Twelve of us braved the coldest morning of the year and enjoyed an exhilarating walk.

Last night at Muvico we viewed Quartet. The story takes place in a retirement home for musicians. I'm glad we saw it but, because of weaknesses and flaws, we don't recommend it.

Last week at the Kravis, we ushered for Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and Palm Beach Pops Orchestra. We liked the Pops so much, the next day we took our Evergreen guests. Saturday we went to Everglades Day Festival and then, Sunday, on my birthday, we had a fun bus trip to Miami Beach with the Art Deco Society.

Chadda and John Shelly invited us birding today and it turned out to be a perfect day.

Film & Stage Recommendations

The Impossible is an excellent film I have no hesitation in declaring a "must see movie."  It is a compelling, true story about one family caught in the horrible, devastating 2004 tsunami. The brilliant acting and directing make it shockingly realistic so be prepared to be emotionally engaged.
Also, Jane and I both highly recommend the Lake Worth Playhouse production of The Drowsy Chaperone, a very funny musical comedy playing through February 3. Don't miss it. Synopsis
Mary Poppins is running at Kravis Center through Feb. 3. We saw it on opening night, Tuesday and recommend it. I would call it a lavish "spare-no-expense" production. Everyone seemed pleased but had the same complaint of not understanding the speech especially of the women and children.
Last night -- Wednesday, we attended a pre-opening performance of A Raisin in the Sun by Dramaworks. The entire cast is excellent and received a standing ovation. It runs through March 3.

China National Symphony Orchestra

Last night we ushered at Kravis for China National Symphony Orchestra. It appeared to me to be the largest orchestra I had ever seen on the Kravis stage. The first half of the program consisted of works of Chinese composers and after intermission was Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben. All was delightful and well received. I found the Chinese music to be most beautiful.

Inauguration Day

I'm glad I watched the inaugural events today. I wonder if others found the president's speech as inspirational and moving as I did. We watched all day today and at times I found myself thrilled and teary.
Poem I liked: One Today

Sunday City Walk

Our excellent weather is still holding out. We had 17 walkers this morning when we walked to the South Cove Natural Area.

The 175th Anniversary Seminole Maroon Commemoration of the Battles of the Loxahatchee River   (at Riverbend Park)

South Florida Fair

Friday we went at noon to the opening of the South Florida Fair.

It was pretty much the same as previous years. There is an elephant show.

Easily, my favorite is the hypnotist.

Harold Holden

Holden, Harold H.

Age 88, passed away January 10, 2013 in Red Lodge, Montana. He was born in Brewster, WA and graduated from Palm Beach High School and Palm Beach Junior Collage. For nearly 50 years he was a construction superintendent on many large projects in Southeast Florida and later was founder and Director of Royal Eight Salvores, Inc. He is survived by his brother, Thomas and sister-in-law, Jane Holden of West Palm Beach; sister, Louane Grovenstein of Red Lodge, MT; and many nieces and nephews. memories , pics 1, 2, 3

It's Always Something

On December 26 and 31,  Jane took me to Good Samaritan ER with kidney stone attacks.  Aftereffects remaining unresolved are leaving me somewhat worried and depressed. I'm lucky to have a helpmate such as Jane.

Goings On

Skyfall was our movie of the week. Many comments on this James Bond movie are positive but I couldn't wait for the end. Constant crashes, explosions, shootings, are not for me. Jane seemed to like it. You may very well enjoy it, but count me out.
Saturday we took in the temporary Exhibitions at The Norton Museum of Art. I enjoyed Say it Loud!: Art by African and Africa-American and Artists and Sylvia Plimack Mangold: Landscape and Trees. My favorite exhibit was Keep Calm and Carry On: World War II and the British Front, 1938-1951. I recommend that one especially. You need to hurry for that one which ends January 20.
I've been feeling quite "under the weather" for several days and it's getting me depressed and worried.

Christmas Week

 

It was a fairly quiet week with the exception of Christmas Night (1:30 AM) when I awoke with a kidney stone attack. Jane took me to the hospital emergency room, stayed awhile, then picked me up around  8:00 AM. I still wasn't feeling well Friday night when we led the Worth Avenue Stroll pictured above. There were 21 strollers and the weather was nice.

Three Movies This Week

Jane and I both loved Les Misérables and highly recommend it. Those who don't care for opera or musical films or adaptations of stage productions might not appreciate it. For those unfamiliar with the story, it could be challenging to follow. The whole production from the extreme close-ups and vocal styles to the pacing and the near absence to spoken dialog makes it unique in cinema. Knowing the story and having already experienced the thrill of previous stage productions, we were captivated again. Kudos to everyone involved!

Promised Land is a so-so message movie, regrettably rather weak on the environmental concerns. It's small-town locations are realistic but events are too contrived. I was glad we went but I was hoping for better.

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy where every character is need of psychological therapy. It is funny, poignant, and a bit sad. It is very entertaining but not a "must see."

On this morning's walk, which included The Breakers Hotel and Bethesda-By-The-Sea church, we had twenty-two walkers.

Worried & Depressed

Our hearts are broken by the tragic school shooting yesterday in Connecticut. There seems to be little hope in preventing this increasing occurrence of senseless gun violence.

The problem of the looming "fiscal cliff" has me worried too. The political polarization and the disinclination to compromise seems to be an ongoing problem without solution. The next election is the main concern of our elected representatives. Where are the statesmen and those who are concerned about the long term welfare of all the people?

     Palm Beach County Democratic Party Holiday  Celebration at Airport Hilton

For twenty-one years Jane and I have ushered at The Kravis Center and have enjoyed memorable performing arts programs of all sorts. Last night, after we ushered there for Holiday Prism Concert presented by the music department of Dreyfoos School of the Arts, we both agreed that we never enjoyed a concert any more than that one.

Serena Rinker hosted yesterday's Dining Out holiday party attended by 19.

Tuesday, Jane and I attended a pre-release screening of Hitchcock. It was mainly about Alfred Hitchcock's life around the time he made Psycho. Mostly it depicted his marital relations and his problems with studio bosses. It held my interest but I wouldn't call it a "must see."

Wednesday evening we ushered for Palm Beach Dramaworks' production of Edward Allbee's play, A Delicate Balance. The play had less appeal to me than others I've seen there but the cast was excellent. It was quite long and fairly complicated and no doubt contained meanings too obscure for this simpleton.