a lot of....

things have happened since the last post, including a day at Friends, yesterday. Will try to go through as many events as possible.
Friday afternoon--finally saw the Al Pacino conceived movie Wilde Salome, at the Quad. The man is amazing! The movie is a documentary about Pacino' making a movie of the staged reading of Salome that he is playing in in LA (Estelle Parsons is the director of the reading). It is also about Pacino's passion for Oscar Wilde, a passion that he has carried since he saw another production of Salome several years ago. Anyway the movie is about his lust and obsession for the creative process, as well as his attempts to get to the bottom of the story of Wilde's life. All of it very fascinating--Pacino is a dynamo---going from one vision to the next. Really glad I saw the movie---felt very "hooked in" as I was watching it and afterwards.
Next was a visit to Brooklyn right after the movie, to the FUREE headquarters on DeGraw of fourth avenue to see my friend Michael give a lecture on the legacy of Dr. King---via the Poor People's Movement, that had started before his death and his visit to Chicago a year earlier to demand better housing rights for communities of color in that city. Mike gave his lecture with great clarity--points came across well, and I was glad that i was there. Looked for a place to eat afterwards in the slope, but bars were a little too cold for me---ended up with a pizza slice and then went to the bar around the corner from Theater for a New Audience--wanted to watch some Yankee baseball. Had a beer there ($10.00 with the tip!) and watched the game for about a half hour. Not a bad place, but very little conversation. Still, what I wanted was to watch the game, and I was able to do that.
Saturday---had the BAN meeting in the evening, to discuss lecture--outreach forum on May 9. A small group was there---myself, Alicia (the meeting was at her house in Flatbush) Alex and Gabby, two former students whom I subbed for at Friends. Meeting was productive, though I am sorry it was only the four of us---we argued and discussed several important ideas that will be brought up at the Forum. Nice to be in that part of Brooklyn again (about seven blocks south of Eastern Parkway, near Prospect Park)----again an area that "calls to me" because it is where David (my brother) and I would have been raised if my parents had taught in Brooklyn. Want to make more trips out there, and just let go and wander around. After the meeting walked Gabby and Alex to the subway, and after Gabby got on the shuttle to the A train, had a nice talk with Alex. Left him at Atlantic, where I got a hot dog, and considered the options for hanging out---ultimately there were none, so I got on the train at DeKalb and headed home.
Sunday, after a long session, fatigue set in and a feeling of restlessness and annoyance at only having one day of work scheduled for Friends this week. The feeling ended when I was called by Bob R, who requested that I come in on Monday and cover his classes. I did---not the easiest thing because this is music and I can't lead the kids but I survived it. One session after--then I came home and slept almost 9 or 10 hours. That lead to this morning.
No work today, so I just got a standing room for Cosi Fan Tutti at the Met. A very specific production, seems very interesting, I am anxious to see the choices that were made, and it will be good to immerse myself in all that incredible music by Mozart. Will report soon.