Weekly recap

It's been an odd day, waiting for Hurricane Sandy to really really really hit us. Sandy is sort of here already, but so far it's just rather heavy rain and wind -- and waiting, and listening to newscasters warn us all of impending doom. My workplace is closed today and tomorrow, so I spent the day working from home, which is nice.

I may or may not have storm photos later, but for now I'll just catch up on what has been happening over the past week.

Neil and I saw Verdi's Requiem at the Kimmel Center last Sunday.

The scheduled soprano was out due to allergies, so there was a substitute, Angela Meade, who was fantastic. At the end of the concert the conductor knelt before her on one knee while the audience went wild with cheers.

After the concert, we headed to our old haunt, the Perch Pub, for food and drink (and thanks to a gift card from a thoughtful friend in Illinois!).

Isn't that drink pretty? It's the Saint Nick of Port Richmond, described in the drinks menu behind the glass.

Our bartender/server was very nice. He asked us, after we had exchanged just a few words, "Where are you from?" I replied, "Willow Grove," and he followed up with, "But you didn't grow up there, did you?"

"No, we both grew up in the midwest, in the Chicago area."

"I could tell by the way you pronounce your vowels."

This surprised me, since I don't detect any accent when I speak. It turns out he is a recent graduate of acting school, and had studied American dialects. He's currently working in a small indie production. You can see him reflected in the bar mirror below.

So that was the weekend. Last week we had wonderful fall weather, just beautiful. As always, I appreciate the gardening and landscaping in the city.

As well as the skies and the breeze.

My morning walks with Mr. Bean begin in darkness this time of year.

Last Tuesday I took a group of physicians out to dinner after work. On my way to the restaurant, I walked through Macy's, where the enormous organ (largest working organ in the world, I believe) was being played.

And the shoes and boots were impressive.

And the mannequins were exhausted.

We ate at Varalli, which is located directly underneath the Perch Pub, and is owned by the same people.

Great food, great conversation.

The days leading up to the Big Storm were gorgeous. Bean enjoyed the leaf piles.

And we both admired the neighbors' ingenuity in constructing Halloween decorations as we ambled round the 'hood.

So that was my week. Busy today moving stuff from the lower level (which could flood) to a higher level of the house, and watching and waiting . . . .

We'll weather the weather

What do we do during a heat wave?

Go biking.

Biked six miles around the lake at Peace Valley Park this morning. It really wasn't all that hot, since we went pretty early in the morning, and biking creates a breeze all by itself. No photos, since I have misplaced my camera.

But I am well aware of the horrible storms and terrible weather throughout many states, at the same time that I am very glad that our little corner of the world seems to have escaped the worst of it.

Speaking of weather, it would be nice right now to be in London, where it's raining poems.


Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

I know, I know, everyone is agog about the incredible weather. Walking to the train station after work, looking at the handy time and weather information that scrolls across the top of the PECO building - 72 degrees!

The students at Penn and Drexel are walking around in shorts, sleeveless shirts, and flip-flops already.

The trees and flowers bloomed, seemingly overnight.

Truth be told, I would rather have a month of 60 degree days - my favorite weather is in the mid-sixties, with a slight breeze, spring or fall.

But I would be a fool not to enjoy this, unseasonable as it is!

Did the hail destroy your crop?

Looking through old postcards again.

The cards are pretty, and the messages on the back are puzzling.

Pa I will send you a birthday card. Did the hail destroy your crop How is every body Silvia

Now, obviously this is a card that was never mailed. I have lots of these, and I don't know the story behind them. Why did Silvia write a card she never mailed? Why was she sending a postcard to let her father know that she planned to send a card?

The note about hail, though, is a good reminder of how precarious life can be when the heavens can ruin months of work at any moment. Farming is hard today, but it was harder only a few short decades ago.

Speaking of sudden downpours, Neil received a phone call tonight telling him that his temp job has ended. Just like that - don't come in tomorrow. It's only a temp job, but still . . . oh well. It's not actual hail.

Blooming umbrellas

Drizzly yesterday, which brought out the umbrellas on the street. This is where I get on the Lucy after work.

It wasn't raining so hard, though, that you felt sorry for the people who didn't have an umbrella (or perhaps just didn't want to bother with one).

And just like that, it was autumn

The last few days were hot and muggy. This morning was a little cooler, but still muggy.

I could have walked from 30th Street Station to work, but eight blocks in the humidity was not appealing, so I hopped on the Lucy bus that circles through the University City district.

I didn't think about the weather all day. An 8:00 breakfast meeting, lots of emails back and forth, a conference call, more computer stuff - not a thought about what was going on outside.

So it was a surprise when I set foot outdoors again.

It had rained a bit, and the temperature had dropped a lot. So much, in fact, that I hopped on the Lucy again to get back to the station.

And tonight I took the warm fuzzy robe out of the closet for the first time in months. And put the down comforter on the bed.

Yay! It's really, really autumn!

Beautiful, beautiful weather

The days after a big storm are usually great. Not just by comparison - this was some seriously wonderful weather. Not my favorite, which is in the sixties and slightly breezy - but really beautiful.

I walked around the city on my lunch hour, and saw Penn students still moving in. Move-in days were officially last week, but you can still see people pushing those big cardboard boxes on wheels down the sidewalk.

I took a picture of a Toynbee tile, which reminds me that crazy people are all around (and usually harmless).

I like the ephemera on the streets, and also the objects that seem much more permanent.

Nothing is more ephemeral than beautiful weather on this planet. Glad I'm not on Jupiter.

Mezzaluna

Good night, Irene. The big blow did not harm us at all. We did not lose power, and our sump pumps kept pumping. Others, not too far from here, were not as lucky.

Of greater personal interest at the moment - I bought a mezzaluna at a kitchen store that is going out of business. The mezzaluna (half moon) is a blade with a handle, for chopping. Tonight I chopped up pistachios for garnishing a stir fry.

A knife works just as well, but it's fun to have a new kitchen tool.

Anothe thing I did today - read proofs of an article that will be published soon, about educational programs in maximum security prisons. I feel very honored and privileged to have been able to write the article. I cannot truly imagine surviving life in a maximum security facility. I hope very, very, very much that I never have that experience.

We spent about an hour cleaning up debris from the front yard. The back yard will have to wait till next weekend.

All in all, a good weekend.

Hurricane prelude

I don't think Hurricane Irene will be too much trouble for us in the Philly suburbs - but what do I know? So far, just a lot of rain. Two sump pumps working away faithfully.

Of course, if we lose power, and the sump pumps stop pumping, that will be a problem.

A big problem.

But, till then - carry on.