"Enchanted" With Opera

OK, I realize you may be getting tired of my postings regarding opera but we attended our third opera today, "The Enchanted Island".  It was simply spectacular.  The voices, the costumes and the set, plus intermission interviews with some of the singers, one of whom was Placido Domingo made for an incredibly entertaining afternoon.   The audience was really into it today...I mean our local audience and BJ and I get a big kick out of our local audience applauding when none of the performers can hear them.  I guess applause is as much for the entertainer as for the entertained.   So this will end my expounding on this issue but if this type of opera exposure comes to your neighborhood, treat yourself as I am living proof you can learn to have an appreciation for something that previously attracted no interest.   Now I wonder what else there is out there that I have poo pood along life's way.

Buried

We have gotten about 7 inches the last couple days and that's before the bigger storm tonight.   We'll probably have to put chains on the truck to get out of our driveway.   We have a snow plower on retainer this year for the mountain road and he has already plowed twice so that should help when all starts to change over to rain.   Our snow here is notorious in that once it gets packed, it becomes a skating rink.   So frequent plowing should at least get us to the bare dirt sooner than usual.   Hmmm...I think I will check the temperature in Arizona for future reference.

Hooked On Opera

Yesterday was our second opera that we attended via the big screen, in HD and with subtitles, live from the Met.  We saw "Faust" and it was magnificent.   I must say, I'm a bit ashamed of myself for always resisting opera but in all fairness to me, this is such a special way to watch it.  I love the subtitles, they help make it so personal as this one is in French and my French is about as good as my Italian.   "Faust" goes back to the 1500's and it's understandable that it has had such staying power.  The ageless story of good over evil appeals to all generations.   Yesterday, the auditorium was almost full and I expect the word will spread on the island that this new type of show is the best bang for your buck.   Two more weeks until the next one.   We are already excited.  

Secretariat

We just finished watching a wonderful movie, "Secretariat", that incredible race horse that won the Triple Crown in 1973.   We so enjoyed it because we watched him run the first time...yes, we saw all three races on TV back then but do not remember all the drama that went along with his owner and the financial issues she was having.   We had to chuckle because as we watched the movie we were chewing our nails during the races like we didn't know the outcome.   Why is that!?  :-)  Anyway, Secretariat is considered the greatest race horse of all time and it is just thrilling to see how he was just in a field by himself.   One of those made for TV stories...only this one is true.  If you need to be inspired in this new year, treat yourself and watch this depiction of such an historical event.   Racers have been trying to duplicate it ever since and I'm glad it has been preserved on the big screen for new generations to enjoy. 

It's 10 p.m...Happy New Year!..zzzzz

Yes, we are  becoming our parents...actually, that happened quite some time ago!  Last night we had thought about going out for a late dinner, then I contracted a mild cold so we changed plans, went to the market and bought oysters, mussels and shrimp.  At home we made a fire, dressed in very comfy clothes and grazed on Stiton cheese and all our seafood while watching re-runs of around the world celebrations.   We had a Netflix movie so popped that in and by the time that was over and we had had our fill of food and libation it was late!!  10:00 late.  So off to bed and the last I heard was the Bellingham fireworks going off at 12:07 and thought I should at least get out of bed to watch but when you have become your parents, late night frivolity is just so... frivolous.