kids these days

driftwood carving on Oetlingerstrasse, Rhein, dry ink, rag after cleaning the press, plaid shirt.

Went to a Capriccio Basel concert tonight, they're the local historical instrument group.  Instead of having everyone wear black, the gals were wearing fancy dresses, in various shades ranging from black, to gray, to iridescent pink (prom-dress style, long, and strappy).  The principal cellist seemed very near to having a wardrobe malfunction, as her shimmery gray strap kept slipping down her arm; meanwhile, the white tab in the back of the conductor's cumberbund began peaking through the slit at the back of his coat tails, where it would wag around as he moved his arms.  People in the audience were highly amused.  Oh, and the music was good.  They played Beethoven 4, which I recently did in Santa Cruz, except way, way slower.  Goodness.  The concert was in the Stadtcasino (stadt means city) in a kind of carpeted ball room, with chairs set up, and a stage, and a very frilly organ (silent, this evening). 

Although it's a nice night, I decided to take the tram home, and save my feet for practicing; shortly after I got on, a bunch of youngsters got into the same car as me, slinging about a mostly-empty bottle of some pink liquid in a liquor bottle.  Like, really, really pink.  The only seats available must have been the ones around me, because I was surrounded by these kids; boys with gelled hair in little spikes, girls in leggings made to look like jeans, except clearly still leggings.  Some kind of weird perfume, maybe that Axe body spray stuff?  I wouldn't know.  When the kid in front of me took a long suck on the bottle I was able to ascertain that it was vodka of some kind, but I didn't want to look too closely.  They only stayed on for three stops, just to the other side of the river, and when they trotted off the tram car had what could be described as a relieved silence.  Well.  Not doing any harm, except to themselves, I guess.  Drinking in public is legal here, by the way.  If I'd wanted to, I could have been the one grasping a tall boy by the neck.  Maybe next weekend?...