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| ??? |
What's that, you ask? Let's take a closer look.
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| WTF? |
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Crash into me
Jules was in town this weekend. It was a quick trip, but long enough for our annual Nutcracker excursion, White Christmas viewing whilst drinking large quantities of tea, and some Christmas shopping. We had a great weekend, save for one tragic occurence:
What's that, you ask? Let's take a closer look.
What's that, you ask? Let's take a closer look.
Monday, December 12, 2011
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
I've been slow to get into the Christmas season this year, for some reason. Maybe because it's been one of the warmest D.C. Decembers in recent memory, or because November was so busy, I feel like there should be an extra month left before Christmas. Whatever the reason, it's been a slower to hit me this year, though my tree is decorated, I've attended my annual Nutcracker performance with Jules, watched White Christmas (multiple times), and nearly finished my shopping.
Last night, I had left my office and was headed for the Metro station, my mind on the conversation I'd just had with my insurance agent and my grocery list and, oh yeah, must remember to reschedule that dentist appointment. As I trudged up 19th Street, I heard a brass quintet arrangement of "What Child Is This?" faintly wafting from near the station, but I didn't think much of it. Hearing music isn't unusual in this area, considering the buskers (of varying levels of talent), some of whom play with recorded tracks, and, occasionally, music coming from a loudspeaker somewhere.
The closer I got, the more real it seemed. It sounded live, but it was too good, too in tune and in sync to be a group of street musicians. But I got to the station entrance and, lo and behold, there stood a brass quintet--inner city high school students, from what I could tell--playing carols for the commuters. An instrument case was open in front of them ("TUITION," joked a hastily-scrawled sign), overflowing with bills and change, and numerous people paused to listen before hurrying on their ways.
I've never been stopped in my tracks by the music of a street musician before--and I rarely take the time to dig out my wallet for spare bills--but these five young men, cheerfully chit-chatting with interested commuters on a cold December evening and filling the air with the sweet sound of carols, yanked me straight out of my preoccupied haze and into the Christmas spirit.
'Tis the season. Finally.
Last night, I had left my office and was headed for the Metro station, my mind on the conversation I'd just had with my insurance agent and my grocery list and, oh yeah, must remember to reschedule that dentist appointment. As I trudged up 19th Street, I heard a brass quintet arrangement of "What Child Is This?" faintly wafting from near the station, but I didn't think much of it. Hearing music isn't unusual in this area, considering the buskers (of varying levels of talent), some of whom play with recorded tracks, and, occasionally, music coming from a loudspeaker somewhere.
The closer I got, the more real it seemed. It sounded live, but it was too good, too in tune and in sync to be a group of street musicians. But I got to the station entrance and, lo and behold, there stood a brass quintet--inner city high school students, from what I could tell--playing carols for the commuters. An instrument case was open in front of them ("TUITION," joked a hastily-scrawled sign), overflowing with bills and change, and numerous people paused to listen before hurrying on their ways.
I've never been stopped in my tracks by the music of a street musician before--and I rarely take the time to dig out my wallet for spare bills--but these five young men, cheerfully chit-chatting with interested commuters on a cold December evening and filling the air with the sweet sound of carols, yanked me straight out of my preoccupied haze and into the Christmas spirit.
'Tis the season. Finally.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Never too late
Proving that it's never too late in life to have new experiences, my great uncle, who is in his late 70s, attended his first rock concert last weekend. And today, I read this amusing anecdote in The New York Times' Metropolitan Diary section:
Recently, I was at the City Bakery enjoying a bowl of oatmeal. Soon two women of my vintage (silver-haired, slowish of step, sensibly shod) sat down next to me.
I’m not sure what I expected of their conversation: perhaps an anecdote concerning a grandchild, or the results of a recent bridge game.
Instead, one said to the other, with great enthusiasm, “So how was the Beyoncé concert?” [The New York Times]I can only hope that when I'm "silver-haired" and "slowish of step" that I'm having conversations like this.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
So this happened...
My sister got married, ya'll.
It was awesome and beautiful and fun. The weather was perfect.
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| West Virginia State Capitol Building |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Life List: Memorize 25 poems (#1)
My first encounter with Emily Dickinson, at least that I remember, was in ninth grade English. Our old, strange, awesome teacher, Mr. Colonell, had us explicate a bunch of poems, including several by Dickinson, and in most cases, I only remember the first few lines. But this one stuck with me.
1129
Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
*In the interest of full disclosure, I did have to look up capitalizations and the poem number.
1129
Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
*In the interest of full disclosure, I did have to look up capitalizations and the poem number.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Just sayin' hello
Happy Friday, everyone!
What are your plans for the weekend? I'm meeting a friend for dinner and The Ides of March tonight and planning to run errands, work on some of my capital-p Projects, and make a dent in this month's book club book while consuming more apple cider than is probably wise. All while listening to this Laura Marling concert on repeat.
It's to be a beautiful weekend here in D.C. Hope yours is, too!
What are your plans for the weekend? I'm meeting a friend for dinner and The Ides of March tonight and planning to run errands, work on some of my capital-p Projects, and make a dent in this month's book club book while consuming more apple cider than is probably wise. All while listening to this Laura Marling concert on repeat.
It's to be a beautiful weekend here in D.C. Hope yours is, too!
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