We took the kids to the symphony last week and the first piece was called "Fanfare for four trumpets and Four conch shells" by Rodriguez. It was fascinating but how do you tune a conch?.

I thought the fact that the conch shells played the chords that we use as "tune ups" in barbershop was really interesting. The thing is that one of them was flat, and another would flat as the sound faded. Thus the tuning question.

Actually, the whole concert was very entertaining. My boy Keith Lockhart understands how to hold the interest of kids.

There was an Andean folk group called Inca Son that was very entertaining. The other two pieces done by the orchestra were "Pavane, The Earle of Salisbury" and "The Tempest" also by Rodriguez (Commissioned by the BSO). The Tempest had shadow puppets done by the Underground railway Theater and they were beautiful to watch. The problem came when it was poorly miked and you couldn't hear what the characters were saying.

It was an entertaining day.

My birthday was Saturday (feel free to send belated gifts), and I went to a barbershop show in Providence that had the greatest women's quartet that has ever sung a note, They're called Ambiance and they have a version of Rhapsody in Blue that is just amazing.

And I don't really care much for barbershop quartets. I like singing it but don't really like to listen all that much.

Things seem to be changing at work for me, but I don't want to say too much and jinx what I think is going to happen.

I've been elected President of the chorus. It's a two year stint (I was drafted into the position).

I am going to New York next week.

I'm going in some time during the day on Tuesday and leaving on Thursday. My mission is to see "The Producers", "Bells are Ringing" and one other show (possible Jane Eyre).

I'm trying to see the stuff that I think will be nominated for a Tony BEFORE the awards for a change! I'm staying at the Ameritania, which is at 54th and Broadway. I booked it online at the amazingly low rate of $115 a nite!

It's probably a dive.

My other goals while I'm in NYC are to get to Pearl Paint and Kate's Paperie and back to the Ink Pad.

But we'll see.

I'm also going to try to curb my spending at the Virgin Megastore. I need to refrain from buying every CD that I touch. Especially if they're British imports! I need to find a used CD place that carries show stuff and other "softer" types of music.