Random Access

Thursday – 20 March 2014
It’s the first day of Spring. Seems like the perfect time to clear the cobwebs off the ol’ blog.

Last night, Sara! and I attended Utah Opera‘s production of Turandot. And “production” is the perfect word for it because it was more than just a “performance.” The staging, the set design, the costuming, the performers. All of it. It was quite literally amazing. If my count is correct, this was the 26th opera that I’ve seen… and it easily makes it onto my “Top 5 Operas” list. The three-act story had elements of drama, comedy and intrigue deftly woven throughout and never felt like it was dragging.

During the first intermission, we were advised by Christopher MacBeth (Utah Opera’s Artistic Director) to wait for Turandot – performed by Maida Hundeling – to first sing. He wasn’t making idle boasts; she was fantastic, truly a pleasure to hear sing and to watch perform. To that point, all of the performers were great. I’d also give a special note to Kelly Kaduce, as Liu, who turned in a stirring aria in the third act.

If you have a chance to see Turandot during it’s run, by all means: Do so.

Team DiVa has been doing well…

Digging for fossils at the Museum of Natural History

At the “Chocolate” exhibition at the Museum of Natural History

On the terrace at the Museum of Natural History

Sporting new hairstyles!

And, this was taken this past weekend:

The little ladies have entered the realm of potty training. It’s been going well. Sure, there are still a few mishaps and accidents, but that is to be expected. Fortuately, both girls seem to be excited by the idea of using the toilet and wearing “big girl” underwear.

I usually play music when I wake the girls in the morning. Usually, it’s Rhapsody in Blue, or The Ride of the Valkyries (this video is actually their favorite version) or Cristofori’s Dream. The girls will often ask for them by name (“Rhapsody,” “Hoyotoho,” and “The Dream Song”), if I haven’t started the music before waking them.

We’ve also introduced them to other genres of music. They’re fond of Bob Marley and Miles Davis, by way of Sara!, while I’ve most often let them listen to more pop/upbeat fare. And, let me tell you that listening to a couple of two-and-a-half-year-olds trying to sing the chorus of Squeeze’s Hourglass – which is one of their current favorite songs –  is hilarious.

All in all, life is good.

Namaste.

Friday – 07 March 2014
I was listening to the radio on the way to work this morning when Jim Croce‘s I Got a Name came on. I’ve heard it on-air a couple of times over the past few days. Both times, I’ve wound up singing along with it. Quite happily and loudly, as I recall. (Fortunately for everyone, I was alone in the car and the windows were up.) I enjoy the song’s melody and lyrics, along with the message that it conveys: Someone who is content with who he is and where he is going in life.

If you’re not familiar with it, take three minutes and enjoy:

Jim Croce died the day before I Got a Name was released. I never really appreciated his music until a few years ago. Sure, I liked Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and You Don’t Mess Around With Jim, but I wasn’t really aware of much more of his discography beyond those songs and Time in a Bottle , I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song, and Operator. Over the course of his eight-year career, he recorded five studio albums and eleven singles – the fifth album being release posthumously.

If you have a chance, fire up your favorite Internet-based music application and listen to some of Mr. Croce’s work. I am reasonably certain that you won’t be disappointed.

Namaste.