Is that a Grammy in your cupboard?

Grammy 

I recently arrived home from being on the road for just over three weeks, and was greeted by a FedEx package at my door.   I knew it was my Grammy, and I was excited to open it up, but I decided to wait until I was fully unpacked and settled back into my house.   I threw in a big load of laundry, walked to the post office to pick up the rest of my mail and dropped off my dry cleaning. 

Then I settled in to open my package.

There it was- my shiny Grammy.  I was surprised by its weight.  I placed it on my coffee table and started laughing.  It was just too surreal.  I held it up and pretended I was making an acceptance speech and burst into giggles again. 

Now…where to put it?  One friend thought I should display it outright well others suggested somewhere subtle, like the bathroom.  I couldn’t decide. 

Finally I spoke to friend J on the phone.  He agreed that subtle placement of the Grammy was a good idea, and suggested the pantry.  That way, when I had friends over for dinner, I could go to the cabinet, open it up and say,

“Hmmmmmmm…what should we have with our spaghetti tonight?  Perhaps a little GRAMMY?” 

Or-

“I know what will be just perfect with the Chicken Marsala, a side of GRAMMY!” 

Better still,

“Hey, could you grab the olive oil for me please?  It’s in the cupboard above the microwave right next to the GRAMMY.”

So for a while anyway, I thought I’d try it out.  I put my Grammy in the cupboard.  I honestly forget it’s in there, especially in the morning.  So when I go over and open that cupboard to take out my morning tea…I smile when I see it.  

 

8bb gala reception

Calling all 8bb fans in Chicago and points beyond!

We are hosting our second annual gala benefit on May 29, following the third and final concert in our inaugural Harris Theater series in Chicago.

It will kick serious ass, so even if you can’t make it, send a friend!

Here is the information:

Please join us for a post-concert gala reception on May 29, 2008 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago.  Following our performance of “The Only Moving Thing” come enjoy delicious desserts from some of Chicago’s finest pastry chefs while you mingle with the artists.  Specials guests to include Steve Reich, Julia Wolfe and Michael Gordon.  We’ll also have a few exclusive performances just for you, our valued friends and supporters. You can further contribute by bidding on some exciting packages up for auction at our silent auction display as well!

Tickets for the event can be purchased directly from the Harris Theater Box Office.  Click here to go directly to our event page on the Harris Theater site or call the box office at 312-334-7777. The ticket price for the concert PLUS the gala reception is $180 with all proceeds being used to directly support eighth blackbird’s series at Harris.  Tickets to the concert alone are $30. The concert will begin at 7:30 with the reception immediately following.

We hope to see you on May 29th!

Great minds

Apparently I choose my friends according to very specific criteria.

In response to my tagging entreaty from the other day, both Ms ACB and Mr Tonic Blotter found exactly the same book within reach of their blogging posts, In Defense of Food - an Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan. Interestingly, the sentences that each quoted differed slightly, somewhat in accordance with their respective occupations…

Mr Tonic Blotter:

[B]eing the precise lawyer that I am, I am going to follow rules 3 and 4 literally. Rule 4 states only that one should “find the fifth sentence”. It does not state that one should then post that fifth sentence. Instead, only rule 4 expressly asks us to “post” the “next” (presumably following) three sentences. So here we go, sentences 6, 7 and 8 from p.123 of the aforementioned Pollan

Ms ACB, being the imprecise, diva-like artistic type, posted sentences 5-7. (This, as a diva-like flute player, is exactly what I did as well!)

Mr DecSimp, proudly breaking all the rules, posted a turgid, 14-line extra sentence that outlined the ways in which all of Bruckner’s symphonies sound the same. (This will make my Bruckner-phobic ensemble mates very happy.)