Requiem for the Return Call

August 27, 2008 - Okay, just a brief note to ask "What has happened to the return phone call?" Recently, I have had instance after instance of leaving messages (sometimes several messages and sometimes in several forms of communication - I'm including the "reply email" in this threnody as well) only to receive - wait for it - NOTHING! I understand that we're all busy people, but as busy people you all should realize that as you don't have time to reply, I don't have time to communicate with you multiple times because of not receiving said reply. So do us all a favor (I'm being inclusive here because somehow I sense that I'm not the only one for whom this is a major button-pusher), take 30 seconds out of your busy life to respond in some way, even if it's "Can't focus on this right now. Will get back to you by (insert date/time here)." There, that wasn't so hard, was it? Okay, getting down off soap box and replacing opera director hat on head.

Blogging and Facebook and Friends, OH MY!

August 21, 2008 - OMG! So at the urging of many of my e-friends, e-colleagues, e-pets, e-tc., I joined Facebook this morning. Having already taken on blogging with relatively few permanent scars, I thought, Ah, Facebook will be a walk in the park. Well I already fear that it may become the major time-suck of my life. How does one handle such an outpouring of love and goodwill? People that I haven't spoken to in years suddenly confirming that we're friends, or inviting me to be their friend. Now I know how Lindsay, Paris, and Britney must feel. And they want pictures of you to look at as well!?! Feeling woozy, must lie flat. See you at an e-opera? I mean, what's the problem? Aren't we friends?

Just a Quickie

August 14, 2008 - Just a quick note to talk about some interesting things that are coming to pass during these dog days of summer. Our design team for Lord Giovanni is tweaking the last few details for the look of the show and construction of set and costumes will be starting any day now. In the meantime, our Special Events committee was actually able to meet this past Tuesday (amazing that we were all in town at the same time - or at least enough of us for a quorum) and has already made great progress in planning our Holiday Cabaret, our Gala Spring Fundraiser, and some smaller special events. Look to hear more of that in the next couple weeks. The audition listing for 2009-2010 has gone out and applications are starting to trickle in. We'll see if my blog posts last year have had any impact (fingers crossed). Okay, must dash to a luncheon with a prospective new board member. Oh, and speaking of board members, OV is planning to launch a new Young Leaders Initiative this season so if you're under 40 and are interested in finding out about the world of non-profit patronage and support give us a call (410.547.7997). Ciao for now.

August is the Crappiest Month

August 5, 2008 - First of all, let me rush to apologize to T. S. Eliot's spirit for the blatant paraphrasing of The Wasteland, but I have certainly been realizing why I hate late summer so much. On the one hand, the weather in Baltimore during this month is hideous: hot, humid, and hazy - blech! Being someone who sweats rather than perspires, I would much rather be cold than hot any day of the week. However, the other reason I hate it is that it often is the month during which many things for the upcoming season have to be finalized and also the month in which most artists, designers, crew, etc. are the most unreachable due to the all too understandable desire to flee to more habitable climates. Oh well, I guess "to every season, turn, turn, turn". . .Okay better go before I get myself sued for any more plagiarism. Next post, all original material. I promise.