a life beyond running shoes.

or at least it can feel that way. living in a borough of one of the greatest cities in the world.... and most of my life is playgrounds, diapers, homework, and dinner.... with a bit of running thrown in..... i can get down on my lack of cultural experiences. between the financials of getting out much less getting a babysitter. ...... fu'gettaboutit. or at least it can seem that way. in the midst of surviving life with three small kids, major surgery, the anniversary of loss.... we have had an uncanny season of cultural opportunities: a concert. (that is glenn phillips from toad the wet sprocket.... the band i saw) a top modern dance company's performance. (albeit three weeks post-op) the opera. (see previous post ) the ballet. (mind you lincoln center twice in a month.... i have not been once in the six and a half years we have been here). plus, a small off-off-off (not even near) broadway play. it is because we have experienced the overly generous kindness of f...

an opinion about opera that is. i have been to two in my life. i don't consider that enough to have figured out if i love it or not. i mean, i have friends that LOVE it. (i took one hoping she would rub off on me) i have an old friend who was in new york city opera's production of seance on a wet afternoon by stephen schwartz (from wicked and aladdin ). he was one of the singers and was incredible. the entire cast was incredible for that matter. (me with singer friend, todd wilander) i don't really know what i think of english opera. it was a bit jarring to have operatic voice singing, "billy" over and over again. as much as i am not accustomed to the genre, the voices were amazing.... and the show riveting. the lead soprano was .... phew... amazing. and one of the fun things about knowing a cast member, is getting to go back stage. um... shaking hands with stephen schwartz. ...and sitting on the rather spectacular set. throw in a super bizarre party upstai...

spiderman on broadway. it was fabulous.... and it doesn't hurt that i have a little bit of a crush on the lead. peter parker played by reeve carney. friend, steve, came from LA to do the east coast thing. he hit some football games, some hockey games, but i got to tag along for this. it was awesome!!! we hung out after and said hi. steve knows reeve.....a little. reeve is a little dreamy. okay, the show is excellent. the music by bono & the edge.....rocks. sitting next to some guys, i realized my first major concert was U2..... fall 1992 dodger stadium....zoo tv tour. choreography was stellar. there were a few weird things about the spider (arachne) mythology.... okay, really weird... on the verge of creepy....but i still loved it!

i had a date with my new 5 year old. we went and saw our first musical (off broadway). 101 dalmatians . he loved it; i tolerated it. he did not want to go back stage to meet our friend from the show. he is 5 and was hungry: sushi. in the city. he ate half this plate. the business lunch next to us thought he was a riot. then, we got home..... the perfect day was over.... scooter was stolen off stoop. little bit wet his pants 2 feet from toilet. sweet pea had a screaming fit - 102 fever. she pooped in the bathtub three times. we went to the school potluck.... it was the wrong night. it was a poor end to a great day. i am thankful for the my little man that is getting so big.

.....is an experience. it can make you believe, forget, remember, feel...... it can also make (help) you grieve. especially when during the opening scene my mother-in-law remembered that this was one of g'pa's favorite movies, knew all the words, and would sing them to her all the time. well her tears only provoked my tears. it is amazing what moves me to the places where i realize what is missing in my life. but it was a sweet missing, as my mother-in-law put it. the missing of what another person loved, enjoyed, was passionate about. the sweet missing of how another person helps expand who you are, stretches you, enriches you. that is the sweet missing.... and we do miss, a lot.

on friday, we ventured into the city to visit the the new museum of contemporary art ....crazy. i'm just not sure i understood anything i was looking at.... the building itself is structurally brilliant, but the work inside alludes me. it took us all of about 20 minutes to complete our tour (five floors mixed with my lack of interest and two kids that can't touch anything)....our young friend that came with us was more engaged as she is an artist herself. just to make sure we completely went new york artsy fartsy....we had lunch at an organic, vegan, vegetarian restaurant. my son could eat ANYTHING on the menu.... that never happens. of course, it is also my mission to introduce our vegetarian young friend to more than cheese pizza as the staple to a vegetarian diet. saturday, we had an adult evening and went to a modern dance concert. again, what does it mean? knowing the choreographer i think made it more understandable or least engaging. i enjoyed it and so did my hub...

i saw him last night. (ALL of him for that matter) ian mckellen as king lear. oh my gracious!!! i have never seen such amazing performances. the entire cast was outrageously awesome. it is what real talent looks like, with real theater, and real performances. i am spoiled now. it is such a performance that i will still be telling my kids about it 10 years from now.... because i was there AND stayed awake the whole time.