Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition 2024

Monday October 28 - Friday November 1, 2024

The Sweet Adelines Convention opens in Kansas City, Missouri.

Back in the summer I signed up to volunteer at the convention. I wasn't sure what I would be doing, but I knew I would hear a lot of beautiful harmony, meet some old friends and make new ones.

Wednesday October 30, 2024

You see a lot of crowns and Queens at anything to do with Sweet Adelines. They are awarded to Quartet members who win the International Quartet Competition as they become "The Queens of Harmony". 

The Theater where the Harmony Classic, Quartet and Chorus Competitions will be held.

A thank you on the big screen.

I worked the warm up rooms for the Harmony Classic Choruses on Tuesday and on Wednesday I was the Webcast Escort for the Quartets in the afternoon. I really looked forward to my work assignment on Thursday morning as an "OPA" or "Official Panel Assistant for the Judges during the Chorus Semi-finals competition.

Thursday October 31, 2024

🎃Happy Halloween!🎃

My carefully planned Halloween morning schedule had a slight delay when I parked the brand new car my brother loaned me for the week. I parked at a parking meter on a one way street, and before I could get out of the car, a young woman, who was in a hurry to get her young daughter to school, forgot to unwind when she turned the corner and hit the back quarter panel of the Kia. I felt sick, and I really felt bad for the frazzled young mom who hit me.

Luckily she had insurance, so we exchanged info and I made it to my assignment 30 after I planned to be there, but 10 minutes before the Chorus competition started.

One good thing about the "OPA" assignment is you have great seats. The bad thing is you can't clap or cheer or show any emotion for the competitors.

Shortly after my shift was over I said hello to a few friends and decided I should go home. I took a short nap and then went with John (aka Winnie the Pooh) and Nancy the Pioneer woman to their ward Halloween Party. The bishop asked me if I would like to be the food judge and I said YES!!! - and inwardly celebrated at the chance to taste all the soups, cornbreads and desserts. It really was a great Party!

I can't tell you how wonderful it felt to be singing barbershop harmony in a big group again.

I didn't have a work assignment today, so I just enjoyed watching the Quartet finals Competitions. I knew women in 4 of the top 11 quartets and they finished, 2 of them, Sirens and Dynasty, making it to the finals. But I do have to say, I was thrilled when Clever Girl won the crowns.

These ladies were so entertaining and their harmonies were incredible!

The competition ended at 4:00 and I went to my friend Karen's hotel room to change for the Coronet Club show and costume party.

One of the advantages of staying with John and Nancy is that among her other talents, Nancy is a professional costumer with closets, amoires and a basement full of costumes. When I told her I needed a costume she said "No Problem" and pulled out this beautiful Fairy Godmother costume for me to wear.

They had all the contestants line up in the front, and lo and behold... I was one of three winners. We received a gift bag and VIP seating for the show.

With my co-winners, Frankenstein and an Alien from Mars by way of Australia. 

The Coronet Club show is put on by the Queens and all the past queens are able to participate with several quartets featured including the 2023 International Sweet Adeline's Champions, Lady A Capella, and Barber Shop Harmony Society Men's Champions Mid-town.

It was a wonderful evening.

And to make it even better, I got to see my friend and Toast of Tampa director, Tony DeRosa. His Quartet 3 and 1/2 Men are the current 2024 BHS International Champions. It was so good to see him and his daughter Sophie!

This has been an amazing day!

Friday November 1
My morning started early with a 7:00 a.m. rehearsal for the World Harmony Chorus. This chorus is made up of non competing members from all over the world who were selected by their choruses to represent them. I was so pleased that the Toast of Tampa Chorus said I could represent them.

  

The Enchanted Forest of Independence

Saturday October 26, 2027 - Independence, Missouri 

On Thursday October 24th, Darryl and I left on a quick trip to the Midwest. We arrived at my brother John's home in Independence, Missouri Friday morning. After a shower and a brief rest, Darryl left to go help Cody on the Flip House in Stillwell, Oklahoma and I stayed with John and Nancy for an upcoming convention next week. 

Now a little bit about my big brother and his wonderful wife Nancy. They are "Theater People". Actually, Nancy in a professional actor and director in the theater world and has served on the National  Board of The American Association of Community Theaters. For all but 2 years they have chaired and directed their communities Fall Festival Celebration called The Enchanted Forest, where actors bring Fairy Tales, Fables, Nursery Rhymes and Favorite Movies come to life.

The actress playing Mother Goose wasn't able to be there Sunday Morning for the Festival Parade, so Nancy drafted me to fill in for her. Lucy the goose and I rode on the Enchanted Forest Float with about 20 other Characters. It was so much fun to work this puppet and interact with the people along the parade route. The children loved her.

That evening I got the VIP treatment when I went to "The Enchanted Forest". After I paid I had planned to just follow the crowd, but following Nancy's instructions, I asked one of the security people to call for my nephew John Wayne Eppert IV, the head of security for the event. He didn't recognize me at first, but when he realized who I was he gave me a big hug. Then he took me past the line and my brother John met me and took me on a personal tour, and even behind the scenes. What fun!

***

At each "station" along the trail there are vignettes with actors telling their stories and directing you along the path. We first encountered an Arabian Prince who told us of Aladdin and the rules of the Forest. 

We walked on down the lane and met up with Little Bo Peep and one very talkative sheep...

The Three Pigs and an ineffective and fed up wolf. 

The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus...

Dorothy and Glinda the Good...

A couple of swashbuckling Muskateers....

And the lovely Effie the Enchanted Forest Fairy, played by Nancy, and she was truly a delight to watch and really had her audience entranced. Nancy also wrote all of the scripts for the vignettes.

Finally, Captain Hook and his First Mate Smee, directed onto a hayride where we rode through the forest and found Aladdin and Jasmine fleeing the Guards, and autumn lights and displays along our ride.

I have heard John and Nancy talk about this production they have run for decades and I am so glad I was finally able to come and see it for myself. 

Sunday October 27, 2024

We went to stake conference where we heard an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, speak to us. It was such a beautiful and spiritual time and I feel so blessed that I was there. We spent the afternoon wrecking the sets and taking down the beautiful Enchanted Forest. 

Good Luck Sister Adrianna Guffey

 Tuesday October 22, 2024

Once again Darryl and I have two grandchildren who are siblings, serving missions simultaneously. Preston started his mission in May, and has been serving in the Stockholm, Sweden Mission since August, and Adrianna goes into the Mission Training Center tomorrow and will be serving in the Boise, Idaho Mission.

Preston was able to attend General Conference in Salt Lake City just before leaving for Sweden.

He is going to be such a strong missionary for the Lord in my Grandfather Lofstrom's homeland.

I left early on this morning to pick up Sister Adrianna Christine Guffey at the Salt Lake City Airport. We drove down to the IKEA store and had lunch with Emily and Eve.

Emily is so excited for Adrianna to start her missionary service to the Lord. It was fun to watch them meet again. 

Being with these girls was like a party, lots of fun and laughs as we talked of Odi's upcoming mission. The food was good and the company was a delight!

We went to Walmart so Adrianna could do a little last minute shopping and met up with Jonas when he got off of work. What a joy to spend this special time with my grandchildren and to see how they have grown and become such wonderful adults.

And after I got home I only left my phone unattended for a few minutes and look what happens.

Look at this lovely young lady! Tyree, you make me happy!