Last night, Tod and I went to see Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at the Verizon Amphitheatre in Irvine.
What a great show! Although they started late, they played until 11:30, with a half-hour intermission.
I've never seen them live before, though Tod has, and he agreed that this was one of the best shows he's seen.
The crowd was made up mostly of baby-boomers like us. A few of those baby-boomers brought their kids. Then there were the 17-year-olds dressed up like hippies. And of course, the requisite ex-hippies dressed like 17-year-olds.
The first half consisted mostly of songs from Neil Young's new album Living With War. But there were interspersed some older CSNY material, like Wooden Ships. The second half started acoustically, with songs like Our House, and Guinevere. Just when I thought that they were going to do only acoustic stuff, they did a couple of other ones like Roger and Out. The high point of the second half, though, was Let's Impeach the PresidentI, which they did with the lyrics displayed on the video screens so the audience could sing along.
Oddly enough, when we were leaving the stadium, I overheard a couple of guys behind me discussing the concert. One of them said that he thought it was an okay concert, but he didn't like all the political stuff. That made me laugh. Obviously, the guy a) does not know much about CSNY's history, and b) hasn't read any of the press surrounding this tour and the reasons for it.
Note 8/01/06: Gee, maybe he was the guy who wrote the review in the LA Times!
For some reason, I assumed that people go to concerts to hear the music that is being played. For the first 10 minutes of the show last night, the woman next to me was calling her friends on her cell phone, and bragging in a very loud voice about where she was. And during the second half, there was a group of people behind us who seemed to think that the thing to do during the acoustic songs was to have a loud conversation.
On the whole, though, it was a great experience. These guys put on a great show!
Addendum #2. 8/01/06: Some more accurate reviews : OC Register, L.A. Daily News (this one is from the Hollywood Bowl show on Monday). The best review, I think, is the one from The Hollywood Reporter.
27 July 2006
Just finished reading...
Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read
Wow! What a great book. I picked this up because so many people on DorothyL had recommended it,. When I first started it, I was a little unsure, but after a couple of chapters, I was hooked.
The story, which takes place in 1988, is written from the point-of-view of 25-year-old Madline Dare, who is living in Syracuse, NY with her husband. Dean, her husband, is an inventor, but makes a living working for the railroads, which involves a lot of travelling. As a result, Madeline, a fledgling reporter, is left on her own a lot, and she broods about how lonely she is and how much she hates Syracuse.
Having lunch with Dean's family one day, she learns about the unsolved murder of two unknown young women at the NY State Fair twenty years earlier. She's interested, but not unduly so. Not until someone shows her what was found at the scene of the crime: a pair of army dogtags, which had belonged to her cousin. She's sure that her cousin is innocent, and sets out to prove that he was not involved.
Read is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Wow! What a great book. I picked this up because so many people on DorothyL had recommended it,. When I first started it, I was a little unsure, but after a couple of chapters, I was hooked.
The story, which takes place in 1988, is written from the point-of-view of 25-year-old Madline Dare, who is living in Syracuse, NY with her husband. Dean, her husband, is an inventor, but makes a living working for the railroads, which involves a lot of travelling. As a result, Madeline, a fledgling reporter, is left on her own a lot, and she broods about how lonely she is and how much she hates Syracuse.
Having lunch with Dean's family one day, she learns about the unsolved murder of two unknown young women at the NY State Fair twenty years earlier. She's interested, but not unduly so. Not until someone shows her what was found at the scene of the crime: a pair of army dogtags, which had belonged to her cousin. She's sure that her cousin is innocent, and sets out to prove that he was not involved.
Read is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work.
25 July 2006
Just finished reading...
Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
In the sixth Sookie Stackhouse book, Sookie goes out on a date with Quinn, a Were she met at the packmaster contest in the last book. Leaving the theatre, they are mugged by a pair of newly-bitten werewolves.
Then, Sookie has to go to New Orleans to go through her (vampire) cousin's estate, and ends up finding a body in her closet. Along with Quinn, and her cousin's landlady (a witch), she tries to figure things out , and finds herself in the midst of more than one supernatural scheme.
Sookie is a wonderful character; straightforward, clear-headed and practical, she doesn't take crap from anyone, even the otherworldy creatures that inhabit her life. I would have finished this in one day, if I hadn't had to sleep.
Next up: Cornelia Read's A Field of Darkness
In the sixth Sookie Stackhouse book, Sookie goes out on a date with Quinn, a Were she met at the packmaster contest in the last book. Leaving the theatre, they are mugged by a pair of newly-bitten werewolves.
Then, Sookie has to go to New Orleans to go through her (vampire) cousin's estate, and ends up finding a body in her closet. Along with Quinn, and her cousin's landlady (a witch), she tries to figure things out , and finds herself in the midst of more than one supernatural scheme.
Sookie is a wonderful character; straightforward, clear-headed and practical, she doesn't take crap from anyone, even the otherworldy creatures that inhabit her life. I would have finished this in one day, if I hadn't had to sleep.
Next up: Cornelia Read's A Field of Darkness
24 July 2006
Just finished reading...
No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Tess Monaghan is back. The story really starts when Tess' boyfriend Edgar "Crow" Ransome brings home a homeless teenager from a soup kitchen where he was delivering food. When Tess discovers that the boy, Lloyd, has information about the murder of a DA, she convinces him to talk to some reports, upon the promise of anonymity.
Of course, this causes quite a stir, and a pair of federal agents try to put pressure on Tess to reveal the boy's name. Frightened for Lloyd's safety, Crow takes him to a safe house, but that only serves to increase the desperation of the feds.
I was a bit surprised to learn the identity of the "bad guys:"; then I was surprised that I was surprised.
Great characterizations (even of the bad guys), great book. I had trouble putting it down, and even regretted getting to the end.
Tess Monaghan is back. The story really starts when Tess' boyfriend Edgar "Crow" Ransome brings home a homeless teenager from a soup kitchen where he was delivering food. When Tess discovers that the boy, Lloyd, has information about the murder of a DA, she convinces him to talk to some reports, upon the promise of anonymity.
Of course, this causes quite a stir, and a pair of federal agents try to put pressure on Tess to reveal the boy's name. Frightened for Lloyd's safety, Crow takes him to a safe house, but that only serves to increase the desperation of the feds.
I was a bit surprised to learn the identity of the "bad guys:"; then I was surprised that I was surprised.
Great characterizations (even of the bad guys), great book. I had trouble putting it down, and even regretted getting to the end.
16 July 2006
Mediterranean Blues at the Bowl
Last night, Tod and I went to the Hollywood Bowl for our first concert of the season. I love going to the Bowl: the elegant picnics beforehand (or the elegant dinners at the Rooftop Grill), relaxing with a glass of wine and/or dessert during the show.
The show we saw yesterday was entitled Mediterranean Blue: from Fado to Fireworks with Mariza. The first half was music by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, basically movie soundtracks from films that took place in the Mediterranean area: El Cid, The Godfather, Ben-Hur, and a medley from Casablanca. The cool thing about the Casablanca suite was the presence of the piano from Rick's Cafe, which is now owned by a Beverly Hills dentist who loaned it to the Orchestra for this show. It sounds pretty geeky to say I was star-struck by a piano, but I really was!
Mariza is a Portuguese singer of fado, which is a type of Portuguese fok music, generally very melancholy. Mariza has a legion of fans in this area, many of whom appeared to be at the show last night. They cheered and called for encores, and didn't seem to understand why the whole audience didn't do the same.
The concert ended with a fireworks display choreographed to selections from El Cid, and it was absolutely spectacular!
We both had a wonderful time, though it was a little disconcerting to listen to this wonderful voice singing the blues in a foreign language, and have absolutely no idea what she was sad about.
The show we saw yesterday was entitled Mediterranean Blue: from Fado to Fireworks with Mariza. The first half was music by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, basically movie soundtracks from films that took place in the Mediterranean area: El Cid, The Godfather, Ben-Hur, and a medley from Casablanca. The cool thing about the Casablanca suite was the presence of the piano from Rick's Cafe, which is now owned by a Beverly Hills dentist who loaned it to the Orchestra for this show. It sounds pretty geeky to say I was star-struck by a piano, but I really was!
Mariza is a Portuguese singer of fado, which is a type of Portuguese fok music, generally very melancholy. Mariza has a legion of fans in this area, many of whom appeared to be at the show last night. They cheered and called for encores, and didn't seem to understand why the whole audience didn't do the same.
The concert ended with a fireworks display choreographed to selections from El Cid, and it was absolutely spectacular!
We both had a wonderful time, though it was a little disconcerting to listen to this wonderful voice singing the blues in a foreign language, and have absolutely no idea what she was sad about.
14 July 2006
Just finished reading...
The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
Anyone who knows even a little about roses is aware that there is no such thing as a blue rose. In fact, rose breeders have been trying unsuccessfully to create one for years.
So when Alex and Kate Sheppard find one hidden in the gardens of their recently purchased house, they are excited. But once they start looking into the possibility of marketing their discovery, the realize that announcing the existence of a blue rose is like announcing the discovery of the Holy Grail.
Suddenly, they are receiving mysterious phone calls and letters from people who want them to turn over the rose.
But when a close friend dies, the possibility arises that the rose is somehow cursed.
One wouldn't expect the rose-breeding industry to be quite so dangerous, but as the story progresses this becomes more and more understandable.
This book will be appreciated by rose aficionados, gardeners in general, and most mystery lovers.
Next up: No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Anyone who knows even a little about roses is aware that there is no such thing as a blue rose. In fact, rose breeders have been trying unsuccessfully to create one for years.
So when Alex and Kate Sheppard find one hidden in the gardens of their recently purchased house, they are excited. But once they start looking into the possibility of marketing their discovery, the realize that announcing the existence of a blue rose is like announcing the discovery of the Holy Grail.
Suddenly, they are receiving mysterious phone calls and letters from people who want them to turn over the rose.
But when a close friend dies, the possibility arises that the rose is somehow cursed.
One wouldn't expect the rose-breeding industry to be quite so dangerous, but as the story progresses this becomes more and more understandable.
This book will be appreciated by rose aficionados, gardeners in general, and most mystery lovers.
Next up: No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
12 July 2006
Just finished reading....
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
I keep expecting Evanovich to run out of steam with this series, but, so far, she hasn't. In this outing, Stephanie is trying to find a guy who has stolen Ranger's identity. She does a pretty good job of internet research on the identity thief. I think she should give up the active bounty hunting, and just do the online searching part.
However, that wouldn't make for as exciting a story. Although none of Stephanie's cars get blown up here, a bad guy's car does. His house gets burnt down, too. Lula decides she's going to become a rock singer, and persuades Grandma Mazar to join the group.
Although we don't see Valerie and family this time, there are still the inevitable Friday night roast beef dinners with Stephanie's parents and Joe. And why the heck can't she just decide between Joe and Ranger?
Next up: The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
I keep expecting Evanovich to run out of steam with this series, but, so far, she hasn't. In this outing, Stephanie is trying to find a guy who has stolen Ranger's identity. She does a pretty good job of internet research on the identity thief. I think she should give up the active bounty hunting, and just do the online searching part.
However, that wouldn't make for as exciting a story. Although none of Stephanie's cars get blown up here, a bad guy's car does. His house gets burnt down, too. Lula decides she's going to become a rock singer, and persuades Grandma Mazar to join the group.
Although we don't see Valerie and family this time, there are still the inevitable Friday night roast beef dinners with Stephanie's parents and Joe. And why the heck can't she just decide between Joe and Ranger?
Next up: The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
03 July 2006
What I read on my summer vacation
The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn.
This is the story of Ivy Ames, a well-off New York businesswoman who loses her job, her husband , and her fancy Park Avenue townhouse. She rebuilds a life for herself and her two daughters, renting an apartment over a deli.
Stumped about how to make a living, she takes a friend's advice and starts a consulting business to help rich parents get their kids into preferred private pre-schools. She goes through many moral dilemmas (should she help a mob boss's daughter?), but in the end manages to survive.
A funny, touching read, this book is hard to put down.
Sonnet of the Sphinx by Diana Killian
This is the third book in the Poetic Death series. Grace Hollister is still living in England, working for Peter Fox in his antique store, and doing literary research on Romantic Poets. When Peter buys the contents of a farm, Grace discovers that there may be a previously unknown sonnet written by Percy Bysshe Shelley somewhere in the lot.
Peter's past as a thief comes back to haunt him (and Grace), with the appearance of a Turkish prison guard, and his murder. Grace is suspected of committing the crime in order to protect her friend.
The relationship between Grace and Peter finally seems to be going somwhere. But what about DI Drummond?
Feint of Art by Hailey Lind
Annie Kincaid learned the art of art forgery from her grandfather. At age 10, she painted a perfect likeness of the Mona Lisa, and was declared a prodigy. When she tried a similar stunt at 17, she was called a crook. Now, at almost 30, she is beginning to build a business doing faux finishes for peoples' homes, but she still has an uncanny knack for spotting fakes.
When an ex-boyfriend asks her to authenticate a Caravaggio painting he's just purchased for the art museum he's curator of, she has to tell him it's a forgery. When he disappears, she feels she must help to locate the original.
I met Hailey Lind at the LA Times Festival of Books. Or at least I thought I did. The blurb in the back of the book says that "Hailey Lind is the pseudonym of two sisters, one a historian in Virginia, the other an artist in California." Hmmmmm......
Manor of Death by Leslie Caine
In this, the third in the Domestic Bliss series Erin Gilbert is renovating a Victorian manor house belonging to one of her neighbours. Suddenly, things get very strange: she starts seeing ghosts in the house, and then the owner's babysitter dies mysteriously.
Along with her business competitor, Steve Sullivan, Erin attempts to get to the bottom of the weird occurrences, but not before there are more deaths.
Good, fast read.
The Dark Backward by Julia Buckley
When police officer Lily Caldwell's partner was killed, and she was shot, she "died". But she didn't see white lights or angels, she saw the face of the man who held the gun. He just happened to be the governor of the state. Of course, when she tries to tell her story, she's labelled as having post-traumatic stress, and loses her job and her husband.
But she continues to investigate, and soon the governor's continuing attempts to keep his past a secret get him in more and more trouble.
Loved this book, and want to see more by this author!
This is the story of Ivy Ames, a well-off New York businesswoman who loses her job, her husband , and her fancy Park Avenue townhouse. She rebuilds a life for herself and her two daughters, renting an apartment over a deli.
Stumped about how to make a living, she takes a friend's advice and starts a consulting business to help rich parents get their kids into preferred private pre-schools. She goes through many moral dilemmas (should she help a mob boss's daughter?), but in the end manages to survive.
A funny, touching read, this book is hard to put down.
Sonnet of the Sphinx by Diana Killian
This is the third book in the Poetic Death series. Grace Hollister is still living in England, working for Peter Fox in his antique store, and doing literary research on Romantic Poets. When Peter buys the contents of a farm, Grace discovers that there may be a previously unknown sonnet written by Percy Bysshe Shelley somewhere in the lot.
Peter's past as a thief comes back to haunt him (and Grace), with the appearance of a Turkish prison guard, and his murder. Grace is suspected of committing the crime in order to protect her friend.
The relationship between Grace and Peter finally seems to be going somwhere. But what about DI Drummond?
Feint of Art by Hailey Lind
Annie Kincaid learned the art of art forgery from her grandfather. At age 10, she painted a perfect likeness of the Mona Lisa, and was declared a prodigy. When she tried a similar stunt at 17, she was called a crook. Now, at almost 30, she is beginning to build a business doing faux finishes for peoples' homes, but she still has an uncanny knack for spotting fakes.
When an ex-boyfriend asks her to authenticate a Caravaggio painting he's just purchased for the art museum he's curator of, she has to tell him it's a forgery. When he disappears, she feels she must help to locate the original.
I met Hailey Lind at the LA Times Festival of Books. Or at least I thought I did. The blurb in the back of the book says that "Hailey Lind is the pseudonym of two sisters, one a historian in Virginia, the other an artist in California." Hmmmmm......
Manor of Death by Leslie Caine
In this, the third in the Domestic Bliss series Erin Gilbert is renovating a Victorian manor house belonging to one of her neighbours. Suddenly, things get very strange: she starts seeing ghosts in the house, and then the owner's babysitter dies mysteriously.
Along with her business competitor, Steve Sullivan, Erin attempts to get to the bottom of the weird occurrences, but not before there are more deaths.
Good, fast read.
The Dark Backward by Julia Buckley
When police officer Lily Caldwell's partner was killed, and she was shot, she "died". But she didn't see white lights or angels, she saw the face of the man who held the gun. He just happened to be the governor of the state. Of course, when she tries to tell her story, she's labelled as having post-traumatic stress, and loses her job and her husband.
But she continues to investigate, and soon the governor's continuing attempts to keep his past a secret get him in more and more trouble.
Loved this book, and want to see more by this author!
02 July 2006
Home again
Yesterday, we woke up at 5:30 a.m. Our flight left Shannon airport at 9:20. Landed in Atlanta about 12:45 local time, and left at 2:15. We arrived home around 3:30 p.m. PDT (the equivalent of 11:30 p.m. in Ireland) By the time we got home, it was after five, so we'd been up around 20 hours.
It was 81 F when we got into the car. Compared to high 50s- mid 60s in Ireland, it felt very warm!
We're all happy to be home. Nacht was very happy to have us back. After we'd unloaded the car, and Katy had gone to drive Sean home, Tod and I went outside to look at the garden. Nacht stood at the window and yowled, because he thought we were leaving him again. He was very anxious all evening, but he seems better today (although he does try to be where he can see at least oe of us).
I collapsed around seven. Tod managed to hang on until after 11. But we were all up (including Katy, who said she fell asleep around 10) by six, and wide awake. The newspaper hadn't even arrived yet!
Today's a fairly quiet day. Getting ourselves over the jet lag, doing laundry, and getting things organized around the house. It's going to be nice to eat at home, after two weeks of restaurant food.
Pictures will be posted soon. Katy and Sean took nearly 700 between them; Tod and I had just over 300.
It was 81 F when we got into the car. Compared to high 50s- mid 60s in Ireland, it felt very warm!
We're all happy to be home. Nacht was very happy to have us back. After we'd unloaded the car, and Katy had gone to drive Sean home, Tod and I went outside to look at the garden. Nacht stood at the window and yowled, because he thought we were leaving him again. He was very anxious all evening, but he seems better today (although he does try to be where he can see at least oe of us).
I collapsed around seven. Tod managed to hang on until after 11. But we were all up (including Katy, who said she fell asleep around 10) by six, and wide awake. The newspaper hadn't even arrived yet!
Today's a fairly quiet day. Getting ourselves over the jet lag, doing laundry, and getting things organized around the house. It's going to be nice to eat at home, after two weeks of restaurant food.
Pictures will be posted soon. Katy and Sean took nearly 700 between them; Tod and I had just over 300.
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