Humming Along

Things are nicely settled for us just now, with Deb happily churning out episodes of Yorick for her epic on-line adventure series, starring that lovable skull from way back when.  And I continue to polish up the piano pieces I hope to perform in about 7 weeks or so.  Though we seem settled in for the winter, we are beginning to gather items for our upcoming trip to Vienna.  It should be lovely there at this time of year, with lights and decorations, but it will have to go a long way to improve over Detroit.  Every year Detroit gets better and better, and even though a lot of the inner core is till under renovation, there is enough there to get Detroit on a new must-see travel list nearly every month.  We hope to spend time downtown over the holidays, just walking around the city.

 The annual holiday lighting ceremony downtown Detroit was well attended again this year.  The skating rink stays up all season.  The annual Noel Night is this weekend, and later comes the winter carnival.    

The only downside to visiting Detroit in winter is that there isn't much of an underground, or overground, city.  However, there are 3 downtown hotels directly linked to the People Mover, without having to go outside except onto the roofed train platform.  But most of the downtown is unconnected to other parts.  And they still serve the beer way too cold, and give you ice in your water at restaurants.  Brrr.  We have our 5th and final autumn concert this Saturday night.  We will be hearing 5 of the 6 Brandenburg concertos by Bach, as well as one of his cantatas.  4 of the 5 concerts were all of a single composer!  So far Schubert, Bartok, Beethoven, and now Bach.  This is highly unusual, but very welcome.

We just missed out on Snow event #6, though just north and west of us got blasted pretty hard.  So we are still at #5 and holding.  We are once again into a cold phase, but milder air is promised by next weekend.  This is critical for us, as we have to drive to Toronto to catch our Lufthansa flight to Vienna (via Frankfurt).  I am growing more and more excited to get to the Bruegel (no 'h') exhibit, where 28 of his 40 paintings are currently being shown.  A few are from private collections that might never be seen by the public again.  I am looking forward to seeing the Madrid "Triumph of Death" once more.  I spent many days studying that painting over the summer we spent in Madrid, and I wrote a long essay about it, which I should dig out again.

Yesterday was the first good day to complete our seasonal yard work since coming back from New Mexico.  Up to October 12th it was too hot!  Then the bottom suddenly fell out of the temperatures.  We got November weather after that, and in November we received December weather.  I am hoping we get a break next month.  There has been NO ASTRONOMY since returning from new Mexico at the end of September.  Not only that, but previous to that the weather was equally rotten.  2018 will turn out to be the worst year for observing since I got my newest scope back in 2013.  We will be in Vienna for the December observing session.  I have a feeling I won't be missing much, but one can never tell.

Mapman

Haydn's Farewell Symphony

The listening program continues.  I just finished hearing Op 56a and b by Britten, both short religious choral works.  56b is truly a wonderful, very short piece, with a back and forth between two parts to the choir, men and women, with organ accompaniment.  Oddly enough, last Thursday, which was the day we visited the funeral home to say goodbye to Anita, was time for Haydn Symphony #45, "The Farewell."  Haydn used the final movement to send a not so subtle hint to his Prince that it was time for the season to end and to send his musicians home for the summer.  It worked, and the overlong season finally came to an end.  In the final movement the musicians leave the stage in groups of two and four, blowing out their candles as they go.  At the very end, only two violins remain to quietly finish the work.  This makes for a totally amazing way to say goodbye in other ways, too.  I know Anita would approve.  I have lost one of my very few audience members for my home piano recitals, and she will be sorely missed.

Another odd coincidence occurred, this time on Friday.  For the past eight months my hearing has been reduced in my right ear to only 10% of normal.  In addition to not being able to hear from it properly, I have suffered from inner ear pressure a good deal, as well as ringing and hissing.  However, Friday afternoon following the morning funeral ceremony for Anita, my hearing began to return.  I now have 50% to 60% hearing in that ear, making piano practice and listening to music much more enjoyable!

Today we took a little journey to Lake Erie, down to Colchester Harbour.  It was pretty deserted this time of year.  With grey skies and grey water, it was an odd experience to stand at the end of the pier and gaze over a black, white, and grey seascape.

A large freighter crosses Lake Erie in the distance, appearing from at the edge of Lake Erie and grey skies.  Taken from Colchester Harbour.  

And Jenn sent us a photo her mom took on Saturday, at the Detroit Historical Museum.  I was not a participant, alas.

 Aston, Jenn's 14 year old son, "drives" his grandma, his mom, and Deb through downtown Detroit from the 1910s. 

Mapman Mike

Detroit Day with Jenn

We had a fun day on Saturday in Detroit.  Jenn G. visited with Aston, her 14 yr. old son, and her mom.  It was a day of craft beer, good food, lots of walking, and a museum visit.  The Detroit Historical Museum has an exhibit about Aretha on now, so we made that the centrepiece of the day.  The DIA has recently reopened their newly remodelled Asian Galleries, too.  Deb and I skipped that one, as Deb's batteries were running low.  But we met up afterwards and heard good reviews.  I forgot my camera, or there would be pictures of glasses of beer on display here.

I missed a couple of days of piano practice, but managed to jump back into things today.  I had hopes of being at a certain performance level by the time we leave for Vienna in two weeks,and I think I will be there!  Wonder of wonders.  Walking around Vienna with Bach, Haydn, and Schumann pieces memorized and in my fingers is a fun feeling.  Kind of like having magic spells at your fingertips, but not necessarily for immediate use.

So far this November we have had 4 snow events.  This is more frequent snow than I can ever remember this early.  Sudbury has been white for a while now, and very very cold.  It has been very cold since about Oct. 10th, meaning that we have been robbed of Autumn and introduced far too early to winter.  It is supposed to be a mild winter, due to the presence of El Nino, but that won't become apparent, if it does at all, until January.  The odds of having snow on our driving day to Toronto seem pretty high.

Our land phone line is currently out of service, with a Bell technician coming tomorrow morning.  Internet still works, though....  The last time it worked was last night, when I spoke with my parents at some length.  Everything good there, but some ageing aunts and uncles remind me that I have no snow tires, and that a trip to Sudbury could happen sooner rather than later. 

Mapman Mike

Anita

Anita Marie Groundwater (nee Gignac)

GROUNDWATER, Anita Marie (nee Gignac)
November 13, 1958 – November 13, 2018
Passed away peacefully on her 60th birthday, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Cherished wife of 36 years to Randolph “Randy”. Loving mother of John (Joseph DeMott) and David (Celia Girgenti). Dear sister of Robert Gignac (the late Mary), Joan Spearing (Vincent), Jean Hunt (Daniel). Precious sister-in-law to Marie Pottle (Bruce), Kathleen Rivait (Roger) and Wendy Mitchell (Steve). Pre-deceased by her parents, Norman & Mae Gignac, and her brother, Raymond. Special daughter-in-law to the late Janet “Jenny” Groundwater. Treasured friend to Donna Fredericks. She will be deeply missed by her many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Anita was employed with the Ministry of Finance for 32 years. She was a valued and dedicated practitioner with Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Institute of Windsor. Above all, Anita was a gentle soul, an angel here on Earth, who could not help but be loved by anyone who knew her.

A beautiful lady and a truly wonderful person.  Adieu.  
Mapman 

Olga Kern Recital, VW, Cold and Influenza Season

I'll work backwards from that title.  Deb and I have been taking turns fighting off colds.  My turn was last Wednesday and Thursday, with fatigue, scratchy throat, and a mind that was off center more than usual.  Deb's turn began Friday, and she is better now.  She has had her flu shot this year; I go this Thursday.  But this was strictly a cold.  Deb had a tougher fight, as she had her infusion last Thursday, which wipes out her immune system for two weeks.  Still, she managed to fight it off!  She did sleep a lot.

VW has had our Golf since last Thursday, when we brought it in for a leaky roof.  Leaves and maple keys get into the sun roof slots and can cause havoc.  We have a lot of trees.  But no Golf for 5 days now, though they did give us a Jetta loaner.  We've been staying home and waiting for a call that never seems to come.  Between our illnesses and waiting for VW, we have yet to visit with Randy G.

Last Saturday we attended the fourth of five autumn concerts.  We heard Russian-American pianist Olga Kern perform a massively programmed recital in Detroit.  It was a packed house, and about half of the audience was speaking Russian.  She opened with three Scarlatti sonatas, with the first one being one of the most difficult of his 500-odd such pieces.  To open a program with such a difficult piece is daring, if not risky.  Let's just say that my opening pieces are usually chosen with cautious care.  Anyway, she played them flawlessly, including one in C Major I have learned, and one in D Minor that I now feel I must learn.  As for the first one she played in A Major, I think I'll just leave that one alone for now.

She followed up with the Waldstein Sonata by Beethoven, one of his very biggest pieces.  Again the performance was riveting and flawless, quite possibly the finest performance of this popular program piece I have ever heard.  And I have heard Schiff!  The hoots and applause following the Beethoven were a sign that she should have ended the first half at that point.  Instead, she made a huge programming blunder!  She was scheduled to perform 5 short pieces by a Michigan composer.  Instead, she replaced them with four pieces by Gershwin.  Note to self, and to other piano performers.  NEVER program Gershwin one minute after playing Beethoven, especially such a piece as the Waldstein.  It just didn't work.  When the half finally ended, the applause was minimal.  I hope she noticed.

After intermission she played three big pieces by Rachmaninoff, two by Scriabin, and a monstrously difficult but essentially empty virtuoso piece called Islamey, also by a Russian composer.  Her encore was more of the same, with a very fast and loud etude by Prokofiev.  Needless to say, despite a journey home afterwards that lasted over an hour, when I finally got into bed that night my brain would not settle itself--too much virtuoso stimulation.  Anyway, she is an excellent pianist and musician, but she needs to think a bit harder about her programming. 

Mapman Mike

Trump, Travel, and Medical Updates

The election in the USA yesterday did not even give Trump a black eye.  People there are so tied to a political party that no matter what happens they will support the person.  Democrats winning the House is a small victory; now Trump has someone new to blame when things don't go well.  this crap is spreading worldwide so fast it makes ones head spin.  Meanwhile in Michigan a Democratic Governor was elected, but the house and senate remain Republican.  Best of luck to the new Governor.  Bang head on wall.  Meanwhile in Canada we have a mini-Trump governing Ontario, and our Liberal Prime Minister will likely get the boot next year.  So the world dies not slowly, but rapidly.  Probably best that way.

In travel news, Austrian Airlines informed us this week that our flight from Toronto to Vienna was cancelled.  They are gradually pulling out of Toronto entirely.  We were rebooked for the next day, but that did not jive with our plans to visit the Bruegel exhibit.  We spent a frantic day trying to rearrange hotel, parking, pet sitter, before finally convincing the airlines to book us on the same dates as originally scheduled, but on a different airline.  So instead of our direct flight to Vienna, we are now routed through Frankfurt on Lufthansa.  At least the times are only different on both of our arrivals, but it means driving home in the dark from Toronto now after two flights.  We arrive in Vienna three hours later, too.

In medical news, Randy G. phoned me with an update on Anita.  She is expected to pass away before the month ends.  She is receiving the best of care at home, with a Hospice doctor, nurse, and relatives giving 24 hour care and support.  I had tears in my eyes as he was talking about Anita.  The aggressive chemo treatments she received allowed her another year of life, and she fought hard the entire time.  We are going to attempt a visit tomorrow afternoon, following Deb's bi-monthly infusion.  Also, My aunt (Mom's sister) had surgery in Sudbury this week to remove a large and painful ovarian cyst.  Things went well there, according to cousin Cathy, who went to Sudbury after leaving Windsor on Saturday following our Day of the Dead excursions.  And my uncle (Mom's brother) had a large tumour removed from his bladder.  He is not doing so well.  

My turn now.  I am in the system to have the cataract in my right eye removed.  Vision has deteriorated, and I should have had this procedure done sooner.  However, I waited until the end of astronomy season.  For nothing.  No clear nights this autumn anyway, though there might be a very chilly one tomorrow night.  Anyway, I'm awaiting a call from Dr. Emara's office for my pre-surgery appointment.  Though the surgery is relatively minor, and you are in and out of the hospital in a matter of hours, I can do no lifting for about three weeks, and thus no telescope set up.  According to my optometrist I can expect the surgery in January.  Shovelling season.  My own fault for waiting so long. 

Mapman

Day of the Dead, Detroit Style

My cousin Cathy and her girlfriend Chris came from Toronto to experience "Day of the Dead" in Detroit, the way Deb and I have been doing things for many years.  Jenn G. and her mom came from Cambridge, so there were six of us in two vehicles pounding the pavement in the Motor City on Friday.  In Mexico, Day of the Dead was originally a pagan event, celebrating the lives of deceased relatives, friends, and celebrities.  It has been grasped by the Catholic Church, who have turned things into "all souls day" and "all saints day."  Whatever.  At its core, the celebration of our favourite dead folk carries on into the 21st Century.  Detroit has a large Mexican/American population, and two of the best cemeteries on the planet.  In addition to local events in Mextown (adjacent to the bridge between Canada and the USA), the Detroit Institute of Arts puts on an annual display of "Offrendas," or altar offerings to the deceased.

We picked up Cathy and Chris Friday morning at their hotel in Windsor, where we met up with Jenn and her mom.  After clearing customs we headed to Mextown, first to stop at a gift store, and then on to a bakery, and then for lunch at one of many Mexican restaurants (some of them being very authentic).  Upon arrival, we found the area swamped with school kids!  Several high schools had decided that this would be a great field trip.  Instead of a nice quiet morning visit, we found ourselves unable to gain access to any businesses due to the hordes of kids and teachers.  Time for Plan B.

This involved heading to Woodlawn Cemetery before lunch, instead of afterwards.  Woodlawn is the final resting place of many of Detroit's most famous families.  Dodge, Ford, Buhl, and many others built elaborate tombs, complete with ornate brass doors and Tiffany stained glass window.  The grounds are fabulous, with hills, a sizable forest, a lake, several mausoleums and chapels, and winding roads that invite exploration.  Though the day was dark and drizzly, we had hit on peak leaf colour!  It was atmospheric and intoxicating, and the crowd loved it!

 Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit

 Cousin Cathy, left, and her friend Chris.

 Autumn scene, Woodlawn Detroit.

 A beautiful brass door at the entrance to a private mausoleum.  Some doors even had a giant brass knocker.  No thanks!

 Autumn splendour, Woodlawn.

 Jenn, her mom, and Deb.  It was a drizzly November day.

 A recent addition to Woodlawn.

One of many stained glass windows to be seen in the rear wall of private tombs.

 Woodlawn, Detroit, in autumn.  Worth a visit.

Leaves on the roof...

Final resting place of Rosa Parks.

Lunch in downtown Detroit, at Calexico.  Wonderful food!  L to R: cousin Cathy, Deb, Chris, Jenn, Sandy, yours truly.  We parked at the DIA and took the streetcar downtown. 

After the cemetery visit, we headed to the DIA.  We parked in the all-day lot, then took the train downtown for a late but delicious lunch.  Cathy paid for Deb and I!!  I had a vegan burrito, and Deb had tofu tacos.  I also had a brewed-in-Detroit Mexican beer, which was fabulous!  Afterwards, we strolled around parts of downtown, ending up at the tiny cafe inside the lobby of the Wurlitzer building hotel (The Siren), where we took over the alcove, comfortably seating six.  Then it was back on the train and into the DIA for the Day of The Dead exhibit.

DIA Offrenda Gallery, with Jenn.

Offrenda dedicated to the garment workers killed in Mexico City earthquake.

Offrenda gallery, DIA.

Incredible embroidery!

 Offrenda at the DIA. 

After our visit to the art museum, our group split up, with Jenn and her Mom hitting a few nearby craft beer stops.  We headed back to Mextown, to our previously missed bakery (authentic Mexican!) and then to the gift store.  Cathy ended up buying a beautiful Catrina!  Deb bought some miniatures to go with her Yorick films.  Then it was back to Windsor, dropping the ladies at their hotel.  It had been a 10-hr day, pretty long for Deb.  It was good to get home and put our feet up!

The gift shop had three Offrendas, one of them dedicated to Frida!  The painting is for sale.

 Cathy's Catrina!! 

Mapman Mike