Birthday Plans

We're rapidly approaching the end of my 37th year on earth, and the 3rd anniversary of our move to Maryland, which made it possible for us to get to know you or renew our acquaintance with you, as the case may be. I'd like to celebrate with an early-evening meal together with you. The questions are where and when. (Oder wo und wann, if I remember correctly.) (No gifts needed: just come share your company with us.)

For where, I suggest Romano's Macaroni Grill in Gaithersburg. Romano's menu offers six vegetarian entrées, according to our recent count, as well as a handful of vegetarian appetizers. If we're there early enough in the evening, perhaps 5:30 or 6:00, we should be able to quickly get a table in the quieter section of the restaurant.

Regarding when, I think we must decide on what works best for the most people. My b-day is the 24th of this month, but that's Friday (a busy night for restaurants) and Corey will not be experiencing perfect dental comfort. So I think we must choose an evening a few days later.

I know that Tuesday evening is tied up for at least four of us. I would be willing to see our brass rehearsal time exchanged for this event, if people would find Wednesday to work well for the most people. Or we could look at Monday or Thursday.

So, please reply here: let me know what evening after the 24th sounds like a good fit for your plans, and also let me know whether you could be in Gaithersburg as early as 5:30 on that evening. Please remind us, too, if your birthday falls in this time period, so we'll know we're celebrating for you as well. (Jamey? Others?)

Thanks!

ALL BRASS AT 11: Details Below

(Sorry for the local news joke)

All brass players are invited to play with the hymns next Sabbath, September 11, at Triadelphia SDA. The hymns will be 1, 17, 25 and TBD.

Know a brass player? Spread the word!

PS. I think I should save De De the trouble of stating that we should soon have a woodwinds-welcome Sabbath.

TriBrass Rehearsals Move to Wednesdays

This week we agreed to move our rehearsals to Wednesday evenings, same time, same place, to accomodate David Greene's class schedule. According to current plans, this will remain for 9 weeks, then switch to Mondays for 9 weeks.

To clarify: our next rehearsal (as of the time of posting this blog entry) is Wednesday evening, September 8. Brass players, family and friends, I'll see you there!

Personal Update

As you have heard by now, I'm seeking a new project within IBM, or another place of employment. Some of the entries in my weblog talk about my job hopes, opportunities and interviews. Both my weblog and my resumé are linked from my homepage.

I've recently added to my weblog a list of other weblogs that I follow, including Corey's Life, The Universe, & Everything. See the bottom of my weblog's left-hand sidebar. If/when you have a weblog or website, let me know: I'll be there, reading what you write.

Sept 4, Sept 10, Sept 11

For September 4: Geri has asked that some string players, specifically including Beth and William, among others, provide offertory, and some players (including or not including these two) provide special music. I have a couple of numbers from the Sheila Nelson Quartet Club that could be used, or it might be better to play a hymn a couple times through.

This might also be a good time for Jamey, David and I to play a cello-cello-bass trio. We'll bring instruments to practice Tuesday evening. If anyone wants to call and invite others (Becky? Carla? Christina? others?) please do so. We've already talked with the Possingers about having Leo H. practice and play with us. Jamey fired off an e-mail to Enno, but a follow-up call may be in order.

For September 10: Don Crane asked us to play something at Elternhaus. I suggested filling the program with a very long song service, and that seemed acceptable. David, if you'd like, perhaps we could throw in Meditation or Adoration or some such.

For September 11: Ekkehardt mentioned that he's planning to have Ryan and trumpet on hand for special music, and asked if the lower brass would join in for the hymns.

Brass Sept. 25 - Triadelphia

[Posted on behalf of Geri]

September 25: Brass is playing with all the Hymns.

Strings Sept. 4 - Triadelphia

[Posted on behalf of Geri]

September 4: Offertory and Special Music with all the strings. They can just play the favorite Hymns that were played on August 14.

Potluck vs The Community of the Involved

Potluck diatribe moved to my personal weblog.

Potluck this week

Hi everyone, just letting you know I am on for potluck this week. Come keep Danny company. :)

Real-Estate Dreams

Hello friends,

As a few of you heard last night, we bid on a townhouse near the Maydens' home. You can get a bit more info from these two posts in my weblog:

• on Thinking of Buying a House
• Not This Time

TriBrass Practice Tonight

Hello friends!

Wes, David and Jason: Let's plan to meet as usual: 6:45 call time at the Triadelphia SDA church. I have two new numbers for us to look at, too.

Corey, one of the new numbers is for bass (vocal) solo with brass and organ. It's by Schütz, and in Latin. The part looks difficult, but I'd like to hear you sing it if you're interested in the challenge. Stop by rehearsal this evening to look at it with us.

CMW: How to keep it going?

CMW: better than ever? I think each year is better than the last, and that's saying something huge.

Are we essentially relegated to one CMW each year? Are there things we can do locally to encourage, precipitate even, chamber music through-out the year?

What are we going to need to make it happen? We have the Trout piano quintet, we have some Haydn string quartets, and a few Mozart piano quartets. Are these enough to start bringing people together? Can anyone get serious about buying string and flute music? Can we find another strong violinist? Geri, which string instrument will you learn first?

Should we start planning a recital? If we do, will we feel awkward about playing together Sabbath afternoons?

Fun for the day

Spelling Quiz: 10 questions.

Also, I saw this license plate this morning on a new Infiniti FX SUV:

 NBEYND 

William's Birthday: Thanks!

Thank you all for sharing your time with us last evening. William really enjoyed it, and so did we. :-)

William's Birthday

William turns 12 this week, and he would like to see you folks. Seeing as we will be seeing quite a few of you at brass rehearsal on Tuesday, I was wondering if it would make sense to do a little something downstairs afterwards. No presents, just friends :-). I'll bring some sculptured watermelon that we can stick candels in (he doesn't really like cake). Perhaps we will have time to squeeze in a quick game of Uno, Catch Phrase, or something of that sort, he would really love that. I will bring several things along just in case. I would like to extend this to those of you who aren't brass memebers as well. Rehearsal (which is at Triadelphia SDA Church) is usually over by 8:00pm so that gives you an idea of what time it would be.

A Sabbath Proposal (aka Chamber Music revisited)

Come one, come all; join at any time

Itinerary:

• Church at Triadelphia; highlights include specials by Daniel Ashton
• Potluck picnic at the capitol; suggestions on location include the reflecting pool, Roosevelt memorial, Capitol building steps…
• Afternoon visit to various Smithsonian areas.
• Supper at the Ashtons (ask them how you might contribute)
• Chamber music following supper, including the ever-popular Trout

Suggested lunch menu:

• Strawberry shortcake - Greenes
• Sandwiches - each bring enough to share
• Chips - each bring enough to share
• Fruit and other picnic-friendly items - welcome
• Water - each to his own

Special guest: Sherilyn Johnson, my mother

[Daniel adds the following:]

Supper is likely to be Pakistani Curry. If, for any reason, this would discourage you from joining us, please speak up quickly! We would far rather enjoy your company.

Please bring your parts for the Hummel Septet, as I want to have them in hand before leaving for CMW. I believe that means flute and horn parts from the Maydens, and piano and viola parts from the Greenes.

Dooley is welcome.

Also, I really enjoyed the recorder trios, etc. that we played last time. I hope we get to do more music like that.

Chamber Music Sabbath Afternoon

Anyone interested? We can go through the Trout again, as well as Eine Kleine and whatever else we have on hand. Recorders too, if you want.

Also, please think of who else we can invite ahead of time.

Christy-Party!

I have been given to understand that this Tuesday evening will witness a celebration of life's annuality on behalf of the young Mrs. Corey Cottrell. Therefore, I recommend that we forego our usual musical exertions in favor of camaraderie and the eating of cheesecake. Details, Mr. Cottrell, we need details!

Standing Order for Veggie-Meat

We are very seldom near the book store at a convenient shopping time, so it's not always easy for us to buy Worthington or La Loma products. Here's what I'm thinking: If you're at the book store, grab a couple extra cans of something for us, and we'll be happy to more than pay you back the next time we get together. Prime Steaks, Fri-Chik, Veja-Links, Chai Pow Yu or pretty much anything else. Thanks!

Chamber Music Sabbath Afternoon

Hello friends,

This looks like a good week for chamber music after potluck. Are you interested? Bring instruments and music, and lets see what happens!

For those who have Trout or Hummel Septet recordings, listen up! It really helps to know what the music sounds like.