What is there to do on a blustery and cold Sunday in Springfield? Call France and check that everybody is all right. Check e-mails and a few European newspapers. My favorite ritual is to read the Washington Post from beginning to end. On Sundays, it is quite heavy with ads for neighboring stores, comics, the Book section, the Art section, the Travel section, and the magazine.
The Oscars will be awarded tonight. For a change, instead of the usual Hollywood fare of car chases, rivers of blood and assorted monsters, the movies nominated for the 2006 Oscars are of a more intellectual fare: Syriana, Munich, Crash, and my favorite, Georges Clooney's "Good night and good luck". The conservative press is already complaining......
But what is there to do after the paper has been read, the bracing walk is completed, and the Chinese homework is finished? Not really tempted by yard work, and even less by a trip to the mall, we opted for the National Gallery. Located near the Capitol, we were tempted by a temporary exhibition of Cezanne's work. We braved the Springfield mixing bowl, navigated the maze of security construction that has disfigured Washington and were able to glimpse some of Cezanne's work behind a wall of eager art lovers, their ears glued to their audio-guides.
Never mind Cezanne, we are always happy to visit our old friends, Monnet, the Flemish masters, and the very underrated American painters of the 19th and 20th century.
Refreshed with the magnificence of the National Gallery, and basking in the golden sunset of late winter, we are ready for the work week, the commuting, and even the wintry mix we have been promised.
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