High spots
Had a couple of Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days there, but they were salted with a few excellent things... so, not entirely awful.
My mother and I had a girls' night out and went to see the Royal Ballet performing "Swan Lake." It was a gorgeous production -- the sets, costumes and music were all lovely, and the leads were very impressive. The audience was insane over Marianela Nunez (Odette/Odile) from the very beginning. I was starting to get a little embarrassed about all the early hooting and hollering -- I mean, don't canonize her until she actually survives the fouettés, people! She did, however, pull off a flawless textbook sequence of 32 (I looked at a review online in which a far better-trained eye than mine claims she did one as a triple rotation), so then all the wild adulation was slightly more reasonable. :)
This was the only rendition I've ever seen where it seemed completely believable that Sigfried (Rupert Pennefather) had in fact fallen madly in love with Odette and couldn't bear to be physically separated from her for more than a moment, and that Odette was utterly heartbroken but also profoundly forgiving after Sigfried's error with Odile. Made the whole thing very romantic, and extra tragic at the end! I dearly wish there was video; I could happily watch that particular performance over and over... without being sorry to miss all the mosquito bites from the outdoor center, either. Anyway, if you have a chance to catch any of the Royal Ballet's appearances on this tour (or at home if you're so lucky!), do go for it.
In other, slightly less highbrow media news: The L.C. and I watched "Flushed Away" and both thought it was a very funny summer evening's distraction. Jean Reno as Le Frog got all the best lines, of course! Then again, I'm convinced Reno is always the best part of anything he's in, so YMMV.
Also, I came home last night and found an unexpected present waiting on the doorstep. There's a merchant operation with whom I do moderately regular business; they recently mailed their annual Pennsic invitation and I wrote back to wish them a successful War and send my regrets that the L.C. and I wouldn't be able to visit due to the Sprout's impending arrival... and they sent a little linen tunic! Her very first piece of garb! I'm beside myself with glee and gratitude -- they *really* didn't need to do that, and it was awfully nice of them. She may not grow into the tunic for a bit yet, but I'm having a lot of fun periodically unfolding and admiring it. :)
My mother and I had a girls' night out and went to see the Royal Ballet performing "Swan Lake." It was a gorgeous production -- the sets, costumes and music were all lovely, and the leads were very impressive. The audience was insane over Marianela Nunez (Odette/Odile) from the very beginning. I was starting to get a little embarrassed about all the early hooting and hollering -- I mean, don't canonize her until she actually survives the fouettés, people! She did, however, pull off a flawless textbook sequence of 32 (I looked at a review online in which a far better-trained eye than mine claims she did one as a triple rotation), so then all the wild adulation was slightly more reasonable. :)
This was the only rendition I've ever seen where it seemed completely believable that Sigfried (Rupert Pennefather) had in fact fallen madly in love with Odette and couldn't bear to be physically separated from her for more than a moment, and that Odette was utterly heartbroken but also profoundly forgiving after Sigfried's error with Odile. Made the whole thing very romantic, and extra tragic at the end! I dearly wish there was video; I could happily watch that particular performance over and over... without being sorry to miss all the mosquito bites from the outdoor center, either. Anyway, if you have a chance to catch any of the Royal Ballet's appearances on this tour (or at home if you're so lucky!), do go for it.
In other, slightly less highbrow media news: The L.C. and I watched "Flushed Away" and both thought it was a very funny summer evening's distraction. Jean Reno as Le Frog got all the best lines, of course! Then again, I'm convinced Reno is always the best part of anything he's in, so YMMV.
Also, I came home last night and found an unexpected present waiting on the doorstep. There's a merchant operation with whom I do moderately regular business; they recently mailed their annual Pennsic invitation and I wrote back to wish them a successful War and send my regrets that the L.C. and I wouldn't be able to visit due to the Sprout's impending arrival... and they sent a little linen tunic! Her very first piece of garb! I'm beside myself with glee and gratitude -- they *really* didn't need to do that, and it was awfully nice of them. She may not grow into the tunic for a bit yet, but I'm having a lot of fun periodically unfolding and admiring it. :)