#maestroonthemove - The Maestro Goes to Europe 2022 - 54 Days!

Everyone - 54 days is NOT a long time.  For what? - you may say.  5 weeks in Europe.  Who goes to Europe for 5 weeks??  Well, you go for 5 weeks when you have been asked to attend and play for a wedding on June 15 in Malta and have been asked to spend a week in Paris with your best friends beginning on July 10 and have 25 days to kill between events.  How crazy would it have been to fly back to  California and then fly back.  I'm not sure I could handle that.  

So, what do you do?  You brainstorm about things you love about Europe.  Places you've been to that you'd like to re-visit, new places - but no too many because you don't want to over-stimulate your brain.  So, after some struggle with airlines (I mean, who doesn't struggle with the airlines these days?) and trying to find the best places to stay on a budget, etc.  I have come up with a fantastic plan.  I'm going to Malta, Assisi, Rome, Florence, The Netherlands, London and finally Paris.  All I can say is thank goodness I'm doing shows again!

The wedding is in Malta, Assisi will be new to me, but I'm traveling with people who have been there, I[m heading to Rome for a few days - and have an AirBnB 20 meters from St Peters - I love Rome and can't wait to wander around for a few days, then it's off to Florence - a place I've never been, so that will be fun.  I'm going to fly to Amsterdam and spend some time with family and friends and just hang out for about a week.  I'm going to take the train to London - found a cute budget-friendly hotel in a neighborhood I've never stayed in so I'm excited about that.  I plan to see some shows and maybe to the Harry Potter Studio tour at Warner Brothers, and then take the train to Paris and I'll be there for a week with Raegena and Kris and we have a great week planned - the Louvre, Versailles, and Disney Paris - and whatever mischief we can get into on Bastille Day!   

So, the plans commence.  Still a few major things to take care of this week.  Leo's care is of high importance, and that is coming along well.  He will be very well taken care of.  Probably should make some reservations for the Harry Potter Studio Tour, as well as maybe a few theatre tickets for London - or just use TodayTix when I arrive in London.  Should probably grab the Rick Steves book for Florence as well.  Still need to get a plane ticket from Florence to Amsterdam (tomorrow) and reserve a car to drive from Rome to Assisi (and back).  Let's not mention a show opening on Friday, and another in May and all the end of school activities - and then I leave the day after school gets out.  Adrenaline will certainly play a huge part in the next few weeks.

More a little later....

Mattei  

#maestroonthemove Walt Disney World Vacation Stats

 So, here are the facts.... 

Planes

1  Alaska Air 2x2

2 Alaska Air 3x3

1 American Airlines  3x3

Transportation

1 Uber ride to SFO- but was it really Uber?

1 Roundtrip Limo to and from Orlando International Airport

4 LYFT's while at Walt Disney World

1 Monorail Ride from Ticket and Transportation Center to Magic Kingdom

1 Ferry ride from Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center

1 walk from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Polynesian Village Resort

Many rides on the Disney Skyliner to either EPCOT or Disney's Hollywood Studios and back to Pop Century

Not-as-many rides on Disney Bus transportation

1 walk from Disney Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom

1 LYFT from SFO to home

Steps

6/12        12, 216

6/13        27, 928

6/14        22, 394

6/15        26, 459

6/16        31, 381

6/17        9, 068 (Blizzard Beach Day, didn't wear my Apple Watch all day)

6/18        28, 141

6/19        22, 853

6/20        9, 531

Resorts Visited

Pop Century Resort

Yacht/Beach Club Resort

Boardwalk Resort

Polynesian Village Resort

Old Key West Resort

Contemporary Resort (well, didn't go inside, but the bus dropped me there)

Riviera Resort 

Disney Springs (not sure where to put this, so I put it here)

Parks Visited

Magic Kingdom - 4

EPCOT - 3 

Disney's Hollywood Studios - 2

Disney's Animal Kingdom - 2

Blizzard Beach - 1

Table Service Restaurants

* Trattoria al Forno (Boardwalk Resort)

Kona Cafe (Polynesian Village Resort)

* Olivia's Cafe (Old Key West Resort)

Cape May Cafe (Yacht/Beach Club Resort)

Ale and Compass (Yacht/Beach Club Resort)

Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom)

* Skipper Canteen (Magic Kingdom)

* - indicates first time at this restaurant 

Counter Service Restaurants of Interest

Woody's Lunch Box (Toy Story Land)

Docking Bay 7 (Galaxies Edge)

Regal Eagle Smokehouse (EPCOT American Adventure Pavilion)

ABC Commissary (Disney's Hollywood Studios)

Primo Piatto (Riviera Resort)

Attractions rode more than once

Magic Kingdom

Splash Mountain - 4

Space Mountain - 2

7 Dwarfs Mine Train - 2

Pirates of the Caribbean - 2 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - 2

Haunted Mansion - 3

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Tower of Terror - 3

Rockin' Rollercoaster - 3

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway - 3

Toy Story Midway Mania - 2

Smugglers Run - 3

Rise of the Resistance  - 2

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest - 3

Flight of Passage - 2

First Time Attractions 

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway (Disney's Hollywood Studios)

Slinky Dog Dash Rollercoaster (Disney's Hollywood Studios) 

Favorite Attractions

Magic Kingdom

Peoplemover

Carousel of Progress

Splash Mountain 

EPCOT

Frozen Ever-after

Living with the Land

Test Track

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Tower of Terror

Rockin' Roller Coaster

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway 

Rise of the Resistance 

Disney's Animal Kingdom 

Expedition Everest

Kilimanjaro Safari 

This about wraps up this edition of #maestroonthemove.  Don't know what is coming up next - but I'll be taking you along for sure!

Enjoy your summer. 

#maestroonthemove - Just the facts man, Just the facts

 This day is best broken down by the cold and facts….

• 7:00am. - Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group obtained thanks to Ella
• 7:30am -  In line for the Skyliner to Hollywood Studios
• 7:45am - Get to Hollywood Studios - Coffee, Starbucks Breakfast Sandwhich
• 9:00am - Gang arrives
• Tower of Terror
• Rockin’ Rollercoaster 
• Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway
• Rise of the Resistance (long wait)
• Toy Story Midway Mania (I beat Amy!!!)
• Lunch at ABC Commissary 
• Smugglers Run (obtained 2 coaxials!)

• Fast walk from Galaxies Edge to the Bus to Animal Kingdom
• Bus ride
• Fast rock to Expedition Everest (I swear it seemed like a half marathon, besides the bus, we never stopped
• 2 rides in a row on Expedition Everest 
• Maharaja Jungle Trek

• Bus ride to Magic Kingdom
• Starbucks stop
• Peoplemover
• Carousel of Progress
• Space Mountain (I opted out. It basically bruised me the last time)
• Dumbo
• Seven Dwarves Mine Train
• Mickeys Philharmagic
• Haunted Mansion
• Splash Mountain
• Thanksgiving Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern 
• Pictures in front of the castle at night
• Shopping
• Bus Ride

So now you know

Tomorrow - SHOPPING!

And that’s all I’m saying about THAT.

Amsterdam - Day #1

I’ve arrived here in the Amsterdam area!  Flights from SF were fine, with a small layover in Zurich.  John and Krijn picked me up at the airport and we headed to their beautiful home in the village of Beets.  I arrived in the evening and it wasn’t until this morning that I got to see the area by daylight.  It’s quite beautiful, very rural.  As I’m looking out the kitchen window as I type this, there’s a lovely layer of fog over a vast green area.  I think it will be great staying away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.  It’s easier not to resist the urge to get up and go in the morning but to relax and enjoy a vacation.  Oh, there are certainly things that are on the agenda to do!


John and Krijn’s place is really cool.  A two-story cottage, very well furnished, very open etc.  I slept wonderfully as I’m still trying to beat the “jet-lag”.  This morning, we went out and did some chores and had brunch at a lovely restaurant called Brassa in a town called Beemster.  Great food and great company.

Afterward, John and I took a rather lengthy train ride into Amsterdam and we walked around a little, and decided on getting tickets for river (canal?) trip to see the lights along the canal.

We got our tickets and I needed to find a stocking cap as for some reason, I couldn’t find the one I brought with and my head was cold and not getting any warmer, so I picked this up

We found a nice little restaurant for dinner where I had my second Bloddy Mary in my life.  I blame Amy Costa for this new found (to me) cocktail.  I think I’ve just been afraid of what tomato may actually taste like. LOL.   It’s very yummy.  Afterward, we got to our cruise destination, but were told the boat would be late.  So, we went to a bar and had a drink and a conversation with a lovely gentleman from Glasgow.  

The cruise was fun.  Kinda dry and evidently not as many lights as the last time John took the cruise. Here are some pictures.

Definitely not my best photo work, but we weren’t quite by a window seat and the windows were foggy,  

We took the train back to Hooran where Krijn picked us up.  Got home, watched some silly YouTube videos and went to bed.   

Here are some random pics from the decorations in Amsterdam.

We’ll see what tomorrow will bring!

Countdown to the 2013 Christmas Program

I recently heard that the annual  OLA Christmas Program is the highlight of the school year.  I find that a bit much, but I do think it's an excellent way to end what is almost the first half of the school year.

The program is shaping up and it looks like it will be quite exciting.  I've included the songs for at home practicing purposes.  What I don't want to happen is to have the "magic" ruined and have parents hear the songs.  So, if students insist on listening at home, please encourage the use of headphones.

You can find the songs  HERE

Practice Practice Practice!!!


Mr. Mattei

Angels Aware

The addition to a new family is always exciting.  Whether it's a newborn child, a pet or even a new person that might be added to your family through marriage or something like that.  Big families are always fun.  I love it when my family gets together for dinner, or to play games, or just to hang out with each other.  I love it because I usually bring along Ben, my almost 3 year old mini-schnauzer.  Ben is really an important member of the family.  He gets along with everyone and never argues, but is always there to comfort you when things might not be going your way.

Here at OLA, we are like one big happy throng of Angels. and we are always happy when someone new joins us.  This year, we have several new students and teachers that have joined us at OLA, but we are anticipating a new angel joining us any day now.  How should we prepare?  What should we do?  What did the prophets do when they found out God was sending his only Son to earth to save us from our sins?  More importantly, what did they do when they found out that God was sending a BABY?  A person like us, to live among us.  

These are questions that will be answered in our Christmas Program this year.  How should we prepare for a new Angel that will be joining us soon.  But we won't forget that it's almost time to prepare for Christmas also.  Maybe we can do both things at the same time.  What will the new Angel need?  What will Jesus need?  

We will begin to explore these questions next week as we begin to prepare for our Christmas program.  Always something to look forward to.

Today, K-5 watched an episode of "The Muppet Show" ask your K-5 student who they got to see as the "special guest star".  Do you remember watching "The Muppet Show" - who was your favorite special guest?

--Mr. Mattei 

The Anatomy of an OLA Christmas Program

Believe it or not, this year will mark  my 14th Christmas program at OLA.  I can't believe it sometimes, 14 years!!!   That's a lot of songs and 13 original concepts and stories.  Yes, ORIGINAL.   I can't think of a time when I used a "canned" Christmas program.  However, I can say that I've taken elements of stories and created my own program.  Also, it's rare that I recycle songs through out the years.  I have, though.

How do these programs come about? 

First, I come up with a concept, an idea, a story or whatever.  Next, I try and find the best possible song for the END of the program.  The tear-jerker, the one that will light the Christmas tree in your heart and send you off ready for the Christmas season.  This is my favorite part of the process.  There have been some great songs to fit this category.   Some, however have made more than one appearance.  This year, I believe this might be the third time we will use "When a Child is Born" as the final song.  It might be my favorite Christmas Song ever because of this arrangement of this song

Once I choose the final song and the concept.  I come up with a song for each class to be featured.  That's 8 songs as K-1 sing together.  Then I come up with an opening medley and decide whether or not we will have a procession in.  Mrs. McMorrow likes a procession to start the program, so most likely this year will begin with some sort of procession.  Then I try and choose a few group songs for everyone.  

Believe it or not, the script is the last thing to be written.  Often, the script is written the week of the actual program.  It is read by student or several students.  It's the glue that holds the songs together.  

And there you have it  It's not brain surgery, but it does follow some sort of formula.  So far :)

The synopsis of this years program is finished and we've begun a few songs in class.  This next few weeks will see the concept jell a little more and soon, I'll announce the concept to the students.

This week in 6.7.8 - we'll begin our presentations.  Please remember that all presentations must be ready this Friday - both the written portion and the audio portion.  If you student forgets, they will get a 0 for the day and it will be noted on Power School.

Mr. Mattei