Anastasia — Page 5

Cooler, Anastasia, Louise Penny and Dad

September 28, 2017 at 8:59 am by Claudia

It’s cooler today – I’d say a good 10 or 15 degrees cooler. Thank heavens! It’s been so hot that I couldn’t mow or rake or anything and today I will be able to do all of the above.

Don saw Anastasia last night and loved it. I’m so glad he could finally get there. Christy emailed me during the show saying she was going to put him on the list to get backstage, but he never saw my texts, so that didn’t work out. As it was, he had to catch his bus to NJ and it was late. He has a full day of rehearsal today and a press event at the end of the day. His text to me at intermission about Christy: I can’t figure out if she’s the best singer I’ve ever heard or the best actress! Maybe both.

Yes, she’s extraordinary. That spurred me to listen to her singing Journey to the Past on my iPhone after I’d retired upstairs for bed. She gives me chills.

Speaking of chills, I finished the Louise Penny yesterday and, once again, sat here clutching the book to my chest, tears streaming down my face. The same thing happened last year. There is no one better at weaving together the complex strands of a mystery while at the same time writing about the human condition, the fight between good and evil, the love that connects us all. I love her.

As I said on Instagram, it’s not fair to start another mystery right after reading Louise Penny because it will pale in comparison, so I’ve started the latest (just out) Jan Karon, To Be Where You Are.

My order of the main floor of the MiPad is due to arrive today. It just left London on Monday! Anyway, I’m excited to see it and start dreaming of what I’m going to do with the whole thing.

Finally, today is my dad’s birthday. He would have been 94. I miss you, Dad. I think about you every day. Happy Birthday!

Happy Thursday.

Blooming and Reading

September 27, 2017 at 9:00 am by Claudia

In the early evening, I sometimes stand just inside the kitchen door and look at the buds on the morning glory, trying to figure out how many are far enough along to bloom the next morning. Last night, I think I came up with twelve.

There are fifteen flowers this morning.

It’s a foggy morning, so this is the best I can do. All that loveliness!

And the other planting, in the chicken wire fence garden, has a bloom.

And a lot of buds.

Then there’s the other batch of morning glories, the petite version, that have been blooming all summer and continue to do so.

And the ever wonderful zinnias, late summer/early fall beauties.

As all of these flowers happen to be planted in the memorial garden and chicken wire fence garden – right outside the kitchen window – I am blessed with their beauty throughout the day.

I’ve been so scattered lately, what with working in Hartford and driving home on my days off, going into NYC here and there to coach, along with Don being away and coming home on his days off. It’s been hard to concentrate on any one thing, including the latest Louise Penny, which I’ve been reading in bits and pieces.

This morning, I said, “Enough!”

This is one of my very favorite authors, as you well know. She deserves more of my time. So I’ve been reading since 6:30 am. I finally took a break to write this post, only because I don’t want to be getting close to the ending only to have to stop to take care of business.

She’s a stunningly talented writer, which is an understatement. More on that later. I’m going to close now and get back to the book and the rest of my coffee.

Don is going to finally get to see the Broadway version of Anastasia tonight. Yay!

Happy Wednesday.

Countdown

June 26, 2017 at 9:43 am by Claudia

One week from today, I fly to San Diego and I have a lot to do in that week, not the least of which is waiting until the last couple of days to mow the front yard and back forty, tackle everything on my To Do list; etcetera, etcetera. Today is a day to make lists, buy another pair of shorts, do some weed whacking, and clean. As to the shorts: I hate trying on clothes these days. I have to gird my loins for the whole experience. Sigh.

I met with the realtors yesterday at that house my friends are interested in. Long story short: I told them to get on a plane. It’s gorgeous, it’s one-of-a-kind and it suits them perfectly. I took a lot of pictures and spent a few hours editing them, then I sent them in batches to Rick. They’re flying out tomorrow night and I’ll most likely see them on Wednesday. We’ll see what happens. As always, our high property taxes are an issue – they’re an issue for Don and me – and would be an even bigger issue to Rick and Doug as the property is 27 acres.

But it’s a beautiful home.

Our chimney guy came to the house last Monday and took off the metal mold that was holding the cement in place. All done. It’s just a chimney, but it’s been a long time coming.

I am off to NYC tomorrow to do some coaching on Anastasia. In and out on the same day. I also have a book review scheduled for tomorrow, the first one in quite a while. Spoiler alert: I loved the book.

Can you tell I’ve shifted into ‘Efficiency’ mode?