Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Monday, July 26, 2004
Lake Wobegon Days
After zipping through 12 books during my maternity leave with Dova (one was 800 pages!!), I slowly plodded through Garrison Keillor's first book Lake Wobegon Days. I assumed this was going to be a great book since I love his monologues on Prairie Home Companion. I always check out the reviews on Amazon first before reading a book, and was surprised to see that is was split between raves and boos. Dullsville? All those great stories on the radio aren't boring!!
Unfortunately, I would have to agree with the latter bunch. It was a slow read, I'm not sure whether it was because of my hectic schedule going back to work, or because I put it in the upstairs bedroom (downstairs is reserved for my Time magazine addition). Plus I just didn't like his style and tone. Some parts of the book were just slow and not interesting, full of details and mundane happenings that I just couldn't get myself to care about. Then there would be really funny gems, but he rushed through them instead of taking his time building them up like he does during the monologue. And then there was the really bitter undercurrent which you can sense about his upbringing towards his parents and religion. There was a section of footnotes that lasted a whole chapter which was just a distracting way to read (I read the long footnote, which was full of the bitter resentments, and then I had to go back and read the main text, which was simply unmemorable, almost just filler so that he could write a really long footnote).
I guess from now on, I will stick to the audio monologues.
Unfortunately, I would have to agree with the latter bunch. It was a slow read, I'm not sure whether it was because of my hectic schedule going back to work, or because I put it in the upstairs bedroom (downstairs is reserved for my Time magazine addition). Plus I just didn't like his style and tone. Some parts of the book were just slow and not interesting, full of details and mundane happenings that I just couldn't get myself to care about. Then there would be really funny gems, but he rushed through them instead of taking his time building them up like he does during the monologue. And then there was the really bitter undercurrent which you can sense about his upbringing towards his parents and religion. There was a section of footnotes that lasted a whole chapter which was just a distracting way to read (I read the long footnote, which was full of the bitter resentments, and then I had to go back and read the main text, which was simply unmemorable, almost just filler so that he could write a really long footnote).
I guess from now on, I will stick to the audio monologues.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Electricity - It's not all the same
The Dryer vs. Air-Conditioning.
In an attempt at good environmental and attachment parenting practices, I strapped Dova onto my back and brought a load of laundry out to hang on our new clothesline. At first I was smiling at what a good doobie I was, bonding with my baby, enjoying the outdoors, although it was kinda warm, and saving the environment by not using the electric dryer. I stopped to admire the cute baby clothes and wonderful patterns made by the towels. I brought out the wood drying rack onto the deck (no underwear and bras go on the line for public view!!) and clipped each sock and burpie.
But by the end, I was sweating like crazy, and then the rack blew over onto Dova (scared me more than anything) and there were TOO MANY SOCKS!!! When everything was finally hung, I was so relieved to go inside and enjoy the comfortable central A/C. It was fantastic. So much for saving the environment. I dropped Dova into her exersaucer to cool off too. So much for attachment parenting!! I looked at the outdoor thermometer - it was 87°F + humid, what the heck was I thinking?!?!
This was the original article that inspired me to get a clothes line.
In an attempt at good environmental and attachment parenting practices, I strapped Dova onto my back and brought a load of laundry out to hang on our new clothesline. At first I was smiling at what a good doobie I was, bonding with my baby, enjoying the outdoors, although it was kinda warm, and saving the environment by not using the electric dryer. I stopped to admire the cute baby clothes and wonderful patterns made by the towels. I brought out the wood drying rack onto the deck (no underwear and bras go on the line for public view!!) and clipped each sock and burpie.
But by the end, I was sweating like crazy, and then the rack blew over onto Dova (scared me more than anything) and there were TOO MANY SOCKS!!! When everything was finally hung, I was so relieved to go inside and enjoy the comfortable central A/C. It was fantastic. So much for saving the environment. I dropped Dova into her exersaucer to cool off too. So much for attachment parenting!! I looked at the outdoor thermometer - it was 87°F + humid, what the heck was I thinking?!?!
This was the original article that inspired me to get a clothes line.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
To Roomba or not?
OK, it's such a cool toy, and of course it was invented by an MIT person, but does it save you time? I just spent a good 15 minutes trying to get all the hair out from the roller (since I am in the post pregnancy massive hair fallout stage). Plus you have to clean all those nooks and crannies that collect the dust (why they couldn't get the dust to just go to the collection bin is beyond me). You never clean out a regular vacuum, although it would probably be wise to (I don't even want to think about how much hair is in that roller, I guess I will wait till it stops working to check).
It is mostly fun as a neat toy, Adam loves to start it up and watch it (even Dova is fascinated by it). It is definitely nice for under the bed and couches, but it can be frustrating to watch when it misses the obvious stuff. Unfortunately I was just a month too early when I bought mine, or else I would've gotten the one with the remote control!!
It is mostly fun as a neat toy, Adam loves to start it up and watch it (even Dova is fascinated by it). It is definitely nice for under the bed and couches, but it can be frustrating to watch when it misses the obvious stuff. Unfortunately I was just a month too early when I bought mine, or else I would've gotten the one with the remote control!!
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Andres Segovia
NPR again.. Here is the audio clip. Fred Child claims that Segovia was actually not a good technician when it came to his performance. Chords buzz, strings squeak, but now players are getting beyond the mechanics of playing the guitar and so you only hear the music. Jason Vieaux and David Russell are some of the new stars. Melissa Block is still skeptical. I agree. Segovia single handedly brought the guitar into the mainstream classical music arena. And it was not only by his playing, but by his charismatic personality. Plus, if you take too much out of the sound of the guitar, you might as well just use a synthesizer.
Yesterday morning, I heard the Netherlands Bach Society perform the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 on a WGBH recorded performance. Now, this performance was wild and passionate, full of squeaky violins and flailing arms (you can almost hear it). It was just too much. Bach is one of those composers who created pure music, and I would rather hear just the music and not so much of the killing chickens (as we used to call young violin players practicing).
Yesterday morning, I heard the Netherlands Bach Society perform the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 on a WGBH recorded performance. Now, this performance was wild and passionate, full of squeaky violins and flailing arms (you can almost hear it). It was just too much. Bach is one of those composers who created pure music, and I would rather hear just the music and not so much of the killing chickens (as we used to call young violin players practicing).
Ghost Hunter
I heard this story on NPR about ghost hunters (listen to the short audio clip). Jake Warga went to help a family that was hearing strange noises in their house. The ghost (purportedly) turned out to be was the late great grandmother of their 2 year old son. The new mom was overwhelmed and uneasy about being in a new town without support. The grandmother was "needed" to watch over the boy and he would often say "hi" and "bye" to her. Once the mom was more secure, the ghost went away, she was no longer "needed".
Jake said was that young children often are able to talk about ghosts and their former lives. He said you should ask them, "Do you remember when you were big?" I asked Adam (who thinks he is a big boy already), if he remembered when he was big. He said, "Yes, I remember I pooped and winkled in the potty." I asked him again if he remembered when we was big like Mommy and Daddy and what did he do? He said yes, but couldn't tell me what he did. Maybe he is just beyond the age already. I've asked him if remembers being born, sometimes he says yes, sometimes no. But I will try to ask him again. Perhaps when he is going to sleep.
Jake said was that young children often are able to talk about ghosts and their former lives. He said you should ask them, "Do you remember when you were big?" I asked Adam (who thinks he is a big boy already), if he remembered when he was big. He said, "Yes, I remember I pooped and winkled in the potty." I asked him again if he remembered when we was big like Mommy and Daddy and what did he do? He said yes, but couldn't tell me what he did. Maybe he is just beyond the age already. I've asked him if remembers being born, sometimes he says yes, sometimes no. But I will try to ask him again. Perhaps when he is going to sleep.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Michael Tilson Thomas
It was an awesome night of public television. The same night I first saw Igor Fokin, Great Performances had Keeping Score: MTT on Music/Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. Of course I did not bother with the actual performance of the 4th, since I've heard it so many times, but the documentary was totally enlightening, especially since I consider that I know a good deal about classical music. I guess I didn't know about professional orchestras and performances.
I first remember learning about Michael Tilson Thomas when I was a teenager. He was one of those up and coming young conductors, and kind of cute to boot. Soon after, I learned that he was gay and flamboyantly so. Oh well. My first thought on seeing him in this broadcast was, "Gee, he looks really old, and not so cute!" After doing some research on him after seeing the show, I determined that he was 59, so maybe he wasn't so young after all during my teens. (When I was 14 at Tanglewood, he would have been 36).
The cool things I learned from the show were that the librarian transfers all the notes that the conductor puts into his score onto each individual part. The tympanist prepared his skins in a kiddy pool in a shower. The oboists spends half his time preparing his reeds (they show the process right from the first split of the cylinder into four parts), and the other half practicing, so they only get to practice half as much as the other players. The poor piccolo player really sweats the 21 note 3 second solo. There were also many quotes that hit home like, "Music memory is like smell. When you hear a piece of music, it can take you right back to when you first heard it." So very true, whether it is classical or popular.
And I was really impressed by his beautiful house in San Francisco. Absolutely breathtaking. All the scenes were beautifully shot as well. Oh yes, and all his cool commentary about the music. So fitting that he chose Tchaikovsky, a fellow gay that led a tortured life (as opposed to MTT, who looked pretty darn happy).
I first remember learning about Michael Tilson Thomas when I was a teenager. He was one of those up and coming young conductors, and kind of cute to boot. Soon after, I learned that he was gay and flamboyantly so. Oh well. My first thought on seeing him in this broadcast was, "Gee, he looks really old, and not so cute!" After doing some research on him after seeing the show, I determined that he was 59, so maybe he wasn't so young after all during my teens. (When I was 14 at Tanglewood, he would have been 36).
The cool things I learned from the show were that the librarian transfers all the notes that the conductor puts into his score onto each individual part. The tympanist prepared his skins in a kiddy pool in a shower. The oboists spends half his time preparing his reeds (they show the process right from the first split of the cylinder into four parts), and the other half practicing, so they only get to practice half as much as the other players. The poor piccolo player really sweats the 21 note 3 second solo. There were also many quotes that hit home like, "Music memory is like smell. When you hear a piece of music, it can take you right back to when you first heard it." So very true, whether it is classical or popular.
And I was really impressed by his beautiful house in San Francisco. Absolutely breathtaking. All the scenes were beautifully shot as well. Oh yes, and all his cool commentary about the music. So fitting that he chose Tchaikovsky, a fellow gay that led a tortured life (as opposed to MTT, who looked pretty darn happy).
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
So many BMWs, so little time
I had the crazy idea of asking my friend Raymond, who bought the white car, if he could sell it back to me when he was done. It's completely ridiculous, right? I miss it, and so does Adam.
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