The kid got the results of her recent orchestra seating audition and they were pretty good. She moved up 9 chairs to 9th chair in violin 1 for the final concert of the season. We were all pretty excited because she had been working hard to improve on her last audition results. Now she has a better idea how she stacks with the other kids and how she may do in her next audition in May. That one is to try to get into the next level orchestra. The Concert Orchestra. We don’t know what her chances are. We had thought that she wouldn’t have any problem getting into this orchestra, since she has been with this organization for two seasons now and would need to move up next year or drop out. We figured the orchestra has turnover due to age requirements and that everybody eventually keeps moving up if they are good enough to play at this level. Then at last week’s rehearsals the conductor told the kids that a lot of people don’t make it into the next level, so now we have no idea what to expect. Well, if she doesn’t make it then she’ll still have her school orchestra and maybe we can find a different opportunity for her to try.
So the media is going nuts warning us about the violent weather coming tonight and tomorrow morning. The violent weather is thunderstorms. There is the potential for tornados, but pretty much just severe thunderstorms. Everybody is in a hissy. They may delay school in the morning. I got an email from work about emergency protocol. I want to say – enough – why do we keep overplaying everything as breaking news and special severe circumstances? But last Friday I was saying just that about the same hysteria that was being spouted then and the dire over blown warnings actually came true. We had three tornados in our area, lots of rain and flooding, and we were caught right in the middle of it. We actually drove right past an area that a tornado went through just a few minutes later. We had to stop the car in the street while crazy rain and hail fell and then had to drive through deep water while fire trucks were racing back the way we had just come. It was one of those – I’m not sure what to do – surreal moments. Now it might happen again tonight or tomorrow – or it probably won’t. But there is no shortage of hype, that’s for sure. I am fully expecting the media to start naming thunderstorms soon. Thunderstorm Sophie is heading northeast and has spawned Tornado Trent. Take cover now! But bring your tv with you so you can continue to watch us make this the most important thing that has ever happened ever. Until at least tomorrow…
We are only days away till our long awaited trip to New Orleans! I don’t know if I’ll blog any while there, but I will be posting to our Tumblr page. Follow along! We have a lot planned. Ghost tours, cool restaurants, drinking, a 50th birthday, exploring, food, voodoo, museums, music, and a lot more. Stay tuned.
I’ve been reading this book called The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It’s written in the first person and is about the life of a really autistic kid in England. It’s interesting being in his head. He’s got a really screwed up family life and all kinds of obsessive behavior, but he is also really smart and has lots of unique thoughts. When you see how he thinks and what he has to deal with and then how strangers react to him, it makes you think about your own behavior around people like him. Were you patient enough? Should you have to be? Is it your responsibility or should we all be more tolerant? Who knows, but books like this give you a chance to think. I haven’t finished it yet, but it comes recommended.
