Weirsdo Update

Hello. I have missed everyone. We still have the same outdated computer. I am having a go on it because I miss writing and the cyberworld, but since I still cannot access, for example, the Cheesemeister's Netherworld blogs, I'm not ready to come back permanently.
I REALLY miss Icy! I wish you an afterlife filled with Barbie chew toys. I'm glad to see that Tom has put his blogs back up, and I hope we can still make you laugh from time to time, Tom.
Mall Diva finished up her year in style, giving an impressive recital on piano and violin (she played some of Dad's music), winning our Red State Music Teachers Association piano auditions, receiving their special award for "Outstanding Senior Performance" (despite heavy competition from the Russian studio up around B'ham), and being accepted to the Robert McDuffie Labor Day Festival for Strings.
We had a good time visiting with the Grandparents Weirsdo in Atlanta for their 60th wedding anniversary. We visited the Cyclorama, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the aquarium, and the Coke Museum (not recommended unless you enjoy paying for propaganda). At the High Museum we saw a terrific display of high performance and luxury automobiles and a fun show of contemporary design, and at Anthony's we had a wonderful dinner, and the waiter gave the kids instructions on fine dining. We also saw TOY STORY 3 in 3-D, which was a treat.
Later on, Toyplayer, HA and I had our annual summer trip to Kansas City to visit Grandma Weirsdoer. Besides enjoying an extended visit with HA and our favorite Columbia, MO restaurant, the Pasta Factory (love their chicken picatta), we had fun hearing Toyplayer read us THE TITAN'S CURSE and playing "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" (we weren't) with Grandma Weirsdoer.
I have just come back from visiting Mall Diva at the Bowdoin International Music Festival. According to Mall Diva, compared to Bowdoin, a certain other festival is "just a retreat for rich kids who happen to play an instrument." Mall Diva has real friends for almost the first time in her life--people who are doing what she's doing and aren't jealous or otherwise put off by her dedication. The students schedule and run their own chamber music rehearsals, so they have a lot of responsibility, and Mall Diva says you hear remarks like, "I have to really practice tomorrow; I only got in 4 hours today" often. (Oh, and in case you hadn't guessed, most of the students are Asian.) I think, and Mr. S. agrees, that Mall Diva is noticeably developing her sound and the personality of her playing in this environment.
Incidentally, Hard Solo was supposed to go to Bowdoin for the second half, but accidentally booked a ticket to Portland, OR instead and can't get the airline to refund his money, so he may not. Nobody's perfect.
Besides hearing Mall Diva play great chamber music, I watched some great teaching in the master classes and saw a fantastic concert with the Ying Quartet and Ray Chen, who just won the Queen Elisabeth Competition. I also visited with a colleague of Dr. Weirsdo's who has started his own graduate school for visual artists who want Ph.D's, ate well (including lobster, of course) at local restaurants, and enjoyed picturesque downtown Portland as well as Bowdoin.
Until next time, I am thinking of you guys often.
Mrs. Weirsdo