Good thing I stocked up on banker's boxes.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Surreal (das Haus verlassen, #2)
Surreal: the feeling you get after realizing that 80% of everything you own fits into a 5'x10' storage locker...with room to spare.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Trayvon Martin is still dead
Trayvon Martin is still dead. That's about the only thing I'm sure about relative to the George Zimmerman trial. There is one other thing that seems to be certain in all of this media mess: George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin. It all degrades from there, and what you believe may in fact depend on what you choose to hear.
If you watch the NBC affiliated news organizations, you're almost left with the following mental headline:
Now if you watch Fox News or read the Drudge Report you are almost left with the following mental headline:
As for me, I would feel far too soiled to spend any length of time watching or reading any of the coverage. As it stands I'm on the break of tossing my cookies just typing this posting.
All I know for certain is the following:
Speaking of the case and contrary to what was presented in court, we will never know what was really in George Zimmerman's head that fateful day. Even if he told us...or if he as told us...I don't know that I'd believe him. Wanting to avoid jail time seems to be something of a mitigating factor in anything any defendant would say about any case such as this.
Trayvon Martin, on the other hand, doesn't get a chance to explain his side of the story. I refer to the whole "being dead" thing.
The bottom line for me is this: just generally being "threatening", if you care to believe the defense line of reasoning, shouldn't be a death sentence for anyone. This includes Trayvon Martin. Not even in Texas (let alone Florida). Now I don't believe that the death of this 17 year old was a planned, pre-meditated act; I do believe that Trayvon Martin is dead though, and in the end George Zimmerman has to pay some price for what he did. What should be penalty be? That's above my pay grade to decide.
If you watch the NBC affiliated news organizations, you're almost left with the following mental headline:
"Choir Boy and future nuclear scientist Trayvon Martin was assassinated by racist vigilante thug George Zimmerman just for being black."
Now if you watch Fox News or read the Drudge Report you are almost left with the following mental headline:
"Pot-crazed Trayvon Martin attacks innocent community volunteer George Zimmerman; Zimmerman courageously defends himself and barely escapes with his life."
As for me, I would feel far too soiled to spend any length of time watching or reading any of the coverage. As it stands I'm on the break of tossing my cookies just typing this posting.
All I know for certain is the following:
- Trayvon Martin was 17 years old.
- Trayvon Martin is dead.
- George Zimmerman did in fact kill him.
Speaking of the case and contrary to what was presented in court, we will never know what was really in George Zimmerman's head that fateful day. Even if he told us...or if he as told us...I don't know that I'd believe him. Wanting to avoid jail time seems to be something of a mitigating factor in anything any defendant would say about any case such as this.
Trayvon Martin, on the other hand, doesn't get a chance to explain his side of the story. I refer to the whole "being dead" thing.
The bottom line for me is this: just generally being "threatening", if you care to believe the defense line of reasoning, shouldn't be a death sentence for anyone. This includes Trayvon Martin. Not even in Texas (let alone Florida). Now I don't believe that the death of this 17 year old was a planned, pre-meditated act; I do believe that Trayvon Martin is dead though, and in the end George Zimmerman has to pay some price for what he did. What should be penalty be? That's above my pay grade to decide.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Empty Walls
Most of my walls are now empty. It's actually disconcerting, in an odd sort of way. Gone is the Italian print of a Space:1999 Eagle. Gone is the Back to the Future movie poster. Gone are the two framed John Lennon posters. Ditto the Rat Pack (that my daughters gave me for Christmas, many years ago). Gone is the decorative steel American flag. In fact it is all gone, except for two things:
I have kept three framed pictures: one of Ms Rivers and I, and two of my daughters. All the rest are boxed and awaiting a resting place in the above referenced 5x10 storage area.
Also gone? An audio cabinet. A cabinet for holding CDs & DVDs (all of which are boxed now). A bookshelf. Most of what's left consists of boxes are that are going into storage or elements that will help make up my minimalist existence for the next few months. I am allowing myself to keep the bare essentials: Two TVs, desk, BlueRay player, stereo system, and a filing cabinet. Some of what's here will be sold, including some book shelves, a table and chairs and various other things. The underlying idea behind all of this is to make the place as appealing as possible to a potential buyer. Let's hope it works.
I never quite knew how my life here on Elba would end. I'd like to say that it "seems like only yesterday when I moved in", but that would be a lie because October 2010 was almost a lifetime ago. At least on the angst scale. I moved in here a wreck, all in two days I'll add. I'm moving out at some date to be determined that only God knows, a thoroughly different person. Hopefully a better person. Not quite Six Million Dollar man better, but better never the less. Oh, and I also have a cat. He seems to be handling all the moving and such rather well (he is now snoozing against my keyboard as I type this).
I do have more stuff than I realized. And I'm disposing of more than I realized. Some has been donated. Some has been or will be thrown out. Some will be sold. I really don't need the money from any stuff sold, so the proceeds of anything that involves substantial cash, say over and above a good dinner at the Olive Garden, will be given to my brother Joe.
By the way, the title of this post, "Empty Walls"...in addition to being a factually correct description...is also a sort of hat tip to John Lennon's terrific album Walls and Bridges.
In addition to the reference to "walls", the Lennon album was recorded during his infamous lost weekend. You can read more about it HERE. I wouldn't describe my time here as being a lost weekend, but it has been a transition from my past to my future. The analogy works for me. Here's what also works from me, also from the Walls and Bridges album...
- An artistic floral print that Ms Rivers got me while at the Philadelphia Flower Show in March, 2011.
- A framed map of Acadia National Park (also a gift from Ms Rivers).
I have kept three framed pictures: one of Ms Rivers and I, and two of my daughters. All the rest are boxed and awaiting a resting place in the above referenced 5x10 storage area.
Also gone? An audio cabinet. A cabinet for holding CDs & DVDs (all of which are boxed now). A bookshelf. Most of what's left consists of boxes are that are going into storage or elements that will help make up my minimalist existence for the next few months. I am allowing myself to keep the bare essentials: Two TVs, desk, BlueRay player, stereo system, and a filing cabinet. Some of what's here will be sold, including some book shelves, a table and chairs and various other things. The underlying idea behind all of this is to make the place as appealing as possible to a potential buyer. Let's hope it works.
I never quite knew how my life here on Elba would end. I'd like to say that it "seems like only yesterday when I moved in", but that would be a lie because October 2010 was almost a lifetime ago. At least on the angst scale. I moved in here a wreck, all in two days I'll add. I'm moving out at some date to be determined that only God knows, a thoroughly different person. Hopefully a better person. Not quite Six Million Dollar man better, but better never the less. Oh, and I also have a cat. He seems to be handling all the moving and such rather well (he is now snoozing against my keyboard as I type this).
I do have more stuff than I realized. And I'm disposing of more than I realized. Some has been donated. Some has been or will be thrown out. Some will be sold. I really don't need the money from any stuff sold, so the proceeds of anything that involves substantial cash, say over and above a good dinner at the Olive Garden, will be given to my brother Joe.
By the way, the title of this post, "Empty Walls"...in addition to being a factually correct description...is also a sort of hat tip to John Lennon's terrific album Walls and Bridges.
In addition to the reference to "walls", the Lennon album was recorded during his infamous lost weekend. You can read more about it HERE. I wouldn't describe my time here as being a lost weekend, but it has been a transition from my past to my future. The analogy works for me. Here's what also works from me, also from the Walls and Bridges album...
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
An interesting read.
As a follow-up to my last posting, I was searching on-line for some additional information about the Susquehanna River and stumbled upon the following article:
which was published about a year ago in the York Dispatch. If you are at all interested in the river, this is a great read.
which was published about a year ago in the York Dispatch. If you are at all interested in the river, this is a great read.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
In NEPA, how we treat our rivers says a lot about how we view ourselves
We were driving through downtown Wilkes-Boro the other day, in route to Staples to pick up some boxes for my unending process of cleaning, packing and (hopefully, eventually) moving. Heading over the Market Street Bridge and spying the Hotel Sterling, I was once again amazed at the fact that here was prime real estate sitting along what could be a scenic river and it was a occupied by a building that is basically just a petri dish for mold. Very sad.
In fact, as you drive up and down the frontage that towns have along the Susquehanna River it's not difficult to be amazed by how beautiful it could all be. Then, of course, I remind myself that not that long ago, the river was basically viewed as being some combination of toilet/industrial waste disposal facility. With this in mind, a decrepit and decaying hotel is, probably, par for the course. In fact, it's probably a decent avatar for a river is the equivalent to a 55 year old Meth-head.
Now to be fair, this isn't just a problem in "Da Valley", as Scranton is (in)famous for treating the Lackawanna River like a toilet for decades a well. Personally I think it's all part of an attitude that is still somewhat prevalent in NEPA today, where many residents simply don't really care what happens around them, just as long as "they got theirs".
Got that good job at the Da Depot? Score! Who cares if [insert name of convicted NEPA politician here] was ripping the tax payers off!
Got your uncle on the School Board and now in line for a teaching position? Excellent! Who cares if the river stinks of benzine and feces! It's "down there" anyway!
It's as if local residents had their brains permanently switched over to survival mode, and just as long there was money for a decent car, some Genny in the fridge and a mortgage payment for that former miner shanty, all was well in the world. It's the modern day equivalent of Bread and Circuses.
It doesn't have to be this way, and slowly some attitudes are changing. River events happening throughout the area (like THIS) actually mean that some people see these natural places as resources, and not just for industrial and human waste disposal either. A younger generation, maybe not quite so indoctrinated into the "turn a blind eye to what the Man is doing just as long as you get yours" philosophy of life, may yet see the rivers as a place to go to, not avoid.
I also think there are some common sense (but because of politics probably unlikely) things that governments can do in NEPA to help transform our river-scapes:
In fact, as you drive up and down the frontage that towns have along the Susquehanna River it's not difficult to be amazed by how beautiful it could all be. Then, of course, I remind myself that not that long ago, the river was basically viewed as being some combination of toilet/industrial waste disposal facility. With this in mind, a decrepit and decaying hotel is, probably, par for the course. In fact, it's probably a decent avatar for a river is the equivalent to a 55 year old Meth-head.
(Scenic river vistas, Forty Fort style)
Now to be fair, this isn't just a problem in "Da Valley", as Scranton is (in)famous for treating the Lackawanna River like a toilet for decades a well. Personally I think it's all part of an attitude that is still somewhat prevalent in NEPA today, where many residents simply don't really care what happens around them, just as long as "they got theirs".
Got that good job at the Da Depot? Score! Who cares if [insert name of convicted NEPA politician here] was ripping the tax payers off!
Got your uncle on the School Board and now in line for a teaching position? Excellent! Who cares if the river stinks of benzine and feces! It's "down there" anyway!
It's as if local residents had their brains permanently switched over to survival mode, and just as long there was money for a decent car, some Genny in the fridge and a mortgage payment for that former miner shanty, all was well in the world. It's the modern day equivalent of Bread and Circuses.
It doesn't have to be this way, and slowly some attitudes are changing. River events happening throughout the area (like THIS) actually mean that some people see these natural places as resources, and not just for industrial and human waste disposal either. A younger generation, maybe not quite so indoctrinated into the "turn a blind eye to what the Man is doing just as long as you get yours" philosophy of life, may yet see the rivers as a place to go to, not avoid.
I also think there are some common sense (but because of politics probably unlikely) things that governments can do in NEPA to help transform our river-scapes:
- Eliminate development in chronic flood zones. There are still too many boarded up places along the Susquehanna River...just drive up the Eight Street Bridge to see what I mean.
- Require local municipalities to maintain their portion of green space along river banks. See the photos above. A rotting washer sitting along a river bank screams volumes about NEPA.
- Encourage local businesses to adopt portions of the river. We do it with highways, so why not with something like a major river?
- Aggressively pursue those folks who still insist in not connecting to sewage treatment systems (come on, we all know or have heard of people who have their toilets dumping into some mind bore hole that eventually makes its way into the Susquehanna). Ditto for industrial polluters, for what few there may still be in the region.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Road Apples, #138
German Titles....It''s worth noting that, when you give a posting a title that's in German, your hits from Germany seem to increase. Whoda thought?
Three Large Garbage Bags...This was the count, as of Thursday, July 4th, of shredded paper after I cleaned out my old financial records. Thank goodness for the Vietnam-era war surplus shredder I acquired in 2011. Mind you it was hot enough to fry an egg after about bag two. Too much hoarding.
The older you get...the hotter summers seem to become. Just saying. Global Warming? Who knows. That maybe expanding Steve waistline.
In the "Yeah, we kinda knew that already department"...The Scranton Times ran a story in today's edition detailing the Scranton School District's policy (or lack thereof) for hiring "non-professional" position, such as clerical and maintenance workers. The revelation? The District is basically an employment agency for friends and relatives of board members. Nice try Scranton Times, you're about 30 years too late. Want to make a REAL impact? Then publish the names of all district employees who are relatives of current or past Directors. Now I know for an absolute fact that there are many hard-working, dedicated individuals working for the Scranton School District. I also know that there are few hacks, and that once hired, it's exceedingly difficult to get fired from the District.
Director Lesh is wrong...In the same article referenced directly above, sitting Director Robert Lesh commented about how the District's policy for hiring non-professionals is what also exists in the private sector. Nice try Sparky. Yes, I know of friends and relatives that have been hired at my employer. I also know that when those same friends and relatives don't perform, they are let go. Now how often does that happen in the Scranton School District. Hmmm, let me see...think...think...think...oh, I know: almost freak'n never!
Four degrees...was the difference in temperature between Scranton and Wyoming yesterday. In twelve miles the air temperature increased by that much. There is definitely something to this climate change stuff. Maybe, just maybe, noted climatologist Rush Limbaugh and the 3% of climate scientists that agree with him are wrong.
Climate Change Statistics in Perspective...97% of scientists in the field of studying climate agree that the Earth is getting warmer and that human activity is causing the change. Reference HERE. Now people like Rush Limbaugh rant against this consensus and almost always drag out some scientist from a corner of the world with claims that everyone else is wrong and that somehow all is okay. To help put this in perspective though, let's play a little exercise: instead of talking about climate change, let's talk about your health. Assume that you go to your doctor, and after a series of tests, he determines that you have ear-lobe cancer (which, by the way, is quite deadly). Now you are a wealth individual, so money is no object in terms of your treatment options, but you want to make absolutely sure that you do, in fact, have ear-lobe cancer. So you schedule a second opinion, and once again the diagnosis comes back that you do, in fact, have ear-lobe cancer. Undeterred, you schedule 98 more "second" opinions. When the results come back, 97 of the 100 doctors you visited state conclusively that you do, in fact, have deadly ear-lobe cancer. Oh, and by the way, of the 3 who said you don't have ear-lobe cancer, one is a doctor from the Ukraine with a shady reputation, that you heard about on a radio show hosted by a former drug addict that also sells dubious financial transactions. So what do you do? Do you act on 97% opinion, or do you believe the 3%?
Three Large Garbage Bags...This was the count, as of Thursday, July 4th, of shredded paper after I cleaned out my old financial records. Thank goodness for the Vietnam-era war surplus shredder I acquired in 2011. Mind you it was hot enough to fry an egg after about bag two. Too much hoarding.
The older you get...the hotter summers seem to become. Just saying. Global Warming? Who knows. That maybe expanding Steve waistline.
In the "Yeah, we kinda knew that already department"...The Scranton Times ran a story in today's edition detailing the Scranton School District's policy (or lack thereof) for hiring "non-professional" position, such as clerical and maintenance workers. The revelation? The District is basically an employment agency for friends and relatives of board members. Nice try Scranton Times, you're about 30 years too late. Want to make a REAL impact? Then publish the names of all district employees who are relatives of current or past Directors. Now I know for an absolute fact that there are many hard-working, dedicated individuals working for the Scranton School District. I also know that there are few hacks, and that once hired, it's exceedingly difficult to get fired from the District.
Director Lesh is wrong...In the same article referenced directly above, sitting Director Robert Lesh commented about how the District's policy for hiring non-professionals is what also exists in the private sector. Nice try Sparky. Yes, I know of friends and relatives that have been hired at my employer. I also know that when those same friends and relatives don't perform, they are let go. Now how often does that happen in the Scranton School District. Hmmm, let me see...think...think...think...oh, I know: almost freak'n never!
Four degrees...was the difference in temperature between Scranton and Wyoming yesterday. In twelve miles the air temperature increased by that much. There is definitely something to this climate change stuff. Maybe, just maybe, noted climatologist Rush Limbaugh and the 3% of climate scientists that agree with him are wrong.
Climate Change Statistics in Perspective...97% of scientists in the field of studying climate agree that the Earth is getting warmer and that human activity is causing the change. Reference HERE. Now people like Rush Limbaugh rant against this consensus and almost always drag out some scientist from a corner of the world with claims that everyone else is wrong and that somehow all is okay. To help put this in perspective though, let's play a little exercise: instead of talking about climate change, let's talk about your health. Assume that you go to your doctor, and after a series of tests, he determines that you have ear-lobe cancer (which, by the way, is quite deadly). Now you are a wealth individual, so money is no object in terms of your treatment options, but you want to make absolutely sure that you do, in fact, have ear-lobe cancer. So you schedule a second opinion, and once again the diagnosis comes back that you do, in fact, have ear-lobe cancer. Undeterred, you schedule 98 more "second" opinions. When the results come back, 97 of the 100 doctors you visited state conclusively that you do, in fact, have deadly ear-lobe cancer. Oh, and by the way, of the 3 who said you don't have ear-lobe cancer, one is a doctor from the Ukraine with a shady reputation, that you heard about on a radio show hosted by a former drug addict that also sells dubious financial transactions. So what do you do? Do you act on 97% opinion, or do you believe the 3%?
Friday, July 5, 2013
When the rubber hits the road
(thanks to my fellow BHHS grad Rosemary Rosencrans & Wizard Accounting Services for the graphic)
I'm a large consumer of what some would call "Pop Psychology". I like to read positive affirmations. I find some degree of inspiration in quotes about happiness and making positive life choices. I like reading books about becoming a better person. I find some degree of inspiration in all of it.
For the record, there is a big difference between being "inspired" and "actually doing the stuff"...better known as that space where the rubber hits the road.
I tell myself all the time that life truly is a journey and that it's not the destination that matters. Easy thought, difficult implementation. Rather ironic, given my pending circumstances. Anyway, in my defense, I have to confess that the philosophies of which I read and attempt to partake were not a part of my life during the formative years. Where you define "formative years" as being basically until about age 45 or so. A little late to the game? I suppose.
I could blame my upbringing, but in complete fairness, my mother did a damn good job given the circumstances. My father? He simply wasn't there, and while many blame absent parents, in totality I'm probably better off, given my father's many demons, that he in fact wasn't there.
I could blame a whole slew of poor choices on my own part. However we all make poor choices some times. I've also made some damn good choices too. On balance, I'd say that, in fact, I'm probably ahead of the game in that department.
Maybe a way to look at all of this is through the cold lens of a business person. I claim to be one, so that's actually fairly reasonable. By this measure I'd say I was doing okay. I earn a good living. My children are all either college educated or working in that direction. No one I know is in jail. None have Crystal Meth addictions. None have joined religious cults (unless you call "Canada" a cult).
So why do I still get so distracted by so many little things? Why on Earth do I still feel so compelled to be brought down by things that are, on balance so insignificant? Hell, the things that were so largely dwelling as worries in my head a year ago have mostly evaporated. Wow, they must have been important (sarcasm is a difficult thing to impart using the written word)! I really, truly do intellectually understand the notion that I shouldn't be dragged down by some things, yet I fail when it comes to the actual implementation.
Why?
I really, truly don't know. I wish I knew, but I don't. I suspect that the very best I can do is to continuously try...try to maintain perspective...try to learn from the lessons life offers all the time...try to maintain my composure when emotional gravity hangs over my neck like a 500 pound anchor. Note the last one. Yes, it may look as if I am always so very well composed, but looks are deceiving. I'm just as messed up as the next guy; my skill is that I'm better than that next guy at not letting it show.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy July 4th...
...and here's to hoping one and all take time to remember today that the best things in life aren't THINGS, nor are they FREE.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
das Haus verlassen #1
Well I guess I'm committed to this whole thing, not that there was any chance I wouldn't be, mind you. It's just that the whole thing is so "big".
I'm speaking about the whole notion of putting the house for sale.
As I've noted here before, my plan has never been to live long term at this current residence. I bought it years ago with my ex-wife and mother, lived here for a while and moved; my mother continued to live here until her death. I returned for stay #2 in late 2010, living on the side that my mother originally occupied. It took me forever to unpack when I moved in; I think it was well into 2011 before I stopped having to maneuver around moving boxes. Now this place is slowly but surely being turned into some kind of moving command center. And an estate command center. And home repair center. Oh, and I'm still living here.
This place has never really seemed like "home". The closest thing to a "home" I ever really had was an apartment in a housing project, truth be told, and while that place still stands, I can't say that I've been by there in a long time. The rest of the places...Duke Street in York (torn down in the late 90's), a crappy rental home in West Scranton (still standing...looks like the current residents cook Crystal Meth there), Prospect Avenue...were all just "places I lived".
Maybe in all of these places I've actually been searching for a home. Who knows. That sounds like a question that is, well, above my pay grade.
Anyway, now there is much to do. The initial meeting with the Realtor was yesterday, and we have a plan mapped out that should get the house on the market in early August. Between now and then there are a few other things to do, including some improvements on this side of the house.
The good news? Once I get a plan I'm kind of like the Terminator: I don't stop.
The bad news? I don't have firm plans for what happens when I end up being successful. I was thinking about living under my desk in my office at work (hey, we do have showers!), but I don't think that I'd be able to hide Jean-Luc. Not that the office couldn't use an official cat, by the way.
Regardless, this too will all happen as it is supposed to.
I'm speaking about the whole notion of putting the house for sale.
As I've noted here before, my plan has never been to live long term at this current residence. I bought it years ago with my ex-wife and mother, lived here for a while and moved; my mother continued to live here until her death. I returned for stay #2 in late 2010, living on the side that my mother originally occupied. It took me forever to unpack when I moved in; I think it was well into 2011 before I stopped having to maneuver around moving boxes. Now this place is slowly but surely being turned into some kind of moving command center. And an estate command center. And home repair center. Oh, and I'm still living here.
This place has never really seemed like "home". The closest thing to a "home" I ever really had was an apartment in a housing project, truth be told, and while that place still stands, I can't say that I've been by there in a long time. The rest of the places...Duke Street in York (torn down in the late 90's), a crappy rental home in West Scranton (still standing...looks like the current residents cook Crystal Meth there), Prospect Avenue...were all just "places I lived".
Maybe in all of these places I've actually been searching for a home. Who knows. That sounds like a question that is, well, above my pay grade.
Anyway, now there is much to do. The initial meeting with the Realtor was yesterday, and we have a plan mapped out that should get the house on the market in early August. Between now and then there are a few other things to do, including some improvements on this side of the house.
The good news? Once I get a plan I'm kind of like the Terminator: I don't stop.
The bad news? I don't have firm plans for what happens when I end up being successful. I was thinking about living under my desk in my office at work (hey, we do have showers!), but I don't think that I'd be able to hide Jean-Luc. Not that the office couldn't use an official cat, by the way.
Regardless, this too will all happen as it is supposed to.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Lilly White: The Prairie Home Companion Experience
I am an admitted fan of the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion", so when I was presented with tickets to the final show of the season I just jumped at the chance. The show I attended was held at Tanglewood, in Lenox, MA, which is a beautiful location in western part of the state. Complete with cashed in Hilton Honors points, Ms Rivers and I made a trek up to Tanglewood to see the show last Saturday.
If you are a fan of the show you must, at least one time, go see it performed live. It's quite an experience and it helps you appreciate, all the more, what you hear on the radio.
A few observations are in order though:
Walking to the amphitheater
Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor
End of the show, taking a bow
Tanglewood, Main Gate
If you are a fan of the show you must, at least one time, go see it performed live. It's quite an experience and it helps you appreciate, all the more, what you hear on the radio.
A few observations are in order though:
- The audience? Let's put it this way: Lilly White. Really, exceedingly Caucasian. I didn't see anyone, in the thousands in attendance, who was even remotely Hispanic, Asian or African American.
- The audience? Healthy looking. Seriously, I think I was the heaviest male in attendance...well right after Mr Keillor himself. Tons of dudes wearing L.L. Bean baseball caps, snacking on granola. Older women with their hair pulled back in sensible pony-tails, drinking water from sports bottles. The parking lot was full of mini-vans and late model Honda sedans. A few Prius spiked in for good measure.
- The audience? Older. Maybe a median age of about 52. We (Ms Rivers and I) were on the young side.
- The venue? Just beautiful. We stayed overnight in Albany, and the trip from there to Tanglewood was actually really nice. Albany wasn't too bad either...kinda hilly though.
- The show? As noted above, I was impressed. Now granted that this show isn't everyone's cup of tea, so all you fans of Fiddy Cent and Nicki Minaj will no doubt not be impressed with the music, but as the old saying goes, "different strokes for different folks".
- The show? I was particularly impressed by the "News from Lake Wobegon". He delivered it like a preacher telling a sermon: no notes, just an outline in his head that he delivered as be moved back and forth on the stage. This is a guy (Mr Keillor) who clearly LOVES what he does for a living.
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