Brrrrrrr...

It was in the late 1960's.  I was taking classes at Northwestern's downtown campus.  Getting a teaching certificate that I never used but wanted in my pocket as I looked for work.  For anyone who has taken than trek from Michigan Avenue to Weiboldt Hall, you will understand this story.

The weather man said below zero and the wind chill man said more than minus 20 degrees.  But it was exam night and I had to be there, right?  So I bundled myself up with sweaters, coat, scarf, hat.  The only part of my body uncovered were my eyes.

My eyes froze.

When I finally got inside and up to the classroom there was a sign on the door.  EXAM CANCELLED.

And then I had to walk all the way back.

Do you have a weather story to tell?

Et tu Serena?

Did you get to see Serena in her green "onesie" at the Australian Open?  She was looking every bit the amazon woman we have loved for so long. If not, you'll have to catch her on replay because she  lost to a great opponent: Karolina Pliskova.

Or was it Father Time who did her in?  I hope not.  Not yet.  I just want a few more of those aces at crucial points . . .  that ferocious stare.

My favorites are moving slowing off the court.  But I  had favorites before them: Agassi, Billy Jean.

Right now, I hope Nadal goes all the way down under.  And, a few more times before "final" becomes final.

A new year

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

HAPPY NEW YEAR

When Imagination is Enough

Juan Valdez died.  Remember when he was on TV for Columbian coffee?  He turned out to be special for me.

A very long time ago I took a weekend class called Silva Mind Control.  The idea was to learn exercises to expand the use of your mind.  One of the exercises involved imagining a "helper" -- someone who would step in when you were in need. Out of the ether came my spontaneous choice: Juan Valdez.

And, "he" did help me a few times.  Once was when I was lost on a road in Arizona.  A real life Juan came out of a little gas station and gave me directions.  Another time an imaginary Juan warned me about a dangerous liaison.  I didn't listen.

His death doesn't take him away.  Imagination is like that.  An expanded mind can go anywhere.

Big Data Sings its Song

Last year my friend Myles gave me an ECHO for Christmas.  I appreciated the gift, but it sat for several months unplugged because I couldn't think of anything I really needed to ask "Alexa" -- the friendly humanoid voice attached to big data.

Then, when the bad reception in my living room made it almost impossible to enjoy my radio, I decided to see what ECHO could do.  Alexa got me connected right away.

I'm sure Amazon was listening too.  A few weeks later I received an offer of three months of unlimited music for $.99.  I fell into the net.

"Alexa, please play Tchaikowsky Piano Concerto with Van Clybourn the pianist."  "I do not understand that request."  I tried another approach.  "Alexa, please play Tchaikowsky."  "Playing Tchaikowsky songs," came the voice.  Immediately the concerto began.  So now I have no trouble asking Alexa for my favorite composers.

Concerto.  Symphony.  String Quartet.  Life is but a song.

Before Black Friday

Before there was Black Friday, there was J.R. Hudson's, the retail palace of my years in Detroit.  So, when I noticed one Thanksgiving that the store was promoting an early a.m. opening on the day after the holiday, I asked the gals if they wanted to do a little shopping and some deli eating after.
We had so much fun that first year that we looked forward to it as a new Thanksgiving tradition. 

Then, as is true of so many commercial ideas, it morphed into a monster.  Families were robbed of their day off.  People fought and grabbed.  Now, it's not even a one day event.

What's wrong with us?  That's what I was thinking as Christmas music was playing in my garage -- a full week before Thanksgiving!

A Timeless Tale

I was chatting with a friend recently who mentioned a man we both know.  "He asked me out,"  she said.  "I mean he asked me to go for a walk and have coffee."  "How did that go?" I was curious.
"He got all romantic and I told him to back off."  "Really?"  I was impressed by her resolve.  Man/woman opportunities don't come up too often in oldster land.

"I don't want any man eventually telling me what to do," she said.  "But then he kept showing up so now I am seeing him.  But not all the time.  No, not all the time."

My mind wandered to the battles of the sexes on the big screen.  Bogie and Bacall.  Tracy and Hepburn.  Rosalind Russell.  These gals knew how to hold their own.

Yes, I've learned that actually the Hollywood studio system kept their stars pretty nailed down.  In a way, they were just as constrained in their lives as were the housewives who loved them.

Still. . .  we don't want anyone eventually telling us what to dream.