Jamestown...
May. 10th, 2007 10:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jim_pI tend to get too busy to blog about goings-on in my life in real time, but I have a rare moment of downtime to do just that now...
My choral group, the Nashoba Valley Chorale is participating in the Jamestown 400th anniversary celebration in Virginia this weekend. For the grand finale on Sunday, they've assembled musicians from all over the country: a chorus of 1,607 voices (for the year 1607) and an orchestra of 400 members (for the 400th anniversary). It promises to be logistically... interesting. I'll try to keep you all up in real time as best I can.
Since thePresident Occupant of the White House is scheduled to be in attendance for the big Sunday bash, they're being security-mad. A couple months ago, in fact, the Secret Service demanded the full name, address, and social security number of each participant. I very nearly pulled out of the trip right then and there, since I don't give out my SS number for anything but tax and financial purposes. In a fit of creativity at the last minute, I decided to substitute my drivers license number instead... I figure the Secret Service database is accessible by any number of keys. Of course, for my act of sedition I'm probably on some terror watch list now...
Naturally, this would be the week that I get busy at the frame shop, with a couple of last-minute deliverables, a big whonking delivery, and more people traipsing through my shop in one day than I usually get in a week. I had hoped to close the shop early on Wednesday, but that didn't happen.
Wednesday night was a rehearsal, followed by a caravan to a rendezvous point to board the bus. I was late for the rehearsal due to the above business issues, but I made it. Clamber aboard the bus, then detour to pick up another chorus that's also going down (consolidating the bus saved us both money), then a LONG overnight drive to Virginia. These had to be the most uncomfortable bus seats I'd ever been on. I usually have no problem sleeping on buses, but I just could not find a comfortable position here. Eventually dozed off and on, and probably accumulated about 4-5 hours sleep over the course of the 14-hour bus ride...
Arrival at Williamsburg, twirl with hotel checkin, then off to tour the Jamestown settlement itself. Jamestown itself pretty much disappeared off the map due to the ravages of time; just about everything standing there is a reconstruction. There was a live archaeological dig going on, which was fascinating to watch for a while. They also set up a museum (which they call an "Archaerium") on the site to display bunches of the artifacts after examination and cataloguing. It's a lot nicer than having them sit in dustry drawers out of the public eye..
Crashing now. Each performing group that sent deligations to The Big Event gets to put on their own individual show, and ours is 10AM tomorrow. We don't expect much of an audience, but it will be a nice run-through of pieces we're doing for the upcoming concert.
I'll let you know how it all goes, including the running of the security gauntlet on Sunday...
My choral group, the Nashoba Valley Chorale is participating in the Jamestown 400th anniversary celebration in Virginia this weekend. For the grand finale on Sunday, they've assembled musicians from all over the country: a chorus of 1,607 voices (for the year 1607) and an orchestra of 400 members (for the 400th anniversary). It promises to be logistically... interesting. I'll try to keep you all up in real time as best I can.
Since the
Naturally, this would be the week that I get busy at the frame shop, with a couple of last-minute deliverables, a big whonking delivery, and more people traipsing through my shop in one day than I usually get in a week. I had hoped to close the shop early on Wednesday, but that didn't happen.
Wednesday night was a rehearsal, followed by a caravan to a rendezvous point to board the bus. I was late for the rehearsal due to the above business issues, but I made it. Clamber aboard the bus, then detour to pick up another chorus that's also going down (consolidating the bus saved us both money), then a LONG overnight drive to Virginia. These had to be the most uncomfortable bus seats I'd ever been on. I usually have no problem sleeping on buses, but I just could not find a comfortable position here. Eventually dozed off and on, and probably accumulated about 4-5 hours sleep over the course of the 14-hour bus ride...
Arrival at Williamsburg, twirl with hotel checkin, then off to tour the Jamestown settlement itself. Jamestown itself pretty much disappeared off the map due to the ravages of time; just about everything standing there is a reconstruction. There was a live archaeological dig going on, which was fascinating to watch for a while. They also set up a museum (which they call an "Archaerium") on the site to display bunches of the artifacts after examination and cataloguing. It's a lot nicer than having them sit in dustry drawers out of the public eye..
Crashing now. Each performing group that sent deligations to The Big Event gets to put on their own individual show, and ours is 10AM tomorrow. We don't expect much of an audience, but it will be a nice run-through of pieces we're doing for the upcoming concert.
I'll let you know how it all goes, including the running of the security gauntlet on Sunday...
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Date: 2007-05-11 04:27 am (UTC)Love to Susan, if you have a chance and see this in a timely basis.
And best of luck to all of you for your concert in the morning!!
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Date: 2007-05-11 01:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-12 03:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-15 11:29 am (UTC)