Music soothes the savage.

[purlewe]

For those of you who know what a crankypants I was on Friday, my apologies. But I got just the cure this weekend. Music. Plenty of it. And a healthy dash of knitting. All is good.

Friday nite we lucked into a pair of tix for the Indigo Girls. IG has been a balm on my soul for more than 14yrs. Something ain’t right? Pop in some IG and let Emily sooth you with her sweet voice or lovely poetry. Angry? Let Amy put that rocker grrrl back into your feet. I really love them. And I cannot tell you how many times they have saved what leetle sanity I have left. They have been there for me through moves to strange lands, breakups, hookups, love and losses. They are one of the reasons I met my first girlfriend in Boston. They helped me get over being alone many, many times. My BF Cassa loves them too. Her hubby.. not a fan. We have conspired more than once to get tix together to see them at Red Rocks and then flying me out if he won’t go. So far he has gone every time, even though he isn’t one iota of a fan. Perhaps he knows our plan?? So IG played at the Keswick on Friday. Great acoustic only set, great opening band: 3/5 human. Great thoughts from the ladies. Amy said: never let a moral majority dictate [your] faith. Emily stated somewhere in the nite about never letting someone tell you that you are less than yourself. I needed their songs. I needed their words. I needed to stand up and dance. I needed to be reminded not to give up the fight. And at the end of the nite they announced that it was their last show until their next release. WOW. I was really glad that we lucked into those tickets then.

Saturday Sue and I slept in. I cannot remember the last time we did that. Life has been running us ragged at the seams and we have not had an us weekend in awhile. We spent the lie-in talking, napping, and just being silly-happy. Got up and had a fry-up. Got a few things done and watched Desk Set with Katherine Hepburn. Then we went to dinner with R and E at Vietnam. We all had tickets to see Tan Dun’s The Map performed by the Phila Orchestra. Tan Dun was there to conduct. REALLY, TRULY AMAZING. Now I think it is really difficult to make a contemporary classical music. So seeing one performed with the conductor was wonderful. Sue and I agree though, you either liked it, or you didn’t. There was very little middle ground. It was intellectually stimulating as well as technically difficult to perform. It had a solid basis in archeological and sociological roots for Tan Dun. He had a video component that helped give an interaction of China with the local audience (for those who have never been, nor want to go to China.) I had a lovely time. I’ve been thinking about the piece quite a bit. I really have loved all his work so I am glad to say I saw him perform it in person.

Sunday Sue had a performance in Haddonfield. There was a mixup and I needed to be at a knit in so I went only to the rehearsal early on and then left for Cubicalgirl’s house. Sue loves playing, but there is very little trombone playing in an orchestral setting for the trombones. But she is getting to participate in some really difficult music. I am a big fan of using the other side of our brains to remind ourselves that they do work. I liked what I heard at her rehearsal. She says the performance was very nice.

cubicalgirl had a good gathering of phillyknitters at her house. My secret pal had cunningly left me a package there. I got some great stuff from my pal. I can’t wait to use it. I learned a lot about crocheting. I am really glad I decided to go. I think that I now can feel more confident about using it as an edging. I don’t see myself making anything with it right away, but I know varouna makes some pretty nifty stuff. I got a chemo hat done for the TW knit in this week. That makes 2 for them. I also got 1 fuzzy foot and a half done and a secret present that shall not be named since she reads my blog. Last nite I did a wee bit more knitting before tidying up the house and hitting the bed. What a rejuvenating weekend!