For my 61st birthday-Time stood still

For 2010, my fortunate year, I was granted the additional good fortune of having a birthday that straddled the weekend.  Beth arrived Saturday afternoon and proceeded to whip up a chocolate cake for me and we had a fun dinner together and she spent the night. (Confession time: I gave up chocolate for Lent but we all agreed I could break my resolution since it was my birthday).  Ted was supposed to have rounded out the meal, but because his flight was cancelled by the blizzard it was just the three of us. On my actual birthday Sunday we went out to brunch together.  In the afternoon Greg and I went to the play Time Stands Still, which only partially justifies the pun in the title.

Laura Linney led the cast of a play described as "flawless" by Charles Ishwerwood in the New York Times review ( linked above-and this link has some interesting video).  Time doesn't stand still for "Sarah Goodwin" either, and the play follows her physical recovery from devastating IED injuries suffered as a war photographer in Iraq.  As she tried to re-acclimate herself to life in a "safe" Brooklyn loft she confronts her incompatibility with lovers and friends who are trying to negotiate their personal empathy for victims of war and suffering with an innate desire to have a happy, safe life for themselves.  I think Laura Linney is a subtle yet powerful actress and this role was an excellent vehicle for her talents.

Following the play we went out to a dinner at an elegant and charming northern Italian restaurant Bottega del Vino on 59th street.  Beth saw an actress from Gossip Girls there, but if you want to know who she was you'll have to email me and I'll ask Beth (you know me and names!).  Meantime Ted finally arrived at LaGuardia and made his way to the NYU Open House and then he spent the night with students.  I finally got to see him on Monday evening after NYU and before he left for Yale.  It was a wonderful visit and a wonderful birthday weekend.