A Random but Super Week

Well, there has been completely different things going on this week.

Sunday began with a going away party for a good friend of ours, Greg Buzby. He leaves today to begin a study program with the Ringling Art School just outside Paris. He will return home in June, so his friends got together and gave him a "super" send-off!

Friends of ours, Greg and Barry

Monday was "super"-full of more concerts-singing at Ringling Museum, then dinner at our house before an evening concert for the completely exhausted chamber singers.










"Superman" renaissance dancers and a few minutes of downtime

Tuesday had "super" seniors letting their hair down in the annual Air Band Competition in the school auditorium. Emma's boyfriend, Matt Nations, and his rendition of "I Can Show You The World" won first place this year. All I have to say is, he looks super in a dress!

Matt and Friends in Air Band 2008

Last night's dinner was super because it was the first time in more than a week we were all home for dinner at the same time!

Just thought you'd like a peek--and btw, look for Emma in the pink and black in both videos!

To Save The King

The Renaissance Script is a unique creation each year. At the end of the previous school year, the new "head table" (aka King, Queen, Lord & Lady Chamberlain) gets together to discuss a possible plot. The formula is the same: Lords and Ladies of the castle are gathered together to solve a dilemma. After much singing and feasting, problem is solved and there is peace within the kingdom again.

Last year's was a family reunion for the reading of the previous king's will. The conflict was Queen and L.C. don't like each other. King and L.C. are siblings. Of course, by the end they are all friends. This year's was a feast to help King James come up with something to accomplish before the end of his first 100 days in "office". The problem: KJ fails with each attempt to do something, and an unknown Lord (Schwilliam) will become King if James fails. Oh, what to do?!

He attempts to move a sorcerer's stone, but 5 ladies move it instead! He designs a flower garden for his queen, but alas! She is allergic to roses! 6 ladies have no lords, but all the lords he chooses (from the audience) are already married and the monk cannot perform the ceremony! King James attempts to make wassail, but the sorcerer and his lady need to fix the concoction before it can be "served to my guests"! Poor King James....what IS he to do? He can't even dance (as apparent in the Lords and Ladies traditional (and not traditional) dance)!

After not being able to get a word in edgewise, the monk FINALLY gets the attention of Queen Allison and suggests he commission a translation of the bible for the common people of the kingdom. What to call it? "Oh, the King James Bible, of course!!" There is then great rejoicing in the kingdom.

But wait....

Lord Chamberlain (who is constantly wanting to go to war, in spite of Lady Chamberlain's protests) is upset. "This will never work." Because....da, da daaaaa (soap opera music)...HE IS THE DREADED LORD SCHMILLIAM WHO WILL INHERIT THE THRONE!! After a sword fight, and a promotion to General so he can finally go to war with Spain, all is made right in the kingdom.






Long live King James!


The End...until the next episode of Renaissance, 2008!

Behind the Scenes

Lady and Lord Chamberlain

Dressing Room fun

Warm-ups in the castle

We actually have fun!

A series communicating the heat! :)

I put the photos first this morning....

Beginning with the "formal" Lord and Lady Chamberlain portrait, I thought a few fun shots before the festivities would be appropriate. The average temps in Sarasota were highs in the mid 80's, so, needless to say, the a/c was working at it's max with all the people present and the weight of the costumes.

More later, with performance photos....

A taste of the Yet To Come

Dress rehearsal is fun, but very tiring for our chamber choir at RHS. After being in the venue for three hours after school Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday has even longer demands.

The students (and faculty/parent volunteers) rehearse for the 45 minute concert in the sanctuary at St. John's UMC from 3-5 before getting a 2 hour dinner break. Then at 7, a twice-through script final rehearsal begins. Whenever that is done, parents set up and decorate the lords' and ladies' tables for the first performance night. This year I left with Emma and Laura at 10 pm. Garland, as castle construction head, stayed with the rest of the set-up committee until midnight. It is a long week leading up to three performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Last night was a huge success! All their hard work paid off. I will recap the feast itself in another post, but I had to share a few more pictures from last evening.

King James, Queen Allison, Lady Chamberlain

Lady Chamberlain telling her Lord how it is

It is so great to have Katy home for this! She's actually never sat and watched, so this is also fun and new for her, too.

All in all, I would say this will be a great weekend!

The Few Hours Between the Insanity

So, I've discovered almost a month has been lost between posts, and of course, I'm just as busy as ever! (As an aside, I remember my mother running up and down a full flight of stairs whether at her work or at home--full spring--and I think this is me during this season of life. For those of you who check more regularly than others, I'm quite sure you knew my mother then, and understand the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!)
Today is the last day of decorating at home, and the first day of Renaissance Week. We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday--missing Katy so very much, and happy for Emma and Laura's presence for the first time in 5 years.

By this time next week, Renaissance will be complete, Katy's first trip home will be over, and most in our family will have collapsed! My mom and stepdad will still be in town for the big event, there will be three weeks of concerts waiting before the craziness is done. I will do my best to post pictures of Emma's year as Lady Chamberlain one week from now--another daughter almost gone.



In the meantime, I trust all had a wonderful beginning to the 2007 Holiday Season, and I will post as time allows...

TEAM GIL, 2007

Dani, Lisa, Nikki, Katy, Britney

Hope College Relay for Life, October 19, 2007

The day after Dad's AML diagnosis, Katy and her dorm mates joined other Hope College students in walking to fight against cancer. Coincidently, she lives in Gilmore Hall, and their team was Team Gil! Needless to say, Dad became the face of the cause for anyone who knew Katy!

Dad does have a team of supporters behind him, encouraging and praying, walking alongside during this battle. I thought you'd like to meet the "locals"!

Dad and Nancy, proud recipients of the autographed t-shirt

More team members: Shari, Ellen, Lyn

Update on Dad's health is most encouraging: As Garland and I drove to visit him in Charleston, the doctors were releasing Dad to be able to finish his treatment on an outpatient basis. They discovered that he still has good cells fighting, and because he is not having severe reactions to the drugs, they want to give it a try with him recovering at home. So instead of a weekend in the hospital visiting him, we were able to be together in the comforts of home! While he rested, I stocked his kitchen full of my grandmother's swedish specialties: pepperkauker cookies, rice pudding, and limpa bread!

He will be going in for treatments three times a week, and as he says, "It's a day-by-day situation." Nancy will be cleaning out his shunt, and a nurse practitioner comes for a weekly visit also.

We know this is a direct answer to all the people praying, and our family thanks you all!

Homecoming, 2007

Well, Homecoming has come and gone. This year I'm going to begin with the dance.

Laura's first high school dance, and she met up with some friends at Outback before going with the group up to the convention center.

Emma spent the morning in Cape Coral for a choir event, and then went to her hair appointment before some friends came over to all get ready together.













James was her date again this year--


They are like Will and Grace in every way possible!!--and then met up at another friend's house where 19 seniors took a party bus to Bonefish Grill before making their appearance at the dance.


This is the funniest part of the weekend. Emma did the "soldier boy dance" for us the next morning. Since the Harts like to dance, I suggest this one be taught at the next reunion. Now you will all get to see a reason Emma is so much fun!

	Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

The Birthday Song

Happy Birthday, Katy! 19 and counting...

This is the first year without seeing her. I really wanted to do something special for her long distance. This is what I came up with...

In the past few years, my cousin, Paul, has been hired by our choir to do dvd's of the year's events for our banquet. He always does a great job.

For Katy's "card", he and I collaborated. Her roommate, Dani, got in on the sneak, and in moments Katy will receive this...

Happy Birthday, Katy!

click on the link above to watch her card...

The Weekend Through Emma's Eyes

This past weekend was filled with tears and laughter. Sarah would've liked the fun. I told Emma our day in Manhattan was completely up to her. I just had to get to Zabar's, but other than that, it was all Em! We went to 5th Ave., Rockefeller, Columbia, Central Park, Times Square....all her favorites! The $7 all day subway passes are the best deal going in The City! And of course, the PIZZA!

Here are some of Emma's photos...

Flowers from RHS Choir for Sarah's Memorial

Driving through Harlem on our way to Long Island, we got to see the Apollo

Emma really wanted to go up to Columbia University for a visit....

Bathesda Fountain was a must go to

...she wasn't too sure about the guy doing her charicature!

But of course, Strawberry Fields in Central Park is always interesting!