I somehow ended up on the mailing list for the Lyric Opera (I blame WBEZ, my NPR station to which I contribute), and ever since receiving their flier last summer, I've been wanting to go to Abduction from the Seraglio which they're performing this March as their season finale show. I've been intermittently pestering a few people about it, and the reactions were faintly interested, but last night I sent out a final "will someone go with me?" plea -- and someone committed! So I'm going! To the opera! A fun Mozart opera!

I feel so sophisticated. I've never been to the opera, so this will be very cool.

So since moving to Chicago, I've been to a concert at Ravinia, a performance of Swan Lake by the the Kirov Ballet, and will be going to the Lyric Opera. Next, I need to get to a show at Steppenwolf. They're doing the Tempest (my favorite Shakespeare play) through the end of May, so I'm going to try to catch that before it closes. Drat. That appears to be already sold out.  Well, I'd like to see *something* at Steppenwolf...

This one was fun!  Snicked from hildy .

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Traditional, Vibrant, and Tasteful

3 Islamic, -10 Impressionist, -5 Ukiyo-e, -5 Cubist, -4 Abstract and -1 Renaissance!

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

I think we all need to see this:

Now, don't we all feel a little bit better?

I know I do.

One of the things that today's picture meme has really illuminated for me is just how many of us apologize for our looks.

( More pix and a bit a rant follow... )

[Click here to see video which would not embed, darnit]
(It's a clip of four young African-American men discussing what
Obama's nomination means to them -- it's really inspiring)

( In which I think about this moment in history... )

I watched Hillary's concession speech which was beautifully-staged and graciously delivered. I really loved this line, especially:

"Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from looking forward."