Tomorrow, Grandpère and I are off, bright and early, to New Orleans for sweet William's Grandparents' Day at his school with a mass scheduled at nine o'clock in the morning. Groan...not for spending the morning with William, but for the early hour. Why not an afternoon mass and visit?
Yesterday, on the way to New Orleans for my appointment with the ophthalmologist, I listened to a gorgeous CD of arias sung by the late Swedish tenor, Jussi Björling, titled "The Ultimate Collection", which was a gift to me from Cathy, my friend, fellow-traveler, and fellow survivor of MadChauffeur's driving. On the way home, I listened to The Low Anthem's "Oh My God Charlie
Since I was stuck in 5 mpr traffic due to road work for miles on the way to NO, I was grateful for the presence of Jussi's lovely voice. I was also 30 minutes late for my appointment, but everyone in the office was quite nice about my tardiness.
Catharsis! The post was good for me. Was it good for you? Nevermind. Don't answer the question. I probably should have written and saved what's here permanently to draft form and never let it see the light of day, but here it is, for all the world to see. Perhaps, I'm now unblocked. We shall see.
Is there such a thing?
ReplyDeleteWhy yes, Virginia. There is....
Hope yours just got cleared. I'm not sure what it's going to take to get rid of mine.
I would be a little concerned if you are getting your breasts squeezed when at the dentists. Perhaps the machine that squeezes breasts can identify a loose tooth.
ReplyDeleteWriting is the only cure for block. Just writing whatever comes into one's mind. I often start this way when I can't think what to say in a sermon - see my blog and then if you heard my actual sermon- how different - but it does help move the block of the tracks for awhile. I hate going for a mammogram but since my mother had it and survived it - I cal for an appointment every Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteRe: Jussi Bjorling - one of the tenor's singing Italian opera when my husband decided that I better go to seminary! The spaghetti sauce story.
I'm not sure what it's going to take to get rid of mine.
ReplyDeleteDoxy, thanks. For you, it's been a long, long time. Still, when you write, you write good.
I would be a little concerned if you are getting your breasts squeezed when at the dentists.
Adrian, LOL! Not at the same time, but it's an idea. Get the pain over with all at once.
Ann, I read the story of Jim's prophecy about you going to seminary while listening to the Swedish tenor singing Italian opera and making spaghetti sauce. The elements don't fit perfectly together, but they worked!
While driving through coastal redwoods in Oregon on our way back to California Bill and I heard Jussi Bjorling singing "Ch'ella mì creda libero." His voice, the music, the majestic trees all overwhelmed us. We can never think of that aria without thinking of that moment.
ReplyDeleteYes, Grandmere. It was good for me. And please don't put the tease-and-squeeze off too long.
ReplyDeleteOh Paul! The aria is not on my CD, but I imagine in the setting you describe the music would be overwhelming.
ReplyDeletemargaret, I said nevermind, but thank you. :-)
I'm trying to write my impression of the wonderful movie,
"Black Swan", but I don't want to write a spoiler account, and I'm having a tough time of it.
Just write it as you wish- then either edit out the spoiler or put an alert at the top that says "spoiler alert" don't read this if you don't want to know what happens.
ReplyDeleteAnn, that's good advice, and I am determined to write a non-spoiler account, or so I hope.
ReplyDeleteAnd the title of the second CD is corrected. Charlie Brown, indeed!
I don't blog very much nowadays because there simply isn't very much I want to say, other than how disgusted I am with so many things.
ReplyDeleteWell, as one my Aspie rules of life goes:
If you have nothing to say, say nothing.
I have one recording by Bjorling--Pagliacci.
From what I've heard of the Black Swan (which is enough to damp any desire I have to see the movie) you don't need to worry about ruining things by including spoilers--the director and screenwriter did it all on their own already.
But rest assured, Mimi, whatever you choose to publish I will be reading with delight and interest.
I heard Jussi Bjorling singing "Ch'ella mì creda libero"
ReplyDeleteOh dammit! you cannot imagine my feeling upon hearing this because, Mimi, the aria USED TO BE on that version of the CD by Jussi, and at some point, in between editions, or whatever you call them, it HAS BEEN REMOVED. I don't know why, because it was one of my favourites - it's fabulous. Some unimaginative person who worked for the music company made the decision. I love that aria. Idiots!!! It is available on iTunes, I believe.
BTW, Mimi, I hate mammograms totally. Ahrrrreeeeeeehggggghhh!!! You're squishing my boobs from now on they will be as thin as paper don't you know what you're doing you numbskull? That is my response to a mammogram.
Mimi, that was a right fine post! I'd say you're cured of blogger's block. Wish I could get over mine!
ReplyDeleteMimi, I do recommend you buy Ch'ella mi creda from iTunes (they compress the files but it's better than nothing).
ReplyDeleteProof that Italians say it better:
Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano,
Sopra una nuova via di redenzione!
Aspettera ch'io torni
E passeranno i giorni,
E passeranno i giorni,
Ed io non tornera...
Minnie, della mia vita mio solo fiore,
Minnie, che m'hai voluto tanto bene!
Ah! tu della mia vita m io solo fior!
(roughly: let her think I am free and far away, that I have begun a new life of redemption ... She will wait for my return, and the days will pass, the days will pass, and I will not return. Minnie, of my life the only flower, Minnie, who I have loved so well, ah, of my life the only flower)
(To explain: the tenor is about to be murdered by a lynch mob when he comes out with this supremely beautiful aria ... at least you think he is)
well, that last comment was certainly not short.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the review of Black Swan :-)
If you have nothing to say, say nothing.
ReplyDeleteKishnevi, is that advice to me?
I thought "Black Swan" was amazing.
Cathy, I'll look for the aria on iTunes. You're right. Everything sounds better in Italian. I have a side-by-side version of Dante's "Divine Comedy", and although my knowledge of Italian is meager, I can tell the poem is more sublime in Italian.
Calliope Street, just write - write anything, like what you see here.
If you need to take a break, Mimi, don't let us (your devoted fans) stop you.
ReplyDeleteAlways remember the "Airplane Oxygen Rule": put on your OWN oxygen mask, FIRST. Then (and only then), you can help others.
I like Low Anthem. Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qkGoqAZrqI
ReplyDeleteI think you're doing a good job keepin' on keepin' on, Grandmere!
I am 6' tall. The first mammogram machines didn't adjust for that height. Try getting a mammo while kneeling on a step stool.
amyj
JCF, I'll take a break if I think I need to. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmy, I've already posted the video, which I love, but I was thinking just today about posting it again. I believe I will.
I can't imagine having a mammogram kneeling on a step stool.