Monday, March 9, 2026

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 with Mike's Morning Coffee

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: II. Adagio sostenuto · Leif Ove Andsnes. Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2.

It's a sad, reflective piece, and at points hard to bear. It just reminded me of loss, the loss of the things I loved the most, my mom and dad. Loss of other people, too, things not so much, mainly the loss of people. It's only people that can break your heart. Speaking of loss reminded me of Elizabeth Bishop's poem, "The Art of Losing," 1979. It doesn't read like a highly technical poem, nor does it capture the grief of loss so much. It has a bit of a cavalier attitude toward loss, like it's no big thing.

I heard this Rachmaninoff on the way to get coffee this morning, and it reminded me of how Mom and Dad loved, endearingly and deeply.  I miss being in their physical presence when they were overwhelmed by loving feelings for their mom and dad.  And too for their affection and doting love for their sons and daughters.

Monday, February 23, 2026

7th & Broadway in front of the Lankershim Hotel. 1970

 1970, View of the overturned snorkel truck as seen from the fire escape of the Lankershim Hotel. A huge crowd gathered as firemen hosed off Broadway Street; it took three hours to right the vehicle and tow it away. (E. Bruce Howell - Herald Examiner Collection).  Thanks to LAPL.  If you're in the mood, check out these other photos of 7th and Broadway.  

Monday, February 16, 2026

LA was second only to Detroit in auto production.

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Buck Owens to George Jones to Marty Robbins

I liked Buck Owens, 1929-2006, a lot.  Then the Hee Haw singers, 1969-1997.  And though I'd heard Tammy Wynette's [1942-1998] "Stand by Your Man" a lot on the radio, I didn't really know who George Jones, 1931-2013, was.  Owens sounds an awful lot like George Jones. But I guess the standard for a lot of these western singers was Marty Robbins, 1925-1982.