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Saturday, July 15, 2017

Blog Break


Comment moderation intermittently enabled.

Real life, this time, pleasurable real life, supersedes virtual life!

Warren is coming for a visit — his first visit to Washington, D.C.!

There's too much going on here to work on publishing blog posts. Former blogger TMW and I are readying the house, and Mr. AOW is tidying up his man cave.

Then, once Warren arrives, we're off to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, and whatever other attractions we can manage to squeeze into our schedule.

During this blog's hiatus, enjoy Preludes For Piano Book One by Claude Debussy (1862-1918):


List of preludes:

1) Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi)
2) Voiles (Veils or Sails) 3:46
3) Le vent dans la plaine (The wind in the plain) 7:47
4) Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir (The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air) 9:48
5) Les collines d'Anacapri (The hills of Anacapri) 14:26
6) Des pas sur la neige (Footsteps in the snow) 17:44
7) Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest (What the west wind has seen) 23:10
8) La fille aux cheveux de lin (The girl with the flaxen hair) 26:17
9) La sérénade interrompue (The interrupted serenade) 28:57
10) La Cathédrale engloutie (The engulfed cathedral) 31:23
11) La danse de Puck (Puck's dance) 37:39
12) Minstrels 40:36


For detailed information about Debussy and these preludes, go to Musical Musings.

28 comments:

  1. PLEASE give the Wonderful Warren a BIG HUG FROM Z!! ENJOY!

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  2. Ah! Music from my formative years much of which I've subsequently performed, myself.

    Debussy's piano music is particularly satisfying when listening alone at home. It quietly "chases the blues away." Like Emily Dickinson's metaphorical "frigate" it takes us "lands away" to realms of beauty mystery and enchantment undreamt of without its aid.

    Thank you for this lovely gift to help while away a lonely Saturday –– a letdown after a busy, exciting week completing weeks of much-needed, longed for renovation.

    I have to say, however, that it's both a disservice and a grave injustice to the pianist who produced this beautiful album not to tell us who he or she is.

    _________________________

    That aside, I hope Warren thoroughly enjoys his first visit to The Belly of the Beast, and that all four of you have a glorious, trouble-free time together.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Do enjoy! I hope you also get to two of my favorites: the estate (not house especially) of George Washington, and the Jefferson Memorial.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Baysider,
      We hope to get to those -- if the heat index will cooperate.

      Delete
  4. Yesterday, we headed into town at 7:10 AM; we visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Mrmorial, and the World War 2 Memorial. Then we headed to the Jefferson Memorial, but could find no parking there; we had to settle for a close drive by.

    Back home for a rest. Then off we went to the celebration-of-life gathering to mark the passing of the last remaining WW2 veteran in my extended family.

    On another note, our tortie Amber has already approved Warren's presence here. In less than 24 hours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds good. I don't know where you get the energy, but I'm glad you are able to do all that.

      I always loved to drive thriugh Rock Creek Park on pleasant spring and summer evenings. I had friends back then who lived on Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase. They owned a Buick convertible they had managed to keep on the road for twenty-eight years out of sheer sentiment –– a truly romantic couple!

      Those few drives we took together through Rock Creek Park with theb top down have made very pleasant, if bittersweet memories.

      I never cease to wonder how any place as thoroughly beautiful as Washington, DC and environs could mask so much incredible stupidity, duplicity and satanic activity so splendidly?

      I hope you guys visit the Cathedral. I've always loved the grounds there even more than the building, itself.

      As for the Jefferson Memorial, don't you think, as I do, that its beauty is best seen from a distance reflected in the Tidal Basin?

      Delete
    2. FT,
      I had a lot of pain late yesterday afternoon, but medication brought some relief.

      We might go to the Washington Cathedral. I think that it's too hot to go to Mount Vernon.

      We got both the distance view and a close view of the Jefferson Memorial.

      Yesterday, we left D.C. via the George Washington Memorial Parkway. If we hadn't already been exhausted, we would have gone to Roosevelt Island. I'd like to go on the Rock Creek Parkway route, but doubt that we'll have time.

      Delete
    3. The biggest issue about seeing the sights: Parking! There is no longer free parking in DC. -- even on weekends and/or for a handicapped vehicle!

      Delete
    4. When we visited and met you, it was cabs and walking. Some places appeared closer than they were!

      Delete
  5. It is with deep sadness and regret we note the passing of our beloved friend, friendly adversary and notably colorful blogging colleague

    A lovable, truly unforgettable character
    and all-around good sport has left us.

    JERSEY McJONES

    who lost his battle with advanced,
    metastatic cancer yesterday

    JERSEY, TRULY YOU WERE LARGER-THAN-LIFE,
    MAY GOD LOVE YOU THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.

    WE OFFER NOW OUR KINDEST THOUGHTS, SWEETEST PRAYERS and FONDEST HOPES for HIS WIFE, FAMILY MEMBERS,
    and PERSONAL FRIENDS







    ... Just when the fun's beginning
    Comes the final inning
    We can be glad for what we've had ––
    And what's to come ...

    ~ Eileen Farrel & Leonard Bernstein
    "Some Other Time"
    ON THE TOWN (1944)
    music: Leonard Bernstein
    lyrics: Comden and Greene

    Posted in Fond Memory of Jersey McJones

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yesterday, in the MISERABLE heat, we spent the entire day at two of the Smithsonian museums: Air & Space and Americsn Indian.

    Mr. AOW had some trouble with his scooter's battery but was able to charge the battery enough to get back to the pickup point to go home.

    Today was, more or.less, a day of recovery from yesterday's museums trip.

    Wouldn't you know it? Mr. AOW's hospital bed had mechanical trouble this evening, so Warren had to work on it. On his vacation! Also during his vacation, Warren installed a television and an air conditioner for us. A working vacation! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed,
      Warren rocks!

      He and for,er blogger TMW tricked me and install d the AC unit and the TV while Mr. AOW and I were at the ophthalmologist. I came home ready to go to work, but the AC unit and the TV were already installed. Not that I'm complaining!

      Delete
  7. A TRAGIC IRONY in the NEWS

    Sen. John McCain, 80, has been diagnosed with a primary glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, Mayo Clinic doctors directly involved in the senator's care told CNN exclusively. (CNN)

    That's CANCER of the BRAIN in plain layman's language. –– virtually the same disease that took our buddy Jersey away at age 48.

    At least McCain survived to age 80 before this overtook him. Jersey never had the chance to fulfill his own potential.

    Early reports on MSNBC claim that the surgeons at the MAYO CLINIC were able to remove the entire mass. One can't help but wonder, however, whe –– or even if –– the senator will be able to resume his duties in congress

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In my view, there is no worse cancer than glioblastoma multiforme. I've lost two friends to that monster. One friend was in his 40s, one in his 60s.

      I understand that John McCain has glioblastoma multiforme. He will likely NOT resume his duties on Capitol Hill.

      Delete
  8. Long Break. I hope you and Mr AOW are up in Vegas Cleaning Up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kid,
      Warren, TMW, Mr. AOW, and I are doing the tourist thing -- and having a blast doing so. Except that our feet hurt from tramping through the Smithsonian museums and some other D.C. sites.

      Too bad that we're not in Vegas, though.

      Delete
    2. Smithsonian. Good Stuff. Enjoy.

      Delete
  9. Yesterday: the NRA Firearms Museum. **grin**

    ReplyDelete
  10. THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, JERSEY:

    ____________ Riders in the Sky ________

    An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
    Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
    When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
    A'plowin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw

    Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
    Ghost riders in the sky

    Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
    Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
    A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
    For he saw the riders comin' hard and he heard their mournful cry

    Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
    Ghost riders in the sky

    Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, and shirts all soaked with sweat
    They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
    They've got to ride forever in that range up in the sky
    On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear their cry

    Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
    Ghost riders in the sky

    As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
    "If you want to save your soul from hell a' ridin' on our range"
    "Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride"
    "A-tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies."

    Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
    Ghost riders in the sky
    Ghost riders in the sky


    ~ Oliver Jones (1949) - recorded by Frankie Laine, Vaughan Monroe, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, and Johnny cash ming others.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Riders in the Sky was recorded by Frankie Laine, Vaughan Monroe, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, and later by Johnny Cash among others

    When I was a boy, this song was heard on the radio every day and on every jukebox in every hash house and restaurant for many months. It was certainly not Jersey's style –– at least not as he presented himself here in Blogistan –– but I think he would have found it appealing all the same.

    I was fortunate to be able to get to know him outside the blogosphere, and found he had a keen; intelligence, vivid imagination and the capacity to see far beyond his familiar parochial interests.

    He knew full well that I frankly despised the kind of music he professed to love best, and yet he was KIND enough, and WISE enough to realize there was great virtue in classical music.

    He told me he did in fact enjoy Beethoven & CO. a lot, and had even been known to attend the opera now and then, though he preferred not to emphasize that side of himself here –– part of maintaining the unique, rough and ready blog persona he had created for himself no doubt.

    At any rate, –– though I doubt two people could be farther apart in their stated political aims and preferences, –– and all the other things that might have kept us forever at odds ––, we were able to look beneath the surface and find much to like and respect in each other because of our common humanity –– and doubtless our common point of origin in the New York metropolitan area.

    The latter created an instant bond. You'd have to have been born and brought up there, yourself, to understand, but we New Yorkers, Long Islanders, and Jerseyites have an instinctive understanding, love and respect for each other that transcends, social, economic and cultural barriers.

    In short Jersey and I LIKED each other –– even LOVED each other before it was all over –– and in the end, dear friends, that is ALL that really matters.

    WE NEED TO LOOK FOR ThINGS WE CAN LIKE AND ADMIRE IN EACH OTHER< and STOP SEARCHING ENDLESSLY FOR THINGS ABOUT WHICH WE CAN CAN FIND "A GOOD EXCUSE" TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, LAMENT AND DESPISE

    ReplyDelete
  12. Warren's visit here has ended. We'll miss him!

    So, now, back to full-time blogging.

    ReplyDelete

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