*Dreamed last night that my morris team decided to forego dancing and instead put on Monty Python skits, but in the same kind of presentation: i.e., "in kit" (an amalgam of several different skit costumes) and with processionals on and off. Not sure about use of pointed sticks.
*Book completed: "Football Hooligans: Knowing the Score," by Gary Armstrong -- there's actually some good stories in this analysis of Sheffield United fanatics, if you can get past the painful, and unintentionally funny academicese (which conjures up an image of one of Michael Palin's annoying-nerd characters trying to talk to United supporters about "homoerotic rituals of idealized masculinity"). Armstrong raises some good points about a traditional rite-of-passage complicated by socioeconomic dislocation and winnowing of identity among Sheffield working class men. Other, more tangent subject areas that would be interesting to read about: the "Northern soul" and "Casual" style phenomena.
Dec. 21
Recent musical acquisitions:
*"'D' Flute Album," by Kevin Crawford -- relatively simple, straightforward arrangements showcase Crawford's obviously talented flute-playing.
*"Unabridged," by SixMileBridge -- pleasant enough renditions of Christy Moore-Frances Black-Furey Brothers pub material ("Black is the Colour," "On the Road to Glory," "Arthur McBride," etc.) with occasionally tantalizing glimpses of talent and enterprise, such as the bagpipe set on the second track. Overall, though, a group I think I'd probably enjoy more in person than on the stereo.
Dec. 17-20
Surprisingly relaxing weekend, considering it's the Last Before Christmas; trees and trimmings up with nary a fuss and strain. Not an entirely stress-free period, though, because of frustrating (non)results with our CD-R drive on Saturday. Chaos and hilarity ensues on Sunday as OD and LW attempt to construct a model of a plant cell, using a balloon filled with hair conditioner as one of the internal structures. After a languid Monday morning, LW and I arrive for a meeting at OD's school -- and within minutes, are back out the door on a fire drill.
Viewings:
*"A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries" -- loved LeeLee Sobieski, but the movie, even at two-hours-plus, feels as if it's missing at least half an hour more of important material. Curiously detached.
*"The Daytrippers" -- a literal, and metaphorical trip to nowhere (i.e., the inconclusive conclusion), but it's fun getting there. Clearly, no one in New York leads what might be considered normal lives, because they're too busy harboring fugitive parents or divvying up the family pharamaceutical legacy. Liev Schrieber's Carl is a wonderfully pathetic creation who manages to make you feel at least a little sorry for him at the end.
Dec. 14
Recent musical acquisitions:
*"Sleepless," by Kate Rusby -- Took two tries before I could listen without getting all Klemt beim hartz. Rusby has about the most heartbreakingly beautiful voice -- especially her restrained use of tremolo -- and repertoire to match in folkdom. Her own compositions blend seamlessly with the traditional material, from "Sho Heen" and "The Sweet Bride" to "Cowsong." Her setting of "The Wild Goose" (and with Dave Burland's backing vocals) is simply spot on. Kate's on my "must-see" list.
*"Blackbirds and Thrushes," by Niamh Parsons -- can't fault the performances, notably on the title cut, "Alexander" and "The Flower of Magherally O," but would've liked some more variation in tone of material. She can do the quick, lively stuff as well as the laments and love songs.
Dec. 11-12
*Spent most of Saturday in solo transit, the last stop a visit to a good old-fashioned 5 & 10, full of wonderful, cheap (although not as cheap as they used to be) plastic toys and gew-gaws -- even candy cigarettes.
*Public and media outpouring of grief for the six firefighters killed in horrific Worcester fire continues, prompting some (including Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara) to muse aloud whether this empathy for fire departments will be recalled during municipal budget talks or labor disputes. Other issue raised concerns the homeless -- several itinerants were rescued, two of whom are alleged to have unwittingly caused the blaze -- and how the "compassion fatigue" seems to have metamorphosized into a more overt backlash.
*OD surprisingly, and pleasantly blas� about her demanding baby-sitting job Saturday night, in which her five-year-old charge apparently decided to test her mettle. Could be we have a future pre-school teacher on our hands (claims of wanting to attend beauty school notwithstanding).
*Viewing: "Three Colors: White" -- some timeless themes on hand here (corruption, obsession, vengeance, to name a few), meld very well with the post-Communist Poland setting. The final irony -- profiting and losing not only one's soul but very identity -- is superb.
Dec. 10
*In praise of commuting buddies: For the last four or five years, I've been acquaintances with a father of one I see on the bus maybe once or twice a week (and rarely in another setting). We have these intensive five-minute conversations on everything from families to religion to vacation spots, and when I reach my stop I feel that much better about starting the day.
*Poignancy in the midst of comedy: Watching "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," OD's schoolchum Ian asked about the possibility of them doing a sequel. When LW and I mentioned that Graham Chapman had died 10 years ago, the disappointment on his face was palpable.
Dec. 8
Awash in some terrific music this week, thanks to the
Minuteman Library Network and BC's own Seamus Connolly.
Also found a couple of books (one of them from 1848) of Irish
ballad poetry, to spur some additions to the repertoire, I hope.
Dec. 4-5
Quite the music-centered weekend: LW and I spend part of Saturday and Sunday on the hunt for a new keyboard, and listening to Kate Rusby's new album (to which I will return in a later entry) literally moves me to tears, and thence to take guitar in hand for an encounter with my own muse.
Dec. 3
*Viewing: "Broken English" -- Another take on the multicultural-assimilation issue, focusing this time on Croatian refugees resettled in New Zealand. There's a cruel, obvious irony to the patriarch's intolerance of the "others" (Maori, Tongan, emigrant Chinese) that gives the film its center, as well as its doomed-love thread. Highlight: the barbecue scene juxtaposing the Croatian and Tongan music.
*Don't usually relate my dreams, but this one was quite affecting, one of my "cinematic" ones where I am less a participant than observer: Young girl in Irish border village is befriended by older woman, who introduces her to joys of radio and piano music (collage shots follow); years later, following her mentor's parting words, girl-cum-woman returns at night to her village, passes a phone booth, picks up the receiver, and hears her mentor greet her from Paris, ready to play for her again.
Dec. 2
How to feel humbled, in very different ways: *Attend a Mass to commemorate El Salvadoran martyrs
*Weather an early-morning pre-teen tantrum.
=Sigh=.
Nov. 25-28
*Thanksgiving break passes very pleasantly indeed, with a leisurely mid-afternoon dinner (aided significantly by suddenly domestic-minded older daughter) and a sound sleep, followed by a Friday shopping trip for computer accessories. Saturday we roll up our sleeves and overhaul the kids' room, situating the bunk bed for better space management and setting up the desk area and "old" ('95) 486 -- as a result, they barely came out of their room on Sunday. Wife and I spent good part of Sunday going through old family videos, marvelling at how far our young ladies have come (and how much better shape the two of us were several years ago�)
*Viewing: "Elizabeth" -- helps to have a grounding in English history so as to follow the various intrigues and schemes, but the trick is to stay focused on Cate Blanchett's face, and how it changes with her evolution from blithe, free-spirited girl to politically, and sexually, savvy woman. Geoffrey Rush's Walsingham is unnverving an ally as they come.
Nov. 23
Recent musical acquisitions:
*"Every Little Thing," by Sharon Shannon -- the accordion is her bread-n-butter, but she's no slouch with the bow, as a couple of the fiddle medlies (notably the one featuring "Lexy McAskill") indicate. The "Mouth of Tobique" set should be her signature piece, if it isn't already.
*"Do Me Justice," by Len Graham -- in this day of synth-laden, full rhythm section interpretations, it's refreshing -- almost humbling -- to hear the tradition done so simply yet powerfully. Highlights: "Tumbling Through the Hay" and "Wheels of the World."
*"Coolfin," by Donal Lunny -- easy to take DL for granted, but his talents for arrangement and production are in full view here. The "Glentown" and polka medlies are just damn rousing good fun, and the Balkan tour with Marta Sebestyen is gorgeous.
Nov. 20-21
*Dazzlingly mild weather Saturday prompts some vigorous, badly-needed yardwork, while listening to Brian O'Donovan's "Celtic Sojourn" show, which featured very imaginative reworking of "Bald-headed End of the Broom" from new Waterson: Carthy album. Toil is later rewarded with a satisfying BC win over Notre Dame. Sunday, I pay my respects to the new BC Irish Music Center by indulging in a brief, quite enjoyable session.
*Viewing: "Hilary and Jackie" -- very moving, well-conceived depiction of sisterly ties, and how they often metamorphosize into bonds in every interpretation of the word. Emily Watson is heart-breakingly waifish and (if a Typical Male observation is permitted), looks damn good in '60s skirts. Could've done without the accent she inexplicably assumes after meeting her husband-to-be.
Nov. 18
Who'd have thought it. Thalidomide, that bete noire of '60s pre-natal care has been rehabilitated as a treatment for bone marrow cancer.
Nov. 17
One way to start the day: Very first tooth-crowning, to head off what could eventually have been my first root-canal.
Better -- far better -- way to end the day: Sitting in on ceilidh hosted by the inimitable Seamus Connolly (who cajoled me into singing "The Jolly Soldier"), and watching BC's Fulbright Dance Scholars go through their awe-inspiring paces.
Nov. 15
Our older young lady creeps closer to chronological teen-dom, and celebrates with the installation of her own phone line -- which she is helping pay for, it must be noted -- and a hearty meal of chicken, asparagus and potatoes.
Nov. 13-14
With deep breath, and thanks to the Browns for use of the van, we plunge into the computer market again (Compaq Presario 5868). Fast, fun and intimidating, of course. Highlight: "burning" my first CD on the rewriteable drive, after about two hours and several attempts.
Nov. 12
Northern Irish negotiations seem at impasse again, as Unionist leadership fails by one vote to accept latest Sinn Fein proposal. Potentially tragic ramifications all around, of course, and the breakdown also caused Gerry Adams to cancel his planned appearance here next week.
Nov. 9-11
Birthday for YD is a windfall for Pokemon, with visits to Murder King for her celebratory dinner and, two days later, to the cinematic version (which, thankfully, did not necessitate parental accompaniment). Unfortunately, the latter venture resulted in our 12-year-old car breaking down.
Nov. 5-7
In which I try to segue between some seemingly disparate popular-cultural indulgences. Began with a family viewing of "Harvey," which won over our youthful skeptics and reacquainted the elder members of our household with its great dialogues ("Wouldn't that get kind of monotonous? Akron, cold beer and 'Poor, poor thing'?"). A far less successful adaptation -- small to big screen, rather than stage to screen -- is the flabbergastingly awful "Lost In Space," with embarrassed, and embarrassing performances, and considerably muddled script. Perhaps it would've worked marginally better as a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta like "Iolanthe," which YD and I attended and enjoyed thanks to the presence of our neighbors, the Browns, two of whom were featured as part of the Peers. Not all, er, fairy stories succeed, though, as evidenced by part one of NBC's "Leprechauns," which is a strong indication that Roger Daltrey really ought to go back to playing Himself as far as films go.
Nov. 3
How remiss of me not to mention that "Daze & Quirks" passed its third anniversary a couple of weeks ago. Those wishing to mount archeological expeditions will find their efforts limited, however, since the archives were mysteriously wiped out back in early '97.
Nov. 1
Ripe for some music, I hied myself out to the Greenbriar session. Quite by accident � if I'd parked elsewhere on the street, I'd have missed it completely � I passed a smaller, far more intimate crack in Pufferbellies and so took up residence there. Had a nifty instrument combo going for a short while: whistle, sax, cittern, guitar, concertina, fiddle to go with my mando, guitar and bodhran. I was then left with a nice young couple (guitar and flute-whistle-sax), and we were able to do some fun stuff until a few of the more enthusiastic patrons took us into the pop-sentimental genre. A good night out, though.
Oct. 30-31
Another sun-drenched, mild weekend, making me wish all the more that I had the bike in good working order. We did a turn of dog-sitting, shared a viewing of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" with OD (considerable much of which was over her head, we trust), and hosted pre- and apres trick-or-treating gatherings for OD � who led the night's expedition like an army drill sargeant putting his charges through a two-mile double-time march -- and her chums. Predictably, we are left awash in candy.
Oct. 29
*A friend of OD's (from a recently immigrated family whose first language is not English) failed to turn up at home after school, and was incommunicado for several hours until she was discovered to have been visiting a relative. This is not even a family we know particularly well, yet the adrenaline was pumping at full capacity as we brainstormed as to all possible scenarios, and the relief we felt when all turned out well was palpable. Not an experience we care to repeat with anyone's child, let alone ours.
*Recent musical acquisition: "Word of Mouth," by The House Band � Even as a trio, these guys have a remarkably full sound, and a blend of instruments that just seems to work very well. Ged Foley's vocals, meanwhile, complement perfectly the darkly cynical "Walls of Troy" and do justice to "The Bonny Light Horseman." One quibble: As in their version of "Slip Jigs and Reels," the group alters the rhythm and pace of "From A Distance," and the result is a rather plodding arrangement.
Oct. 28
Book completed: "Time After Time," by Allen Appel � not to be confused with the Malcolm McDowell film of the same name. An enjoyable Russian Revolution time-travel yarn (and a good companion to "Archangel" � see Aug. 24 entry), although it gives curiously short shrift to some significant plot turns.
Oct. 27
In another transparent bid for attention, I've created a page listing my musical repertoire.
Oct. 25
Book noted, but not completed: "The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ethnic Conflict and International Intervention," by Steven Burg and Paul Shoup � a tad too ponderous and detailed for my taste (and time constraints), but the light it sheds on the longstanding complexities of Yugoslavia and the Balkans is substantial, and not a little troubling. If nothing else, Burg and Shoup help to document how unsophisticated much of the Western media reporting has been, and most of all, what a dilemma the West faces in regards to promoting self-determination or maintaining a multicultural society.
Oct. 24
Please, do not offer us any apples for at least the next several weeks. As a result of a jaunt to an orchard in Stow, we are awash in Cortlands, Empires and Delici.
Oct. 22
*Have had quite some fun these past few days exploring NetRadio and other similar offerings � when available, that is, which appears to be a dodgy proposition. On the one hand, these Internet jukebox-type sites raise provocative questions: Would I rather listen to a radio station, with continual interruptions for chat, commercials or pledge breaks, or nearly continuous music on the "folk," "Celtic" or "ska" channels? But it's hard to believe that, sooner or later, these site won't decide to go fee-based or limit access in some way, shape or form.
*I'm covering a conference on issues regarding student retention, and the speaker � commenting on the dubious reliability of test scores � invokes none other than "Cosmo, the Fairly Accurate Knife-Thrower," by Les Barker.
