Got to Tuscaloosa, pulled over and conferred with the man who works down there every day about where we were supposed to go. He had no idea. So, we went on.
Turned onto University Boulevard and he stopped at a Chevron station and asked some girl, then the guy inside, exactly how to get to the Moody Music Building.
"Up two lights, turn right, then it'll be on your right."
Which actually turns out to have been entirely incorrect. Oldest had told Reba earlier in the day the building was right across the street from Bryce Hospital. There was a sign that said "Bryce" but Grandad went right on past that. Turned around, went back, and I turned that way. Found Bryce, but no music building. Accosted some Southwest Asian kid on a bike, he said it was that way, he thought, maybe. Turned that way, asked some kid in a ball cap climbing into a pickup. He said it was back THAT way, turn right, then left, then right again, and it'll be on the right. Turned BACK around, turned right, then left onto University, then back right. HEY, LOOK! Moody Music Building--great big building, all lit up, right there on the main drag.
Seems that initial instruction was meant to be "go two lights and turn LEFT, etc."
No matter.
Dropped off the passengers, went and parked. Walked back, and noticed that I was the only adult with a suit on. Was greeted by Oldest who'd been working hard all day, went inside, took the kids to the bathroom, and finally went on in and settle down for the concert.
The Concert.
It was very, very nice. The room, however, didn't lend itself to choral work. I'm not sure what the deal was--maybe they didn't have the sound boards above the stage tuned right or something, but unless it was one of the big groups, and unless they were REALLY putting out the power, it all sounded a bit muddy and quiet. On the other hand, the two times they had string accompaniment, a violin and a violincello--the instruments popped out with great clarity.
Despite that, the kids from all the groups did a wonderful job, especially the kids from Lee High School in Huntsville.
PEOPLE WHOM I INTEND TO HARM.
Whoever keeps slamming those #@$-%$&^# doors!
YOU! OLD WOMAN with the CELL PHONE who won't turn it off when it rings, but instead clambers up and hits everyone in the back of the head with your big purse as you leave your seat and go outside as the FOOL THING CONTINUES TO RING!
WHOEVER WON'T JUST SHUT UP!
YOU! With the SCREAMING KID! LEAVE!
AND QUIT SLAMMING THE [blue streak redacted] DOORS EVERY TIME YOU GO OUT!
I have never been to anything with so many incredibly rude and noisy audience members. You people ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
Hmph!
Now then, concert over at 8:30, time to head home with a fill-up first with some cheap Tuscaloosa gasoline ($2.389) and something from Arby's, since I was well nigh onto hungry.
Home, to bed.
Now I'm going to go cover the front desk while the secretary eats her lunch. I haven't had mine yet.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at November 7, 2005 12:34 PM