Guess What?

Hey family! Guess what? I am getting married. That's right, I proposed to Deborah and she said yes. Oh, what? That's old news? Okay.

I got a new job. For those of you that haven't heard, I am leaving the golf and retail industry and going through yet another ramping up period (immediate family already knows as they all recieved hurried and excited phone calls right after I accepted the offer).

I am the right hand man to the head of an office here in DC. This is my first full week and I am learning the ropes under the girl who is leaving. My job will be largely administrative to begin with, but I intend to make myself so valuable that the job will evolve later. I am really excited to be at a University, as I loved college. Deborah is ecstatic. We finally get to have evenings and weekends together. Unfortunately, I feel there are about to be some major renonvations in Deb's condo. Let me tell you how beautiful this return to 9-5 (that's right, a 35 hour work week) is. Tonight, I came home to a freshly made dinner and fun conversation. Then Deborah and I took a sunset drive to the driving range. AWESOME.

The job has some great benefits and I will be calling my father and Uncle Bill about my investment plans (I am thinking of a high cost fund that focuses on three to five stocks, preferrably in an emerging economy). There is a generous tuition plan, but that is further down the road after I have made myself indispensable to the Director . I feel that I am really on the path to enjoy myself and point myself in the career direction I want to go (international business/relations). Incidentally, this makes Deborah very happy as it is generally a longer term goal that will involve me staying in the same place for quiet awhile. I have goals and direction now and a lovely fiancee who respects and believes in them and me. During the interview process, two great things happened that were new to my life. First, I was offered the job on the spot by my new boss and second, I actually negotiated for a slightly better salary.

On a personal note, I am very sad that I do not have any toys with which to post more visually stunning posts. I think it is my inferiority complex that has kept me away, though I had to share the good news.

At the Pink Adobe Grill in Santa Fe

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Originally uploaded by Papa, aka Don.

During a fine trip to Santa Fe and Taos with Bill and Barbara, we lunched on our last day at the Pink Adobe Grill, one of two restaurants we tried in Santa Fe that claimed to be the oldest. The other was El Farol. Both were very fine, in fact, though I would give the nod to the Pink Adobe. Its food was very good and it featured this charming creature on an exterior wall. I believe a click on the photo will take you to the set of photos I've uploaded from our Santa Fe trip.

News from the Arts World

From The Economist Cities Guide: Milan

Sing it Again, Juan

For the first time since 1933 a soloist has performed an encore during an opera at Milan’s Teatro Alla Scala. The practice is not unknown in other opera houses, but Juan Diego Flórez, a Peruvian tenor, broke a local taboo when he repeated “Ah! Mes Amis” from Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” at an opening-night performance on February 20th. The encore followed five minutes of applause for the aria, whose nine high Cs are seen as a demonstration of virtuosity in a tenor.

Arturo Toscanini, La Scala's conductor in 1898-1908 and 1921-29, was the first to forbid encores, believing they spoiled the pace of the drama. The last singer to give one was Fyodor Shalyapin, a Russian bass, during a 1933 performance of Rossini’s “Barbiere di Siviglia”. Since then, only the chorus has performed encores—and on just three occasions. Critics applauded the musical qualities of Mr Flórez’s performance, but many agree with Toscanini’s principle and would prefer to keep encores out of the opera house.

Meanwhile, concert-goers who heard Yolanda Kondonassis perform with the Oklahoma City Symphony on March 3 are rushing out to buy her new disk "Breathe: The Relaxing Harp." Despite the kitschy title, the playing is remarkable. All the pieces are solo except the first, and the sound she gets out of her instrument is most impressive.