started the month by watching a spectacular production of Hunchback of Notre Dame. so many of our friends were performing in it, or working behind scenes. it was wonderful to see them and catch up ... I miss being in a big show like this!
this sabbatical thing is really awesome. four whole weeks of resting, organizing, and yes, even some travel. it's been on my bucket list for a long time, so this summer I knew I had to make the trip to Texas. our Dad's 80th birthday was as good a reason as any. got to spend some real quality time with him, in between his busy scheduled appointments. the best day was Saturday, his birthday day, when we had brunch - and supper - together, did a LOT of catching up in between, AND watched as Justify won the Triple Crown! the last time there was a Triple Crown win on his birthday was when Secretariat won it for his 35th!!!
and while in Texas, I also visited the Johnson Space Center, rode on the Rusk Palestine Railroad in the Texas State Forest, visited the Texas Prison Museum and spent several hours at the Columbia Memorial Museum deep in the East Texas Piney Woods. here are a small sampling of the hundreds of pictures I took:
I had to get back to SJ not only to audition and start rehearsals for the Summer Youth Program again - we're performing Aladdin Jr. - but also to go to the Andrea Bocelli concert as the guest of my boss (again) who took me to see Barbra last year! and before my sabbatical ended, I even got in some karaoke - stayed late since I didn't have to be at work the next morning :-D
finally, at the end of the month I finally made it to a Remembering Frontier Village picnic - I've been wanting to attend for several years, but this year I didn't have a scheduling conflict.
