-a good picture of me and the boys
And one with Cathy too.
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Monday, May 30, 2011
Before we left
-a good picture of me and the boys
And one with Cathy too.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Night time is over rated
Cathy and I went to the opera tonight. As we were walking home I took this picture of a clock tower showing that it was 10:15 PM. It is really nice to stroll around till midnight and still have it light out.
We had dinner at Mathias Dahlgren's restaurant. I guess he is well known among foodies. It was a unique and great meal.
There are very narrow alleys and streets in the old town, Gamla Stan.
Cathy chased a dog that looked like Ziggy into a shoe store.
We fly to Finland tomorrow. There has been only one bummer moment in Stockholm. Our hotel is owned by Benny Anderssen, one of the original members of ABBA. As such, there is copy of an ABBA GOLD CD in every room. Cathy insisted on my playing it while she relaxed in the bath tub. I am now being tortured with "Dancing Queen" repetitively popping into my head at inopportune times. Then again, what is NOT an inopportune for that song to make an appearance.
This city is truly beautiful and amazingly clean. You can walk to everywhere you want to go and take some short cuts by taking ferries -- have not been in a cab here yet. Stockholm is a city made up entirely of islands so there are beautiful waterways everywhere. I think I will rank it in a tie with Vienna for second place on my most beautiful city list. (Cape Town is number 1).
The people are friendly and open. They are well educated, smart and engaged in world affairs. All in all, a very cool place.
We had dinner at Mathias Dahlgren's restaurant. I guess he is well known among foodies. It was a unique and great meal.
There are very narrow alleys and streets in the old town, Gamla Stan.
Cathy chased a dog that looked like Ziggy into a shoe store.
We fly to Finland tomorrow. There has been only one bummer moment in Stockholm. Our hotel is owned by Benny Anderssen, one of the original members of ABBA. As such, there is copy of an ABBA GOLD CD in every room. Cathy insisted on my playing it while she relaxed in the bath tub. I am now being tortured with "Dancing Queen" repetitively popping into my head at inopportune times. Then again, what is NOT an inopportune for that song to make an appearance.
This city is truly beautiful and amazingly clean. You can walk to everywhere you want to go and take some short cuts by taking ferries -- have not been in a cab here yet. Stockholm is a city made up entirely of islands so there are beautiful waterways everywhere. I think I will rank it in a tie with Vienna for second place on my most beautiful city list. (Cape Town is number 1).
The people are friendly and open. They are well educated, smart and engaged in world affairs. All in all, a very cool place.
Stockholm day 1
We were extremely fortunate to have had a private tour guide yesterday. My lifelong friend, Brian Lindberg, once lived in Stockholm and provided child care for a Swedish family. One of the kids, Vincent Hashmi, is now a 30 year old opera singer living here in Stockholm with his girlfriend, Paulina Pfeiffer, also an opera singer. Vincent and Paulina walked us all around the city, seeing many of the city's sites and learning their history. They also took us to their apartment for champagne. They have also arranged for us to see La Boheme tonight. Unfortunately, though Paulina is in this production, she is not performing tonight as she has an audition in Germany today. Today more sightseeing and maybe some photos will follow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, May 29, 2011
To Leave or not to Leave
Beware the routine operation. It seems that removal of wisdom teeth has become a right of passage in the adolescent life. Everyone's kids I know have had it done. Drew was no different. His modern skull just can't accommodate all those damn teeth. And who really needs them anyway? When Alex and I visited our great primate ancestors in Central Africa last summer, it was clear why a long row of grinders was necessary. Chewing on fresh foliage all day long requires a lot of dental surface area. Certainly, the 22nd century classical musician requires only limited gnashing capacity for the likes of pate' and brie. So we sent him off to the oral surgeon's office. Afterward things seemed to be just fine. Post op day number five he played three hours of basketball on a local playground.
The next day, however, he awoke feeling like crap---neck pain, couldn't swallow, fatigued. A trip to the surgeon secured the diagnosis of infection and antibiotics and pain medicine were prescribed. Three days later, with things no better, he returned to the scene of the crime (the procedure room at the surgeon's office) and underwent a procedure that simulated the one that finally got Khalid Sheik Mohamed to spill. Several gallons of local anesthetic were injected into the region in order to proceed with an "Incision & drainage" procedure. The local anesthetic was of dubious benefit and Drew hurt, big time. I was in the room the whole time and must say that watching Drew undergo this procedure ranks near the top of the "worst experiences in my life" category. Fortunately, pus poured forth like Victoria Falls (had to get another Africa reference in there). A drain was sutured in place and antibiotics were doubled. Drew has improved slowly but consistently since then.
Today his surgeon felt his improvement was considerable and removed the drain. Drew is perky and joking again. We have many, many wonderful friends that have offered to pinch-hit as surrogate parents. So we screwed up our courage and got on the plane. Drew has the cell numbers of a boat-load of physicians (and one personal injury attorney) who stand ready to swoop in and meet his any and every need.
I am sure Cathy and I will communicate with him 97 times a day and I have already figured out how to get back to Chicago in a jiffy should that become necessary.
BTW, our first hour in Stockholm has met my expectations exactly. Overcast, drizzling, dark, slightly chilly but pristine and beautiful despite the weather. It feels like every Kurt Wallander book I have ever read. The people seem delightful. More soon,
Bill
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The next day, however, he awoke feeling like crap---neck pain, couldn't swallow, fatigued. A trip to the surgeon secured the diagnosis of infection and antibiotics and pain medicine were prescribed. Three days later, with things no better, he returned to the scene of the crime (the procedure room at the surgeon's office) and underwent a procedure that simulated the one that finally got Khalid Sheik Mohamed to spill. Several gallons of local anesthetic were injected into the region in order to proceed with an "Incision & drainage" procedure. The local anesthetic was of dubious benefit and Drew hurt, big time. I was in the room the whole time and must say that watching Drew undergo this procedure ranks near the top of the "worst experiences in my life" category. Fortunately, pus poured forth like Victoria Falls (had to get another Africa reference in there). A drain was sutured in place and antibiotics were doubled. Drew has improved slowly but consistently since then.
Today his surgeon felt his improvement was considerable and removed the drain. Drew is perky and joking again. We have many, many wonderful friends that have offered to pinch-hit as surrogate parents. So we screwed up our courage and got on the plane. Drew has the cell numbers of a boat-load of physicians (and one personal injury attorney) who stand ready to swoop in and meet his any and every need.
I am sure Cathy and I will communicate with him 97 times a day and I have already figured out how to get back to Chicago in a jiffy should that become necessary.
BTW, our first hour in Stockholm has met my expectations exactly. Overcast, drizzling, dark, slightly chilly but pristine and beautiful despite the weather. It feels like every Kurt Wallander book I have ever read. The people seem delightful. More soon,
Bill
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:HOTEL RIVAL, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
We are headed for Scandinavia
Cathy and I will be leaving for Stockholm on Saturday, May 28, 2011. We will spend two and a half days there before flying to Turku, Finland. There we will meet our great friends Shawn Decker and Alice George. Shawn, a sound artist, will be there for the opening of a sound installation that he created with his Finnish collaborator, Jan Erik Anderssen. More details of Shawn's work and of our trip to follow.
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