Showing posts with label Shakepseare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shakepseare. Show all posts

Sunday, July 27, 2008

A crab by any other name would smell as sweet...

One upside of Aurelia heading back to work is having her sharp eyes looking out for culinary bargains. On Wednesday last she spied Oregon crabs at a fraction of the usual price and made an executive dinner decision. Sylvia, not having enjoyed crab, seemed non-plussed.







We, on the other hand, broke out the crackers, hammers and picks and made merry with the beverages and crustaceans. Ian missed out as he was attending the 2008 Open Source Convention where the knowledge, beer, and nibbles flow like wine.









The following evening was another in a fine sequence. Susan, Aurelia, Sylvia and I spent some time sampling a baby carrier that the little one is finally growing into. The ergo baby carrier looks complicated but wears pretty easy and supports Sylvia's head in a way that is comfortable and secure. I expect she will be spending a good amount of time in it over the next few months.













Survey says that there's little more kissable than a baby's cheek.





Saturday found the gang at the 39th Annual Shakespeare in the park event. Put on by the Portland Actors Ensemble, a non profit group of thespians who take the Bard to the masses through live performance in public parks. By happy coincidence the performance was of "Two Gentleman of Verona" that by features the sonnet "Who is Silvia." The sonnet was sung by two gents vying for her love (neither of which win her affection in the end). The atmosphere is intentionally casual, with the audience booing and hissing deeds of cowardice, babies being changed at intermission, and the actors running back and forth from the "stage" to change costume.























The evening concluded with Ian acting as Asador, and doing his best to recreate the Argentine parilla with our gas grill. It was wonderful and I am sorely tempted to take him up on his offer to build a more permanent parilla somewhere in the backyard.









Thursday, April 24, 2008

Who is Sylvia?

Sylvia and her entourage are doing well (even if the latter are a bit sleep deprived). She gets more beautiful with each passing hour. Since pictures don't tell the whole story, here are a few fun facts sure to embarrass her in the future:

Day 1: 3 diapers, 6 trips on the leche train
Day 2: 4 diapers, 8 trips on the leche train
Day 3 (so far): 3 diapers, 7 trips on the leche train


momma and baby enjoy a little chat


grandma baby + comfy chair = contentment

It's great to have her home. Susan and Stephen have been wonderful, making sure that there's warm food and open arms when we need a break.

One last item. When I told my mother the name of her grandchild she recollected a stanza from Shakespeare's "The Two Gentleman of Verona". I've reproduced it below and here's a link to a fragment of a musical version.

Who Is Silvia?

Who is Silvia? what is she,

That all our swains commend her?

Holy, fair, and wise is she;

The heaven such grace did lend her,

That she might admirèd be.

Is she kind as she is fair?

For beauty lives with kindness.

Love doth to her eyes repair,

To help him of his blindness,

And, being helped, inhabits there.

Then to Silvia let us sing,

That Silvia is excelling;

She excels each mortal thing

Upon the dull earth dwelling:

To her let us garlands bring.

William Shakespeare