A variety of things . . .
I went to a pre-retirement workshop earlier this week, with a speaker from our pension system as well as someone from Social Security. Much of what they told us, I knew, but I did learn some things. I'm back and forth in my head about whether or not to start taking SS now, or wait until full retirement age. I'm leaning towards the latter, as, fortunately, I don't need to take it now.
I was asked yesterday by a colleague, "Where do you want to have your retirement party, if you do want one?" IF????? You better believe I do! Not so much because I want to be fêted, but it's an opportunity to make sure I'm able to say a fond farewell to everyone (or at least a lot of the people) with whom I've worked.
Long sentencing hearing yesterday on that murder case I did back in December. The result was not as good as I'd hoped for, but better than I expected.
I am being very good this weekend. I am not going to: a book sale, my favorite thrift store's 50% off sale, a fashion sale (with shoes, yet). I do not need more books or clothes. That doesn't ordinarily stop me, but it's getting ridiculous, and I'm trying to avoid temptation. Indeed, I'm starting to make a pile of books to ship off to D.C. for the BC Convention. I didn't even stop in at my local Borders' today, even though it's their last weekend and things are 75% off. I've been in too many times already, and was starting to eye the bookcases!
Mildred Pierce is coming to HBO as a mini-series, and I went to a sneak preview at the Siskel Film Center. There was a reception before the showing, with HBO springing for a lot of good food and an open bar. (Seriously, when was the last time you went to a reception where the cater-waiters were passing out lamb chops?!) We were shown the first two episodes, and some scenes from the rest, and it's good. Everybody applauded when Mildred finally smacked Vida. It's not a remake of the Joan Crawford film, but is truer to Cain's novel. In a bit of brilliance, they've used "Der Hölle Rache" from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte in the music. Unfortunately, I don't get HBO, so I'll miss the rest of it.
This is an early music weekend for me. My Lyric Opera season ended at last night's opening performance of Handel's Hercules, directed by Peter Sellars in a very interesting production which portrayed Hercules as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and the impact of that on his relationships, particularly with Dejanira. It sounds a bit odd, but it worked. (Story from WBEZ.) Alice Coote as Dejanira and Lucy Crowe as Iole stole the show.
Tonight, I'm going to Rockefeller Chapel to hear the Newberry Consort singing the Cantigas de Santa Maria and back there tomorrow for Bella Voce and the Callypigian Players (yes, that's really their name) doing Handel, Vivaldi, Corelli, etc.
I was asked yesterday by a colleague, "Where do you want to have your retirement party, if you do want one?" IF????? You better believe I do! Not so much because I want to be fêted, but it's an opportunity to make sure I'm able to say a fond farewell to everyone (or at least a lot of the people) with whom I've worked.
Long sentencing hearing yesterday on that murder case I did back in December. The result was not as good as I'd hoped for, but better than I expected.
I am being very good this weekend. I am not going to: a book sale, my favorite thrift store's 50% off sale, a fashion sale (with shoes, yet). I do not need more books or clothes. That doesn't ordinarily stop me, but it's getting ridiculous, and I'm trying to avoid temptation. Indeed, I'm starting to make a pile of books to ship off to D.C. for the BC Convention. I didn't even stop in at my local Borders' today, even though it's their last weekend and things are 75% off. I've been in too many times already, and was starting to eye the bookcases!
Mildred Pierce is coming to HBO as a mini-series, and I went to a sneak preview at the Siskel Film Center. There was a reception before the showing, with HBO springing for a lot of good food and an open bar. (Seriously, when was the last time you went to a reception where the cater-waiters were passing out lamb chops?!) We were shown the first two episodes, and some scenes from the rest, and it's good. Everybody applauded when Mildred finally smacked Vida. It's not a remake of the Joan Crawford film, but is truer to Cain's novel. In a bit of brilliance, they've used "Der Hölle Rache" from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte in the music. Unfortunately, I don't get HBO, so I'll miss the rest of it.
This is an early music weekend for me. My Lyric Opera season ended at last night's opening performance of Handel's Hercules, directed by Peter Sellars in a very interesting production which portrayed Hercules as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and the impact of that on his relationships, particularly with Dejanira. It sounds a bit odd, but it worked. (Story from WBEZ.) Alice Coote as Dejanira and Lucy Crowe as Iole stole the show.
Tonight, I'm going to Rockefeller Chapel to hear the Newberry Consort singing the Cantigas de Santa Maria and back there tomorrow for Bella Voce and the Callypigian Players (yes, that's really their name) doing Handel, Vivaldi, Corelli, etc.