In Good Company

Ok, get ready to hold your ears-

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Ok, you can go back to normal now, I'm done. No really, it's alright. I just had to get that out.

Oh, you're wondering what that was all about? Well, I'll tell you-

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!

Oh sorry, should've warned you again. I'm done for real now. Really, I promise. But I am just oh so excited!

May 18, 2009 marked my last official day out to Stony Brook for my first year back to school. I've got quite a few projects that I'll be working on this summer so I'm not completely off the hook, but I will not be making that commute until I absolutely have to again at the end of August. Yippee!

My last recital of the first year, on 5/11, was a fun one with lots of chamber pieces, consisting of works from the "classical" era. I know, you're probably thinking, "isn't it all classical music?" Well, technically, yes, but within that specific genre lies about four (well five) traditional periods of classical music, according to time frame. The Baroque era (think Bach, Vivaldi, Handel) took place in the mid 1600s through mid 1700s; the Classical era (Mozart, Haydn) from the mid 1700s through early 1800s; the Romantic era (Chopin, Brahms, Schumann) for most of the 1800s; the 20th Century era (Stravinsky, Debussy, Ives), uh, self-explanatory; up until now with New/Contemporary music that is being composed today. How's that for a little music history lesson? But I digress...

It was one of those easy-to-the-ears recitals and ended up being a blast playing with the awesome people I was in company with. Here's a little slideshow of the day:

The day after my "official last day," some sweet friends of ours, Sarah and Eric (adorable couple below) who lived in NYC a couple years back, visited their old stomping grounds and stayed with us for a few nights.


We had a great time catching up and even visited two very tasty restaurants we'd never tried before - John's Pizzeria in Times Square (yes, Times Square- it may be every New Yorker's nightmare, but they have some darn good pizza and it's housed in an old church! So it was super cool!), and Acqua. I was also able to get free tix for all of us for a concert at Lincoln Center which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Three of my favorite "20th Century composers" were featured (see, now you know what I mean) - Debussy, Bartok, and then my favoritest piece ever by Stravinksy- the Rite of Spring. Oh yeah, it was awesome.

After they left, some good friends of ours from San Diego, Ron, Megan and Little Luke,

Sweetest, little face!!!

visited the NY/NJ/CT area so we go to hang out with them a bit. More yummy food and fun times! We even got to spend the evening on Memorial Day taking in another great free concert by the NY Phil broadcast out onto a neighboring park where we enjoyed a picnic dinner.

(check out those Popeye-forearms- HA!!! love that angle...)

We had more yummy pizza at Grimaldi's just past the Brooklyn Bridge so we enjoyed some scenic views even on a not-so-scenic day.

Just two days after the last of our company left, I went down to Alexandria, VA to visit with my folks. It was a great time of relaxing and just hanging out. Mommy and me got our nails done and did some shopping and then my Too-dad, Mary Catherine, and her daughter, Susan, came down on Saturday and we went to DC to go on this cool "Duck" tour!

Yes, I'll explain- back in WWI (or WWII...man, I stink at history...) these vehicles that ride both on land and in water were used so we enjoyed an hour taking in DC sights and the Potomac River!

All of us outside of the "Duck" with our guide flexing his muscles inside!

Strolling along the streets of DC with views of the Capitol Building


And now, strolling along the Potomac River!

My Sweet Too-dad and his beautiful, sweet Mary Catherine

I even got to try my hand behind the wheel once we were in the river! Very fun.

My Too-daddy and his girls inside Union Station in DC

We enjoyed a yummy dinner that evening over looking the Potomac River on the Alexandria water front

and even saw a wedding happening on the paddlewheeler where Steve and I were married so that was a real treat.

"The Cherry Blossom" - ah, what fond memories :)

Man, I love Alexandria (look at this cute, little town!)

and I am so glad my parents now call it their home! It was an awesome visit.

Now I'm back home and getting back into the swing of things - working at Lincoln Center, PRACTICING (yeah!!! how i've, ironically, missed my flute), and spending time with my hubby- the best company of all!!! I'm sooo looking forward to this summer... ;)