Concert Season Starts!!

First of all, I have to say Happy Birthday Abigail and many happy returns! I feel a special kinship with Abigail because her first name is my middle name.

Now what you have all been waiting for: a long and lengthy description of my weekend.
Saturday: DUSS Concert Day: Three dress rehearsals and three concerts!
I had to get up at 6:00 so I would be ready to leave at 7:15.
(There are three different orchestras and two beginner groups. The beginner groups and Intermediate 1 have their concert in the afternoon, while Intermediate 2 and the advanced orchestra have their concerts on Saturday night. Molly plays the cello and Sam plays the viola in intermediate 1. I play the violin in all three of the orchestra, and Matthew plays in beginner 2. Sam and Annabeth are in the first violin section of intermediate 2 and I am in the first violin section of the advanced orchestra. Hmmm I wonder if anyone will be able to remember all that?
I had been under the impression that we would come home after the afternoon concert, but my parents decided it would be less stressful to just stay in town. This meant that I had to take everything I would need all day!! Lets just say my truck was pretty loaded. Anyhoo, Molly, Sam and I got to the rehearsal hall on time. As soon as I walked into the building, I knew something was wrong.... it was HOT! At 8:00 in the morning...it was really hot.... the air condition was completely off and no one knew how to turn it back on. Now in some parts of the country, the temperature feels like fall. This is not the case in NC.... we are still having 80-85 degree weather with lots of humidity. At first it wasn't too bad, but about halfway through the dress rehearsal, I felt like I was going to pass out!! My legs felt weird, my stomach hurt, I was a little dizzy, I did not want to be there anymore. ( I think I was experiencing heat stroke) But I stayed and finished the rehearsal. As soon as the rehearsal ended, I started feeling better.
Thankfully, by the time the advanced orchestra got on the stage some one had figured out how to turn on the air conditioning. :)
So, I got through all three dress rehearsal and then it was time for the afternoon concert. Here are some pictures of the Afternoon Concert

You might have to click on the pictures for the full view to read the names....

The Beginner 2 Group Annabeth helps with this group

Intermediate 1 cello section

More of the Cello section and you can kinda see Sam in the viola section

After the concert my family had few hours to just lay around and do nothing. We all needed that break especially my dad. He had spent week in Canada on a job and drove 15 hours straight to be with us on Saturday. So we hung out at the hall, had dinner and then there was just enough time to get dressed for the night concert. The concert went smashing!
I realize this is a long post and I can just see your eyes glassing over and you saying "stop! stop! too many detail ahhhhhhh. William told me to tell every little thing that happened this weekend. I 'm just following directions. :) Here are a few pictures from the nighttime concert. For some reason, William did not get any pictures of my orchestra playing. Because he was listening to the music and he is not very good at multitasking. :)

Intermediate 2 tuning

In the middle of a song...I have no idea which one.
You can see three of us in this very nice picture... thanks William!

There is a story I need to tell...wait make that two,
but I thought that you should have time to digest this extremely long post :) btw...I have no idea why that captions will not stay centered unto the photos. But it seems William has fixed that!

~Sarah~