learning to sequence

Climb till ya drop

2012-01-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

Lots of sessions at the climbing gym, which will make me stronger or destroy me; thus far, I'm becoming a monster.
Slowly, gradually picking away at the speedy passages in our concert music; it amazes me when I go over them and find they have stuck in my brain and fingers. Would that I had the boiler plate runs under my control, but there's a price to be paid for decades of neglect.
Really liking the lyrical passages of the "Jupiter" movement.

Slushball earth

2012-01-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

What a bizarre week of snow, sleet, cold, and now the messy aftermath we've had. We've been deprived of a weekly band rehearsal, and forced to toil on our solitary own. Bits and pieces are starting to come together in the solar system.
Another fine session at the climbing gym with our dear kid; he's such an amazing athlete, and has become very patient in encouraging his old mom to get up the walls. I'm taking advantage of these little bits of time with him.

beyond the Oort Cloud

2012-01-11T09:29:00.001-08:00

The exploration of the Solar System in band has expanded to several more planets; the Mercury piece looks pretty zippy. Uranus was safely probed; Venus didn't get its fly by yet.
Meanwhile, the ostinato engines are revving up for Jupiter and Mars...

Into orbit

2012-01-03T22:16:00.001-08:00

Back in the saddle with the concert band; we began work on some of Holst's planets. We've always enjoyed the Planet Suite, and now we are immersed in it. We started with "Jupiter" and "Mars", both of which have me and my fellow clarinets beavering away on many fronts. And we have yet to get our hands on "Venus", "Saturn", and didn't delve into the problematic "Uranus." (Cue Beavis and Butthead chortling). A satisfying few months lie ahead before the spring concert.
Poor old clarinet broke a spring on the F sharp key; I thought she was a goner. Fortunately the repair folks were open, having a slow day, and cheerfully fixed it. Back to the speedy sixteenth notes...

Birds in the mist

2011-12-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

The conventions of coots were on the south side of Green Lake this afternoon, along with large groups of other water fowl. They always know when something is in the wind. It was rainy, grayed to almost black and white with occasional blurs of color in distant trees, and the little black birds were interspersed near the naked reeds that stick out in large clumps; the effect was of random musical notes on oddly slanted staffs. A bald eagle perched on the very top of a sequoia, fluffed up to its maximum against the wet and chill. Its yellow beak glowed like a beacon.

Downbeat

2011-12-17T10:10:00.001-08:00

Lots of musical events lately, including our band's professional group which plays all kinds of dance music; last night I got a brief but effective salsa lesson from the partner of one of the women in the dance band. They are Filipinas by background, and told me the dancing was a "Philippino thing." I learned that you keep your knees bent, move your hips fluidly, and slide your feet to the salsa beat. Now if I can just figure out what happens with the rest of the body, we're set.
We're going to go caroling with our instruments, and cap off the evening with an acapella choir singing Celtic holiday music.
The caroling afternoon was gorgeous, even warm in spots, and the choral performance amazing in the evening.

Showtime

2011-12-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

The holiday concert was terrific; by the time we got to the encore, a rousing version of "Hava Nagila", we about spontaneously combusted at the end of the song. Speed was demanded by the audience.
Onward into the holidays.

Sundry

2011-12-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

The other day I was sitting at a traffic light, and noticed a couple of big flocks of pigeons swirling around in the wind like schools of fish. They kept at for a while, and then I noticed a larger raptor-shaped bird was swooping after them. It was exactly the behavior of a large predatory fish going after a bait ball. The light changed, and I couldn't stay to see if the hawk caught anything.
Productive technical rehearsal; seems to be shaping up for a good show.

Turkey lurky

2011-11-24T10:31:00.000-08:00

The smallest turkey I could find was about nine pounds, so that's what we cooked, complete with homemade bread and cornbread stuffing, cranberries, and a few other items. No dessert, although I had purchased a can of whipping cream just in case. You never know when you might need to spray some into your mouth, or onto your morning espresso...
Separate holiday wishes arrived in text form from dear offspring and his dear ex-girlfriend; my heart may be aching more than his over this divide. So it goes.

Musical joy

2011-11-12T18:24:00.001-08:00

Our concert band, the Rainbow City Band of Seattle, an LGBTQQA joint, has a holiday concert on December 3 at 3:00. If anybody out there will be in town on that date, please come see our performance, with its Celtic theme. Plus some Hannukah tunes as well! I love this group. They have accepted us as an old breeder couple, and we support them as friends. We work together to make sweet music, and advance human rights as well.

Birthday week

2011-11-06T08:57:00.001-08:00

Yeah, yeah, another one's rolling around. Got band rehearsal, and am trying for lots of climbing gym sessions, just to blast the bejeezus out of the aging process. Stupid time, running along so speedily.

Already Halloween...

2011-10-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

Time has fugited along, and we have gone through one bag of candy already tonight. One girl came as a puppet theater, with what looked like a doggy and a cow on the stage; I asked her which one got the candy, and she said the cow.
It was clearish and cold, we can see our breaths tonight.
Lots of gym climbing lately, to keep me sane and fit.

Amazing

2011-10-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

The past many days have culminated in a wonderful musical event. Our concert band, which is LGBTQQ&A - we are "A's", or allies - just wound up the hosting of an international LGBA conference. We've been rehearsing the music since September, and spent a whirlwind few days here learning to play with the rest of the over 20 band folks who participated. We got to perform in McCaw Hall here in Seattle, a gorgeous venue in which the Seattle Opera performs. Wonderful acoustics, huge stage, four talented directors from Seattle, New York, San Francisco and Phoenix; a once in a lifetime experience. More later. I need to crash.

Whirlwinding

2011-10-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

Much music to get under our fingers and into our heads, for less than two weeks from now; well, maybe the size of the group will make up for the dropped notes...

Gone

2011-09-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

Summer, kids, time.

Skedaddling along

2011-09-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

Whew. Tough band rehearsal; we got into the theme music from a movie called "The Cowboy and the Girl". Galloping sixteenth notes and such! At least us lowly Third Clarinets got some lovely melodic passages which we can shape to distract folks from our lack of galloping ability...
What a gorgeous late summer day, for walking and taking in the warm air.

Enshrouded

2011-09-15T12:30:00.001-07:00

It's always a shock when the summer ends; it gives fair warning, but one day it's bright and hot, then the air chills next morning. Guess I expect it to be more gradual, for no good reason. Then there's the specter of rain falling, visible under the street lights, and its sound a soft backdrop before sleep arrives. Only a couple sessions of the nearby farmers' market left, and the young ones head off on journeys; they've got the urge for going and all that. Wonder if an end of seasons grief is inbuilt. Time to really hit the practice card.

Summerfall

2011-09-08T13:42:00.001-07:00

Dazed and bemazed; the sun and breezes make a person want to walk around for hours. Since I can't run any more, I feel I need to at least do this in order not to deteriorate. The old metabolism isn't what it ever tried to be.
Concert band has resumed, and with it the mix of eagerness to master and guilt at not getting far enough. The first round of music seems relatively easy, so maybe dogged practice will pay off.
Time for a walk.

Indescribable

2011-09-01T20:18:00.001-07:00

I was privileged to spend the day with our dear sweet offspring, who is an amazing rock climber; he drove us up to an outstanding place of granite unforgivingness, and was patient with his aging mother. We were able to warm up on an "easy" route, Princely Ambitions, then a bit harder one, Japanese Gardens, on the Index, Washington Lower Town Walls, a former granite quarry which has been secured and preserved as a climbing area and bird sanctuary. One looks up these steep cliffs, and wonders how a person might ascend; one starts climbing upon these steep cliffs, and continues to wonder how a person might ascend. The granite gives few clues. The day was perfect, cool winds, sun, warm rock... And as I was privileged to do a couple of years ago, I got to belay him on a route he'd been eying, Narrow Arrow Overhang; he climbed the line fluidly, and over the overhanging roof, nary a fall. Amazing to be able to watch an elite athlete up close. I tried the bottom section of this route, but it outdid me before I reached the first set of anchors. We warmed down on a classic, Godzilla, and packed up the gear. Soreness will be my companion for a couple of days, but as I told him, I am glad I can still be on at least the bottom rung of this elating effort.

Multitudinous

2011-08-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend featured a wedding ceremony of two of our bandmates, who hired the marching band to play their processional and recessional music, two of the tunes we played all marching season. It was our shortest parade of the year, and very enjoyable. The ceremony moved me most when the grandfather of one of the brides stood up and spoke in their honor. This man was probably in his late 80's, and could have been a close-minded old fart like so many of his generation, but his words were elegant, intelligent, accepting, and above all, loving. I almost cried. (I'm not a big fan of wedding ceremonies). The brides skipped away, and as we finished playing, the spectators called for encores. I thought "Ladies' Night" would be fun, but they got "Copacabana" instead. After the reception, we flew to the remainder of the band's annual greeting picnic, where two other friends had brought their bocci set. I like this game immensely; it's impossible or at least pointless to be intensely competitive during its course, and the game's so random in its development and minimal structure. What a sweet end to a fine day.

Solitudinous

2011-08-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Strange quiet week, with beloved spouse off paddling in the great north waters; family members arrived for part of the weekend, and we were able to celebrate one's birthday with sushi and gelati. Taken in appropriate order, since that combination sounds a bit weird. As someone quipped, summer fell on a weekend this year, and we had a warm evening to stroll with our frozen desserts. They are gone back to the great potato state, where school starts on Monday morning for some; seems inhumane. We'll cruise out the rest of the season.

Flight of the season

2011-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Whatever it is; we've already hit the numerical dead center of summer, but it seems later. Outlook cloudy, try again later.

VanGroovin'

2011-08-02T12:49:00.001-07:00

Swell weekend up to Vancouver, B.C., for our band's final parade of the season; it was a humdinger, with hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the streets and cheering as we passed by, once we got going after waiting for two hours to join the procession. The night before, we watched amazing fireworks over a nearby bay; unfortunately they are sponsored by Big Nicotine, have been for years.
After the parade, we took a long walk around Stanley Park, along the seawall; along the eastern side, it was quieter, less crowded, and we were lucky to see several river otters swimming along or hunting for delectables below the tideline along the wall.
Vancouver's a very dense and expensive place, and the crowds got old for me, but we had a swell mini-vacation.

Amazing

2011-07-23T09:50:00.001-07:00

The weekend whiled itself away; up at the adult family home, even the 90-somethings found it warm enough to trundle outside for some summer air. One of their number died a couple of weeks ago, reduced to less than life while in life. At last she can rest.
A bandmate commented on enjoying the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith, he of the Number 1 Ladies Detective series. He's Scots, and was inspired to write the former bunch of books by Maupin's Tales of the City. I've read through a few, and enjoyed them, although not quite as much as the San Francisco tales. McCall Smith develops a wonderful dog character in particular.
Now the new week is hitting its hump, speeding towards a weekend of musical and cultural craziness.

Winged time

2011-07-18T12:28:00.001-07:00

Still cool up here, and I like it. Not sure why so many people are whining about the "lack of summer." All they need to do is go visit anywhere else on the continent, or just drive over the mountains here if they want to swelter and suffer.
Family visitors recently, and a more enjoyable than expected event with our aged mother; not recalled at all soon after, but in the moment it was good.

Musical doings

2011-07-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

A jam-packed weekend, with two parades and a halftime show for the Seattle Storm, the women's pro basketball team; the latter was quite exciting and enjoyable. I had thought it would get boring after halftime, but they played very well and we stayed to see the whole thing. Lots of fans, much hoopla. And they gave us all kinds of teeshirts and jerseys.
Lovely evening tonight with a couple of friends from the band; we went to a jazz show by the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, also known as SWOJO. Another band friend plays trumpet and flugelhorn in this group, and holy shit, were they fine. We left after two sets and they still had one to go. Not a bunch of corny standards, lots of pieces I'd never heard before, plenty challenging. So inspiring, makes you want to practice harder...

Explosive

2011-07-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

The parade season marches on; we did a couple of laps over in one city's Family Fourth celebration, rather like a slow motion bicycle criterium. We have more on the horizon, so must strive to find some pleasure in the repetition of the music. Others have particular songs they dislike, but it seems to me important to keep a positive attitude overall; think of those aging rock bands which tour the hinterlands endlessly, one might say purgatorily, caught in a loop of old Top Ten tunes. We don't have it anywhere near that bad.

Change up

2011-06-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Wonderful week away, in southern Oregon; watched many plays, took a few hikes, during one of which we came upon a gigantic western diamondback rattlesnake lying by the side of the trail. We were striding along, savoring the solitude, the vistas, the wildflowers, wind in the trees and a couple of grouse pairs exploding out of cover when from next to beloved spouse's footfall came a loud rattling. I instantly recognized the sound, and yelled at him to get out of there. As I jumped in the air, shouting a pithy nautical phrase, I looked down and saw an enormous, scaly sinuosity in an S-curve atop a flat rock, obscured from most angles by plants. It was as big around as my wrist at least, and probably a good four feet long. I couldn't see its head or tail, but the distinctive diamond patterning ran along its body. It was beautiful, despite its potential havoc. We hastened onward, and stopped for lunch in a spot with a wonderful view of snowy Mount Shasta and her progeny Shastina, but the loveliness of the view had a dark background for contrast, as we pondered snake bite first aid and possible scenarios for the return trip past the snake's spot. Every rustling in the undergrowth as we went on rattled me, and I begged to turn around. We found stout snake-deflecting sticks and breathed as evenly as we could. Fortunately the snake wasn't in the same place and we hustled by, but kept ourselves on alert until we got back to the trailhead. Other than that bizarre experience, we gave the trail the wildflower award, since late spring conditions had carpeted it with yellow fawn lilies, trillium, larkspur, angel wings, and many others.
When we were watching "Julius Caesar" later in the week, one of Brutus's lines struck us both:
"It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, And that craves wary walking."

Solstice

2011-06-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

This event is usually not a whit sunny, and Saturday's parade was the ironical event par excellence; unrelenting drizzle, with occasional wind gusts, as we waited to join the parade. Just as hypothermia appeared to be settling upon us, we got the call and off we harched. Playing and strolling seemed to warm us, and the chill wet atmosphere hastened the participants' footsteps and the naked bicyclists' RPMs. The parade was over in record time, and our embouchures sagged in relief.

Slight signs

2011-06-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Spring teases us in batches, but in fact, extended strings of cooler nights are pleasant. We've been doing some urban hiking, complete with daypacks full of extra layers and umbrellas, just in case; we seem to be holding up all right.
Had our last marching rehearsal, in full dress; the evening grew dimmer and increasingly humid, but didn't break into rain until we were finished and away. Parade season is nigh.
Started reading a writer new to me, Patrick Leigh Fermor, known as "Paddy" to his friends, who just died at age 96. He wrote about an astounding journey he made at age 18, starting in 1933 and ending four years later, during which he walked from Holland to Constantinople. More on this amazing person later...

A bit out of step

2011-06-06T19:36:00.001-07:00

Always running behind the times here; right now it's actually Thursday the 9th of June, but the way the days are blurring together, guess it doesn't much matter. One Tuesday the 7th we marked our 37th wedding anniversary by going to band practice and marching around and playing with our LGBTQA band comrades. At break we shared a big cake with everyone, and got many congratulations. I realize many of them would like the freedom we've had to bond legally. I am here to testify that I'll gladly work towards that right for any and all adults who love each other and want to commit to a long-term marriage. It isn't for the faint of heart, but it's worth the effort.

Purportedly it's June...

2011-06-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

We suffered along with more coldness and wetness, until finally we were rewarded with a perfect weekend. We have decided we like the relative coolness and moisture, compared to places like Boaz, Alabama, where a band buddy recently visited his family and endured 98-100 degrees of heat and who knows what kind of concomitant humidity, only to return to the coolness and all-embracing wetness of the Seattle area and realizing he really belonged here. We will survive, while Arizona and other places perish in wildfires and swarms of killer bees. Mother Earth will punish the assholes...

Memorable Day weekend

2011-05-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

Up and down weather, becoming the standard around here; on Saturday, pleasant 50th birthday celebration for one of our bandmates, a woman who has a demanding day job but dreams of being a fine finish carpenter. They had it on a beach in West Seattle, and by late afternoon we had donned our winter jackets to defend ourselves against the cold north wind belying the sunshine. Her partner made the lemon meringue birthday pies, and grilled all the meats. All ate well.
The rest of the days sped by, culminating in a family effort to stem the overgrowth of our yard by the weeds, the only plants succeeding in this bizarre climactic shuffle that's been persisting. The veggies are languishing, except for the potatoes, which, if we were subsistence folks, would have to carry us through the next winter. Mother Earth preserve us...

Whirled along

2011-05-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Caught up a bit on climbing fitness this week, then off to our band retreat; Friday was a lovely day, until it came time for us to do some marching instruction. The wind must have been small craft warning strength, and blowing across the large areas of water it chilled us to the finger bones. We worked pretty hard all weekend, and feted ourselves with a costume optional dancing and singing party. One bandmate in particular riffed repeatedly on his hopes to be Raptured, but owing to his sinful history, he remained with us. We had a great time getting better acquainted with people we hardly get to talk to during concert band season, since rehearsals are so intense and people are maxed out in their lives. Life's a parade.

Schizo

2011-05-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Family member visiting for a whirlwind weekend of seeing our mom and doing a few grown up things; we walked down to Honkfest in an unexpected patch of sun. As we stood or sat listening to the quirky groups perform, we had to take off our fleece layers because we were too warm. This has been a rare experience over the past six months or so, so we relished it. By the time we got back up the hill and made dinner plans, however, the signs were clear; it resumed deluging in mid evening and still has not ceased well into the next day. Family member has headed back over the pass, and we're hoping it isn't raining so hard that visibility will be bad.

Resumption

2011-05-08T21:06:00.001-07:00

Our community band had a very good fundraising auction. Generally I don't like auctions, but this one was fun and low key. No over the top oneupmanship bidding of $15,000 for a tea party for ten girls, say, like we witnessed years ago at a private school function, costly items spewing out of the mouth of an auctioneer almost to the point of incomprehension; the band's affair was pretty understated. I read of community-based auctions held recently which raised kind of amazing amounts of money. One of them was held in a big outdoor tent, without an expensive dinner attached to it, so they probably saved on that part. Something to think about for next year.
We're marching into parade season, which I hope means summer will try to make an appearance.

Nastiness

2011-05-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

A bit of sunshine and walks on the briny beach demanded a terrific price. Some family members came with viruses, including conjunctivitis, all of which I got a few days after being home. This caused a complete gutting of life and plans for about a week and a half. Not worth the price of admission.

Strange yet pleasant interlude

2011-04-26T18:04:00.001-07:00

Whirlwind voyage to the heart of Red State America for a family reunion; pleasant times on a sunny warm beach, even unto getting into a marginally comfortable ocean. One day it was surfaced with crazy choppy surf; on another, calmer and more predictable sets marched onto the strand. Family drama was present, in various forms, but overall, a good time was had by all.

Fighting the funk with funk

2011-04-18T10:24:00.001-07:00

So cold and wet, moldering away; looking forward to another band session, and getting those little musical licks down.
Big article in the local fish wrapper, about how moss is thriving in this weird cold spring; everything's late, from wildflowers to the tulip fields.
At the moment, there's a spot of sunshine, so one must hasten to observe it.

Big blast of fun!

2011-04-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

Marching band season started tonight; we had a music practice and got a pile of new music, with a dance party theme. Such a different feel to the group, and some of the serious musicians have picked up other instruments, such as one of the bassoonists, who has a sax and is thrilled to be working on much easier material. She and I want to get out hands on the Holst piece chosen for an upcoming concert season, "The Planets". The bassoon part sounds incredibly difficult, and whether I get second or third clarinet, no doubt it will be challenging. Meanwhile, we're heading into fun and lightness of being.

A few steps forward, several back

2011-04-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Mere teases of sunshine, and then we get winter again; had to dig out the winter gloves and socks. Yes we'll have no tomatoes to speak of, I guess. When I went up to see my mother, the skies blackened, thunder sounded, and hail and snow fell. The poor little ladies looked out the windows and shook their heads. They won't be taking the air any time soon, they detect drafts instantly. There was quite a distraction, as the woman who's been the activities director for several years was being feted at a retirement party. She's separated from her husband, and is moving back to the Midwest to spend some time with her children and grandchildren before they go back to the Ukraine as missionaries. When I asked her why they were going so far away, she informed me that "When God calls, you have to answer. You may try to fight it, but it's too strong!" She was the person who railed against Halloween, saying it was the Devil's night, and wouldn't let her kids go out. Fundamentalist religious types sure as hell know how to spoil any kind of fun. She is a good-hearted person, but utterly brainwashed, and keen on doing it to others. Odd connection with my current reading, Colin Thubron's The Lost Heart of Asia, in which he encountered Korean fundie missionaries in Tajikistan. And several Russian people he met were heading back to the Ukraine, getting out of the 'stan countries after perestroika. I've started his next volume, Shadow of the Silk Road, although the cumulative effect of his experiences and observations of them is almost overwhelming tragic and horrible. Central Asia has been looted, plundered, raped and polluted for millenia, but the Soviets and Chinese have sped up and enlarged the process horrifically. It's all Thubron can do to find any kind of whisper of an unruined past.

Withdrawal

2011-04-03T20:31:00.001-07:00

Our final concert of the season was last night, Saturday; mostly a wonderful event, of course a few glitches, but I think our hard work showed. The pianist was amazing; he could play anywhere in the world. His solo, Debussy's "L'Isle Joyeuse", was sensual and lovely. Years and years ago, I listened to most of Debussy in my own home, as my dad had a collection of records. Last night, as I listened to Matthew play, I had an out of time and body experience; not so out that I couldn't get back to the reality of our next piece, Gershwin's "American in Paris". But what an astounding treat to just be able to sit there, not far from the piano, and let the sound rush into one's body. Now we are sitting here, saying, hey, we need to keep going. We're giving ourselves the night off from practice, but tomorrow, the practice cards come out again.

Music music music

2011-03-28T12:08:00.001-07:00

Last Friday we saw a fabulous performer, Arturo Sandoval. He is 62 years old, born in Cuba, and started playing the trumpet at age 12. By now he also plays flugel horn, piano, keyboard, a bit of percussion, and sings; he's also a tenured professor of music. His warm and generous spirit showed, as he moved from trumpet to piano, commenting on what a hard mistress the horn was, that he didn't always know what notes would come out of it. His three bandmates, all young guys, appeared to thoroughly enjoy playing with him, and they all gave us "dos mas" at encore time. Several jazz standards, Latin-influenced tunes, too, and some of Sandoval's own compostions were on the menu. They made the performance hall seem like an intimate club. Next morning, we had a good long voluntary rehearsal on "Bolero", and things are gelling. I am not tiring of this piece, and am thrilled to get to play it.

Whirling along

2011-03-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Only a few rehearsals left before the spring concert, and things are shaping up. The first bassoonist, whose instrument was stolen from his house along with their electronic items a week or so ago, rounded up a replacement 'soon and is in fine fettle. (We have been wondering, slack-jawed, what the hell the dirtbags who broke into his house would even do with a bassoon; it's a valuable item but rare, not easily pawned. Some thought the thieves might have used it as a bong.) We shall be Bolero-ing gaily pretty soon.
Bit of climbing, not as much as would be ideal; people seem to be incurring injuries right and left.
One or two almost warm days, wedged in among rain and gray; yard still too wet for digging, going to be a late spring. The fawn lilies are lagging, too.
Had a little tear on John Crowley, a collection of short stories and one novel; now Octavia Butler, one of whose collections of novels sprung out at me on the U Bookstore sales table.

Positive accretions

2011-03-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

Solid band rehearsal; we went early and spent an extra half an hour going over the melodic sections of "Bolero". I didn't miss a note, testimony to my pretty much daily dedication to practice. Hope all the soloists do the same over the next couple of weeks. Surprise extra climbing session, with good results; managed some difficult moves on routes I should have known better than to tackle. Interesting and instructive session with the truly gifted musician in the family, who plays an amazing jazz guitar. I am so imbued with reading music as it stands, and can barely improvise a few notes, although I've heard plenty of funk/jazz/fusion performances and dearly love them. We tentatively ventured into songs I have known for decades, and I got the start of an inkling on how things can go. It reminds me of visual art: You learn the formalities before you throw them to the wind. Picasso was a skilled realist before he went into abstraction. Seems so obvious, but with music, it's a very different proposition. The musician needs to know the instruments completely, and be able to do anything at any moment for improvisation. Da capo.

lofty fun

2011-03-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

Got to do a climbing session today with two friends, and we had a fine time, pushing a bit more as energy allowed; the younger one is training for a road trip to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, and wants to get in as much rope time as she can. We elder women could but admire her technique, and did our best to follow. People piss and moan about climbing gyms, but on a crappy rainy day, with no free flight to sunnier climes in sight, it's a pleasure to be able to do something even vaguely akin to rock climbing, with good company.
Finished a collection of short fiction by John Crowley some time around 4-ish this morning, when the car wash effect of a middle of the night storm had ceased. These stories were from the late 1970's and into the 80's, and show a promising imaginative bent. I should have grabbed the novels that were on the shelf at the used book store along side this collection.

Higher and higher

2011-03-08T10:06:00.001-08:00

A lack of climbing workouts had been laying waste to fitness, but was addressed recently with two days in a row of wall scaling, one with a long time friend and belay partner and the next with a friend about half my age. The latter has seemed more supportive of my efforts lately, and is a joy to watch climbing. You always hope seeing an elite athlete in action will somehow inspire your own performance, which it sort of does, as long as you're not trying to throw three-pointers in a BB tournament.
The week sped along, with a concert band rehearsal attended sparsely due to ravaging viruses. The trumpet section was decimated. What woodwinds who were there and not playing in the ensemble for the Satie piece crammed into a Sunday school room for teensy ones in the church's sub basement; I got a teensy oaken chair upon which to perch. We had the main director running a sectional with us on the last section of the Gershwin piece. It was a very good workout, and he commented that he noticed my daily practicing was paying off. Such a nice young man.

Raging feline

2011-03-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

As I stepped out of the dentist's office, the skies were blackening, the wind accelerating, and by the time I reached a bus stop about two blocks away, lightning and thunder sounded and hail beat down upon us hapless folks not inside buildings or cars. My umbrella nearly spirited me away, and the fellows sheltering inside the stop's open structure informed me merrily ,"That ain't gonna help you now!" Not a single bus listed on the info board went anywhere near my destination, so I had to hustle against horizontal mixed precip about four more blocks to a stop right in front of the King County Superior Court building. As I waited about ten minutes for my ride, quite an amazing and not superior-looking array of humans streamed in and out of the courts, most looking dazed, angry or miserable, accompanied by barristers in differently priced suits. One guy panhandled all of us waiting for transportation. A young woman who looked straight out of a Sex Pistols song whisked by with her consort, golf pencil conveniently stuck through one earlobe. The hail and rain soaked us all, democratically.

Family fun

2011-03-02T14:42:00.001-08:00

Despite coming during shitty weather, our visitors had, for the most part, a good time. Not enough visibility to see any mountains like the last group got, but a few pleasant distractions in the middle of business details. One fell ill, perhaps to an incubating virus which accompanied them from home, but seemed better after a day's respite.
After everyone had gone, I hurried out between blasts of strong wind and bouts of hail to run errands. On the way home, I saw hordes of crows flocking to a Coastal Redwood which grows in the alley lot with the spooky house and the Fawn Lilies. The crows were flying to the top of the tree like iron filings to a magnet. Upon closer inspection, you could see a large Bald Eagle standing on the flat top, bending down and rending something it had clasped in its talons. A few of us stood across the street, speculating on what the eagle was eating, and amazed at how calmly it withstood the crows' onslaught. It was an amazing sight here in the middle of Wallingford.

Rather skunked

2011-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

The sturm and drang about possible storm and ensuing wreckage of the city petered out, more or less. All took action and precautions, but the snow didn't lay deep on our town; it will freeze harder tonight, but that just inspires us to make comforting dishes and put on more blankets. The birds are all still trying to nest and mate, and seem to be having the usual set-tos, crows versus jays, hummingbirds against everything. Maybe the jabbering and zipping about keep them warmed up.
Blossoms frozen, glad I didn't plant peas...

Cold ass bookend

2011-02-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

A sandwich of weather, with cold and snow imminent; then on to lovely bright days. Family visiting from the south, introducing one person to the country west of the Mississippi and snowy mountains, at which he is sore amazed after a day of boarding; time and sleep are disrupted, but mostly pleasantly. We walked in West Seattle, along the water; wonderful views of the Olympics, half-shrouded in snow showers, and the Cascades, crisp and clear as broken glass, with bluebird skies above.

Bright and chilly middle

2011-02-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

The days have been lovely to view, brisk to enter. Clambering back into fitness with friends who have been more deprived than I, and grappling with nightmarish domestic situations; can only hope my sympathetic ear helps. Set back a bit musically due to dental work, but guilt at missing some practice usually overcomes discomfort.
The snowdrops have been rampant for days, and the crocuses are supplanting them in cheerful clumps and scatterings. The few dumb daffodils on display will freeze in the next several days as we receive another arctic blast. As a new acquantance remarked last night, we'll be crying come June, wondering where spring is. Funny how you can get hornswoggled every season around here.

Strange events

2011-02-06T15:41:00.001-08:00

Walking down to get groceries the other day, I watched a Native American or maybe Latino man pointedly flip off a police patrol car as it drove down a street. It struck me as a stupid act; after we both got acrss, and were headed down hill on opposite sides of the street, the patrol car suddenly pulled up next to the flipper. Two young officers got out, and asked the man if he was signaling them for some reason. He barely stopped, and then kept walking. The police folks asked him if he needed help; he sullenly replied that he didn't, and continued to walk on. The officers called out something about being available, then left. I was relieved not to witness any conflict, Seattle's had far too much bad interaction between citizens and cops for a while. You can understand why both sides are edgy.
A few days later as I was heading home, a fine fat squirrel ran up a utility pole and across a cable over the street, with a big bunch of red berries in his mouth. When he reached the other side, he was crossing another line when there was a strange sound, the berries fell out of his mouth, and he flew up in the air and plummeted to some shrubs below. He never emerged; I could only think he'd gotten shocked severely.
Unsettling times.

Who knows where the time goes?

2011-02-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

Up and down with the fight against a virus; a couple of days in a row of climbing at the gym, and finally clawing my way back to relative strength. Spent more time also week with our concussed friend, and my homemade coconut and chocolate chip filled cookies helped the healing process, I like to think. Those are ingredients of renewal. She loaned me Margaret Atwood's Year of the Flood, a prequel to Oryx and Crake, and I could not put it down. I am hoping for a third novel, to make a trilogy. There could be a sort of hopeful post apocalypse... Also read an odd novel called Lives of the Monster Dogs. It kind of followed in the footsteps of H.G. Wells's The Island of Doctor Moreaux. Imaginative possibilities, not quite the control of Atwood.
The kitchen is freshly painted and looking nice, thanks to the beloved offspring; we will keep plugging away at renewal of the homestead.
Productive band rehearsal tonight, and interesting directions for the future of the group, as revealed in the election of new officers. There is a drive to keep the sense of community but be prepared for growth.

Positive spiral

2011-01-25T22:58:00.001-08:00

Gradually things seem to be righting themselves. We attended a wonderful concert in which one of our bandmates played, with a group he's been in for twenty five years. It's a wind symphony, small, about fifty people, just brass and woodwinds and percussion. It's the second concert of theirs I've seen, and I'm increasingly impressed by their skills and repertoire. They tend to perform pieces that aren't in the meat and potatoes mainstream. Our bandmate had a lovely clarinet solo in the final piece, "Angels in the Architecture", which had been commissioned to be performed in the Sydney Opera House. It was an interesting and challenging work.
It has been a whirl of hanging out with shutins, now that I'm out of that category. Besides my mother, another bandmate, a trumpet player and newly-minted family practice doctor, needed help after she got thrown off her horse and sustained a concussion, or, as she puts it, "I had my jello shook." Most fortunate that she was wearing a very good helmet. Scary, very bizarre symptoms occurred for a bit, but she appears to be on a good healing trajectory and will be able to start her first job as a physician soon.
Productive and heartening sectional, in which I hope our leader heard the results of my hard work. I felt much more at ease, anyway.

Unplanned slam

2011-01-20T18:27:00.001-08:00

Into a wall of virus; the week started so well, climbing with friends, band rehearsal, and then some little thing invaded and threw everything off. Had finished the Woolf short fiction and passed it to the bandmate who loves her work; started The Waves , but found that a virus-addled brain can't take it in. Crashed on a couch, and when conscious, ambled along in Zadie Smith's collection of nonfiction pieces, finding her sharp, bracing like a witch hazel blooming.
"An American in Paris" cycles through my head, along with its numerous key changes and the required recall of all those sharps.

Melting away

2011-01-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

Time and snow; we'll have no mountain pack at all come summer. These mild spritzy days are fine for walking about. We already saw the first snow drops last weekend, and I'm watching the patches nearby, which are starting to bud. One or two crazy daffodils are about to pop.
Unbeknownst to me, someone scheduled a woman to do the exercises with the LOLs, so I audited them and learned a few things. This person said she volunteered for ten years in nursing homes before starting her own service; it takes a special personality to be able to do that. I'd do a few days in my mom's place, but not sure about years...
Well along in Woolf's collected short fiction, and finding an increasing number of passages that somehow hit the heart. For a while I'd been growing impatient with the neurasthenic, hothouse flowery women characters, but my appreciation for Woolf's sensibilities is growing.

Grab bag

2011-01-07T13:31:00.001-08:00

A week's flown by; we're threatened by snow for tomorrow night, Tuesday, which may cancel band rehearsal. Dang, I was just getting the unison clarinet melody down in "Bolero."
We had a swell walk over the weekend, about nine miles up to a conservatory on Capital Hill; beloved spouse hadn't been there for ages, took his camera, and got some wonderful images. It was sunny and very cold, so we still appreciated the heat and humidity of the big old greenhouse. It's a comforting place on the absolutely gray wet blanket days we have here for months on end in the winter and early spring. The old steam pipes gave off groans and thumps like the radiators in an old apartment building, only on a much grander scale.
Hope the inclemencency holds off past noon tomorrow, as I have volunteered to lead the ladies at the home in some chair exercising. I don't drive if the white stuff is sticking, since people go insane and have accidents all over the place.
Onward in Woolf's short fiction...

Climbing fool

2011-01-03T15:02:00.000-08:00

Training like crazy already indoors; perhaps I'll get to use the fitness eventually. Seems as if 2010 was a year of leaving for many people, whether via break-ups or new places to live; I hope not many of them wind up out of town permanently.
Concert band rehearsals started again this week, and we were handed a pile of music by French composers; hilarity ensued when everyone got lost in the minisculely-printed "Bolero" score. We must overcome its new set of challenges, which include keeping track of repeating notes for measure after measure after... it has always sounded not too difficult to the ear, but when you're trying to learn it, that's a whole other bowl of beans.
Back to the soggy gray of real winter, and the ladies up north were dozy and bemused this morning. Maybe they need some anti SAD lights. I'll take chocolate.

Almost ended

2010-12-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

The year, with some swell parties and a dash of live music; someone at the last event was impatient for the changing of the calendar, and suggested starting 2011 fifteen minutes early arbitrarily. For some reason, he decided that would result in his being continually late. And they hadn't even passed around the champagne toasts yet...
I don't bruit my "resolutions" around, since that would mean some sort of compliance, enforced by knowing someone had heard them. Maybe the work at improving will eventually show.
Onward, all y'alls.

If the crick don't rise

2010-12-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

All fairly smooth and uneventful this holiday; rolling along into the purportedly lighter times. Finished Virginia Woolf's first novel, The Voyage Out, which was much more traditional than her later ones, thus more accessible; have begun her collected short fiction, and can see the germination of her style. The Waves will follow. I did not like Mrs. Dalloway or To the Lighthouse when I read them years ago, but maybe I'll have a better appreciation of her these days. She has been very important to many subsequent writers.
Seem to have escaped a bug of some short but annoying duration, and am trying to get back into the exercise regimen which appears to keep me patched together. Such grayness and damp chill today, but my mother and her cohorts in their late morning exercises were fairly alert and cheerful. My mother observed that it looked nice outside, due to the absence of sideways rain no doubt.

Fugeting along

2010-12-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

You never know what will be going on when you visit my mother's place. One day the elderly wife of the only male housemate might be there deep-frying some kind of Norwegian Christmas cookies; another day, there is holiday caroling for breathing exercise, which the grumpy male resident boycotts. Another resident is in and out of the process of hospice, which evidently has been going on for quite a while. She is a mere whisper of a person, and it gives me pause to think how she persists.
Saturday, I attended the Christmas Luncheon up there; I had kept a leash on my expectations. It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon, with delicious Filipino foods, instrumental entertainment, and caroling. My mother seems to have gotten over her respiratory ailment, can hear better, and could be tempted to try the lumpia, and the delicious noodle dish called pansit. It had delicate noodles, fresh vegetables, and very nicely cooked Chinese sausage like we used to get in dim sum downtown. There was a wonderful quiche, a terrific salad, a huge ham which I skipped but it looked festive, and some amazing cranberry lemon bundt cake, all made by the people who run the place. A very generous and excellent spread; there was egg nog and wine, beer, sodas, and someone claimed they were giving the grumpy male resident some aquavit, which I find hard to believe, but it might have been so. What the hell; you're only ancient and on your way out for a while. The woman in hospice was there, and nodding in time to the music. My heart ached for her. Should she stay or should she go...

Approaching a grand finale

2010-12-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

Lots of music this week, culminating in the big show on the weekend; the tech rehearsal went very well. The lucky clarinet reeds are holding up nicely.
Sunday, day of the Big Show: It's been pouring non-stop for hours, almost days; if people can overcome the despair of going out and getting into cars, it's a good way to spend an otherwise indescribably dreary afternoon.
The concert went well overall; more people were in attendance, and we were told we sounded great. Personally, I did pretty well except for a bit of near-squawking in one piece, which I attribute to an unexpected attack of "Elvis shakin'" on my mouth. Ah, well, we went, we played, we sounded good.
I will miss playing with the group the next couple of weeks, but will persevere in my personal practicing.

Moving along

2010-12-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

Seems like we've had lots of music-related time lately, with daily practicing, rehearsals, and more to come before the next concert. A clarinet cohort and I had our own practice session, which was vey useful for mainly tuning purposes; it's very hard, if not impossible, to hear the section during whole band rehearsal and adjust accordingly. It is maybe the poor accoustics in our practice space, and not incipient deafness.
On a walk to get food, I went around part of the lake; along the way I saw numerous waterfowl, including a gorgeous Great Blue Heron, who was voguing on a partially submerged log. At first glance, his silhouette resembled a strangely shaped branch, but he moved, eventually, and revealed himself - or herself - and began grooming. Next along the path was what looked like a Cooper's Hawk, sitting on a bare branch and fluffed against the chilly air. The third wonderful sighting was an eagle perched on the highest treetop over on Duck Island. More delightful was the fact they were all still there upon my return home; fresh air and beautiful birds.

The big thaw

2010-11-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

It happened so fast, over Thanksgiving night and into the next day; we could drive around and walk without sliding into disaster. While visiting my mother, I spoke with some old acquaintances there to visit their elderly aunt. Two of the girls had been elementary school students of mine ages ago, and the one almost out of college said she drove up to Seattle from Salem on Monday, and was still stunned by the surreal experience. Trucks and buses were jack-knifed and scattered all across the lanes of the freeway, and the traffic still able to move had to weave around them, from lane to lane. As she approached Seattle, the snow came down harder and harder, and she was amazed to actually get to her parents' house. This La Nina condition is loca.
Sunday afternoon now, and it was warm enough to walk without a heavy outer layer; soaked up as much light as I could.

Living inside a freezer

2010-11-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

There's lovely sunshine today beaming down on the hard-frozen landscape; pretty white contours, but biting to the skin. The winds have been so strong the past few days we could only hope against a power outage; this year we have been lucky thus far. We didn't have to drive anywhere, unlike thousands who got trapped by their evening homeward commute. There is parking amnesty for a bit, so people can retrieve their stranded vehicles without fear of penalties; surprising kindness on the part of bureaucracies with budget woes. Not everywhere, though.
We walked briefly before grabbing a bit to eat and coming home to practice. I felt no desire to stay outside in the miserably cold dark. May this not be a taste of the rest of the winter...

PR

2010-11-18T22:42:00.001-08:00

Spent a couple of shivering hours playing caroling music in Edmonds, a little city north of here where our LGBT band has moved its main concert venue. There were three of us clarinets, all straight female allies, with our chilled plastic clarinets which sounded un-tuned, but we represented for the group. Passed out lots of post cards and got about 16 posters put up, so we hope the holiday concert will be filled up. Several of our numbers wound up in a pub down the hill, for beverages and food; it was a great time to get to know one another better.
The week is flying along, and who knows what the end of it will bring.

Over the weekend

2010-11-15T13:35:00.001-08:00

Visited mom, got together with friends for dinner and a play, an adaptation of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, which even a few days later I'm still wondering about what they wanted to do with the story. Parts of it worked for me, parts did not, but as with their ninety minute version of Crime and Punishment, I liked not re-reading the book just now.
We have descended into the "dog's nose" days of November, wet and chilly; great for reading and playing holiday music with a great group. One of our bandmates, a trumpet player, loaned me an intriguing novel by a writer named John Crowley. It's titled Little, Big, and is fantasy, but a most engaging and sometimes challenging bit of it, not all battling elves riding war dragonflies. After a slow start, I became intent upon its Tale. It was a fine read on cold dark nights.

11eleventy11!

2010-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, at some minutes after midnight, I entered a new decade; it's one of those "zero birthdays." Not sure what to think. Good thing I have to practice my clarinet.

Twas a wrap

2010-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Second concert on Sunday afternoon, in honor of the Pride Foundation's anniversary; things went better for me on most pieces, but of course, the ominous "Sorcerer" took its pound of flesh.
'nough said on that score.
We march forth into holiday music, which is saner and may even be mastered.

Make hay

2010-11-04T11:24:00.001-07:00

We threw off obligations for an afternoon and had a lovely walk on an extremely rare warm November day; one of those urban hikes we can take around here without having to drive all over the place. Swell views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains across the way; no harbor seal pups visible, due to the rising tide.
We had another one last weekend, happening to pass by the University of Washington Fisheries Department's salmon spawning pond. For decades it's been used to house a salmon run, and school kids and other people have been observing the harvest of eggs and milt for the next year's hatch; bloody and shocking, but interesting. The fisheries folks would take care of the eggs and hatchlings, schools would take some back to raise in tanks, then release them in the spring into a nearby water source to head out. No more; budget woes dictated its demise, to the tune of a $60,000 savings. We watched the huge fish swirling around the pond for the last time, and I had to wonder about the handcart to hell.

Ending

2010-11-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

For our wonderful cat, upon whom the ravages of aging took a sudden and final toll; hard to see the little piles of toys around the house, and he's not here to roust me for breakfast. Can't bear to tell my mom, who was very fond of him.
Onward into glorious late fall.

Zooming

2010-10-27T09:50:00.001-07:00

The week has fled. It's actually Friday. Had some good climbing sessions with a dear friend, one including her daughter, our wonderful rope gunning girl; no way I'd claw my way up some of those routes without her leading them first.
Still picking away at "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", since we have another concert which includes it. Last rehearsal, we were referring to it as the elephant in the room, sotto voce. Strangely, I seem to be improving on it with every pass. Another couple of months and I'll be ready....
Beloved offspring accompanied me to visit our nonegenarian up in her new place, and she was pretty cheery and alert. We are going to go up and play for them one of these days.
He's also been helping me around our joint, sprucing little bits up here and there. He seems to be recovering from the rabies treatment nicely, which warms a mother's heart.

Salvaged

2010-10-24T19:58:00.001-07:00

Managed to shake off this fricking cold enough to visit my mom yesterday, who was in good spirits all things considered. Went out for a short visit to a fellow band person and her partner's new home not too far from us; they moved up from Noe Valley in San Francisco, and seem to be settling in nicely.
Joined other band mates with whom I've spent some time, attending a concert over on the east side. My section leader plays in the wind orchestra, and they put on a really fine performance. My favorite was a Hindemith symphony which a couple other people and I were very affected by, and others were not so much; Hindemithers and non-Hindemithers. It was an amazing, chills-inducing work for me.
We stepped out afterwards, me and the guys, for a beverage and a bite at a nearby pub. For some reason the topic of drinks featuring Bailey's Irish Cream came up, and I mentioned Irish Car Bombs. One guy looked up other possibilities on his phone, and up popped a doozy: the Cocksucking Cowboy. They asked the waitress if she had ever heard of it, showing her the drink listed on the phone, not reading it aloud. Oh, yes, said she, it's made thus and so, with a float of Bailey's, which evoked some stifled chuckles and comments. None of us wanted to try the concoction, but even such an experienced group as ourselves was a bit amazed.
Just looked up that drink: It uses butterscotch schnapps and Bailey's. Urp.

Batty

2010-10-19T10:16:00.001-07:00

Beloved offspring had a close encounter with a bat while climbing, and has been enduring the rabies vaccination process for days. This has left his mom with a sustained case of the what-the- fuck stressouts; after a conversation with him today, feeling better. Ironically we both like bats for their insect consumption and general elegance; too bad about this disease-carrying problem.
Beloved nonegenarian was a bit sleepy this morning when I visited, but as she observed, it was just that kind of day, foggy and slow to brighten. One of the residents passed away the other day, a Japanese/American woman I'd only seen once, dozing in her wheelchair in the sun. My mother's friend knew her, and remarked that it was a shock, someone here one day and then gone. This is reminding me of Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go"...
Great new music for the band's holiday show; I am heartened by my improved sight-reading capacity, as well as our section leader's entrusting me with a couple of 2nd clarinet parts. Planning to hear him play in an orchestra on Sunday, along with some new buds from the trumpet section. I feel like we've hit a motherlode of wonderful people in this band.

Catch all

2010-10-14T12:41:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning - never mind the post date - and we had a good concert last night. Somehow I made it through the hellish swirls of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", and didn't get lost once. I realized that was my goal afterwards. We'll play the show again in a few weeks, so maybe some progress can be made on the speedy parts. Many compliments on my tux and much encouragement from the fine folks in the group; they are a sweet bunch.
Had our own sort of after party at a young friend's tradtional birthday party at a place reknowned for karaoke; got one tune in, then the hour was far too late and we rolled home in our pumpkin.

Volunteer state

2010-10-11T13:56:00.001-07:00

The PT at my mother's new abode asked me if I'd be interested in helping her with an art project for the residents able to give it a shot. I said I would, so we'll see what happens. Many of the folks were out enjoying the sunshine today, whether just basking or doing some walking, like my mom.
Busy week, meeting up with old friends from truly days of yore back in Ohio, and we had a great time. They cooked a salmon dinner and I took them for a walk in Discovery Park the next day. One sister is an attorney for the IRS, and her oldest sister is a retired high school math teacher who has reunited out here with a high school friend; they seem to be enjoying one another a good deal.
Band rehearsal early in the week, and another big one before the concert; be still my pounding heart.

Seasonings

2010-10-08T16:18:00.001-07:00

Skipping along through the days, tra-la. Pleasant evening on Friday, sandwiches and brew with our beloved offspring, his buddy and her mother, visiting from the Eastern U.S.; football-o-rama for the beloved spouse the next day, and Sunday I got out for an unusual evening session with a great friend and her college-aged daughter. We had a good time, watching the ropegun girl whisk up stuff we'll never lead.
Most delicious getting home to find the guys had saved me some pizza, which is wonderful after exertion.

timelines

2010-10-05T12:35:00.001-07:00

Some people don't have them at the other end of their lives; I get this impression whenever I go to see my mother in her new living situation. Time gets fragmented, smudged, spotty for the elderly people in her house. It is often said that the very old "live in the present", but that's not quite right. Even from moment to moment time is not reliable for them. The taste of a chocolate truffle may not even last through its consumption; one lady forgot she had it in her mouth and started to choke. I think there's a need for life's end coaches as well as ones for regular life, to get all the way through the various processes. Takes a village to help a person live to the end, whenever it might be.
Only a week in our timeline until we must face brass tacks and take the sorcerer squarely by the horns...

Trilling and running

2010-10-04T20:12:00.001-07:00

Applies to musical techniques, which I am still slowly re-mastering; there seems to have been a wee bit of improvement, so I'm past the point where I look upon my music folder in despair, knowing the evil which lurks within. Fear shall not o'erwhelm me any more. At least not as much as previously...
Onward to another week of practice and hope, with the emphasis on the former.

On our lips

2010-10-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Good gravy; four hours of band rehearsal today. I am swirling around in the maelstrom of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", a mere bit of flotsam, about the size of a B-flat clarinet reed...
We savored what we could of the remains of the afternoon, then went off to the theater with a fellow band member to see what proved to be an absofuckinglutely brilliant version of Moliere's "A Doctor in Spite of Himself." It is difficult to describe the hilarity and bizarreness; it was in the Commedia Delle Arte tradition, but no aggravating rhymed couplets, rather a stream, blast, explosion of silliness and wit. With two wonderful musicians, two men playing trombone, tuba, clarinet, drums, accordian, assorted sound effect thingamawhatsits, on a set which started out looking like a Surrealist landscape of nothingness and became all things to all players.
I'd see it again.

Improving connection

2010-09-29T10:48:00.001-07:00

Our nonegenarian is doing better, according to her caregivers and my observations; she's rested enough to comment that things get a bit boring, but that people are nice, and she likes the other two little old ladies who are her housemates with whom she can chat. Thursday will be hair do day, which she has always enjoyed.
Very last farmers' market in our shopping district, and probably the final one forever; the disagreement with nearby merchants was never resolved. So, last call for fresh bagels, German butterball potatoes, tomatoes that taste like something, huge ears of yellow sweet corn, last of the harvest and sweet as can be; the dairy fresh "crack" butter, reputed to be so delicious people have eaten it all at one meal, which is probably hyperbolic but accurately describes its flavor. No more oddly-voiced older hippy guitar player who knows all the songs of my youth and college years; his gravelly tonsils did Joni Mitchell justice.
Walked home in full low-angling sun, almost sweating.

Sweet and low

2010-09-27T14:30:00.001-07:00

That's how we climbed at the gym, my friend and I, both out of condition for anything hard due to the demands of the everyday; we hope to get stronger pretty soon.
Also how I tried to stay undetected at the clarinet sectionals the other evening, but with only ten people in the room, I know my deficiencies were evident. Well, when you're in over your head, you have to try to stay afloat in the best way you can. Too danged many notes flying along the lines...

Yo yo weather again

2010-09-26T09:44:00.001-07:00

Swinging in and out of wet and dry, warmer than usual but occasionally throwing in a coldish night to remind of us of what lies ahead; it's still been pleasant enough for long walks. We had a fine one over the weekend, complete with salted caramel soft ice cream for lunch, an utterly decadent but dairy requirement-covering item. We skirted the strange Oktoberfest thingy going on, including its Miss Buxom Contest, which was won by a portly fellow this year; missed the chainsaw pumpkin carving competition, too. Visited our nonegenarian, who is sleeping better and seems a bit more alert; gotta take this day by day.
Taking a break from the Perec tome, have dived into a more current novel titled The Bastard of Istanbul, by a young woman whose name escapes me. Not exactly heavy weight, but funny and engaging. Beloved son loaned me Miles Davis's autobiography, which contains many creative uses of the word "motherfucker." Got several kinds of bases covered with this material.

Still moony

2010-09-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

Very bright partial moon shining clearly at the end of the week; it makes a person want to take a brisk stroll in late evening. Waiting for the beloved spouse to get home from a work-related trip, as the house seems to rattle with just me and the aging cat in it.
Nice walk during the day, the usual hunting and obtaining; got a nice shipment of novels from our book buddy down south, with tempting items in the pile.

Sogs a lot

2010-09-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

Doused again for a day or so; spent the afternoon hanging out with my mother at her new digs, chatting and getting to know one of the women who works there. Some of the ladies had gone out the day before, when it was sunny and warmer, on a scenic drive, and were treated to milkshakes afterwards. One of them remembered the outing, and the fact that my mother chose chocolate for her flavor; no surprise. Very old age needs interpreters, like any other foreign country.
Farmers' market in the late afternoon the day before, I forgot to note, one of the last in our neighborhood; lovely tomatoes, breads, dairy items, but the fish guy has never returned. Will have to scout him out at a bigger market held all year in a somewhat distant area.

Harvest moon

2010-09-22T20:11:00.001-07:00

Couldn't see the full orange moon as it cleared the horizon due to clouds moving in, but it was brighter than blazes in the night, causing migration to a darker room. Our aging cat was playful for a bit, being a goalie and batting a plastic Easter egg around for a bit; loony.
Swell afternoon activity, over to the climbing gym with a dear friend and her college-aged daughter, our rope gun despite her claims to being out of shape; it's so relative, baby.
Unexpected invitation from a dear friend and neighbor, for a glass of wine and a bit of conversation; their kid was home for dinner, and all seemed well.

Head of rocks

2010-09-21T09:22:00.001-07:00

Wacky sleeping around here these days; no one home but me and the old cat. Wake up in the middle of the night feeling like a landslide has covered my skull, and it's hard to resume slumber. A full moon approaches and the barometric pressure varies wildly. Who knows what screws up what's supposed to knit up raveled sleeves of care?
At least the concert band rehearsal is productive. I am gaining control of the various rhythms, passages and keys, except for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." It's seven pages and almost fifteen minutes of harrowing activity for me as a rusty clarinetist. I can only hope we are not singled out much in practice...

Mixed results

2010-09-19T14:54:00.001-07:00

After that late night, got up and went to the indoor gym for a climbing session; tired, didn't do so well, but it was good to at least try. Wee hours are not my forte.
The tux is coming together; should be done soon.
Long walk back from an errand, over Queen Anne Hill, then up the next one to home; wild skies, but all the storms flew eastward.

Continuing pangs

2010-09-18T12:19:00.001-07:00

Still many reminders of my mother's life with us around here; her new place doesn't have much room for stuff, and although she arrived here with not much more than a traveling bag and a coat, she acquired a number of artifacts, much of it mail from family, former co-teachers and old neighbors. There is a small drift of it, portions of which she used to read and re-read every day. She's starting a new one up there.
Unusually late night for me, as friends had invited us weeks ago to see a traveling stand-up comedy show called "Arabs Gone Wild." As the comics themselves explained, they were operating on "Arab time", which evidently is slower than regular time, a phenomenon that can be found in various other parts of the planet. So it started late and went late. They were a quartet of Arab-Americans, with humor varying from unfunnily cruel to enjoyably satirical. The crowd was something; evidently the Arab community in Seattle has money, and they wore it from head to toe.
We made our way home in our friends' small VW, a little boat on turbulently streaming streets traveling from downtown over West Queen Anne, to our neighborhood.

Went to the vegetable fair

2010-09-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon we walked up to another one of the neighborhood farmers' markets, ostensibly in search of these amazing dill pickles one of the vendors produces. They were there, and we got not only pickles but also some delightful apple/ginger chutney. Beloved spouse noticed it, tasted it, and approved the purchase. Another guy was hawking his cheeses, several kinds of blue ones as well as what he called a "chevre-like" cheese, only made from sheep's milk instead of goat's. It was creamier and not as tangy as a chevre, and we got it to put in a salad the guy described to us.
Lots of produce stalls, and a handful of food offerings, such as Ethiopian and vegetarian; the pizza over people aren't there lately, having acquired their own permanent pizza place last year. They used to haul around a big clay oven to bake the pizza in, not sure if they do that for any of the markets anymore. This particular market will probably survive, unlike our own in Wallingford, which pretty much got squeezed to death by local merchants being pissy about parking spaces for one afternoon a week in the summer. Bad PR, and it makes one want to find out who griped, in order to boycott them.

Rabbit hole

2010-09-15T14:25:00.001-07:00

Gloomy and doomy; pall inside and out, but some walking helped a bit. Trundling along with Georges Perec's Life: A User's Manual, suggested by a bookpal; it's a peculiar tome, structured to follow the denizens of a Parisian apartment building and their histories. It was published in the early 1970's, but exudes a kind of musty older datedness. Parts are maddening, parts are fascinating. The overarching metaphor of a jigsaw puzzle holds sway.

Sort of surely

2010-09-14T16:01:00.001-07:00

Managed to do better at band rehearsal, although still felt swaths of being swamped; at least I brought delicious snacks for the break time. It's hard for me to eat much at our break, as it can get in the way of one's playing, but most people don't seem to have any problems with it. Maybe it's because my stomach's a bit knotted with anxiety, which I do hope will ease off.
When I went up to see my mom earlier in the day, they had finished breakfast and were getting into the morning's exercise routine. This is a relative concept, as the exercisers' abilities vary widely, but all did what they could manage.
The afternoon broke out in sunshine, which warmed me as I headed by the lake to get a workout.

Slowly

2010-09-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

First climbing session after a couple of weeks' absence; very good time with a dear friend who's having her own various life crises. We just focused on the problems, tried to put all else out of our minds. It would be wonderful to go off somewhere not far away, just to get out in the air and onto real rock for a diversion.
Meanwhile, beloved spouse and I continue to pick our way through the thicket of music facing us on our stands for next month's concert. He'll be fine, the trumpet section is stellar; I am floundering in the deep end, trying to hide my inadequacies from the Olympian first clarinets.

Back from the brink

2010-09-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

No way to describe the past several days; only since we found a good place for our nonegenarian to move into has there been even a possibility of at least part of a good night's sleep. Four or five consecutive hours seems miraculous right now.
Onward we go, in the march of mortality.

Down from up

2010-09-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Fleeting false hope for a rally; last night was the worst yet. Onward with the new plan. Life needs to reboot.

What next

2010-09-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Big decisions need to be made pretty soon. We're slender reeds at this point. How bizarre to see a beautiful day drift away while in distress.

Twilight zoning

2010-09-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Gritty issues with our nonegenarian; losing sleep, feeling ragged. It's far worse than having a baby or young child, let's put it that way; things are deteriorating, not going forward.
At least I had some coverage this afternoon, one of the most delightful of summer days, in which to walk on, despite exhaustion which makes you trippy.

Whip sawing

2010-09-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome rain yesterday, but gloomy and bizarre; it's to brighten up again later in the week. Full day of mama care, hair maintenance, a climbing session, then on to the first concert band rehearsal, which was pretty much the highlight of it all. Came home jazzed up and despite my fumbling playing, eager to get on with the show.

Again

2010-08-30T11:50:00.001-07:00

Back to a gorgeous day, which we used wisely; shorter walks, but still pleasant. Topped off the evening with some sushi, and a sweet walk home.
New novel on the reading stand: The Invention of Curried Sausage by Uwe Timm, another sent by a generous friend. It's also set circa WW II, in Germany, and is quite good, although I think I prefer Hrabal's work.