Dave's Journal, Nov2020
As best I can, I plan to devote this month to calm, peaceful thinking.
I will try hard at this, but make no binding promises.
I also plan to experiment with making "vintage" looking videos, though exactly what defines "vintage" is arguable. I'm going for subtler "vintage", not the overused grainy, sepia-toned look or the scratched film look. Just something less digital looking. More 1920-1940's movie film looking. I have a vintage Russian lens on one of the cameras, so I'll start with that.
Shamelessly stolen jokes . . .
I've known my good buddy Jim since 1987 (GE days). He and Audree witnessed my sudden retirement announcement on Oct.5.2007 at the Napa Valley Grille in Providence. In fact, that announcement surprised even me !!
We get to see them twice a year these days. And can argue politics all day and still not get mad at each other.
When life's a bore, post a picture of your cat ....
With the coronavirus well into its 3rd upward surge in the US, we are all under "house arrest" to help slow its spread. This is wearing heavily on everyone. And I am trying to keep up a good attitude (as I promised at the beginning of this page).
So . . . I walked through the Met Museum's website and enjoyed the beautiful stuff they have posted there. Lots to learn, and enjoyable.
For example . . . .
The viola d'amore, or viola "of love," is a bowed stringed instrument which gained great popularity in the eighteenth century. Much of its history, including the derivation of its name, is unknown. It has many characteristics of the viol family such as a flat back, ribs that are flush with the top and back, and a rosette in addition to soundholes. Yet, like a violin, it is unfretted and held under the chin while played. Violas d'amore typically have seven playing strings, though instruments with other numbers of strings are not unusual. Perhaps the most distinguishable characteristic of the eighteenth-century viola d'amore is the presence of sympathetic strings, which are not played but located behind the bowed strings and vibrate "in sympathy." The sympathetic strings contribute to produce a tone that is clear and often described as "silvery," as well as creating a more resonant sound with a longer decay.
(You have to un-mute this to hear it.)
It's not as "squeaky" as a violin. I guess that's what they mean by "silvery" tones.
Alien Trespass : wicked fun movie spoof of 1950's sci-fi flix. I actually bought a used DVD copy after watching it.
The Queen's Gambit : A Netflix mini-series (7 episodes) that I decided to try (I typically won't watch a TV series). This was excellent; perfect directing and camera work, very good acting, great ending (and Catherine says the ending is true to the book).
The Haunting (1963, with Julie Harris): Need to be sure it's this version of the movie. There are several others that absolutely suck; this is excellent and true to the book (which I am reading). Catherine says there's a scary TV series from 200? that is worth watching too. The 1963 movie is low keyed, psychological, not "BOOOO" jump-in-your-face scary. But when that door stars to push in off it's hinges .... oooooo.
Well we are under a more strict virus lockdown. Lots of guidelines and laws to slow the spread of the virus. (CBS reports that North and South Dakotas have the highest per-capita COVID death rate in the world !!).
Anyway, the Macy's parade was without the street crowds.....
We had dinner at Deb's parents apartment - just 4 of us - Boston Market turkey dinner (was actually very good) and Chris' homemade apple pie (wondeful).
A shot-from-the-hip documentary of a very eccentric mother & daughter. Fascinating. Sad.
Zacherly (1958)
Back in the day (late 50's), on Summer weekends, I'd sleep over with cousins Gus and Yonnie (sp?) and we'd stay up late and watch Shock Theater with spooky host John Zacherly.
Cousin Pete is an expert on classic scary stuff - movies & models (that he paints). Today, he sent me this oil painting of Zacherly that one of his internet buddies created. Look at those eyes !!
Hurt my back, moving barrels of wet leaves, so I am hobbling around on a cane and using a grabber to pick stuff up.
Not so bad .... Tux helps me.