My listening post this morning is my happy place – the second floor of our local library. When I die, I want to be buried in a library. Or a coffin shaped like a book. Books and music are my two biggest passions. So me being here, with Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named where I am listening to a table of five guys conduct a Bible study, while I sip my Light Roast coffee, and eat a twice-toasted bagel with cream cheese. Even though it’s 7:38am, it’s still pitch black outside. I prefer being here at 6am. But I had … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is with one of the most famous episodes of The Andy Griffith Show in the background: “Opie the Birdman” (Season Four, Episode One). If you ever get a chance to watch “Opie the Birdman,” do it. The last line of dialogue is one of the most famous – and poignant … [Read more…]
My listening post this evening is in the living room, with House, M.D. (Season 8 Episode 19 – “The C Word“) on TV, tree and trimmings glowing joyfully, and American conductor Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), Wiener Philharmoniker and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor in my ears. Before I go any further, I’m going to … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named where two tables tables of self-important guys chat with unusually loud voices such that I can hear literally from across the room. But that’s okay. In my ears is Italian conductor Claudio Abbado (1933-2014), Berliner Philharmoniker, and the last symphony of my 162-day Beethoven project – Beethoven’s … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is nowhere special. What I’m hoping is special is this performance from German conductor Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989), Berliner Philharmoniker, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major. I encountered Maestro Karajan’s legendary 1977 cycle seven times previously, on… Day 11. Rating: “Meh!” Day 29. Rating: “Huzzah!” Day 47. Rating: … [Read more…]
This morning, my listening post is the cafeteria of a local grocery store chain, a Starbucks Blonde Roast (“That’ll be a pour over. Is that okay?”) and a blueberry muffin (“It’s good warmed up a little”) on my right. Nothing but a sunny day streaming in on my left. The sun. Wow. What is that … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is at the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named where I can watch a wide variety of people come and go, eat, chat, and enjoy each other’s company – all while the only thing I hear this morning is Austrian conductor Karl Bohm (1894-1981), Wiener Philharmoniker, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major. The … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is New Beginnings Restaurant, an hour after it opened. It’s empty in here because of the snow storm we had overnight. We only got about two or three inches. But it’s icy, and this is the first major winter storm of the season. So all schools are closed, and drivers … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is my home, so early in the morning the lights inside don’t seem to be able to pierce the darkness coming in from without. If it weren’t for the cup of coffee beside me (Trader Joe’s Light Roast), my eyelids would start to droop. (And, by that, I don’t mean … [Read more…]