We didn’t really go to Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. We had tickets for the opera Saturday – the Lyric doing La Traviata – and we were supposed to go to a Chicago Symphony chamber concert Sunday afternoon. And, I wanted to take John out for his birthday, coming up on Monday. The chamber … [Read more…]
Friday – International Women’s Day – we went to the Madison symphony. It was a night of three featured soloists – who all play in the band: the concertmaster, on violin; first clarinet; and the tuba player. I find it hard to call him “tubist” although that seems to be the correct term. I made … [Read more…]
As an art history major I was taught to consider the artwork separately from the artist. But it just seems like everyday now we’re finding out about the feet of clay of yet another one of our idols, especially in the realm of pop culture, and I see a lot of people wondering if they’re … [Read more…]
This morning when I woke up I felt like it should be Saturday already, instead of only Friday. Somehow it’s just been a long week. Maybe the cold, maybe just everything. I’ve had several conversations with friends where they’re feeling like it’s the end of days. People snowed in up north and a 100+ car … [Read more…]
I seem to have devolved into a once a week blogger, so I guess I might as well report on my week. Backwards – weekend to weekend. We were going to go to Chicago this weekend but got scared off by the weather predictions of ice storm and crazy wind. It turned out to not … [Read more…]
We shoveled about 4 inches of snow twice already today, and it looks like there’s maybe another 2-3 in the driveway since our last shovel, which was about 3:30 – it almost 8:00 PM now. Since Valentine’s Day was Thursday, seems like a lot of people extended the holiday into the weekend, and so did … [Read more…]
The Madison Schools have had six snow (or extreme cold weather) closure days this winter. Unheard of. That’s like 3 years worth of snow days – they only build about 1 or 2 extra days into the calendar each year for weather closures. Our global-climate-change winter has been crazy disruptive this year. And February’s not … [Read more…]
At first, but now – when I started writing this, Saturday, Groundhogs Day – all of a sudden we’re thawing. I got back last Sunday around 4:00 in the afternoon. The kids had already had a snow day on the Wednesday prior, and more snow was on the way. The airlines sent me a bunch … [Read more…]
On Friday, before I headed down to the Convention Center for the librarians conference, I touched up my black boots with a little heel & edge polish I found in my brother & sister-in-law’s closet. Somehow it made me think of the words to this old Stephen Stills’ song, Johnny’s Garden: And I’ll do anything … [Read more…]
Kind of a lot of it is my own cooking, but I guess that’s as it should be, since I’m actually living here, not vacationing, touristing, or conferencing – yet. Friday the librarians’ conference begins**, so I should have some additional eating adventures then. Stove top mac & cheese, that I made for one … [Read more…]