Tick Tock

After a short trip to the LA County Arboretum, I went to the theater to see "The House With A Clock In Its Walls" in IMAX.

But first up:  Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 3D!

• That's kind of scary in big format!
• The costumes and makeup still look great.
• I so, so, so wanted to get up and dance.  I love that dance!  MJ was the BEST!
• I think all of us were surprised by that last shot. 
• Happy 35th Anniversary, Thriller! 

OK, now the house movie.

• "Are you wearing a robe?"  "It's a kimono!"
• I like that Lewis' last link to his parents is the Magic 8 Ball.  It's magic!
• The stained glass of the ship reminds me of the one in the Salon.
• "Bad Kitty!  Use the litter box!"
• Loved the magic of all of the stars in the garden.
• Snakespeare is like me: safe, as long as I'm fed.
• "So creepy...even in death."
• I love all of the purple that Florence has everywhere.  
• I also enjoyed all of the insulting names Florence and Jonathan called each other.
• Why would you a keep a key right next to the lock that you don't want anyone to open?!
• I wanted to see more of Rose Rita.  I would have liked to see her reaction to the house.
• I love this bit of trivia on imdb because of the time theme.  I had been wondering about the significance of the title on the marquee:  The bus stops across the street from a theater with the movie, "Space Man from Pluto" on the marquee. The head of Universal Studios wanted "Space Man from Pluto" to be the title of another Amblin Entertainment film produced by Steven Spielberg - but the director on that 1985 film kept the script's original title, "Back to the Future."
• Cute drawings during the credits, especially the last one with the characters waving.  Even the baby, sitting in the demon's lap.  OK, yeah, that was creepy.
• "No topiary griffins were harmed in the making of this film."
• And now I want to eat cookies all day.

Here's my poster after playing the game on the official site:

Are You Diaboliquing Me?

My friends and I saw "A Simple Favor" last week.  

• I think it's a shame that we saw Anna Kendrick and Andrew Rannells in a film together and they didn't sing a duet.
• I did, though, enjoy the chemistry between Kendrick and Lively.
• Cindy said "Searching" was like a combination of this movie and "Crazy Rich Asians".  I agree.  Twisty!
• I'd want to wear Blake Lively's clothes, too.  I loved all of her work outfits.  
• Why didn't she think to cut herself out of the dress before she went downstairs?  I mean, it was funnier the way they did it, but still.
• I liked the difference of outfit types between Stephanie and Emily and their changes in style toward the end.
• I want to try that martini, and I don't even like gin.
• I really liked the soundtrack, filled with a bunch of songs in French, and it was quite fitting.
• Oh, and some on point rapping by Anna Kendrick.
• "Are you Diaboliquing me?"  I now need to watch "Diabolique".
• Ah, grief sex.  Nothing good ever comes out of that.  Just ask the folks at "General Hospital".
• "I think loneliness probably kills more people than cancer."
• "America's hybrids: silent, but deadly."

I had a lot of fun watching this movie!  Funny, twisty, and pretty.  :)

And Then The Giacchino Plays

We Have to Go Back: The LOST Concert 2018

John Anson Ford Theatre

Saturday, September 15, 2018

I had a tough work week, so I still needed to go into work on a Saturday because I missed a Friday deadline.  I then drove to the valley to meet up with Bro and the family.  Bro, V, and I went to Poquito Mas to pick up an early dinner, and ate at Bro's house before we made our way to Studio City.  We parked in a designated lot and took a shuttle to the Ford.  I picked up our tickets at will call, and we got in the long merchandise line, not even knowing what was for sale, but hoping that they were selling a shirt that we saw one of the staff wearing.

Yay!  All 3 of us got the shirt, which had the Dharma symbol on the left pocket area, with a music note in the middle.  We also got CDs of whatever season was available, which were autographed by Michael Giacchino.  They also had autographed pages of the score available for $100.00, but I didn't opt for one.  I was frustrated by the slowness of the snack shop folks, but I was happily able to get a bottle of hard apple cider upstairs near our seats.

All Dressed Up for some experiments

The stage was set against a background with palm trees, and it was a little balmy--a perfect atmosphere for the evening.  When we were in line to get merchandise earlier, we could hear the smoke monster sounds coming from speakers placed in the entrance area.  Up on the stage, there was a memorial with candles, and they used the church hymnal numbers, to keep in theme with the lottery numbers, too.  I love the way everything was set to get us in the mood!  

Stage

Memorial

A pre-show discussion took place, which started with Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindeloff, and Michael Giacchino. Then other people arrived one-by-one onto the stage, interrupting almost every audience member that had gone up to ask a question.  But they were OK with that.  Cast members that joined them:  Josh Holloway (Sawyer), Emilie de Ravin (Claire), Rebecca Mader (Charlotte), Andrea Gabriel (Nadia), and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin).  

Lindeloff, Giacchino, Cuse

Score with Dharma Symbol

Josh Joins

Full Panel

One gal asked the creators to promise there would be no remake; later, a guy asked if they could do a remake of the show.  I wondered if the first person was going to have fisticuffs with the other guy, because they were both quite passionate about the show, as are many fans.  

Andrea, Emilie, Rebecca

Rebecca, Michael, Josh

Josh, Daniel, Carlton

Between songs, if Giacchino himself wasn't talking, Cuseloff (one of the combined names for the duo) or the cast members spoke.  Carlton Cuse talked about the time they were on the sound stage to witness the recording of the music when some of the characters were leaving on the raft they built.  The musicians were reading the music for the first time (as most studio musicians do as part of their job description), Cuseloff was hearing it for the first time, and by the time the music ended, everyone in the room was in tears.  The musicians showed their approval by tapping their instruments.  This is the only series that has Giacchino's name in the scripts, mostly with the phrase "And the Giacchino Plays".  I love that they give this musical genius his due.

I thought it was interesting to hear the actors read the scripts, as they would both sides of the dialogue by themselves, but I loved more the descriptions of what they should be feeling at the time.  The descriptions had a bunch of f-bombs in them, stuff that certainly not be allowed to be spoken in network television, but they got their point across!  

Rebecca and Andrea also read letters that the writers thought the background characters might write when they put them in the bottles on the raft.  This was something they thought up when they had the first LOST concert in Hawaii.  OK, so THAT would have been the perfect place to watch this concert!  Wow.

This guy played for every episode of LOST

See the hymnal numbers on the left side?  108!

Some of the music was played without any film being shown, but there were montages during most of the music.  Unfortunately, the individual pieces were not listed in the program, and I don't remember any of the titles to list here.  It doesn't matter: the music is so beautiful that I cried during the first piece, and during a few other ones, like I did when I watched the series.  But at the end of the show, Giacchino asked if we had cried enough.  I'm pretty sure most of said "no".  He then played (and they showed) the last scene of the finale.  TEARS!!!!!  

For the encore, the orchestra also played another song from LOST, entitled "Tangled Web".  There was no film while they played because Giacchino wasn't sure that they'd have time to include it.  But they did!  Then they treated us to a piece of music they had just recently completed recording: a little taste of "A Bad Time at the Hotel Royale".  It was great!  I was looking forward to seeing the movie anyway, but the music elevated my anticipation for it.

After the show, it was a little too late in the evening for me to want to stay to meet the famous folks, and I was ready to leave.  Jeff G found us and said hi before he left.  Hi, Jeff!  The line to catch the shuttle back to our car didn't take very long, and we were back at Bro's house in no time, which was good, because I still needed to drive home.  

Thank you, Bro and V, for joining me!  Thank you to the creators, cast, the musicians (a few of whom were there to play music for every episode of LOST), and especially to Michael Giacchino for a wonderful show!  It makes me want to see the whole series all over again.

No, Thank YOU!

Chomp On This

Last weekend, I made sure to see "The Meg" before it left theaters. (I love the tagline on the official site:  "Pleased to Eat You".)  I mean, how can I possibly watch a movie about a giant shark if I wasn't going to see it in BIG?  I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to see it in IMAX, though.  But, you know, drum corps priorities.

• I've decided that the Meg is Filipino, because the first scene takes place in the Philippine Trench.  
• How is it possible for Jason Statham to have that many muscles?  Like, muscles on TOP of his muscles?  How do those muscles even fit in those little vehicles?  Can you tell that I was distracted a bit by his physique?
• Loved all of the homages to "JAWS".  At least, I'm going to call them homages, because "rip-off" sounds so negative, and I think the references were on purpose.
• I love the tagline on the official site:  "Pleased to Eat You".
• I kinda wanted the guy in the big inflatable ball to get eaten, because he was rudely running over the other people in the water.
• "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
• "Eight year olds hear everything."  
• I was worried that she was hiding in the rescue vehicle that Jason Statham was using.  I guess she was smarter than that.
• I saw that the boat's name was "Charlotte", like in "National Treasure", and wondered if there was a connection.  Yes, Sherry, the director, Jon Turteltaub, also directed NT.  Thank you, IMDB!
• Haha.  "Fin."

That was fun.  I look forward to the inevitable viewing during Shark Week next year.  

#FindMargot

My Sunday movie during Labor Day weekend was "Searching", which I had been mildly interested in seeing when I read about it, but I saw the trailer and really looked forward to seeing the film.

• First 5 minutes into the movie, and I was already crying.  It was like watching the first 5 minutes of "Up" again. But then the tension started, and...yikes.
• Loved all of the twists and turns of the plot.
• I became suspicious of almost everyone in the movie.  Everyone.  I am also now suspicious of everyone in my life.
• "She was my best friend."  WHAT?!?!?
• John Cho did a superb job.  I felt really sorry for him when people on social media were commenting that he killed her.  
• "Bieber concert.  Confirmed."
• Ummm...people in Northern California do not use "the" when naming freeways.  So Cal writer/actor fail.  Or maybe Vick was from So Cal?
• In this Information Age, it seems like we know less about people than we did before all of this technology.  Or maybe we just never knew anyone at all.

This entire movie is made of spoilers, so this entry needs to be short.  Go see the movie!  I loved it.  If it's still showing in theaters and I have time, I'm going to watch it again and look for the Easter Egg clues.

DLR LotD 09/01/18

Disneyland Resort

Line of the Day

Saturday, September 1, 2018

"I miss you already!" -- Heimlich, at Heimlich's Chew-Chew Train

The Maestro, Indeed

John Williams: Maestro of the Movies

40th Anniversary Celebration!

Friday, August 31, 2018

Hollywood Bowl

Hollywood, CA

A couple of months ago, Rudy said that he was going to get tickets to this show and asked if I'd like to join in on the fun.  I said yes, but wasn't sure if we actually had tickets because I didn't hear from him after that.  Luckily for me, he did get the tickets, and told me earlier that week.  I put on the Superman shirt I got at this year's WonderCon, and got on the shuttle in Arcadia.  Why Superman?  Well, I couldn't decide on which of the twenty or so Star Wars shirts to wear, and then I realized I had a Superman shirt and decided to wear that instead, because "Superman: The Movie" is my favorite film score EVER, and guess who composed it?  JW himself. (Ooh, I just did a Google search, and that film is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and there will be limited screenings of it.  I hope I can go!).

Marquee Shot

Rudy and Brian were waiting for me when I got off of the bus, and I wanted to go to the Bowl store first so I could buy a shirt.  I also bought light sabers for the 3 of us because I couldn't bring my light saber umbrella.  Brian was in a wheelchair, so I learned the elevator route.  Our seats were supposed to be in the top tier, but the wheelchair wouldn't go up there.  We were asked if we'd like to be re-seated, and they found us seats which were closer and didn't require Brian to get out of his chair to use his crutches.  Well, that's nice!  We were seated next to a lady whom was very friendly and I now know that I can transport wine in a lighter container than a big old bottle.

David Newman conducted the first half of the show.  I love how he's unapologetically rumply.

The LA Phil played the Star-Spangled Banner.  Flags were still at half staff to honor the passing of US Senator John McCain.

Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams
The US Army Herald Trumpets took the stage and I got all excited.  What a perfect song for them to perform!  Clips of various Olympic moments played on the screen, mostly highlights of recent years, of Olympians from different nations.

Torch Lighting

With Fireworks

The Magnificent Seven

"The Cave Sequence"  from Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams (with film)
I love this!

"A New Beginning" from Minority Report by John Williams
I recognized this music, but didn't realize it was from this movie until I read the program just now.

"Flight to Neverland" from Hook by John Williams
Clips from all kinds of flight were shown.  Was I the only one that cheered when they finally showed Robin Williams flying as Peter Pan?  Because that's THIS MUSIC, people!  Some people turned on their light sabers during the very brief Star Wars clips.

Celebrating the Bernstein Centennial - To Lenny by John Williams
Lots of different cues from Bernstein's work.  Nice.

Overture from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein
Rudy asked me if JW wrote the score for WSS.  I later found out that he was the studio pianist for the film.  I love WSS, so I was really happy to see the clips from the film.

Suite from On the Waterfront by Leonard Bernstein
Ah, OK, now that I've read the program, this makes sense.  I wasn't sure what this piece was, although I was familiar with the music.  

<Intermission>

The Maestro himself took the stage, and said that he had been trying to convince his guest to come to this show for 40 years, and he finally succeeded.  He called Steven Spielberg to the stage.  

John Williams

Spielberg and Williams have been working together for 44 years!  Spielberg sat in a chair on the stage after introducing the next piece.

"With Malice Toward None'  from Lincoln by John Williams
Thomas Hooten, trumpet soloist

Rudy said that he has never seen "Lincoln", but wants to after hearing the music.  Yeah, that was a great film.  Beautiful job by Hooten. What are the odds that a trumpet players name would have the word "hoot" in it?  Hmmm...had it been "Tooten", I would have lost it.

Techniques of Film Scoring
Spielberg talked about his movies being nothing without Williams' scores.  To illustrate, we watched "The Circus Train Chase" scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade without the score.  (This was the start of the film, with River Phoenix playing the young Indiana Jones.)  So quiet!  Just "oofs" and sound effects of a train engine and fighting.  Spielberg made little comments while we watched, like "That's when Indiana got his whip" and "That's where Harrison has a real scar".  We then watched it again, this time with the orchestra playing the score, and it was just genius.  

OK, so you know what's cool?  When this was recorded in the sound studio, Brian was there (he was a PA for Spielberg back then).  We told him to wave at Steven.

"The Duel" from The Adventures of Tintin by John Williams
A montage of swordplay was shown, and I was happy every time they showed clips from "Princess Bride".  Yes, they showed lightsabers in this montage, too.  I was disappointed, though, that I didn't see anything from "The Goonies", although I guess there wasn't any sword fighting, just Sloth acting like a pirate on the ship.  Never mind.

Theme from Schindler's List By John Williams
Bing Wang, Violin Soloist

Gorgeous.  I'm pretty sure I saw tears on Spielberg's face from way up at my seat.

Spielberg: "I can direct bicycles to fly, but John's music truly makes them airborne."

Finale from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial by John Williams
We watched that whole thing, which starts with Elliott going to the van where E.T. is in the box, all the way to the end.  Because I hadn't cried enough during the evening, I guess.  If this music does nothing to your soul, you are dead inside.

Encore

"The Rebellion is Reborn" from "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi" by John Williams
Theme from "Star Wars" by John Williams
"Imperial March" by John Williams  

They brought the herald trumpeters back, because you can't play that march without a bunch of trumpets.

Light saber time!  Lots and lots of light sabers. 

Light sabers behind us

Light sabers in front of us (including ours)

I pointed out one of the french horn players to Rudy because he looked like Barry of Rockapella.  Barry is from LA and played the french horn, you know.  It's possible that was him.  Not probable, but possible.

I said my goodbyes to Rudy, Brian, because I needed to hurry up and get on the shuttle.  Ooh, coach bus, nice and comfy.

That was a great evening. Thank you, Rudy, for getting the tickets!

Thank you, Steven Spielberg, for spending your time with all of us at the Bowl.

Thank you, John Williams, for the beautiful gift of music you've written and shared with the world.  You are truly the Maestro.

Puppet Noir

I went to Universal Studios Hollywood during the day so I could go on Jurassic Park: The Ride one more time before it changes into whatever Jurassic World otherness.  I got soaked, but dried off in time to have dinner with my friends, then see "The Happytime Murders".

• This is not your kids' muppet movie. Oh my goodness, it is NOT.
• That opening scene, for instance, with the cow, and the milking.  Yikes!
• If you have a puppet liver, you, too, can get hopped up on purple sugar crystals by using red vines as your snorting straw.  
• Cousins should not breed with each other.  The kids screaming at themselves in the mirror gave me the giggle fits.  I'm giggling now as I type this.
• Why do the dogs hate the puppets so much?!?  Oh, no, wait, it's because they think they're chew toys, right?
• Don't call a puppet "sock".  It is derogatory and pisses them off.  Also, please don't call me a "meat sack".
• Melissa McCarthy is hilarious as always.
• Phil's brother trying to look more human, with the nose.  How is it that I didn't notice that?
• Loved the credits: they show how the puppeteers worked the scenes.

I had fun watching this, and I laughed a lot.  I would see it again once it is shown on TV, but not with any kids in the room.  So, so, so NOT.

They're So Fluffy!

In keeping with the Asian movie theme of the weekend, I decided to see the documentary short "Pandas" on IMAX 3D.  Linda decided to see it with me.

• I felt like a kid reaching out for the Fuzzball at Captain EO when I saw how fluffy the baby pandas were.  I want to pet one!
• Interesting that they were observing the baby pandas and kind of "auditioning" them to see how well they might do in the wild.
• Pandas eat 50 pounds of bamboo a day.  I don't think I should have one as a pet.
• I'm wondering what it smells like in that guy's house, with 3 bear cubs living inside.  From what I hear about the bears local to my neighborhood, they don't smell great.
• Jujitsu training helps you get out of a panda's grasp if playtime gets rough.  The more you know!

That was cute.  I hope the Giant Pandas can once again thrive in the wild.

Bawk Bawk

After a frustrating day at MouseAdventure: That's From Disneyland, Mox and I went to Burbank to see "Crazy Rich Asians".  The theater was packed!  

• "Damn, Girl, he's like the Asian Bachelor!"
• "Tonight you need to not look like Sebastian from 'The Little Mermaid'."
• I loved every time Awkwafina was on screen.
• "You both went to the same school.  Yet someone comes back with a degree that's useful, and the other one came back as Asian Ellen."
• "You have a cocktail dress in your trunk?"  "I'm not an animal, Rachel."
• I think I'd just hang out on that beach all day.  The scenery was gorgeous.
• People shouldn't talk about babies while making bao anymore, because then I think of the Pixar short and people eating their young.
• You're telling me that those stuck-up women actually touched that dead fish and spread blood around like that?  Mean women are mean.
• Now that a sequel has been announced, I hope we get to see more of Astrid.  Her character interests me.
• "It was never my job to make you feel like a man.  I can't make you into something you're not."
• Michelle Yeoh.  That is all.

I hope I get a chance to see this movie in the theater again, but if not, I'll probably watch it lots of times on TV.  Fun!

Family Matters

Rockapella and the Company Men

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Bankhead Theatre

Livermore, CA

I arrived in San Jose after the awesome week of drum corps, yet I still had lots of energy despite the restless sleep I had on the plane.  I bought a breakfast sandwich and a chai latte at one of the airport restaurants, and sat down and relaxed for a little bit after retrieving my luggage.  I ordered a Lyft to take me to my hotel in Livermore, and my driver was very friendly.  I'm always amazed at what people will tell total strangers when nobody else in their life is there to hear them.  No, I wasn't the one talking.  The hotel had a room available for early check-in, so I had a chance to change and get pretty for the show.

Weff arrived at the hotel, and I met up with them when we were all ready to go to the theatre.  After parking on the second floor of the parking structure, we walked down the stairs and somebody recognized my voice: my cousin, Marie!  She was about to go to her first Rockapella show, and I was excited about that, as well as excited that I was seeing her, because we rarely get to see each other.  I still needed to wait for Jen to arrive, and Auntie Milda was stuck in horrid traffic, so I left her ticket at will call.  Since we were allowed to bring beverages into the theater, Jen and I bought wine that came in cups with coffee cup lids so that our drinks were covered.  The only problem with those lids is that they were a little awkward and little drops dribbled, so I needed to be extra careful not to spill anywhere.

Our seats were in the front row, house right, Row A, seats 2-8.  We had wondered how this show would work, and I guess Calvin told Weff on Friday night that he wasn't sure.  Like, would they each sing a whole set?  Why is Rockapella on stage first?  Shouldn't they be headlining?  Was Auntie Milda going to make it to her seat before the show started?  Why, YES! There she is!  YAY!

ROCKAPELLA

The introductory film graphics were like a comic book, as the theme from "Avengers" played.  The graphics included a superpower for each of them, none of which I understand from my scribbly notes.  Whoa.  I'm out of practice writing in the dark.  I just hope that by the end of the concert, all of them would still be there, and not little piles of dust.

Rock Around the Clock

Hmmm. Moments of sound issues.

After the song, Scott asked the audience, "How you doing?", then asked, "What's up with the sound?!?" He did not wait for an answer.  They immediately went into the next song.

Jailhouse Rock

Scott pointed at us when he sang "Do you no good."  Then we saw Pella Butts.  OK!  I think those did me *some* good.

Scott: "I love Livermore, it's 60 degrees at night and 105 degrees in the daytime."

"I see some of our friends in the front row." Awww....that's us, Posse! 

Jeff laid down the beats, which led to Dancin' in the Moonlight.

Love that choreography.

Don't Mess With Jim

"RRRUFFFF!"  I'm pretty sure Scott barked at me.

Scott introduced us to "Bad, Bad Calvin Jones".

Scott: "I love liver.  Pate is my favorite."  

L-O-V-E / What Lovers Do

Ooh, I haven't seen this as performed by Rockapella, only Sun Brothers (L-O-V-E).  I've seen the video, but not live.  They added something like "wishing for some of that Califronia wine", and "How about a little avocado?"  So clever!

The Middle Medley

This was the song on their most recently released video. Cute that Mitch was stuck between Scott and Cal at the end of the piece.

Scott forced Mitch to talk because he's a Cavs fan, and they were in Warriors country.  

Scott:  "I've always been a Steph Curry fan.  I keep telling you that."

<talking about JT> "Jeff started as a toddler, he was so cute."  

Scott "used to listen to Andy Williams every year, from Labor Day on."

Moon River

Bryant told us about Rockapella Jams Vol. 2 - Whoo!  Wait.  When is that being released?! Did I even hear that right?

Bryant first saw Rockapella live at 8 years old.  Jeff:  "I was 10."  
Bryant wanted to be a..."what do you call it?"  JT:  "Moisturizer.  Pro Spitter."  Bryant:  "I always wanted to be a pro-spitter.

So they did some vocal percussion together and it was awesome!  Then JT did a drum solo, and Bryant came in with his bass.

Rock The Boat

Rapper's Delight / Uptown Funk
Scott danced like Bruno Mars.  Mitch pointed at Wendy when he sang, "She likes it", and Wendy nodded.

Scott:  We sang this song every day for 75 years:
Carmen SanDiego / Shape of You

For some reason, I wrote down "Calvin does not want to sweat."  Neither my friends nor I can remember why I wrote that.  Did someone say it?  Did Calvin say it about himself?  Why was Calvin talking in the third person?  Why am I just making up stuff?  (This is a rhetorical question, BTW.)

<Intermission>
KP left because she had a train to catch.  Sorry I didn't say bye, KP!  We were catching up on family stuff.

Then The Company Men took the stage.

I got ready to write notes, but realized that I didn't really want to do so.  The Company Men is a 4-man group.  They sing in harmony with instrumental tracks (and, we found out later, some vocal tracks, too).  Well, at least they did tonight.  I see videos on the 'net with live instruments.  Their songs were medleys of lots of different songs, like one of the medleys (or, they called them mash-ups and tried to sound like this was an original thing when we had just heard Rockapella) was a bunch of Motown songs.  This made me thankful that Rockapella is singing stuff from JAMS Volume 1 and not their Motown & More CD, or I would have gone out for more wine.  They all had good voices, and did some Temptations-like dancing.  It was fun, but you know me: I missed Rockapella halfway through the first song.

Then Rockapella joined The Company Men!  I told my seatmates, "I've missed them SO much!"  Jen told me they were on stage earlier that day.  I told her it was still agonizing this entire time.  I'm never dramatic.

This Time
Ooh, I like this song, which is by John Legend.  The Company Men has this in their regular repertoire, and it's very pretty.  It's even better with my guys.  

One of The Company Men guys talked about performing with the USO, and how proud he was to sing for the troops.  That other guy took Mitch's stool, so Mitch had to sit on Thacher Island.  Rude.

Battle Hymn of the Republic / America the Beautiful
I love hearing a male choir sing Battle Hymn.  I love singing it, too, but I always want to sing it in their range because I like the low voices for it.  I tried not to cry.  It did not work.

Up On The Roof / Wonderful World (off mic)
Wait a minute.  That guy that took Mitch's stool?  He ALSO sang Mitch's part on "Roof"!!!  If anyone had sung the lead to Wonderful World other than Scott, I would have been pissed.  Lucky for them, they kept their heads about them.

Also luckily for them: none of them turned into piles of dust.

Meet and Greet
Marie and Auntie Milda bought CDs from both groups, and I introduced them to the guys I knew, and told Rockapella that it was Marie's first show.  They also took a picture with them.

I whispered to Scott that I preferred when they were the ones on stage.  I don't know if anyone else heard me.  Then I realized that I didn't have one of JeffEvs' Altoids, and Scott could probably smell my Breath of Red Wine.  Sorry, Scott!  ACK, I'm so embarrassed now, so of course I need to confess it to the world in this blog.

After taking pictures with folks, Calvin came over to talk to us.  He and I discussed how he's not happy with LeBron going to the Lakers, and neither am I, so he should just come to a game with me and we can commiserate.

Mitch came to talk to us, and I noticed that he was wearing a new Rockapella shirt.  He said he was trying to market it by wearing it to the meet and greet, and that they have a bunch of them for sale on the website.  He said he hoped people would like it, and I told him I like it.  Then he told me, "You don't count."

So I walked back to the table where the other guys were, and told them that Mitch said that I didn't count.  They looked at me like I was insane.  Or maybe that's the way they always look at me.  Bryant walked over to see what was up with that remark.  Mitch said, "No, Sherry, you don't count because you're one of us! You're FAMILY!"  Then I calmed down.  Mitch said I'm family.  Mitch is forgiven.

We took this picture before I thought he was insulting me.

Then we focused on Bryant and the fact that next time they saw him, he'd be a married man.  I congratulated him and asked him where he and his lovely bride would be going on their honeymoon.  Jen said I was nosy.  Jen, don't you know?  I'm FAMILY.  Also, I want to make sure not to go where they go lest I be accused of stalking anyone.  

Bryant takes our selfie

Bryant starts to lose control

Bryant realizes he's stalking himself

I realize that my phone no longer
belongs to me.

I can't stop giggling.

Fred came over to talk to us, too, and we asked what happened to the sound during the show.  I don't remember the answer, but he said it wasn't his fault.  Well, of course not!

We were the last group to leave, as usual, and ate dinner close by at Sauced.  Mmmm...barbecue!  I decided I didn't need to drink anymore because I was going on almost no sleep and was still a little tipsy from the wine.  

We thought of going to see a famous light bulb in a firehouse, but decided it was too far of a walk, so we just said our goodbyes and Weff and I returned to the hotel.  I had a good sleep and was nice and refreshed for the trip home.  My Lyft driver welcomed a friendly chat, and we talked about the wedding he'd be attending in a couple of weeks.  I did not ask about the couple's honeymoon.

It was an awesome vacation:  DCI Finals with an SCV/SCVC win, and then I saw my Rockapella posse and family!  I'm a happy girl.   So how else to celebrate the great week?  Get cupcakes at My Delight, of course.  And then order a couple of Rockapella shirts.

GF Peach Cobbler; Banana Split;
Unicorn; Caramel Cheesecake