2010 YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread.

[annew]

AAargh! Stop getting me to watch Youtube! One thing leads to another, and I'm supposed to be DOING something!!
It's like looking something up in a dictionary - I always get distracted by the other wonderful words at the top of the pages and end up forgetting which word I was looking for in the first place.

[Kristl Walek]

This really warmed my heart....

The story goes....

Four young Sitka black-tailed bucks fell upon good luck Sunday as they were pulled from the icy waters of Stephens Passage, Alaska by a group of locals on Tom Satre’s 62-foot charter vessel.  Four juvenile Sitka black-tailed deer swam directly toward the boat.

Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at the humans on board.  Clearly, the bucks were distressed. With help, the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals came willingly onto the boat.  Once onboard, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering.

In the second picture, the rescued bucks rest on the back of Tom Satre’s boat, the Alaska Quest. All four deer were transported to Taku Harbour.  Once the group reached the dock, the first buck that had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back, then leapt into the harbour, swam to shore, and disappeared into the forest. After a bit of prodding and assistance from the humans, two others followed suit, but one deer needed more help.  Here he is being transported by Tom Satre

Tom, Anna and Tim Satre help the last of the "button" bucks to its feet. They did not know how long the deer had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive.  The good Samaritans (humans)  describe their experience as “one of those defining moments in life.”  I’m sure it was for the deer, as well.

[Brian Ellis]

A belated reply - I too watched the folk dancing programmes. I was rivetted by the Coconutters, and the horn dancers with their 1000 year old reindeer antlers. I don't suppose any Morris men would like to come and liven up my open gardens too?

Your open gardens doesn't need any livening up at all Anne

[annew]

Any excuse to get Morris men to come here!

[Paul T]

Lovely, Kristl.  Thanks for sharing.

[angie]

Kirsti that's so nice. I like when the story has a nice ending.

Angie 

[Lesley Cox]

A wonderful story Kristl.

Re Joshua Bell. What a fantastic opportunity and so many not having a clue about what they were hearing, or appreciating it as he played, except a lone woman. And what a tragedy that parents wouldn't let their young ones stop and listen.

[Paul T]

I wonder how much different the result would have been on a street instead of the subway.  Generally you go to the subway to catch a particular train, which does rather limit the option of stopping and listening to someone, particularly when it is timed to catch people heading to their workplace (where being late might result in termination of employment?).  Even a dedicated music lover would have to chose between waiting for the next train (no idea how often they run to particular areas) and listening.  Still a great shame that no-one had time though.

[Anthony Darby]

Not sure about the Washington subway, but the Glasgow Subway (nicknamed the "Clockwork Orange") and London Underground trains run every few minutes; you don't go down to catch a particular train.

As for Joshua Bell - the man is severely gifted! I think the ciaccona ("chaconne") from Bach's Partita in D minor for solo violin is wonderful (see my post on irritating pop songs). I only wish I could play it. I never get past the first chord!

Johannes Brahms, in a letter to Clara Schumann, said about the ciaccona:
On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind.

Booked our tickets for far off never never land: fly to NZ on 21st January.

[art600]

Booked our tickets for far off never never land: fly to NZ on 21st January.

With the winter that is forecast, let us hope you get to the airport.

[Maggi Young]

Booked our tickets for far off never never land: fly to NZ on 21st January.

 Wow! So soon! Best of luck, Anthony and Family........ as Art says, the adventure will likely  begin with the journey to the airport! 

[angie]

Hi Anthony

Can I come to visit 

Angie

[Lesley Cox]

Re JB again, if I'd had that chance I'd have happily missed all trains and spent the night curled up somewhere in the subway.

Where will you come in Anthony? Christchurch or Auckland? and did Vivienne get the Ashburton job?

Re the Chaconne, I also love the Busoni transcription for piano. Such drama!

[David Nicholson]

The Croconutters from Bacup were excellent Cliff.

A Freudian slip David?

Lesley and Paul,

It was just a typo, wouldn't know my "r's" from my elbow

[johnw]

Re JB again,

Re the Chaconne, I also love the Busoni transcription for piano. Such drama!

Lesley

And that superb Busoni is as difficult as the violin version.  Would give up my last days for one night at a Busoni concert in Berlin in the teens.

First time I heard Joshua B was on the radio in the Bruch#1, I had to park my car till it was over and was 40 minutes late for an appointment.

johnw