Culture Marathon

Starting Friday July 19 th and ending yesterday, July 28th, my wife, Jean,  and I served as greeters and/or ushers at 8 concerts at Tanglewood and attended 3 plays.

Among the concerts, the most out of the ordinary for me was last Tuesday's. The headline act was "Bare Naked Ladies" . I was pretty excited when my wife chose this concert for us to work at, but then I found out, as I suspected, it was a case of false advertising. The group comprises four Canadian males, who fortunately, though not well dressed, are very far from bare or naked. Their soft rock was not awful, but was not particularly interesting either. They were preceded by an interesting British comedy singer, a conventional rock/dance music known as Guster, who seem to believe that volume is the only real virtue, and an interesting contemporary rock group with jazz overtones called Ben's Fold Five, an odd name for a trio (more false advertising?). This last group has a very dedicated local following.

We heard some very fine classical music. Unlike the previous two years, I was not very impressed by some of the lesser known conductors appearing this summer. Beware of conductors more interested in making their ideas known, than in conveying the true beauty of the music.

Among the plays we saw was "None But The Lonely Heart", a compilation of lovely chamber music and correspondence and journal entries by Tchaikovsky and some correspondence from a woman who supported him for a dozen years without ever coming face to face with him.

We also saw "Heroes" a play about  three French WW I veterans ending their days in a nursing home.  My wife thought it was very sad, but I found it reassuring and even inspiring. The heroes, despite their frailties retained wits, interest, and hopes, and a true camaraderie, all of which made their days worthwhile.

The last play we saw was a youthful ( at least from our point of reference) rendition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", which was great fun.

Also got about 100 miles of riding in in the past ten days. To paraphrase Churchill, it was too little, too slow.

Projects Again

Projects: for those bored by carpentry skip this post.

I've been working since late May, when weather and indolence on my part have allowed, on repairing the framing and exterior around the bay near the front porch. Everything that is light gray or unpainted in the following photos is what I replaced. I also replaced some studs a lot of the sheathing and lots of cellulose insulation ( with rigid foam). I had to make the moldings using hand planes and gouges. The fact that different parts of the house lean different ways didn't help. I also had to rewire an outlet that was supported only by the wire to it, and relocate it to a less crowded circuit.

Still none of this would have taken as long as it has if only I could see straight and measure correctly in less than three tries. Well a few more pieces to cut and install and then I can start on the gutters to prevent the rain from rotting the new, and remaining old, wood.

Natalie the Cat

Last Wednesday was another day for taking Natalie, nominally our son's cat, to the vet. She is old enough to have sub-normally functioning kidneys which leads to occasional infections. I say nominally my son's because he still is the owner ( to the extent cat's have owners anyway). We have had her for two years now because he could not possibly drive her out from Massachusetts to Colorado without going mad or murdering her or both, because of her constant crying while in a car. [ As I orginally wrote this she was yelling at me to come upstairs because she wants _________ company, food, water, more clean litter, attention.... you choose].

The original plan, at least as described to me, was he would come back to pick her up and fly to Colorado with her. However, he cleverly found an apartment which does not allow pets. So we have Natalie. To be honest, his frequent traveling makes having a pet, especially a neurotic cat, impractical. So now we are stuck having to board her whenever we travel. Well she is pretty. See if you agree.

One of My Bikes

I have decided to get the bike I have ridden most repainted. It will be costly, but I figure I owe a bike that has given so much pleasure enough to spring for it being returned to its original appearance and preserved from further corrosion.

I hope this picture shows you why it needs to be painted and why I am willing to pay for a first rate job.

Waterfalls, Trees, and You

Most of those who know me realize I am sentimental and given to philosophizing.  Here are some  of my latest thoughts.

During the last few weeks we spent many days looking at waterfalls. One in particular inspired these thoughts.

First you hear the rushing and the roaring. Then you see streaming waters, some deep and churning, some thin threads, made silver as they take to the air above the rocks. At first, this tumult and beauty capture you completely. After some time, you become conscious of the setting, the banks, the mosses, the shape of the land, and the all enclosing forest of trees.

The waterfall is not just the rushing stream. Everything around it combines to make it possible. The rocks underneath it give it form, the steep hillsides force the water into the narrow channel, the clouds above provide its source, and everywhere the trees gather the rain and gently releasing it, sheltering and holding the soils, let the water reach the channel in a sustained stream, not a sudden and soon extinguished burst.

We are much like the waterfall. Some of us are the bright, glittering stream; some of us are like the underlying rocks, mostly unseen, supporting it all.  Many of us are trees. We can all be part of the waterfall. If you find that you are not the rushing sparkling stream, do not take it amiss. Be the best tree you can be. Glory in the sunshine on your leaves and needles. Feel the strength of your roots in the soil. Provide the best shade and shelter you can. Play your own part in the waterfall and play it as well as you can.

Tchaikovsky, Tanglewood, and Celebrity Status for Mrs. C

We were at Tanglewood last night for the opening of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's (BSO) summer season. The performances of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Fifth Symphony were outstanding. I highly recommend you listen to these pieces one way or another. They are melodic and exciting. Few pieces of music are as dramatic or as "driven" as the Fifth and Tchaikovsky was a true master at getting extraordinarily beautiful and powerful sounds from the orchestra. In addition, my wife was interviewed by the local paper. Here's a link to the article http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/ci_23608898/lawn-crowd-returns-tanglewood-kicks-off-76th-season?IADID=Search-www.berkshireeagle.com-www.berkshireeagle.com

Independence Day

We really should take time out to marvel at the courage and dedication of those few who made it possible for this country to exist and serve as model, in some ways, for many of the best governed countries in the world.

The British taxes and other impositions were pretty mild compared to what people in nearly every other country had to endure. So I believe it was really the principles of independence and self determination that drove those brave folks to risk life, limb, and property 230 years ago. I think it was also the dedication to these principles and the people's experience in self government that led  to our revolution resulting in a largely free and orderly country, unlike so many other revolutions. So between parades and picnics and swims , spend some time thinking of the debt we owe these men and women for their courage and wisdom.

Thoughts on Spines.

I have been dealing with physical therapists for a few weeks now. We are trying to get the muscles linking my pelvis and spine to act the way they should. I have had problems with them since I was a young adult --- yes there was such a time.

Of the many good points one therapist made one was that your spine is not really your back bone except in the metaphorical sense. It really is closer to the center of your body. Think about it. Even if you can see your spine, i.e it's is not obscured by muscles or other tissue, the part that is even with your back is the extreme rear of your spine, the center of your spine is well "inboard" of your back, particularly your shoulders and your glutes. Keeping this in mind can have some benefit to your posture. Also keep in mind that your spine curves forward and backward on its journey from your seat to your skull. So stand erect but don't think your spine should be a straight vertical column.

Prairie Home Companion

Last Saturday we went to Tanglewood with some good friends from NJ to hear/see  A Prairie Home Companion. The broadcast part of the show lasted from 6 PM to 8 PM but the performers just kept on singing until nearly 10 o'clock, when the stage crew kind of pulled the plug. It's nice to be at a show where the performers love what they do so much that they'll just keep on doing it 'til someone stops them.

I also noticed that the rock and roll songs I didn't like much when I was young sound a lot better now.