I was utterly swamped with trying to get things accomplished at work before my trip and social events, not that I am complaining about the social
events :)
Thursday night brought about the final in the Repartee series at the BSO. By a fluke, I ended up with tickets in the 2nd row. I have never been that close to the orchestra before and it was quite a different experience. Sitting further away, you really get a sense of the orchestra as a whole. In the 2nd row, you get a close up of a few individual musicians.
Before the concert begins you always hear the dissonance of each musician tuning their instruments and warming up. Far away this is background noise. Up close you really notice the moment when all the individuals become one. It was very impressive. Also impressive was seeing our conductor, who was filling in for the scheduled conductor. She was the 6th woman to conduct the BSO. Woman #5 had conducted two weeks before. On one hand I am happy for the progress. On the other, if you take into account how long the BSO has been around, having only 5 and 6 in April of 2009 is a bit depressing. But progress is progress no matter how slow.
Friday was an very impromptu dinner party with amazing food, a big group of people and a French film that prompted quit a bit of discussion. After standing in a big circle debating the pros and cons of the film, we all decided that further discussion over a beer would be beneficial. It was a nice night and we all sat outside and enjoyed the cool Spring night. It was also a night that just got away from me. One minute it was 8pm and the next it was well after midnight and definitely time to go home.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Watching Planes
It's been quite a week so I really was looking forward to this weekend. Friday brought last minute plans making full use of the gorgeous weather. I always love walking over the Mass Ave bridge at night, in spite of the incessant wind. Saturday was an impromptu dinner party and piano recital. Per usual with potlucks, there was no end of leftovers. But we were all well fed and enjoyed some passionate piano playing and lively discussion over dessert.
I was very happy for a relaxing Sunday and brunch. I met up with my Marathon running friend (she's running Boston tomorrow and I am in awe). We both ate quite well and I was happy to share a side of pancakes, though I am certainly not doing anything nearly as athletic as her tomorrow. The place we had brunch is a cute spot right at a regional airport. It was fun to chat, eat and watch the planes taking off. I've always loved watching planes and have fond memories of going to the regional airport near where I grew up with my grandfather to watch the planes.
I was very happy for a relaxing Sunday and brunch. I met up with my Marathon running friend (she's running Boston tomorrow and I am in awe). We both ate quite well and I was happy to share a side of pancakes, though I am certainly not doing anything nearly as athletic as her tomorrow. The place we had brunch is a cute spot right at a regional airport. It was fun to chat, eat and watch the planes taking off. I've always loved watching planes and have fond memories of going to the regional airport near where I grew up with my grandfather to watch the planes.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
April Fool's
Today brought me a letter in the mail that really should have been an April Fool's joke. Sadly, it was not. I have been working non-stop for the last four days on a project that went awry but was ultimately completed on time so it's been stressful to say the least. Add to that people not doing their jobs and well, it's not been a delightful time. But I got through it and was feeling a bit better about things today.
Then the letter. It from the Diocese of Manchester, NH. The Diocese? As a former Catholic seeing the word Diocese on the envelope was enough to make me break out in hives or want to sin immediately
My ex-husband is getting remarried finally. I am indeed happy for him and wish him happiness and wedded bliss. I also wish to not be remotely involved. He has always been a needy person and required more from me than me from him. It has not changed in our many years apart. We are friends but I really was not the one for him to ask advice about how to propose. My stepmother thinks he's being remarkably insensitive and it's a valid point. It's actually more he's a bit clueless.
Anyway, his fiancee comes from a very Catholic family (the kind that go to Church everyday). To appease her family they are to be wed in a Catholic church. This is where things get tricky. Seems the little matter of our non-denominational marriage is causing him an issue. He's not willing to annul it (neither am I) so he's been jumping through crazy hoops to ensure he can have his wedding there.
First came the request for a copy of my baptismal certificate. Mine. Seems since we were both baptized part of the hurdles for his wedding involve dragging my religious history into it.
So fine, baptism certificate. I found that horribly intrusive. I should have known better as I hadn't seen anything yet.
The letter today contained seven questions I need to write essay responses to and then mail back in two weeks. Oh, they mentioned I could use the handy SASE they provided. Damn church didn't even do that.
The questions range from the obvious (what is my full name, what religion was I baptized) to the inane (did we have permission from the church to marry outside the church, was the marriage ever blessed). I should mention here that my ex is an atheist so nothing remotely religious occurred in our wedding ceremony which was fine with both of us as I ceased being a Catholic in my teens.
The best question is "Was there a sacred rite performed by a priest?" My initial answer was to put "goat and virgin sacrifices" but I'm guess that's not what they are looking for.
I am again stunned by the invasion of privacy and am in the dangerous (for my ex) position of being all fired up from work, have the ability to write well, have a bit of free time and a grudge. As someone who has known me for a long time, you'd think he'd be worried and remember this is a combination akin to dynamite.
When I asked him about the essay questions today he played dumb "I thought they were just sending you something to confirm your address". Sure thing and I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. He also helpfully added "thanks for doing this". I did point out I hadn't done it yet. If he can live with the hypocrisy of pledging his love and faith in something he doesn't even believe in to make his fiancee happy that's his business. But to keep involving me is not right. Oh and the best part is that he said his priest said that most exes get pissed about this letter. Sounds just like the Catholic church to me. Is it puzzling? Does it make no sense and piss people off? Then let's keep doing it. If it were possible for me to be even less Catholic that I currently am, this letter would do it.
Then the letter. It from the Diocese of Manchester, NH. The Diocese? As a former Catholic seeing the word Diocese on the envelope was enough to make me break out in hives or want to sin immediately
My ex-husband is getting remarried finally. I am indeed happy for him and wish him happiness and wedded bliss. I also wish to not be remotely involved. He has always been a needy person and required more from me than me from him. It has not changed in our many years apart. We are friends but I really was not the one for him to ask advice about how to propose. My stepmother thinks he's being remarkably insensitive and it's a valid point. It's actually more he's a bit clueless.
Anyway, his fiancee comes from a very Catholic family (the kind that go to Church everyday). To appease her family they are to be wed in a Catholic church. This is where things get tricky. Seems the little matter of our non-denominational marriage is causing him an issue. He's not willing to annul it (neither am I) so he's been jumping through crazy hoops to ensure he can have his wedding there.
First came the request for a copy of my baptismal certificate. Mine. Seems since we were both baptized part of the hurdles for his wedding involve dragging my religious history into it.
So fine, baptism certificate. I found that horribly intrusive. I should have known better as I hadn't seen anything yet.
The letter today contained seven questions I need to write essay responses to and then mail back in two weeks. Oh, they mentioned I could use the handy SASE they provided. Damn church didn't even do that.
The questions range from the obvious (what is my full name, what religion was I baptized) to the inane (did we have permission from the church to marry outside the church, was the marriage ever blessed). I should mention here that my ex is an atheist so nothing remotely religious occurred in our wedding ceremony which was fine with both of us as I ceased being a Catholic in my teens.
The best question is "Was there a sacred rite performed by a priest?" My initial answer was to put "goat and virgin sacrifices" but I'm guess that's not what they are looking for.
I am again stunned by the invasion of privacy and am in the dangerous (for my ex) position of being all fired up from work, have the ability to write well, have a bit of free time and a grudge. As someone who has known me for a long time, you'd think he'd be worried and remember this is a combination akin to dynamite.
When I asked him about the essay questions today he played dumb "I thought they were just sending you something to confirm your address". Sure thing and I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. He also helpfully added "thanks for doing this". I did point out I hadn't done it yet. If he can live with the hypocrisy of pledging his love and faith in something he doesn't even believe in to make his fiancee happy that's his business. But to keep involving me is not right. Oh and the best part is that he said his priest said that most exes get pissed about this letter. Sounds just like the Catholic church to me. Is it puzzling? Does it make no sense and piss people off? Then let's keep doing it. If it were possible for me to be even less Catholic that I currently am, this letter would do it.
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