No update on the book

I might send a message to my editor in a couple of days... or should I wait until mid-August to make it a clean three months since I heard something? Maybe I will do that.

Tooth and Bridge News

I just had my second crown of the year put in.

$$$!!!

This time it was the lower back right molar which, already crowned, cracked.

The temporary that was put on after the dentist drilled around and prepared the tooth fell off last week and the nerve, exposed, got angrier and angrier. Anyway, after a fairly painful session yesterday, when the crown was finally put on (the anaesthesia deadened my tongue and NOT the tooth--- I tensed, I knew that cold air would hurt but I was tough... except I proved not to be!!! It hurt!!), things are getting back to normal.

In other news, the Ed Hillary Teams at Bridge (AKA, The Buttercream Disaster Pairs, as I call this event to you and to Timmy at home) are finally over. My team was weak and we did not outdo ourselves, performing as expected. I have not looked at the score once and have no plans to. That said, it was fun, MOST nights (and yes there is a story there--- a tawdry story of pushy kiwi women and a man who needs to learn not to speak his mind, even if he is provoked...)

Cool Volcano Image

Anak Krakatau erupting as the stars are beginning to come out (via the very fun Eruptions Blog).

Netrebko in Lucia

I found this from the HD broadcast from the MET that we saw here earlier in the year. The experience in the theater was quite something and this little youtube misses that but it is on the whole a most excellent souvenir:



This is, of course, the first-act scena. She is so glamorous and I love the security and clarity of her upper register.

PS: Sotto voce to friends and family members: still nothing on the book.

The Rondine Aria x2

[Dress rehearsal at the Detroit Opera House, April 2008. Pamela Armstrong and Victor Ryan Robertson sing "Chi ilsogno di Doretta," from Giacomo Puccini's La Rondine. Also featuring Kisma Jordan, Kimwana Doner, and Leah Dexter.]



She does a good job.

Here is a rather famous person:



I love this aria.

It's New!**

Liking this...try to hold on until 4:40.



[It's called Music Talking and it's by The Montanas w/DJ Roland Clark.]

**New of course is a relative term; compared to the stuff I usually post, it's effing hott off teh presses or, heck, it hasn't been released yet.