3 April …
I sat down to do the blog this morning … but got caught by two emails and so the blog is late.
The first to catch my eye (and ear) was a post about a performance of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor on a huge organ in Germany. I was awed, gobsmacked, overwhelmed. I listened twice before I was able to continue with the morning. Here is the link … if you’re interested.
The second was a lead to an episode on the PBS program “Secrets of the Dead” dealing with the legend of King Arthur. Having been interested in those stories for a long time, especially after the trip to Tintagel twenty or so years ago, of course I had to watch. Wow! It was interesting on so many levels … history and genealogy mainly. I have genealogical links to Cornwall plus both genealogical and DNA links to Kent and Lincolnshire.
But I am finally centered again, so here we go …
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Last thursday, I had finally gotten last week’s blog out (I seem to be chronically late recently) and as I sat looking out my window the snow had gotten heavier and the sun was shining.
I had been told, years ago, that when the sun was shining during rain it meant the devil was beating his wife. I wonder what sun plus snow means.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac had predicted warm and wet for us. Well. The wet was true. At least during February, March, and so far into April … but warmer ???
This morning it is chilly, but above freezing, and the sun is shining.
Most of the snow has melted and
green shoots are beginning to show where there are perennial bulbs.
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I recently read an article about women writers of science fiction. One of those listed was Octavia E. Butler. I had heard her name before but never read any of her work.
“Kindred” was available in our library. I finished it last week.
It was an interesting take on time travel and on the time period her storyteller experiences.
It left me thinking about why she chose to call it kindred rather than kin folk, kinship, or just plain kin.
If you read it, tell me what you think.
I am now reading “Who Discovered America? : the untold history of the peopling of the Americas” by G. Menzies.
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For his birthday, I took Mark to see the HD production of “Die Valkyrie”. 
It was the production done using what they call “ExMachina” for the sets (and no, the picture is not upside down … it’s the finale). George and I had seen it on PBS (Great Performances) back in 2011 or 2012 when Jay Hunter Morris stepped in at the last minute to sing Seigfreid.
It was over four hours of very intense storytelling. Now I want to find a DVD set … maybe of those earlier performances.
We ran late and almost missed the start. Neera, one of my “opera” friends was to meet us at the theatre. She was on time but couldn’t get in without me since I had the tickets. Or so we thought. Fortunately, the young man inside the lobby remembered us and let her go get her seat, knowing I was coming with the tickets.
The only spoiler to the day was that in my hurry to get to the lobby when we arrived, I tried to go/walk too fast with the tear in my hamstring, and tore it again … more seriously. The seats in the theatre are heated and reclined, so I was “comfortable” during the show. But I had trouble walking after and went to bed very early with pain killers and sleepers.
Somehow, I was granted a pardon for my foolishness, and sunday I was able to walk without severe pain as long as I was careful and didn’t twist.
I hoped it would heal swiftly and it has. I still need to watch twisting and my left knee is complaining about the change in posture while walking, but all will soon be well.
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Last year I watched the first season of the NetFlix show “The Crown”. It is about Elizabeth II. She and I shared growing-up years and I am intrigued by her.
I just finished watching season 2. Apparently the writing is close to truth since the Monarchy has not banned it. The insights into the Queen’s relationship to government and the interactions between E II and her husband are enlightening. Makes them more human and understandable.
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Mark will leave sunday for a week in the Sacramento area. He will be taking a firefighting class as driver/operator of some of the equipment. It will seem strange without him.
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And I’ve begun work on my collection of short stories again. Wish me luck.
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Sooo …
Life needs a goal and a plan. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there…
‘til next week …