Lifestyle of Learning 2015 Edition: Volume Seventeen

June 7-30

Bishop began this time period by going to church camp down in Mobile, Alabama.
He has now been to two states that I have not - Mississippi and Alabama.  He also made it to the gulf coast before me.  I love it!
He had a blast traveling with these fine folks and participating in the intense worship and fellowship of camp.

Maceo couldn't attend church camp because he was committed to the production of Annie Get Your Gun.  Rehearsals continued for most of the month...

...culminating in five performances at the end of the month.

During this time period Maceo also continued with vocal lessons, troupe and troupe mentorship.  Troupe had their final performance at the Sr. Show.  That one is always a tear-jerker and reminds me that I need to begin sorting through my thousands upon thousands of photos and organizing photos for Maceo's Sr. moment.  That is only three years from now.  Maceo also took a mini-masterclass with Kyle Morr working on cold reading.  Maceo finished reading chapter one in his vocal pedagogy book and wrote out his responses to the discussion questions.  He emailed those to me and once again surprised me with how well he writes.

Maceo attended a birthday party for a friend that he made during My Son Pinocchio.  The young people attending were not the same group that he typically spends time with although there were people from youth group also present.  It was a nice change of pace for him and he greatly enjoyed himself.  At one point Maceo was sitting beside and conversing with the birthday boy's father.  I found their conversation entertaining.  The father began by complimenting Maceo on his vocals during My Son Pinocchio and then they began to talk about Maceo's training and his goals.  The father asked Maceo what type of music he listens to and what vocalists inspire him.  Maceo said that he mostly listens to show tunes, although he will listen to opera occasionally, and listed Broadway vocalists, such as Norm Lewis, as his inspiration.  As any good conversationalist does the father persists trying to find some common ground, "Well, what do you listen to on Pandora?" or "Let me see your playlist on your phone."  "Wow, you really do listen to show tunes all the time.  I like to listen to Chicago and music like that on Pandora."  Maceo says, "The musical Chicago?"  "No the band from the 70's."  At that I intervene, as I do know a thing or two about the 70's group Chicago, and Maceo slips away.  After we talk about classic rock for a bit the father asks how old Maceo is and is surprised to hear that he is only 15.  He tells me how impressed he is with Maceo, how he carries himself in such a mature fashion, and how impressed he is with Maceo's intense focus on his goals.  It made me smile!

Bishop got sick not long after returning from camp (and I got sick just after him) so in many ways his time has been spent doing low key things.  He watched Sense and Sensibility.  When we went to follow that up with watching Pride and Prejudice we had this intense conversation.  We played Pentago and did palindrome riddles.  He has spent a LOT of time studying techniques related to the cajon and practicing it.  We did manage to make it to Creasian twice to continue pursuing our goal to try every single item on the authentic Chinese menu.  We are making progress!

And despite fighting illness Bishop did manage to make it to pottery twice.  His instructor taught him a new technique.  Rather than using glaze he showed him how he could use slip to finish his vessels.  I think that they are going to be amazing.  I can't wait to see them after firing.

Bishop also had the opportunity to bring home the bowls that he had made prior to going to camp.  They are striking!
I love them!

We tracked the "convergence" of Jupiter and Venus.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the conjunction as the sky just wasn't clear enough.  It was still cool!

We wrapped up the 80th season of Springfield Little Theatre by attending the Frannie Awards.  Maceo had a bit of a Mary Poppins reunion.  They got to perform Anything Can Happen together onstage.  It was emotional.  Then the entire show ends with everyone singing Seasons of Love.  Yes, more emotion.  It's a great ending to a great year!

As always, there are far more things that could be listed here but I must admit that I don't even know what all could be listed.  The boys are very self-motivated and pursue many things independently.  I often times don't know that they have been exploring something until it comes up in conversation.  For instance, I didn't know that Bishop had been following Curiosity Rover on Mars until we were observing Jupiter and Venus appear to get closer one evening.

I think that it is incredible that they are so self-directed and self-motivated.
We are on such a grand adventure!