Three Days of Christmas 2019

The Three Days of Christmas

December 24-26, 2019 

Framed around some classic verses (and with my sincere apologies for taking such liberties), here’s an account of our busy Christmas.

‘Twas the day before Christmas and all thru the house not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse. I arose from my bed . . . to do my driving for the Red Cross: blood deliveries to hospitals in Kingston, Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie. Now, I love Christmas music, but I’m getting a bit tired of it – I’ve been rehearsing Christmas with Mendelssohn Club since September, and been hearing all the usual standards over and over on the radio. But what to my wondering ears should I hear? Kingston radio 92.9 has the “Lighter Side of Christmas” with humorous versions of holiday classics. Some examples:

    Patrick Stewart a la Star Trek: ♫But as long as you love me so, make it so, make it so, 

           make it so♫

    ♫Just hear those noses snifflin’ and throats are tinglin’ too. Come on it’s lousy weather 

           for a flu ride together with you♫

    From the Beatles: ♫All you need is elves, all you need is elves, all you need is elves, 

           elves, elves are all you need♫

    And my personal favorite: Porky Pig singing ♫I’ll have a blue Christmas without you♫

Fall Sojourns: Hudson River to Montreal

Fall Sojourns: Hudson River to Montreal

October 2019

          The travels described in this narrative arose from the confluence of several storylines, a case study in the sometimes complex and serendipitous paths by which trip ideas are born and evolve. Marjorie’s sister Mary & hubbie Jeff have generously included us in some stays using their Marriott vacation membership: Boston in 2016 & Branson in 2017. So we were pleased to be invited to spend a weekend in Montreal when Jeff is participating in an international biochemistry conference. That, in turn, brought to mind a trip with friends Steve & Jill that included a Chinese lantern festival in the Montreal Botanical Garden, an annual event we can repeat with Mary & Jeff. Yet another storyline emerged this past Labor Day weekend when we met our Queens family for a campground brunch, leading to an overnight in Cold Spring and, separately, to a tour of Bannerman Castle. Come along to trace this convoluted pathway.

Images of the Capital Region

Images of the Capital Region

 

This blog has focused on out-of-town and especially out-of-the-country travel. Albany and the Capital Region, my home since 1974, has received short shrift, tho views are sprinkled into some posts (e.g., Gardens, Religious Sites, Cemeteries, Holidays, Seasons). Having done an “Images of NYC” post, it seems time to bring some local views to the fore. 

 The Empire State Plaza, a vision of Nelson Rockefeller, has an unfortunate political history, razing neighborhoods for its construction, but it is, I suppose, the most “iconic” site in Albany, dominating the skyline. It houses State offices, a performing arts center (“the Egg”), and the State Museum. 

Tahoe & Western Road Trip

Tahoe Opus 2:

A Western Road Trip

July-August 2019

          Last summer Matt spent 3 weeks as a percussionist for Classical Tahoe, in “the best orchestra I’ve ever played with.” He was delighted to be invited back. We followed him out last year, and we’re also delighted to join him again. Our trip this time incorporates visits with friends and family, as well as Western sightseeing: starting in Salt Lake City to visit friends, across Nevada on the “Loneliest Road in America,” a few days at Lake Tahoe, and up to Salem OR for a family visit. 

We’re ready for a break from not-so-retiring retirement activities. Marjorie completed organizing & teaching at the Colonie Art League Art Camp for 4^th-6^th-graders on Tuesday, so she’s good to go. I’ve been doing my Colonie Senior Service Centers Board President thing at meetings on investments, grants, and other financial stuff  ̶  I keep telling them my brother is the accountant! My brain needs a rest. And maybe we can take a break from the news: Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress, likely to no great effect; Trump’s ongoing lies and moronic ramblings.

Danube Cruise

Waltzing Along the Danube

June 2019

          Another Viking River Cruise? We’ve already done 4 together, plus Marjorie did a “Christmas Markets” Rhine cruise with her sister Mary and I did a “Midnight Sun” ocean cruise to Scotland and Norway (above the Arctic Circle!) with my brother Doug & family. But it seems only fitting to add the Danube to our list of European rivers that includes the Rhine, Seine, Saone, and Rhone; at 1775 miles, the Danube is the longest European River after the Volga, flowing thru 10 countries. And it’s always so nice to tour in a floating hotel with gourmet restaurant! Mary & hubbie Jeff have done the Danube, advising that too little water in late summer or fall might turn cruising into a bus tour. With additional advice and assistance from friendly Viking staffer Sonya, we booked the “Danube Waltz” trip for early summer. As usual, a variety of choices for included and optional tours; we’ll do some things together and others separately. 

As I put together this journal from my voice-recorder mutterings and scribblings, I think back to an exhibit in March at Emma Willard School: “Transient’s Voice” by Shima Iuchi, diary pages combining her elegant script with lovely drawings from her travels. I am humbled, but carry on nonetheless.

Schoharie in Spring

A Spring Outing to Schoharie

April 2019

          Spring has started to emerge. The grass is greening. Been on the golf course a couple of times. In the midst of Easter singing. 

Last night (Friday, 4/12) was an ecumenical  evening of Lenten prayer and song at St. Clement’s in Saratoga, arranged by Mendelssohn Club Director Jeff Vredenberg and wife Brenda. The church is beautiful. It’s “A Redemtorist Community,” referring to a Catholic order that serves the poor. The latter seems ironic, considering it’s Saratoga, and word is the order will be moving out of the area. Don’t know what will happen to the church. Tonight’s choir is drawn from several sources. An hour of rehearsal, tho the music isn’t too complicated and mostly familiar: “Amazing Grace,” “Adoramus Te Christe,” “Lift High the Cross,” etc.  The music is lovely, and Marjorie says the basses sound especially good. Brenda is very excited that a few of us basses can hit a low D, her “favorite note.” I notice Jeff’s very active directing, much like an orchestra conductor. A nice service, but not a big audience. Refreshments after, highlighted by Brenda’s sinful chocolate-chip cookies. This was a nice lead-in to the Holy Week choir marathon next week.

Images of New York City

Images of New York City

1974-2019 

          Marjorie and I have lived in Albany since 1974, so we’ve had many opportunities to visit our neighbor (“The City” as we call it) to the south. Those visits became more frequent once our son Matt started his studies at Manhattan School of Music, and then moved to Queens to start his own family  ̶  grandchildren are such an attraction, after all. Many of the scenes and venues presented here are represented in other posts on my blog, but I decided it’s time to put together a centralized collection of photos from our visits, mostly for us but also to share with others who may be interested.  My apologies for any that are mislabeled  ̶  this covers a long period of time for my memory to cover!