Downloading Beethoven

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Stumbled across a thoroughly impressive classical music blog.

Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata score

On the strength of the post on Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, I bought a recording by Jeno Jando, who I learn is one of the few who plays the rhythm correctly. Though of course I love the Moonlight (sonata number 14), I’m loving the whole record, especially the Adagio from the Pathetique (number 8). When I was little my mother used to play it; I could hear it from down the hall while I was falling asleep. It’s the single most reassuring, comforting, peaceful piece of music I know.

I got it from Amazon’s new mp3 store, by the way, which I think is pretty darn good. Their selection is not bad at all for a new store. I just wish you could choose aac, not just mp3.

Magnatune also carries a limited but excellent selection of recordings, available at very high quality.

Welcome back into my life, Ludwig! I’ve missed you.

My mom’s garden

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My mom has a passion for gardening, and her Pacific Northwest garden is a beauty. The harmoniously varied shapes, colors, textures and arrangements reflect her deep artistic and natural sensibilities. I wish I were a less horrible photographer and could even begin to do justice to more than a small section of this eden.

Click this first picture for a larger version.

My Mom’s garden

More pics after the jump…

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Offline for a few days

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Hi all of my huge readership,

 I’m out of town and mostly offline for a few more days, visiting my mom, sister, brother-in-law and nephew. We’re just puttering around with yard work, walks, bookstore shopping, lunch out, that sort of thing. Saw a well-done preview of a play based on Snow Falling on Cedars, done by book-it.org; the descriptions are recited by various actors. It works surprisingly well as a way of adapting a book to a play.

 I’ll write some posts later next week, I promise! See you, Jessi

No evil ice cream cone for you, nephew

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Evil IcecreamMy eleven-year-old nephew (I’ll call him L) found the designer toy store! I didn’t know it existed. It’s called Cardboard Spaceship. It is full of all things simultaneously cute and warped. He wanted everything in the store, I suspect, but strategically chose this relatively inexpensive item to ask for: an evil ice cream cone. We said no because he has so much stuff already we can’t imagine where he’d squish it into his room. Sorry, L! At least the store had lots of cool free stickers and postcards, and he got to collect several.

The DudsonsSo as a consolation, here’s a picture of said evil object, and also a set of toys I like by the guy who did Scary Girl (I recommend the comic you’ll find there).

After leaving Cardboard Spaceship, we hit the boardwalk arcade where L proceeded to invest many quarters, getting the longest play time for his two bits on the Super Mario pinball machine. If I find myself there again, I’ll head for Super Mario right away. Rewarding play, fun sounds, more time for your quarter than the average pinball game. This guy likes it too.

I have a secret hankering to try Dance Dance Revolution but can’t get anyone to join me.