The Man From Swift Current

As I have previously posted in these pages, I receive an email update on Saturday mornings from the CRVBoy story site.  Two of the stories I am following there relate the adventures of the same set of characters, although at different times in their lives.  The Man From Swift Current and The Lernier Family by Russ Nielsen relate the stories of Glenn Nielson and Rick Lernier.  Swift Current begins with Glenn's early years growing up in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and St. Catherine's, Ontario, continuing through his college years.  Upon high school graduation, Glenn's Grandfather has promised to pay for his college education, all he has to do is pick a school.  In the process of checking out several universities, Glenn visits his cousin Keith in Atlanta to check out Georgia Tech.  It is there at Keith where Glenn meets Rick Lernier, Keith's roommate, Marine Reservist, erstwhile playboy and freshman at Georgia Tech.  In due course they fall hopelessly in love with each other and Glenn enrolls at Georgia Tech in an Engineering degree program.  When Rick is called up for active duty prior to his junior and Glenn's sophomore years, Glenn decides to transfer to the University of Minnesota where his boyhood friend, Ben studies so that he will not be so lonely with out Rick.  

The Lernier Family picks up the story after the boys college years when Glenn and Rick marry in St. Catherine's at the Parish Church where Glenn's parents were married.  It moves on as they establish their lives and begin their family, eventually winding up with 2 natural born twin boys via surrogate and three adopted children, two boys and a girl.  After Rick's federal contractor job with the military in Washington DC ends, the boys move their family from Northern, Virginia back to Glenn's home waters in St. Catherine's.  

In this week's update, Chapter 72 of Swift Current, finds Rick on a surprise leave visiting Glenn in Minnesota.  Glenn has changed his major from Engineering to Music as he is a well accomplished musician, playing both the Violin and the Piano.  As a result of his audition for the head of the Music Department, Dr. Nohr, Glenn is invited to perform at a recital along with two of his friends in the Music Salon at the home of Dr. Nohr.  This is a much coveted invitation, usually extended only once in a music student's carreer at UM.  Glenn's friend, Patty, plays the Violin and also the Recorder while his friend, Jimmy, plays both Trumpet and Oboe.  The recital is, of course a success with Patty in an almost unprecedented third invitational performance playing first, followed by Jimmy with the final three numbers by Glenn.  At the end of the chapter, author Russ Nielsen posted You Tube videos of the pieces performed in the recital.  So for your Monday Musical Moment, I put the videos posted into a play list, Swift Current Recital.  

Included in this play list are Sonatina for Violin Number 3 in G Minor by Franz Schubert performed by 12 year-old Mindy Chen accompanied by Simon Lepper during the 13th Menuhin International Violin Competition in Cardiff, UK; the second movement of the Violin Sonata by Marice Ravel performed by Kyoko Yonemoto; the second movement of the Concerto for Recorder Number 443 by Antonio Vivaldi performed by Michala Petri and Kremerata Baltica; Andre Bernard is the soloist in the 1973 performance of the Telemann Concerto in D major for Trumpet and Orchestra. The Heidelberg Chamber Orchestra (without conductor) accompanies; the first movement, allegro, of the Concerto in E Flat Major for Trumpet and Orchestra by Franz Joseph Haydn performed by The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Maurice Andre as soloist in a live performance from Heidelberg; then this live unedited recording from the small stage of Operaen in Copenhagen of the Oboe Trio by Ludwig von Beethoven, recorded on the 9th May 2010 by the Royal Danish Oboes; Jascha Heifetz performing the Rondo (from Serenade No. 7 "Haffner", K. 250) by Mozart and Caprice Number 24 (Auer Edition with Schumann accompaniment) by Nicolo Paganini (Emanuel Bay accompanies Heifetz on the Caprice) and the Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2 by Franz Liszt with a performance by Vladamir Horowitz recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1953.

Then we return to the Monday tradition here at Nichevo, after last week's departure featuring Ginger Snaps instead, with this collection of sizzling studs strutting their stuff in their best Monday's Undies to get your week started off just right.  Thanks for sharing part of your Monday with me, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!