November 26, 2008

"But she's done nothing."

"Nothing is enough for filthy minds."

--How Green Was My Valley

"But if manners prevent us from speaking the truth, we'll do without manners"--ibid.

Dreamed of my hometown Sackville, N.B.; the point King Street where you get a view of the whole town; the actual meeting the short-lived 1978 pope John Paul I had with a Grade 5 schoolboy, where he said that when he was in Grade 5 he was worried about whether he'd get into Grade 6.

Under the weather.  I should have cut today's singing lesson short, but I didn't.  Dinner was salmon.

Headache!

Saw the DVD of John Ford's How Green Was My Valley (for the second time). A compelling masterpiece.

November 25, 2008

Dreamed of sailing to Liberia with Mother and Donald; realizing I'd left my passport in my other pants.

Went shopping.

Finished writing the Cenerentola lyrics.

Dinner was roast chicken. (Moira baked a carrot cake.)

At opera rehearsal we prepared for Sunday's concert.

November 24, 2008

Dreamed of the Muppet character Gonzo; the Pink Floyd song "Money."

Baked raisin bread.

Dinner was pork steak.

Moira recorded the accompaniment for "Vaga Luna" and "Il Balen di Suo Sorriso" in the original key. (My tape cassette is almost full on the song side.) She's been insisting that the piano needs tuning, and I agree it's past time.

At choir practice our chairs were placed to face the opposite direction from before. Our patron Tony Fusco showed up to see how we looked that way.

Started writing out the Cenerentola lyrics phonetically so I can memorize them more easily.

November 23, 2008

"He's just a boy!"

"He's as old as his gun."

--Ride Lonesome

"She ain't ugly"--ibid.

Dreamed of meeting David Letterman's bandleader Paul Schaffer but being too nervous to say anything; me closing my eyes and him throwing dust on me resulting in a fun dust fight; mentioning that my favourite cameo in This Is Spinal Tap is him  as the concert promoter.

Saw the Budd Boetticher-Randolph Scott western Ride Lonesome at the Cinematheque.  Efficient and entertaining.

Afterward I killed some time at the Reference Library and copied the song score of "Le Veau d'Or" from Gounod's Faust.

Then I met Basil and a couple of others from the Life Enhancement Meetup and we discussed our plans at Fran's near the College station.  I didn't have much to contribute to the discussion, but I'll be organizing the karaoke and book club events and articulating the group's "vision." (Basil used to be a dissident in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.  He must be grateful to be alive!)

Dinner was lasagna.

Finished the "Wohin?" song score and printed it out.

November 22, 2008

"Every man looks for the star that shines only for him"--The Damnation of Faust

Went to the cinemacast of the Met production of the Berlioz opera The Damnation of Faust.  My favourite part was the choral finale where Marguerite ascends to heaven.

Dinner was McDonald's.

Saw the DVD of the Harold Lloyd silent comedy Grandma's Boy (for the second time). I remember the scene where he's driving a car over varied terrain in pursuit of a fugitive!

My Imac's internet connection is now working fine!

November 20, 2008

Had a dental checkup in the afternoon. (I had to cancel plans to attend a new Walking Meetup.)

Attended the opening reception at the Wychwood Car Barns.  Quite a few politicians were there, including Mayor Miller and of course Councillor Joe Mihevc.

Dinner was stir-fry.

Went to a Humanist Meetup at a house up near Sheppard Avenue. (I know very little about humanism.) It turned out to be about Humanity Unites Brilliance, an international charity that reminds me of Amway.  The organizer and I were the only people there.

 

November 19, 2008

At today's lesson I sang "Il Balen di Suo Sorriso" in the higher key, and some of the resonance was uncomfortable. (I really prefer the lower key, but Giuseppe says the higher one is good for my voice, so I'll go along with him.) I also sang "Vaga Luna."

On the way home, I stopped at Remenyi's and ordered the score for "Di Provenza" from La Traviata, which Giuseppe says I should do next. (They still don't have the "Vaga Luna" score, but now I don't need it anyway.)

Dinner was roast beef.

Went to a Movie Meetup at the Bloor, where we were seeing Order of Myths, a documentary about the white and black Mardi Gras festivals in Mobile, Alabama.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find the rest of the group.  The film was a bit strange for me, and I left halfway.

Moira made me two pie crusts, so in the evening I tried baking a pumpkin pie with some of our carved pumpkin, which I put through the vegetable chopper.

Snow on the ground for the first time since last winter!

 

November 18, 2008

Dreamed of writing a Ph.D. thesis about 1960s culture; walking a bicycle through a cemetery; sinking in mud.

Baked multigrain bread.

Dinner was fish and chips.

Last night I saw ice on the street, so today I put on my long johns.

I've figured out how to use the Finale Notepad software, so I won't have to upgrade to Songwriter after all.

At opera rehearsal we started preparing for the fundraising concert at the end of the month.  David Roche returned my Carmen DVD. (He had an operation the other day!) Barbara has a cold.  Hope she doesn't get overworked...

 

November 17, 2008

Carved up the pumpkin from the garden.  Even after removing the seeds and the rind, I still filled two big bowls!

Dinner was the rest of the lamb stew.

No new songs at choir practice.

November 16, 2008

(seeing a photograph of a barren surface) "What's that?"

"It's the moon."

"I never knew it could look so unfriendly."

"It's an unfriendly universe."

--Breaking the Sound Barrier

"Look, the situation is, Susan--I don't have to but I must!"--ibid.

"I'm looking for a job as a gynecologist--no openings for me!"--George Carlin

The old poster Duck Lady turned up at mrcranky.com .  I've missed her.

Dinner was lamb stew.

Saw David Lean's Breaking the Sound Barrier at the Cinematheque.  Written by Terence Rattigan, it's a pretty good exercise in middlebrow "stiff upper lip" Britishness.  The dialogue has lots of Anglicisms like "There's a good chap" and "this awful business."

November 15, 2008

"We've laid in a gala reception for your golden boys tonight--all of Twin Peaks' best and brightest!"

"You holding it in a phone booth?"

--Twin Peaks

Went to a Life Enthusiasts Meetup at Scallywag's.  It's a new support group for people dealing with depression.  Basil, the organizer, has ambitions of organizing the community of the depressed, and developing stuff like communal housing.  I offered to help with researching and writing communiques, and some of us will be meeting again next weekend to work on our white paper.

At the meeting we played a name game where everyone wrote down then told the group our name, favourite group activity, main talent and main skill (possessed and wished for).  Then we took turns trying to remember all those aspects for one person.  My favourite activity was karaoke, and my main talent was singing (songwriting wished for), and my main skill was research and writing (making friends wished for).

Afterward I ate at Wendy's.

November 14, 2008

"But you told me you loved my shaved neck!"

"I love it so much I want to cut it open!"

"Please don't.  I prefer being strangled."

--In the Realm of the Senses

"I hate you for making me so happy!"--ibid.

Found some more information on my Jardine and Allingham forbears at ancestry.ca . (Mother takes a greater interest in Father's side of the family than her own.)

Dinner was pork chops.

Saw Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses at the Cinematheque. (The Art Gallery of Ontario was having its big reopening, and there was quite a crowd around.) The movie itself I found oddly exhausting.

November 13, 2008

"You and Leo should have a talk."

"Leo doesn't talk.  He hits."

--Twin Peaks

High-school girl: "I've been doing some research....  In the real world, there's no algebra"--Twin Peaks

Dreamed of Father and I planning on making a trip in a DIY lighter than air craft in southeastern New Brunswick; the two of us going to an auction to bid on some helium; being left to do the bidding myself, but ending up unable to fill the form specifying what type we wanted; following some people up a hill, but finding myself too weak to keep climbing.

Dinner was stir-fry (which Moira made).

Baked rye bread overnight.

November 12, 2008

"He hit me!"

"Well, I'm sure he meant to."

--Twin Peaks

"This is where pies go when they die!"--ibid.

Dreamed of seeing a building whose upper half was a reflection of the lower half, so I didn't know which way was up.

At today's singing lesson Giuseppe decided I should sing "Il Balen di Suo Sorriso"in its original, higher key. (That means Moira will have to record the accompaniment again!)

On the way home IU went to the Reference Library and finally found Bellini's "Vaga Luna" score.

Dinner was spaghetti.

When I told Mother about ancestry.ca , she didn't want to hear about it.  She gets depressed thinking about our ancestors, since she fears she doesn't have a lot of years left. [She lived for five more years.]

Saw the DVD of the silent movie of Joseph Conrad's Victory, another one with Lon Chaney as the bad guy.  I should read the book someday. [Still haven't...]  

November 11, 2008

After the Norwegian investors' departure: "We had those vikings by the horns!  What happened?"

"We aren't 100% sure.  Their translator left with them."

--Twin Peaks

Dreamed of an Oz-like adventure story where two young sweethearts were outwitting a grotesque orc-like king; being in the middle of travelling and becoming worn out.

Went shopping.

Dinner was roast chicken.

At opera rehearsal we did the rest of La Cenerentola. (Giuseppe wasn't there, so Adolfo was in charge.) For a change, we started with some scales.  When we learned the big chorus at the end of the first act, it turned out that our copyist had missed four pages! (Gerald's going to email us new copies of those pages.)

Subscribed to ancestry.ca and started learning about my forebears.  The 1911 census spelled my father's mother's name wrong! 

November 10, 2008

Downloaded Finale Notepad software so I can print out transposed scores.  But when I tried to trade up to the Songwriter software, I ran into a bug.

Dinner was roast pork.

At choir practice we did the new song "Gnot Benedette di Steli." (Which means "blessed night of the stars.")

November 9, 2008

"Another performance like that and you'll be scrubbing bidets in a Bulgarian convent!"

"Ooh, Daddy, I'm so scared."

"We lost Laura two days ago, I lost you years ago."

--Twin Peaks

Went to a Brunch Club Meetup at the Hot House Cafe, which I can take or leave. (We met at 09:30 so I had to leave without having breakfast beforehand.)

John and Kathrine came over for a vegan dinner. (I cut up our remaining squash and baked it with some apples.) But Merle was late arriving and I had to leave early, so I missed out.

Went to the Socrates Cafe Meetup at The Second Cup near Bloor and Bathurst.  There were only two of us, but we had some interesting conversation.  Afterward I ate at Burger King.

Saw the DVD of Tod Browning's silent melodrama The Wicked Darling, with Lon Chaney in one of his gangster roles.

I also saw the DVD of the first two episodes of the fifth season of The Simpsons, including the Cape Fear parody with Sideshow Bob.  

November 8, 2008

Teacher calling roll: "Audrey Horn." Audrey (using air quotes): "'Here.'"--Twin Peaks

"That girl doesn't know who she is or if she is!"--ibid.

Laura's mother: "I'm not calling you again! [to herself, after pause] Yes, I am"--ibid.

Dreamed of being in a shop selling nothing but French comic books like Asterix.

Last night at choir practice we did the new piece "Glorie al Redentor."

Saw the new Met opera Dr. Atomic, composed by John Adams and directed by Peter Sellars, at Eglinton Silver City.  It was too long for how much went on.

Dinner was McDonald's.

Rented the DVD of the Twin Peaks pilot at 2Q Video. (I was going to rent the first season of The Sopranos, but it was out.) A real masterpiece!

November 6, 2008

W.C. Fields: "I've never struck a girl--not even my own dear mother!"--The Golf Specialist

Fields: "Have you ever had this tooth pulled out before?...  It wont hurt--much"--The Dentist

Fields: "I've never hurt a man, beast or child, except when I had to"--The Barber Shop

"I'll see you in my dreams."

"Not if I see you first!"

--ibid.

Dreamed of visiting the campus of my alma mater Mt. Allison University at the start of a school year; Marie Osmond being among the new students; a hockey player incurring a penalty for hooking.

Saw a DVD of half a dozen W.C. Fields shorts.  When they made Fields, they broke the mold!

Dinner was Chinese food.  My fortune cookie said "Someone is watching out for you."

Saw the DVD of the first act of a sparkling Glyndebourne production of Rossini's opera La Cenerentola.

Baked whole wheat bread overnight.

Finally printed out the transcript of my interview with Ljilliana the psychologist. (I'm not looking forward to reading it.)

November 5, 2008

Dreamed of meeting an English lady boss for sex; a non-existent Lewis Carroll poem; getting into a quarrel over a breakfast food Moira had prepared; being in a school group visiting a stable.

It's hard to believe that John McCain, with nothing going for him, still managed to get 46% of the popular vote against Obama! (I guess race still matters.)

At today's singing lesson, it turned out that I'd learned the "Il Balen de Suo Soriso" cadenza wrong. (I couldn't read Giuseppe's notes!)

My computer's internet connection is working again!

Dinner was salmon.

Moira recorded the accompaniment for "Il Ravviso" and "Il Balen."

Went to the Non-Fiction Book Club Meetup where we discussed Freakonomics.  I probably won't be going again for a while.

November 4, 2008

Last night I wrote out all my Carmen chorus lines. (That minor harmony in "Compagnon, Ecoute" is tricky.)

Went shopping.

Dinner was lasagna.

At opera rehearsal we did Rossini's Cenerentola for the first time.  That drinking song is difficult!

November 2, 2008

Dreamed of introducing Moira to Barbara T. at the Toronto City Opera (and truthfully saying about Barbara, "She gets the work done"); a sequence of actual opening credits from Charlie Chaplin movies, including the neon City Lights and Modern Times with a rectangular clock in the background.

Saw Adam's ballet Giselle at the Empress Walk.  Yesterday was sold out, but today there was only a small audience.

Moira made dinner, which was vegan chili.  I should have listened to her warning not to eat too much, and it was heavy.

November 1, 2008

Dreamed of flying through the sky in a house that was escaping from the evil spirits that had possessed it; a superhero whose alter ego was an old-fashioned small-town dork.

Went to see the ballet cinemacast Giselle at the Empress Walk, but it was sold out. (The subway was in chaos because someone had fallend on the track!)

Father has fixed a wire to reconnect my computer with the internet, but he had the wrong connection. (The wireless connection is still on the blink.)

Dinner was McDonald's.

Went to the Karaoke Meetup at the Fox & Fiddle, for the first time in a while.  Some people had Halloween costumes.  One girl sang Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools," which I'd never heard before. (Great song!) I sang "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "Sway."  

October 31, 2008

Dreamed of being on vacation in Morocco and returning home by walking south to the Ivory Coast to board a ship there; being concerned that I'd forgotten to phone my family to tell them when I'd be home.

We went to Zeller's and I bought a new pair of jeans.

Dinner was sausage and mashed potatoes.

Saw the DVD of the French documentary The Strange Case of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, about the famous pulp horror story writer (who reminds me a bit of myself). On the arty side.

Saw the DVD of the first episodes of the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.  It's as funny as ever!

My computer's wireless internet connection has been on the blink all day!

Unusually warm weather.

October 30, 2008

"Igor, we've created a monster!"

"When did it all of a sudden become 'we'?"

--Super Chicken

"The news spread like peanut butter"--ibid.

"Little Otto there [his ventriloquist's dummy] is the only human thing about you"--The Great Gabbo

Dreamed of firing a gun through a window; attending a weekend beach getaway whose other guests included the late Congo dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.

Went shopping.

Went to Remenyi's, but the "Vaghe Luna" score still hasn't arrived!

Baked white bread.

Dinner was spaghetti.

Saw the DVD of The Great Gabbo, an odd early talkie with Erich von Stroheim playing a difficult ventriloquist (he didn't direct), and some semi-skilled musical numbers.

October 29, 2008

"All we ever do is fight!"

"That reminds me, I need to phone Emily."

--The Bob Newhart Show

Dreamed of some old non-existent films of Louis Armstrong.

At today's singing lesson we worked on "Il Balen de Suo Sorriso" for the fits time.  I'm still standing. (I cracked Giuseppe up with a dirty joke about four nuns about to enter heaven...)

Dinner was salmon.

Saw the DVD of Erich von Stroheim's silent melodrama Blind Husbands.  There's a great nightmare scene.

I added a quote I remember from over 30 years ago to the webpage for Cool McCool (a 1960 TV cartoon) on the Internet Movie Database!

Prison Warden: "You'll get ten years for escaping, Jack in the Box!"

Warden's Wife: "And twenty years for stealing my lunch!"

October 28, 2008

District Commissioner: "Now all we have to do is--" (caught in noose, choking noises)

George of the Jungle: "That not easy thing to do!"

Father and I finally moved the old washing machine up the cellar door and out in front of the house for picking up. Definitely a two-man job!

Finished transposing "Il Balen de Suo Sorriso." Alas, it looks a bit of a mess.

Dinner was scalloped potatoes and ham.

At the opera rehearsal we did the bullfight climax in Carmen. (This time the men were together.) Next week we start La Cenerentola!

Wrote about the opera at my mrcranky.com blog. (The headline was "Toreador-ah, don't spit on the floor.")

Now that we've finished watching the Carmen DVD, I lent it to David Roche at the opera. (I also copied some pages from The Good Opera Guide on Carmen and La Cenerentola for him.)

October 27, 2008

Dreamed of a non-existent airplane disaster on the Japan-Alaska route where everyone's air supply was cut off; going back in time to July 1970 and seeing a newspaper with the disaster on the front page; my mouth being full of pegs.

With today's singing practice I tried singing more softly than usual.  I think there was some improvement.

Dinner was steak.

At choir practice we started on the Christmas program.  We didn't do any new songs tonight, just ones we started on last year.  The tenors were even weaker than usual because all their best singers were missing.

Started a new DVD of George of the Jungle cartoons!

I had a headache in the afternoon, but it went away in the evening.

October 26, 2008

Howard (hearing the phone ring): "I'm not here!"

Bob: "No kidding..."

--The Bob Newhart Show

Performed in the Coro Verdi concert in the afternoon.

The parents attended the concert, but Moira saw the Don Giovanni broadcast instead. (She couldn't see it yesterday because she was at a talk with some Irish writers.) She says the lead sang the serenade more quietly than me.

Dinner was fish and chips.

Indian summer weather.  There was even a clap of thunder in the evening!

October 25, 2008

That stir-fry I ate last night really disagreed with me! (It must have been the tofu?) In the morning I had the runs again and again.  I was going to see a Royal Opera cinemacast of Don Giovanni at the Empress Walk, but I wasn't up to going.

Started transposing my Verdi aria from B flat to F.

Dinner was McDonald's.

Started looking at the DVD of the 1988 Met production of Carmen with Agnes Baltsa and Placido Domingo.  We just saw the first act, but there's so much great music in just that part!

The two episodes of The Bob Newhart Show we saw tonight ("The Longest Goodbye" and "Here's Looking at You, Kid") were ones I remember seeing 30 years ago!