The Big E

Yesterday my chorus sang at the Big E, or the Eastern States Exposition, up in Springfield, MA. We performed in the New England Center at 6:30 pm, and boy was it hot in there! I was sweating so hard that someone in the row behind me slipped me a couple of Kleenex to try to mop up my face!



We sang for almost an hour, and the audience seemed to enjoy the show. I saw a lot of familiar faces out there. Our fans from Connecticut!


Click to enlarge all photos!

Marty was there too, and he took a bunch of pictures. I find it very difficult to take good action shots with my camera -- it is apparently much better equipped to deal with things that aren't moving around. But Marty did a great job and some of the pictures will be appearing soon on the chorus website.

After the show, we walked around and saw some exhibits and checked out some of the animals. There were huge Clydesdales and tiny little piglets. And of course we had to try some of the food. They have everything at the Big E. Even fried dough! Or should I say, especially fried dough. We also saw Percy Sledge performing and sang along with his hits.

It was a great time! The Big E is going on for another week or so -- don't miss it!

Fall is coming!

Click to enlarge!

Fall is coming!

It's still mighty warm around these parts, but there are definite signs of autumn being just around the corner. A few trees have started to change color, quite early, and the days are getting shorter. I love all the seasons (although I probably love winter the least), and I know that someday when we move back down south I will miss the New England fall weather. It's an exciting time of year to me.

On the weekend I visited a friend in Michigan, and we went to the cider mill in the pictures above. There were apples, cider, donuts, fudge, and sugared almonds to be sampled, followed up by a walk in the woods along the Rouge River. Now I'm in the mood for fall!

I was at Lyman Orchard here in Connecticut the previous weekend, and they already have some of their early harvest apples in, too. I got some galas and intend to go back all fall to get whatever is new. My favorite apples are Braeburn, which have a pretty late harvest date. Something to look forward to in the next couple of months.

Are you ready for the change of season? What are the things you like best about the fall?

It is hard right now for me to think of anything other than the Gulf Coast. Everything I read and see about it is so tragic and distressing. I don't think I can say much that anyone else hasn't already said.

I have a plane ticket to New Orleans for a month from tomorrow, for the Sweet Adelines International Convention. Obviously, the convention won't be happening there and I won't be going. Nobody will be going to New Orleans for a long, long time.

We are making donations to both the human aid effort and the Humane Society, which is trying to provide shelter for animals. Every time I read another article I feel like my heart breaks a little more for all those poor people who are stranded down there without help.

I am also shocked and horrified that apparently there was no effort or plan in place to evacuate the poor (who live in New Orleans largely without private transportation), the elderly, or the hospitalized. How is this possible? It seems that the entire evacuation plan hinged on people having their own transportation and the means to leave, which appears highly optimistic to me in one of the poorest cities in our nation.

But it is easy to point fingers from a distance. Right now I just hope all those people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are going to get the help and support they need, and soon. I can't stop thinking of them.