OLLI

No, that isn't OLLI. That's Carin Jacobs, the director.  OLLI stands for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Their motto, if it could be called that, is No Grades. No Tests. Learning...for the joy of it!  I took their class on 'fake news' in the fall at Sonoma State and was back there this morning for a preview of the winter offerings. Each course's teacher has five minutes to try to convince us to take their class. 

My friend Fran and I avoided the pitfalls of last season by planning to leave earlier to give us time to drive there, find a place to park and walk to the hall. The road they were repaving in the fall is now finished, the two trees that fell across it on New Years' Eve have been cleared and the students haven't started back to class yet, so There was a plethora of parking. We were very early and had time to partake of a lovely buffet breakfast and find good seats.

Although I didn't see very many classes that interested me, we both agreed that the preview last time convinced us both to take a class we hadn't even considered. And sure enough, it happened again. I am going to sign up for '500 Years of the Great Divide : Protestant Culture v. Catholic Culture'.

The fact that the professor made quite a grand entrance from the back of the room in full medieval professor's gown (a bit tight over his expanding belly) with frills at neck and wrists had nothing to do with our choice. The fact that he was a wonderful lecturer did....

Our theatre experience last night was wonderful. We arrived there early as well so that we could enjoy a decent meal and glass of wine in the cafe. Had we wished to eat, or finish our meal, and watch at the movie at the same time, special trays were provided.

I have always loved Queen, and the movie had some electrifying scenes around music sequences, especially the Live Aid performance which I remember watching live on television. The stuffier critics didn't seem to think much of it. Maybe they don't like Queen's music. People seem to either love it or hate it. I tend to agree with David Edelstein who writes, 'If you're immune to this music, I don't want to know you. If you're immune to Malek, there's no hope for you.'

There was very little light cast on the actual meaning of the song, 'Bohemian Rhapsody'...but perhaps that's the point.