“Alone again”
I flew home from San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon. I snapped this picture of the flowers blooming on the hill before I left:
The San Francisco airport has a rotating exhibition that you can walk through on the way to the departure gates. The current show is celebrating 100 years of the San Francisco Opera. Clorinda would enjoy it – costumes and artifacts from Tosca and Rigoletto.
All the ice was long gone on return to Dallas, and the drive home was smooth. The house seemed in good shape – just a couple of small tree branches down.
While I was working away in my home office, Diana was struggling through the Dali melting clock puzzle that Amy and Adamo gave her for Christmas. Lots of whining and complaining about how difficult the black section was, but she persevered.
This was one of the busier work weeks in a while. I did manage to escape for lunch with our Enterprise Architect, Prabhjit, on Wednesday. Shiawase Japanese restaurant was mid-way between our homes and is always good.
Diana took her Mum to watch the kids swim lesson again on Thursday afternoon. No Frankie drama this time. The trio of Luciano, Massimo, and Louie were capable of jumping in without needing to be rescued:
I met up with a work colleague for a late lunch on Saturday. We tried to go to the Libertine on Greenville Ave (great food and cocktails), but there was a “Cupid Crawl” in progress. This is some ridiculous pre-Valentines event, and had the place absolutely packed. We diverted to The Hideaway and enjoyed a couple of hours of work gossip and story telling.
Saturday was busy on Gypsy Hill. Joey and family arrived to celebrate Leanna’s birthday. Seems like all had a good time. Pretty salad and flowers that Bonna brought:
Diana, Clorinda and Alicia are always happy when they are able to host family.
Later in the afternoon, Marco, Julie, and Gianluca showed up for a visit. Oh – and not to forget Yeti, who seemed pretty bored with the proceedings.
Marco just had a recent drain removed from his tummy and is in a lot of pain. I think we talked him out of trying to go back to work on Monday.
The weather in Pacifica got much better after I left and Diana has been torturing me with sunset views.
In additional torture, the Krewe was out to watch the first of the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. So much fun.
Sunday has been quiet so far. I drove to downtown McKinney for coffee and a quiche with my crossword. Then made a visit to Trader Joe’s for some essential supplies to tide me over until my D returns on Tuesday. Now I’m catching up on things before the Superbowl starts in a few hours.
My book this week was “Lessons” by Ian McEwan. I haven’t quite finished yet.
Here’s an online review and synopsis:
““Masterful…. McEwan is a storyteller at the peak of his powers…. One of the joys of the novel is the way it weaves history into Roland’s biography…. The pleasure in reading this novel is letting it wash over you.” —Associated Press
When the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has closed, eleven-year-old Roland Baines’s life is turned upside down. Two thousand miles from his mother’s protective love, stranded at an unusual boarding school, his vulnerability attracts piano teacher Miss Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade.
Now, when his wife vanishes, leaving him alone with his tiny son, Roland is forced to confront the reality of his restless existence. As the radiation from Chernobyl spreads across Europe, he begins a search for answers that looks deep into his family history and will last for the rest of his life.
Haunted by lost opportunities, Roland seeks solace through every possible means—music, literature, friends, sex, politics, and, finally, love cut tragically short, then love ultimately redeemed. His journey raises important questions for us all. Can we take full charge of the course of our lives without causing damage to others? How do global events beyond our control shape our lives and our memories? And what can we really learn from the traumas of the past?
Epic, mesmerizing, and deeply humane, Lessons is a chronicle for our times—a powerful meditation on history and humanity through the prism of one man’s lifetime.”
I have enjoyed this book quite a bit, but maybe not quite as much as I anticipated. The pacing seems to drag a bit form time to time. I did enjoy reliving all the recent history that weaves in and out of the story. Maybe there is a terrific ending ahead for me to enjoy.
I read that Hugh Hudson, director of Chariots of Fire, died this week. Here’s some of the iconic Vangelis sound track to honour him:
I also read that Gustavo Dudamel is moving from his position as conductor of the LA Philharmonic to the New York Philharmonic. There’s been a lot of chatter in the media the last couple of weeks about ChatGPT, which can answer any question and generate papers on any subject. I asked it “What makes Gustavo Dudamel such a great conductor?” Here’s the response – very impressive AI tool:
Gustavo Dudamel is considered a great conductor for several reasons:
- Musical Interpretation: Dudamel has a unique interpretation of music and a remarkable ability to bring out the emotional content of a piece. He is known for his energetic and passionate conducting style that inspires and captivates audiences.
- Technically Proficient: Dudamel is a highly skilled conductor with a deep understanding of music. He has a strong sense of rhythm and is able to bring out the best in orchestras, ensuring that every section is well balanced and in tune.
- Dynamic Presence: Dudamel is a charismatic and dynamic conductor who has the ability to engage and excite audiences. His enthusiasm and energy are contagious, and he often receives standing ovations.
- Commitment to Education: Dudamel is committed to music education and has a passion for promoting classical music to new generations. He is the founder of the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) and has been instrumental in developing programs that give young people access to music education.
- Wide Repertoire: Dudamel has a broad repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary music, and he is known for his interpretations of the works of Gustav Mahler, Ludwig van Beethoven, and many other composers.
All of these factors have combined to make Gustavo Dudamel one of the most respected and sought-after conductors of his generation.
Bruce Springsteen performed in Dallas on Friday night. Three of his band members were ill and didn’t join the band, but this review would indicate he didn’t miss a beat:
https://amp.star-telegram.com/entertainment/article272399133.html
I was enjoying listening to the reprised River tour from Dallas several years ago this week. Thanks Matt!
Coexist peacefully, with kindness and compassion for all!