Getting used to the place

Only about half a block from the hotel is a great little place to eat, Green Apple. It is not exactly a restaurant, deli, cafeteria or shop but sort of a combination of everything. For lunch I had a veggie sandwich on dark bread. After returning from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I had fresh carrot juice, and then a bowl of piping hot chicken noodle soup. When June got in from her day with family, we went back for gelato. I'm sure going to miss it when I get back to Wilmington and have to fix my own meals.

We are staying in the Crowne Plaza. The floors go to 46 and we are on the 18th. It has an un-grand look from the street, but inside it is very nice and is run very efficiently. Our room is large and the shower is wonderful. I see why people want to live in hotels. 

I joined the teeming mass of humanity on the streets today and enjoyed the sounds, smells and sights. It almost feels as if I am outside the USA as everyone seems to be speaking other languages. Going to the museum, Julie and I took the subway. On the way back we took the bus, which was much better. We enjoyed the drive down 5th Avenue and by Central Park. I am learning how to get around. 

(Rehearsal was early today giving us a free afternoon.)

Tomorrow the focus will be on the performance. Sound check and rehearsal at Lincoln Center from noon to two, then we go back again at seven in full black concert attire for the show. We have to stand on risers. I am not too sure about that and hope I hold up ok. 

Signing off for now. Hope this makes sense.

Now it is Monday night. The performance went smoothly, and the audience was appreciative. What great fun! After it was over, the entire chorus plus others who were involved were treated to a fabulous buffet at a nice restaurant that we walked to, even though it was a long way and we didn't know where we were going! It was a noisy, joyful time!
We will head for home tomorrow. 

I am in here somewhere.

 

Singing and Eating

Today we started what we came for.

I have never sung in such a large choir! Anout half of the almost 200 are from NC and the rest from other states. Our rehearsal seats were assigned according our height, that info turned in a few months ago. I sat between another alto, same height as me, and the first bass in that row of men. I love to sing next to a bass! The director/composer was charming and funny, and it was all a blast. Afterward we walked down to a crowded Johns Pizzeria. I can't say anything good about the food, but the experience was fun. I happen to like a place called Green Apple a half block away where you can pick up healthier foods for any meal at good prices. The city streets are jam packed with people. Yesterday June and I were getting ready to cross the street and somehow lost sight of each other in the crowd, but we both found our way back to the hotel. 

NYC

What a day!

I was looking to it with both joy and dread, and now it is history.

Because of the crazy traveling plans, I wondered if I would get any sleep and if I would make it! O me of little faith. It all worked out fine, and I survived.

The thirty of us who came together arrived at the Crown Plaza Hotel between eight and nine this morning, which gave us about six hours to explore before we checked in. The hotel is in a fabulous location on Broadway, right near the theatres. My traveling partner June and I had to find some things to do that hopefully involved resting. Only about a block or two away, I spied the TKTS booth. I had not counted on seeing a play, but now thought maybe we could get one in after all. I was thrilled that we could. And they were to the Gloria Estefan story, On Your Feet, for the matinee that started at 2 pm.  It is the one I most wanted to see, if on the wild chance I could. After getting the tickets, we still had time to kill, and preferred not to be On Our Feet! We found a Cuban restaurant that served breakfast and were lazy about the time. Then we went to church. Across the street from the restaurant was an old, ornate Episcopal church that June (an Episcopalian) wanted to check out. Lucky for us, we got to sit inside for a noon service. And did I mention how cold it was in the city and how my feet were freezing? When it ended I was sufficiently warmed inside and out, and we moseyed on over to the Marquis Theatre. What a fantastic experience we had! The seats we had gotten must have been the best in the entire place! Second row (not too close) and dead center. And the singing and dancing were spectacular. Some of my favorite music! The people around us felt the same. Thankful for great seats and a stunning performance that made us feel they were putting it on just for us.  

I hope this makes sense. I am going to sleep now. 

At the moment

Right now I am having the brakes pads changed on my car. Since it was going to take a couple of hours, I brought entertainment - books, a drawing pad and pencil - but all I really needed was my iPad. Overpacked as usual! I have walked around outside a couple of times on this coldest day so far of the new season, very glad I dressed warmly when I left the house. If all goes according to plan, next week will be fun. Family time at Thanksgiving, followed by an adventure in NYC.

Here is a photo taken with my iPad outside the garage.

Entering a new era

Why did Trump have so many Americans voting for him? I think the answer is in the word Americans. We are tired of the craziness that has been forced on us the past eight years and crave sanity. So much has been terribly wrong. Trump is a well known American, brash, daring and visionary. We do not need another lawyer or politician as president. We need an experienced CEO who knows business, who has learned from failures and successes. (to quote Kipling: If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same). Someone who can hire great people who love our country to do the day-to-day work. He's hired!

a bad choice

About five weeks ago, I returned from Amsterdam. The plane hit the runway in Atlanta, and we were back on American soil. Home sweet home. But I was very disappointed at the inhumane way we were treated as we were rudely ordered and pushed  through all the required checks. Then I got to my gate for Wilmington and was even more horrified at the pure propaganda blasting from CNN on the many televisions anchored overhead. As I waited, I thought this must be how it is in Communist countries. But this is America.

Only a few days before the presidential election, and Hillary Clinton has the gall to continue her lies to the American public. Follow the money. If she wins, it will be the biggest swindle the world has known. Apparently a large portion of Americans don't know or don't care. There is a world of information out there about her and her husband who some people call Bonnie and Clyde, but we have to look past the television to learn who they really are. Deny, deny, deny is their theme. Some say they are grifters, people who build trust then steal and move on. This is their pattern. It is no wonder they never divorced because more important, they are partners in crime, and that trumps marriage. And the number of their friends/acquaintances who have died under very suspicious circumstances is staggering. Each death has a story.

This year alone, there have been several best sellers by truthful people who put their lives on the line to tell of Hillary's horrors, as well as thousands of excellent articles. But if they are not sought, if all info comes from the old bootlicking tv networks, if voters are satisfied with the lies and fantasies perpetrated on them by sycophants, or never think for themselves, America will continue the spiral downward. This one came out yesterday. http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/11/02/linda-tripp-great-clinton-con/  Her extremely extensive evildoing runs deep, deep, deep.