Music & nature & cuisine

I led yesterday the Illinois west-central honor choir, meeting and performing at Edwardsville High School.  About 175 students participated.  This was, in my opinion, the best honor choir that I’ve ever been privileged to lead.  They were tremendously well-prepared, responsive, involved, receptive, and terrifically musical.  We had a fine concert, even though our venue was a high school gymnasium.

Misha made the drive over to attend the concert.  This was the first time that he’s seen me conduct since he and I became a pair.  I was, of course, thrilled to know he was in the audience, but also truly content in an unexpected way, having my man in the house.

We went to the Central West End for dinner, hoping for some sushi for him and tempura for me.  The wait at Drunken Fish was over 30 minutes, so we ate pasta next door instead.  Dining on a November night on the sidewalk in beautiful weather was a real treat.  So was the Bissingers chocolate afterward.

Sleep came quickly last evening.

With 80-degree temperatures today, we took a walk in Forest Park after a breakfast of pancakes and fruit.  I’m headed to church now, then to lunch for a college-bound counseling session with a mother/son duo, and then to Webster for the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus concert at 3, then a couple of make-up lessons.  I should be home for a Sunday evening indoors by 7.15 p.m.

There’s a mouse in the house.  I’ve not yet tracked him down to finish him off……

Misha in Forest Park near my home.

JC in Forest Park, a bit further from my home.

 

Last evening

Last evening, the Gateway Men’s Chorus guys sang for the Women’s Council of Realtors in the suburbs.  Many of us hit a nearby restaurant afterward for dinner and drinks.  Here are two of me, post-chili and post-Schlafly Pale Ale:

 

Stunning

I was talking just a few minutes ago to my student Daniel about operas, ovations, and big moments.

I know of little more stunning than Leontyne Price’s amazing farewell aria at the Met, and the audience’s reaction. I was in tears, literally and copiously, today as I watched this yet again.

 

Do good

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

-John Wesley

 

More eyeglasses

I have a confession.

I’ve turned into a raging eyeglasses lush.  I seemingly cannot have enough eyeglasses.

Last September I bought these new glasses.  In May came these.

These are in addition to the red horn-rims I purchased in Paris in 2007, and the wonderful glasses I can still wear (but not for reading) from the year before.  And these that I wore for the better part of my time in Muncie.

And the reading glasses.  Plus the prescription sunglasses, and the other reading glasses.

Today?  I purchased yet another pair of glasses.  Et la . . . .

 

Halloween 2009

I’ve never participated in Halloween as an adult, finding the event just a bit too much work.  On a cold October night, why night just stay home and read a book?

Misha participates fully in Halloween, though, so this year I was pressed into joining in.

Now I must say that all the drunk Central West End revelers in crappy costumes were entertaining at the same time as annoying.  I also must say that seeing Ken Haller in his Bam-Bam costume on his birthday was a hoot.  And Misha made a stunning Edward Cullen.

Here are before and after pictures:

Misha pre make-up.

Misha transformed into Edward Cullen.

The evening was a delight in spite of how tired I was travel, and the damned trick-or-treaters who rang my doorbell at 8.45 p.m.  Who does that?  Dusk, kids, dusk – that’s the time for the trickery!

JC dressed as a vampire-chasing priest.

I didn't actually stake him.

And didn't actually go for the jugular.

An unexpected vistor.....

 

Julia Child on salad dressing

I picked up one of Julia Child’s books at Kramerbooks in DC this week.

Who else but Julia writes something like this? -

“The moment before serving (and not before, or the salad will wilt), turn the greens into the bowl.  Toss with several spoonfuls of the dressing, reaching down into the bottom of the bowl with your spoon and fork and bringing up big clumps of leaves, and repeating rapidly, adding driblets of dressing as needed so that all the leaves are lightly enrobed but the greens are not swimming.  Pick up a small piece and taste analytically, tossing in a sprinkling of salt and pepper or more lemon or vinegar if needed.  Serve at once.”

 

American History

From the Smithsonian Museum of American History today:

Dorothy’s slippers.

Apolo Ono’s skates.

JC on the Nationa Mall.

A 1975 computer.

The dentist, ca. 1904.

Glasses from the 1920’s.

No explanation necessary.

Julia Child’s kitchen.

Abraham Lincoln’s hat from the night he was murdered.

FDR’s eyeglasses and cigarette case.

A hat from Sousa’s Marine band, ca. 1901.

 

Rembrandts

I forgot to post these yesterday.  These are Rembrandts from the Rembrandt room at the National Gallery of Art.

 

SNAP and SNAAP

I saw a lady today (at this conference in DC) with a nametag indicating she was president of SNAAP, the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project.  I’m not certain what this is, but I’d suggest changing the name of the organization, as I read it quickly as SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.