My apologies for the neglect...

Hello Stephen,

I am sorry that I haven't had much time this week to write to you; I've been running around trying to get errands finished, laundry finished, the house cleaned, and Florence taken care of---the usual daily routine, really----but I've also been preparing for our trip tomorrow, to Rochester NY.  We're going to be there until early next week, because we're moving my step-son there.  He graduated college in December and is now ready (at age 24...rather a late bloomer if you ask me)...to start his life, back in the place he came from, where all his friends and most of his siblings live.  So, we're helping him spread his wings and fly.

I just don't want you to think I forgot about you...how could anybody do THAT?!  No way baby.  Not me.

Anyway, I have some pictures for you...this has been a week of MARVIN HAMLISCH fun for me!!

  There he is, in all his glory, Mr. Marvin Hamlisch, on stage!



  And there he is, playing the piano....

 Here is the cover of our program for the evening's events...

And finally...

 Here he is, with J. Mark McVey, tenor, on stage answering Q&A after the show ended. Pete got up and asked Marvin "of all the contemporary musicians today, whom would you think is mismatched with you, but would be fun to work with on a project, similar to the idea of Bing Crosby with David Bowie?"  Marvin answered, "ELTON JOHN..." then he added, "In all honesty, I would love to work with Michael McDonald, he's got the most exquisite voice I've ever heard."  (That was rather surprising).

As we were leaving, Pete said, "I wanted to ask him why he named his program "Marvin Does Marvin," as if it were some kind of PORN title or something, but I figured the audience would kill me."  He added, "I'll bet YOU were hoping he'd answer STEVE PERRY, weren't ya?"  I said, "Yeah, that'll happen."

Anyway, wouldn't that be AWESOME if it did though?!  I just love Marvin. He rocks. He's had an amazing life, and he tells all kinds of cool stories about his experiences, like with Groucho Marx!!  Apparently Groucho threw a huge party once every year, and one year he invited Ira Gershwin, (his best friend).  Ira's brother, however, did not receive an invitation.  He called Groucho and asked why he wasn't invited, and Groucho said, "Because I know you George, you'll show up, be the center of attention, drink too much vodka, and play the piano for 4 damned hours, driving everybody crazy."

Sure enough, the night of the party came, and Ira showed up.  Then a little while later, George showed up and did exactly as predicted...he came in, sucked up all the attention he could, drank too much vodka and then sat at the piano and played for hours.  Groucho then said, "YESSSS!!" (because that's exactly what he WANTED him to do, but if he had ASKED George to do it, he would have been told NO).  What a cool story!!  I just absolutely adore Marvin Hamlisch.

Sometimes I wish I could play my flute in the symphony orchestra, just to be conducted by him. That would be like playing in Carnegie Hall or something, ya know?  A very cool moment.  But, oh well.

Anyway, I'm off to Rochester tomorrow, so I don't know if I'll have time to write to you while I'm there or not. We have a brand new iPad, though, (Pete's bosses boss got one for everybody on their team), so we'll be playing with that this weekend.  I can access blogger from the internet on that, and on my iPhone too, BUT, I cannot write anything on blogger from my phone.  I THINK I can on the iPad.

Well, if I don't get the chance, I do hope you'll forgive my absence this week, and I'll make it up to you soon. Have a great weekend, and go have some fun.  Call up Marvin Hamlisch and arrange a project, just to prove me wrong!!  I double dog DARE YA.  hehehehhehe  (Reverse psychology--it worked for Groucho Marx so what the hell).

Love, Rebecca