Choir Geeks Take Manhattan

Carnegie Hall update thus far...in bullet points...

• Flew American Airlines for the first time in years. We had about a billion frequent flyer miles saved up, and thought I should use them. Okay, a billion is an exaggeration, but it was a bunch. I now remember why we haven't flown American in so long. CROWDED. NO LEG ROOM. NO TV. It was, however, FREE, so I really shouldn't complain. But I will. I had a terrible seat right across from the bathroom. Nasty. You know, I just don't understand the kind of person who goes into a airplane bathroom and takes a giant poo, so everybody has to breath it. Who can do that, anyway? I mean, I'm a little shit shy, but seriously, who does that?
• Got to JFK late Wednesday afternoon, and Aunt Grace very graciously sent "a car" to pick me up at the airport, so I didn't have to hoof it or take a bus. So yes, there was a dude in a black suit standing there with my name on a sign, which is something that never gets old, no matter how many times it happens to you.

View from Aunt Grace's terrace. Yes, you may be jealous.

• Thursday morning was our first rehearsal of Mozart's Requiem with the full chorus - 200 SINGERS. We all gathered in a ballroom at the NY Hilton, which was, in fact, the very place where I attended BlogHer a couple of years ago (ah, memories!). This ballroom was a great place for a blogger convention, but a lousy place to rehearse choral music, as the acoustics are dreadful. But even then as soon as we all started singing together, it was AMAZING. Such powerful music.
• The heavens opened up and DRENCHED the city. Crazy rain. You know, I've been coming to New York once or twice a year for the past 20 years, and I NEVER remember the rain. We Los Angelenos forget that it rains in other parts of the country. For us, we have "rainy season", for which we prepare. But everywhere else, it rains all year round at random times. An amazing concept. So I, of course, was caught without an umbrella, and had to buy one on the way home, but still ended up soaked to the skin. Dang.
• Thursday night was dinner with Cousins Steve and Lorraine. They took me to a wonderful restaurant - Destino on First Avenue. Big fat martinis. Big fat steak. Big fat Gretchen.
• Friday morning rehearsal at 9:00 am. Should probably not have had so much martini and steak. It was still rousing though. They arranged us the way we'll be standing when we perform in Carnegie Hall, making us line up from shortest to tallest within each section. I am, naturally, the third to tallest alto, and so am on the very back row. The story of my life. Amazingly, Lynn (Curly Girl on my sidebar) is standing right next to me, so we two tall girls get to experience Carnegie Hall together. Which I'm very happy about.

Lynn & me. Tall girls on the back row.

• Tonight I'm having a few of the choir friends over for a quick drink at Aunt Grace's apartment, and then joining my old college friends for dinner. I'm very excited to see them all - the FUNNEST group of people.  I will try not to drink too many martinis and go to sleep at a reasonable hour. Try.
• Tomorrow - Carnegie Hall!

Comments

[Elizabeth Aquino]

Oh, Gretchen! This is so exciting. I wish that I could be in that hall to listen!

[Ginny Marie]

Why, yes, I am very jealous, and about more than the view! Have a wonderful time!

[Arnebya]

That view has me envious even with buckets of rain. I can't wait to hear how it went.