Morning Visitor

Sweet little Norbert the opossum (don't call him a possum, he's very picky about that) decided to pay a visit to my desk this morning. Don't tell any of the other inanimate pets, but he's one of my very favorites.

FYI: The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), also known as the North American opossum, is a member of the opossum family found from southern Canada to northern Costa Rica, making it the northernmost marsupial in the world. Commonly referred to simply as the possum, it is a solitary nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and a successful opportunist. The Virginia opossum is the original animal named "opossum", a word which comes from Algonquian wapathemwa, meaning "white animal". Colloquially, the Virginia opossum is frequently just called a "possum". The term is applied more generally to any of the other marsupials of the families Didelphidae and Caenolestidae.  

The Simple Elegance of the Iris (my favorite flower)

 

Supplemental: Magical Marriage Moments

J: (walking into the kitchen)  My only plan for today is to eat your delicious dinner; oh, and to uh, uhh, uhhh...

D: Take the big IKEA box down to the recycling.

J: Ah, you read my mind!

D: No, I just get tired of waiting for you to complete your own sentences. 

Love is many a splendid thing 

 

The Concert

Well, Yuja Wang did not disappoint. How she can play that fast that brilliantly is beyond me. And I think she enjoys playing with the NSO, which is fine by me!  The 2nd movement from Dvořák's New World Symphony, takes its theme from the folk tune "Goin' Home". Maestro Noseda had the opening of the movement, which is simply the tune "Goin' Home" played by a solo oboe. That melody is so beautiful and always pulls at my heart strings; played on the oboe it is hauntingly beautiful, and I nearly had to hold back tears.

 

In other news, they finally took down the huge Chinese paper cut-outs that had been occupying the interior windows of the two entrance halls for far too long. That served to restore the vista out to the other side of the Potomac that the architect clearly wanted and the cut-outs blocked. Even better, they are getting ready to redo the columns on the outside of the building that got painted a warm beige the last time around. Did NOTHING for the building. They are trying out various samples; two are actually cladding that imitates polished brass. I do hope they do that; I think polished brass was what the architect originally wanted, but budget constraints nixed the idea. 

on the terrace before the concert

we weren't the only ones who eschewed the tuxedo

vast improvement on the way...

 

This Weekend's Entertainment

This evening, a bit of diversion involving what many call the world's greatest living pianist. We have tickets for the concert, not the gala festivities--neither of us feels like wearing a tuxedo (dinner jacket) anyway.

 

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Carlos Simon: Warmth from Other Suns
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Antonín Dvořak: Largo from Symphony No. 9 in E Minor,
                              Op. 95, “From the New World”
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol

The NSO’s 95th season bursts to life with Gianandrea Noseda and the sensational Yuja Wang in Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, a powerhouse work for Wang to flaunt her “scintillating pianism” and “adventurous spirit” (New York Classical Review).

The evening also shines a spotlight on American voices, from Copland’s resounding Fanfare for the Common Man to Carlos Simon’s Warmth from Other Suns—an evocative meditation on the Great Migration.

Dvořak’s Largo from “From the New World” and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol wrap up the celebration with a vibrant flourish. A perfect night for newcomers and longtime symphony lovers alike!

 

Writer's Block

 

Expanding Vocabulary & Increasing Word Power

The other day, a blog I follow posted this intriguing piece on the differing names the same type of bird would have in various regions of the US.  See: https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/chunk-ducks-blatherskites-butterballs.  I so enjoyed the article that I have decided to try to incorporate some of the more intriguing names into my daily vocabulary.  These are, in no particular order:

•  Blatherskite
•  Bufflehead
•  Slug-toot
•  Shitepoke
•  Bullbat

True Confessions

Every so often, I get concerned that my blog might be too trivial. Yes, it appears people find it amusing, perhaps even endearing to some, but other blogs I follow share personal happenings of daily life, profound realizations, autobiographical details, etc. Mine is much more on the humorous side, in part because early on in life I learned I was good at making people laugh. This became my "go to" since (you might find this hard to believe) I am actually a shy and socially awkward person (in my own view of myself). One on one, with someone I share an experience with, even meeting the first time, I can be very outgoing, engaging, and friendly; crowds of people I don't know... total wall flower. 

I also notice that most of my blog is, in one way or another, visual. Now I am a great lover of the beautiful, and I love taking pictures, but I'm also an very good writer, and have gotten compliments on my way with words pretty much all my life. And it's not just the written word. A very close and dear friend years ago remarked: "You know, when you speak I can actually hear the semi-colons." (BTW, is still agonize over whether putting ending punctuation inside or outside quotation marks is better; Manual of Style be damned!)

So, I'm thinking of writing more and getting more personal, from time to time, not exclusively. What do y'all think? 

 

Amazing Scientific Discovery!

Orlando (in the pith helmet) and his brother Osvaldo are over the moon about an incredible discovery on their current expedition in the condo. (For the uninitiated, house penguins periodically go on "safaris" in their places of residence; it's a little peculiar but remember they don't get out much.) On this adventure, they uncovered what must be, in their opinion, the last remaining living specimen of a dodo. (Happily, Edmund's son Edwin was out at the playground at the time, so their hopes were not immediately dashed.) Edmund was very much flattered by all the attention and invited them to stay for tea. Science marches on!!!

 

English Muffins: An Audience Survey

Just this morning, as I was preparing my breakfast, I realized that English Muffins are yummy toasted, but really aren't terribly appetizing otherwise. Please note, I'm speaking here of the packaged muffins one buys at the store, the only kind I've ever had. What strikes me as odd is that most nice breads taste good both cold and toasted, but not the  English Muffin. Is this a fault of the packaged variety. Though I've been to England a number of times, I don't recall seeing them on a menu. Perhaps one goes to a bakery for the good stuff??? 

Anyway, my audience participation questions are:

1. Does this curiosity re English Muffins strike you as odd as well?
2. Have you ever had a "real" English muffin (i.e. not the packaged product)?
3. If so, do you know if it tasted good untoasted? 
4. Do you know of other breads that also only taste good toasted? 

Please give your responses in the Comments below.

 

Odd Ends

 

an older Maybach

I want this one, the flame-throwers on the front bumper are a nice touch!

the report from my last physical came in

aliens from the strange & distant weenie planet

international signage can be so confusing

because... why not?

 

 

Nobel Prize, Here We Come!

Hammond, one of our most beloved and largest penguins, has undertaken to write his autobiography.  He has tentatively entitled it: La Vie de Moi: A Penguin's Journey through Life and Herring.  We, of course, wish him all the success in the world, but I did tell him the title needs more work...

Art in the Kitchen

There has been a big blank wall in the kitchen ever since David moved into our condo in 2009. It continued to be empty after the kitchen renovation in 2022. We had a plan for it: install a set of David's finer food photos, taken from are various trips abroad, usually in European central markets. Well the day has finally arrived. David had the idea of putting up food photos in our café here at the condo complex, as part of one of the local art group's exhibitions. Once they were taken down there, they were put up here, with appropriate lighting installed by yours truly. Enjoy.

 

For All My Fellow Scorpios Out There...

 

Flowers

The mixed Alstroemeria bouquets are back!!!  😁