Monthly Archives: September 2008

09.30.08
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Sadness

Dawson and Clayton McKinnon

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held today at 10 a.m. in Holy Trinity Church with the Rev. David Bellittiere, pastor, as celebrant. Interment in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredonia, NY. Arrangements are by the Fantauzzi Funeral Home, 82 East Main St., Fredonia, NY. Donations may be made to the McKinnon Family Fund, c/o Lake Shore Savings Bank.

I am very happy to report that the Paypal Donation Link I put up a while back raised $1,065 for the family. Thank you to everyone who donated. All donations have been transferred directly to the Lakeshore Credit Union: McKinnon Family Donation Fund.

If you would like to make a donation online please visit the website McKinnon Family of Fredonia, NY.

09.30.08
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Another witty Republican Jennifer…

How many of us are out there?

I was quite pleased to find out that the lovely and talented author Ms. Jennifer Lancaster happens to lean to the RIGHT.

(I always think she looks a little like Jen14221 a wee bit…)

Oh no! Is the market already too saturated with witty, brunette, intelligent, Republican writing women named Jennifer? Will I ever be able to sell a witty memoir if there is already a Jen Lancaster and in Buffalo our very own Jen 14221 AND All Things Jennifer? Or are we secretly a triple threat?  ;)

I wonder if Jen Lancaster is also an ADPi?

09.29.08
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Positive Press!

Holy positive press this weekend BPO!!!

In a world filled with so much negativity and uncertainty, it’s amazing to read such positive articles about our Very own World Class Orchestra. Kudos!

A video editorial: The BPO is back

Click here for the video

Upbeat at the BPO

The BPO is emblematic of the region’s hopes as much as any other institution, and more than most. As important as Buffalo’s theater community is to the area, many cities can boast that kind of attraction. Fewer have symphony orchestras, and fewer still orchestras that enjoy the high regard of the BPO.

Wendt Foundation’s $2 million pledge puts BPO near goal

A mere three years after the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra mounted a $30 million endowment campaign to guarantee its future here and among the nation’s leading symphonies, the finish line is in sight.

The Philharmonic had $7 million in endowment funds in hand — far less than than an orchestra needs to stay in business in the modern era — when the Secure the Future campaign started in September 2005.

The standard for endowments is three to five times the operating budget, which in Buffalo’s case is a bit more than $10 million.

Falletta’s crescendo (beautiful article MKG!)

“I remember going to Quaker Bonnet, my favorite place, trying to run in there on a Sunday right before my concert to buy Buffalo Chips for my brother-in-law. I run over there, and there’s a sign, ‘Closed for the BPO Concert.’ And I thought, this is the most heartwarming, wonderful thing. The place is closed down because the concerts are too important to miss.

“First and foremost in Buffalo is that the BPO matters to people,” she says. “People love the orchestra. They’re proud of it. It hasn’t been easy to hang on to it, hasn’t been easy to take care of it. But it’s worthwhile.”

Her words suggest that, like the Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo Philharmonic requires teamwork. And Falletta, as she celebrates her 10th season, is happy she found it. “I came in at a time when the orchestra was beginning to fray. It was our last chance for greatness,” she says. “We had to make it work. Everyone came together to make that happen.”

Perlman’s beautiful performance is perfect for BPO’s ode to joy

Saturday, Kleinhans Music Hall was full of rejoicing. JoAnn Falletta is beginning her 10th season as music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the budget is balanced, and a late-breaking grant from the Wendt Foundation has upped the chances that the orchestra, by year’s end, will secure a $30 million endowment.

The presence of Itzhak Perlman added to the joy.

09.29.08
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Morning.

My buddy E.D. at the old place of employment used to know to stay away from me on mornings when I would answer “morning” instead of GOOD MORNING. I mean, I still had to be polite right? But if there’s nothing good about the morning why pretend?

Bah.

I am so freaking exhausted I can’t even think straight. I slept for most of the day yesterday. And then watched football. And then tried to use my brain and it didn’t want to work. Reading, writing…not happening. I did not do the work I needed to do for my other job. I couldn’t really string sentences together. Bah.

So I slept some more. And then I cleaned my house, which was in desperate need of cleaning.

I woke up this morning to take Mark to work and to go back to the hall to load 50 table arrangements of flowers into my truck to deliver to the nursing home. Everyone who attended Gala is off today. I’m off all week. Except for Wednesday when I need to go in for a *wrap-up* and first thing this morning while loading my truck full of flowers.

Man oh man am I full of piss and vinegar.

I can’t even being to tell you how much I didn’t want to be out of my bed let alone banging on the locked doors of the hall at 8:20 am fetching flower arrangements spread out from here to…there…and trying not to have all the delicate rose petals flitter at my feet. I had told my Director not to bother coming in to help because I had to drop Mark off in the morning anyhow and I could just make two trips if need be. I live in the city. It’s 5 minutes away for me. All the other staff live about 20-30 minutes out in the burbs. I was being kind…even though under my breath this morning (before coffee) I was questioning why.

Of COURSE as soon as my truck was loaded and I dropped off the many arrangements of flowers I was a happier girl. I did a good deed. :)

Bah. PIss and vinegar.

09.29.08
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Other reasons why I feel like crap.

Since I’m on a roll, let me share the other MORNINGMENTS.

I snapped at someone unknowingly at the time, but actually quite rudely during my 30 minutes at the first League meeting of the year. I gotta tell ya something. I could care less about planning anything but for work this month. My Chair did all the work for League in September and yet, I still somehow wish all the work would disappear. It’s been a hell of a month. I need time away from everything and everyone to return to normal. I wish more than anything I had no responsibilities to an outside organization right now.

I snapped at my LindaLu unknowingly at the time, but actually quite rudely Friday afternoon when I picked up Mark. They were chatting and I REALLYNEEDEDTOGETBACKTOWORK. I was supposed to be in 3 places at the same time and none of those places involved picking up Mark at work. I had to return about 10 phone calls that minute and well. I snapped. And then I felt awful. I’m sorry LindaLu.

I started to try to get people together for the McKinnon family and received donations during the week that I had not had the chance to send out thank you notes to and acknowledge. I feel badly because, my God if anyone was having a hard week…sigh.

I bailed out (bad choice of terms these days, eh?) on a friends bridal shower. I should have known better, there was no way in hell I was going to be able to come off of the week I had and even be out of BED by the shower and I wasn’t. Sorry Nat (and Karen.) :(

I didn’t even have enough brain power to do what I needed to do for that other place I work for a few times a month. I had nothing left in me, been working on it today.

Haven’t had a chance to catch up everyone about the status of my Gma, but know she is ok. Family meeting tomorrow morning and I KNOW I can’t physically or mentally handle such a venture. I’m working on a short fuse as it is right now and desperately need a break, a real break. I mean a break break not a day off to work or clean the house once a month break. I trust enough people who will be looking out for Gma’s best interests, I just might disagree on how to go about dealing with the crisis. As long as Gma is ok, that is the most important part…

Phew.