A Night at the Opera

Here's a photo of Mommy and Daddy on their way to the opera, although not from today.  This happens to be a few years ago, before we met Madison.  Yesterday's synchronized swimming routine featured a little operatic music, which sort of got Daddy listening to some more opera music later on, which in itself reminds me of a few of the operas we've attended in the past.

Yes, we've spent a night at the opera.  This picture above was taken just before seeing "Turandot," which may be the only opera we've seen twice.  That one song alone is worth the price of admission:  "Nussun Dorma."  The other favorite opera is "La Boheme."  Evidently we're fans of Puccini.

Like with any performance, there are good operas and bad ones.  We've seen both, but no matter our opinion of the production, it's always a ritzy sort of feeling going out to see the opera.  Everyone dresses up, and it's fun to mingle and listen to others bragging about seeing this opera in Rome, or that other opera in San Francisco.

We ourselves are not quite that sophisticated.  It's more of a passing interest than an obsession, as evidenced by the fact that we have not actually attended an opera in quite a few years.  Having Madison with us also is a factor, of course.  Years before her, Ye-Ye and Nana had season opera tickets that they'd share with us from time to time.  They themselves are big opera fans, and passed along the blessing to us.  Daddy was a tiny bit skeptical to begin with, but is always up for something new and interesting - and certainly cultural.  So we went, and actually enjoyed it quite a bit.  It really helps that there's a translator so you can have an idea of what's going on!

As for Madison, someday we'll take her too.  But that will be quite a few years from now by my estimate!

Today was a quiet day, although not in the skies.  We're in an interesting weather pattern of intense humidity and very loud storms.  Reports of wind damage have been frequent, and the grass in everyone's lawn is getting higher because of all the water - and lack of time to go out there and mow.

We went by the children's dentist again with Madison, which was an easy trip - although we do have to return in a few days to get a filling.  Madison's teeth have a shape similar to Daddy's in that there are places that a toothbrush can't reach.  It doesn't matter how much you brush, which means we're grateful to have check-ups as we did today.  We're keeping an eye on the loose tooth, of course.  Also, molars are coming in, which means we have to floss more as some of these teeth get pressed together.  It's like the continental drift, but with teeth.

Which was a terrible segue to the movie we saw afterwards, "Ice Age 4."  We made the drive over to Cumming to see yet another new movie, which officially puts us in the theater more this summer than I can remember being in many years.  One reason we've been going to the movies more:  the price.  This theater in Cumming has matinee movies for only $5.00.  So we go to see first-run movies at a much cheaper price, along with a lot of other people too apparently.  The theater has been packed each time we've gone!  It's a great situation:  the overall price we pay is enough for a free ticket, pretty much.

As for the movie itself, it was okay.  Madison enjoyed it a lot, and we were all glad to go and have time together at the movies.  Beforehand, we used some of our coupons to go to Cracker Barrel, where we got a nice meal - and we picked up some candy from their store.  Yummy!  Throughout the movie, we were munching on candy we smuggled in to the theater.

Tonight before bed, there was time for more piano practice, and time for some Lego Star Wars too.  It was that kind of day.  Nothing like going to the opera, of course.  But we did stay up late playing games:  nussun dorma!

"Two Sloths, a mammoth and a saber? You guys are like the start of a bad joke!" 
- Shira