NRO Highlights

• Starting the season with John William's "The Mission" and reality setting in that I was really here at NRO.
  
• Hiking for my first time in the Rocky Mountains
  
• After concert martinis at Blue River Bistro. Elderflower Pear and Champaign Dreams, my favorite.
  
• Carl Topilow singing "I Go to Rio" like Hugh Jackman. OoooOooOooh, My Baby!
  
• Getting to know my amazing condo mates, the Tyra Ten
  
• Being Conducted by "Superman" Topilow
  
• Peak 8 fun park alpine slides. Best day ever!
  
• White Water Rafting!
  
• Mahler 6. Nothing like it
  
• Brahms 1 with Robert Franz. Life Changing.
  
• Playing "Hearts" every day for weeks, and still being just as bad as when I started. Maybe worse. Chikachaka!
  
• Tyra Ten BBQs. Corn on the cob, Brawts, and Hamburgers. mmm, mmm, mmm.
  
• Hiking my first 14er, Mt Sherman. Oh the cold!
  
• S'mores at the Reservoir, and making lots of noise to scare away bears.
  
• Rehearsal with Jaap Van Sweden on Brahms 4
  
• Hearing the NY Phil and have a storm come on cue with Fantastique's Dies Irae
  
• Going to the dog park with Christa and Tim with his host mom's dogs.
  
• Getting in touch with my hunter gatherer skills with Jenn at the reservoir.
  
• Falling into the Reservoir
  
• Playing Ultimate at Carter Park
  
• Joe singing like the "Skittles Bunny"
  
• Having movie parties inspired by our movie concert
  
• Trapped in the Closet: R. Kelly and Southpark
  
• Learning to play Eurcher on a bus from Evergreen
  
• Singing Billy Joel songs and then morphing into Disney with my condo mates.
  
• Seeing Harry Potter opening night at the Jankity Speakeasy Theater.
  
• Creating fire with Christa.
  
• Joe and Calvin singing "Skittles Bunny" outside Jenn's door
• Standing at 14,000 on the Continental Divide
  
• Tormenting Calvin along with my condo
  
• Having an English dinner of chicken and sausage with my host parents every week
  
• Calvin doing the voice over for Star Trek
  
• Hitting the cactus with Joe's maze prize ball for ten points
  
• Christa beating Calvin at pool
  
• Hot tub hopping with Melissa and Christa.
  
• Wading in Blue River
  
• 4^th of July. Madness and all. Loved it.
  
• Visiting the Summit County Medical Center
  
• Having an oxygen tank as our condo mascot: Ludwig Van
  
• My parents visiting for our Joe Alessi and Daphnis concert
  
• Having a Shostakovich 5 solo during rehearsal from the back of the section
  
• Going from 10,000 to 14,000 to 5,000 and back to 10,000 in one day.
  
• Everyday further proving the reality of how small the music world actually is
  
• Realizing the importance and wonderfulness of being surrounded by great musicians and great people
  
• Pants sledding in July
  
• Joe constantly making reeds and making squawks and squeaks
  
• Tie-Dying t-shirts with Melissa and Christa
  
• Dancing swing with Joe in the living room
  
• Having movie nights on the couch with a computer as our screen
  
• Monday's Ladies night at The Brewery
  
• Making empanadas with Isabele and Tyra
  
• Dinner at Bonnie's and Raphie's
  
• Taking pictures of everything that happened here.
  
• Violin section pizza party at Terry and Laurie's
  
• Learning how to play darts and kicking ass
  
• Geeking out about music whenever I want with people and learning more in return
  
• Having one unforgettable, amazing summer.