Toona-Holidays

I Attended the Met Opera...

and was home in 15 minutes.


As a birthday gift, RGBisMe got us tickets to view yesterday's simulcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production of Madame Butterfly. I have reflected long and hard on what it means to attend a simulcast production and my reasons for this blog are twofold. My main thought are on how it effects those who attend the local simulcast production (the audience) and how does it effect those who are performing what is being broadcast (the opera).

I had mixed feelings even before attending. I don't really know if a simulcast is something that is good for the life of opera in general yet I had never attended one before at the Met or otherwise. The high definition simulcast of Madame Butterfly at our local State Theater was allowing me to experience, on a lesser level, my very first opera. I wondered if the audience would approach the production like they were going to the movies or if they were attending the opera.

There were a real mix of attendees at the State Theater yesterday. I sat beside a family with 2 younger boys who had never attended an opera before. Their father encouraged the one boy to read through the program prior to the beginning of the performance to get an idea of what the story was because Puccini's opera is in Italian. Some folks were dressed as though they were at the Met and others as though they were grabbing a burger at the Corner Room.

I was a bit nervous that the crowd did not quiet as the pre-production introduction began on the screen. A countdown of the final 5 minutes to curtain was interrupted by an onscreen backstage commentary. This came during the raising of those grand chandeliers which indicated the raising of the curtain or any prologue. The verbal chatter finally died off at the raising of the curtain and the audience was good as gold for the whole production.

I enjoyed the high definition filming of this production of Madame Butterfly as well as this particular staging of if. It incorporated the traditional Japanese puppetry style of Bunraku in some scenes, this included the shocking, amazing, and impeccable replacement of casting Cho-Cho-San's son.

During the production, there were a handful of times that the digital reception faltered. The sound of the orchestra and pristine voices cut out for 5 brief intervals. This seems minuscule except for one of them was just before the climax of the famous and heart wrenching aria Un bel dì. The audible negative reaction many members of the audience had (including my own) confirmed to me it was the equivalent of some one's cell phone going off. It shattered a fragile moment and ruined the feeling many of us get at the movies/ballet/theatrical productions; the transcendence of time and place was lost and we were back in State College.

The final curtain was a specific moment I had been curious about. Would the audience applaud? They did, in an awkward and lukewarm manner at first. The applause grew as they realized that although the performers were not hearing our appreciation that this was part of the complete experience of attending the opera. Even a few cheers were emitted for the opera stars as they took their bows on the screen.

As I stepped out onto the sidewalk on College Avenue, I found myself disoriented. I had forgotten where I was for a while. The production had convinced me that I was, if not in Nagasaki, in the Met Opera House. I then concluded that the impact was enough that if any other patrons were moved that perhaps they would hope to attend a live production and even eventually want to set foot in the Met. I don't like the idea that simulcast productions might be taking away from the ticket revenues that The Met Opera would have gotten that day but if it builds an audience for the future it might be worth it.

This is a bleak economic time for this country. Many people regularly see the arts as superfluous even when jobs and money are more easily had and ticket price is of little consequence. Even financially solid companies like New York City Ballet are cutting tours, dancers and staff to save money. This week, Ravenboy's union met and voted to take a cut in their pensions and vacation pay in lue of cutting dancers at American Ballet Theatre.

Hopefully simulcast productions will make aware and awaken some of the people who are used to staying in their own towns and living rooms. Life without the arts is hellish.

Perfection!

Thanks to Maga11 and Toolman Luke's dear gift to me for my birthday, my collection is complete!

Mid February Ramble

It's been a winter that hasn't allowed me to get outside a lot. My hands and feet get so cold that I don't want to step outside at all. It's wonderful to see the length of the day increasing and with better spirits RGBisMe and I ventured out to find a few letterboxes.

We hiked about 3 miles and enjoyed the views and park we were exploring. A fresh layer of about 3" of snow had fallen the night before but there were already foot prints on the trails we were on. It was easy to camouflage any time we found a letterbox because they were hidden so closely to the trails. The exception was when we dropped our signature stamp in the snow. The ink just kept spreading and every time we tried to kick more snow to cover it the color seemed to spread even more.

Walking and talking and enjoying the day was the theme. We had a lot to talk about thinking of Ravenboy starting to tour again and Asrai's mom having surgery. Our pace was slow not only because of talking so much but because a lot of areas had much more snow from the season that had not melted. I ended up wet to my knees in the end because of some marshy areas and shuffling through the snow. This was fine because our car was parked centrally and we warmed up on the way home.

Six More Weeks

of winter is what Punxsutawney Phil has predicted. Here I am wearing my new groundhog hat, a purchase through Etsy. I hope it helps to keep me warm for the next six weeks because I have been very cold this year.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

For those of you that have met RGBisMe, you probably perceive him as a quiet and gracious man and that he is. He downplays his talents and expertise and has become known, in the best of letterboxing circles, as "The Man Behind the Curtain." He is that and so much more.

In the mundane world of professions and bringing home the soy-bacon, RGBisMe is the same type of person. Although he is revered as a wealth of talent and knowledge, he much prefers share his knowledge to empower others rather than be put upon a pedestal. His care and guidance allows his coworkers to make the best of their own talents while he directs them with a gentle hand.

Those of you who find the concept of competition to be a healthy and natural human characteristic might find RGBisMe's demure deference to be annoying and infuriating. It is my firm opinion that those characteristics are what make him so approachable, believable and genuine. An artist in the purest sense, allow me to share with you his new blog that will focus on graphic design related topics, After Image.

Letterboxing Last Weekend

RGBisMe and I made a day of it a bit farther south last weekend. There had been a mild couple of days that melted off a lot of the snow as we got close to the PA/MD border. Unfortunately the day we were out it became very cold again. By the end of the day, as we prepared to attend a performance of one of our favorite bands, we were all chapped and red cheeked.One letterbox was in a diner. It made a nice break even if we weren't hungry for lunch quite yet. We ordered some soft drinks.

The weekend ended and we had the luck to find 20 letterboxes in all. Some were new but others had been their for years. Each box we sought we were lucky enough to find and stamp into.

Always Remember, Never Forget

I dare you to take a moment to read back through what people wrote to you in your senior year book. Check out how people perceived you at that time in your life.

Most people wrote that I was "nice" and many said I was "sweet" when I can't remember being anything other than grumpy, confused, closeted and lost in high school. I wanted to see if I remembered any of the inside jokes or events that were in our thoughts at the time. Here are my responses to those memories, or lack there of.

Peg - I have no idea what went down on "HALLOWEEN NIGHT!"
Fred - I don't ever remember going to Weis to see you at work.
Michele - I do remember the fun times in Environmental Science, I allowed you to copy from me on our final exam.
Eleanor - I do remember marching band and the 6" of mud in the Allentown band competition where I sub-luxed my knee.
Teresa - Although I remember I ate lunch in the cafeteria, I have a hard time remembering any fun there nor can I remember who John was.
Dave - I do remember the good times we had at Virginia Beach in the marching band competition. A also recall the "Short People" song everyone sang to me.
Mark - I won't forget that we called Mr. Duffman the "Big Green Booger" because he was such a large man in his lab coat in Biology 3. I loved being a part of the Xerox Table gang and although you might not remember spraying me with Gibberellic acid to make me grow, I certainly do.
Mike - Although I remember Bio 3 and being a part of the Xerox Table, I have no idea who you are.
Ken - I do remember the media classes we had together and will never forget Dana making Missy pass that car coming back from Paintersville.
Tim - Thank you for wishing me luck on my marriage but I never saw it through.
Guy - I don't remember having any great times in school with you, I only remember you stalking my sister after graduation.
Robin - I do vaguely remember having fun with you and Amy at Knoebels Grove but I can not remember one good time in Trig class.
Jim - I can't remember having much fun with you in school but you are quite welcome for the letters that we exchanged that summer. I have a feeling that those letters may have been an important factor in forming our wonderful current relationship.
Donna - I do remember consoling each other over our heartaches and problems. I am so glad things worked out for you and the man you could only quietly love at a distance that senior year.
Meg - I can't't remember ANYTHING happening at lunch other than the struggle of being a vegetarian.
Karen - What was it with these freshmen I ate lunch with? What was so memorable!?
Ruth - I do remember Spike and standing in those mini skirts trying to keep warm in the late October air before band competitions.
Kim - I forgot you were in Biology with us and the "Big Green Booger."
Beth - Not only do I remember German class I will never forget how our instructor was always so demeaning to you. You were always so good natured as he made a joke of you at every turn. At least he didn't hit you with a stapler like he did my sister when he was trying to hit another student (Fred who apparently worked at Weis).
Missy - Yes, I remember the worm I gave to Bob to scare him but I had forgotten that our high school didn't have enough furniture when we came as Freshmen. Although you list "Craig" as a "hunk" I can't remember his face to save my soul. Yes, I do remember flirting with about every guy on the band bus and thankfully have forgotten all of the "jerky football players."
Deb - Our D.I. A. class must have been as boring as you mentioned because I can't remember a thing about it.
Dudah - I do remember "mooning" and that you introduced me to the guy I was engaged to.
Lisa - I thankfully just remembered who you are because you told me not to "dare" ever forget you.
Laura - I do remember that we were in T.A.G. together and that you leaned on me all of the time because you were so much taller.
Bob - You are welcome for the good times in study hall and "any other times." What were they?
Cullen - I forgot we were in T.A.G. until just now. It was great starting the day with you discussing the latest progress on "Starblazers."
Laurie - Although you called our D.I.A. classes "wild" I cannot remember them at all.
Lori - Sorry, I don't remember our "great D.I.A. classes."
Pam - I remember you but am curious to remember what went on at lunch! What was it about "red satin sheets", "roughriders", "Ben Gay" and "a tape recorder"!!!?
Rhyesa - I very well remember the pea plants that we killed in Bio 3, I think it was too much Gibberellic acid.
Janet - I do remember coming to your house for the day and playing kick the can on South Wayne with Doug. Those are great memories.
Mike - Did you bum rides with us a lot? I forgot.
Mark - I forgot about the tickle battles on the band bus.
Amy - Your prediction that our Phillies would make it to the World Series came true within the year.
Pearl - All I am remembering about English with Burdge and Summers is that we called them "Moose and Squirrel."
Scott - I wonder if you remember the tickle battles on the band bus because you said you would "remember them forever."
Rose - Thank you for reminding me that we ate "B lunch" together on Wednesdays and that I would "slurp jello." I think it is starting to come back to me now. Yes, that tiny "Good luck in the future to a real sweet girl. Hutch '82" made me remember the underclassman we kept making fun of at lunch all year.

Sweet? Nice? I now remember I could be a jerk just to make some people at my lunch table laugh. Weird memories to have of 29 years ago.

Scenes in Winter

Long Winter Shadows

Geese Flying North

Nittany in Winter

Nittany in Winter 2

Heat Shields in Winter

Hartman Farm and Bald Eagle Ridge

Holiday Shindy

Yep, it happened again. Just after our long trip from NYC Ravenboy wanted to put the holiday music on so that Asrai could see my annual jigue. Can you believe that they forgot the tape number AGAIN!!

I was ready this year. I had prepared a scavenger hunt starting with the spot in the music where my song was to start. I made a bogus tape and dubbed in a cd of my favorite ballet music, Delibes, "Sylvia" prelude. Everyone just looked at me because, quite by happenstance, I had been complaining that I downloaded a "Sylvia" ring tone only to hear that it was the one song from the ballet that I dislike, the Pizzicato.

Ideas of what it meant flew back and forth and I just grinned. Ravenboy hunted down the cd of "Sylvia" and found that I had pasted a photo of an sun ornament onto the cover. They made a bee line to the ornament on our tree and found a website address taped to it's back. The "url" was missing just a bit before the final ".jpg". The name of the file was something they needed to guess out. After about 5 minutes of trying things, RGBisMe decided to go to the directory of the address (ok, it was HIS personal web space I used) and suggested they look through all of the links that ended in "jpg."

I knew they might do this and watched as they scanned down all of the files. Their faces all lit up when they saw this link. They tried it and it worked. From there they went to the collection of photos that have been taken annually at the Knoebel's photo booth. When nothing jumped out at them from looking at the ninth one, I stopped them from taking the frame apart.

Ravenboy remembered that there is an application called Photobooth and they looked at a video clip that was the 9th image. It was of me taunting them and showing them the tapes as I put them into the middle of a hollow book. They all walked to the living room to look at the bookshelves where Asrai tentatively asked, "Is this it?" RGBisMe said, "How long has that been there!?" It was the hollowed book I had put on the shelf over a week ago and inside were the tapes.

On went my costume and out came the camera. I lived, barely, and if I can swallow my pride perhaps I will share it. The season of fun has begun!

Door for the Fae

A faerie door I made. It stands 4 1/2" high

Gnome models, wreath, door mat, cloak wrack & shoes

DDR Competition

I came so close to beating her!

Three Bad Cats

Happy Holidays

Our tree.

Our wish to you.

Chilly Visitors

I was putting together some gift packets for the holidays this morning. My sweet cat Mooch was on the work table keeping me company when I noticed her looking over my shoulder behind me. Her pupils were dilated and she was stretching her neck to see but holding very still. I turned in the direction of her stare to the window that views our back yard. he last time she looked outside like that it was at a bear. This time it was a group of 3 deer feeding on the edge of the field and one came down to drink from our bird bath.

Freedom from Want

Now

Then

Movin on Up

There is little Ravenboy and Asrai have in common with The Jeffersons other than the fact that they got found a great apartment on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. RGBisMe took advantage of what was to be a gray and rainy day to move some of their belongings to the city for them.

The cute studio apartment they have leased it so charming. It has very little overhead or natural lighting so even in the day it was a little dark but the warmth and charm they are going to add will brighten it up. They have some great plans for curtains and Ikea furniture. They have the idea of a lovely curtain fixture over their sleeping loft to add privacy and style.

My biggest thrill was watching them unpack their dishes and put them into the cabinets, making it their home. It was so heart warming. RGBisMe looked out into the courtyard from their balcony and called to a couple of cats that were enjoying the quite area. As we looked from balcony to balcony, we could tell it was a nice residential neighborhood.

We look forward to seeing what they do with the blank walls, open floor space and high ceilings. They have a marvelous space to work with and we wish them joy.

Flash Mob!

We were part of a geocaching event yesterday that was participating in an even larger event, a World Wide Flash Mob! Here is the link to the video. Some of the photos used look familiar.

Remember all happened within 15 minutes. This is my kind of gethering!

Four Coffees to Go

Maybe I should have said, "eight coffees" since it was both Maga11 and myself that toured downtown Lewisburg Coffee Shop Series. It was a very mellow Thurday and many of the trees that lined the streets still had some dazzling color to them. We decided to park in a central location and branch out and back to walk to the cute cafés in this letterbox series.

First was our walk the Cherry Alley Café. On the way we passed near our second destination and an art store, Brushstrokes, that I had to pop into in search of true indigo. A close Prussian Blue was all that I was able to find. Maga11 talked to the clerk about oil paints that clean up with water. There was a nice supply of Mastercarve carving material and carving tools but I am set for stuff like that.

We found the first cafe and walked right in. I placed our order and Maga11 found the letterbox. With a cup of coffee and chai, we sat down and sipped and stamped. This first box had been out for a while longer than the other three so reading through the log book was even more fun. We loved the way it was hidden and the drinks were some of the best we had. We only got smalls because we had to pace ourselves. Cherry Alley Café got my vote for best shop on the tour. The menu items and atmosphere were matched by the friendly staff and free wifi. We regretted not being the first to have logged our finds on location.

Back we went to Mya's Cafe. Maga11 and I had set up for the art's festival in this town a few times. It was always a chilly show because it was in April. I can remember standing on the street and freezing in the rain one year. Today was nothing like that as a mild breeze blew off of the Susquehanna. Town was not totally dead at this lunch hour but we were lucky enough to never have to wait in line at any of the coffee shops.

When we got to Mya's, I was excited to see the lunch menu and we thought we would check out the specialty item. Maga11 & I switched roles (not rolls) as she ordered a snack and I searched for the cleverly stashed letterbox. We met at a table in the center just before the shop started to get crowded. Maga11 had pruchased a couple of little slices of cheese cake and I opened the box. The log wasn't as full but about half of the finders had written nice messages. The stamp was nice but I wasn't sure what it was since I couldn't find the design for sure on anything around the store. This was a much busier café being on the main drag. The wait staff was friendly but needs to be educated on how to pronounce "gyros" from whence the name "heros" came for what some call a hoagie or sub(marine) sandwich. The cheese cacke, which granted was not labeled so maybe wasn't technically cheesecake, had a thin layer of creamcheese on the top and the bottom was more like ricotta cheese. It was so-so.

We were getting full but decided from the clue description that we would try for some soup at our next location, Zelda's. The store front says "Zelda's on the Park" and it is just off of the park. We were glad to walk through the area to digest our topsy-turvy piece meal dessert. We arrived, again no line, and the soup menu had plenty of choices including a vegan chili. Maga11 ordered a tomato bisque and I broke form and ran and got the letterbox. I think I forgot it was her turn or maybe she wanted to sit down. Sorry, Maga!

The café was very groovy and put together in a very self service way. Wifi was available here too. We chose a bad table to sit at because it was by a door the wait staff went in and out of and the back of my seat was whacked with the door many times. Our soups were a little acidic but not all together disappointing. I make my chili acidic too as a rule. This letterbox was my favorite in the way it was hidden and the stamp. The people who had found the series directly before us, Acme Amblers, are to be commended for gently cleaning the stamp in a thorough way.

Last stop, onto campus for 7th St. Cafe. Campus was quiet and although the sky was getting grey we enjoyed the walk. It was still mellow and the leaves on the ground were bold splashes of color. The 7th St. Cafe was a little more stark but the outdoor patio over the stream was a nice way to finish the day. We were able to enjoy stamping and reading the logbook without feeling rushed to leave and took our time before walking back to our car.

Thank you Kelly & Ben for this enjoyable series. We ate our way through town in hope that when we stopped at Wenger's Grocery Outlet on the way home that we wouldn't as hungry as we usually are.