OT - Grumpy Old Man Thread

[betarhoalphadelta]

Years ago (early 2000s) I went to see The Nutcracker ballet. I thought it would be pretty interesting because my school tradition was that every year, the 4th grade class performed a version of The Nutcracker. Thus, I knew the story.

Nope. Pretty sure we left at intermission, and I learned that day that ballet is not for me.  

[Cincydawg]

When we were supposed to visit St. Petersburg, my wife was very anxious to see a ballet (not the one in FL).  I was going to oblige, it was quite pricey.  I could tolerate 3 hours of something I don't really understand usually.  The opera was pretty rough on me though, I got up and walked about the building a few times.  Die Zauberflote.

There are parts with well known music and vast tracts with ... boring stuff.

Anyway, I was spared the ballet, and having never been to one I admit to be very slightly curious, but we've all seen segments on TV.  After a minute or so, I don't get it.

I have noted that symphonies often play, um, weird compositions, often something modern, with the composer present.  I have heard one that was "OK", the rest are discordant nonsense, to me, that sound like the symphony when they are tuning.

I'd prefer they stuck with the classics, which are classics for good reason.

[betarhoalphadelta]

I'd prefer they stuck with the classics, which are classics for good reason.

Yes, we do all pine for the music of our youth 

[utee94]

I've been to several ballet and multiple operas.  I enjoy them but can certainly understand those who don't.

[utee94]

A/C went out for the downstairs.  Gonna be around $11,000 to replace it.

That has got me pretty grumpy today.

[FearlessF]

Boy Howdy!  I thought $1100 was bad for a fan motor

[MrNubbz]

I've been to several ballet and multiple operas.  I enjoy them but can certainly understand those who don't.

Rocky Horror Picture Show count?

[MrNubbz]

And the more old the grumpy old men get, the more they feel like clapping when they complete the latter.

You saying you got the Clap?

[847badgerfan]

A/C went out for the downstairs.  Gonna be around $11,000 to replace it.

That has got me pretty grumpy today.

They ain't cheap.

$8,000 for my 1,800-sf house.

[MrNubbz]

Guess I'll hang onto my AC/Heat Pump a few more yrs

[FearlessF]

I replaced my outdoor unit - AC/Heat pump a few years ago - don't remember but it was around $5K

[Riffraft]

No beer for 30 days, just going to get grumpier

[SFBadger96]

I've been to a lot of ballets in my life. The Nutcracker's first act was always more fun for me than the second (the first act has the fighting with the Rat King, the Second is the travel through candyland, or whatever). It and Swan Lake are classics for a reason, but also kind of pop ballet--like a blockbuster movie. I've been impressed with the athleticism and the beauty of the dancing, but it can also get pretty boring. I'm also lucky that I've been mostly to the SF Ballet, which has an excellent reputation.

Opera is something I've never been able to appreciate. I get the concept, but it just doesn't work for me. Kind of like jazz for a lot of people.

Different art forms hit people differently--that's the beauty of art: it should stimulate your mind, but different things stimulate different people. Nothing wrong with that.

One saying I like: great art comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable. 

[FearlessF]

apparently, I'm pretty comfortable