Mighty cold here this morning. Mighty cold. Down in the 30s, which is rare in this part of California. The local paper suggests that records may be broken.
I'm wearing a sweater for the first time in years!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Family, family, family!
The Thanksgiving holiday was a family intense affair for us this year. Our son Derek and his girlfriend S flew out from the east coast, and we met at the Granlibakken resort at Lake Tahoe. Family members from all over converged to have an informal memorial service for Elaine's grandfather who recently passed away at the tender age of 96.
Two of her sisters with their families joined us, as well as her mom and her mom's husband. It was quite an affair. The resort provided Thanksgiving dinner, complete with two roast turkeys for the lot of us - 17 all together.
The next day we drove down to Auburn to see Elaine's aunt and uncle along with two cousins she hadn't seen in 20 years. Her grandmother was there as well, and we had another memorial with them.
Our friend Kitty and her gentleman caller live just a few miles from the resort, so we spent some time with them, and then on the way back stopped to see my brother Erik in Sacramento.
Poor S! She was completely inundated with new people all weekend long. She was a trouper, though, and now has much better insight into the environment that molded Derek. ;-)
Two of her sisters with their families joined us, as well as her mom and her mom's husband. It was quite an affair. The resort provided Thanksgiving dinner, complete with two roast turkeys for the lot of us - 17 all together.
The next day we drove down to Auburn to see Elaine's aunt and uncle along with two cousins she hadn't seen in 20 years. Her grandmother was there as well, and we had another memorial with them.
Our friend Kitty and her gentleman caller live just a few miles from the resort, so we spent some time with them, and then on the way back stopped to see my brother Erik in Sacramento.
Poor S! She was completely inundated with new people all weekend long. She was a trouper, though, and now has much better insight into the environment that molded Derek. ;-)
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Kyrie eleison
In church this morning we sang a wonderful setting of the spiritual "Steal Away" for men. It intersperses the hymn with the gregorian chant "Kyrie Orbis Factor." The effect is remarkable. I sang the top part, mostly in counter-tenor mode, as it goes up to a high B flat. It was great fun. On top of that, I managed to get my 94 year old mother to come to church to hear it, something she never does.
She was really cute. I've been telling her all week that we sing around 10:45, and that she should get there by 10:30 just to make sure. Alternatively, if she wanted to attend the whole service to be there by 10:00. She showed up at 9:20! That gave her the chance to hear the entire rehearsal process as well. I suspected that she would leave, but she lasted all the way to the end of the service, and she told me she really enjoyed "the whole program." It was nice to see her out in the congregation, and I was able to go and give her a hug during the sign of peace.
It's the little things...
She was really cute. I've been telling her all week that we sing around 10:45, and that she should get there by 10:30 just to make sure. Alternatively, if she wanted to attend the whole service to be there by 10:00. She showed up at 9:20! That gave her the chance to hear the entire rehearsal process as well. I suspected that she would leave, but she lasted all the way to the end of the service, and she told me she really enjoyed "the whole program." It was nice to see her out in the congregation, and I was able to go and give her a hug during the sign of peace.
It's the little things...
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Big place, that Rome...
This painting caught my eye due to all the Renaissance instruments and the snippet of music. You can see a viola da braccio, a postive organ, a lute and a cornetto. The music is a canon to the text "Gaude Maria."
This unassuming little church was designed by Bernini. It is tucked away in a niche of the Termini train station. This is yet another of my artistic photoshopping endeavors.
Rome has a lot of graffiti. I found this contrast between the "modern" and the "traditional" to be food for thought.
This tower at the eastern end of the Termini station cries out Mussolini to me. I don't know why. Mussolini era, in any event.
This is the ceiling of the papal altar in the center of St. John Lateran, which is
officially *the* cathedral of Rome. Only the pope is allowed to say mass from it.
This is the site of our final performance for the tour. We participated in a mass at 5 PM on a Sunday, and then gave a short concert afterwards.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Rest' in pace...
Our friend Tim died last night at 10:52 PM. He was diagnosed with bone cancer about a year and a half ago, and it was untreatable except for pain relief. Tim was our age, and a happy go lucky independent commercial fisherman. He was always very generous with us, and glad to have us drop in. We ate many pounds of freshly caught salmon over the past few years, thanks to him.
Tim passed away at home, and was still there when I stopped by to visit this morning, so I was able to say my final farewell. My wife and I visited him earlier this week after a prolonged period - we are very happy we did.
Tim passed away at home, and was still there when I stopped by to visit this morning, so I was able to say my final farewell. My wife and I visited him earlier this week after a prolonged period - we are very happy we did.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
A(hhh) Roma!
In summertime, nighttime is the best time to walk around Rome. The temperature is very pleasant, and the town is just coming to life. As you can see, I had some fun adorning these photos with "artistic" touches.
Also known as the Wedding Cake!
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