Pictures from the Olympics!

My mom sent some pictures from their trip to Torino!


This was the view from their hotel room:


Mom and Dad with Mr. Mayor:


Joey Cheek carrying Mom's flag:


Walter's new Italian girlfriend: (Is that Prada she's wearing?)

Breaking Away

Yesterday evening all of the ladies in the office went bowling together, at the IU Memorial Union bowling alley. This was the same bowling alley that features prominently in the 1979 movie, "Breaking Away," but of course looks quite a bit different than it did in the 70s!

Project Runway was a little bit disappointing last night. It was an evening gown challenge, and three out of the four gowns were pretty boring. Santino's was over the top, as usual. It was pretty tense, but my (updated) prediction came true - Santino, Daniel V., and Chloe are on to Fashion Week.

My parents' Olympic visit ends today; they're flying back to Boston.

Something Lenny would do

Terrier victory!

Alright! Rufus the colored bull terrier won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club! We didn't stay up late enough to watch the judging, but heard the good news this morning.

Mom and Dad have a busy day at the Olympics today. They've already been at the Women's Downhill Alpine Skiing, and later they're going to a USA men's hockey game, vs. Latvia. The hockey game will be on USA at 3 p.m. EST, and the women's downhill will be aired during prime time on NBC. Yesterday they got to see the USA women's hockey team beat Finland.

My busy rehearsal schedule starts tonight, immediately after work. I have rehearsal today, tomorrow, 3 rehearsals on Saturday, 2 rehearsals and a performance on Sunday, 2 rehearsals on Monday, 2 concerts on Tuesday, rehearsal on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and then another concert on Sunday. Then I can relax a little bit. Chuck met with the soloist for this weekend's ad hoc concert, Jose, and it seems like their rehearsal went really well. It should be a good concert this weekend.

Happy Valentine's Day

We stayed up late to see if we could see my parents on television last night. Unfortunately, they showed Joey Cheek right AFTER he got the flag from the audience, so we didn't see them. Mom reported today that they met the Mayor of Torino outside of City Hall and got their picture taken with him.

Rufus the bull terrier was the big upset winner last night at Westminster in the Terrier Group. (We were flipping stations back and forth. Lenny wanted to look at the terrier bitches!) A fun doggie fact - the wire fox terrier is the breed that has won the Westminster Kennel Club "Best in Show" the most times.
We just learned that a PetCo store is going in less than a block from our apartment. Lenny and I will be able to walk there! Chuck is afraid that we will soon be buried in squeaky toys.

And in case anyone was wondering, I'm now playing piccolo on the Camerata concert. (I only have to sit next to the annoying girl for one piece.)

Olympics Update!

My mom sent the news from the speed skating rink - USA won the gold! And then the winner, Joey Cheek, skated around the ice with HER AMERICAN FLAG!!

Torino and Terriers

Well, back to normal life again, but not for long.
This weekend I played in one of the conductors' ad hoc concerts, which meant rehearsal Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning, with the concert at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. I realized that my lips are pretty out of shape! I had a hard time by the end on Sunday. Chuck's first ad hoc concert is this coming Sunday, so it will be the same routine this week as well, except with rehearsal on Thursday night instead of Friday. Plus, I have to worry about feeding the orchestra on Sunday!

My parents made it to Torino and it sounds like they're having a great time. They went to speed-skating today, so we'll be watching for them during primetime. In case you want to watch, they said they were sitting to the left of the big jumbo-tron screen, next to someone with a big Japanese flag. My mom was all excited because there were a lot of Italian dogs wearing doggie coats. Chuck and I watched a lot of Olympics this weekend on TV, and didn't get much done, but relaxed a lot!

The Westminster Kennel Club show is on tonight and tomorrow night. We of course will be cheering again for the wire fox terriers. There's a funny article today called "If Only My Dog Were a Man!" It talks about how people admire the qualities of their pets more than their partners. The best part of the article: "Different dog breeds are also known for particular personality traits. Anyone trying to find the perfect mate by relating the type of dog they have in their lives should take note that German shepherds, Norwegian elkhounds, labrador retrievers and golden retrievers are considered to be very loyal. Boston terriers and French bulldogs have a good sense of humor. Border collies and dobermans are the athletes of the dog world. For intelligence, there’s nothing like a wire fox terrier, while bulldogs and pomeranians make perfect couch-potato companions."

Exciting events

I want to wish my parents safe travels to Torino tomorrow for the XX Olympic Games! They will be attending:
Sunday: Women's Hockey - Russia vs. Canada
Wednesday: Men's Hockey - USA vs. Latvia
Wendesday: Alpine Skiing - Ladies Downhill
All of the hockey games will be televised on the USA network, so hopefully we'll see them on TV in the audience. Mom said she'll be wearing her UNH jersey.

The other exciting event is that Lenny went ten days (and one shot cycle) without needing any steroids! Chuck even admitted the shots might be working, skeptic that he is. So Lenny is still vet-less, but he is rash-less as well!

A career for Lenny?

I think if Lenny would use his skills and powers for good instead of mischief, he could have a great career as an undercover police dog. This cat went undercover and busted a fake veterinarian in New York! If a cat can do it, surely sneaky little Lenny could.

The flute teacher came right as we were closing yesterday and took my music. Still haven't heard anything else from her. A composer did ask me to play on the composition department's upcoming recital, though - in an octet for winds and strings. So at least I'm busy. I've got that, Chuck's ad hoc, an ad hoc this weekend, and a performance of the Bach Magnificat coming up, besides the Camerata concert. All of this in February.

This is a picture backstage at the Columbus IN Philharmonic concert. The manager from the singing group was taking a bunch of pictures. Also pictured with Chuck and me are Nathan, a cellist, and Hennessy, a bassist, and personnel manager for the CIP.

So, my prediction change was just in time. Nick got eliminated last night on Project Runway, even though Santino SHOULD have been eliminated - the sleeve fell off of his outfit on the runway!! Nick was a nice guy, and Santino has a more colorful personality, so I think they kept him around for the ratings.

Update

Well, the flute teacher has 12 minutes to get to the office today as promised to trade music with me for her student. No sign of her yet.

Tonight Project Runway is on!!

Chuck is singing in a concert tonight with the Contemporary Vocal Ensemble. This is one of those long concerts of all modern music.

How stupid is this?

Yesterday was a really crappy day.

The flute professor came in to the office and announced that she had “messed things up.” Thinking that she was having some sort of faculty paperwork problem, I asked her how I could help her. It turns out that one of her doctoral students, who has never been my favorite person to begin with, was rather put off that SHE wasn’t playing principal flute for the Bloomington Camerata concert and I was. So she whined to her teacher, who then came and asked me if I wouldn’t mind playing a different part. I couldn’t believe how unprofessional BOTH of them were. I could care less about playing principal – I don’t need the ego boost – but I was really irritated that they did this, after the music was distributed and I’ve been talking with the orchestra personnel manager and everything else. So regardless of the answer I gave, I think I would end up looking bad. If I made a big fuss about it, I’d be as unprofessional as the two of them, but now it looks to the personnel manager like I was “bumped” for someone else, like I wasn’t good enough to play principal. VERY IRRITATING!!!

Prediction and dilemma

Well, I have to amend my previous prediction about Project Runway. Daniel V. is going to make it to the top three, replacing either Santino or Nick in my prediction (probably Nick). It's down to five designers, and Daniel has immunity this week! So we'll see.

I have looked everywhere in town, and NOBODY has Project Runway Season 1 on DVD, either to rent or even buy! It does exist, because you can buy it from Amazon, but apparently I'm the only lonely Bloomington Project Runway fan.

Chuck had a concert with Columbus this past weekend - and we did not have to go schmooze afterward! Woo-hoo! That was a nice change. He is getting ready for his next concert, next weekend. I am playing in another conductor's ad hoc this weekend. Hopefully we will also get to see "The Barber of Seville" on Saturday evening.

Right now my great debate is whether or not to make a tape for the National Flute Association Young Artist competition. I am really hesitant to do it because it costs a lot of money to enter, and I don't have an accompanist (who I'd have to hire also), and the deadline is March 1st. Which I just realized recently, obviously. I would be up for a good challenge (though I would stress myself out) except for three things:

1) I am playing in several concerts (4) already in February, so I have plenty of "reason" and motivation to practice already.
2) I wanted to take a big step back on work on my flute BASICS (which I have already started doing this year) to improve overall. This competition would be a distraction from that, and I don't want to develop new bad habits while rushing through my "review."
3) There is a really stupid modern piece on the repertoire list that requires singing and playing simultaneously, micro-tones with many different fingerings to learn, and other special techniques. Basically they include this piece to scare people from entering. It's working!

So maybe I am just making excuses, or feeling lazy, but I can't decide what to do. And the more I hesitate, the more time goes by before the tape is due! The problem is that I already bought the sheet music, and a CD with the stupid modern piece (called "ZOOM TUBE") on it. However, if I'm not going to be able to make a decent recording in time, I don't want to dump any more money into this project. Chuck is telling me to go for it, but he doesn't have to learn the stupid micro-tonal fingerings that I will NEVER EVER use again in my life. And I do have until the age of 30 to enter this competition, which takes place every year. AND I could be using this time to work on my basics to prepare for real orchestral auditions later this spring and summer. I guess it sounds like I'm leaning one way right now. It keeps changing! :) I of course will keep you all updated on this pressing, urgent issue.

Sorry for not blogging the last few days - I was not feeling very well Monday and Tuesday and missed a day of work. But I am much better now, and a few good things have happened. The flute professor at IU asked me to sub for her in the Bloomington Camerata orchestra for their next concert! (Principal flute) I am not exactly sure why she didn't ask one of her students, and the only time she has ever come close to hearing me play was last summer in the IU Festival Orchestra. She was playing principal flute, and I was playing fourth flute! Not exactly an ideal audition. Anyway, I am pleased to have a paying gig.

I know that you all think I'm pretty crazy about Lenny, but I just read something that boggled my mind. The fox terrier with the "dog blog" gets his teeth flossed every night! Lenny's lucky to get a bath twice a week. (Though not in his own opinion!)

Happy Birthdays!

First, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my grandfather, Grumpy! It is also the 250th birthday of another great guy, Mozart.And it also happens to be the birthday of the greatest flutist on Earth, Emmanuel Pahud. What an exciting day!

Chuck's recital was a huge success yesterday. People have been coming up to me all day and telling me how wonderful they thought it was. My boss even said that he was going to stop by for the beginning of the recital, just for a few minutes, but that it was so good that he ended up staying the whole time! We went out for dinner with our friend Amanda and her new friend Aaron to celebrate - Indian food!

Lenny's news

Congratulations to Lenny, who won an "Honorable Mention" in the Fox Terrier Network "Fashionable Fox Terriers" Photo Contest. He was also entered in the "Wire Fox Terriers" category, but unfortunately not a winner.

I was rather surprised by the judges' choices of the winners...I didn't agree with a lot of them. And a SMOOTH fox terrier dressed as a pirate beat Lenny in the contest. How insulting! I was a little disappointed that my favorite of all the entries for the wire fox terrier category didn't win (pictured here). If you click here you can view all of the entries/winners in the contest.

The other news is now Lenny's NEW vet is leaving! He's moving to Ohio. So we'll be moving on to Bloomington Vet #3, whoever that may be. Luckily he's been so healthy that we haven't had to go to the vet in many weeks. We're wondering if Lenny is that awful that he's driving them away! :)

Opinions please

Well, the headshot photos are back. There was quite a variety - these are the ones that Chuck liked the best. (Obviously some can be used for different purposes than others!) Which is your favorite?



Chuck's first rehearsal with the IU Symphony Orchestra was yesterday afternoon. I got to go to the second half of the rehearsal after work. It went really well. Chuck was really pleased. Today is the other two-hour rehearsal. On Thursday, the first hour is rehearsal, and then the concert is at 5:00.

Project Runway!

I'M SO GLAD IT'S FINALLY THE WEEKEND!!! It's been a really long week for all of us, for only being a 4-day week!

Well, I have gotten over my fascination very quickly with "The Apprentice" - both the Donald Trump and Martha Stewart versions - and I have found a new quality reality show. Project Runway on Bravo features fashion designers competing each week on different design projects, with host/model Heidi Klum. It's really fascinating because they show the designers going through every step of the process, including picking out the fabric, laying it all out, and sewing it together. The season is about halfway through, now down to 7 contestants (one is eliminated each time). Here are my big predictions for who will be the three finalists (and will be featured at "Olympus Fashion Week"):
Next episode is Wednesday night at 10, but they show reruns all the time if you're interested.

Have a great weekend!

Our visit to PetSmart

Lenny and I went to PetSmart to pick up a few things this evening. (We like to support PetSmart because of their charity work helping the rescued fox terriers in Canada!) We hadn't been there two minutes when Lenny made a big pile of doo-doo in Aisle 1! How embarrassing. He also tried to eat somebody's bag-o-goldfish while we were checking out. And he still got two toys out of the trip! He got a little squeaky goose and these really cool pink Valentine's kissy lips that make a "smooch" sound when he bites them. He has been antsy the past few days, cooped up in the house with bad weather.

Speaking of which, Bloomington freaks out over weather. We had a grand total of ONE INCH of snow last night, and some schools were delayed. They must not own a snowplow, because the roads are always bad, even with minimal snow. Some other things that irk me about Bloomington:
1) There is no good place to buy clothing. Most of my clothes come from Target, because all of the rest of the stores at the mall require you to be about 13 and carry a sequined purse just to walk in the door and not feel ridiculous, or to be about 103 and carry a walker!
2) Soda is really, really expensive for some reason. And everyone calls it pop. And my grocery store has really weird shopping carts that fold up.
3) At Christmas, my favorite radio station played a song called "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer."
4) This same radio station, which formerly was just "Oldies," now has started playing 80s music.
5) There are way too many weird restaurants. Chuck loves it of course, but I'm really not into vegan burritos.
6) It was 60 degrees on Monday. Today we have wind and snow. It only snows on the days I need to walk outside down to the laundry room.

OK, I feel better now. I've got to go do some laundry.

Another vegetarian?

This is a really cute story about a snake that won't eat hamsters - he must be vegetarian like Chuck! I had to go to the grocery store and buy tofu for him....ewww....

We've started the countdown to Chuck's recital - it's a week from tomorrow. Rehearsals with the Symphony Orchestra start on Monday.

Terrier times

Thanks to my sister for sending me this great picture of Lenny, taken over Christmas break!



Tonight on Animal Planet the Eukanuba Tournament of Champions is on at 8 p.m. This is the second part of the competition, and the Terrier group is on tonight, for all of my fellow terrier fans. Chuck's friend Blake is doing a reading of Tchaik 6 tonight, which I'll be playing in, so I'll have to tape it. Blake is doing the reading because he got in to the Kurt Masur masterclass in NY! Congratulations Blake!



This is a picture of Chuck with his fellow masters conducting students, taken right before break. Blake is the tall guy in the back. The others shown are Phil, Scott, Christian, and Thomas.

Chuck sent me some of his fun pictures from his trip to NYC to the Conductor's Guild conference. Here he is around the Big Apple!


Lincoln Center


Times Square


Grand Central


The Metropolitan Opera

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day tomorrow!

Some NH ski pictures

These are some shots from Chuck's ski trip with Annie and John.

Return of the Blog

My mother-in-law has reminded me that I am woefully behind in my blogging! Not the best way to kick off the new year - I apologize! Things were very busy over the holiday break and I have lots of fun pictures to share with everyone.
On December 17 we went to Jen Miller's wedding! It was so beautiful!! It was wonderful to see her and Alex so happy, and we had a great time seeing old friends. I made my own shirt to wear to the wedding - it was the first article of clothing that I've made for myself and actually worn in public! (Except of course for the Sleeping Beauty dress.)



We stayed with Chuck's grandmother Bubs, along with Amy, Greg, Ben, Andy, and Molly. It was a full house! On the 18th we celebrated Christmas with Chuck's side of the family. It was a lot of fun. I even got to be the first wear-er of the new Latshaw Birthday Hat.






So after all that fun, we had to go back to Bloomington so I could spend three more very boring days at work. Then we took off for New Hampshire! The 18-hour drive went pretty quickly. It felt so good to be back. We spent Christmas and a lot of the time there up at the new lake house. My sister came up for several days and we also got to see her boyfriend John. They went skiing with Chuck one day. We went to Boston one night, visited Chuck's old conducting teacher, and got a lot of relaxing in too. Chuck also got his professional headshots done while we were there - I can't wait to post THOSE on the blog once they arrive!

On January 1, Lenny and I started to drive back to Bloomington. We spent a night in a Holiday Inn in Buffalo, NY, and arrived at home in time to see the second half of the Buckeye victory in the bowl game! Chuck stayed behind and took the train to NYC for a conductor's conference. He got to go to the Metropolitan Opera twice while he was there. Meanwhile, I had to start back to work at the School of Music. He shaved the beard off for Christmas, but he's sticking with the vegetarianism still.

Classes started this week and things have been very hectic in the office. Things should quiet down soon, but I am pretty tired and am looking forward to this three-day weekend. This afternoon I got asked to sub last-minute for the IU Philharmonic Orchestra, so I went in "cold" and sight-read Shostakovitch 12 (principal flute!). It was a little scary because Chuck's teacher Mr. Effron was conducting - he's got a reputation for not being the nicest conductor in the world. It went fine though, and it was nice to play in the orchestra.

Chuck is getting ready for his master's recital on January 26. He'll be conducting Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, Suite #2. He's also got TWO ad hoc orchestra concerts this semester - one on Sunday, Feb.19, and one on Sunday, March 26. Hopefully the new year and the new semester will bring good things!