Pope Leo IX (the Pope) JCF Bach (German composer) Jane Russell (of Gentlemen Prefer Blonds fame) Daniel Carter Beard (founder of the Boy Scouts of America) Jean-Paul Sartre (French philosopher) Maureen Stapleton (Academy Award winning actress) Mariette Hartley (who?) Prince William of Wales (the prince) but most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 45 years ago today, I was born in Alabama in a small town on the banks of the Tennessee River. Yesterday, someone asked me if my family has any birthday traditions. The answer is no. My family never cared very much, but I do remember a few birthday highlights. I was given a birthday party in the back yard when I was ten years old. Two years later, my sister got married on my birthday, so I was just a bit overlooked, although I did get a stuffed animal--it was a white Yorkshire terrier with an AM radio in its stomach. When I turned 20, a different sister took me to an outdoor performance of Dvorak's New World Sympho...

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Thanks for the reminder, Robyn; Peanuts isn't syndicated in the Guardian so I've not had Schröder marching up and down with placards counting down the days.
The "Pastoral" is blaring through the house at the moment. I'll put the 9th on later and do the obligatory karaoke "Ode to Joy".
Happy birthday, Ludwig.
The 9th is a pounding wonder. When we performed this last year I was seated as 4th horn, so it fell to me to play the extended solo in the adagio (3 movement), and it was the highlight of my short career. I'm sure I have mentioned this here before and will mention it again.
That is a great picture. I'm with Kim.