Whatever Wednesday - Sing Ladies, Sing

Well  -Thanks Dad!   I treated myself to a fabulous  afternoon at the Meyerson  Symphony Hall in Dallas on Sunday March 30th.  Pretty much any entertainment these days, I say "Thanks Dad".  I  got  a  nice  inheritance  and I'm doing  stuff my dad  would  have liked.  This particular afternoon  was amazing, fabulous, and right up his alley - Show  tunes

the picture above is the  amazing Lay organ.  It was  not  used in  this production,  but still  dramatically pretty. 

So, yes I had an orchestra seat to hear Kelli  O'Hara AND Sutton Foster  sing  Broadway tunes and  more on a Sunday afternoon.  Does  life  get any better?  This was  a show they did  at Carnegie Hall.  Then they decided more of America  deserved  to  hear this and Dallas was their first touring booking. Wow!!!!!!

Voices soared. Kelli's soprano is angelic. "If  I loved you"  from Carousel was ethereal.   It  was so gorgeous in  this music hall. I got verklempt - truly a bit  teary.  My dad  would  have loved this. 

And  Sutton  singing  "Anything Goes"  and  doing  the original tap dance routine. OMG. Divine. 

It was an absolutely perfect  two hours.  I had goosebumps. 

 Here's the song list.  Divine unity of voices.  

thanks, Dad.  Love ya and miss you SO much.  

April Fool

Every day I wake up and wait for a declaration - APRIL FOOL!!!

Alas.....nope

 

Monday Moments - Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts

 Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts was a fun find in the library. I meandered over to the biography/memoir area and this one caught my eye. What a reading journey!

cover blurb - This lush memoir is the epic story of one woman's life changing journey across three continents to confront the reality of the global slave trade - and find her place in the world. 

Tara Roberts is a National Geographic Explorer in Residence. She documents shipwrecks that once carried captive Africans during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. She leads a podcast series Into the Depths, and was the first Black woman explorer to grace the National Geographic magazine. 

It was a fortuitous day when she discovered a scuba group, Diving With a Purpose, which helps  document the wrecks of ships. Her life became one of discovery for history itself, and for own self history - the stories of her ancestors. 

cover blurb - Tara Roberts joins a cadre of new writers who draw on personal and cultural records to open readers' eyes and hearts. She weaves together the voices of past and present to tell a deeper story of Black identity. 

A complete eye  opener  for me.  I learned  a lot from her travels to Africa, the Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and home in Atlanta, and the deep South.

p. 248 a friend gives her a quote that is  true to her feelings:  To be African American is to be African without any memory and American without any privilege        

Whoa - think  about it and reflect on that. 

Finally Friday - The Master Butchers Singing Club

 Louise Erdrich is a sublime writer. This older work (2003), The Master Butchers Singing Club, is another fine example. 

cover blurb - What happens  when a trained killer discovers, in the aftermath of war (WWI) that his true vocation is love? Fidelis Waldvogel returns home to his quiet German village and marries the pregnant widow of his best friend who was killed in action. 

As a master butcher he heads to North America with his knives and sausage skills. He sets up a successful business in North  Dakota. Eva and  four sons thrive and we learn about the community, the lives, and deaths. A stranger, Delphine, proves to be a formidable friend and lover in this small town. Erdrich brings everyday encounters to life and weaves quite a tale. 

Whatever Wednesday - The Testament by John Grisham

 Here's an oldie (1999) John Grisham book - The Testament that proved  to be a darn good  read. 

Troy Phelan is a self -made billionaire - eccentric, reclusive, confined to a wheelchair, and looking  for a  way to  die. His heirs are circling. He has written many wills. But it's his final, final testament that proves startling, shocking, and alters lives. 

 Nate O'Riley, a hard charging, hard living, Washington litigator is in for a remarkable adventure because of Troy Phelan. 

I won't say more.  I can't  say more.   I was very surprised. 

Monday Moments - the ultimate outlaw

 Another Monday Moments LOVE post.   All of these Love pics arose from Philly's Super Bowl victory, and celebrations around town.  Yes, Philly is the City of  Brotherly Love...or Shove (yea for  the tush push)

Love is  the ultimate  outlaw.   It  just  won't  adhere to any rules.  The most any of can do is sign on as its accomplice.  - Tom Robbins

I wish you a week of love. 

Finally Friday - Camino Ghosts by John Grisham

John Grisham is a reliable author with an extensive list of published  books. Camino Ghosts is on the new shelf at the library and I snapped it up.  It was a quick  patio  read and entertaining enough.  It's a  sequel to Camino Island. 

Mercer Mann is  a popular  writer from Camino  Island, Florida. She's  now newly married, a published author, and in search  of  a new novel idea.  The  local bookstore  owner, Bruce, introduces  her to Lovely Jackson. She's  the last known descendant of Dark Isle, a small island settled  by freed slaves three hundred years ago. She left Dark Isle at age fifteen, but claims ownership. 

However, Tidal Breeze, a huge corporate developer has plans to build a resort and casino there.  Mercer investigates Lovely's  family story and asks to write the full  non-fiction story.  A non-profit lawyer gets involved to  fight  for  Lovely's rights to her island - it's curse,  her ancestors are buried there, and no white folks have ever landed on that land and lived to tale the tale.    

cover  blurb - The deep  secrets of the past are about to collide with the enormous ambitions of the present, and the  fate of Dark  Isle - and Camino Island, too - hangs in the  balance. 

 I found the  story fairly predictable. Usually, Grisham surprises me with some fresh  twists. Didn't happen with this book.  I could skim and  I was amused, but not afraid of these ghosts. 

Whatever Wednesday - Ruth Ware does it again

 Ruth Ware does it again with a high tension thriller.  Five couples on a storm swept island. A killer stalks them. Who "wins"?

One  Perfect Couple is  the name  of a new reality show being filmed.  Lyla, in post doctoral research mode, is  burnt out. Her boyfriend, Nico, is an aspiring actor trying for  a big break. He's sure this reality show is the one. What the  heck - soon they are boating in the Indian Ocean to a tropical paradise. Four  other gorgeous couples will compete for a cash prize. 

But  things just  aren't quite  right.  The "resort" is  half done. The  first challenge proves quite surprising. A  storm wipes  out  electricity, phones, crew,  and more. Santana is limited with her insulin.  Fresh  water runs low. Soon three are dead, then four.  Who  can trust whom? 

I can't write more.  This is  a page turner. Fast paced. Plenty of  intrigue.  Whew! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 Happy St.  Patrick's  Day!  Tough  to start the  week drinking  green beer. 

Wear  some green, unless you wish to get pinched.  Chase some snakes out of your garden. 

We're all a bit silly  Irish - ye wee lassies and laddies. 

Erin Go  Bragh! 

Finally Friday - Book Club Discussion on The Beautiful Ones

 Tonight if you hear the echo of laughter, it's my PA  ladies and book club time on  a zoom meeting.  

The Beautiful  Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was chosen by Joan.  She  asked her adult ESL class what they  were reading and now we explore a "fantasy of  manners set in a world inspired by the belle epoque". 

cover blurb - In a world of etiquette and polite  masks, no one is who they seem to be. 

Antonina (Nina) is in Loisail for the Grand Season. Valerie Beaulieu is her reluctant mentor. Alas, Nina's telekinetic powers prove to be fodder for  the gossip  season.  Yet, Hector Auvray (telekinetic performer himself) is intrigued by Nina. Time spent together proves difficult for Nina. She's falling  in love, but the elder Hector has a  past history (oops). 

This is a  fancy fantasy romance set against  a glittering  backdrop. The writing and characters are amusing, and there is some unpredictability in the story line.  Unlike  many of our book club  choices, this was a lighter read and entertaining. 

Cheers to your weekend ahead - hope  filled with laughter and old  friends. 

Whatever Wednesday - Arboretum Sculpture Fun

A  lovely day at the Dallas Arboretum.  It featured some fun sculptures sprinkled throughout.  Here's my new fun friend reading garden poetry. 

And gorgeous blooms

From a distance, he looked real

Licking an ice cream cone.  Fun!

Embrace the glory

This sculpture was huge.  You could see it from various spots in the garden.  I see my future on a park bench!

Cheers all!
 

Monday Moments

 Love is an exploding cigar which we willingly smoke - Lynda Barry

Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain  empties - Jules  Renard

Finally Friday - Tulip Time

Every year, every spring, I MUST post tulips pictures and more from the Dallas Arboretum.

so glorious.  My friend, Linda  T., and I strolled the grounds, viewed the beauty, enjoyed lunch in the cafe, and embraced nature.  It's a tad early, but still wonderful. 

Pretty planters

Don't look too closely.  We had some CRAZY winds roll through the area, and I could tell that some of the garden areas had been blasted. 

But those striped tulips popped!!

Eye candy,  my friends.  Now, enjoy your weekend.  You,  too, shall have some spring flowers soon

Cheers
 

Whatever Wednesday - & Juliet

Treated myself to another excellent  Broadway touring production - & Juliet at Dallas' Fair Park Music Hall.  I had an orchestra seat with a grand view of the stage. 

Big twist on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with current pop tunes to  help the tale.  Basically Anne is not happy with the ending to her husband Will's  latest play. Options  and rewrites are explored. 

Rachel Simone Webb (Juliet) was  stunning - gorgeous young  lady with a fabulous voice.  The whole cast was tremendous.  The  songs (example - Larger Than Life, Show Me  the  Meaning of  Being  Lonely,  Oops...I  Did It  Again, and so many more) applied well to the situations that Juliet  explored.

Just a clever take on an old love tragedy.  The audience left the theater smiling.  Sunday matinees are THE best. 
 

Monday Moments - Love

 Sending some Love on a Monday.    We all need it. 

Hope  that March wind doesn't  blow  us away. 

Finally Friday - Donuts ...

 Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck is a delightfully sweet book. Such a surprise treat.  I bought this for two dollars at our local library book sale.  It was worth the  price and more. 

Oscar, our  narrator, is a hoot and a wise young man. His voice is rich, his story is one of pluck and verve.  I loved that  it took place in Gettysburg PA - home turf for me.  I  enjoyed the tone of the book and the location settings. 

Oscar and his Swedish grandfather run a food truck together.  Lou, a high school "frenemy" hijacks Oscar's life, so to  speak. Together they use wasted cafeteria apples to spread delicious apple  crisp, apple cider, apple muffins and  more into the town.   (cover blurb)

Oscar never expected this relationship.  His future is uncertain.  His strong grandfather is a fan  of Lou, and then the unthinkable happens. 

I can't say more.   Read this really sweet book and root for the characters.  It's an immigrant tale, a love story, and search for one's future.   And....yum...donuts!  The book makes you hungry! 

Whatever Wednesday - Irving Arts Center variety

A little stir crazy from  some cold blustery Texas days. Where  better to go for a little jaunt than the Irving Arts Center? They put on the nicest displays and  it is free to stroll the galleries. 

Rachel Black's oil painting are lovely. I  felt as if I was in the  various  state parks she visited to paint  nature scenes.   Vibrant colors and nifty perspectives. 

Sudeep Kumar - Invisible Spaces: Watercolors and Drawings.   His urban works brought an old fashioned tone to modern day utilities and such. I liked his watercolors. Almost a sepia  touch.  Very subtle colors. 

LeUyen Pham's illustrations are SO FUN. Huge variety of characters for  various series. She  worked at Dreamworks, then went  on her own to  award winning works.  Over  one hundred books (as an illustrator) bring joy to  children.  She's also written and illustrated her own stories. This  whole gallery was  delightful to peruse. 

On the serious  side,  in honor  of Black History Month, the center featured works from the  Arthur Primas  Collection.   Charles White's  work captured my eye.  His etchings like Cat's Cradle above are fantastic.  He is deceased, but his  works live on fortunately. 
 

And a little  humor as February comes  to  a close.  Weather  has been wacky!

No  doubt March will  throw  us some curveballs  too - Lion  or lamb?

Monday Moments - Pioneer in News

 I was perusing the library memoir stack, and plucked out Connie - a true  treat of a memoir.  What a story and, frankly,  an inspiration. Connie Chung, at age 23 (a daughter of immigrant Chinese parents - and yes, she was born in the USA and is American), began working in Washington  DC as a CBS correspondent. 

Cover blurb - Chung describes her career as an Asian woman in  a white male-centered world. Overt sexism was a way of life, but she  stayed tenacious in  her pursuit of stories.  She made history when she achieved her dream of being the first woman to co-anchor The CBS  Evening News and the first Asian to anchor any news program in the U.S. Nothing is off limits- good, bad, or ugly.  

I enjoyed this memoir and Connie Chung's humor shines through. She herself says she was viewed as a "China doll" until she opened her mouth and blasted old white dudes with frank answers.  Fortunately, a hero of hers, Walter Cronkite, was a true stand up guy and supported her climb in the ranks.  Let's say Dan Rather - um, not so much.  She names names, she discusses the frustrations she encountered and how she just had to work harder.  She had dreams, and pretty much achieved them. 

She is also married to Maury Povich, the longtime daytime talk host. She discusses having a late in life marriage, being a step-mom, and the difficulty in becoming a mother, and thus pursuing adoption. 

Quite the life story. I enjoyed reading Connie Chung's memoir, and would no doubt enjoying sitting down for tea and a chat with her.  

Finally Friday - The Survivors by Jane Harper

 Jane Harper is a very reliable mystery murder writer and I like her Australian settings.  The Survivors is a page turner and Harper kept me guessing up until the grand reveal. 

Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. (cover blurb)

Kieran, his partner Mia, and baby girl, Audrey are back "home" to help his parents move to an assisted living. His mother is worn down caring for his father dealing with dementia.  Lingering overhead is the death of Finn and other close friends back on that fateful storm day. 

Now a body has been discovered on the beach. Long held secrets emerge.  cover blurb - a sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away...

A memorial statue called The Survivors sits out from the beach, near the caves. It's a constant presence haunting so many other survivors of that fateful day. As the waves crest, as the police question, tensions rise...Whodunnit?   

Whatever Wednesday - oh my goodness

 I am writing up this post in January after a whole lot of  shock and awe. 

I reflect on the Holocaust Remembrance Day in January and I wonder if anyone in the current administration even remotely has read The Diary of Anne Frank,  Night by Elie Wiesel, etc, etc, etc. 

Has anyone considered the "small jobs" that have been carried on forever that do keep the nation running?  Just a mass obliteration without any thought whatsoever seems a tad extreme. 

Sure, review jobs, dollars, etc.  I agree there is waste and that should be addressed - line by line.   But just a slash and burn......seriously?

Read Michael Lewis's The Fifth Risk about the first Trump admin.   It is a scary assessment. 

I worked for  a company that provided satellite support for  NOAA.  It's one of those behind the scenes operations that is actually important for the world.  To have that dropped...out of science ignorance - OMG. Duh. 

I could go on, but the folks that should be reading and thinking are NOT.     Huge Sigh! 

Carry on, folks.   Rome is burning and Nero is fiddling......

Monday Moments - A variety

 So, it's February 7th and our darn tulips are choosing  to  appear.  Say what?  I planted the bulbs early December per instructions.  Alas, I did not cover them and squirrels dug up a bunch.  After cold, rain, and now extremely warm weather (80s), tulips are appearing. 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I  wanted tulips to appear in late March.   Now I'm afraid of the freeze predicted later in  February.  

Stupid Texas weather. Yes,  it's climate change.  WTF

Pre-Valentine's treat.  Toast is a tribute band  for Bread.  Remember soft rock in  1971?  Sorta sissy tunes, but very hummable, sweet, and  yes so lovely?  If,  I Wanna Make it with you, Everything I Own, Guitar Man, and so  much more.   Well, Ray and I enjoyed the tribute band, Toast, at Arlington Music Hall.  Tight band, good  tunes, and the voices were great.    The lead singer truly did a good job. Hard to be as ethereal and airy as lead singer David Gates, but he did an admirable job.  Ray and I could relive memories of the 1970s.   Old fart concert  - damn good. 

Ha!  Yes, even if they are beyond a ridiculous price, I will support the Girl  Scouts.  Thin  Mints  are the only way to go.  And I stick them in  the freezer.  And I shall attempt to control myself from eating  a whole sleeve because they are GOLD. 

What's your flavor  downfall?

Finally Friday - Valentine's Day

 Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope it's a grand weekend.   Big  hug to you, blog friends. 

Chocolate, sweetness, and love

Whatever Wednesday - Go Mavs

Our financial advisors  have Dallas Mavericks basketball season  tickets.  Good tickets  and very close great parking. We get invited a few times a year and it's fun.  Lots of good energy. 

The Maniacs crack me up.  These are rather large men dressed in ridiculous outfits - they can dance!  Jelly Bellies flopping. They just have the moves and the gumption  to act the fools. Positive  energy. 

The arena did get loud.  It was a weirdly paced game.  Lots  of fouls, jump balls, foul reviews, and sheer - oh, good Lord, let's get this done moments!

 Prior to the game, we got  to enjoy a talk by J.J. Barea.  Awesome man. He now  lives in Puerto Rico and  hosts basketball camps there.  He  coaches the Puerto Rican team in some capacity. He said he was 5' 10" "on a good day". He was known as a Maverick on the winning  Dirk team who could be fast!!!!

He was "little and quick" in basketball terms.  Now, he stands tall  as a true mentor  - I was very impressed.  Smart, funny, and very positive.  It was a good thirty minute chat.

Then the Dallas Mavericks won somehow.  Whew!  Go Kyrie

PS - they traded Luka... Yikes.  Ignore this post!