(Okay, I do love my work, so there’s that.)
So today is the start of the Amgen Tour of California. I canceled my students for both today and Monday, so that I can enjoy the race with my “boys”.
And where am I right now?
I’m sitting on the couch, watching the race on the TV. The boys, on the other hand, are in Sacramento, watching the prologue after, I’m betting, having a nice lunch.
I decided I had to skip today after all. The race didn’t begin until 1:30 or some such thing, and knowing I had a three hour opera tonight, and that it’s a two hour drive home from our state’s capitol, I decided that I act more responsibly and not go.
Such is life. I lost income due to the canceled students, and I still didn’t end up getting to enjoy the day. Figures.
I’m not even going to mention that it’s also Valentine’s Day. Okay?
So if you’d been teaching you would’ve had the income but still not enjoyed the day?
🙂
(Sorry, shouldn’t do that – apparently I’m on a mean streak right now.)
I know what you meant, and given the weather I think avoiding the drive when you’ve got a gig is wise (plus four hours on the road always seems to take something out of me, even when I’m not the driver). For me, the whole thing about “did I leave soon enough” and “I hope there are no traffic glitches” and all the related stresses just beat me down – who needs that before a gig?
Plus, you could’ve used the time to knit-up an oboe-cozy, right? Something festive? No?
Happy St. Valentine’s Day – and happy opera-ing. Opera-orchestraing? Enjoy the gig.
I don’t think the whole “break a leg” thing applies to musicians – I like to switch it up, myself – “Crimp a tentacle!” or “Chip a hoof!” (my daughter the thespian thinks I’m hilarious – no, really! I’m sure that’s why she hides her head when I do that kind of stuff, so I won’t see her laughing…).
Well, truth be told, I do actually enjoy teaching. Really! So I’m sorry I missed my students, and I’m feeling foolish for having canceled them.
And yes, I would have worried the entire time while at the races. I hate fretting over time and thinking I might be late (which is why I arrive at the hall earlier than nearly anyone else.).
My son says “break a leg” to me as I leave most of the time. As long as he doesn’t say “break a reed” I’m okay with whatever he says. Most of the time.
I am usually the guy that arrives so early before a gig that stands aren’t up yet. I learned the hard way when performing Romeo and Juliet (on tenor saxophone none-the-less!) with an orchestra. I missed the tuning note but lucky for me I was on stage before the conductor. I guess the nice thing is that the saxophone does not play until the very end of the first movement. Sad thing is that the entrance is on a low C# which is both a pain to tune and excruciating to get a response out of when you have not played yet! And its a solo 🙂 I feel late if I only have 30 minutes to warm up, select a reed, and get in the right mindset.