The Beat Goes On

Winter, music, schedule juggling of mighty proportions, dashing all over the country. Everybody is hanging in there, and the prospect of calmer times is not far away. A week from Sunday should see a decline in intense activity.

One afternoon, I was picking up Keoni from a practice at Seth's, and came upon Shostakovich in a way I'd never heard before. Gave me a brand new appreciation.



...maybe can be described as musical acute angles.

Another transportation time gave me a first look at Aidan's indoor soccer team game.

Through the plexiglass brightly.
Aidan wallops one. You can make bank shots off the solid surrounds, but out-of-bounds if it hits a net above the solid barriers.

And through the glass...

Aidan at a summer soccer game. Gave it to him for Christmas.

Wendy and Keoni flew to Atlanta last weekend, Boston on Monday; then, yesterday to Cleveland with John for two auditions--Oberlin and Cleveland Institute of Music. Friday ahead is NYC, Sunday a competition back here somewhere, I think.

Cleveland bound.

Meanwhile, the animals are getting through the frigid weather with Wendy's careful guidance and various family assists. Four goat birthings are expected starting in April. Snickerdoodle knows his business. Toby was out adventuring on the snow crusts yesterday in hunting mode along the fence row weeds, but came barreling back to eat his canned stuff in the afternoon. His igloo and dense coat seem to keep him decently comfortable.

Aidan and I play some hands of his latest passion: Texas Holdem'.

Not hard to guess whose hand won this one.

Basic Needs & Myriad Other

Whew! This household is getting through whirlwinds of activity and commitments. Sometimes, just sometimes, it pays to be the old person.

In the advertised storm for the East Coast, John at the wheel, and Keoni drove off for an Eastman audition in Rochester, NY. Winter smiled, gave them passage and an hour after their departure the heavy snowing here at Ridge Road stopped. Inland, the Winter relented until Sunday--not enough time to fully melt Aidan's snowman when the Ice Wind King's arrival reminded us of penguins huddled in polar violence.

The wind-circled snowman's remains.

Before galloping to Sunday, there was our Saturday morning observance of Valentine's Day and chocolate to substitute for sensible breakfasts, followed by Aidan's 12th birthday afternoon celebration at the snow-tubing place with two friends, Tyler and Jacob.

Sometime that afternoon, I picked up Keoni at the train station so he could celebrate with his brother after his Saturday PYO rehearsal. After a delicious sampling of Jesse's BBQ takeout offerings and lovely, Wendy-made, German Chocolate Cake, I headed to a Valentine's Day church gathering for awhile; then, motored to a close by venue where Keoni's Saturday night gig was taking place. While I was doing this and waiting outside the country club, four inches of snow fell and Keoni and I left in sometimes white-out conditions that muddled our way enough to have to retreat a bit and start over. As we started again, the new white layering over earlier, now-frozen slush hiding beneath, the snow squall relented some and we slowly made our way home. Trusty pony Subaru passed a clutch of stalled, wheel-spinning vehicles on one of Allentown Road's hills; a tow truck following behind us on its way to their rescue.

Sundays I rise early and am first in the shower, often done in time to make the coffee before John and Wendy stir. So it was, while weather dominated with the most terrible wind we've had so far. It kept up through Monday quieting Tuesday. John drove us into Philly for Keoni's PYO concert at Kimmel Center. While the orchestra rehearsed at Kimmel we bucked the wind on the street to Wendy and John's favorite wait-for-the-concert place nearby--Perch Pub--and had brunch.

The concert hall lobby had a new installation that I liked...

Tire tread sharks.

Keoni took his place among his peers as Concert Master.

The Tchaikovski Concerto was gorgeous.

We came home to no water. The basement pipes had succumbed to freezing temp level due to 36 hours of zero temps outdoors was Monday's diagnosis by the busy plumber. This didn't dovetail with my intestinal disturbance developed by late Sunday. Monday: Wendy and John, upstairs, downstairs, outside, in the barn, in the basement, at the hardware store, and much else. Keoni at Kimmel again volunteering and mentoring Jr. High age kids, transporting to Lansdale Septa. Meanwhile, I'm going back and forth to the Landis supermarket to use their bathroom. Sometimes taking a grandson to give them a meal at their buffet. All praises, Tuesday morning the toilet flushed. The five heaters John put in the basement thawed the pipes.

A delightful and welcome text view of Kingston arrived from Sonja, Sunday evening...

I'm going to come hug you, sweet boy!

You thought I'd finished weather talk! Tuesday morning...

Wendy, John and the boys cleared the drive again, and Aidan swept the snow off my and his mom's ponies.

This morning all were startled when the power went off. Big sigh when it came back on 15 minutes later.

Sometime this weekend Aidan and I did some shopping...

Aidan reliably enjoys a sporting goods moment.

Cello Man

Once in awhile, a choice has to be made that is not very easy. Keoni playing at the District's Honors Orchestra where he earned a spot, or go to brother Aidan's debut concert in his earned first cello chair position. Since it was Aidan's debut, Wendy, John and I went to the PRYSM concert held at Haverford School. Keoni heartily agreed that was the thing to do--bless his generous heart.

Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings, Op.48...



Various members of the Philadelphia Orchestra take part in the practices, rehearsals and performances mentoring and guiding the youngsters in their pursuits. You may have noted the white haired gentleman in the back of the violin section. He is is Bob de Pasquale who teaches Keoni. He is retired from Philly Orchestra. His widowed sister-in-law is conducting; also, plays in Philly Orchestra. She teaches Aidan. Her late husband was in the same orchestra, as well.

Keoni, home from his concert, watches and listens to Wendy's iPhone recording of Aidan's concert.

Bolding Boys.

Degrees of Winter

Among frosted breaths,
beneath booted steps
along my path,
I search for Spring.
From her snow blanket
Earth whispers--
the promises will come true.

Too soon!
howls Winter's chafing gale.
Then, quiet again--
her jewelry
dances in slanted
distant sun.

Beneath the white layer
rot leaves
from exquisite bare trunks and branches
standing in relief
against the deep fir greens--
the naked sky.
The earthen layers
await the orbit ahead
to melt into the gurgle of their time--
the rocks split,
the roadway crumbles.

Steadily, the days grow longer.
Earth's travels
increase Sun's light--
hour by hour.
       --JM