Being plugged in or not

Summer solstice

Being plugged in or not has popped up several times earlier this year.

Memorial Day week

My wife suggested the family stay at a timeshare in Hancock, MA, just across the border from New York. I don’t know how relaxing it was for my wife because she had to travel to Albany and back, 45 minutes each way, almost every day for work. One of my daughter’s friends came as well. The entity allowed four devices to be connected to the Internet.

My daughter, her friend, and my wife opted to connect to their phones. But I chose my laptop. I could write blog posts, check email, and post to Facebook. More importantly, I played Wordle on my laptop, and I had a 515-game streak.

Still, I was surprised that I had such poor cell reception outside the resort. Indeed, I couldn’t use my phone until I got about five miles into New York.

June 5/6

About a quarter before midnight, my wife asked to use my laptop. She generally leaves hers at work.

I unplugged mine and gave it to her. When she was done, I put mine back in place, played Wordle, and went to bed.

During the morning, I checked my email and wrote a blog post, et al., until I noticed that my battery was running low. I had failed to plug it in. OK, easy, right? Not easy. I must have stepped on the end of the charger that plugs into the device.

I could get a new one from Amazon in two days, but that wouldn’t do, because Blog, Wordle, et al. So, I hopped on a bus to Best Buy and purchased a Microsoft 65W Wall Surface charger. (I’m writing this so I’ll know what I need in the future.)

June 20

It was the third of three days of 90F+ temperatures.  Around 5:30 pm, as the Times Union noted: “A brutal storm blew through Albany early Thursday evening, taking down trees, damaging buildings… National Weather Service meteorologist Brett Rathbun said it’s not likely a tornado tore through the city. Instead, hot and humid air was likely suddenly pushed downward as a cold front rolled in and ended this week’s heat wave, causing short-lived and intense wind gusts in what was likely a pulse, or single-cell, thunderstorm.” Also, power was cut for thousands, including us.

It was fine for a time. The restaurants at the end of Madison Avenue, less than two blocks away, still had power and were doing brisk business. (Actually, the real danger is that drivers, impatient with the nearby intersection, which I have described, nearly caused a dozen accidents.

As nightfall came, my wife took my daughter’s two soaked friends home. My wife and my daughter then went to get more flashlights and to charge our phones in the car.

I tried to read by flashlight, but that got old in six pages. Instead, I sat on the front porch in a lawn chair. Here’s the thing that’s interesting to me: I enjoyed it. A lot. I couldn’t be on my laptop, and I didn’t have my cellphone, so I embraced the moment.

Because of light pollution, city skies aren’t pitch black, so I could peruse the outlines of the massive trees nearby. Watching people negotiate the dark with flashlights and cellphones gave me the feeling that we were all in it together.

Of course, trying to go to sleep sans air conditioner or fan was a drag, but the power thankfully returned at about 11:30 pm.

Stormy after Midnight

solo cat

How is our remaining cat Stormy after Midnight passed away? She’s doing OK, but she’s changed somewhat. She used to be much quieter and out of the way most of the time, but now she seems to have taken on some of Midnight’s attributes.

Specifically, she’s very loud when she wants food or even when she’s been fed. Midnight used to start on his food, then go over to hers, and I had to intervene. She doesn’t have to fight for her meals and tends to graze most of the day.

Her diet is also changing; she is, after all, 11, and so she’s an older cat. She used to eat dry foods plus moist foods (shreds), but now she’s also eating the pate she and Midnight both eschewed when they were kittens. I alternate between shares and pate.

Also, she’s often in the way in the doorway in the entryways; this is something Midnight used to do all the time. Now that he’s not here, she seems obliged to take on this role. The good thing is that she tends to move out of the way when I walk towards her, unlike Midnight, who would remain underfoot.

Becoming my cat, too?

Another interesting thing is that she would never come to where I sat on the sofa. She would sit on my wife’s lap or next to my daughter. But she would never do this with me because she perceived me as Midnight’s person. Now, if I scratch the sofa cushion, she’ll jump up and sit beside me. “That’s different,” my daughter correctly observed.

My daughter believes that Stormy realizes I’m mourning and wants to hang out to make me feel better. I think she was wary of Midnight being around that he might supplant her on the sofa, and she didn’t want to deal with the possible conflict. These both could be true.

Even before, she would often come up to me and rub her head against my leg or on my foot, although she does the same to chairs, the corner of the kitchen counter, and other surfaces.

I’m glad she’s still here. By the way, the banana picture was taken by my daughter about a year and a half ago. The reason it’s here now is that, though I was unaware of that photo, I put a banana on Stormy’s head, and she looked just as silly as she did here. She doesn’t seem to mind it terribly. What does that say about her, that she’s bananas?

CHQ, Day 2: church and music

backgammon

CHQ is a designation of the Chautauqua Institution. My wife and I received little magnets with those letters at a meal early on at the Presbyterian House. One was a rainbow heart, the other like a bumper stick you might find on a car.

Incidentally, Presby House is the only religion-affiliated house serving three meals daily. There are several other places to get food on the ground, from food trucks to fancy restaurants, but we did not utilize any of them. 

In some ways, CHQ is like a college campus with narrow streets. It has a center square where one can play games, go to the bookstore, mail items, get directions, and much more. 

The key to being at Chautauqua is the realization that you simply can’t go to everything. Since it was our first time, we overdid it at least once. Each week, there’s a two-sided, roughly 22″ by 11″ (56cm by 28 cm) sheet with columns in six-font type. On Sundays, there are many different worship services at 9:30. After breakfast, the Presby House pastor for the week led a service in the chapel downstairs.

Then, there was a 10:45 service at the Amphitheater, also broadcast on the CHQ Assembly on the YouTube channel, led by the Rev. Kate Braestrup, a best-selling author and the chaplain for the Maine Warden Service, which is probably not what you might think it is.

I should admit that my wife went to far more religious services and lessons than I did. Part of it was that she was more theologically enamored with Rev. Braestrup than I was. Also, I had to finish the book I was reporting on the following week.

88 keys

After lunch, we attended a 2:30 “scintillating program of works for one and two pianos, with repertoire drawn from virtuoso works of the great classical composers and arrangements of popular and familiar tunes” by the Chautauqua School of Music.

I’m listing the pianists to say I saw them when one or more of them broke through nationally or internationally. The music links are not theirs.

(I’ll Build a) Stairway To Paradise, 1922 and Strike Up The Band, 1927 -George Gershwin (1898-1937) (arr Logan Skelton).  Sean Yang and Eric Yu. I thought the first piece was by Scott Joplin because Gershwin borrowed from him. 

2 Pieces for 6 Hands: Romance and Valse, 1890 -Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Even Cao, Ellen Li, and Letizia Palmieri

Brasileira from Scaramouche, 1937 -Darius Milhaud (1892-1974). Sebastian Castillo and Runyang Wong

From Jeux d’enfants, Op. 22 – Georges Bizet (1838-1875): Trompette et tambour  (Trumpet and drum), La toupie  (The spinning top), Petit mari, petite femme (Little husband, little wife), Le bal  (The ball). Karina Tseng and Vivian Yang

Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55, 1908 – -Maurice Ravel (1875-1937). Seohee Yang. Based on this and a later performance, my wife and I felt she was the breakthrough artist.

Tarantella from Suite No. 2, Op.17 -Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Dongwon Shin and HaEun Yang

A classical steal

España, 1883 -Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894). Yujin Han, Cheonmi Park, Sean Yang, and Eric Yu. I thought I didn’t know the composer; wrong. From Wikipedia: “Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)” is an American popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning. The song is almost identical in melody and triple-time rhythm to a portion of Emmanuel Chabrier‘s 1883 composition, España. It was published in 1956. The song was recorded by Perry Como,” and went to #1 on the Billboard pop chart.

Danse Macabre, Op. 40 -Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921). Karmen Grubisic and Seohee Yang

Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 32 No. 13 – Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Alexei Aceto

A Scott Joplin Rag Rhapsody, 1997 – Kevin Olson (b. 1970). Yujin Han, April Lee, Yali Levy Schwartz, and Kyuree Kim. Ah, familiar Joplin themes.

Where ARE we?

Then, we attended a 4:00 orientation for new Chautauquans. By the time we finished dinner, I didn’t want to go anywhere.

Fortunately, at breakfast, the Presby House pastor had indicated an interest in playing backgammon. I hadn’t played a human in years, only on my phone. We were well-matched, as she beat me two games to one, even as we (mostly I) engaged in a running commentary to benefit a young man watching us who had read the game’s rules but had not played.

Then I played him a few games, even as we listened to the 8 pm Sacred Song Service in the nearby Amphitheater. This brought me joy.

One of the quirks, at least at Presby House, is that you don’t lock your doors when you go out. When my wife was in the room, even though she had opened and closed the door, she inadvertently locked me out. It took only a day or so to get used to it. 

Security

By happenstance, the day we returned from Chautauqua, CBS reran the segment from 60 Minutes detailing when Salman Rushdie was stabbed on the Amphitheater stage. I had seen the piece before, but it was somehow more disturbing, having been in that place. In 2022, access to the stage appeared less secure. 

I don’t know exactly what measures they had then—there are people I should ask—but there are now several folks responsible for security. The ones in the blue shirts appeared to be armed. While undoubtedly necessary, this made me a little sad.

Sunday stealing: creature feature

what winter?

The Sunday Stealing this week includes a creature feature.

1. How would your pet describe you

We only have one, Stormy, since Midnight died this summer.  I’ve written a post about her that will show up soon. But let me tell let me tell you a related story. One morning this week, I was in my office and heard a rustling sound. Initially, I thought it was the fan blowing against the window treatment or a CD not playing correctly. Eventually, I leaned over to look into one of our garbage cans, and there was a bat. It was a live bat. I don’t mean a baseball or cricket bat, but a mammal. It could not get out. I took another garbage can, covered up the opening, and carried them out to the back part of our yard, where I released the creature.

I’m wondering whether the bat came into the house via the chimney or possibly the basement or attic. Perhaps Stormy saw the bat and attacked it and the bat flew into the garbage can and couldn’t get out. Or did Stormy place the bat into the garbage can? I do not know the answer to this question. 

What’s the Story?

2.. Tell us a story

This week, I gave a book talk about The Undertow by Jeff Sharlet, a tome I will eventually review in this blog. Interestingly, when the conversation about the book ended, it launched into a very interesting discussion about the political process in the United States and what democracy is. As a political science major, it was very interesting to me. I posited that I HATE when people don’t vote.

3.. What do you pack in your beach/hiking bag

I have no such bag, but if I did, it would probably have something to read, probably some newspapers or magazines to read. A hat,  sunscreen, and water.

4.. How do you like to spend great weather weekends

I’m not a guy who hangs out a lot outdoors. I don’t say, “Ohh, it’s nice out. I’m gonna hang up at the beach,” or “I’m gonna hang out at the pool.”

I can walk under ladders

5.. Describe a time when the circumstances fell in your favor

I’m sure I told this story before, but I will repeat it. I was in Corporate (frickin’) Woods, where I used to work. Most know I hated working there. I had to get to an appointment for some reason, but I just missed the bus and was very upset. It was cold and windy. I needed to walk up the hill to get out of the complex. I was wearing a red Santa Claus hat with a white ball, I had a beard, and I was heavy enough. Somebody who I did not know, a young woman, stopped to give me a ride to the next place where I could catch a bus, on the Northern Boulevard. She said she picked me up because she couldn’t stand to see Santa Claus walk.

6.. Which summer sounds do you enjoy

it tends to be summer songs, especially Sly and the Family Stone’s Hot Fun In The Summertime and Summer In The City by the Lovin’ Spoonful. 

7.. It’s not really summer until …

I turn on the air conditioner, which involves my wife and me placing it in the front window. Considering the number of times we have installed the behemoth, it seems like we’ve never done it before. Where does that piece of wood go? Is it level? Where should we put the padding? It’s always a drag.

8.. What music are you listening to these days

I always listen to lots of music, but currently, I’m listening to people whose birthdays are in August. That would include Elvis Costello, Tori Amos, Count Basie, The Clash (for Joe Strummer), Robert Plant,  John Hiatt, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Tony Bennett, and Louis Armstrong.

In The Summertime

9.. How much has changed since last summer

The difference between last summer and this summer is that my wife didn’t take off any time last summer. She was working all the time, and we didn’t do a whole heck of a lot. She took off for eight weeks this summer, so we went to Chautauqua Institution. But we also worked on many household chores which had fallen by the wayside.

10. What are your favorite things to wear in summer

Hats, specifically caps, sunglasses, and, oddly enough, long-sleeved shirts, because I fear getting sunburned.

11. What do you miss about winter

Winter in Albany, NY, is wussy. We haven’t had a whole lot of snow or cold.  It’s not very impressive. We had one very cold winter in the past decade. Our snowfall has been pathetic compared to our average norm of about 5 feet (1.5 m) for the season. People elsewhere tell me, “Oohh, it snows a lot up there.” Well, it did, but for the most part, it doesn’t, and of course, it’s largely a result of global warming. 

Summertime

12. How would you spend summer vacation as an adult

I would travel a lot based on money, but I’ll probably want some downtime and my laptop ready to keep track of everything. 

13. Describe your ideal get-together/party

We so seldom throw parties that it’s a hard question to answer.  Lots of people are eating food and have a place to talk. I liked the party that one of our choir members held. It was on their back deck. Part of it was covered so I could stay out of the sun while others stood out on the outside deck.

14. What makes you feel like part of your community

Church. The library. Talking to my neighbors. I am looking out for things that are a little askew in my neighborhood and noting it to whoever might be able to do something about it.

15. How was your July 2024?

I’m overly busy and barely have time to write about it.

No 1964 Billboard Soul charts

Sam Cooke, the Impressions, Dionne Warwick

There were no 1964 Billboard Soul charts. Why is that? Per Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, the magazine didn’t publish a chart from November 30, 1963, through January 23, 1965, because the magazine thought there was so much crossover between the pop and RB charts to create.

For the book, Top 50 In R&B Locations published by Cash Box, a national music trade magazine was used,

Three titles crossed over, hitting #1 on both charts. Unsurprisingly, all were from Motown. My Guy by Mary Wells  (seven weeks RB, two weeks pop), Baby Love by the Supremes (four weeks pop, three weeks RB), and the group’s previous hit, Where Did Our Love Go (two weeks each).

Funny – Joe Hinton, four weeks at #1 RB. I always knew this Willie Nelson song as Funny How Time Slips Away. #13 pop. 

What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am) – The Tams, three weeks at #1 RB. #9 pop. From Atlanta.

The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) – Betty Everett, three weeks at #1. #6 pop.

Walk On By – Dionne Warwick, three weeks at #1 RB. #6 pop. I watched Finding Your Roots. They misspelled her name on an earlier record. It should have been Warrick. She was initially furious, but her grandfather suggested that Warwick could be her stage name, and it was so.

Let It Be Me – Betty Everett and Jerry Butler, three weeks at #1 RB. #5 pop.

Let the people say…

Amen – The Impressions, three weeks at #1 RB, #7 pop. Featuring Curtis Mayfield

Hi-Heel Sneakers – Tommy Tucker, three weeks at #1 RB, #11 pop

Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters, three weeks at #1 RB, #4 pop

Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um – Major Lance, two weeks at #1 RB, #5 pop

Good Times – Sam Cooke, two weeks at #1 RB, #11 pop

Keep On Pushing – The Impressions, two weeks at #1 RB, #10 pop

Mercy, Mercy – Don Covay & The Goodtimers, two weeks at #1 RB, #35 pop. Co-written by Covay. 

Reach Out For Me – Dionne Warwick – two weeks at #1 RB, #20 pop

Good News – Sam Cooke, one week at #1 RB, #11 pop. Composed by Cooke.

The Way You Do The Things You Do – The Temptations, one week at #1 RB, #11 pop

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial