Europa L'estate 2023
July 5. Eduardo leaves for Munich; Naomi and I drive him up. We laugh all the way. He seems relaxed and jolly. We wish him happy trails. I sing one line: that is enough for him.
Note: color coordination on Ed's part: Mr. Blue.
Subnote: KC, as a novice to blogging, has no idea how to fill up this
white space. So moving on . . . .
While Edward flies, Stephanie, Carol her mom, and I see Cabrillo's musical Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quite impressive, but disappointing in that it lacks any song I can hang onto, like gold ole "Master of the House" or "7 Trombones".
I enter a dark but not scary house, devoid of Eduardo. The outside lights flash on as I go beneath them. I consider briefly that since they are like stage lights, I ought to burst into song and dance. I supress this urge.
July 6. House empty and quiet in a sunny morn. Jade comes to help me with yoga. At my favorite coffee shop, I get an urgent phone call from Eduardo. My heart sinks into my chest as I frantically leave the noisy shop and find a quiet place to hear his debacle. I will not relate this story, but he called his credit card company and they will send another card here and I will bring it to him. (Moral of story: be slow and mindful with any transaction--I need this a lot.)
July 7. Finish my busy setup with Danny on a brilliant sunny morning. Reading a fascinating critical analysis of many series I'm familiar with: Mad Men, Six Feet Under, The Shield... Love this. As a result I long to see the last series of Mad Men, which I do not remember. Now I have the dvd to watch before I leave.
July 8. Naomi here and we watch a documentary, Embrace, about the tragedy of women's minds being warped via the media. We loved it.
July 9. Visit to Terry for Michael J. Fox documentary called Still. Thesis: He has never been still, now his PD keeps him twitching and moving. His acceptance is amazing. What grace in action. Terry's sister and her husband are both pictured in this film, fun for Terry.
At home later I took everything from my suitcase and as I repacked made a list of what I am taking. I was able to eliminate 2 more tops. It still feels like too much but I absolutely need what I have. Also made copies of PP and all cards I will be carrying. Keep one copy in suitcase and one in purse.
July 10. After a talk with friend Susan in Tucson, I buy two copies of Tyla Miles's book, What She Carried. A copy for my friend whose birthday is Sunday. And one for me.
July 13. Leaning on a smattering of computer knowledge to upload pictures to this blog, off I flew to Click Away the greatest spot in Santa Cruz for such help. A man named Juan very patiently helped me, reviewing the steps twice and allowing me time to write each one down. Note: I am a slow learner.
Somewhere in our conversation he told me he'd gone to Cabrillo and taken English courses over and over because he knew his English was wanting. And then he looked at me, closely, and again how this came up I do not know, I said my name and he said, "Oh I had you for English 1A." And we laughed. He said he took it in 1999, and I said, "Please forgive me if I didn't recognize you--it's been 24 years." We laughed again. I said, "Well, I taught you and now you taught me." When I went to pay, he refused me. "I'm glad I could help," he said.
Wow, did I feel good sailing out of there and back home. It is terribly hot (maybe 80?) here and so cool downstairs. Now I will practice what Juan taught me. Fingers crossed. Voila: a picture of Marienplatz Ed sent from Munich where he's busy doing rehearsals, translating speeches, and eating German bread.
July 23 After a full week of hellish jet lag I am recovering. No longer do I drag myself along, fight nausea and severe lethargy, but I can amble (not a trace of the at-home-practice of 4 mile walk per diem) rolling my way too full suitcase (thanks to my nephew TGB Jr. for loan).
July 25
July 26. visit with women/visit with stefan/concert with Singer Puhr
This is a slight change. I am groping about, and must publish on here by a commenter, rather than a writer/author of the blog. So be it. For all my fans, bear with me. I am afraid to try any tricks so here I go back to dates where I lost my entries.
ReplyDeleteJuly 25 With Ed registered at the conference, even got an official badge. Finally the day of his presentation has arrived. He was abit nervous and obstacles arose, as ever they do so. First, technical details, having to do with switching from a mac to a pc! Then time constraints. The people who presented just before went way over time and no one stopped them. Horrors. Anyway Ed weathered the storms and sailed in, calm and composed, and able to deliver his message about the Chigi Codex, which he's labored over for forty plus years. Also the Oxford University editor, Bonnie, announced the publication of this volume of Renaissance music which is in publication at the University of Chicago press as "the jewel in the crown." Her message made us both so very happy.
A word about the weather these last days. Storms off and on, heavy rains followed by still humid minutes, then another quick rain. Our hotel lays out several umbrellas which offer ample coverage and we have taken to lug these around. I do not know what happens if we lose one, as they are not "checked out" to us.
After Ed's talk he had a good chat with his fans, Christa, Kent's personal assistant, Manual, tenor from Singer Pur group, and Stefan, choirmaster from Augsberg. The remainder of our evening we spent in quiet solitude of our room, breathing calm back into our bones.
July 26 In the coffee room we met up with two lovely women, Alexandra from University of Sheffield, and her friend Wendy, who's working on video games in Munich. Alexandra hails from Caracas, Venezuela, and Wendy is from Vienna. They were kind and friendly inviting us to share their table and asking if they could fetch us coffee. When Alexandra, who's just earned her PhD, learned of Ed's background, she wasted no time asking him for career advice which he was happy to give. We spent nearly an hour with them. It was a serendipitous sweet encounter.
who, though from a highly academic family in Vienna, opted out of university and into the IT world of video games.
July 26 Continuing as a comment. We had a fine lunch with Stefan the choirmaster. He told us that he had begun singing at 4 years and progressed to eventually merit the high post he has in Augsburg. I really enjoyed learning about his life and Ed and he talked about the Chigi Codex. Stefan obviously understands how important this work is to the world of Renaissance Music.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly the weather betrayed us, sending chilly winds all round. Seriously everyone was chivering
and when we got into the concert by Singer Pur, Christa showed up wearing a heavy wool winter coat. I am so grateful I brought my blue jacket (from my sister). You will see it when I'm able to publish pictures. The concert was splendid; they sang various works from the 16th century musicians in German and French. Wonderful. Heavenly to be sitting in first row just absorbing the music and marveling at the musicians singing a cappella polyphony. If you've never heard or been aware of polyphony, Ed will explain it. It's complicated but it's magical, and takes masterful voices to perform. After we got to meet the group members, several whom Ed knows, and visited at length with the sole woman, Claudia, who now teaches singing in a local
school teaching advanced music. Her tall blonde handsome husband Marcus was with her. They
met while dancing! I'd dance with him any time. What was interesting is that she was born in Rome and studied in Hamberg, deciding rather late (in her 20s, late start for an accomplished musician) to be a singer and join Singer Pur.. (You Tube has some lovely songs by Singer Pur)
July 27. Upon awakening my body cried for exercise and after breakfast I headed out for 2 hours walking around the giant shopping center of Marienplatz, watching the variety of people there and delighting to spent time listening to a group comprised of pianist, bassist, violinist, cellist--a quartet. I recognized Albinoni and was transported back to the 1980s when i was first introduced to his music. This experience gave me a sweet respite on my stroll. Tonight the conference dinner at the Hofbrau House, yes the famous one, only a block from our hotel. Bye for now.
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