(no subject)

Today's colour is purple!
RGB: 9a80b0
Pantone: 521

I am experimenting with the flowery ties.
I am unsure about them.

Verbalizing Minutiae.....

So - I here I am enjoying lunch. (I know it's 330pm but sue me!) I have found a lovely 'get-a-way' in the Schwab Residential Center near my office. It's graduate housing; and blissfully quiet. The building is themed around Greece - with an olive tree grove and the most beautiful designs. this lovely area is a giant blue water fountain - lined with these GIGANTIC weeping willows. I have made a habit of coming here for breaks and I also park my bike here during the day.

One of the biggest lessons of the job at the radio stations was that I did not let myself take breaks - I hit it so hard without a break that it became a habit. So I've decided to CLEARLY make a change with this new position. I try to take a 15 minute trip morning and afternoon to my little escape here - and if I eat lunch alone (there are a lot of working lunches) I'll come here - and if I work during lunch (with my planner and my plate of food; and sometimes coworkers) I'll extend the afternoon stop to a full 1/2 hour.

I am reading "Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History" by S.C. Gwynne. It details the rise - and amazing efficiency and power of the final great leader, Comanche Chief Quanah. It's a very sad story honestly - right now I'm in the 'romantic story' part - but it ends with the development of a new kind of gun (the six-gun) and the creation of the Texas Rangers, whose only goal was to annihilate the Comanche. The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s no-holds-barred account delivers a narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and how the United States came into being.

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Tonight! The opera season in SF begins (for me and my opera posse) at Verdi's AIDA!

A compelling tale of conflicting loyalties and forbidden passions, this spectacular production, previously seen at English National Opera and Houston Grand Opera, is designed by Zandra Rhodes and directed by Jo Davies. The cast features Italian soprano Micaela Carosi making her Company debut in the title role, renowned Verdian mezzo-soprano and former Adler Fellow Dolora Zajick as Amneris and Marcello Giordani making his role debut as Radames. Returning after his highly-praised performance in last season’s Otello is Marco Vratogna as Amonasro; baritone Hao Jiang Tian returns to San Francisco Opera as Ramfis after his 2008 Company debut as Chang the Coffinmaker in The Bonesetter’s Daughter. Music Director Nicola Luisotti leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

I am excited to be sharing my first opera season with my new Opera Posse - Shaun, Maurice and Justin. We got seats in the balcony - with clear views of the stage and nice viewing of the operatron screens (9' x6' LCDs). The operatrons are awesome since they follow the leads throughout the show with an HD camera. Best part? our seats are $20 per opera for the season.

We'll meet at Chevys (not my choice - but what the hell, right? it's convenient and you know what you are getting) - - and make a toast with foofy cocktails to good ole Guiseppe Verdi before heading to War Memorial Opera for three hours of drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrama! Investing in this season is something I'm very glad I did.


YAY!