Music and poetry

Friday, I finally got to see the infamous "Orangerie"...a blues bar that I must say lived up to all the talk. You walk in and it feels like home right away...the owner is friendly, the regulars are friendly, and the beer is excellent (as well as the music, of course). The owner has you sign a sort of guestbook...fun to read through and see all the different languages and locations of his various customers.

I went with Rose to her lycée's open house on Saturday, and wow. I'm impressed. It's a trade school really...hostellry and tourism, so these kids learn everything from cooking to choosing wines to serving tables to managing a hotel. Their facility is great, they have hotel rooms and restaurant tables like other schools have science labs.

Also went to a poetry thing at the library...two poets did readings of their poems, and then their editor talked about the editing process, from selection of poems to the process of putting it into a book, to marketing. She gave tips to would-be poets on how to choose a publishing house for submissions...recommended starting with small houses since they would be more likely to publish newbies, and to of course research the kind of poems each house tends to publish. Don't wanna be submitting traditional verse to a house that prides itself on experimental poetry, after all.

Wandered into the School of Music in Blois, searching for a piano. There was some sort of event going on, parents and kids everywhere, so I blended in at least. Still, was a bit intimidated by all the ruckus, so made my way out before I found one. Plan is to go back on a weekday and talk to someone, see if I can legitimately use a practice room.

Another hundred pages in Les Trois Mousquetaires.