danajohnhill.org | Hard Times Come Again No More

Although it is raining lightly as I write this, the weather has lately improved.  Highs near seventy degrees, clear or partly-cloudy skies, beautiful sunsets, and so on.  So, last night I went to a baseball game with my friend Marty.  He’s as big a sports fan as anyone I know.  He’s the kind of guy who actually keeps score while watching the game.

Florida State University was playing Florida at McKethan Stadium here at UF.  It is a lovely park, with a particularly fine view of great pines and some of the taller campus landmarks.  Marty met me there.  He even brought me a drink down from the press box.  My free ticket also entitled me to a free “Beat FSU” t-shirt, which I gave to Marty.  We sat up on the third base side, above the Gators dugout.

The game got off to a rough start.  FSU scored three runs in the first inning, then another two in the second.  UF scored a couple runs early on, which kept me from feeling hopeless.  But that would be it for FSU.  They hardly got another hit after the second, and their pitching deteriorated in a manner that was uncomfortable to watch.  Literally.  The changed pitchers at least six times, and by the seventh inning, with the sun having already set, and the wind having picked up, it was cold.  Hundreds–maybe even thousands–of fans who had arrived at the game wearing only shorts and short-sleeved shirts fled.  Those who stayed–Marty and me included–just wanted the game to end.  But FSU’s pitching troubles continued, and they had so many conferences on the mound, followed by pitching changes, and new-pitcher-warm-ups, that the dedicated fans who stayed nevertheless felt the urge to boo.  It got ugly in the bottom of the eighth, with the wind howling through the stadium, when the catcher once again walked from the plate out to the mound.  It wasn’t Disco Demolition Night, but there was loud, angry heckling, and many cries of “let’s just get this over with!”

Florida won eight to five, and I biked home in the dark and cold.  But it was great, and I look forward to doing it again.

Filed under: Friends, Meteorology, Sports on March 17th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

I thought it was odd when I slept past eleven o’clock this morning.  This afternoon, I was surprised and delighted to learn that daylight saving time has begun.  I rode my bike home from work tonight after seven o’clock, and still had enough light to sort the recycling.

Better still, it is less frigid lately than it has been in months.  I am building Miriam a closet, and while I work I have been keeping the windows open.  The azaleas are beginning to bloom, too, and the trees are getting their new leaves.  This has been a horrible winter.

Filed under: Current Events, Meteorology on March 14th, 2010 | No Comments »

 Samuel Barber was born a hundred years ago today.  If he had only written Knoxville: Summer of 1915 he would still be important in my book.  It is the perfect marriage of music and text, namely, James Agee’s recollections of his childhood.

But Barber, of course, wrote much more.  Yesterday, for example, I listened to Gil Shaham’s wonderful recording of Barber’s Violin Concerto, which deserves a place in the regular concert repertoire.

Happy Birthday, Samuel Barber.

UPDATE:  When I arrived at work this morning, I noticed that Exploring Music this week is devoted to Samuel Barber.  Tomorrow, in fact, the show will feature Knoxville: Summer of 1915, and the fabulous Summer Music for Woodwind Quintet.  Friday’s show will have the Piano Concerto played by John Browning – a recording I have on CD.

Filed under: Music, Nostalgia, Special Occasions, WAYLTL, Work on March 9th, 2010 | No Comments »

I don’t know who The Swell Season are, but, God bless them, they’ve done the best cover of “Drive All Night” ever.  The singer absolutely understands what this great song is about. He even drags out the word “lives”, which is essential.

A live full-band version exists, too, and it is just as good.

Filed under: Popular Music on March 7th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Frost’s “Mending Wall” may tell us that “good fences make good neighbors”, but I am not so sure.  I have a pretty shoddy fence, but my neighbors are all fine people.  Just this afternoon, my neighbors Trish and Andy helped me move some very heavy furniture.  When she saw the truck in my driveway she said, “Oh no! You’re not moving, are you?”  They mail a Christmas card every year, too, even though our houses are only fifty feet apart.  They’ve given nice gifts, like plants and hummingbird feeders.  The decrepit fence between our houses may keep their cows on their side, and my elves on mine, but neither of us is too worried about it.

Filed under: House, Literature and Books, Musings on March 6th, 2010 | No Comments »