Split personality. Liking the arts, especially opera, and hockey and Los Toros. I know, I know THAT one is non pc currently. But I can't help it saw some in Spain and got hooked, but good.
But on the other hand right now opera and hockey are in the forefront!
but loose to the overwhelmingly better team of OKC 4-1.
That honor goal came after Better Half and I left in order to take home my blinding headache which had plagued me all afternoon, and teary eyes. And those were not really because of the loosing game, although they could have been.
Goal by Almond and Bulmer. I really like that kid, too bad he wasn't around earlier in the season.
Yes, the guys put out more effort than last night and kept the SOGs at a bit lower number by OKC.
But OKC were just too good, plus smart to avoid some penalty calls, that ought to have been called. Thanks for the loss to the officials as well as the super play by OKC.
The Aeros, IMO, are done and 'the unfinished business' will have stay just that.
Especially with Hackett injured for sure, tonight!
Even if he claimed last night's 'injury' wasn't one as many who saw it felt it was.
Because I truly cannot see that they can win the next 2 games in OK to come out the winner in this 3 of 5 games first round.
If you, chers readers believe that... then you must an inUPSTAIRS!
Maybe next season with fresh blood and (a word in hockey god's ear) fewer injures all around.
Plus some much needed talent. Both up there AND here.
A few photos to remember the team effort at the TC:
It is with regret that I write this.
But in the First Round of Calder Cup Play Off vs the Nr. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Barons at Houston a loss of 0-5 was recorded.
I am sure that OKC goalie Danis was a bit bored with the just 14 SOG a somewhat discombobulated Aeros were able to sport.
I am not sure I liked how the Aeros played. They just were not there! Rushing around, loosing pucks, yes some played agressively, but to little effect. After all ZERO goals and only this small number of SOGs.
While OKC were all there, stealing passes, attacking fiercely, never letting up. 48 SOGs... that is huge! And so they won the first game of Round One vs Aeros. Tomorrow will be game 2 .. a repeat?
Must we be thankful the Team made it into Round One at all?
Guess so.
A miracle team they do not appear to be.
BIG SIGH!
The third goal in
Upending Arcobelli did not help that last goal in
Some last minute clean up for Brodeur?
Protecting Brodeur?
On the other hand Hackett did very well stopping 33 of 37.. and the last of these were let in last. And it looked to me he when he was pulled in favor of Brodeur he seemed hurt, perhaps aggravated a previous light injury a week or so earlier. NO INJURY, I hear.
This is not to say he actually was, it just seemed to me so!
Of course I do wish he were not. Just pulled after 4 goals.
Nevertheless for his amazing saves he did was Star 1 of the game.
Brodeur ready to scoop the puck?
Double his jersey Number 20 and you get Helmer's age!
Th new Nr. 17 .. no he is NOT Wellman!
The tension IS palpable!
And seeing Helmer play at 40, Di Salvatore at 30 ought to be looking forward to another decade skating in the AHL, and I, for one, hope for The Aeros :-)! Go SAL!
by Donizetti. A Bel Canto Opera and so it was.
Two unfortunate events made this an interesting rehearsal:
1) Tenor Cutler was indisposed and HGOStudio member Touhy sang from the side while a staff member mimed action on stage.
2) Bass Gradus sang with less than usual fervor in order to conserve HIS voice.
But the result was the same: an incredibly beautifully realized opera, sets, staging, lights, costumes, music, and ABOVE ALL singing as it should be (Bel Canto !!)
Here a clip from 2005:Di Donato as Maria and Cutler as Leicester
BIG LIKE: Joyce Di Donato as a mesmerizing Maria Stuarda, oh, boy, can she sing, can she act, and CAN she keep the audience so enthralled during her pianissimos that nor a rustle, sniffle or any other sound was heard. The orchestra took a break and only she was heard even when she just barely whispered (pianissimo of pianissimos!).
OH MY YES!
Katie Van Kooten, as Elisabeth I, was imposing and did real justice to her role as the vindictive queen. And yet one could almost, almost, feel sorry for her being so tortured as she appeared to be, too strongly influenced by Cecil (Oren Gradus- who labored mightily overcoming a vocal problem due to?? and so sounding much less imposing than he usually is).
Van Kooten: Photo
OPERA today
Eric Cutler, slated to sing Leicester, was announced to be ill, and so Brendan Touhy of the HGO Studio vocally stood in for him from stage right (audience view) and truly sounded very, yes, very well!
To me, admittedly predisposed to like deep voices, Robert Gleadow as Talbot was just right. Of course that he had a very sympathetic role may have something to do with being liked!
At least by me. I cannot, of course, speak for others.
Opera IS so much a subjective art form, after all.
Since is it BEL CANTO.. the singing must be in the forefront, IMO. And so it was.
Sets and staging were simply (I am not saying cost effective LOL) and nothing, really detracted from the singers!
A beautifully copied coffered ceiling with movable columns (sets by Neil Patel) seemed just right to me! Stage was frequently empty and stark, but that too, seemed just right! After all the play/opera is stark. About emotions of love, hate, evil incubus (Cecil?) and so forth. The lightning by Wood/Clark was also simple and stark and effective.
Costumes by Jessica Jahn were period and - that was a real pleasure!(after the other mish mash as posted before. Especially so).
Patrick Summers honed (it was the last rehearsal remember) the HGO orchestra to perfection, while Richard Bado managed the chorus well, especially during the last act to give much pleasure.
It will be a fitting end to a great season at HGO IMO.
As I am neither singer nor musician, my feelings are strictly due to having seen/heard many operas in many houses.
On very rainy days, closets just demand to be cleaned out. So I go and try on things, switch things around, match skirts with tops and so forth. Really, my intentions are real good...a radical cleaning out of clothes and shoes, and purses, and scarves, and..
It's just a miracle, since I haven't seen the inside of shops, except for groceries for quite a while. So why is it that the number of items just keep growing?
Now to work as I attempt to sort into 4 categories:
a) bwti..bought while temporarily insane.. to the resale pile?
b) where did this one come from .. to the donation pile?
c) maybe a keeper? Re-evaluate later.
d) definitely a keeper and immediately back into the closet!
I could, if I wanted, change into a completely different outfit every day, maybe even twice or trice a day.
But ... there are those favorites, that get worn as often as possible and cleaned as often, too. Which makes them faded and ..but oh, so comfortable.
Maybe it is the primeval urge to collect and hoard going way back to humans as hunter gatherers?
Or maybe, it is the need to feel safe, and what better way to feel safe than in familiar comfortable oldies?
Whatever the reason I am putting most of them back - for now.
And like Scarlett: I 'll think about it tomorrow!
yes, indeed.
Aeros will face OKC Barons in Round One. The best team in the division.
Thursday/Friday at TC then the action moves to Oklahoma for 3 games.
Then back to the TC if needed.
Having felt a bit under the weather I did not go to see the MIRACLE in person.
I heard it in the rising crescendo of excitement of The Voice of the Aeros as I tuned in from time to time.
Can we expect the "unfinished business" to be finished now?
Well, perhaps, the miracle will continue.
IF the, so recently playing like men possessed, players can carry the momentum into and past the next rounds.
Aeros are hanging on to their 10th place in Western Conference, for now.
With the tight win 5-3 (the 5th goal an empty netter on a PP) over the Rampage.
Despite the switch of goalies from Markstrom to Grumet Morris by the Rampage.
Despite the (for this game ) improved Aeros PP of 3 out of 4 opportunities.
Despite...the energizing combo of Bulmer and Palmieri.
Yes, as I said before, I like what I see with Brett Bulmer, as I am sure the Wild do as well.
One more game to be won.
And as it is against the Texas Stars I feel pretty confident it will be.
But has to be in regulation. No more OT and SO.
It is just so frustrating that these last game winners come at last moments.
As they started so they ended...
just went a bit absent during the months in between LOL.
Houston Grand Opera's 5 acter DON CARLOS sung in the long original (1887 ? version) French, boasts crosses. Lots of them.
Black ones, small ones, big ones!
Red ones, and red ones glowing ominously in the dark.
Stark, dark, ominous and threatening.
Fitting sets to the dark, ominous and strong music Verdi composed for this tragedy in 5 acts set during the deepest gloom in Spanish history- the inquisition after a play by Schiller.
The most glorious voices were assembled as cast.
From Soprano Tamara Wilson's silvery yet big voiced Elisabeth to the deepest male voices.
Yes, the basses were upfront on stage here.
From the veteran Samuel Ramey as the Grand Inquisitor who trumps everyone and everything singing gravelly with power (at age 70 yet); via Oren Gradus, a truly sepulchral spirit of Charles V; and Andrea Silvistrelli as Philippe II, the tortured father and anguished husband of Elisabeth, who was originally slated to be his own son's fiancee, to the lighter voiced Boris Dyakov, as always so elegant, as Count Lerme.
The baritones did not stay far behind.
The dramatically sung and especially acted Marquis Posa of Scott Hendricks was rather emotional to behold. Mark Diamond's Forester showcased his fresh baritone voice in this cameo role.
But the glory of the show went, without hesitations to the 3 main characters.
Soprano Wilson, a regal and yet very sympathetic Elisabeth, trying to uphold her vows.
Christine Goerke, as Countess Eboli, embodied unrequited love scorned and turned to vicious hatred with a powerful mezzo. But was equally believable in her solo O donfatale, bemoaning her fatal beauty and atoning for her misdeeds.
And Brandon Jovanovich as Don Carlos used his amazingly big ringing tenor voice to portray love, desire, desperation, resolution and friendship. And his good looks did not hurt at all. He was undoubtedly easily accepted as the love interest of 2 beautiful and powerful women, plus the inspiration of devotion by his best friend.
In other cameos we heard the fine soprano Brittany Wheeler as celestial voice, soprano Lauren Snouffer in the travesty role of Thibault, page ot Elisabeth, Scott Quinn as King's Herald and Judith Irvington as Countess Aremberg.
The HGO orchestra was led by Maestro Summers with sensitivity, while Chorus Master Bado, as usual, had the HGO chorus singing uniformly with beauty.
Direction by John Caird who placed singers well on stage easily viewed from most seats in the house, (sitting on side orchestra I can attest to that). The set of crosses in all forms and colors was by Johan Engels, well highlighted by lighting designer Levings. Choreography by Sayers.
And now I come to the crux (truly cross to bear, IMO) of the matter:
the costuming by Oberle!
A terrible mish mash of traditional, modernized (but from which decades?) customes. costumes.
The chorus women's royal blues in various shades at least were becoming.
Elisabeth's dresses were y demonstrative of her role as innocent princess and later wronged queen.
Eboli's simply did not convey the countess's implied (O don fatale! remember) attraction. Oh my, that insipid pink at first.
Later the deeply decolletage'd black lace (a midi-skirted fifties look?) did give perhaps a slight hint of a night of debauchery with the King!
But the men's.
Deliver me from the men's.
From Don Carlos' first appearance in asemblance of Raiders of the Lost Ark get up, to his later costume reminiscent of Pontevedrian counts, with perhaps a soupcon of Mikado thrown in; to the gangster (not gangsta - thank heavens) look complete with black fedoras of the male court, and finally the black stormtrooper looks of the jailers and guards, IMO caused hysterical rather than sinister impressions and seemed, to me, without rhyme nor reason.
Oh, I should not forget the red "Ku Klux clannishly" (:-) clad inquisition executioners. While the Grand Inquisitor was cardinally (lol) dressed simply in black with purple sash and scull cap.
The production by HGO is worth going to, just to the hear the original opera composed by Verdi for the French in the French language (later it was translated into multiple versions, shortened, and re-shortened LOL into Italian which IMO sounds more suited to Verdian Music). But the singers overall did a magnificent job singing en Francais, in French that was actually understood rather well by those in the audience who have knowledge of that tongue, moi included!
not the dark, per se.
But lately leg cramps at ankle, calf and shin on the right are waken me much too early for comfort.
Hey, I really could care less to hear roosters crowing at 4 AM or 3 AM...(that is if I were living in Little Havana where they strut freely in the streets ;-).
And the cramps do hurt! There is screaming! No more just whimpering, lately.
Which is a lot more than annoying, I 'd say.
So, I have become afraid to lie down!
Afraid to stretch while waking or in sleep, which appears the cause for sudden cramps.
Stomping around the house in the dark alleviates the pain, finally.
So, not afraid of the dark, just afraid of the shooting and lasting pan. The ankle feels locked in contorted position, for instance.
Hard to describe but trust me, NOT fun at all.
Although laughing about it helps.
Where is the Bionic Science to replace non functioning body parts.. lol!
Sure could use some of that!
Turkeys in the raw! King Ranch
It seems that they started up right after that infamous hospital stay over Thanksgiving
(more fowl stuff lol, I am afraid)
Rusting on King Ranch
Whatever the cause it really is debilitating.. aches, sleep deprivation, scary!
And in case you ask: I do eat bananas, I take minerals and vitamins, I do eat lots of greens and fruits and protein, too. And exercise daily.
WELL, perhaps just getting old and worn like old farm machinery set out to pasture and rust in the Texas sunshine. Like this thing-roto tiller or whatever (at King Ranch) at right:-).
Ads win! Carry home a 2-1 win over Aeros after a hard battle with no goals in the First, one goal by Mueller (shorthanded) for Ads and Brett Bulmer's first professional goal to bring Aeros even. in the 3. Then an OT with no goal and the Ads get 2 into the net past a visibly tired (most likely sore..lower body) Hackett by Blum and Thang.
Taffe scored an honorable goal for Aeros. So the Aeros get 1 point in this game.
IMO the Animals ahem Admirals played a tough and rough, aggressive game.
It seemed they had it in for Prosser and Almond, bouncing them into the boards rather frequently with NO penalties called, especially the second and third periods. Trying to embroil them in fisticuffs, perhaps? Maybe they are known in the AHL for hot-headedness? Next to us sat obviously some Admirals lol (people) who took detailed notes and asked about the Nr. 15= Prosser!!)
Or tripping up Aeros, with no penalties called by Wiebe and Koharsky known in the AHL for not using their whistles a lot. It just seemed to me and Better Half that the Ads got away with stuff while either one or both refs back were turned rather conveniently.
But to give the Ads goalie his due, he played well, as did Hackett until he looked like being hit hard, but elected to finish the game into OT and SO.
Maybe that was not smart!
Whatever, the Aeros did gain a point and are tied with 4 other teams.
Di Salvatore was outstanding, he most definitely led by example.
Bulmer, I may have mentioned before, was HOT, unafraid to beard the enemy, skating hard, seemingly always close to the net .. just in case a puck came his way?
Which it indeed did...HE SCORED!
I really think the duo Bulmer and Palmieri work well together.
The third Period was exceptionally exciting, alas, it ended in a loss, but with ONE point gained.
Here a fews photos:
and an alien (?) Aeros win at home 4-2 over the Rivermen.
The sweetest goal yet, that shorthanded one by Almond with McMillan and Montgomery.
Shorthanded Goal by Almond
Not that the one by Rau (Taffe, Di Salvatore), DiSalvatore (Bagnall) and the final icing on the cake - so to speak - by McMillan (Fontaine amd and McIntyre) were anything to snort at, really!
Hackett seemed rather back to his old self, quickly stopping 25 of 27 SOG.
Rau Goal
While lanky Jake Allen, after being wakened by the goal Rau snuck around the corner into the net, stopped 42 of 46 and all that in regulation, no less.
And what can one say more about the bombardment of Allen by the.. yes, the Aeros.
Was it the full moon? Or Almond whispering sweet somethings into Cheechoo's ear?
Was it the influx of the hot new players like Bulmer, Nr. 18?
Was it the injury to Sean Lorenz, another newbie?
What ever it was, it brought the Aeros again in reach of the play offs.
Ref. Geoff Miller called only one penalty and that one on the Aeros' Medvec, which allowed that sweet shorthanded goal!
Hackett getting a quick nail-skate- job:-)
We let Hackett save that one. stay off his turf, guys!
Victory on 4/7/2012.. whoopee!
The Number 18 jersey which Brett Bulmer wore seemed to be a lucky one. And Palmieri (#44) was a fitting side kick for #18, IMO.
Jobke # 21, was not eye catching tonight, IMO, but Almond, McMillan and DiSalvatore, sure were....
just not quite as hot as Bulmer!
win at the TC.
Once again the Aeros disappoint their, oh, so patient, fans.
Better Half and I kinda kept an 'eye on the AHL.com', and 'an ear to The Voice'
... but in vain.
After a promising start the Aeros lost again.
Was it due to bad defense, slow offense or worse? Who really can say at this time.
Out of reach, again? by Lolcats
What IS somehow worse, is knowing there are 4 more games here to suffer through, which we will faithfully do.
And report here with photos...I shall try to capture the most amusing situations..win or loose...for your viewing pleasure, LOL.
As I posted before, I pray the season to be over!
The guys have a great golf, or whatever turns them on, summer and a newly constituted team with fresh energetic bods come back in the fall.
And a less prone to injuries - right and left and the middle - WILD will NOT need to call up body after body and so decimate the team here.
Let Aeros and Wild have a long R & R.
Ft Lauderdale Beach by artandhockey
Let us, I do include myself here, fans enjoy a REAL hockey season 2012/13 with a team we justifiably can root for 100%.
After 10 seasons without 'any skates' in the door for the Stanley Cup, the Florida Panthers may do just that.
Depending on the out come of the next game. Not that they are a favorite to actually WIN the Cup. But ...
"Caliente" Rampage (artandhockey)
The same holds true for their affiliate, the again "Caliente" San Antonio Rampage.
That is they, too, may have 'a skate' in the door for the Calder Cup Play offs.
So, where does that leave OUR team?
Not too favorably placed, I say. 5 more games in hand at home and one more on the road. And the players seem tired, and have little 'get up and skate' left, or so it seems.
Texas Hill Country Lavender( inkindleworldpress.com)
Now, if the Rampage, indeed, are in the play offs, Better Half and I are planning to attend a game or more.. we are already planning to be there for the lavender blooming, after all hockey into summer is soooo exciting. And San Antonio is just a hop and skip away.
Lavender a day, hockey a night! :-)!
there was a hockey team at home in Houston, The Aeros of the AHL.
It had a good year, a Western Championship, an almost Calder Cup Win, and some solid skaters and net minders.
It also had Super loyal fans and supportive audiences.
Then, there came the new season and the 'Unfinished Business' slogan.
And it started so well.
The team was the Best of the West.
But then came the 'Wild' wicked witch of the North and carried off player after player.
Used them to stoke her dying embers (=injured) without much success.
Used them up and sent them back South, frustrated.
Called up others, then sent back through a seemingly eternal revolving door.
And the depleted Aeros battled on valiantly.
Exhilaration - a goal!
And then came the somewhat questionable officiating.
What does it take to call a penalty and a game misconduct?
Blood on the ice and an EMS evacuation off the rink?
And do any of you wonder that the team is not performing at its best?
So frustrating to anyone (and the Aeros, as professionals they are, are just human, too), when the officials seemingly pander to the opposing teams.
Not just once but several times, yet.
And the battle continues, or does it?
Fallon at his Best!
One almost wishes it was over!
The team goes for a long summer rest to regroup - with fresh new blood - for next season and unfinished business.
But did they live happily ever after?
That is THE question.
Most of the fans stayed loyal, frustrated,
disappointed, but loyal.
Like kelp strands, that's what the vitreous sure looked like before the retinal peel.
And I saw them well.
Yes, my dears I was awake during that procedure! And very interesting it was to see the minute pincers wielded by the Doctor to peel off, fold up (origami like) and drag them out, before refilling the eye with saline solution.
There was a minute or so, when I did go out completely, so the injection to immobilize the eye could be done painlessly.
But after that, I was a watching (albeit tied down and wrapped up - mummy like - almost) and commenting on the action seen!
Utterly amazing what microsurgery can achieve now.
The whole thing in the OR (lol.. almost typed OT... hahaha... hockey on my mind, eh?) lasted less than 15 minutes!
The prep before took hours!
Afterwards I was released to wreck havoc again, as long as NO water get into the eye.
Only eye drops, as prescribed, are allowed, 2 kinds, 4 times a day, 1 kind once a day for....till the post surgery check-up in 2 weeks.
And no driving, lifting weights over 5 pds and most definitely no showering or shampooing for a few days.
Ah, well one will have to resort to Katzenwaesche (spit and lick wash) perhaps!
Meanwhile the Aeros lost Wednesday, on the road, this time.
And as I hear, in a Shoot Out over Lake Erie at the Toyota Center, as well.
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