Everyone has heard at least the first 30 seconds of this piece - if not in a commercial, than in a movie or television show. Anyway, here is the rest along with a little blurb about it and the composer.
The "Sabre Dance" is a movement in the final act of the Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian's ballet Gayane, completed in 1942. It evokes a whirling war dance in an Armenian dance, where the dancers display their skill with sabres.
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian was born in Tiflis, Imperial Russia (now Tbilisi, Georgia) to a poor Armenian family. In his youth, he was fascinated by the music he heard around him, but at first he did not study music or learn to read it. In 1921 he travelled to Moscow to join his brother, the stage director of the Second Moscow Art Theatre. Although he had almost no musical education, Khachaturian showed such great talent that he was admitted to the Gnessin Institute where he studied cello.
In the 1930s, he married the composer Nina Makarova, a fellow student from Myaskovsky’s class. In 1951, he became professor at the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (Moscow) and the Moscow Conservatory. He also held important posts at the Composers' Union, which would later severely denounce some of his works as being “formalist” music, along with those of Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. These three composers became the so called "titans" of Soviet music, enjoying worldwide reputation as some of the leading composers of the 20th century.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Giving Thanks
By now, I'm sure you have all heard about the horrible incident at Fort Hood yesterday.
The scary thing? That's where my brother (aka The Dude) is stationed.
And the shooter was a Psychiatrist.
Did I mention that Dude is a doctor?
Yeah, he worked in the same freaking building as this lunatic.
I managed to get a call through the lock-down and talk to him for a few seconds. He was cool, just busy trying to help out with the casualties.
And, of course, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of Soldiers lost. Losing Soldiers on our own soil is as horrifying as it gets. To see it done by one of our own is even more horrifying. God Bless you all.
I'm so grateful that my brother is well and especially grateful to my Sissy for hearing me vent about all sorts of nonsense in the wake of this tragedy. Thank you, God. Thank you, Sissy. Thank you, Dude for being there for the Soldiers.
The scary thing? That's where my brother (aka The Dude) is stationed.
And the shooter was a Psychiatrist.
Did I mention that Dude is a doctor?
Yeah, he worked in the same freaking building as this lunatic.
I managed to get a call through the lock-down and talk to him for a few seconds. He was cool, just busy trying to help out with the casualties.
And, of course, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of Soldiers lost. Losing Soldiers on our own soil is as horrifying as it gets. To see it done by one of our own is even more horrifying. God Bless you all.
I'm so grateful that my brother is well and especially grateful to my Sissy for hearing me vent about all sorts of nonsense in the wake of this tragedy. Thank you, God. Thank you, Sissy. Thank you, Dude for being there for the Soldiers.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
RIP Louis
Last week I lost my kitty Louis. He was 15 and it was not unexpected - but it was still sad. I'll miss you Loodle my Lou-burger. Hope you're having a blast at the great cat-nip farm in the sky.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Boo!
Guess who finally found the cord that connects her camera to her computer? Yay!
Muffin's Pre-Zoo picture
Riding the Metro
Crowds of families trick-or-treating.
One of the many displays set up around the zoo.
Muffin's Pre-Zoo picture Riding the Metro
Crowds of families trick-or-treating.
One of the many displays set up around the zoo.
Muffin's "Metro Ballet" which she performed while waiting for the train. God, I love this girl.
Monday, November 2, 2009
La La Lame
Guess who didn't take their child trick-or-treating this year. Yep, that would be me. Lamest mom ever. I wasn't comfortable taking her around the apartment complex where I'm subletting (though I'm not supposed to be - see below) and I don't know of any nice neighborhoods to go to - seeing as I've lived here all of a month! Also, it was raining and she got to trick-or-treat at the zoo last weekend. So, there it is - my rationale for not manning up and taking my sweetheart out for free candy. I suck.
Another lame thing? The subletting. I'm so ready for it to be over. SO, so ready. The lady that I'm sub-letting from is nice enough, but I'm afraid I'm never going to see my deposit back. Also, she is constantly coming by to pick up various items. I feel like I have to keep the house in tip top shape "just in case" she pops in! Not that I live like a pig or anything - I just can't relax in that kind of environment.
Every time I see her name on the caller id I cringe. Mercifully, she was out of town for a couple of weeks but sure enough, when she came back she called. This time it wasn't to stop by - it was to tell me that there had been FOUR complaints of "crowds" in the apartment.
Wait. What? What kind of complaint? Crowds? I just moved here for crying out loud! I don't even know enough people to constitute a crowd! It's just been me, the Muffinator and the cats! Scouts honor!! She said she didn't believe for one minute that the complaints were legit but she just wanted to call me an ask about it to make certain before she called the management back. She said they wanted to make sure she wasn't subletting the apartment. Because apparently that's against the rules. Great!
When she casually dropped that information I was afraid she was going to then tell me to pack my stuff and go. But no. She doesn't care about the rules. She said she was going to tell them that I was a "dear friend" who just moved here and is staying with her until I close on my new home. So, not only are Muffin and I officially "homeless" we are staying in a place illegally. Yet another reason why I am The Lamest Mom Ever.
Then I told her the good news about the condo and she said to let me know as soon as I can when we'll be out because she'll need to find another subletter. Awesome way to continue your rule-breaking rampage lady! I can not even tell you guys how badly I want to get into my new home. I wish we could have closed on it sooner than the end of the month. Every day is another reason why I am ready to finally get settled.
On a brighter note... I have recently received a few awards and I promise to post them soon and redistribute the wealth! Also - I'm loving all the Halloween posts! The costumes are to die for! What a creative group of bloggy-friends!
Another lame thing? The subletting. I'm so ready for it to be over. SO, so ready. The lady that I'm sub-letting from is nice enough, but I'm afraid I'm never going to see my deposit back. Also, she is constantly coming by to pick up various items. I feel like I have to keep the house in tip top shape "just in case" she pops in! Not that I live like a pig or anything - I just can't relax in that kind of environment.
Every time I see her name on the caller id I cringe. Mercifully, she was out of town for a couple of weeks but sure enough, when she came back she called. This time it wasn't to stop by - it was to tell me that there had been FOUR complaints of "crowds" in the apartment.
Wait. What? What kind of complaint? Crowds? I just moved here for crying out loud! I don't even know enough people to constitute a crowd! It's just been me, the Muffinator and the cats! Scouts honor!! She said she didn't believe for one minute that the complaints were legit but she just wanted to call me an ask about it to make certain before she called the management back. She said they wanted to make sure she wasn't subletting the apartment. Because apparently that's against the rules. Great!
When she casually dropped that information I was afraid she was going to then tell me to pack my stuff and go. But no. She doesn't care about the rules. She said she was going to tell them that I was a "dear friend" who just moved here and is staying with her until I close on my new home. So, not only are Muffin and I officially "homeless" we are staying in a place illegally. Yet another reason why I am The Lamest Mom Ever.
Then I told her the good news about the condo and she said to let me know as soon as I can when we'll be out because she'll need to find another subletter. Awesome way to continue your rule-breaking rampage lady! I can not even tell you guys how badly I want to get into my new home. I wish we could have closed on it sooner than the end of the month. Every day is another reason why I am ready to finally get settled.
On a brighter note... I have recently received a few awards and I promise to post them soon and redistribute the wealth! Also - I'm loving all the Halloween posts! The costumes are to die for! What a creative group of bloggy-friends!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Hot Damn!
| You Are Betty Grable |
 You're the perfect girl for most guys Pretty yet approachable. Beautiful yet real. |
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sleepy Car Time
This week has been kinda sucky - despite the fact that today is my birthday! Argh. So, I'm posting pictures that make me smile. Muffin. Asleep. In the car. Adorable.
Pictures were taken with my camera phone - and I only recently learned how to email them to myself. My little girl, she can sleep through anything - in any position. Gotta love it.
Pictures were taken with my camera phone - and I only recently learned how to email them to myself. My little girl, she can sleep through anything - in any position. Gotta love it.
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