Yesterday we went to two operas: “La Rondine” in the morning and “Don Giovanni” in the evening. “Rondine” was special as I had never heard it before. It was rawther entertaining. If one asked AI to write an opera based on the works of Puccini you would get this. I had some giggles as the maid in the story bore a striking resemblance to Magenta in “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. DG on the other hand is quite familiar. For thems unfamiliar with the opera, a nasty rake runs around trying to seduce women and at the end of the opera is dragged down to hell by a statue (it makes sense in context). I wanted a proper drag down to hell scene and I wasn’t disappointed. Thanks to technology the statue appeared ala The Wizard of Oz and there was lots of fire and demons who were all female probably the women he’s seduced in his lifetime. Afterwards I had an aviation cocktail. Jolly good fun.
Yesterday was the first dip of the year in the cement pond. I don’t remember if 20 April is a record. I didn’t stay in long. It was cold but not icy cold – more like Lake Michigan than Lake Superior. It will be nice to have it again at day’s end for a quick cleanse.
Today should be less dramatic. I have some paperwork to do and there is a pile of unsorted sock high as Fafner’s hoard to fold. Someone likes sock that go up to his calves, which I dislike as they make me itch. Thus, the sorting of socks is easy especially as his are all black. This afternoon go downtown to see “Pandora’s Box” at the Orpheum. It is a silent movie from the 20s about an archetype femme fatale. We meet our friend Christine, with whom I swap books. I will give back to her “The Sweetness of the pie” which was an old-fashioned murder mystery. No doubt she will give me the next in the series. In return I am introducing her to one of my favorite authors, Alice Thomas Ellis via “The Inn at the edge of the world” This sordid tale is about a group of strangers fleeing Christmas to a small inn in northern Scotland. It is one of my favorite books. Like Flannery O’Connor Ms. Ellis never writes any nice characters They say and do awful things set in a place with something supernatural or uncanny (in this case selkies). It is risky to thrust onto another bibliophile a beloved book as a disappointing review can feel and be taken quite personal.
The final Sunday Spo-bit is about allergies. It’s that time of year. A patient informed me an invasive species of the chamomile genus is responsible for this year’s woes. I looked it up: it is a small plant with bright yellow balls on tiny stems. Yesterday while on a stroll I was on the look out to spot any and I did. I was pleased as Punch I identified the plant and I pulled it up feeling good in my duty to combat invasive species. I turned the corner to discover the wash was awash with the plant, looking like clover in “Horton hears a who”. It is not humanly possible to get rid of the stuff. We will have to wait until the temperatures go over 100F to burn off the stuff, which thanks to climate change arrives earlier each year. So there is a silver cloud to global warming.
24 comments
April 21, 2024 at 9:07 AM
Robzilla
Oh, yes. My least favorite season of the year just behind Fire season. That’s why I’m considering using a mask again after leaving mine at home for the past week.
April 21, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Urspo
Yes. Allergy Season goes to Fire Season – often from the dried remains of the allergenic weeds.
April 21, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Anonymous
You made me aware of “The Sweetness of the pie” via this blog. I then read, in order, all ten of those books and enjoyed them all. I wish there were more of them to read. This was one of the benefits of reading what you write and post here.
Jim
April 21, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Urspo
Jim you made my day! I love in when I am able to convey something on to another who finds it marvelous. This is how I find my favorite books: someone tells me about a TGR (thumping good read).
April 21, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
You’re quite the social butterfly this weekend! Two operas, a silent film AND a book swap meetup!
April 21, 2024 at 12:40 PM
Urspo
With the movie I need to remember to bring my glasses to read the subtitles. I wonder what book I will get in return for Alice Thomas Ellis?
April 21, 2024 at 10:34 AM
Anonymous
Beware of plants and men with bright yellow balls! DwightW.
April 21, 2024 at 12:41 PM
Urspo
Indeed so! Shun such and take allergy pills too.
April 21, 2024 at 10:55 AM
BadNoteB
This morning I donned my Googles and ventured onto the Web to discover what could be learned about this Fafner and his alleged hoard. Britanica.com was mercifully succinct in relaying the gist of the tale, while still allowing me to truly commiserate with Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia’s indulgence of Rose Nyland’s reminiscences from St. Olaf. A pile of unsorted socks – jinxed by the dryer Sprites – seems appropriate retribution for inspiring such a detour!
I admire your stamina with two operas in one day. The silent movie, especially on a theater screen, sounds fun, though. Enjoy!
April 21, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Urspo
I hope you found what I am trying to convey: In “Das Rheingold” the giants order a pile of booty high enough to block the view of the goddess Freia. ”High as Fafner’s hoard: could also mean all the gold the dragon is sitting upon ala Smaug.
April 21, 2024 at 8:18 PM
Old Lurker
Is the spelling supposed to be Fafner or Fafnir. Like Uncle Badnote I once went spelunking for the story and I only found the latter spelling.
April 21, 2024 at 11:21 AM
Anonymous
You had quite a busy weekend with all the entertainment.
I really hate it when someone presses a book on me that I know I will hate. Then, I honestly tell the person my opinion. Yes, the person takes it personally. Usually this type person is determined I will share their taste in books. It is awful.
I reconnected with my late best friend’s sister who in every phone conversation shared the plot of her latest favorite, all romance. I kept saying I would never read it. She pointed out her sister’s mil loved all these books as if I were an aberration on this earth. Finally, I decided she was not worth the effort and wasted my time. Plus, she had a few mental problems.
Practical Parsimony
April 21, 2024 at 12:45 PM
Urspo
I have been there. I had a friend who regularly wanted to pass on books he thought brilliant and ‘must reads’ – none of them I found interesting. oh the pain.
April 21, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Robert
I wonder if the chamomile is any good for making tea or is that a different variety?
April 21, 2024 at 7:36 PM
Urspo
if there is the newspaper doesnt say
April 21, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Blobby
Two operas – ewwwww.
April 21, 2024 at 7:36 PM
Urspo
tut! They were both splendid in their way
April 21, 2024 at 6:49 PM
Pipistrello
Thanks to you, dear Spo, I am now a fan of ATE, and I loved The Inn …! I’m sure your bookish friend cannot help be seept away by her writing, too.
April 21, 2024 at 7:37 PM
Urspo
im glad to know you had a look see and liked her!
April 21, 2024 at 8:32 PM
Old Lurker
If nothing else, I hope Don Giovanni served as a moral lesson for you to refrain from running around trying to seduce women.
The earliest record I could find of you taking your first dip in the pool was March 20, but I did not look very hard.
April 22, 2024 at 7:21 AM
Urspo
Thank you Master of Records, for doing the research for me. 3/20 seems quite early; I must have only recently moved and my Midwestern blood hadn’t thinned yet.
DG can end in two ways. In one version Don G is dragged down to hell and the stage blows up and it’s a lot of fun and makes for a smashing ending. In another version (which is technically the proper one) all the characters come on stage to sing the praise of virtue and condemn wickedness and implore the audience don’t be a Don G but strive for virtue. After all it is a comedy and things ought to end with all strings tied and balanced. Most moderns find the opera drags a bit for this reason. It’s like having fireworks and then we have to stay for a little lecture on how they work. Who cares at that point.
April 22, 2024 at 7:24 PM
Old Lurker
It was 2022!
April 22, 2024 at 5:02 AM
David Godfrey
Get your money’s worth out of the pool this summer, dips, floats, soaks, enjoy every minute of it.
April 22, 2024 at 7:22 AM
Urspo
Last winter the large tree in the backyard was cut down. The Pool man has long complained it continually sheds into the pool especially pollen in spring time. He wasn’t wrong. I hope the pool is cleaner and thus more pleasurable for it this year.