It's been a long time...

since I posted here. Much water has gone under the bridge.

In a nutshell:

We received an offer for our Florida house which we accepted. Unfortunately, they were first time buyers and nervous as hell, and they drove us nearly around the bend. Up until the day before our 11/21/08 closing, we still weren't sure that they would close!

On Wednesday the 19th, the movers came. We'd received a reasonable estimate which was supposed to include a small but significant amount of packing - our dishes, pictures, lamps, clothes hanging in our closets. When they arrived - 7 hours later than promised - they were NOT prepared for ANY packing. The 5+ hours that followed were a nightmare of listening to their complaints and watching them pack things in jerry-rigged boxes because they didn't have the promised wardrobes, etc. It was horrendous. I'd tried to make clear that some of the items were to go to the house and some to the storage unit, but they paid no heed to my suggestions, and just tried to fit it all in. And to top it off the guys were thugs - really unpleasant, angry people who yelled at each other and complained and back-stabbed. I left on Friday morning, driving all the way with Chino and Roxy, and arriving completely exhausted, with the beginnings of a cold, to unseasonably cold weather!

The movers arrived Saturday morning an hour earlier than predicted - 8:00 a.m. It was freezing cold, in the single digits, and with a biting wind blowing. Anthony was still on the road from Columbia, where he had spent the night. It was determined that most of the stuff needed to go to the storage unit, we went there first. As I had feared, things that should have gone to the house were all mingled with storage-unit items. We had to look INTO unlabeled boxes (packed but not labeled by the movers) to figure out which was which. It took them 6 hours to unload, first into storage, and then at the house. I absolutely would NEVER recommend FATHER AND SONS MOVING to ANYONE! The fellow who gave me an estimate was completely inaccurate in describing what we wanted and the supplies we'd need, and even his co-workers were furious with him.

When they had finally driven off, we were left in our single-wide that was so jammed with boxes we could barely move from one end to another. I was feverish by then and feeling dreadful. But at least, the thugs were gone. I decided I could live with what was broken, and we could finally "relax." HA! With all those boxes everywhere, we couldn't relax. There was no PLACE to RELAX. But we were at least HOME in our new place. Thank heaven for small favors, as my mother used to say!

AT LAST!!!

We have finally signed a contract and will close on the sale of our FL house on November 21st. HOORAY!!!! Between now and then, we are downsizing the S T U F F that has to be moved. I'm selling off music, furniture, and MY PIANO (my pal of 20 years, as sweet and warm today as it was then).

The mountains beckon. Maybe it was the three plus months I spent there this summer, but since my return, FL has not felt at all like home.

I will miss my students TERRIBLY. As Jennifer, who is a high school senior this year, said tearfully, "I've grown up with you!" 15-year-old, 6'3" Josiah is just starting to grow into his big bass voice. And Georgian-born Nanuka! They are family!

I have to go see the neurologist in Jax this morning - first time in nearly a year and a half. I will need a referral to someone in NC. It's been six and a half year since the terrible stroke. Now that I have been off the hormones since that time, I doubt I am stroke-prone anymore, but better safe than sorry.

REDUCED $35,000 - beautiful Florida home

We have reduced the asking price to $250,000. It is a beautiful, comfortable home with a 400+ square foot separate home studio. Please have a look at our LOVELY HOME!

My Signature Song

Summertime from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin

Gilbert and Sullivan clips

The hours creep on apace from HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan
Sorry her lot from HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan

Needing to remember to breathe....

Yes, that's right! We are moving! We are leaving Florida as soon as we can sell our house. I know, I know, the market is just horrible. But I am a believer in things happening when they are supposed to happen. SO, I believe that the house will sell, and we will get enough from the sale of 4069 Red Pine Lane that we can build a beautiful studio in Asheville, too!

Anth and I have come to LOVE the little trailer. This past trip the mountains were so clear and beautiful. At night it's so sweetly peaceful.

I will miss my students more than I can allow myself to feel. They are like an extended family to me, and I feel like the young ones are "my children", bless them all! I will miss my dear friends, too. Once we have a new studio, the Captain will feel complete up there. He loves the outdoors, as do I, but feels empty in the evening, when he would like to be listening to his favorite symphonies!

So, dear reader, if you are in need of a studio space, or know someone who is, please refer him or her to our website (link is above).

Leaving Florida!

We are selling our St. Augustine home! It's a lovely house with an superb detached studio with its own heat pump. For details, please see

http://4069redpinelane.blogspot.com

At Home in Asheville

Well, the joke's on me! Because of Chino's need for daily meds, and Lucy's contrariness and wildness when someone tries to catch her, Anthony requested that I take Lucy, along with Chino. So I packed the car, caught and caged Chino, and spent 25 minutes trying to corral Lucy, while she growled, hissed and managed to elude me . Roxy watched, completely amused, terribly intrigued, and driving Lucy crazy by her presence.

Finally, I capitulated, called one of my teenage students to cat sit, and packed up Roxy. I think she knew that would happen all the time!

The cats rode pretty well. About 45 minutes into the trip Roxy decided she wanted her crate open. I opened it. She rode there for another 90 minutes, then climbed into the front seat and curled up under my knees. Chino, in typical "monkey see, monkey do" fashion, ultimately ended up in the same position on the passenger side. I had hoped to leave by 8:30 in the morning, but Mother was very slow getting dressed and packed. I know she is not feeling well, and is tired much of the time. When I compare this with our trip to the UK just 3 years ago, my heart aches. She will be 84 in September.

We finally left at 11:00, and because of the traffic didn't get here till after 4:00. We've been shopping, cooking and getting organized since we arrived on Saturday, and went to the Presbyterian Church on Sunday, a mother wished. I have contacted the local Christian Science churches for possible singing jobs. Asheville is out, but Hendersonville is a possibly. My one response to the vocal lessons ad decided my fees were too high. There may be more, who knows? I answered an ad for an English tutor, and will probably meet with the woman shortly. I have no idea how much to charge, though.

Anthony arrived on Monday, with my laptop!!!!! Yay! I don't know how I forgot it! And I sure missed it. Today, I opened a local bank account.

I finished my largest kimono canvas Monday night, and an Easter egg last night. They will reside here in Asheville.

Anth and Mother are leaving on Saturday morning, before I try the new colorist. Then I have Sunday to go to the Hendersonville CS church.

My buddy Linda arrives on Monday before lunch, and will stay till Wednesday. Daughter Sarah and her beau Bob arrive around noon on Friday and will stay till Monday. I have to go back south on Friday. Seems like a short stay.

So far, I have had no hiking time! Perhaps tomorrow morning while my mother is taking her shower!

Off to the Mountains!

I don't know why it is that whenever I am ready to head to NC, one of the cats needs medical attention! This time it was Chino. He started on Sunday to have accidents around the house - terrible diarrhea, which seemed to come on him in a rush, so he didn't have time to make it to the litterbox. After cleaning up four of these awful messes, I called the vet. He spent the night and she decided he had a Clostridium infection and started him on antibiotics. Poor baby. He does not like the pills and the loose stools are not completely gone, but I have to load him in the car and take him to Charleston. Say a little prayer, please. My mother would have great difficulty with him if he had an accident in her house. I worry that the stress of the trip is not going to help him either. I hope this okay to do. I can just imagine being on interstate 95 with Chino having diarrhea in his crate! Ugh!

I had planned to take Roxy, and have Anthony bring Chino, and leave Lucy at home with a pet sitter. We have not been able to contact any pet sitters. They seem to have vanished. Anthony is afraid to pick up Lucy, as she turns into a whirlwind with teeth and claws. So I am taking the poor little sick boy, Chino, and Lucy, because I can pick her up, though she protests and struggles. Doesn't all this sound pleasant? Now why is MY stomach feeling queasy!

The plan is for my mother and me (and the felines) to leave early tomorrow morning for Asheville. It's a slightly over 4 hour drive. I won't relax till we get there.

Gardening in NC

I am quite anxious to put my green thumb to work in NC. I restrained myself last trip because I realize that the three weeks before I return would likely doom anything I put in. I'm longing to plant coneflowers and columbine,

lilacs and forsythia , and clematis vines. The propane tank has a trellis of sorts surrounding two sides and might be just the place for a clematis.

When we were there for our birthdays, many of the roses were in bloom - particularly the little red climbers! There were also white, pink, yellow and a lovely peachy pink one with fuschia-colored lips. I've never grown roses. Actually, I feel rather intimidated by them. The previous owners left some fungicide and other rose chemicals. Anybody out there have tips for me? I'm equally afraid of doing too much or too little!

When we were there in May the peonies were in bloom. I've always wanted peonies. I really love the possibilities. And did I mention the asparagus? We didn't harvest it in May because we had no working stove to cook it on. Now, in June, its feathery foliage waves in the breeze!

For the time being, all I can do is plan and dream. But these are pleasant dreams. What I prize most highly is the sweetness and lightness of the air. I'm not fooling myself that it won't be hot there in July and August, but compared with the heavy mantle that is the Florida's humidity and heat, it will be a relief.

West Asheville, and more....

We are coming to the conclusion that West Asheville, where we are located, is an old community populated by longtime residents and their families. We have made just one set of friends in the cul-de-sac, and they, too, are fairly new residents! The old timers see us and take note of us, but are not friendly.

R & R just moved into a rehabbed house just down the hill from us. They have a 5 year old son. She brought us a plate of cookies on Saturday!

Our most recent trip to Asheville was the week of our birthdays, mine on the 7th and his on the 9th. We had a wonderful time. We hiked three of the four full days I was there - cool, fragrant woodland trails. We drove to Mt. Mitchell - 6684 feet above sea level, and to Mt. Pisgah. Mitchell was very high, with altitude stunted trees and a view for MILES! Both days were beautifully clear, quite rare in these mountains.

On the trail at Mt. Pisgah, inspecting the wild blueberries.

The Captain at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Wind-gnarled trees near the summit at Mount Mitchell.

The furniture arrived on my birthday - dressers, nightstands and a sofa table. We had bought a bookstand to house the TV at Target, but after 4 attempts at assembling it, I gave up and asked R to try his hand at it. He installed our towel bars, too, as I left my drill in FL. New dresser and chest.

Roxy came with me this trip. I stopped overnight in Charleston on the way north and she made a good adjustment to the changes. It was a bit harder in Asheville, probably due to having to endure to a second car trip. But ultimately, she made herself completely at home!

The Closing

We closed on the NC home on May 11th. On Wednesday, in all the heavy smoke from the Georgia wildfire, the Captain and friend Art loaded up the 10' rental truck they would come north in on Friday. My friend Jean and I drove the 490 miles on Thursday, bought a 32" flat screen TV and a DVD player, as well as a microwave that night before falling into bed early. Friday morning we had to get verification of insurance, so hunted up the agent's location and headed to the beautiful old but remodeled building where the lawyer had his offices. The closing was a bit bumpy. The title was temporarily missing, and that was our backer's ONLY requirement. He also insisted that his Park Avenue lawyer speak with the NC lawyer before the signing of documents. While corrections were being made in the spelling of the street name, the two lawyers spoke. Then I signed what was necessary and my realtor came with us to the trailer, where she discovered that she could not open the lock box. We went to buy two queen size beds, so everyone would have a place to sleep that night. The requirement was they be delivered that day - and we had to confirm that because NO ONE wanted to sleep on the floor! We did find the beds, in stock, and able to be brought to the trailer and set up that day!

Meanwhile, Captain and Art were lumbering along in the truck. The lawyer had insisted Anthony sign the papers on Friday afternoon, or we could not take possession till Monday! The hustled north over the mountain pass and arrived at 4:10. We raced to the lawyer's and he signed!! Then we all unloaded the truck into the 80 degree house (the air was struggling to cool it down on a hot day) and when finished, we went out to eat in a little Mexican restaurant on Patton Avenue. We had to pick up some supplies as well, but that was fairly quick.

What a good foursome we made! We had wonderful and interesting conversations ranging from polygamy to homelessness, from St. Augustine to the Bahamas and to the NY metropolitan area. Jean and Art each took a very quick shower. Did I say that the hot water was not yet working? The well water was icy!

We had the electrician in the next day and got the hot water working. We still couldn't fire up the stove (powered by propane) so we were eating rotisserie chicken from the Ingles up the road (did I mention we are 5 minutes from THREE big supermarkets?)

On Sunday, we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway to just over a mile high Craggy Gardens. Then we came down a wonderful dirt backroad to Barnardsville. The end of that road in the Park was a community of trailers with cars on blocks, etc. That was kind of surprising, as the whole Asheville area has an urbanity and sophistication that is at first surprising and then one of the characteristics one comes to expect. But more about this, later.

It was really a lovely trip. On Saturday afternoon, Art went downtown to explore, and we all joined him later for a quick walking tour and dinner. Sadly, he ate something spoiled and spent the night sick from food poisoning!

On Monday we drove back to FL.

On Sunday, we were sitting on the front deck and a bank of clouds moving west over Asheville, darkening the city below, seemed about to plow into our little home! We were almost above that bank of clouds. How wonderful!

Our Mountain Sanctuary

It's Been a Long Time Coming...

But I'll be posting news and photos very soon.

Asleep on my Feet

Last night was the last night of Italian Cabaret was for this season. I am practically asleep on my feet, after that performance, church this morning, and ALL THOSE REHEARSALS last week. And this afternoon is one more performance - the Saint Augustine Singers under the direction of KVB. There are about 30 of us in the group. I have a neat little solo in a South American lullaby called Duerme Negrito.

What will tire me out today is all the standing and the need for strong focus and attention.

Next Sunday is the Mozart Requiem, with rehearsals Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, plus my regular teaching schedule.

YES!!!! I love to sing!!!!!! And I don't mean to whine, but I sure wish things could be spaced out a little! I think I will try to sneak in a little nap, now.

Thursday Thirteen - Famous or Infamous People Who Share My Birthday

Yes, I know it's Friday. Sometimes Thursday's jobs have to be done on Friday.

This is a fun topic. There were listings for baseball players, jurists, Nobel Prize laureates, prime ministers, and even one for a Jewish Rapper!!! Starting with the oldest entry in Wikipedia:

1529 - Étienne Pasquier, French lawyer and man of letters (d. 1615) - I have no connection to this one, but is was nearly 400 years ago, which is rather cool.
1778 - Beau Brummell, English fashion leader (d. 1840) - Whoa! A fashion plate!
1848 - Paul Gauguin, French painter (d. 1903) - I like Gaugin!
1897 - George Szell, Hungarian conductor (d. 1970) - I add this one because he is one of Captain Classics' favorite conductors.
1909 - Virginia Apgar, American physician and childbirth specialist (d. 1974) - The doctor for whom the Apgar scores were named.
1909 - Jessica Tandy, English-born actress (d. 1994) - Jessica Tandy is one of my favorite, very classy actresses.
1929 - The Grand Wizard of Wrestling, Wrestling manager - how could I fail to include THIS ONE!
1937 - Neeme Järvi, Estonian conductor - Another conductor for the Captain.
1940 - Tom Jones, Welsh singer - What's new pussycat, whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa!
1952 - Liam Neeson, Northern Irish actor - Schindler's List, Rob Roy, Philadelphia, and the list goes on.....
1954 - Louise Erdrich, American author - I LOVE Louise Erdrich's books. She writes mainly about Native American themes. She went to Dartmouth, which is in Hanover, NH, my home town. She wrote Love Medicine, The Beet Queen, and with husband Michael Dorris, A Yellow Raft in Blue Water and The Crown of Columbus. I like it that we share the same birthday!
1958 - Prince, American musician
1976 - Necro, Jewish American rapper

Beginning of the realization of our dream

The Captain found 2 boxes outside our front door on his way out. "What's this?" he asked. I helped him bring them into the house. The small box he held in his hand was surprisingly heavy. "It's cutlery for North Carolina," I replied. The tape on the big box was partly opened. Inside were packages and boxes containing a bath sheet, 2 tubmats, a set of 3 purple plastic mixing bowls, a toaster, two sets of purple towels, and an oval braided rug.

Such excitement! If we are buying furnishings, it must really be happening. Time to start packing - my sewing machine and fabric, with my Nanny's birds-eye maple dressing table, which I have long used as a sewing spot, will also go. Cold weather clothes will begin to live in Asheville, too. All those mugs that crowd the cupboard, threatening to fall to the ceramic tile floor and break, can be divided between our northern and southern homes.

We still need 2 beds, a futon for the living room, 2 televisions - one for the living room and a small one for the guest bedroom, a DVD player, a dining table and chairs, some end tables, and a dresser for the master bedroom. This is fun, planning and dreaming.

Sometimes it all seems too good to be true! As a firm believer in the dangers of hubris, I occasionally worry that my joy and my pride will lead to my downfall. Put into print, that sounds silly and superstitious, and probably is, in truth. So I vow not to be negative about this. It IS a dream come true, but sometimes they can! How blessed I feel!

Italian Cabaret is TONIGHT!

Our newest show opens tonight. I am singing in many numbers, including That's Amore!, La ci darem la mano (duet from Don Giovanni), Libiamo from La Traviata as Violetta, Quando m'en vo (otherwise known as Musetta's Waltz) from La boheme, Noi siamo zingarelle (the Gypsy chorus from La Traviata), Italian Street Song as a duet, and the Finale (which combines Torna a Surriento/Arrivederci Roma/and Addio from L'Elisir d'Amore. I've been busting my butt all week to memorize everything, something that grows more difficult with age. We should have a nice crowd and it will be a fun and high-energy evening. I 've sung the Don Giovanni duet dozens of times; did the Violetta in English, so just need to remember the Italian; I'm a little worried about the Gypsy chorus - lots of words; but I am premiering (for me) the Musetta, and I want it to be wonderful.

Wish me luck or pray for me. In the opera world you say, "In boca al lupo", which means "into the mouth of the wolf." I respond with "Crepi il lupo", which means "to hell with the wolf!"

Fun Monday!

Sorry for being so S L O W! Went to Cardio Rehab this morning and the took the Captain out for new shoes.

What is your favorite word?

• Almost anything in French or Italian, I love how they feel in my mouth and the beauty of the spoken vowels.
• Also, "sweetheart" when the Captain says it.

What is your least favorite word?

• Telephone

What turns you on (creatively, spiritually or emotionally)?

• A book like Ahab's Wife, with exquisite prose and an interesting story line.
• A brand new needlepoint canvas.
• Walking in the woods near my son's house in Chester, NY.
• My gorgeous purple iris, or lilies of the valley.
• Singing a song I love.
• My kitties doing anything cute or loveable.

What turns you off?

• Generalizations, especially about people's behavior or personality traits.

What is your favorite curse word?

• I blush to admit this secret sin - it's the Anglo-Saxon word for copulation that practically every character in the Sopranos uses at least once a night. Often called the F word.

What sound or noise do you love?

• My kitties talking or purring.
• Certain pieces of music, like Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, or the 2nd movement of Schubert's 956 quintet.

What sound or noise do you hate?

• People talking in a movie or live performance.
  

What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?

• Crime scene investigator

What profession would you not like to attempt?

• Lawyer

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

• "Well done, good and faithful servant." Can't think of anything better than that one, Mama!

Odds and Ends

This is a "round-up" post. Yesterday was a really blissful day - I had my teeth cleaned (I am one of probably 3 people in the world who LIKES going to get my teeth cleaned - if you are one too, please let me know!) and then I went to REHAB (no, it's nothing so trendy as where Brittney Spears went - just a bunch of old farts who have had heart "episodes" and their spouses who come three times a week to walk on the treadmill, etc, and lift dumbbells), and THEN I went with my dear friend to A Stitch in Time (if you want to buy a great needlework store, it's for sale). (What a long and confusing run on sentence!)

After a long period of frugality, I had decided to pick up the new Mindy canvas I had on layaway and also the 3rd of the three Twelve Days of Christmas squares I've been working on. I also needed thread for the Mindy iris canvas. Here are pictures of the new canvases.
by captluci
I came home from the store feeling really fine and happy and fell asleep for 2 hours! Woke up feeling great, and stitched as I watched old Oprahs and Dr. Phil's that I had recorded and not had time to watch.

The lovely and highly unusual nap meant I could not fall asleep last night! I was awake till two. The cats came to find me, to see if they could get me to go to bed, all 23 pounds of lynxpoint Siamese Roxy lying in front of the computer monitor in a mound. After awhile, even they gave up and sacked out near me in the computer room, where I was surfing away on sites for furnishings for NC.

Finally, and most uncharacteristically, Chino left me a little present on the bathroom rug (whew, did it stink!) - and that made me uneasy, because he has always been good about his bathroom habits.

Today, when finally crawled out of bed, still glowing from my wonderful day off, I realized I needed to put together the program for our upcoming production - Cabaret - Italian Style! I have been creating the programs for as long as First Coast Opera has existed, but it was supposed to have been done by someone else this time. I know I am my own worst enemy in this regard; my standards are so high that I don't really, truly trust other people to tackle it. Who knows, a word might be misspelled, or something equally intolerable!!!

So, of course, by default, I am making the program again. There were a few glitches, such as, not knowing who is singing the Abbondanza Trio, and not being sure which composer wrote the Core Ingrato that Roger is singing, but otherwise, it was not terribly painful OR time-consuming. The real problem wsa that, CHAMPION PROCRASTINATOR that I am, I had planned to use today to really learn all my music. 'Course, I could be doing it now, too. It will be rough during rehearsal tomorrow. But I will get it done by Saturday's performance.

I did find time to look out the French doors in the living room that over look the garden and the pond. A gorgeous all PURPLE IRIS was unfurled. I grabbed the digital camera - what could be more photogenic than a purple iris on a sunny day. Upon stepping out the door I found another surprise. There are good things about Florida!