It’s a chilly, gray morning here in West Michigan. The trees are still in full color change. Quite vibrant. But the skies are gray and we’ve had a lot of rain lately. That, plus the fact that darkness pushes in on both sides of the day (it’s still dark at 8:15am and it gets dark … [Read more…]
My office this morning is, once again, the cafeteria in the D&W food store. It’s kind of a lonely place at this time of the morning. But I like it that way. This morning, as I sip a Blonde Roast (“That’ll be a pour over. Is that okay?”) from Starbucks, I’m listening to German conductor … [Read more…]
A milestone! Today marks 100 days of listening to Beethoven and writing about it. That’s over three months to you and me. So here I sit in a Tim Horton’s restaurant (Tim Horton’s is a Canadian-based restaurant chain that recently ventured into Michigan) sipping their chicory-laced coffee and listening to Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan … [Read more…]
My office this morning is my office this morning. On a Saturday, no less. Yet, here I am – with Whitesnake’s Slip of the Tongue album playing as background, a fresh-brewed cup o’ Joe beside me, and all the time I want, and all the time I need (shades of “Time Enough At Last”!) to … [Read more…]
While Season Four Episode Four (“Guardian Angels” – which, coincidentally, aired nearly 11 years ago today) of the TV series House plays in the background, and our cat languishes in the middle rung of his “cat tower,” I’m listening to German conductor Eugen Jochum (1902-1987), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in … [Read more…]
This afternoon, I have the pleasure (or maybe not; time will tell) of listening to Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink (1929- ), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major. I’m going to get right down to it. I’ve encountered Maestro Haitink five times previously, on… Day 8. Rating:”Meh!” Day 26. Rating:”Huzzah!” … [Read more…]
My office this morning is inside (because it’s only 43 degrees) looking out. Our cat’s new “cat tower” nearly fills the screen. He loves the middle rung because it gives him a way to look down on the balcony and all the creatures that visit from time to time. While I figure out what to … [Read more…]
My office this morning is the same place it was yesterday morning: the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named, eating an Asiago bagel (toasted twice with plain creme cheese), a Light Roast coffee, and watching the people come and go. And stay. Especially the ones who stay. Some wear business suits or high heels, some wear sweat shirts and sweat … [Read more…]
My office this morning is at the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named, sipping a Light Roast coffee, and munching on an Asiago bagel (toasted twice) with plain cream cheese. I love bagels. Back when I was doing one of these projects (I think it was all of Mozart’s compositions from the famed Philips Complete Mozart Edition box set, a … [Read more…]
My listening post today is my home office, a bottle of Smart Water to my right and a half-eaten bag of Ghost Pepper Potato Chips from Trader Joe’s to my left. In the background, turned down low as if I’m in a restaurant for breakfast, is R.E.O. Speedwagon’s first album, simply titled R.E.O. Fantastic guitar-driven … [Read more…]