Haines His Way

Jose - Left a message on your cell phone.

DR FJL - I just listened to your message.  -My phone was still off from the recital.  Otherwise...

Yes.  

It is so nice to see our dancin' darlin' SwishySarah back in the posting ranks once more.

We never had roller skating carhops here in LA.

I didn't think so but then I didn't go to drive in restaurants very often, nor did I have an urge to do so.

For awhile a group of us, including Keith, Penny & sometimes Penny's sister, went horse back riding on Sundays.  Afterwards we went out for breakfast.  Sometimes we went to Dolores's Drive In on Wilshire.  I can't remember going to a drive-in before then.

Yes, but I still don't know how to get it on my computer.  How do I get in on the hard drive - just the sequence I want.  For example, if I want to put a Brain video on youtube, I have the cut version on DVD, but I can't put two hours on my computer because it would take forever to upload it, no?

I went for poached with the talapia.  It was very tasty.

Thanks Ron.  Those look delicious & I'm relieved they aren't from Peet's or I wouldn't be able to resist next time.

Yes, but I still don't know how to get it on my computer.  How do I get in on the hard drive - just the sequence I want.  For example, if I want to put a Brain video on youtube, I have the cut version on DVD, but I can't put two hours on my computer because it would take forever to upload it, no?

Oh.. That's a whole other kettle of What is it Fish?

Is the format of your DVD compatible with iDVD?

On Saturday morning, I was removing some purchases from a bag and noticed that the clerk had forgotten to remove the security "spider case" from a box set.  They had obiously de-activated it, because I had not set off the alarm upon leaving the store, but I did not notice that they had forgotten to remove it [which requires their special propietary tool] before they put it in the bag.

Well, I though, no problem, I'll simply snip one of the wires with a scissors and remove it.  Well, the moment I cut the wire, the pulsating alarm emanating from the device was enough to wake the dead.

And since I don't have the tool, I couldn't turn the darned thing off.  [Well, come to think of it now, perhaps a hammer would have done the trick   ].  In any case, it was horribly annoying, and I couldn't just throw it outside because then it would be annoying all the neighbors, as well.

So I got some duct tape and some newspapers and wrapped it all up.  It dimmed the decibel level enought that I could put it outside in the trash bin [with the cover on] so as not to bother anyone else too much.

That was yesterday morning.  Tonight when I went to put the trash out at the curb for pickup tomorrow morning, I checked - and darned if the thing isn't still going, just as strong as ever!

And speaking of tenors...

Matthew Polenzani's recital this afternoon was wonderful.  It was a very neat program, and well structured.  The second half featured Benjamin Britten's "Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo", and Reynaldo Hahn's "Venezia".  So, basically, he was presenting "Italian" music written by an Englishman, and a Venezuelan-born Frenchman.  -So, for his first encore, he sang "Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore".  -In other words, an Italian song written by an Italian.  -His second and final encore was a very touching rendition of "Danny Boy".  

The first part opened with a "basic" set of Schubert songs, followed by Beethoven's "An die ferne Geliebte" ("To the distant Beloved") cycle, and then Liszt's setting of three songs from "William Tell".  Basically, something for everyone.

And I must mention the contributions of his pianist, Julius Drake.  Truly supportive and collaborative playing.  -And since I've actually played* all the repertoire that was on the program at one point and time, I know just how much "work" he was doing - even though there was never a sense that he was struggling, or taking advantage of the situation musically.

*And it turned out that I had sang half of the program as well when I was studying.

OH!

Matthew Polenzani's recital was presented by Lincoln Center at the Rose Theater at the Time-Warner Center.  What an absolutely gorgeous space!  I had no idea it was up "there" along with the Allen Room, the Kaplan Penthouse and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola.  And the lobby area has some large windows that provide a dazzling view of Central Park.  -I think I've discovered a new place to hide out!

Anybody else watching of DVR-ing the "Great Performances at the Met" special on PBS tonight?

Anybody else watching or DVR-ing the "Great Performances at the Met" special on PBS tonight?

Yes, that and The Closer, of course!

what's the gorgeous sonnet in F-sharp major?

Hmm... There's not one in F-sharp major, but there is a gorgeous one in G major?

Sonetto XXX

Veggio co' bei vostri occhi un dolce lume,
 Che co' miei ciechi già veder non posso;
 Porto co' vostri piedi un pondo addosso,
 Che de' mie zoppi non è già costume.
 Volo con le vostr'ale senza piume;
 Col vostr'ingegno al ciel sempre son mosso;
 Dal vostr'arbitrio son pallido e rosso,
 Freddo al sol, caldo alle più fredde brume.
 Nel voler vostro è sol la voglia mia,
 I mie' pensier nel vostro cor si fanno,
 Nel vostro fiato son le mie parole.
 Come luna da sè sol par ch'io sia;
 Chè gli occhi nostri in ciel veder non sanno
 Se non quel tanto che n'accende il sole.


 I see through your lovely eyes a sweet light
 which through my blind ones I yet cannot see;
 I carry with your feet a burden
 which with my lame ones I cannot;
 I fly with your wings, having none of my own;
 with your spirit toward heaven I am always moving;
 by your will I turn pale or blush,
 cold in the sun, warm in the coldest weather.
 Within your will alone is my will,
 my thoughts within your bosom are born,
 in your breath are my words.
 I am like the moon, alone,
 which our eyes cannot see in the heavens
 except that it is illumined by the sun.

Oh... There's also Britten's setting of the "Holy Sonnets of John Donne"....