Florida - EOD 4

I didn't post an "End of Day 4" post last night because I didn't get home until 11pm & was too "exhaustipated" by then.

Here's a summary of the day:

After packing our suitcases & having breakfast at Mary's house, we headed over to the church to pick up the equipment we needed for the school show. We loaded up the vans & then headed over to Trinitas Christian School (K-8).

We set up on the stage of their multi-purpose room & while the kids ate lunch, we did some last-minute planning (ie. where are we processing from? etc.). Then we were on!

These kids were some of the best behaved kids I've ever seen! They were quiet, not fidgety, and actually paid attention! Some of their parents came for the assembly, too.

We started out by processing in on Kevin's composition "Minuet" (which is on our newly-sold-out CD "Sampler") - me with my walking-stick bell tree poll and Kevin with Monika's "Sharpsicle" portable harp, with Monika & Bobby processing behind us, each with G & D chimes. We really like the addition of the chimes!!

Kevin then introduced "Josefin's Waltz", an original tune by a Norwegian composer written for his niece's baptism.

Next up was Bobby & Monika with Benjamin Roundtree's four-in-hand duet "Joyful, Joyful". Before they played, I explained to the kids about the clappers in the bells & what "four-in-hand" is.

Monika then played a harp solo - Linda Wood's "Processional".

We did Carlos Salzedo's "Triptic Dance" as an interactive one with the kids. Kevin & Monika played harps, I did the bell tree, while Bobby led the kids. Mary had the GREAT idea to put masking tape on some kids' chairs before they sat down so we didn't have to "choose" any kids. We had 10 kids for this, so we divvied them up into 2 groups of 5 and did the piece twice. The kids had G & D bells & chimes and played along with us.

Bobby then played bassoon with me on bells (and Kevin on cross-strung harp) for my arrangement of the Gounod "Ave Maria".

"El Jardin del Sono" was next - originally a flute & piano piece that I found on the internet, Kevin & I really like this piece on bells & harp.

Monika & Bobby did Kevin McChesney's duet "Glory", followed by Kevin playing a harp solo "Dancing in My Dreams" (which he wrote).

Monika went back to the harp (with Bobby on bells) for their rendition of Ray Pool's arrangement of Gershwin's "I've Got Rhythm".

[UPDATE: I almost forgot! We got 8 kids from the audience to do an 8-person move-the-bodies Plain Hunt Change Ring. For kids, I try to get them to go faster & faster with each change. They love it!]

Then, we took some questions & answers - most of which were about the harps! - then we wrapped up with me, Monika, and Bobby on Boude Moore's "Scherzo" (Hyfrydol).

After the show, we packed up then headed off to Bagelheads for lunch - YUM!

At the airport, we all hugged & confirmed that we DEFINITELY want to do this again in the Bay Area next year then Kevin & I checked in at the Continental desk. He had to pay overweight & oversize fees for the harp, but we expected that.

We flew an Embraer Regional Jet (#N12519) from PNS to IAH.

We were scheduled for a short layover in Houston - only 40 minutes. Unfortunately, the plane was delayed getting to Pensacola in the first place, so we took off about 10 minutes late. THEN, in Houston, there was another aircraft at our gate, so we sat on the runway for about 15 minutes before they assigned another one to us. Kevin & I power-walked (I can't run - my foot is still injured from falling down an escalator in Japan!) from terminal B to terminal E & just managed to catch our next plane.

However, they had already given my seat away to a standby customer, so I was forced to find another one. The problem with that is that I have a slight case of Enochlophobia which is worse when I'm stressed - such as from nearly missing my plane! - so I always request a window seat. I can sometimes deal with an aisle seat, but a middle seat is right out!

I managed to find an aisle seat, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been, but it was the exit row, so I couldn't recline my seat for the entire 3.5 hour trip. *sigh*

We weren't sure if our luggage made the transfer, but were happily surprised when we got to SFO & there it was! Even Kevin's harp made the entire round-trip safely. YAY!

We had a REALLY great time with Monika & Bobby (and Joel, Jerod, Bill, and MARY!!!) and can't wait to see them again. THANK YOU for hosting us, you guys!!!