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August 13th, 2008

Some advice for the NASCAR fans

Another NASCAR weekend has gone by at Watkins Glen. Seeing how I am no longer in the news business, I managed to not hear about any of the race until my mother mentioned there was some big crash. She claims she only watched it to see if she could see Jason there.

However, I did work up at the Glen for my Crystal Chords Friday and Saturday selling t-shirts to rabid fans. Have I mentioned how much I love my Crystal Chords?

It’s gotten to the point where I am no longer surprised that every single person (minus the kids who are the only ones with any sense whatsoever) is drunk and holding a beer in their hands at all times. Or that women with boobs bigger than D cups are walking around braless (it’s still gross, I’m just not surprised). Or that a bunch of guys are walking around in afro wigs stopping every 20 seconds to chant about their favorite driver.

But there are those idiots I need to have a talking to. You might argue that because they’re all drunk, reasoning with them won’t work. However, when most of the drunks are walking around with their beers in coozies to keep them cold, I tend to think there’s some sanity tucked away somewhere. So, I offer some advice you may want to tuck away for next year.

1. Put some shoes on. I don’t care if you’re so drunk you can’t feel the rocks, glass and burning tar from the sun that you’re walking on. You probably also can’t feel all the blood rushing from your cuts either. If you thought to put shorts on, you make the extra effort to throw on some flip-flops.

2. If you’re going to make a motorized cooler, ride it! You are easily the biggest dumbass in all of the NASCAR events at Watkins Glen I have seen over the last 8 years. I get that you are just so inventive creating a wagony type contraption that is hooked up to a lawnmower motor. And look, you can keep your cooler on there. However, what is the point of this contraption if you’re just going to pull the wagon around, exerting more effort than if it was just a roller-cooler. You put a seat on there, clearly it was meant to give rest to your weary feet. If that’s not why it was created, then I blame you, and you alone, for the crappy state our environment is in.

3. Listen to your children. For one thing, you haven’t completely corrupted them yet so you should enjoy every bonding moment you can with them. For another thing, they do not want to get caught in the next severe thunderstorm that brings hail without rain gear. Again. Just because the sun is out now does not mean it will stay like that. I know because I have the iPhone with the doppler radar so I can tell you exactly when it’s coming. So if your kid is begging you to be practical and buy the $4.50 poncho, put down the hoochie shirt you were going to buy for your mistress and get him the poncho.

4. Only buy t-shirts from the nice ladies in the Crystal Chords shirts. They want you to enjoy your NASCAR experience. And if they say it can only be enjoyed with 20 $6 t-shirts, you should listen to them. And then visit them again next year.

Shelved in the out and about, singing category | No comments yet

July 7th, 2008

IRL vs NASCAR from a non-race fan perspective

This past weekend, we were hit with Indy racing fever up in Watkins Glen. The media is all afrenzied with the drivers and covering an event that basically builds its own city at Watkins Glen International from the fans that come in. And if that weren’t bad enough, the Crystal Chords are there too, selling t-shirts and discount merchandise. It’s our big fundraiser every year; we get a big trailer in a prime location and taunt fans with $6 tshirts from last year’s events; we get 10% of the profits so it’s in our best interest to sell sell sell.

Now, I’ve been up there many times in various roles to work or cover the NASCAR race but only once before for the IRL race. And my, what a difference a league name makes. I realize NASCAR brings in more people (and more money for the CCs) but I have officially decided that should I ever become a racing fan, it will be for the IRL. And here’s why:

1. The camping. As we rode through the camping sections, it was noticeably empty compared to what I’m used to. But that wasn’t the only thing. The people were camping, not partying til 6 am, not decorating every inch of their site in driver and driver’s sponsor memorabilia, not screaming at the girls walking by, and they all looked to be sleeping in tents and rvs as opposed to a couch they found on the side of the road that they will probably just soak in beer and torch after the weekend is over.

2. The vendors. Across the street street from our trailer was a bookstore and a vendor selling miniature antique cars. Next to us was a photographer selling matted framed photos of the race. You think they would be there at NASCAR? No way, it’s all in your face, loud-mouth, loud music, lots of flash. Not that there’s a problem with it, and it was certainly present at IRL, but it wasn’t all low brow stuff, you have high brow options too.

3. The people. Ok, I do have to admit that NASCAR does have a slight edge on the people-watching. But the thing is, as wild and crazy as they are, they’re all the same wild and crazy people. At IRL, only 10% of the fans fall under wild and crazy dumbasses. And that’s a-ok with me. But seriously, I don’t care how drunk you are, put a t-shirt on because you do NOT have the body to get away with it. And I’m talking men and women here. Although the guy who walked around with the 32 on his chest because that was the only place he applied sunscreen does get props; it was stenciled on there. I actually asked him how he did it and he told me he used duct tape and has been doing it every year since 2000. Um….congratulations?

Anyway, my point is that there are other types of people besides the crazy drunk rednecks. And most of them wear clothes. That fit. And are comfortable and/or appropriate for being out in the hot summer sun all day. Some of them bring their dogs, the kids don’t look like they’re babysitting their parents and a lot of them are drinking water. They know how to show their love of their favorite drivers. Which brings me to …

4. The drivers. Now I don’t really know much about Danica Patrick. But I have to say, I absolutely applaud that in every gigantic poster of her and all over her trailer, she is wearing her race gear. Buttoned all the way up. Just like every other driver. She’s not trying to be all Playboy bunny or fake boobs just to get attention. She’s there to race and race fair. They all race fair. The race on Sunday had a lot of crashes. And the S-G reported that all the drivers who caused those crashes publicly or personally apologized to the drivers they took down with them. That’s just classy. Unlike NASCAR, where all the teams point fingers and tempers flare and oh, the drama. The IRL drivers understand they are not just drivers but also role models. And it shows.

And finally …

5. The atmosphere. WGI set up stages all over the track with musical performers, all local acts. On Saturday, Jana Losey set up right across from us so you know I was in heaven. On Sunday, Virgil Cain was there, rocking out. It just made selling t-shirts so much more enjoyable when I could dance to a beat and sing along to some sweet tunes. Then, there was a marching band, the Statesmen marching through; we didn’t get to hear them actually play, but they marched through with the drum corps going and you couldn’t help but get excited (we were totally like little kids - “it’s a parade!!!!!!!”).

Now, am I going to be a groupie anytime soon? No. The scary drunk sunburned guy with no teeth who hit on me in the parking lot while I was trying to leave reminded me that I am cursed with the crazy person magnet gene and frankly, I don’t need to make it worse by going to the one place where all the crazy people gather. So, I’ll just sell my t-shirts and get the hell out of there when my shift is over but at least I wasn’t bored. And I’m left knowing that there is some sanity left in this world. Even at the race track.

Shelved in the out and about, singing category | No comments yet

June 28th, 2008

My graduation present (’cause I’m cheap like that)

Here in NY, it’s Graduation Weekend. And even though I’ve been doing the youth ministry thing for a while now, it’s still hard to see my kids graduate from high school every year. Especially my B’ville kids that I used to babysit when I was high school.

Anyway, even though I’m a “mom” to a ton of kids, there are always a few that I get a little more attached to and adopt them as my little sister (I have some brothers too, but I either adopted them post-graduation or they haven’t graduated yet).

But this one is special because she’s my first Crystal Chords little sister. And I’m not only saying Congratulations, but Goodbye as she treks off to St. Louis, never to be seen from again (ok, I’ll see her next August when she comes back to get married [really long story, but not for this blog]).

So, this is for Miss Jessica.

Jess, on Saturday, you will enter the “Real World” and be a high school graduate. Although that seems weird because I think you’ve encountered more of the Real World than most kids your age. You have seen a lot of good and bad that the Real World has to offer and I have to say, you possess an insane amount of grace and wisdom because of that. You hold up extremely well under pressure, yet you know that you have friends you can trust and lean on if the pressure gets to be too much.

I suppose I could go the hip-hop route and try to speak the language of the young people today to give you advice but because you’re “classy,” instead I’m going to piece this together using lyrics from barbershop songs. Which actually probably just sound like regular songs to the untrained ear, but I know you’ll be hearing ringing chords the whole time.

Baby, do I have your attention? Your attention? I’ve got a few little things I’d like to mention. While I’m alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me. When all the clouds darken up the skyway, there’s a rainbow highway to be found. You gotta have heart, all you really need is heart. When the odds are saying you’ll never win, that’s when the grin should start. How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky? There is beauty all around, when there’s love at home. There is joy in every sound, when there’s love at home. You try to make the most of what nature’s done, you save a lot of work and have a lot more fun. May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Jessie Angel, you’re an angel to me. Just sing sing sing sing.

Oh and this made me think of you:


Shelved in the people who rock, singing category | 2 comments

May 14th, 2008

But I wanted to go to Wisconsin in November

As you may recall, Crystal Chords qualified for International at the Area 3 contest a few weeks ago. However, we have decided as a chorus to not attend this year. I think this is the first year since 1996 that we opted to not go to International (but obviously, it’s my first since joining in 2004).

I’m a little bummed about the decision. I like competition and it is my favorite part about being a member of Harmony Inc. Well, maybe not the competition so much as the singing and drinking all weekend. I do have my priorities.

However, we will take the time to work on recruiting members and put together a big Christmas show for November or December. When I get more details, I’ll let you all know so you can mark your calendars. :)

In the meantime, I would still like to go to International. It’s going to be in Appleton, Wisconsin this year. It might be a stretch but I think it would be worth it to go and listen to the quartets and choruses. And then, I’ll still get my singing and drinking in.

Shelved in the singing category | 4 comments

May 5th, 2008

Well, that was fun

Twitter was definitely my new best friend in Canada. And I loved that I could update the best stuff almost in real time so I didn’t forget the good stories. And muuuuuuch less expensive than 50 cent texts to everybody. And, if you missed it or were too scared to figure out another new fangled site, here are the twits all in nice text form. They read newest to oldest so you’ll have to scroll up. Sorry, I love you but not enough to copy and paste 50 separate lines of text. :)

home and resting about 21 hours ago
stopped at Bon Evans for lunch and gave the car keys to ann. I need a little nap. about 23 hours ago
back in the states now 09:54 AM May 04, 2008
rosemary forgot her passport so the ladies in her car are all dressed in the chorus vests so they’ll look like a quartet at the border. 08:03 AM May 04, 2008
somehow I just woke right up 06:36 AM May 04, 2008
quite drunk and heading to bed. Only ann and jessica are left from the CCs. 12:43 AM May 04, 2008
northern blend has an abba medley. I want an abba medley. 08:48 PM May 03, 2008
so debbie h took a pill before contest thinking it was a blood pressure med but turns out it was ambien. Oops. 05:59 PM May 03, 2008
getting ready for the moonglow. Where’s my glass of wine? 04:23 PM May 03, 2008
harmony falls got most improved 02:03 PM May 03, 2008
6 choruses qualified for international (including us) 02:03 PM May 03, 2008
crystal chords took 4th 02:02 PM May 03, 2008
1 a cappella showcase, 2 northern blend, 3 nfca 02:01 PM May 03, 2008
all ranks stayed the same as last year 02:01 PM May 03, 2008
time to head downstairs for warmups. Crystal chords sing at 1:25. 11:34 AM May 03, 2008
ok my game face is on. And by game face, I mean I look like I’m 5 and got into grandma’s makeup without supervision. 11:33 AM May 03, 2008
my feet are not happy today. I’m just not used to all this walking. Note to self: walk more. After feet rest a bit. 11:03 AM May 03, 2008
man I hate it when the iPhone corrects my spelling. Grr. 10:46 AM May 03, 2008
rehearsal went well although the restroom flooded the floor so melange is running around to FET the word out on plan b. 10:45 AM May 03, 2008
@momcass you need to update in the web box not direct the replies to me for them to show up 08:17 AM May 03, 2008 in reply to momcass
3 monster zits named PMS, not so awesome sleep and performing today have appeared on my chin in one fantastic cluster. 08:04 AM May 03, 2008
breakfast looked gross but wasn’t bad. Ate w/ bev and nancy d who described every medical condition for each pill they took. 06:56 AM May 03, 2008
turning in now. Long day tomorrow. 10:13 PM May 02, 2008
@warplanegirl yes they were 4th 08:46 PM May 02, 2008 in reply to warplanegirl
@descutie sorry about your dad ;( 08:36 PM May 02, 2008 in reply to Descutie
silhouettes is new, lots of potential; they did how deep is the ocean 08:31 PM May 02, 2008
I called the top 3: fusion, audacity, silhouettes 08:30 PM May 02, 2008
6 quarters qualified for international 08:29 PM May 02, 2008
treble in paradise got most improved 08:28 PM May 02, 2008
intermission, barb was great, fusion was awesome, so was audacity. 06:48 PM May 02, 2008
got a sloppy joe that was spicy but good. Time to jet back for the quartet competition. BARB is up first. 05:04 PM May 02, 2008
the gang’s all here and we’ve got dinner reservations at sloppy joe’s. 03:28 PM May 02, 2008
yay, it works! They let us in our rooms too. Not bad at all for a dorm room. 02:44 PM May 02, 2008
about to head back to campus where hopefully I’ll be able to figure out Internet. If it doesn’t work, I guess I’ll be silent til Sunday. 01:38 PM May 02, 2008
can’t get into our rooms until 4. Guess we’ll have to shop! 12:28 PM May 02, 2008
mmmm souvlaki for lunch at the mall. 11:52 AM May 02, 2008
@jbwhong you BETTER take him out. 11:06 AM May 02, 2008 in reply to jbwhong
Internet is sketchy at Humber college. This will be interesting 11:05 AM May 02, 2008
tim horton’s for breakfast then gas and heading for the border 08:13 AM May 02, 2008
awake way too early. This bed suuuiuucks. 06:03 AM May 02, 2008
in niagara falls for the night. Trip was uneventful, yea. 08:50 PM May 01, 2008
dinner then dunkin donuts in dansville 06:51 PM May 01, 2008
packing and pretending not to notice my moping little Kelsey who will miss me as much if not more than @jbwhong 04:17 PM May 01, 2008

Shelved in the out and about, singing category | No comments yet

May 1st, 2008

Trying something new for contest

Ok, it’s contest weekend! I’m heading to Humber College in Toronto for a fun weekend of singing and drinking. I’m not bringing the laptop and roaming is a tad expensive across the border so I’m going to Twitter my weekend away. You can follow me here and see all the updates you missed, or just refresh my blog page a whole bunch to update the most recent Twitter in this nifty little widget:

Shelved in the singing category | No comments yet

April 29th, 2008

Damn you, Mariah Carey!

So, I’m doing my morning routine thing while getting ready for work and listening to the radio. Then they played Mariah Carey’s latest song while I was doing my makeup and it made me cry! I don’t even like her all that much (ok, I have 2 of her albums from WAAAAY back in the day but those were cassette tapes that have not been converted to cd or my computer).

Anyway, it got me thinking about the last week and a half and how I’ve been all about my grandfather and the funeral and all that. And how this weekend is Area 3 contest and if Affinity were competing, I would not be at all prepared for it.

Oh yeah, I think I forgot to mention that news here. Affinity will not be competing this year. No, we haven’t broken up, we’re still singing and taking gigs and all that fun stuff. But we wanted to take a little break from the pressure of competing and breath while some of us worked on more pressing personal things. Hopefully, we’ll be back next year.

It will be a little weird to only be there for chorus. But I’ll go and have a blast and support the other 2 quartets from the Crystal Chords. And I’ll miss being up on the stage.

But history has taught me that when I pile on way too much, especially in the week or 2 before a big performance, it all goes to hell if I don’t get enough physical and mental rest. So, I’m thankful that I had the time and energy to give to my family during this time of grieving. And now I can go to contest not freaking out about a missed rehearsal or lack of practice time. Which also makes me very thankful.

Shelved in the family, singing category | 1 comment

January 2nd, 2008

Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008

Another year is done. Time continues to fly and I’m wishing more and more that I could just suspend time because I just can’t take my skin showing signs of wrinkles or these circles under my eyes that won’t go away. Stupid aging.

Anyway, it’s time for the year in review post that I do around this time of year.

Review 2007

- I turned 30. Ack. It wasn’t so bad but it still takes some getting used to. And noone cards me anymore, what’s up with that? I did turn my getting old (and I suppose the maturity that theoretically comes with it) into something positive with my 30 Ways to Make a Difference. I learned all kinds of things from it, and hope to keep that momentum going for years to come. It also gave this blog a direction it has never had before nor has it had since.

- I cut my hair. That wouldn’t seem like a big thing and it was done for Locks of Love as part my 30 Ways project but it was a big deal for me. For one thing, I’ve taken alot more pictures of me this year that I’m actually willing to display because I’m not embarrassed about my crappy hair. I might keep the shorter look around.

- Two of my best friends got married this year. A lot of people I know got married actually. But I feel a little more responsible for Amber and Janice’s marriages since I was in Amber’s and would have been in Janice’s if she had gotten married stateside; I helped plan her shower, does that count?

- Affinity got much more notice in 2007, both locally and in Harmony, Inc land. We got more gigs, even sang on TV and placed in the Top 10 at International. I’m starting to feel less like a newbie and more like a novice at this barbershop thing.

Year to come: 2008

- Affinity is going to kick ass and take names. What that means, I’ll have to figure it out when it happens. I do know I want to know more, more, more. I’m hoping that I can get to HITS or at least Help Day to learn more techniques. I have this ultimate goal that years from now, I could be good enough to be a coach for Harmony and help other groups reach their singing goals.

- Jason and I are attempting to plan a vacation to Korea and see Jason’s brother before he graduates in August. At the moment, it’s feeling very far-fetched (aka expensive), but we might be able to pull it off.

- iPhone - it will be mine!

- I might try to give this blog more direction. I don’t know what it looks like just yet, but we’ll see. My traffic is down from when I was doing the 30 Ways project and I liked that it felt like my corner of cyberspace had a purpose. If you have any ideas or absolutely love it when I blog about x,y or z, let me know.

Shelved in the 30 ways to make a difference, family, singing category | 1 comment

December 20th, 2007

Playing with widgets … or, Look at me! Look at me!

Ok, so our quartet photos are in from contest. (Click to enlarge.)

And I made this handy-dandy poll so you can vote and tell me which one you like better. And I would never try to persuade your vote by saying I like me in the red photo better but I think the pink photo makes a better quartet photo. No no, I would never do that; I want to hear from you (anonymously on the poll and/or in the comments).

Shelved in the singing category | No comments yet

December 13th, 2007

Snow Day

It’s kind of weird to have all this snow on the ground. Yeah, sure, all my Christmas memories are of lots of snow, but it seems lately, we’ve enjoyed warmer Decembers with little snow. I’m pretty sure this is the first time since I’ve moved to the Elmira area that I’ve seen so much snow before Christmas.

Anyway, I finally got my hands on a videotape of the Arctic League Telethon (thank you, Diana!) so I can sure all the Crystal Chord-y goodness with you.

Crystal Chords sing “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls.”

Then we sing “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “White Christmas.”

The telethon producers decided to hold a surprise tribute to Joe Cavallaro, who heads up Joe Cavallaro’s Dixieland Jazz Band and has been performing on the telethon for 25 years. So, Affinity sang him our own special version of “Joey Angel.” I apologize now for the bad sound. We were not miked well and you can hear all kinds of background noise, including the drummer giving us some rhythm. I also apologize for my bad hair. Oh, and the announcer came up with the cheesy banter all on his own; he made me say that.

Shelved in the singing category | No comments yet

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