Distractions, reflections

Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

2008/06/14 Installing ceiling fans

June 14, 2008
Since we’re in a three-storey house (plus basement), the upper floors are too warm and the basement in too cool in the summer. Since I’ve added another PC in our bedroom — as a Mythbuntu personal video recorder — it makes the room even warmer. We have a ceiling fan above the third floor landing. Since we were going to install a fan into the master bedroom, we decided to install in all three bedrooms. We asked Don to teach Adam how to do it.

Don came over with the family. I don’t advocate video games — the boys have funded their own recreation — but it was something for Ryan to do with Anderson and Michaela.

Of course, we wouldn’t let everyone go home without have dinner. Continue reading “2008/06/14 Installing ceiling fans“

2008/06/13 The Bad Plus, Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto Jazz Festival

June 13, 2008
I’m fortunate to not have to travel far to go to Toronto Jazz Festival events. I can choose between bicycling or taking the streetcar! The jazz festival brings some great bands to town. Andy and I went to see The Bad Plus at the Glenn Gould Studio, in the CBC Broadcasting Centre. The trio is an entertaining mix of styles — and not just musical styles. Ethan Iverson, on piano, wore a suit and tie, and had a totally deadpan delivery in his slow delivery of jokes. Reid Anderson let his bass do the talking, pushes the music forward with lots of energy.

Dave King was a wild man on drums. Of the three, he attracts the most attention, with a big smile on his face.

For a jazz combo of three acoustic instrument, this group feels like a rock band. They’re great musicians, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. The Glenn Gould Studio feels a bit formal for a jazz performance, but the sound is great. Continue reading “2008/06/13 The Bad Plus, Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto Jazz Festival“

2008/06/10 Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg, VA

June 10, 2008
I normally visit a lot of big cities, so it’s a change of pace when I get to a smaller town. Virginia Tech — officially Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — is in Blacksburg, Virginia. Bill and Lee and I finished our afternoon meetings early, and decided to get a bit of exercise walking around campus. Starting from the entry to the northeast, we walked west on Alumni Mall, through the Torgerson Hall bridge.

The mall ends in a circle at the War Memorial. Looking back east, there’s a clearer view of the bridge at Torgerson Hall.

To the west, the plaza with monuments on it is the roof of War Memorial Chapel.

From the roof of War Memorial Chapel, Burress Hall is northeast across the Drillfield. Continue reading “2008/06/10 Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg, VA“

2008/06/07 Bike tour: Pape – Midland – Kennedy – Unionville – 7 – Warden

June 7, 2008
Simon and I live downtown, and have usually driven (way) uptown to visit Greg. Our preferred mode of transportation is bicycle, so good weather presented an opportunity for a tour. I’m less ambitious in my distances than Simon, and suggested reduced pedaling by riding the TTC. We started the journey from Queen Street East up to Pape Station — after I changed two flat tires. The gauge on the new bicycle pump reads differently!

I chose my vintage 1983 touring bike with cycling shoes and toe clips for this trip. Simon has a really nice Cannondale touring bike, but doesn’t like to park it outside. He chose to ride his father’s old bike, and thought flip flops were sufficient for pedaling in the summer heat .

From Pape Station, we rode up to the Kennedy station, and changed to the Scarborough LRT. Bikes are not that unusual on the subway, outside of rush hour.

The LRT routing jogs north before turning due east, so Midland station is closest to Unionville. This is where our ride seriously started. Continue reading “2008/06/07 Bike tour: Pape – Midland – Kennedy – Unionville – 7 – Warden“

2008/06/04 Mike Stern, Lionel Cordew, Tom Kennedy at 55 Bar, NYC

June 4, 2008
Mike Stern is one of my favourite musicians. I’ve previously seen him perform at the 55 Bar, in the Village in NYC, and he’s been a regular attraction at previous Toronto Jazz Festivals. Antonio is an aspiring guitarist, and our schedules only permitted us to see Steps Ahead at Iridium on the night that Mike wasn’t playing. Since I was spending a lot of time in town, I made a point of scheduling an evening when Mike is at 55 Bar. This evening was a trio with Lionel Cordew on drums and Tom Kennedy on bass.

Bar 55 is long and narrow. We enjoyed a front row view of the musicians, so Antonio did as most guitarist do — watching fingers fly. After the set, Antonio bought a CD and had Mike sign it.

Continue reading “2008/06/04 Mike Stern, Lionel Cordew, Tom Kennedy at 55 Bar, NYC“

2008/06/03 Vegetarian Korean dinner, NYC

June 3, 2008
When there’s a large selection of restaurant to choose from, I’ll tend towards the more obscure. Vegetarian Korean food is pretty obscure in most cities, but in New York City, there’s Hangawi in Koreatown. Marianne was game for the adventure, and took in an afternoon train from New Jersey. We chose the set meal. The soup came with skewers in it.

The appetizers included a dumpling, a stuffed apple, and lotus root.

Korean pancakes came with an assortment of shaved vegetables and pickles, with a dipping sauce on the side.

Main dishes included mushroom, rice and kimchi (of course). Continue reading “2008/06/03 Vegetarian Korean dinner, NYC“

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