I am the Audience

I did not take pictures because they would be pointless

February 3, 2023

art, Beautiful

Tonight, we went to the Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State University in Raleigh, NC. The Gregg is on the small side. But, every time we have been there, they have had amazing exhibitions that are worth the hour in the car to visit.

There was an opening event for the newest exhibition this evening. I can’t go on the weekend and they aren’t open late any weeknight. So, in order to go with my friend, Kimberlin, we had to go tonight. We were all 3 gobsmacked.

This is Not: Aldwyth in Retrospect is overwhelming. She has made massive collages and found art sculptures that are just fabulous.

We intend to go again, during the day, when we mostly have the place to ourselves. I may try to get some photos to show you what has me so blown away. I may be incapable.
Watching together

January 25, 2023

family

I do not remember going to the movies with only my dad. I vaguely remember going to the drive-in with both of my parents when I was wee, before I had sisters. and I remember being in the car with the sound box in the window more than I remember the movie, although I’ve been told that’s where I saw Snow White the first time.

Our parents did take all of their daughters to see Blazing Saddles. They had already been to see it and wanted to watch us when the cowboys had beans around the campfire. My sisters were 9 and 7; I was 14.

My mother, grandmother and I went to see Mary, Queen of Scots together. I was shocked by the murder of Lord Dudley. They were surprised by that. Kate said, “You knew he was murdered.” I said, “I guess I didn’t expect to watch it happen.” The only other movie I ever saw with my grandmother was Titanic and she was ready to leave after the ship sank. The love story was uninteresting to her. I believe she thought it was going to be a documentary.

I watched television with my dad. Laugh In. M*A*S*H. Hee Haw. Carol Burnette. I remember the 3 of us watching Ed Sullivan and Red Skelton together. But, when I was older, my mother either did other things while we watched those shows or didn’t really participate in the laughing and commentary.

One of her oddities was her loathing of day time soap operas but love of the night time ones. She did everything she could to stop me watching All My Children and Dark Shadows. I assumed she thought Dark Shadows would give me nightmares. But, I think she just hated that it was a soap opera. I binged AMC 2 or 3 times in my life, watching for a few weeks and then getting tired of it and leaving it alone for years. She always rolled her eyes and nagged me about watching it.f

But, my parents watched the night time soaps together and she loved them. Dallas and Knots Landing were never missed. Except by me. I thought they were stupid, the people and the stories. And not in an amusing way. The 30 minute day time shows amused me and the 60 minute night time shows did not.
Blue cheese

January 15, 2023

food & drink

I have 3 kinds of blue cheese in my fridge. I got Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton at Trader Joe’s to see if I can tell them apart and/or care about the differences.

So, of course, Chuck prefers one and I prefer another.

I really only have a preference when I’m eating them at the same time. Individually, I like them all.
My orchid

January 2, 2023

a day in this life
Many years ago, (a decade? longer? less?) I found a Phalenopsis at the grocery that was absolutely lovely. I have never been successful with orchids, as much as I love them, and had given up bringing them home with me. It hurt my feelings to see them die in my care.

But, this orchid had a tag that said I could keep it healthy and happy if I would but 3 ice cubes on it once a week. It was relatively inexpensive so I brought it home.

And it didn’t die.

When the blossoms finally withered, the stem they had grown on remained green. I am a believer in leaving green alone until it finishes producing food for the plant. A new stem grew off the side of the original one and made more blooms. That’s the first time I ever got new growth on an orchid.

Eventually, I got it an orchid pot. And, again, it didn’t die when I transplanted it. (That’s the new pot in the picture.)

But, it didn’t bloom for a couple of years. I was about to give up on new blossoms when we went to a show by the local orchid society. I asked one of the members about my plant he suggested fresh growing medium and orchid food spray.

I did both things. After 3 or 4 months of no change, I was about to give up completely when I saw a stem starting. It bloomed and the blossoms lasted a long time on that single stem.

Last Fall, I got another stem of flowers and have left the stem alone while it remained green, even though the blossoms have been gone for months.

It’s rewarding me with another bloom branch and appears to have 2 buds forming.
Descartes before the….?

December 25, 2022

dancing in the field of dreams