A Toast to Sigmund Romberg

Sigmund Romberg
Austro-Hungarian American
Musical & Operetta Composer
(29 July 1887 - 9 November 1951)

Carmen Dragon, conducting
The Hollywood Bowl Pops Orchestra (1993)

- "The Drinking Song" from "The Student Prince" (Romberg)

Click or tap here to view this L'Envoi YouTube.

Robert Farnon's Birthday Anniversary

How Beautiful Is Night
Tab 1 Feature:
24 July 2015
Robert Farnon
Canadian-born composer and conductor
(24 July 1917 - 23 April 2005)

Robert Farnon, conducting
(1989)
- Friendly Persuasion
(Tiomkin) 2'47"

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:
24 July 2015
Robert Farnon
Canadian-born composer and conductor
(24 July 1917 - 23 April 2005)

Robert Farnon, conducting
(2000)
- How Beautiful Is Night
(Farnon) 3'17"


This MP3 post expired on 08-02-2015.
Click or tap here to play the current selections.

Margaret Whiting's Birthday Anniversary

Tab 1 Feature:
22 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Margaret Whiting
Big Band and Swing Music Vocalist
(22 July 1924 - 10 January 2011)

Margaret Whiting, vocal
(2002)
- Where or When
(Rodgers & Hart) 2'54"

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:
22 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Margaret Whiting
Big Band and Swing Music Vocalist
(22 July 1924 - 10 January 2011)

Margaret Whiting, vocal
(2000)
- I Only Have Eyes for You
(Warren & Dubin) 3'41"


This MP3 post expired on 07-24-2015.
Click or tap here to play the current selections.

J'ai le seul souvenir de ta beauté mortelle

With the remodeling about the house, I had not been able to post Dorothy Kristen's music on her birthday. This American operatic soprano was born on 6 July 1910. Here is the belated post on Kristen.

Te souvient-il du lumineaus voyage--lorsque tu
m'as conduite ici?"

Tab 1 Feature:
6 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Dorothy Kristen
operatic soprano
(6 July 1910 - 18 November 1992))

Dorothy Kristen, soprano
(1950)
- Someone to Watch over Me
(Gershwin) 3'05"

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:
6 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Dorothy Kristen
operatic soprano
(6 July 1910 - 18 November 1992))

Dorothy Kristen & Robert Merrill, duet
(1947)
- The Death of Thaïs
(Messenet) 4'27"


This MP3 post expired on 07-22-2015.
Click or tap here to play the current selections.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

It has been a very busy first half of the year. Patio lattice work in the spring, a recent cruise to Alaska on the L'Austral; and meanwile, back at the ranch, the kitchen was being remodeled The house inside and in the garage could give Tracy Emin's "My (messy) Bed" sold for $4.4M keen competition.

The kitchen remodeling project is complete. The three combo-photos below show the work that was done from ceiling to floor - all new ceiling LED can lights, soft-close cabinets, US made GE appliances, a granite-acrylinc sink, and quartz countertop and backsplash.

About 9' of the old base cabinets and brass pulls are re-assembled for use as a patio counter. The old florescent lights from the pre-remodeled kitchens will also be installed along with a patio fan. At this point, the housewide Wi-Fi reception at the patio is "good". I could add a Netgear Wi-Fi extender later if needed for the remainder of the backyard.

Picture of the patio counter.

There are ramnents of large slabs of quartz are left. They will be cut up as stepping-stone and whatnots suitable for use in the gardens.

Picture of a messy garage and slabs of leftover quartz countertop.

Crazy Otto's Birthday Anniversary

Tab 1 Feature:
4 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Fritz "Crazy Otto" Schulz-Reichel
German-born concert pianist
(4 July 1912 - 4 February 1990)

"Crazy Otto", honky tonk piano
(1960)
- Ramona
(Wayne & Gilbert) 2'32"

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:
4 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Fritz "Crazy Otto" Schulz-Reichel
German-born concert pianist
(4 July 1912 - 4 February 1990)

"Crazy Otto", honky tonk piano
(1960)
- Charmaine
(Rapee & Pollack) 2'23"

This MP3 post expired on 07-08-2015.
Click or tap here to play the current selections.

Independence Day 2015

Our 239th year as a nation.

Alaska Trip - Ice Floe Up Close & Personal

Riding on a Zodiac to check out the ice floes. The L'Austral in the background.

Alaska Trip - Ford's Terror Fjord

Alaska Trip - Thar She Blows!

A Pod of Humpback Whales

Alaska Trip - Petersberg, AK

Alaska Trip - Forget-Me-Not

Alaska Trip - Haines, AK

Alaska Trip - Inside Passage Sunset

Alaska Trip - South Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm

Alaska Trip - King Crab Dining

Alaska Trip - How to Fillet a Sockeye Salmon

Alaska Trip - An Invitation to the Captain's Table

A memento of dining with the captain of the L'Austral.

Christoph Gluck Birthday Anniversary

Tab 1 Feature:
2 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Christoph Gluck
German early Classical composer
(2 July 1714 - 15 November 1787)

Nathan Milstein, violin
(1993)
- Dance of the Blessed Spirits
(Gluck, arr. Kreisler) 2'48"

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:
2 July 2015
A Birthday Anniversary
Christoph Gluck
German early Classical composer
(2 July 1714 - 15 November 1787)

Maria Callas, soprano
(2003 compilation)
- Divinités du Styx
(Gluck) 4'27"

This MP3 post expired on 07-04-2015.
Click or tap here to play the current selections.