Exceptional Performance

I wanted to include more music in my life and my friend Barbara has made this possible.

I already knew about the monthly Saturday concerts at Kirkwood Presbyterian church in Springfield and attend them as often as possible. Barbara then told me about the monthly Sunday concerts at St. Patrick's Episcopal church, just a short 15-minute drive from my house.

On Sunday my friends Indra and Janet heard the incredible pianist Marianna Prjevalskaya play Debussy's Preludes Book 1 (including Danseuses de Delphes, Les collines d'Anacapri, and Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest) and Preludes Book 2 (including Brouillards, Feuilles mortes, and Feux d'artifice). She played with great passion and without sheet music!

 Indra and Janet

I had read up on Debussy beforehand and learned that he was responsible for causing the great break with the German and Austrian tradition at the beginning of the 20th Century. One remarkable feature of his music is the lack of a definite melody, of a musical progression. His pieces are more vertical than horizontal. At times I felt the sounds were not piano sounds but those of other instruments.

I cannot say that I like his music but I find it very interesting and fun to listen to, especially when played by an outstanding musician.

I must add that the refreshments after the performance were extraordinarily delicious, especially the mignon cream puffs and the brownies that somehow tasted like root beer.

Janet expertly used my phone to take a selfie!

       
                      Indra, Christine, and Janet

Our Constitution

GW Law Professor Jeffrey Rosen is the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Professor Rosen gave the first lecture of  the 2018-19 academic year to the GW Emeriti Society today. His topic: "The Future of the American Constitution." Yes, indeed. A very relevant topic.

His lecture was extremely interesting and thought provoking. The questions and comments made by several of the Emeriti were also interesting and thought provoking.

To get a flavor of his lecture, go to the website of the National Constitution Center at https://constitutioncenter.org/

You might want to listen to this week's podcast, We the People, which reviews the cases that will come before the Supreme Court this year.

The following can be found on the introductory page of the website:

Located on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, steps from where the Constitution was signed, the National Constitution Center is the only institution in America chartered by Congress to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” We are a private, non-profit, and we have three goals for fulfilling our mission: to serve as the Museum of We the People, America’s Town Hall, and a Headquarters for Civic Education. Our three goals can be summarized in three words: Visit. Learn. Debate.

Every day, we aim to bring the Constitution vividly to life and to inspire active citizenship through engaging exhibitions, dynamic discussions, and cutting-edge educational resources for people of all ages. We serve as a unique convening space, dedicated to presenting all sides of historic and contemporary constitutional questions by uniting exceptional leaders, writers, and thinkers from across the political spectrum.

On this web site, you’ll find up to the minute information about our latest exhibitions, videos and podcasts from our latest Town Hall programs and debates, and civic education resources for students and citizens of all ages, including the best Interactive Constitution on the web.

The more I participate in constitutional conversations, the more convinced I am that the Constitution is a conversation—one where citizens of different backgrounds and perspectives can disagree respectfully and energetically about the constitutional text and shape its meaning in the future. Thank you for taking the time to educate yourself about the U.S. Constitution by joining the conversation.

Healing

I again attended the Wednesday Healing Eucharist Service at the Church of the Epiphany in the District. I find this service very uplifting.

After the service four of us went to Au Bon Pain for lunch.

George, Linda, and Vivian

Christine

Family Sunday

Marcello and the boys came over for lunch and games this afternoon. Arthur and I were very happy to have them visit us. I was particularly happy to have three grandsons at one time - the oldest, the youngest, and the middle one!

Mima with Christian and Colin (Do they look taller than me?)

 Marcello relaxing

After a lunch of tortellinis and pumpkin ice cream, we watched football and played games.

The Redskins beat the Green Bay Packers. Wow!

Colin beat me at two games of checkers and we tied at the Box Numbers game. Then Arthur joined us and taught us a new card game, Golf. (Not sure what it had to do with golf, however.) It was a fun and lively game. Colin was the winner. Mima came in second. Arthur took third place.

Studying their cards

Marcello, by the way, did a lot of work for me. I am always grateful to him for his help with home maintenance, not one of my areas of expertise.

It was a wonderful afternoon. I hope they all return soon!

Theatre Outing

My dear sister bought us tickets for the Folger's new production of Macbeth. It was my birthday present (a bit belated but no matter). Unfortunately, we couldn't celebrate together because of her broken ankle. This impediment keeps her within a small radius of Frazer.

All was not lost, however. I invited my friend Indra to join me and she accepted. We had a very nice afternoon. We metro-ed into DC and our first stop was Pret a Manger for lunch. Not a particularly special place but Saturday is a difficult day in that area. Not many real restaurants are open. Sonoma would have been perfect but it is closed for lunch on the week-ends.

Christine and Indra at Pret a Manger

The play was a very new version of Macbeth. It took place in Bedlam, that infamous English mental institution. And the action on the stage certainly lived up to that now-infamous word, bedlam. The acting was excellent, as is usually the case at the Folger.

We agreed on our favorite actor, the man who played MacDuff. Lady Macbeth was also particularly impressive. Duncan was likable but didn't seem too bright. Macbeth was rather wimpy but maybe that is what Shakespeare had in mind.

Indra standing in front of the Folger Theatre

After the play we stopped at Starbuck's for an energy boost before our Metro ride home.

 Indra enjoying her coffee and cookie 

   
           My cookie with an obvious bite taken out of it

I also had my favorite Starbuck's drink. Chai Tea Latte.

Another Birthday

George and I have been celebrating our birthdays together for many years now. Today we celebrated George's birthday again.

We met at the Church of the Epiphany for the weekly Eucharist with a healing service. The thoughts of the priest were very meaningful. She focused on our need to let things go if they are keeping us stuck in one place and preventing us from moving forward. She gave examples of what could be holding us back. One hit home: Grief.

We went to Cafe Mozart for the birthday lunch. I had the potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce which I always have in this restaurant. George had chicken cordon bleu. Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert. What? A birthday lunch with no cake and at least one candle? Maybe we will have to make it up later!!

As we walked through the deli on the way out, George bought two jars of cloudberry jam, one for each of us. Very sweet of him!

                                                              George and Christine

Cruelty

Today our Book Discussion Group met in the church library to discuss Underground Railroad by 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction Winner Colson Whitehead.

Janet B led a very thought-provoking discussion in which the constant thread was man's inhumanity to man, specifically the horrific treatment of the slaves in the South. We looked at the past, the present, and the future of race relations in our country.

From the publisher's website:

In Colson Whitehead’s ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor: engineers and conductors operate a secret network of actual tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. 

The consensus of our group was, however, that the author's concept did not work well and it left us confused, wishing he had told the straight story. But the book was well written and most certainly provided a lot of food for thought - and for discussion.


     Janet Q, Judy L, and Janet B, Facilitator

Also present were Indra, Mary J, and Christine.

The discussion was held in the library as usual but in a very lovely, newly refurbished library, thanks to a generous contribution from May Kamalick in memory of her beloved husband Joe.

                                                            Another view of the library

Fine dining in Burke

Thanks to my friend Janet, I have discovered Rafagino's, a cozy Italian restaurant in Burke, very close to my home. Paolo the owner is Portuguese and Rosa his wife, who is the chef, is Italian from Le Puglie. The food is excellent, the atmosphere charming and the service stellar. I enjoyed speaking in Italian with Paolo (who, according to our server, speaks nine languages, seven of them fluently).


Janet chose the Chicken Parmigiana as her entree. She declared it delicious.

By the way, as you can see from the photo above, she is pretty in pink. We both were dressed in pink (and wore skirts!) and, no, we had not planned our outfits in advance over the phone!

                                       I chose the appetizer Burrata di Andria as my entree. Smooth and creamy!

For my dessert I chose the limoncello cake and it was truly divine. I also had a cup of espresso. 

(Yes, I am starting to drink espresso again after many years of abstinence.)

Janet chose the toasted almond cake and it too was truly divine, especially since it was soaked with Amaretto!

This charming little restaurant has been tucked away in a corner of a shopping center on Old Keene Mill Road for 23 years! I am so glad Janet introduced me to a wonderful place to eat in the 'hood!

The exact address is 9570 Old Keene Mill Road. 

(The Swiss Bakery is in the same shopping center but it doesn't have a cafe like the Swiss Bakery in Ravensworth.)

Remarkable Music

I attended a remarkable concert with three friends. It was part of the Odeon Chamber Music Series and the musicians were Amit Peled, Cello, and Noreen Polera, Piano. They were absolutely incredible.

They played two Brahms sonatas and, after their first standing ovation, concluded with Brahms Lullaby.

Program:

Cello Sonata #1 in E minor, Op. 38

Cello Sonata #2 in F major, Op. 99

I was astounded, as I sat listening and watching the cellist, at the music that was coming out of his instrument. It was unbelievable.

What astounded me about the pianist was the incredible energy and passion with which she played, matching her cellist partner.

Here is a photo of two of my friends. Missing is Barbara who unfortunately never stands still for more than a few seconds.

 

My friends Camilla and Indra

The concert was held at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, an Anglo-Vietnamese Community, in Falls Church.

Back to church

I met George at the Church of the Epiphany for the Wednesday Healing Service. I felt very comfortable there and was happier and more relaxed afterwards. I need a spiritual reawakening and this helped.

The homily was very meaningful and I was glad to see some of the familiar attendees who are all George's friends now.

After the service George and I went next door to Au Bon Pain and had a very nice lunch with three other very interesting parishioners.

Cooking Together

I drove up to Bowie today to visit my friend Dona. We had decided to have a cooking session. We each offered a recipe and furnished the ingredients.

I brought a recipe for Mediterranean Orzo Salad. My daughter-in-law had prepared it for Easter this year and I liked it very much.

Dona chose to prepare a frittata. She also provided crisp French bread and surprising cranberry juice.

Everything was a delicious success and we had a lovely time, eating and talking.

Orzo Salad with Kalamata olives, hearts of palm, and feta cheese 

Dona's frittata with mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese

          Dona                                                                                                  Christine

I met my friend Anne for lunch at the delightful Alexandria Pastry Cafe in Bradlee Shopping Center on King Street in Arlington.

                                                             Christine and Anne

I had a delicious spinach quiche and Anne had a sandwich. For dessert we shared a scrumptious lemon bar and a small bowl of fresh fruit. (You cannot go to this fine pastry shop without having at least one pastry.)

We met at 1 pm and finally checked our watches at 4:10! We obviously had a lot to talk about. We had not been together for probably more than 10 years (maybe 20?) so there was a lot of catching up to do.

Anne is a very interesting person and I enjoyed talking with her on a wide variety of subjects. Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned about her today was her membership in a German book club. The members choose books written in German and then discuss them in German. Very impressive!  I  belong to an Italian book club but it meets in the evenings in DC and the location is not easily accessible for me. I do read all of the books on the club's reading list, however.