Cross-posted from cajenet.ning.com. Originally posted Aug 6 at 12:07pm)
I wanted to give a shout out (hey!) to the staff at Edison Theatre, who found the Zoom H-4 digital recorder I accidentally left there last night during the "Four Children" program (Doug, Beth, Joe, Julie. Want to know which one is which-wise, wicked, simple, and doesn't know how to ask? I know, but I'm not telling. Though, as I said to the audience last night, we each have a little bit of all four in us!)
Guess they gave my recorder to Doug, and hopefully I'll get it back from him today! Yay!
(cross-posted from cajenet.ning.com. Originally posted Aug 6 at 11:53am)
Well, yesterday (Sunday evening) was the first official day of CAJE 32 here in St. Louis. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get to see much of it, but I am told it was great. My afternoon was taken up by rehearsals with the CAJE Chorale being directed by Charki Dunn, and then the CAJE Cantor's Choir directed by Neil Schwartz. Both promise to be lots of fun for the participants, and have great performances on Wednesday evening.
Then it was dinner time, but I'm afraid I never got any as the lines were too long and I had to be at the May Auditorium in Simon Hall for a sound check for the "CAJE Id*l" competition (now thankfully renamed "Jewish Star", as if we should have ever been having an "idol" competition at a Jewish conference!) So I missed the opening program, which I am told was good, but ran quite long. My "Make a Modern Midrash" group presented our music video, and I'm told I was suitably embarrassed by the shots of me included in the final product. I hope to get to see it soon. I'm given to understand that editor/director David Frederick and a few helpers were at it all Saturday night with no sleep, and there was even some last minute editing right before the opening program started.
My next task opening night was to Emcee a program featuring my friends and Jewish music powerhouses Doug Cotler, Beth Schafer, Joe Black and Julie Silver. Somehow, this venue never got the word that opening program was delayed, so they started performing before the opening program ended. As I result, I got to do something almost unheard of in CAJE annals. I handed Doug a note letting them know they could go on performing almost and extra half hour or more, because people would be coming soon from the opening program. Like the troupers they are, the four musketeers handled the situation with bravado (not to mention a lot of improv, including a set of "blues" style numbers and a some of Doug's infamous 
parodies. ) Doug did his "Jew's Blues" and Julie roused the house with a blues version of IHALD (that's I had a Little Dreidl" for you non-music types.) Forgive me, Beth, as I forget what you did for that segment, but I remember it was hot!) Joe Black got to perform "Valentines Day is not a Jewish Holiday, So That's Why I Didn't Send You Flowers" directly to his wife, who was in the audience. Each artist closed with a signature song: Doug did "Listen," Beth did "Children of Freedom" (having to Lev B'Lev earlier,) Joe did [insert name here when my brain wakes up-forgive me Joe] and Julie left us with "Shir Chadash." The audience had a great time, even if we did run a little long. And my apologies for the grainy picture taken with my Motorola Q phone!
There was another series of 45-minute programs after that which I missed, as I headed back to May Auditorium to prepare for "Jewish Star." Around 11 or so, the 12 contestants finally got to have their day on stage before a lively audience and judges (who did great imitations of the real thing.) Sam Glaser ably hosted the event, and I lent my talents to accompanying 9 of the performers. The program finally finished around 12:30am-what bunch of troupers in the audience and onstage. A special shout out to Josh Cohen's really wild fans (of which I am one.) Many of us have gotten to watch Josh "grow up" each year at CAJE. (Of course, even when he was little, I "looked up to him." If you don't get it, don't worry, it's an in-joke.)
From there, it was off to another marathon unofficial kumsitz session in the 3rd floor Ligget-Koenig lounge hosted by the "kumsitz mafia" who proudly state "We will not be shushed at CAJE!"
Being on the over 50 side of alte-kake-ness, I decided to sleep in after that, so I haven't yet been to a workshop or the Expo today (Monday morning) so you'll forgive me if I head off to lunch and another exciting day here at CAJE 32 in St. Louis.
Well, the plane was delayed two hours, but other than that, it was an uneventful trip to St. Louis. The minute I stepped out of my rental car on the campus of Wash U, the old feelings returned, as I kept bumping into friends and acquaintances. It's a little hot for schlepping luggage, and a PITA to have to shell out cash for the parking permit (guess I'll need top find an ATM soon) but all in all, a smooth check-in. Of course, what's the first thing I do when I get to my room? Set up the laptop and blog. Oy. Sigh.
Now to unpack and settle in for another fulfilling CAJE experience. If I can keep my eyes open tonight...
Originally posted Aug 2. 325pm
Cross-posted from cajenet.ning.com
(originally posted August 2nd, 2007 at 5:14am)
Here it is, the night before I head out for CAJE, and it's 5:13am and I haven't slept at all. I thought "no sleep" applied only when actually at CAJE. Sigh. And of course, to save $, I am taking a very early flight which departs at 8am and gets me to STL at 9am. Hope I won't drive my rental car off the road as I kill time perusing the town. Ah, the things we do for CAJE.
At least I once again get to enjoy the leisurely life of past conference chair. Have fun, all you suckers.
