Happenings

I have returned to the world of the internet! Both much and little have transpired since my last post. For efficiency I return to the convenient list format.

-Watched some movies. Nell: very good; Where Angels Fear to Tread: not as good

-Recorded a song for my gamba bluegrass album. Recording quality is low, audience approval (audience of one, K) is high. Refinement in recording technique and equipment would be helpful, ability to listen to my own voice without cringing would also be a plus.

-Went to NYC for one night to see an art opening. Survived Lucky Star bus-ride, ate good food, walked for hours, saw wonderful art, fun people, did crossword puzzles. Saw father who returned me to Boston and had dinner with me and K. K liked father, no word yet from father on useful insights into psychology of K, verdict pending.

-Had a "sick day" with K (who is actually sick) on Thursday. Soup was made, books were read, crosswords were solved, tea was drunk, much laziness ensued. A good day, all around.

-Today, I recovered from over-extended social muscles. Sat around, did crosswords, read, listened to music, stared off into space, snacked, failed to accomplish anything useful. A quiet day that I will finish off with a movie (of course).

Random thought of the day: letters are awesome, real letters, on paper, with handwriting. I think I will write more of them. Not because I want to receive return posts (although it's always exciting to get a letter!) but because you can have a burst of thought about someone, put it in the mail and forget about it so that it's a surprise when he or she gets back to you about it!

Also awesome: gigantic thunderstorms! Today's was amazing. I even lit candles on the off-chance that the power would go out (can't seem to find J's lighter and so I lit them off the stove which wouldn't have worked in a blackout!). Sadly, no such luck, but I did watch the pouring rain travel in the wind like little bits of fog swirling around the street. The kitties started at the thunder and ran around the house in terror while I luxuriated in the intensity of the whole thing from the vantage point of the couch!

Welcome!

There seems to be an unwritten rule that new blogs must begin with a manifesto (of sorts). Why was I compelled to start a blog? Why do I think anyone will read it? I choose not to take a philosophical stance on this but rather a practical one: I have random thoughts that I want to write down and I enjoy reading other people's thoughts so it stands to reason that perhaps you might enjoy reading mine. Also, practically, it allows me to consolidate all my musing and complaining into one convenient location! To whet your appetite (or drive you away, as the case may be), here are some things I intend to write about. In addition to the customary entries about whatever I feel like, I will also write about books I read, movies I watch, concerts I attend and meals I cook. There will probably also be some nerdy things about early music.

Let's get started!

Over the weekend I read Atul Gawande's new book "Better" about performance in medicine and the quest to improve it. If you haven't read his first book ("Complications") I highly recommend it. He is a surgeon with an incredible talent for writing both emotionally and lucidly about medicine and the practical and ethical issues involved in its practice. At the end of "Better" he gives five suggestions for becoming a positive deviant (someone who's performance deviates in a positive way from others) in the field of medicine. Firstly, he says, ask questions (unscripted ones in the case of doctors). Secondly, don't complain. Thirdly, count something. Fourthly, write something. And fifthly, change. While these are all useful suggestions for people in the medical field, I am inspired to apply them to what I do musically and in general. I'm going to count the actual amount of time I spend playing music each day, practicing and rehearsing and on which instruments. I'm going to write things here. I am trying to live outside my boundaries a bit (I explained the musical Baroque to a Mormon missionary on the bus the other day and in doing so started a front-of-the-bus discussion of stylistic eras in music and art). I'm not sure I can stop complaining entirely, but I will strive for positivity in my endeavors!