CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Default Null Subject Account for Blank Record

0403 -
0403 -    ..
0404 - Summary/Objective
0405 -
040501 - Follow up ref SDS 9 0000. ref SDS 4 0000.
040502 -
040503 -
040504 -
040506 -  ..
0406 -
0407 -
0408 - Progress
0409 -
040901 - This evening after a round of golf earlier today, 100905 1000,
040902 - ref SDS 9 RE8J, we went to George and Deena's home for a party,
040903 - following some of the same group gathering at Ross and Claudia's home
040904 - on Friday, 100903 2016, ref SDS 6 585L,
040906 -  ..
040907 - Claudia brought potatoe salad, that was a big hit on Friday,
040908 - ref SDS 6 508M, and again this evening.
040910 -  ..
040911 - This was a much larger group than Friday.  Seemed like 15 people,
040912 - maybe 20 including several children.
040914 -  ..
040915 - When we arrived, George was cooking chicken.  He left early from golf
040916 - this afternon, in order to start preparing dinner.  It was warm, so we
040917 - all ate outside.  Deena served an interesting dish.  It is like
040918 - lasagna, but was Greek.  Someone said "Greek lasagna."  It was
040919 - delicious.
040921 -  ..
040922 - Met Sandy and Marty, who were invited on Friday, but had late evening
040923 - commitments and so did not come.  Marty markets liquore to
040924 - distributors, and so does a lot of traveling, like Ross.
040926 -  ..
040927 - Ross offered a 20-minute, comprehensive explanation of Impressionist
040928 - painting.  He took a class on this subject in college.  It came up
040929 - this evening talking about visiting museums yesterday in New York.
040930 - The Guggenheim features modern art which seems to include
040931 - "Impressionist" painting.
040933 -  ..
040934 - Much of the impressionist art was difficult to comprehend and
040935 - appreciate.  Ross differentiated this newer form of art that uses
040936 - light and color, from Renaissance art, that tends toward direct
040937 - representation, similar to a photograph, and shown at the Metropolitin
040938 - museum down the street on 5th avenue, which we visited after leaving
040939 - the Guggenheim.
040941 -  ..
040942 - Discussed an Impressionist painting showing someone working in a farm
040943 - field.  Conveying an "impression" of lonely, unrewarding toil that
040944 - permeates much of life in a large, impersonable world.
040946 -  ..
040947 - Ross was familiar with the painting.  Think he said it is called...
040948 -
040949 -               "Peasant in the field"
040951 -  ..
040952 - What was most striking is Ross' ability to concentrate on big ideas
040953 - that require careful analysis that flows easily in conversation,
040954 - contrasted with frustration and impatience doing the same thing in
040955 - writing, discussed yesterday on the train to New York. 100904 1016,
040956 - ref SDS 8 ES97
040958 -  ..
040959 - At some point, several of us were at a table about the time people
040960 - were eating.  Mike sat with us, so took the occasion to toast his 2
040961 - shots at the golf course earlier today. 100905 1000, ref SDS 9 RE4O
040963 -  ..
040964 - Anita, Deena's mom, came and sat with the guys out at the fire.  Her
040965 - husband, Doctor Andrew Ragona, is now retired from a career as an oral
040966 - surgeon.
040968 -  ..
040969 - Conversation turned to movies, reflecting evolving cultural roles.
040971 -  ..
040972 - Ross mentioned Meryl Streep in the recent movie: " It's Complicated."
040973 - which we saw at home last night.  He and Claudia rented it and another
040974 - movie with Nicholas Cage - "The Bad Lieutenant."  Everyone had seen
040975 - "It's Complicated," and gave rave reviews.  Nobody had seen the
040976 - Nicholas Cage movie, which was just as well, because it was a bad
040977 - remake of a bad movie released 15 years ago staring Harvy Keitel.
040979 -  ..
040980 - There was discussion that Meryl Streep has had a long career acting
040981 - strong women's roles.
040983 -  ..
040984 - Anita liked "Out of Africa," with Meryl Streep, and the more recent
040985 - release of "Austrailia" with Nicole Kidman.
040987 -  ..
040988 - Anita vaguely recalled the 1977 movie:  "Julia" with Jane Fonda,
040989 - Vanessa Redgrave, and Jason Robards.  Meryl Streep had a small role.
040991 -  ..
040992 - Somehow the issue of building a mosque at Ground Zero came up.
040993 - Mentioned Patty's letter on 100903 1532. ref SDS 5 MO7V, and response
040994 - to Patty on 100904 0943. ref SDS 7 X84V
040996 -  ..
040997 - Anita cited concerns that there are 40 Muslim Mosques in New York
040998 - city, so adding another one is not needed.  She also cited reports
040999 - that funding for the project may be from terrorist sources, intendng
041000 - at least to disrespect New York, and the horrific loss that occurred
041001 - at Ground Zero on 010911, and at worst position terrorosts to strike
041002 - again.
041004 -  ..
041005 - Anita asked for a copy of the letter to comment on opposing views.
041007 -  ..
041008 - Interesting discussion with Kelly on changing fashions in popular
041009 - music.  Her teenage children keep Kelly and Mike somewhat atuned to
041010 - major singers.  Impression is that for the past 20 years, the music
041011 - industry has suffered a dearth of "stars" common in 50s - 90s.  Mike
041012 - and Kelly like a leading male opera singer.
041013 -
041014 -            [On 100906 1148 letter to Deena and her mom, saying the
041015 -            photograph commemorating her father's miraculous experience
041016 -            avoiding death in an avalanche signals even more adventures
041017 -            for the next generation. ref SDS 10 PU3Q
041019 -  ..
041020 - Tomorrow, Ross, George, Marty, and his brother are playing golf again
041021 - in the morning.  Mike and Kelly are attending a Gridiron fund raising
041022 - picknic for the Danbury High School football team.  Their daughter,
041023 - Kiki is a cheerleader at Danbury High School, and their son, played
041024 - with Stu on the football team two years ago.  Kelly and Sandy talked
041025 - about coming over in the morning and having Bloody Mary's with
041026 - Claudia.
041028 -  ..
041029 - Ross and Claudia went to the car on leaving the party.  Kelly and
041030 - Deena showed a picture in the family room of Deena's dad, Doctor
041031 - Ragona, on a group hike (expedition) up Mt McKinley in Alaska.  The
041032 - picture shows towering Mt McKinely with 4 or 6 figures in the distance
041033 - with their back to the camera headed towart the mountain.  Deena
041034 - explained that her dad was caught and buried in an avanlance on this
041035 - particular hike.  He was evidently trapped for several hours or days,
041036 - and was lucky to finally be rescued and survive.  Apparently the
041037 - doctor suffered severe injuries, turning the hike into a truly
041038 - trecherous adventure.
041039 -
041040 -            [On 100906 1148 letter to Doctor Ragona's wife, Anita,
041041 -            credits the doctor's adventurous spirit, and notes carry
041042 -            forward to the next generation facing big challenges ahead
041043 -            for the nation. ref SDS 10 PU3Q
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0411 -