An anti-government protestor with the colours of his national flag painted on his face, during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 24, 2011. | AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen
I've been to Arizona's cacti forests a few times, but had never come across these small wonders in such vivid colours. One called out to me and I chose it to keep me company for as long as it lives. He is pictured below.
Here's my new cactus. He was chosen from the group pictured above although he'd been removed when the picture was taken for he had already called to me. I shall wait until The Namer visits to baptise him. But mark today as his birthdate: 24 March 2011.
I found a little note in an old travel journal in which I'd noted the warning on a sign I read right upon entering the San Diego Zoo many many years ago. The sign was very similar to the one pictured here. I think it gets the message across rather well, ha ha!
My Friend Eduardo has just lost his Father, only a few months after his Mother's passing. My heart goes out to him, to his loving Partner and the rest of his Family for this sad loss. We think the man just missed his departed wife, the love of his live, too much. It's brilliant to think that they might be together again now. I find it comforting and important to remember their splendid lives and celebrate them.
Te acompaño, hermano, en tu dolor y te ofrezco la paz y todo mi cariño.
It's unbelievable. Have a look!
Dame Kiri's recital Wednesday evening was brilliant. She sang superbly, her voice hardly showing its age at all. She was as gracious and funny on stage as she was off stage when I greeted her after the concert and she signed my programme. Her choice of music was splendid and wide-ranging, selected to fit her voice perfectly. Opera queens were certainly a bit disappointed as they usually are when they don't hear the same tired old arias and are instead challenged with diverse choice and art songs. She exquisitely sang, as if I had personally requested it, one of my very favourite songs, Reynaldo Hahn's À Chloris. A little fast yet compensating with beautiful tone, phrasing, interpretation and a final note transposed higher which came as a delightful surprise.
Please note that she made a deeply heartfelt appeal for help to the victims of the recent New Zealand earthquakes which destroyed, among other places, beautiful Christchurch. Dame Kiri stressed the importance of every single dollar. Have a quick read here.
A blurry Dame Kiri from the seventh row!
People arrive at the CBA for Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's Recital
Centro de Bellas Artes