Off the cuff

Today for the first time I encountered 2 expressions that are very similar but have in fact a different even opposite meaning. 

We were having dinner when my son said "Do you know the origin of the expression "off the cuff"? As it was Shabbat, we didn't have Google at our disposal, only a kilo and a half dictionary, which didn't provide much information: it gave the meaning "in a offhand manner, extemporaneously", without the origin of the expression. But this was not taking in consideration our son's perfect memory. He had Googled it in the past and explained: In the 1930's some writers giving spontaneous speeches started to write quick notes on the cuffs of their sleeves. At the time cuffs were starched and solid. They later would read their notes "off the cuff".

However, the Deluxe Color Edition of our "New World Dictionary" mentioned another expression : "On the cuff". The origin is pretty similar but instead of prolific writers, it talks about busy bartenders who used to write the charge to be paid by their clients on the cuffs of their sleeves.  The expression "on the cuff" expressed the bill to be paid and therefore took the meaning "on credit".

This conversation took place as we were having a Shabbat dinner for three that would not pale in comparison with the most lavish vegetarian thanksgiving feast, with 5 types of salads, 4 types of grains, and 3 types of vegetables. When it comes to the fish, I had planned baked haddock and broiled seabass, but when I realized we had Swiss Chard in the refrigerator, I improvised a dish of haddock wrapped in Swiss Chard with mustard sauce. Just like that, off the cuff.

Tailor-made

Today for the first time I started a course that is perfectly tailored to me. And how is this? Well, when there is a will there's a way... I myself elaborated a course, just to my liking, completely to my liking, and here is how it goes:

Once a week I listen to 2 different pieces taken from an opera. The piece lasts between 4 to 15 minutes depending on my choice. At first, I look for the libretto of the piece and a translation, this way I can follow the piece. I listen to it and then , I start the learning: 

1. Which opera is the piece taken from? What kind of piece? An overture, an aria, a duet, choruses? In which language? What is the context of the piece in the opera? Who is/are the performer/s?

2. Who is the author of the opera? The librettist? When was the opera first written and first performed? Its place in the history of opera of the author's country.

3. What is the story of the opera and the story behind its making and the first performances? 

Today, I listened to "Una Furtiva Lagrima" from "L'Elisir D'Amore" an opera from Gaetano Donizetti, featuring Luciano Pavarotti . I learned that Donizetti (1797 - 1848) was an incredibly prolific Italian composer who wrote no less than 550 musical works including 71 operas. 

Talk of delivering the goods!

I also listened to "Un Bel Di Vedreno" from Madame Butterfly of Giacomo Puccini. I learned that there are no less than 5 versions to this opera. The first version in 1904 was a flop and Puccini worked on subsequent versions up until the fifth one in 1907, which is considered the standard one, a massive success around the world. So "If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again." 

Take it from Robert the Bruce and apparently from Giacomo Puccini as well who didn't take failure as an answer.

Revival downloading

How do you revive a blog after 10 years? Do you continue as if nothing has happened or maybe you say goodbye and move on to another blog? Well, I changed the format but I came back to the original "Today for the first time" blog. 

Today for the first time, I want to go back to 2010 when my first grandchildren were just 2 and 3 years old and I was approaching each new word, story, conversation with them as a wonder.

I want to go back to January 2011 when a mammogram sent me to a biopsy and the biopsy to the realization I had breast cancer. And now I have been free of cancer for 11 years and the radiation treatment seems so far away.

Today my older grandchildren are teenagers and I am so proud of them. They have grown to be generous and warm people.

Enough for today. Something new happens every day.