the journey (& laughter) continues

recently, we began the next "thigh" of our journey.
I realize the word here is normally "leg" .. but then, I'm not sure how normal we are!  Let's call a turnip a turnip and play it straight.  We are on this road for friendship & enjoyment & enlightenment toward our barbershop skills ... but more of the former(s) and not as much of the latter as we probably should be.  HOWEVER, we are pretty much serious about improving & doing things right (or at least more right) ... we just want to have fun doing it!  I spoke with a fellow Q-tet'er outside of our foursome recently- to find that she is experiencing a growing struggle within her group.  It's gradually becoming more work than musical joy.  While this discovery is difficult enough for her to deal with, she is in need of a breather that she doesn't see herself taking in the near future.  She's not seeing a light through the trees ... which, in itself, adds to her mental & physical stress.  I must say- I have more flexibility, & have exercised it at times (as have the other 3 in our Q)  There is something to be said for not ALWAYS having to take it seriously.  I realize we will not grow & improve as rapidly, but neither are we as likely to be captive to obligation.  Our choices in music lately have been fun, and we are putting together what will actually be considered a repertoire (more than 4 songs is my guideline).  With that ... we can entertain and ... frankly learn even more!  (fun stuff)  I love these gals, & hope that we have a few more years of entertaining others (& ourselves) before our voices & bodies give out!  For now ... I'm pulling out the musical road map & pointing north ... cuz we are working our way up the skill chain one step at a time!!
BBS rules......

will it ever stop??? Gosh, I hope not!

as you would expect ... SeaGlass "put on some ritz" last night at the installation dinner for the Celebration Chorus' new board of directors.  For the sake of sanity (?) only 2 of us are on the board ... that gives those 2 a personal assistant in times of need!
not only did we do a bit of organizing & decorating & planning .. but we were our own entertainment as well!!!!!  You might not take us seriously from our diverse set of chapeau choices- but we were on top of our game for our performance of Mood Indigo!  I'm not sure how much more of the love & laugh-fest I can take of these gals ... but I DO HOPE it's lots & lots!!  We're heading for a year of REAL work on our craft and I think it will pay off in ... bananas!  (in case Lainey gets hungry & eats one off her hat!)

pure ham

pure fun

pure entertainment

& we're working on the pure BBS sound!

a "calorie free" rocky road

the quartet made it's competition "debut" this past weekend, with a few bruises to prove it!  We got beat up in our scores a bit.
the outcome was disappointing, though not a shock, and the fact is ... we DID get some positive feedback amongst all the "owies" .. so we are more determined than ever to get on the road to recovery & pump up our BBS skills!!
ALL THAT BEING SAID ... we do look engaged in our singing here ... and we're lovely to look at too!
THANKS FOR an exhausting & laughter filled weekend my friends!!

it wasn't easy .. but we held it together to stand on the risers for 7 hours + to get our heads wrapped around the right way to sing all the time!  (what a concept huh?)  Our feet were aching, so we were ready for a cocktail & jammie pants! (we think we're really funny when we're tired)

friends don't let friends suck (you had to be there)

still smilin', still laughin', still hopin' ..........  We have beefed up our rehearsal schedule.  We've given each other multiple peptalks.  We've set ourselves down for long chats about where we want to go from here.  AND- through all the ARGS, & stress, & tired vocal folds ... we have become stronger friends than ever !!  What a journey this is .... I'm VERY glad that it's still going.
 

SOO much done, so much to do .. so little time!

 WHY IS IT ... that you make a decision to persue something, based on the amount of time you have ... ONLY TO FIND, that you can't figure out where all the time went that you were going to use for "it"?   CHEEESE .... we had this foursome, ya know?  and we happen to congregate toward each other at gatherings.  we tend to room together for outings.  we laugh a LOT.  we joke a LOT.  hmm ... maybe we should sing a LOT too???!?  SO- we sing a few chords, muddle through a song or two.  Hey, we don't suck!  Next thing you know, we're singing in a show.  Well, that wasn't too hard.  Let's compete?!!  (let's register, let's decide on a name, let's learn a song .. or two).  AND IN THE MEANTIME .... let's sign up with 4 others and perform in the novice double quartet contest! Cuz, gee, it's only one song and we have a few weeks before we all need to know it.  Besides, we're just gonna wear pajamas, so it'll be easy right?  No big deal.  AND the biggest plus .. we'll get to see more of each other and we'll be working on our own songs too. (right?)  Oh yeah, we gotta pick out some songs!  That shouldn't take long.. a few learning tracks to listen to, some rights to pay for .... ask advice here & there, repeat as many times as necessary.  Vacation?  oh yeah we had one ... each of us, separately.  BUT- there's lotsa time to decide on songs (NOT). 

did someone send out a "wear purple" memo??

The Christmas show will be here before we know it ... so we need to run thru those songs sometimes ... uh oh ... Lainey is going to Hawaii ... no Qteting for a bit (so Lo & C & me will wing it with a few others while she's away)  BUT, we'll really buckle down right after the holidays!  FOR SURE !!!  

next thing you know .......... (insert sinister music here)  We are only weeks from contest!  We do have 2 songs chosen.  We have a "few" clothing options.  We are pretty much off paper.  Can you say OMG ?? 

BUTTTTTTT we're still laughing ... a LOT