I've gone to Alabama with a banjo on my knee....

October 24, 2005 at 11:45 PM

I've been needing to update for a while. I have a lot to tell. First of all, mother dearest and I got back from Alabama Sunday afternoon. We were there for my second From The Top gig. We left early Friday, and drove to the airport. While I was still half-asleep, we struggled through security (they always need to re-scan the suitcase because of the wire music stand, and of course there's the violin, though it isn't nearly as bad as the time we needed to lug the didgeridoo to Boston!) Anyway, we took a plane to Charlotte, NC, and from there to Alabama. We checked into the hotel mid-afternoon.

That night was the pizza party/music rehearsal, which is the time for all the kids on the show to meet each other (eat pizza of course,) and rehearse their pieces w/ Chris O'Riley. A spectacular young violinist, Heather, who I went to Encore with, and who actually lives in Alabama was on the show, and it was really great to see her again. She was playing in a trio with Chris O'Riley and a cellist. I'm not going to go into too much detail because the show will air on December 11th or thereabouts.

After everyone played their piece, we ran through the two skits I was there to do (one involving the bassoonist, one involving the saxophonist). They are, of course, hilarious, and so much fun to perform for the audience.

The next day was the run-through/performance in the big hall. It was huge hall, and there were a lot of people there. I was nervous, but it did go well. I can't believe there's not another one until next month!!!

One funny story: the night before the performance, we were looking for a place to eat. However, it being Saturday night (even in Alabama), everything was jam-packed. It was all 45 minute waits. We went into place after another. Then, we went into one where the waitress said, "I can't tell you how long the wait is going to be." We thought this was an odd thing to say, we asked why. She said, "Because Condoleeza Rice is here." We had heard she was in town giving a speech, but why would that interfere with the restaurant schedule? "No, I mean, she's here." And she pointed to a corner of the restaurant. Weird, huh? And then my mom said, "Oh well, we can't eat in the same restaurant as Condoleeza Rice." "Yes," the waitress replied seriously. "We discussed it as a staff, and we decided that we were going to honor the fact that she was a very honorable woman." Heheheheh.

--alice

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on October 25, 2005 at 6:36 AM

I read there's a woman traveling around Alabama stopping at restaurants and pretending to be Condoleeza Rice!

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I've gone to Alabama with a banjo on my knee....

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