又到洛杉磯

又是免費旅行。

不過五年前有得去 USC，今年人去樓空，反而去了唐人街。

雖然是免費旅行，但如果只是為了周六晚的一頓飯也是無聊。作為非專業結構工程師和業餘音樂家，當然要看迪士尼音樂廳和洛杉磯愛樂。周五晚演出正是音樂總監 Salonen 指揮，演奏西貝流士的第五和第六交響曲。還有甚麼活動可以這樣完美地結合我的兩項非專業？

久聞迪士尼音樂廳的名字，當我第一眼從遠處望見音樂廳，那種銀光和曲線仍是有點震撼的。它的外形真的很吸引和獨特，有一股超然的寒氣，正好西貝流士、洛杉磯愛樂和 Salonen 都有這種感覺。

獨特的外形卻使內部結構有點混亂，令我覺得好像一個迷宮。每層的樓高頗低，而且要遷就大音樂廳的形狀，中場休息的大堂變得很窄，視線也不遠，侷促之餘，樂迷應該不會撞到朋友！大音樂廳也令我覺得侷促，但其實應該是很大很多座位的，不知道為什麼我就不是太舒服。可幸音響很好，把樂團的音色變得更溫暖，卻仍然清澈。

我對西貝流士的交響曲並不熟悉，這次是認識他的好機會。上半場奏的是第六交響曲，洛杉磯愛樂和 Salonen 奏起來很清，雖然是七彩，卻不是奪目，反而有點像木顏色，整首交響曲都很 cool，令我很難全情投入。是樂曲本身如此、樂團留力還是樂團性格如此？

下半場的第五交響曲開始時木管有點生澀，但樂團漸漸發熱了，慢板不慍不火拿捏得很準，終樂章更是熱力迫人，感覺和上半場的清淡截然不同！北歐的寒風被西貝流士的熱情征服了。我見識到甚麼是音樂裡的「留前鬥後」！

洛杉磯愛樂和 Salonen 我在三藩市 Davies Hall 聽過一次，那年他們演奏貝多芬的第五和第八交響曲，雖不錯但亦無特別，而且那次 Salonen 用上中型編制，音色和音量都聽不到很清楚，聽說那次 Salonen 很不滿 Davies Hall 的音響。今次在主場演出，水準果然不同，雖然個別團員功力未至頂級，論信心是給三藩市交響樂團的團員比下去，但團體精神一致，和 Salonen 有很好的默契，不枉我親身到洛杉磯欣賞！

哄動

要造成哄動的方法很簡單，今天見識了兩項。

一、說一個笑話：陳騮牧師說「土木工程師都是又土又木的」，我身旁兩行的女孩子立即哄動。

二、神不知鬼不覺地走進禮堂，然後若無其事地崇拜，例如已經轉離女神路線的前女神。

飲食

驗血報告結果：

食物敏感：花生，麥，粟米，蝦

真係要小心飲食喇。

海鮮敏感我一直都知道，其他三項真的有點意外。暑假時還以為吃素會好一點，吃了很多麥包和粟米，而且素食很難避免麥的成份，原來把身體弄得更差了。

美國食物要避免麥會有點困難：比薩、硬麵包圈、三文治、各式意粉，這些公司裡最常吃的東西，全部都有問題。看來是最傳統的中國家常菜才行：魚、雞、豬、菜、飯！K 說我的基因是地道中國人。

不知道營養姐姐 J 何否幫忙一下？

反高潮

終日下雨的周五，晚上寒風刺骨，不知道下一刻天氣會變成怎樣，在這種環境下露天觀賞加州莎士比亞劇場的《李爾王》，好像天氣在支援著劇情一樣。

既然是悲劇，當然好人都遭遇不幸的事，壞人卻連連得逞。但壞人的關係到了後來變得一塌糊塗，好人相認之時，正值法蘭西助 Cordelia 和李爾王攻打不列顛。我覺得，這還不是高潮？壞人要垮了吧。結果就是法蘭西軍輸了，Cordelia 和李爾王被活足，反高潮！悲劇中的悲劇。

加州大學美式足球隊上周升至全美第二名，校內校外新生舊生一同沸沸騰騰，連不看亦不懂看美式足球的也指指點點一番。昨晚之戰，各人都充滿希望，見證奇蹟的歷史時刻。但加大陷入苦戰，第四節還剩八分鐘，加大落後 31-21。

但奇蹟好像要出現了，精采的防守使加大重燃希望，新人四分衛 Riley 處子演出驚喜處處，還剩四分鐘竟然追成 31-28。奇蹟繼續出現，又一精采防守，然後在一分半鐘內從加大後場攻至OSU十二碼！五分鐘前絕望的心，現在注滿見證奇蹟的期待，眼看一個又一個不可能的任務都完成了，還不是奇蹟的高潮？

現實又怎會是三流的故事書情節？還剩十四秒之時來一個反高潮。

悲劇中的悲劇。我的胃痛了一整晚。

韌力

今天到了 UC Davis 和方老師演出布拉姆斯的 F 大調大提琴奏鳴曲。

數算起來，由接受邀請到演出只有六星期，我真的能把這首難度甚高的鋼琴部份練出來，心裡充滿感激。這更是第一次和專業人士正式同台演出，心情更加緊張。

學習音樂的人都知道，學習曲線不是一條直線。由初讀譜至流暢地彈奏是一段艱辛的時間，之後漸漸錯音會浮現，自信退減，這是學習曲線稍為下跌之時。經過了這第二段的艱辛，對作品的認識和拿捏會更準確，自信回復，錯音亦因更多的練習而減退，這是學習曲線再次上升之時。

可惜六星期時間太少，只去到第一個頂峰，而且是第一次演奏，自信心於這數天下降得頗快。今天演出正值第二段艱辛期，失誤頗多，但經驗可貴，特別是合奏的默契和對結構的理解。第二樂章是我倆最喜歡的樂章，今天演繹尤其漂亮，果然是越愛越演繹得好。

布拉姆斯濃厚的音質，往往令演奏者感到韌力不足，因疲乏而未能集中精神到最後，這是我今天深深感受到作為業餘演奏者的限制。方老師說，音樂家就是每天練習五小時以上，才有這種韌力，還要懂得收放，不要過早去得太盡。

如果可以再演出這首奏鳴曲，希望音準可以改善。應該有機會的。

Fwd: Craigslist ad

Thanks Miss A for the wonderful forward.



[Craigslist ad]



What am I doing wrong?

Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful
(spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy.
I'm not from New York. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at
least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind
that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think
I'm overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could
you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around
200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won't get
me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married
to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's not as pretty as
I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I
get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars,
restaurants, gyms

-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my
feelings

-Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?

- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east
side so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have
nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop dead
gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story
there?

- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment
banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they
hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?

- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for
MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honest
way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front
about it. I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't
able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a
nice home and hearth.

* it's NOT ok to contact this poster
with services or
other commercial interests

PostingID: 432279810

_______________________________________


THE ANSWER
Dear Pers-431649184:




I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully
about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.
Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your
bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I
see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a
cr@ppy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you
suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring
my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my
money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely
that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't
be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning
asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation
accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty
hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in
earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy
and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business sense
to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case
you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were
to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's
as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So,
I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful"
as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to
believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K
hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then
we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way.
Classic "pump and dump."
I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of
lease, let me know.