I'm back at LAX with Opera Sweater 2, this time to pick up future (and past) LBO stage manager and fellow knitter Cindy after her flight from New York. It's quite the commute to make for tonight's rehearsal where she'll be running supertitles.

Tonight is the orchestra's first night at the Terrace Theater. I'm excited to get settled in. Let's see how it goes. I'll keep you posted.

Opera Sweater 2 is taking shape, even as my hours of listening to and practicing Ainadamar are beginning to bear fruit.

I've been doing some work in the opera office. Friday I translated the score from Spanish to English. I've also spent a couple of nights taking notes for Andreas during vocal rehearsals. That's my favorite. I love hearing my friends as they break my heart with their transcendent arias, and listening to Andreas as ideas pour forth from his giant brain. I am so very fortunate to be there, drinking in every moment.

Next week my role will change as I assume the principal flute position with the orchestra. Right now, I'm more than content to be a fly on the wall as genius flows around me. I am so grateful to be a part of this.

Opera Sweater 2 and I are at LAX waiting to welcome Maestro Steven R. Osgood to his first Long Beach Opera production. I'm looking forward to working with him and taking the plunge into "The Fountain of Tears". I'll keep you posted.

Knitting reflects life. It has its ups, its downs, its joys, its sorrows, and its setbacks.

I had actually completed Opera Sweater in time to wear it to a baby shower last Saturday. Even though I discovered (too late) that one sleeve had grown mysteriously bigger than the other, I was willing to bite the bullet and live with it. I was really happy with the fit and look of the finished product (well, except for the monstrous arm), and was in the process of grafting the underarm seam (only 8 stitches - what could go wrong) when disaster struck. I don't really want to talk about it.

Suffice it to say, I was inspired to take a deep breath and rip back the yoke and Monster Sleeve for a do over. Monster Sleeve is now tamed, and work on the yoke will commence this morning.

This whole process causes me to ponder "real life". How many times are we willing to settle for something that is not quite right because we fear "going backwards" on an attempt to make that thing glorious?

Knitting has taught me to be brave, to take risks, to stretch my imagination, and that I don't have to settle for mediocre when a little (or a lot) of pain will yield complete triumph. All it takes is the humility to admit I'm wrong and the courage to start over. The new goal is to wear Opera Sweater on Easter. I'll keep you posted.

Opera Sweater Sleeve is hanging out backstage on closing night. It is always sad to say farewell. However, Opera Sweater is traveling to the next production tomorrow. On to the next thing!

For just a couple of days, my two shows overlap. Opera Sweater Sleeve came with me to Opera le Different today. I've got a cold that could be a lot worse (I suspect Maestro might have been the source), and that makes flute playing pretty challenging. My carpool buddy of the brass persuasion is also fighting a cold. We should have some fun on the drive on Sunday.

I got a little work done on the sleeve during the 4 1/2 hour rehearsal (I have to play the WHOLE show this time), then came home and spent another hour or so playing through tomorrow's opera. I will be sorry to say goodbye to LBO, but look forward to the May production. Meanwhile, Opera Sweater will be changing venues. I'll keep you posted.

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Swed has posted his review of yesterday's opera performance here. It is a good one, and he commends opera knitter Suzan Hanson for her strong stage presence. In other news, the work on Opera Sweater's sleeves has begun.

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Swed has posted his review of yesterday's opera performance here. It is a good one, and he commends opera knitter Suzan Hanson for her strong stage presence. In other news, the work on Opera Sweater's sleeves has begun.

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Swed has posted his review of yesterday's opera performance here. It is a good one, and he commends opera knitter Suzan Hanson for her strong stage presence. In other news, the work on Opera Sweater's sleeves has begun.

We're sitting backstage waiting for Long Beach Opera's opening performance. One of the stars is also an opera knitter. We compared notes before she made her entrance. What fun!