Tonight I was going to meet up with my friend Wynn after rehearsal at Ludwig’s Garten. I love that place. Paul looks down his nose at it for some reason (but maybe he secretly likes it, I don’t know). Probably because it’s Bavarian. Anyway, now Wynn is not driving into town because of the storm, but I think Paul has a hankering for wurst now that we discussed it, so hopefully the choir folks will want to go there or someplace after rehearsal (I will have to wait for Paul for an hour). What is interesting about the Ludwig’s site is this link to the top 50 places to have a beer. I was a bit surprised to see that there is not a place from Colorado on this list. However, the Blind Pig in Champaign is on it, as is the Hopleaf (which was in my neighborhood in Chicago, Andersonville), the Map Room (which was a favorite place to hang with folks in Chicago whenever I could make it to Wicker Park). Looks like Philly does pretty well for itself. I am definitely going to have to take Paul to that place in Amherst when we go see my best friend.
Funny thing, of course, is that I absolutely HATE beer. Really and truly. But everyone else likes it and I like to hang out with them so there you go.
Well I am officially leaving the music department in January. They already found my replacement. But they don’t know where they’re putting me and I’m sincerely hoping they put me in rare books. If I get to go there then I don’t have to work evening and weekends anymore, I won’t have guards screaming their heads off all the time (actually most of them really aren’t a problem; it’s just one of them….but he does pretty well on his own making a huge ruckus without their help), etc. I also won’t have to deal nearly as much with people practically stripping themselves and scratching themselves and (probably) getting lice all over the books or with people belching to get my attention behind the desk (both of which happened yesterday in the music department). So keep your fingers crossed.
I’m working this Saturday, next Saturday, Christmas eve, the day after Christmas. It’s fun working through the holidays. Then I get to leave myself. I don’t know if I will still be working in the music department when I return from Colorado: I guess we’ll see. Paul is coming with me and obsessing over whether he should bring his camera equipment and how many violins he should take.
I am in the midst of getting the Smith Club back up and running: I’m going through a bunch of emails of RSVPs for a possible dinner or brunch. Then we will have one or two speakers in the spring. I asked for my advisor, Craig Davis, but he had to decline owing to an insane schedule. The woman at the Alumnae Association then graciously sent me an official brochure of faculty who specifically said they’d be willing and able to speak this year and I was delighted to learn that another favorite professor of mine, Hans Vaget, was on this list. So I’m really hoping he can do it (plus whatever he speaks on will be fascinating). I’ll have to see if there’s a way any of you in this area can get in if you’re interested–let me know if you are.
Paul is very depressed about the passing of Stockhausen, and he said a few things about the NYTimes obit in his blog. To his surprise, the writer of the obit found his blog and posted a comment! Interesting. I really know next to nothing about Stockhausen, but I’m sure I’ll learn more.
Incidentally our Lessons and Carols is at 21st and Walnut this coming Sunday, Dec. 16th for all of you in the area. 4 PM.
