Thursday, January 24, 2002

we have temporarily lost the video portion of our program...

"Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness."

John Ruskin, The Eagle's Nest

I listened to two versions of the company's reorganization announcements on the phone. I listened to rumors and gossip in the hallway. The truth is: it just doesn't matter that much to me. I am pretty happy with it in any case. And I still have a job. For now.

At lunch I go to Sam's thinking they may have a good deal on the steak knives I've decided to buy. Only I don't find anything. The aisle they might be on is shut down completely with guys with a fork lift counting and arranging boxes. I look around a little as long as I'm there. I look at flat panel displays, portable phones and a four camera security system. (Only $249.) I almost fall prey to some cleaning stuff that claims it will clean grout. I put it back. I notice they seem to be selling lots of furniture these days. I look at the cheap DVDs and think that $8.99 is a great price only I don't really want to see let alone own any of these movies save Four Weddings and a Funeral which I have seen and which we already have on DVD. I almost buy the new PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) which comes with a CD, too. But the WEB is serving me pretty well on my mom's drugs at the moment.

With an empty basket, I start to leave and then I decide that nachos would make a good lunch. (Yes, I know. Supposed to be eating healthy!) I buy a jar of jalapenos as big as my head and some shredded cheese. Because it's so cheap I stock up on some other cheese. And I go back to work and eat a big plate of nachos, using the company's free chips.

Work. I meet with a guy that will soon be closer to me in the organizational hierarchy. But, we conclude, we will work together as necessary, regardless.

I work on the presentation. I'm tired of it. It doesn't have enough graphics. It isn't organized well. I have facts to check. But it's due next week. When I become bored with it, I read a document I'm trying to wade all the way through.

The evening is so pleasant I can't begin to describe it. Imagine that you were a world class musician, playing in a string quartet. That you were young and bright and connected to the other players in a brilliant way. Imagine that you really aren't that young person but that a kind of virtual reality can let you feel it for a couple of pieces.

When I got home, FFP said the event had a reception after. Fueled by having eaten all those nachos, I eat a piece of cheese and a couple of small slices of really good salami that I find in the frig. Cheese is my favorite food, fat and all. I can't live without it and I don't try.

So...the quartet. The event is at the home of some friends. We walk up to the door with someone who is on the board of the ballet with Forrest. He is, in fact, president I think. Both he and Forrest thank our hostess for a generous contribution to the ballet. She says, "Lots of people are saying that, um, I wrote a lot of checks." It's the time of year when she sends her donations. The ballet's share was probably actually small in comparison since, I think, the couple is far more interested in symphony, opera and chamber music. Their token is a big deal to the ballet. So it goes.

There are other movers and shakers there. (And then us, I know.) People who have written checks for not five, not six but seven figures for the arts. There are also around six or eight UT music and art professors and administrators.

The entertainment is the Ying Quartet. It's the Ying String Quartet. Three young men and a young woman, all Ying siblings. They also have a young pianist with them who just happens to be married to David Ying, the cellist.

First let me say that I am music-stupid. I might recognize the opening bars of Beethoven's Ninth, I can pick out the sounds of some instruments, I played clarinet (and bass and alto) in high school oh so poorly. I like music but I'm stupid about it. I can't tell you what the first piece was, a piece for the quartet. It was by Mendelssohn, says FFP. The second was a quintet (the Quintet? I could see just 'Quintet' at the top of the sheet music).

We sat on the front row. We were sucked into the group, their exuberant playing, their incredible warmth, the unbelievable communication. It was like a virtual reality where you got to be a part of the group even though you can't play a note. What a wonderful experience. If I were rich, I'd hire chamber groups and sit in the middle of them while they played. It was sort of like that.

There was a reception afterward where I had too many pieces of cheese, crackers and bread and mini quiches.

But that didn't keep me from needing a piece of cheese at home before bed after I fooled with a backup utility a friend wrote for PCs and read some papers. Sigh. I was still peering in the frig after that. I had some baby carrots.

JUST TYPING
Working steadily.
Eyes hard on a goal.
Will cause you to miss.
The idea of all time.
Just visible.
In the periphery.
Or so she thought.
Excusing her precious ADD.