With this early spring, I needed to get to the back of the garage to pull out the summer tires for the Fit. That meant starting up my Ginger to get to the shelving in the back of the garage. What a nice day for a drive!

Sorry I've been scarce here for a while - life has been accelerating (in a good way).

Anika is getting into more activities that take up our time - most notably horseback riding. She's been taking classes for almost 2 years now. See her jump:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws0ypBXRx6w

(Note: the Horse's name in this video is Ginger! )

Yes, I'm back (ish) - life is hardly slowing down......................

 

Jonas.

Good to hear from you. You are missed in these parts.

Glad to hear all is well.

 

He lives! Good to hear from you, Jonas.

 

Another thing that's been keeping me VERY busy since a year ago this January:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMwTqZvh9YY

About 25 years ago, I belonged to a young men's oktet - we did primarily Lithuanian stuff for the lithuanian communities around the country. When a couple of us graduated college, that's when it broke up. Though I've been in various choral groups since, that old Oktet was the most fun of all. Well, just 2 years ago this May, our director, Al Bielskus, passed away. Several of us gathered to sing at the funeral, along with our accompanist, Dana. Afterwards, over drinks, we decided to give it a try again. There were 4 of us willing and able to dedicate some time - and, happily, we got one of each voice a first tenor, me as second Tenor - though I call myself a bargain counter tenor!, a baritone and a bass. So we started rehearsals in January of 2011. Being the only one of the 4 with any musical training at all, it was left to me to choose music, teach parts, pick out the starting pitches on the piano, etc.

So, many nights these days are devoted to the group - figuring out the play list for the next concert, listening to the last rehearsal recording & writing down what we need to work on, trying to come up with new music to do. Many pieces we revisited from the olden days, but we've branched out a bit to new material (like 'Standing on the Corner', above).

Our first concert was in the Lithuanian restaurant last June 25th, to a crows that was composed 100% of our friends. The second was Nov 19th as a fundraiser for the Lithuanian club. It's been a lot of fun! I have to say - singing in a quartet is the most fun of any vocal group I've yet been involved in.

.... to be continued.....

 

For those interested, here are a few of the Lithuanian pieces that we do:

Some 'Lithuanian Brbershop':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0vl_PVAQjw

A very traditional Lithuanian Folk Song about a boy who misplaced his horse. ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbdEgaelIQU

 

A song about a young man asking his father for his first steed. (These days, he would be asking for the keys to the car!) We sang this all the time in the Lithuania club so many years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAA-ZyUjIVI

Now that we're all middle aged (!), we can sing this song - a favorite of Lithuania audiences everywhere. It's a song about a bunch of guys sitting around the fire on a cold winter's night, smoking their pipes, reminiscing about lost days of youth, and probably drinking. This song qualifies as 'Lithuanian Jazz'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW56Gl4BLUU


If you sat through any part of that - Congratulations. Just know that we're better now, since we've been rehearsing at least once a week, sometimes twice.

Our next concert is in Rochester on April 21st. So, we're still rehearsing and I'm still up late nights...

 

Jonas, I don't understand the language, but you sound good, and you look great, BTW.

Miss seeing you! It's been too long!

 

Very nice! Talented family you have.

 

Jonas, it is nice "seeing" you here again!

I especially enjoyed the Lithuanian "drinking song!" Looks as if you are having a lot of fun!

Hope to see you soon.

Sue and Dennis

 

Thanks for posting Jonas. You have a very nice family.