Homage a Spy Gadgets

The following is not a paid advertisement, but rather a recognition that I--once mistaken for a Luddite--have found graceful uses for modern gadgetry.  I was playing cello and violin for our school's 5th grade play about Theseus and the Minotaur--performed at a small and well-designed local theater.  I had no rehearsals with the students, had cues of when to play, and had found scholarly reproductions of ancient Greek music (which I played on fretless instruments so that I could better approximate the slightly different tuning from back then).  The music moved from 2/4 to 3/4 to 5/4 to 7/4; it definitely sounded different from the Celtic or classical music I often play.

       I set up early and felt comfortable and ready to perform.  The play commenced, and the houselights went out.  I could not see the scholarly reproductions of Ancient Greek music at all.  I considered fumbling around and speaking to the teacher to ask them to turn up the houselights but instead reached into my pocket, pulled out my smart phone, turned on the Droidlight flashlight application I had downloaded, rested the phone against my wallet to make a stand light, and continued with my music.

     Tomorrow I will bring stand lights.

Woodwind Players

Liam's grandfather gave him funds for Seattle Symphony tickets for his birthday.  Last Sunday Liam and I attended our first SS concert and watched them perform Beethoven's 5th (a delight) and Tchaikovsky's Francesca di Rimini (which was new to us, but we have a copy from a cd set of Tchaikovsky symphonies, also from his grandfather).

We arrived early, and Liam and I went to Soundbridge, the Seattle Symphony museum.  There Liam got to play a number of instruments, including the clarinet.

He also had a chance to play the oboe and French Horn and produced a number of melodies.  Daniel, the museum curator, was kind and gave effective and brief instructions for each instrument--I learned more than I ever knew about the woodwind family.  We were told that Sunday morning is an excellent time to attend; the museum is normally packed during the week with field trips, and Saturdays tend to be busy as well.

Although he was not with us, Crispin picked up a penchant for playing woodwind instruments either through osmosis or stories from his brother.  Here he is in the woods at school playing what he terms a tuba-bassoon while his buddy Jack sings.  Crispin has found a number of sticks and turned them into bassoons in the past week.  Crispin has also found time for other occupations.  On the left you see Crispin and Jack with their May crowns.

On the Ferry

We are on the ferry to whidbey.   The boys have been valiant travel companions.  Now they sleep.

One more reflection.   I have been traveling to Sebastian for about 20 years, sometimes more than once a year.   I am almost enough of a local to have breakfast at Earl's Hideaway.

Gonna get you

I remember Grandpop saying this to me thirty some years ago.  He says the same to Crispin and Liam now.

Splash

We have gone swimming twice a day and to this splash park about every day.  The boys have been taking swimming lessons as a Christmas present.  I remember trips with grandparents in which Liam watched as dads and moms and great uncles and grandparents played in the water--but he would have none of it.  Chincoteague when he was 2 comes to mind.

He is no much more comfortable in water, and Crispin spends half his time with his head under water and the other half insisting I put my head under.

Rat Pack at the Roadside

We dined at the roadside again tonight.  Here are we at our table.  Kelly has this same poster of Sinatra and others.

Hershey's nuggets

For the past 7 years or so, Grandpop has enjoyed eating hershey's nuggets.  I have fond memories of Grandmom saying  she could not eat another bite yet eating nugget after nugget Grandpop brought out of the refrigerator.  We have brought grandpop nuggets on the last few visits, as we did on Sunday.  Any doubts about whether he still liked  them were put to rest by the half empty bag Monday.

Captain Crispin

Recharged by his Publix strawberries, Crispin kept the vessel on the straight course, was offered a summer job, and will be glad to accept the offer if they guarantee more Doritos like the ones they offered on the cruise.

Captain Liam

We saw so many dolphins at such close range that perhaps Liam was looking for more rather than keeping his eyes on where the boat was going.  He was quite anyway animated whenever he spotted one.

Jungle queen cruise

Crispin was too interested in strawberries from Public to face the camera.  Visiting this grocery store has become another tradition on Sebastian trips.  When Grandpop lived at 873 Haverhill, we would pick up French bread, Boar's Head Lebanon Bologna, and Alpine lace Swiss cheese.

Hiram's

Group shot at one of great Grandma Edna's favorite restaurants.   The cook is from Maryland, and she always talked up their crab cakes and soup.  In her memory I ordered crab soup for dessert.

Grandpop and salads

For the past five years or more, Liam's great grandfather has found it remarkable how much Liam likes salad. It is a soothing ritual.

Philosophical digression

Reading Eckhart Tolle has inspired me to seek the joy in or at least accept the present moment rather than worrying about past or future or what I might be missing.   I notice in myself a tendency to want to try to do everything to get my moneys worth, to see every animal or walk every trail, to wonder if I have chosen the best path.   Today I tried not to worry about what was next but to let things unfold.   It wasn't seamless; one boy might want to rush ahead while the other stayed at an exhibit.   But it was pretty relaxing.   It helped that I gave us the whole day for the zoo.

The roadside restaurant with great Grandpop gave us more chance to be patient.   We had to wait for a table, got stuck behind a banquet, and were there for 2 hours.  The boys were noisy,  but so were other people.

They are sleeping.  Liam discovered that our room has a sofabed and volunteered to sleep there, so we each have our own bed, which should help excited boys sleep longer.

Fishing at the zoo

While Crispin splashed, Liam spent an hour fishing off a retired fishing boat in the children's zoo.  While there were no hooks, there was food at the end of the line, and real fish nibbled the food Liam offered.   A young volunteer seemed quite pleased to help Liam tie more food to his line over and over; this was a present and calm interaction in the midst of boisterous children's play.

Brevard zoo

Both boys found activities that fit them like a glove in the children's zoo.  Crispin enjoyed moving and dumping water in buckets.   He also enjoyed holding a button down to make a pretend whale spray water.

To bed in Melbourne

Here are the boys helping upon arrival in Orlando.

Dad exists

Or a stand in posed with the boys in blacksburg.

Made it airport

In a surprise imitation of his older brother, Crispin also insisted on a salad for dinner.  For Liam, salads lose marks if they deign to obscure the vegetables with something like chicken.

Liam at work

He is drawing a sports complex that braids together observations from Virginia Tech, ideas from a Boxcar Children novel, and pictures from his imagination.

Crispin returns

Boys laughed a lot.  I will see what washington girls softball is like.

Liam got stuff

He enjoyed watching the game. He also be retrieved 3 foul balls.  In college softball they ask you to bring back the balls.  They gave liam gum for the first to balls he returned.  The coach let him keep the third softball.

They were also throwing t shirts to the fans.  Liam Caught 1.  It may fit him when he is 14

he walks away

Very comfortable at the ballpark

Softball

We went to the virginia tech girls softball game.  Crispin enjoyed walking and climbing all over the nearly empty bleachers. 

Family at Kabuki

Liam and Crispin and their great grandmother adore the show at the local teppanyaki restaurant.

Nellie enjoying the music

Dad also enjoyed that the boys coexisted at the organ without battles.

Organ music

Boys at Grandma Nellie's.

Chef Crispin

Crispin helped Granmaxine with cooking this morning.   Liam used the time to sketch.

To bed in blacksburg

Storms on Chicago gave us a good chance to practice patience.  Our flight was more than an hour late.

We are here safe and sound.

touchdown in Chicago

We've had a lovely trip so far.  Both boys napped from Seattle to Chicago.  Plane trips give an excellent chance to accept the present, and it helped to enjoy this part rather than wishing it was over.

We stay on the same plane to NC and then drive to VA.

Liam's 2006-2007 birthday song available

Dear Family and Friends,

     An overdubbed version of Liam's birthday song from the 2006-2007 school year is now available for free at http://www.williamdolde.com/fr_birthdaysongs.cfm.  I am playing both guitar and violin on this track.  I composed this song for Liam at the time when many of you were visiting for Crispin's christening and Liam's birthday celebration.  It was fun to picture the 4 year old Liam as I composed this.