The Boston Tree Party

The Boston Tree Party

Snows of Aspinwall Hill

Along in drear nighted December, the snows are often not too heavy nor frequent. Yet we now are in the last week of January, 2011. Snow is a constant. The slipperyness, the gelid cold, the smoke puffing from the chimney across the road, well...winter is a month old.

We stop at these times and think, well, what if our mittens were to get lost? If the door were locked and we neglected to take our key? Should the heat fail us, and the pipes freeze?

At thest times we eye the NY Times travel section of course. There are tens of millions of Americans, Europeans, Africans, Asians, and Martians enjoying sunny, wonderful weather, the kind of weather that does not defeat human life. And then we wonder...why is it we are not there, with them, comfortable.

I don't have an answer, just the question.

Cold January

Busted pipes, snow, ice, drifts, wind, extra blankets, anti-freeze, scarfs, cocoa, soup, snow-pants, plows, school cancellations, brilliant stars, the wolf moon, heated car seats, windshield washer fluid, roundup of the homeless, radiator steam vents whistling, weatherstripping, and icicles. Hello January 2011.

What is the state of our union with winter? In bucolic Brookline, the temperatures go below zero for the first time in 6 years. Snow is piled in places where once we strolled unimpeded. Now we take smaller, more deliberate steps on the snow and ice maintaining balance and uprightness. The warmest room in the house is the boiler room and laundry.

Hot and spicy food is the order of the day. We think of how nice it would have been to have canned fresh vegetables at the ready....and ever more spaghetti sauce, chili, and cinnamon rolls to snack on. What should we make today? Pickles? Yogurt cheese? Lentil soup? Sourdough bread?

Let's keep it simple...it's cold out.

Twitter / Home

Twitter / Home: "Madoff was just sentenced to 150 years. Applause in courtroom."

Knee update

So, I have learned by Jane Fonda's own twittering that her knee is now newly replaced. Well, Tiger Woods did not share with me any real data on his leg repair. Yet, Jane has gone all in with photographs.

What could JRM mean?

Just Replace Me?

Jane....work out!

Finishing hole

This is a photograph of the final hole at the Cypress Point Golf Club in Monterey, California. And, it was the scene of the climax of a book titled "The Match" by Mark Frost, (Hyperion 2007) . The book tells the story of six men, and how they came to compete and watch an historic day of golf a this place in 1956.

The players: Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, (professional golfers), and Ken Venturi, Harvie Ward, (amateurs).

The match was set up as a sidelight to the Bing Crosby Pro-Am by Eddie Lowery, who made a bet on the proposition that his two amateur golfers could beat any two pros in a match play round. George Coleman took this bet, and the match was on, for the next day at 11AM at Cypress Point. The book is more than just the recapitulation of the play that day. The history of each man involved, the persons who dreamed, designed and constructed this golf course, and the result of play that day are all elegantly described and turned into a tale of utmost interest and sympathy.

This is a book for all who love golf, history, and irony.

The Metropolitan Opera, New York City

On January 3rd, little daughter and I travelled to New York in order to attend the production of Puccini's "La Rondine", (The Sparrow), at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center. The featured performers were Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna. Ms. Gheorghiu was radiant in addition to her stupendous vocal power. The production was bright, charming, melodic, and the time and expense of attendance "so completely worth it" as noted by little daughter.

On this, my third exposure to the Met, I found the place more compelling than before. Let's go though it; red velvet wall covering; red velvet seat covering; crystal lighting fixtures that ascend to the ceiling just before the curtain; drinking fountains with paper cups; a bar on each level of the building; a fine dining restaurant open to those with tickets; sinuous staircases; a massive stage with a gold curtain; and the Met's truly wonderful orchestra. Add to this the talents of the vocal performers; the lighting + set decoration and beauty of the composition by Signor Puccini, and the Met adds up to the signal cultural institution in New York City. It is a palace of all the arts. Thank you, all who have anything to do with the Met.

While walking over to the Met, I encountered a celebrity, Hazel Mae, late of NESN Sportsdesk, etc. My daughter was with me at the time and probably allowed Hazel to be a bit more open a street meeting. She was quite warm and courteous to this fan, and agreed to stand for a photo before heading indoors for a hair appointment. You can see Hazel on MLB TV's Hot Stove show nightly, and probably much more often once baseball season opens.

(Blackberry Photo by Megan).