends,

Dixie

I hope this letter find you happy and healthy this Christmas season.  2013 has been an interesting and exciting year for our family, certainly full of its share of moments worth sharing.  For one thing, our dog Dixie passed on this year, which made me sad, especially since she was the last remaining member of my family from Tennessee.  But we also welcomed a new puppy into the family, Faith, and she’s brought a lot of joy and happiness into our lives.

Lucky Star

This is my daughter Hannah singing Madonna's "Lucky Star" at RVP Studios, where she takes voice lessons.  She led off the show today, which I thought was quite an honor, and I think she did pretty well with a song that was not at all her normal kind of thing.

Pictures from Hannah's 10th Birthday

Yesterday was my daughter's tenth birthday.  We took her out for hibatchi, and tonight we have something like a dozen 5th graders coming for a Superstar-themed birthday party.  Given the chaos on Metro-North these past few days, I even took the day off, so that I could be sure to be here rather than getting stuck in the nearly five-hour commuting Hell that I went through yesterday.

Hannah, Sally, and Emma at the hibatchi place last night.
Hannah LOVES hibatchi.

Hannah Sings Taylor Swift's "Invisible"

The kids went to Star Factory camp last week.  Five half-days, and they pick a song to sing in front of their assembled peers and parents.  My older daughter Hannah chose "Invisible" by Taylor Swift.

Hannah sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow