Author: Joe White

Been too busy to post. So here are random observations:
Indian Trading Post – Early for dinner one night, so Sarah M., Elaine, Bart, and I went to peek into the Indian Trading Post behind the Brau Haus. Bart
refused to go in…he was wise. The door was propped open, but there was a piece of plywood about 2′ high blocking the door. We peeked in, and voice said “Come
on in…just step over that; it’s to keep the toddler from running out into traffic.” We all exchanged looks, but went ahead and crossed the threshold. We were
greeted by a guy who appeared to be in his late 40’s or early 50’s, one eye extremely bloodshot, who strode toward us while putting on his shirt, barely covering
his distended stomach. “Hello, I’m Chief White Eagle.” He shook my hand, then immediately twisted it to the formation for thumb wrestling, but moved our thumbs
to the outside. Pointing to our hands, he asked, “See this symbol? Ancient Mayan, over a thousand years old.” He then pointed to the intertwined C’s painted on
the floor that looked vaguely like the outline of our fingers. Then he commenced the grand tour of his establishment. He had the standard dream catchers and
crystals for sale, then took us past the excavations they were doing towards the underground creek (which I hope to go explore before I leave), then to the
pedicure room, where his wife was working on two women from New Orleans, and on past the massage room, where Elaine got an eyeful of some woman in her birthday
suit before they finally closed the door. We took a pass on seeing the Moon Lodge. He invited us back anytime for free crystal- or aromatherapy. I don’t think
any of us will be taking him up on that offer.

Amish at the Panda – We went to a Chinese buffet, and there was a Mennonite couple (or some such – guy with long beard and overalls, wife with hair in
white bonnet and palin dress and no makeup). Odd enough, but they were talking on a cellphone! And arguing with whoever was on the other end! Definitely one of
the most incogruous scenes I have ever witnessed.

‘Shim’ – Living in the Montrose, I’ve seen my fair share of travsestites. Usually, they take great pride in their appearance. But there is one that we’ve
seen wandering the streets of Hot Springs that is definitely not aspiring to any fashion awards. Always wears the same red skirt. Has two different shirts.
Somebody reffered to this person as a ‘shim’, a name that is short and descriptive…think I’ll adopt using it.

Quotes – Got a selection of quotes uttered during the festival here.

All the folks involved in the festival seem really nice. I’ve gotten to meet all the vocal and conductor interns over the last couple of days. One pleasant
surprise (which would not have been a surprise if I had taken the trouble to read the cover of my score) was finding Shanna Norton and her husband Sean Kelly
here; Shanna and I were at the LBJ School together; long-time friends of the Rosenbergs, she’s been the harp mentor here
several times, and Sean is in charge of the production of the opera.

I told Anna, the woman singing the Queen of the Night, that I was gonna fall in love with her as soon as I heard her sing her aria…that song gets to me everytime (as long as it is done well, and she does it well).

More “by the ways” yesterday: Found out that I was also singing the role of the Priest in the recitative with Tamino. Better adding stuff than taking it away.
🙂

After a whopping hour and a half at home, I took off again, this time for the Hot Springs Music Festival. Got to Atlanta,
Texas, a bit before 9pm, where I had dinner with Dave Price, his dad and his stepmom, then spent the night there. Burned copies of the DVDs of Mikado for Dave,
and he’s gonna check them out…if they are ok, I’ll start cranking them out for everybody else.

Left them the next morning, and got into Hot Springs about noon. Got settled in my room (including ethernet…woohoo!), then went to rehearsal. Turns out I’m
also singing the role of one of the guards, doubling my music (two songs…woohoo! 😉 ). Had dinner with one of the Paminas, Sarah, and one of the conducting
interns, Steven. Got the bike out and biked through some of the hills…only a twelve mile circuit, but took the better part of an hour. A bit steeper than Mt.
Edloe. 😉

Woke up at 5 am for some unknown reason. That would be 11pm Monday real time. Grabbed my PowerBook and started warwalking. Found a bunch of hotspots right by
the hotel, but they must have had a MAC address list, because I couldn’t get an IP. Finally found a place on Southhampton Row, AEC, that advertised in their
window that they were a WiFi hotspot. Download my mail from the last 4 days (including almost 800 junk mail messages…thank you Mail.app filtering). The
florist that was opening up next door to AEC asked if I was using the wireless ‘net, and when I replied I was, he remarked that since they had gotten that
hotspot established, his business had picked up at least 10%, as well as the two caf
?
?s next door.

Went back to the hotel, gathered my bags, tubed down to Victoria, then the train to Gatwick. Thinking I was golden, having actually gotten to the airport 2
hours before my flight, I was not worried when I saw the huge line to get checked in. Then I looked at my ticket. Seems I was actually only an hour ahead of
takeoff. Oops. One of the BA attendants hustled me to the front and got my bag checked, then I took off for the gate, actually getting there with enough time
to play a few games of pinball.

Managed to get about 3 or 4 hours on the flight, as well as finally see Catch Me If You Can (and, I hate to admit, DiCaprio did a fine job). Got into
Intergalactic a bit after 2, made it through customs and immigration with no hassle (although someone needs to tell them about queuing theory, and that one
master line is better than 12 seperate lines), and Matt collected me after only 2 or 3 circuits. Home by 3:15, where was greeted by both Festus and Arminius.
The End.

Lazy morning, since plane not til 11. Uneventful flight to Heathrow, where I parted company with my folks as they continued on to Johannesburg and then
Australia for the Rotary convention. I took the Picadilly line into town, stopping off at Leicester Square to buy a half-priced ticket…had originally planned
to see Michael Richards in Arsenic and Old Lace, but instead opted for a new translation and production of Pirandello’s Absolutley (perhaps).
Continued on the tube to Russel Square, ditched my bags at the hotel, then walked to the British Museum and Library. Forgot that they had built a new facility
for the British Library next to King’s Cross, so took a cab there, only to find out that they were closed for the bank holiday, so no getting to see Gilbert’s
prompt books, but did find out that copies of said would be about $4 a page…so looks like time to order the microfilm.

Walked back over towards the British Museum and looked in on the books stores that were still open. Picked up a copy of The Man Who Broke Napoleon’s
Codes at Unsworths. Wandered down to Trafalgar Square, dropped into St. Martin in the Fields and listened to the rehearsal that was going on for the quartet
performing that evening, then went down to the Strand to look in at the Savoy, Unfortunately, it was closed as well and couldn’t take a peek, so I consoled
myself with some dry cider at the Coal Hole.

Walked back up towards Leicester Square and had a nice dinner at Young Chen’s on Wardour Street, then on to the Wyndham for the show. It was fabulous. I didn’t
realize that Zefirelli was still alive, much less actively directing. Joan Plowright was spectacular, as was the rest of the cast. I’m going to have to add
Pirandello’s plays to my reading list.

After the show I did my traditional wandergawk throuh SoHo…kinda like Montrose, crossed with South Main, on steroids. Finished the evening by watching some
guys in an arcade compete on one of those dance machines.