Rosemary and I today drove to Bellingham very early in the morning (to avoid that Richmond tunnel problem that begins around 3pm). The purpose of our trip was to buy very sweet, junk breakfast cereals for our son-in-law and younger granddaughter (they should know better).

But we also take advantage that Bellingham has La Gloria that stocks, not only daily made tortillas but all kinds of Mexican groceries not available in Vancouver. And of course my frugal wife insists I fill-up with gasoline at the Costco gas station.

I must plainly write here that in previous years it was fun to drive to the United States. The fact that the Canadian Dollar is low in comparison to the American Dollar is not the reason. I simply do not want to buy anything be it electronic, photographic or clothes at Macy’s. I buy now very few books and check out the books I really want to read from our Vancouver Public Library.

I wrote about the thrill of the first time I went to the UShere. At one time Rosemary and I loved going to Seattle and spending the night and driving back. We always managed to listen to Marion McPartland’s Piano Bar on the radio. All those pleasures have faded.  

Driving home Rosemary reminded that my Sony linear tracking turntable had been repaired. We picked it up. The pleasant gentleman at the repair shop asked me if I wanted to buy a new Stanton stylus as the one in my present cartridge while good might not be so good in a few years. Since I bought the turntable (used) at a Sony Store around 1990 I figured that when I go to where my ears will no longer be functioning, one of my daughters might want to play records. I bought the stylus.

We arrived home where we were greeted by Casi-Casi. I connected my turntable and immediately plaid my circa 1970 Turnabout TVS-34029 Vivaldi Gloria in D major, RV 589.

It felt good to be back in Canada and to listen to a preview of the glorious Gloria we are going to listen to live at the Chan with an all-female cast of singers and musicians on the 23d.

For more info on that Early Music Vancouver Gloria:

The Vivaldi Gloria, Alice Cooper, Igor Stravinski & 50 Elephants

Baroque Pearls & José Benito de Churriguera