Wednesday HodgePodge

Once again, Joyce poses some interesting questions.

1. We've reached edition number 315 here in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So tell us, what were you doing at 3:15 yesterday? Is that typical? On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high) what's your energy level usually like at 3:15 PM?

At 3:15 I am usually sitting at my desk, reading email, drafting reports, or speaking on the phone with attorneys or clients.  Just a typical workday.  My energy is starting to lag around that time, so I might be drinking a Diet Pepsi and eating a small snack while I work.

2. A frisbee, a tantrum, a towel, a party, a punch, or a curveball...which have you most recently thrown or had thrown at/for you? Elaborate.

A punch.  Definitely a punch.  The frustration of having to clean up after a former coworker...

3. What are three things that would help you right now. Tell us how or why.

That's easy.  A personal assistant at work, to handle all the mundane parts of my job.  A housekeeper.  And time.  More time to get everything done.

4. Do you think you're strong? Why or why not? What makes you strong?

I never thought of myself as strong, until I realized that others were looking to me for strength in difficult times.

5. Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What's your favorite book set sometime in the past?

Anything by Philippa Gregory would be fine with me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I really need to de-stress.

Think globally, act locally

So how did I spend my Sunday afternoon?

Canvassing with a local candidate.  She's running for a seat on our town board.

Walking the district is exhausting.  But that personal touch, when the voters get to meet the candidate up close and personal ... especially in an off year.

I volunteered to do it again next weekend.

Seen at Lincoln Center

Yes, that's a Dancing Hippo from Fantasia 

At the ballet

Guess where I was the other night?

If you guessed "Lincoln Center", you'd be right.

My friend B has had a subscription to the NYC Ballet since the 70's.  Occasionally I will go with her.

This is what we saw:

Every summer Lincoln Center presents a festival, with guest performers supplementing the presentations of the resident companies.  This year, the NYC Ballet was joined by the Paris Opera Ballet and the Bolshoi.  The three companies combined to present George Balanchine's Jewels.

Balanchine was a Russian dancer and choreographer, who later worker with the Paris Opera Ballet, and who immigrated and founded a ballet school and company that would become the NYC Ballet. 

Balachine's Jewels, presented in 1967, was the first "plotless" full length ballet, and saluted his mixed-heritage roots as a dancer and choreographer.

Emeralds, which was performed by the French dancers, is lush and romantic, danced to the music of Faure.  The American dancers performed Rubies, a quick-paced number using a Stravinsky score, and incorporating elements of jazz and musical theater into the performance.  The final dance, Diamonds, done to a piece by Tchaikovsky, is elegant, classic and majestic.

I was able to get a few pictures during the curtain call.  They're not very good -- I was in the third ring, after all, and the stage lights were very bright, but ...

The French dancers.  Loved the tulle skirts.  So pretty.

The Americans.  Cute little dance dresses with flutter skirts. And while you can barely see the dancers in the last photo, those are the Russians. She's wearing a classic tutu.

The bows.

Dunkirk

As historical events go, Dunkirk was a tragic triumph.  After horrific defeats in France and Belgium in 1940, the British Army had to be evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk.  Civilian boats were pressed into service, and over 300,000 troops were brought home to England.

Dunkirk is an amazing movie.  It has a "you are there" feel, as we follow the story of a young soldier on the beach, three Spitfire pilots, and the crew of one of the civilian craft on its way to rescue the troops.  Terse,tense and packed with action. 

A definite "must see".

Not a bad spot to have dinner

It was after work one night.  I didn't feel like heading home.  Brought a salad and a drink.  The finest in al fresco dining.

Take me with you! #skywatchfriday

#skywatchfriday