O Divine Redeemer

Singers will understand. But, I'll try to help the rest of you.

Our neighbor Geri Suzuki left at the beginning of the year to serve as a missionary for our Church in New Jersey. She has considerable nursing, administrative, musical skills et al. Early in December she asked me to sing at her "farewell" Church service. I was happy to oblige. She eventually requested that I sing O Divine Redeemer by Gounod.

When I was a kid this was one of those songs that would make me cringe. I have since grown to be very fond of it. I remember dropping into the Stake Center for some reason or another once on a Sunday years ago and hearing a young woman sing it very well. It's nice to be able to sing the upper notes without having to belt them. She was able to.

I quickly decided to sing the version for the medium voice (goes to G). The low was easy enough. But, doesn't really showcase my better range. The high version is probably just too high. And I'm a scaredy cat, I've never sung this before. And, while it may not be the most difficult piece. I think most people who have sung it would agree that it is within about 99% of the most difficult pieces.

With my "aging" voice, if I'm not singing everyday or close to it, it's a grab bag what my strength and range will be when I try to sing. I have to practice consistently for about three weeks at least to get back up to some semblance of condition.

Anyway, I got together with Christy Anderson, who is a GEM, and practiced, and recorded the accompaniment so I could practice without her. I worked on it and fretted over it and when the time came I was in pretty good voice. It went off just fine. Actually maybe even better than I wanted. I don't have the typical Tenor voice. I have never been able to really develop my full voice above E or F. I DO have a VERY strong falsetto that, when I am in shape, can go at least to B or B#. Sometimes though while my falsetto might be doing fine, I might still have a bit of a hole in my break. I just try to negotiate it as best as possible.

A note: I have been using beta blockers when I perform solos for at least 15 years or so. While in the past there was always at least a small amount of anxiety during the first phrase or so, this time there was practically nothing. That medication is really a godsend for performers.

Sick Week

Last week Laney was out sick Mon-Thurs and I was sick on Wed and Thurs. So we had a little fun togetherness:) On the Wednesday our refrigerator was going on the fritz. We were not liking the prospect of buying a new one. This one is only 13 years old. Lenore remembered that Lane's friend Mattie's dad repairs appliances. So, I called him. He came out pretty quick and repaired the thing in about an hour. Total charge: $100. It is now working great. Funny thing. Almost since day one this fridge made some odd noises, sounded like sparks or water dripping on something hot. Well, it no longer makes that noise. He replaced a blower that he thinks shorted out. Probably has been hanging on for a long time.

Thursday evening was the time of finding lost things. It had snowed recently and Lenore remarked to me that she didn't have a snow brush in her car. I was pretty sure she really did. So, I went out in the garage to investigate. I found it under the rear seat of her Explorer. But, it was wedged under the seat really tight. So, I had to unlatch the seat and fold it down and then lift up the part on the back that covers the gap between the floor and the folded down seat. I got her brush out and then lo and behold I also found Laney's IPOD shuffle which has been missing for about 2 years and had since been replaced. Now, I know I had gotten into that space more than once to clean or get the spare tire crank thingy. We surmise that it must have just recently fallen all the way down into that area from somewhere.

Alisa had gone down to Provo for a class on their upcoming Wales Study Abroad that Jensen and she are doing. The class went somewhat late and they went to get some food afterward and had gone some other places. We got a frantic call from them saying that Ailsa couldn't find her wallet. She had it at one place and put it in her back pocket and then later it was nowhere to be found. She wanted me to see if I could see any activity on the her debit card online. Didn't see anything. They were beside themselves and couldn't logically think what to do. We told them to pray and retrace their steps. Well, they searched around their various stops for about and hour and found it back in the parking lot of the place they last used her card. They couldn't remember where they had parked so they were looking all over. Jensen saw a rectangular shape under a slight covering of snow and there it was. She's pretty blessed/lucky. Would hate to have to go through the hassle of cancelling things and re-obtaining id's.

Last time I lost my wallet was at Doheny when I was 18/19. I was glad to get it back later (a couple of weeks, I had already gotten a duplicate driver's license.) Martin Becker and I drove down to San Clemente to pick it up from the police. Of course we took the opportunity to go surfing. We hoped that what little cash I had had would still be in the wallet. No dice. We were hungry so we scrounged all through his Peugot looking for spare change and came up with something a little over a dollar and bought some donuts in San Clemente. Mmmmm.

Sock Hop Fun

Laney was very excited about this school activity. She's here in the picture with Mayor Snarr, his moustache, and his motorcycle, and some of her pals.

Kitty Poodle

This cat is the tiniest thing, thin and lean. She begs for food all the time and will aggressively compete with the three bigger household cats for anything, and come out on top. I think the Alpha-male really isn't and Bella rules from the bottom of the totem pole.

Yes our kitchen table needs to be re-finished.

Laney ready for the sixth-grade sock hop. She was really excited.

Probably Our Worst Snow of Winter 2011-2012

They wanted to try to make a snowman. Didn't get very far.

Getting Ready for Orthodontia

Yikes!

Christmas Vacation 2011

With the rate at which my nieces and nephews get married in California, we should have bought stock in SkyBlue Airlines years ago. Lauren finally chased a boy until he caught her and we had her wedding celebrations the week in between Christmas and New Years. Kim graciously offered to let us stay with them. We were planning on staying in a motel. But, were happy for her hospitality. The last time we went to Disneyland was in April of 2007. So, Lenore has been saving some money and the kids have been anticipating for a while. This time the weather was beautiful, which makes for a nice time except that everyone else in the world is there. We had reservations at the Blue Bayou and when we finished at the restaurant all of the Fastpass tickets were doled out for the day. So, we did a lot of waiting in line. I would be better at this if I ever did much walking or standing. We got to do a lot. But, would have liked to do more. Indiana Jones was broken when we were in line (again.) We saw David Boreanaz and I was going to take a picture and then I felt sorry for him. The most fun we had was on Tom Sawyer Island. I think it is now called Pirate Island. I had forgotten about the fun caves and stuff, and yes I am too tall for the caves. I am always amazed at the mass of people you see wearing silly hats and dressed in who knows what at Disneyland.

We got a chance to drop by the Aquabats! studios and see their latest project. Shanna and Christian were nice enough to give us an informal tour. It was quite interesting. This is probably the closest I will come to greatness, I was in the same room as a BAFTA award! The Yo Gabba Gabba award from 2008.

The kids inside the BattleTram!

Mom at the controls of the laboratory.

In between the temple sealing ceremony and the reception we dashed down to San Clemente to have some Cassano's pizza and walk around. We were still in our nice clothes so people were staring at us like we were David Boreanaz.

-Todd Lillywhite

Christmas Kiss

The Big Yellow One is the Sun!