Well, dear readers, our first Kritzerland rehearsal was ever so much fun. John Boswell is still getting over his cold, and so are others in our cast – this thing is horrible and I am still fighting the good fight, despite all this fighting kind of trashing my voice, which is what always happens when I have this much phlegm. Still, we must WIN this damn fight so keep sending all your most excellent vibes and xylophones for no sickness and a strong voice. And I, of course, will continue taking all my preventatives for the next six days. But may I also just tell you that today is the final day of February, a way too short month. So, tomorrow we’ll be marching into March, so it is my fervent hope and prayer that March will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
First to arrive was Sarah Uriarte Berry (she’s at the tail end of her illness – three weeks of it). We ran her two solos, Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead and Queen Bee and settled on the keys for them. We love Sarah and even on the tail end of her illness she sounds strong and great. Then Carly Bracco arrived and they ran their duet, which, of course, is Perfect Strangers. Sarah left, and Carly ran her two solos – Nearsighted, which she does beautifully, and Everything, which she also does beautifully.
Then Guy Haines didn’t show so I had to run his two songs – Echo Valley 2-6809 and Terminal – my voice was not so strong but I got through them okay. That was part one of our rehearsal. Prior to that I’d gotten a bit over nine hours of sleep, answered e-mails and just tried to keep my mouth shut and relax. After John left, I went to Jerry’s Deli and had a cup of chicken noodle soup (very soothing), and a bagel. Then I came home, the helper stopped by briefly, and then I did some work on the computer.
At six-thirty, Robert Yacko arrived and John came back. We ran Robert’s two solos – The Phantom of the Opera and The People That You Never Get to Love (Rupert’s favorite of all he’s written). Then Marc Ginsberg arrived and they did their duet, An English Music Hall. Then Robert left and Marc ran his two solos – I Don’t Need You and Letters That Cross in the Mail, both excellent. I must say, everyone was really prepared, which always makes these first rehearsals go so much more smoothly.
Then I made a couple of little tortillas with cheese and ate them, and I had some cherry chip ice cream, which I’m just completely obsessed with. I could literally eat the whole damn thing in one sitting. After that, I just relaxed, did some work on the computer, took a hot shower, took my preventatives, including a dose of Ny-Quil, and that was that. All in all, a perfectly fine little day.
Today, I’m truly hoping I wake up feeling good and that my voice gets all its strength back. I have no real plans for the day, just working on two CD packages, relaxing, and hoping I feel well enough to do the long-planned dinner engagement. If not, I’ll cancel. I may, at some point, have a cup of chicken soup, and I’ll hopefully pick up some packages. Then, if all is well, there’s the dinner.
Tomorrow I will do nothing outside of the house. I need to rest and relax as much as possible and keep up the strong good fight. Thursday is our second Kritzerland rehearsal and in addition to the already-mentioned cast, Kay Cole and Rupert himself will be joining us, so that will be lots o’ fun. If I’m okay, I may have dinner with Rupert after, if not, that could also happen on Friday and Saturday. Friday will be a resting day, Saturday is our stumble-through, and Sunday is band rehearsal, sound check, and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, rest, hopefully feel stronger and better, perhaps have some chicken soup, hopefully pick up packages, and then if I’m feeling up to it, have a dinner. Today’s topic of discussion: When you are feeling like you’re coming down with something or worried about it, what are your favorite preventatives? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a fun first rehearsal with the songs of Rupert Holmes.