Saturday, Dec. 29th/12
Winter seems to have arrived. After this morning I will have shovelled more snow this month than all of last winter. With snow on the ground it should stay cold, too.
To say we have been enjoying our holidays would be the understatement of the year. Great music, lots of piano practice, incredible food and a variety of tasty alcoholic beverages are only some of the highlights.
We've been playing a lot of games lately. We played Carcassonne once, then our Lord of the Rings board game, then a three-deck game of Middle Earth: The Wizards. Mostly we have been playing Black Mirror II, a mystery/horror game for pc with lovely graphics, challenging puzzles, and more talking than the combined plays of William Shakespeare. Still fun, though.
Yesterday was our weekly trip to Detroit. We spent it in the New Center and Cultural Center, enjoying freshly made Oatmeal Stout at Traffic Jam and Snug, along with a delicious lunch of Ethiopian origin. We tried to buy tickets for the upcoming Detroit Symphony Beethoven series, but the box office is closed until January 7th. We also went to the Detroit Institute of Arts to see the Dutch paintings, but the entire wing was closed. Apparently the paintings are being prepped for an exhibit in Nashville.
Sunday, Dec. 23rd/12
It's time to get serious. Piano practice and concert preparation are #1 on my list. Hoping for a late January date in Windsor (tba soon) and another one a week later in Toronto. The Bach and the Schubert will be played with the music, while the rest will be performed from memory (while I still have any). Hopefully the Windsor program will be held at the university. Toronto may end up being two concerts, one at Dino's house on his upright, and another at Stephen Sword's. So, new upgraded practice regime starts this week!
Here are a few pics from yesterdays double pub adventure.
Beer board at Kuhnhenn's. Their winter solstice party was well underway.
Oatmeal Stout on cask, Dragonmead Brewery.
Dragonmead taps!!
Dragonmead stained glass.
Saturday, Dec. 22nd/12
We had an amazing Solstice Day, and day after. Terrific food, great music (with Verdi's "La Traviata" the centre-piece of the day's listening), an all-day fire, our latest home-made beer (dark porter, and very good), and best of all, no internet or tv!!
Today we went to a new local brewpub, Kuhnhenn's in Warren. We tried their sampler #2, a select group of five potent ales on for Solstice. we also shared a glass of elderflower mead. Next we moved on to Dragonmead Brewery, also in Warren. This was our third visit, and I enjoyed a delicous oatmeal stout cask ale!! Coffee followed at Astro (Slows was too busy to attempt entry), and then some grocery shopping at Honey Bee Market.
A really really fun two days, but they really seemed to fly past! I will post some pics tomorrow.
Wednesday, Dec. 19th/12
Two more days until Winter Solstice--all-day fire, up for sunrise, great food and music all day (lately it's been an opera) and gaming and reading and tuning out the world.
Our new ("free") Android phone is pretty awesome. We've already purchased an astronomy app for it, and are looking at a few regular map ones, too. We did not choose the technology package, but will rely on wifi for its internet connection. That seems to work rather well.
As the possibility of yet another new piano student rears its head, I might as well forget about reducing my workload next year. I may soon have every available space filled, including ones I did not want to fill. Ah well.
Message from Sudbury today that my dad is not doing too well. I may end up making an unscheduled trip there in the near future.
Friday, Dec. 14th/12
It was one of those rare weeks where every person showed up for lessons!
We continue to experience November-like weather, but by this time next week winter weather will arrive (along with Winter itself, on Solstice). Three clear nights were predicted this week, so I went ahead to Iaido Tuesday night instead of setting up the telescope on the back deck. I missed a very clear night, but was confident about Wed. and Thurs. Midway through teaching on Wednesday I had an attack of Meniere's, and went to bed as soon as I had finished. Clear night number two was now gone. Not to fear, as the Windsor Sky Clock and weather.com both predicted great skies on Thursday. After teaching until 7 pm I dutifully set up and went back inside for dinner. I came out at 8 pm and it was really cloudy. I braved it for about 45 minutes before giving up in despair. What rotten luck! Looking at the 10-day forecast, there will be no further observing in this dark lunar cycle. Tonight was supposed to be dark sky night at Point Pelee, but I am not risking 90 minutes of driving based on what I am seeing now (2:15 pm). Saturday is supposed to be open house at Hallam, but clouds and rain are predicted.
So after sending all our gifts off to Sudbury a wee bit later, we will head off to open training at the dojo. We have set April as our Shodan test in Iaido, and have much work to do before then. On our way to the dojo (after our UPS stop) we will stop at Bell and get a new phone, which will come with a new 3-yr contract.
Monday, Dec. 10th/12
A wet and dreary weekend has come to an end. What weather! The no snow part doesn't bother me at all. In fact, in previous years when I rode my bike to work, I had a better than 50/50 chance of biking right up to the last day of school before winter break. January is where the real test of winter will be for us.
We made a lunch visit to Ann Arbor today, exploring a bit of the town and having a pint and some good vegan eats at Arbor Brewing Company.
Tonight is archery practice, tomorrow night is Iaido practice, and then we might be getting a couple of clear nights, suitable for back deck observing.
Friday, Dec. 7th/12
Another busy three-day work week has flown past, with only two more to go until our winter break. No complaints about the weather--if we just survived the hottest summer on record, then I guess we should be allowed to enjoy a mild late autumn (and perhaps winter, too). Canadians going south for the winter might someday soon be a thing of the past. Instead, many Americans will head to our far north to escape blistering summer heat.
Wednesday night was cold and clear, and we were able to set up the telescope on the back deck for a look around. Jupiter was almost too bright to observe, even at 150x. I have filters, but it was too cold to mess around with them, screwing them on and off the eyepieces. We observed the Pleiades, the Hyades, and two less spectacular open clusters, one in Taurus near Aldebaron, and the other in Auriga, not far from Capella. We seem to have some nice, dark sky right from our backyard, so I am optimistic about future sessions. Tonight was just a trial run, but it appears many more sessions will follow.
Monday, Dec. 3rd/12
Just back from archery, where my shooting went from very bad to somewhat decent. I enjoy it, and will continue to go weekly until my elbow gives out. My young friend Kaytlynn has bought herself some zombie targets, and her shooting has really improved!
We were in Detroit today, and we came home with our latest dvd rental from Netflix. We are now watching the pilot episode to Emergency! How cool is that? We went to Motor City Brewpub for lunch and a pint (I had hard cider, Deb had a very spiced Pumpkin Ale. Next we explored a new grocery store on Woodward. We are still waiting anxiously for the new Whole Foods store to open!
It was foggy all day, and it looks like at least one more night of the stuff will be upon us. Seasonal temps are coming in tomorrow, and we will soon be back to real December.
I am currently reading "Cream of the Jest" by James Branch Cabell, possibly his best book. I will review it on the Ballantine page as soon as I am done. On the train ride to and from Toronto I got caught up on some of my back issues of Rolling Stone.
Sunday, Dec. 1st/12
Just back from a very short but fun trip to Toronto. Dino was having a big birthday bash so we went. Saw all the old Sudbury gang, including Dennis, Doug, Bill, Ted, and of course Dino and his brother and mother!! She looks fantastic!!!
We took the train from Windsor Saturday afternoon, and arrived at Dino's around 7 pm. The small house was jammed to the rafters, with about thirty people packed into it. Food was plentiful, and thanks to Doug and Dino's two charming daughters, there was plenty for vegans to eat.
We stayed at a lovely hotel, the Clarion, in a converted mansion, but didn't check in until quite late. This morning there was time for a quick breakfast and a walk before boarding a really full train back to Windsor. Via Rail did a great job of getting us there comfortably, on-time and relatively quickly, though I wish they could shave at least an hour off the time. It currently takes 4 1/4 hours each way.
I have a picture or two, but as I left my camera in Toronto it may be awhile before i can prove it.
Monday, Nov. 26th/12
We had a really fun day yesterday, venturing out to the far suburbs in search of a new (for us) brewpub. Sherwoods is out in Shelby Tonwship, a place we have never visited, and is about 30 minutes from the bridge. We spent several hours there, sampling 3 hard ciders (apple, cherry and cranberry), three beers (IPA, Smoked Pumpkin Porter, Hemp Ale), and one of their three meads (wildflower). Everything was sooo good!! We also had the house bean burger, also very good, with small side salads. They also make wine, sodas and ice cream. Hopefully we will return someday.
It is not far from Stony Creek Metropark, and we went for a late afternoon walk in the silent woods near Sheldon Hill. There was snow everywhere, but not too much of it.
Stony Creek Metropark, Detroit. That's me up ahead.
Stony Creek hike/bike path.
Tonight it's off to archery, then back to our work week tomorrow (and Iaido).
Sunday, November 18th/12
Three clear nights in a row, with a fourth on the way, has given me much practice with the new telescope and its computer system. Despite this, I am still somewhat of a beginner again. While the farm is nearly ideal for observing of most objects, it is not a good place from which to observe galaxies or galactic nebulae. My future observations out there will reflect that reality.
Last night Deb and I went to our first dark sky night hosted by Point Pelee. The sky was magnificent, and holds much promise for locating dim objects, both in the south and in the north skies. However, it has been very, very damp the last three nights, and my secondary mirror has fogged up on all three occasions. This is the reality of observing in a humid climate. Last night was the worst, however, and we ended up driving home in some very dense fog. Three others were out at Pelee with us, including Randy G. and Dan T. An out-of-town friend of Randy's was also present. Mike was a member of Windsor's earliest astronomy club, "Nova," but now lives in Thunder Bay. No one else had a telescope, but everyone had a look or two through ours.
With Iaido on for tonight, followed by some more observing later on, archery tomorrow night, and Iaido again on Tuesday, it will make six nights in a row I have been out and about.
Fortunately piano practice is also going well. In a few weeks I should be able to announce a concert date, likely sometime in early January.
In other news, I have decided that I will attend the star party held annually near Socorro, NM. Not only that, but I will bring the 12" scope with me! On one of the nights we will be observing from the summit ridge of the Magdalena Mtns, at over 10,600'!!!!!!! Deep sky, here I come!!!
Monday, November 12/12
It's odd how today's weather is more typical of what Remembrance Day is like--cold, windy, raining. Yesterday was too nice a day for such an event. But there you have it. I have one uncle who died in WWII. He was part of a Lancaster bombing squad, attacking the mainland from bases in England. On their first and second pass, the bomb doors failed to open. On their third attempt they were hit by enemy fire. The plane went down, but Uncle Jack was never found. After the crash, he may have been buried in an unmarked grave by locals. He does have a cross in Windsor, UK, in the huge cemetery there dedicated to fallen soldiers.
On Saturday past, Deb and I went to Ypsilanti for the afternoon. Original plans called for a trip to Ann Arbor, but due to a Michigan football game we stopped instead in Depot Town, Ypsi. The old train station is near a small but very hip enclave of restaurants, cafes and stores. Corner Brewery is also nearby, serving beer from Arbor Brewing Company in Ann Arbor. We brought a game of Middle Earth: The Wizards and played. We got caught in horrendous traffic coming home, both on I 94 (two of three lanes shut down) and on the bridge. Still, it was a fun day, and I brought home four bottles of Founders Breakfast Stout, one of the best beers in existence. At Corner Brewery we really liked the Session IPA. We also met up with a pair of gamers playing Dreadfleet, and got invited to the monthly and weekly sessions of gaming.
Tonight we watched a 1970s Japanese ghost story movie called House, about seven teenage girls that get eaten by a house. Very stylish and now with a cult status, it was an amusing film and parts were even fun to watch. Full of bright colour, and made more as a fantasy film than a horror one, though it has its moments of gruesomeness.
Friday, Nov. 9th/12
Wow! Two clear nights in a row! I actually got to use my new telescope again, something I was certain would not happen until spring. I spent two wonderful evenings at the farm, once all by myself and the 2nd time with Kaytlynn for company. Faint galaxies and double stars were on tap, and everything was splendid!
Tonight was our quarterly group lesson for our private music students. It was hosted by the Savoni family, in their incredibly beautiful riverside home just up the road from us. The turnout was fantastic, and all students played well, some exceptionally well (Sarah and Lily).
We now have a bit of a holiday, with lessons resuming Nov. 22nd. Usually we are off to England at this time, but this year we sacrificed our trip as we try to finish paying off the VW Golf. In the near future there might be two trips a year to New Mexico and to England, with perhaps a Hawaii thrown in there for extra measure.
It appears I will take up archery consistently once again, as I seem to be enjoying the Monday night sessions. I might even dig out my old bows and see if they are still any good.
Saturday, November 3rd/12
I seem to be in a strange, parallel universe when it comes to astronomy nights. When it is supposed to be clear and we set up, it clouds over. When it is supposed to remain cloudy and we don't set up, it clears. It is likely one of the most frustrating of hobbies, at least from my location.
It was a windy week, with Sandy making land and essentially flattening and flooding and burning NYC and New Jersey. As bad as Katrina? No, but still very bad. Our power stayed on during the worst of it, but today was the first sunny, non-windy day in a week or more.
Today we went to Eastern Market in Detroit, followed by our annual walk in Woodlawn Cemetery. All the leaves had been blown down by the storm winds, but it was bright and sunny. Not as much atmosphere as a result. Later we went to Ferndale. I was able to get more books in Rowland's Samurai detective series, and we stopped in at Woodward Avenue Brewing for a pint. This was followed by another book store, a natural foods grocery store, and Java Hut Cafe, all on 9-Mile Road. Ferndale contines to be a very funky suburb, and we need to visit more often.
Deb in Shed 2, Eastern Market, Detroit. We bought a lot of very cool stuff today.
Germack Coffee, Eastern Market, Detroit.
Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit.
Sunday, Oct 28th/12
September and October have flown past quickly! We are busy nearly every night of the week now. Sunday and Tuesday we have Iaido classes, and Monday I now have archery. Wed. and Thurs. we teach, followed by astronomy if it's clear. Friday and Saturday nights are the only open ones, and those are taken if it is clear! We have the telescope running as smoothly as Palomar Observatory now, having finally worked out all the bugs in the object location system. Just in time for cold weather season, too, when you don't want to waste any time finding an object.
Saturday afternoon we had cutting class at Sensei Blok's house, followed by a social hour with good food and sake. While my basic kesa cuts are damn near perfect, my reverse kesas need serious work, including more follow-through and more grip.
Deb cuts at live cutting practice. This is a near perfect kesa cut, slicing the wara in a smooth diagonal.
Deb did her last racewalk of the season this morning at Malden Park. Did I mention she wore a costume?
The Homestead, in autumnal twilight.
Our neighbour Kaytlynn came over today to visit and play Carcasonne. Kaytlynn is nearly 17, studies at the dojo in Aikido, and we are friends with her mom, stepdad, and grandparents. Kaytlynn also lives at the farm where we now do our astronomy observations. She is a very sweet girl, a rabid Monty Python fan (especially Holy Grail), and is responsible for getting me back into archery, after nearly 40 years. It's nice to have a relationship like that, especially with a young person that I never had as a student. Her gifted younger brother (13) is studying ballet full time in Winnipeg with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet!!
Monday, Oct. 22nd/12
We spent the weekend in Cincinnati, a very fun city we have not visited in a very long time. Deb race-walked her 6th half-marathon, getting in her best time ever. We arrived at rush hour on a very rainy Friday afternoon, eventually getting downtown so she could pick up her race package and registration. After that we headed across the river to Newport, Kentucky, so she could buy her newest walking shoes. Then we were off to downtown Cincinnati, finding Rock Bottom Brewpub on Fountain Square. They had cask ale!! Yum. After this we went for dinner to Macs, featuring many vegan options and several craft beers on tap.
Very early next morning we were back downtown. Deb's race began at 8 am, so we were downtown by 7:30 am. It was cold, grey and with more rain threatening. While she undertook her race, I watched her go past Fountain Square before I headed off to Findlay Market, and then some bridge exploration. This is a small but fun inner city market, indoors and out, billing itself as Ohio's oldest. I did find a great wine and beer store there, and got a lead on a store in Kentucky with a very good Scotch collection.
Deb (in orange) passing Fountain Square, downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, early in her race.
Findlay Market, Cincinnati.
There are a number of lovely bridges between Cincinnati and the three Kentucky cities opposite. One is just for pedestrians and cyclists!
Decomissioned bridge over the Ohio River to Kentucky, now used for pedestrians and cyclists.
Interstate Bridge over Ohio River, looking southeast.
Deb crosses the finish line with a personal best time.
I met Deb at the finish line. She did her personal best today and was very happy. She came in first in her age group, and 4th overall out of 73 walkers. She also beat a large number of runners.
Had the weather been better, I would have returned to Findlay Market with Deb. However, it was pouring rain after the awards ceremony. We returned to Kentucky to check on the Scotch store, discovering "Party Store," a store filled with everything one needs for a party, including just about every alcoholic drink in existence. It was the size of a supermarket. We found our Laphroig 10-Year Old Scotch, and at a ridiculously low price. In addition, we also bought 24 craft beer. We left the premises bemoaning (once again) the state controlled liquor and beer offerings in Ontario, not to mention the prices.
Next came lunch at Rock Bottom, accompanied by more cask ale (dry-hopped pale--yum!). After lunch we ascended Carew Tower, a magnificent early skyscraper with an outdoor observation deck.
Celebrating at Rock Bottom Brewpub, downtown Cincinnati.
Looking south to Kentucky from Carew Tower, Cincinnati.
Looking southeast from Carew Tower
Next came the Cincinnati Museum of Art, followed by a rest back at our motel. We decided to go out and bring back take-away food from the nearby, all-vegan "Loving Hut," a chain that is just too good to believe. We tried many things, and all were delicious.
Cincinnati Museum of Art, a major art museum we had not visited in far too long.
Sunday we were off for home, stopping to hike at Taylorsville Metropark just northeast of Dayton. We had a lovely trail to ourselves, and it was like walking in Lothlorien.
Taylorville Metropark, Dayton, Ohio
Afterwards, we drove to Bellefontaine and the highest point in Ohio, which is just over 1500'. It is in the parking lot of a college.
Coffee and shops in Bowling Green, followed by a really cheap fill up in Toledo (about 80c per litre), and we came home.
Last night was clear, so I headed to the farm for a solo setup. It was moonlit darkness when I arrived, and luckily Kaytlynn and her grandpa came out, as I would have never been able to assemble the telescope in the dark without help.
Tonight I am off to archery, my first shooting practice since I was about 18!
Wednesday, Oct. 17th/12
Clear nights have been extremely rare, though it always seems to be sunny and clear during the day. I think I'm remembering why I lost interest in astronomy...
We have tweaked the computer object locator system, getting it to work better and better each time--a bit more trial and error is needed to get it just right. Of course, this requires clear skies.
This weekend we are heading to Cincinnati, Ohio. Deb has a half-marathon race on Saturday. We will stay over two nights, trying to squeeze in some sight-seeing as well. It's been so long since we've been to Cincinnati that I have no digital photos of the city! It is certainly one of our favourites, and we used to visit quite often. I am looking forward to returning.
Last night Deb (and Mike D.) received her promotion to 1st Kyu in Iaido. Next up is Shodan, or black belt, but not for a while. Lots of work needed before that happy day arrives.
Thursday, Oct. 11th/12
Another week of teaching has come to an end. 5 weeks gone and 33 to go!
Last Monday we managed to have "first light" with the new telescope. It turned into a star party, with eight people present. It's a good scope to dazzle the crowds! Randy G. guided us to many fine deep sky sights, bringing along his collection of superior eyepieces. Gradually people drifted away (we were guests at a farm location near our home), until just Randy, myself and Deb were left. The telescope has a computerized object locator, but it would not work properly. Next day, Deb and I looked at it, fixing a few things and getting it to work better, but not nearly good enough yet. Another clear night is needed to see if we have fixed it.
Tuesday night Deb tested for 1st Kyu in Iaido. She seemed to do quite well, and is hoping to be promoted next week.
As for me, I am anxiously awaiting clear skies (and no wind). It cleared up late last night, but it was too windy and cold to set up the scope.
Sunday, Oct. 7th/12
Randy was running a few minutes late yesterday, but assembly commenced promptly at 1:00 pm. He arrived shortly afterwards, helping me get the new telescope from box to full sky readiness. By 5 pm it was assembled, and now stands ready, awaiting clear skies. On Friday afternoon, Deb and I had unpacked the boxes and checked that everything was present and accounted for.
Box #1 of 3, getting unpacked Friday.
Some of the base components, ready for assembly.
Randy making some tweaks to the base assembly.
Ta da! Looks easy, doesn't it? It wasn't, at least not that part of it.
The headless man carries around his reflection in a 12" mirror. The mirror was unpacked Saturday.
Randy cleans off a small smudge that was on it upon opening. The mirror is the heart of the instrument, gathering enough light to see very faint objects.
The rest of the setup was a breeze, including attaching the main mirror to the lower tube section. Randy collimated the secondary mirror and the primary, so it should be usable without much fuss.
Himself with the assembled 12" scope.
Me and my baby! We make a fine couple, and will spend many dark, chilly nights together.
To add even more excitement to the day, Amanda arrived for a visit as Randy was leaving. She has a new job, which is Head of Special Projects at Frederic Harris Music Company! We three went out for dinner, then back for more chat. It was quite an overwhelming day for me, all tolled! Can't wait for a clear night!!!
Today we also rolled some mats for cutting. We hope to cut in our yard tomorrow morning, using our new cutting stand and our newest cutting blade. We are off to the dojo tonight. This is Deb's last chance to practice for her 1st Kyu test Tuesday evening.
Friday, Oct. 5th/12
After tracking my 3 telescope boxes all week on UPS from California, they have arrived and are now safely in our house! We have unpacked two of three boxes, and all parts and accessories seem to have made the trip okay. We have not opened the box containing the primary mirror, awaiting Randy's arrival for that. He is coming tomorrow afternoon to assist in the assembly. Main parts to assemble are the Dobsonian base and the mirror to the mirror cell. The finderscope and focussing mount must also be attached. It should take us a few hours. Then, if it is clear tomorrow night, we shall have our first look at the sky through the new Orion 12"! Tonight it is pouring rain and very chilly. The house, however, is still warm from yesterday's short-lived heat wave (it reached 77 F). Tomorrow we will test the main furnace.
Monday, Oct. 01st/12
We've had some very pleasant days of late, though nothing of the really warm temps we usually get in Sept. Still, the furnace has yet to come on, and the wood stove only twice, briefly.
Our 4-day weekend has come to a close, and three days of work lie ahead. I'm sure you all sympathize with me. We managed to visit downtown Detroit, something that seems all too rare these days. We had lunch at Detroit Beer Company, then coffee next door at a new and very funky cafe in the Madison Building.
Our VW Golf, parked downtown Detroit on Sat. This is Madison Ave., home to the Detroit Opera House, the Madison Building, Detroit Beer Company and 1515 Broadway, a cafe and theatre. A very fun street!
I had coffee in downtown Detroit with a very hot redhead!
As to the new telescope, all I know is that it has been shipped from California and is en route via truck from UPS. It is expected late Thursday. We will head to Detroit Friday to pick it up!
Saturday, Sept. 29th/12
My telescope has shipped and will arrive next Thursday. We will travel to Dearborn to pick it up on Friday, and hopefully have it assembled and ready for first light on Saturday! We crossed over today (story about that coming up next), and my smaller order from Orion had shipped and arrived. I ordered an eyepiece (Orion 25mm), a moon filter, a 2x barlow (shorty) and a new eyepiece case. With the two eyepieces that come with the telescope, I should have a usable assortment to get me started.
Yesterday, I finally had some medical tests done on my broken left foot. In addition to a series of x-rays, I had a bone scan. This involves an injection of radioactive dye, making me "hot" for several days. I had the injection at 9 am, and returned at 3 pm for the scan. Today when we crossed over the border, I set off the radioactivity alert, a sensor all American border services officers wear. As we pulled up to the booth, the young, very easy-going guard asked "So who's had a medical test recently?"
"That would be me," I answered. Of course we were pulled over. We had to drive through a detector, once with me in the vehicle and once with me out of it (Deb drove). Next, I had to go inside and sit in an office, where my agent brought out a detector similar to ones used in sci-fi movies from the 50s. It crackled pretty good when he turned it on. When it came a few inches closer, it really went off! I was in a small office, which was also the location of the xerox machine. Every time an agent came in to copy something, his portable detector went off. Very cool! We were on our way in about 20 minutes. No idea if I will still be hot next Friday when we go and pick up the new telescope.
Full moon party tonight--saw a lovely moonrise just after sunset. Pizza (round) and peach pie (round) and dark rum, along with an indoor wood fire. A perfect day, and a perfect night!
Wednesday, Sept. 26th/12
First to astronomy news. My new telescope (the first such since 1978!) is supposed to ship tomorrow. With luck it will arrive by the middle of next week and be ready to go by the following weekend (assembly required). If I had a good, permanent observing site I would have opted for a 16" instead of a 12". The portabillity of the 12" won me over, however.
In even more good news, I have found a perfect place from which to observe, only four minutes drive from our house. People I know through the dojo have a farm on the 3rd Concession of Anderdon, just around the corner from Middle Side Road. I went out Monday night to check the sight lines and stray light. The south and west skies are perfect for sight lines, and stray light is negligible. It seems too perfect! A barn provides wind shelter, as does a large willow tree, which also blocks light from Amherstburg. I was dismayed at the number of jet trails, however. I also went to a new site on a friend's property on Creek Road, and will use it from time to time, too. If the skies aren't all that great from these two places, I am also considering asking Dan Taylor if I may use his property. However, I think I am perfectly set here on the 3rd Concession!!
So far we have had the wood pellet stove on briefly for two mornings. It seems to have warmed considerably now, though. I love using no heat and no air--wish we could do it for six months a year.
Two very busy nights of teaching are now over--one more and the weekend is upon us. Full Moon celebrations will take place Saturday night, with an indoor wood fire (if it's chilly), moon cake and dark rum. Perhaps a game of "Middle Earth" The Wizards might be in order, too!
Saturday, Sept. 22nd/12
What a week it's been. I had six more students than the previous week (one rescheduled and five new ones), making for a less relaxing week. I am now up to 17 again. This week I sold my Emdund 8" telescope, purchased in 1978 with OSAP money! I have seen the wonders of the universe through the eypiece of that scope, but it was time to move on to more modern technology. It seems to have gone to a good home, which makes me feel better about parting with it. In its place, I have ordered an Orion 12" telescope, with push-to object technology. With over 14,000 objects in its database, it should keep me busy a long time. Photos will follow when it is assembled and ready for first light. I am hoping Randy G. will be available to help assemble it's thousand and one parts.
Friday morning I had a severe attack of Meniere's, my first in many years. It was also the worst one ever, and I was off my feet all day and all night. Feeling much better tonight! A quiet 59th birthday celebration at home, with the first wood fire of the season in the fireplace, homemade vegan pizza to die for, and the first Scotch of the new season (blended brands only until Samhain; then we start into the single malt).
Monday, Sept. 17th/12
Back from a whirlwind visit to Sudbury, to help celebrate my parents' 60th wedding anniversary. I flew Porter Airlines and had no trouble either way. New, comfortable planes, they cruise along at 700 km/hour and fly at around 22,000'. The party in Sudbury lasted all day Saturday, from 2 pm until around 10 pm. Lynne and Steve had everything organized perfectly, and all went off without a hitch. I flew in Saturday noon hour and left late Monday afternoon. As usual, it was a great visit, filled with family, food, two amazing hill-filled walks, and a really fun sauna Sunday afternoon. We even had a backyard fire Saturday evening. The best part was I didn't have to drive!!
Mom and dad renewing their vows after 60 years of marriage.
Emma Lee heading off to day-care this morning.
Wednesday, Sept. 12th/12
With the website updated with fresh New Mexico pics, and the journal entries all complete, I turned my attention today to updating my Ballantine Books page. That page gets a lot of hits, and there are a few who follow the site loyally, so I like to freshen it whenever possible. My latest review is of an odd but very satisfying novel by Lord Dunsany, to this day one of the greatest names in fantasy literature. The book was a pure joy to read, and I will soon embark on the next one.
For now I will continue to post photos from our recent trip opposite, but only ones not being shown on the main site.
Two days of teaching have gone by, and things have gone smoothly. I have a lighter load this year, and might even be able to compress things into two nights, instead of my current three. Starting next September I will be taking in money from Canada Pension, so I will have to reduce even further. Looking forward to it.
Sunday, Sept. 9th/12
It has been a fantastic and very long summer, if a bit on the warm side. With minimal teaching duties over the summer, it now remains to get into gear for this week's onslaught of students. Getting them motivated about new pieces and about practicing regularly is always a challenge. It took me awhile to get back into the swing of things, but my practicing is going well at last.
I enjoyed a long bike ride on the Greenway this morning, while Deb hiked. The portion of the trail between downtown McGregor and Essex now goes about 5k, making for a nice ride. With the kind of weather we had today, exercising is much more pleasant.
I have been working hard on the website update, trying to keep it simple but also very effective. With some luck it will be finished tomorrow night, but a lot of it is now ready for viewing.
Friday, Sept. 7th/12
I have finished work on my latest New Mexico journal, which means I can now devote time to the website version. Out of about 500 photos, I have currently cut about half. From the remainder I will try and find about 50 to place opposite here, along with a brief write-up. The journey is so immense, it is hard to encapsulate it. Very, very few photos ever truly capture what it was actually like.
We have more or less finalized our teaching schedule, which commences next week. I have two new people, and two others who have expanded their lesson time. Not much rest for me this year on Tues., Wed. and Thurs. The Golf will be paid off very soon, and hopefully a few other big travel adventures will be forthcoming. After that, we need a new back deck and a new bridge over Lone Mtn River. Some landscaping projects are also in the works, including an Equinox/Solstice Garden.
Wednesday, Sept. 5th/12
It was good to get right back into Iaido last night, as I begin to learn my katas for my Shodan (Black Belt) test sometime next year.
I have nearly finished writing the trip journal for our recent voyage, after which I can turn my attention to this website and the photos. As I write about the hikes and look at some of the photos, I am continually amazed at our increased prowess over the past few years. We should be slowing down, but the hikes are becoming longer, harder and more challenging in many ways, yet we are dealing with them effectively. The area around Taos not only has the highest mountains in New Mexico, but the most trails, too. A lifetime of hiking awaits us here, and we will be returning.
I have finally resumed a regular exercise program--it's hard to be motivated when there are no more mountains. Piano practice continues to be a challenge, though I am slowly getting back into the groove. I haven't yet made it to resuming my flute work.
Monday, September 3rd/12
It's been difficult to get back into piano practice. I had left the pieces in good shape and mostly memorized. Now I have some backtracking to do, including getting my focus and concentration back. I only did a half-practice today, but it went pretty well.
Even worse is my attitude to exercising. Six weeks of hot summer training followed by two weeks of intense, difficult hiking in the mountains have left me feeling that I never want to exercise again. Went for a short bike ride on Sunday, and will try to get out and walk tomorrow. My Iaido training resumes tomorrow after a three week hiatus. Really looking forward to that!
I've been working a lot on the trip journal, and have printed 100 phots for inclusion. After that I will work on this website, with a new update about the journey. For now I have posted a few pics on Facebook.
It's a nice feeling not having to go back into the classroom tomorrow morning!!
Saturday, September 1st/12
This was a fantastic trip in so many ways! The drive westbound and eastbound went flawlessly, and the weather mostly cooperated while we were in the mountains. It's monsoon season in late August, and it rained on us three nights while camping, but we were well-prepared. It never rained during any of our many hikes.
We shattered our altitude record by climbing a total of 8,000' during our week. Much of that was done at very high altitudes, frequently above 11,000'. We camped one night at 11,700', and it was no picnic. Winds howled, rain came down and temperatures plunged. We ended up in the tent for 12 hours! We were warm and snug in there.
Staying at Sipapu Lodge was a highlight! Cabin 9b was fantastic, with a large, comfortable bedroom, huge living room with fireplace and attached kitchen, and an adequate bathroom with shower. Midweek price was $39 a night!! Guess who's going back! There is a restaurant, pub, store and disc golf course, too! And a running river right down the middle of the resort, which is a ski area in winter. We based several of our hikes here, and there are countless more to do next time.
It will take a while to update the website with photos. In the meantime I will post a new one opposite every other day. Look for a full update by mid-September at the latest...
Thursday, August 30th/12
Back from an epic, unforgettable trip to the US southern Rockies. Much to report, but probably not tonight!
Tuesday, August 14th/12
Just heading off to Iaido, our final class before departing for Colorado and New Mexico. We are expecting our promotions tonight--hopefully Sensei will remember. The vehicle is jammed with stuff, and we still have some food to buy on the way, and dry goods (and wet ones, too!). Very excited, even though this will be my 6th or 7th drive out west. It's a big adventure, and this one should be bigger than ever. Last year, due to my knee injury, we took it easy on the hiking and the altitude. Not so much this year. We have a full schedule of hikes coming up, including our biggest and highest ever, with two nights backpacking way the hell up there, at 11,800'. We have brought some of our warmest clothing for that adventure.
Next post here will be in late August. Watch Facebook for the occasional post and photos.
Sunday, August 12th/12
Week Six of our mountain prep exercise program is underway, and will continue until our arrival in Colorado on Saturday. Legs, ankles and knees are feeling good and reasonably strong. Hopefully two weeks from now as we return, they will be amazing! Packing will commence in earnest today, and we will try to configure the Tiguan for optimum use of space. I cut the grass today, for only the second time this summer. Hopefully it will last until our return.
Last night we attended the annual summer dojo party at Sensei Blok's house in Lasalle. Live band till midnight, hospitality tents, campfire, fairy lights everywhere, and fabulous DOOR PRIZES. There were also an uncanny number of black belts in multiple disciplines. I had brought no money with me and neither had Deb. Mike Dupuis lent us $20 and I purchased a role of prize tickets. There were five prizes, and we put tickets into four of them. The grand prize was a shinken (sharp cutting sword) and sharp cutting knife, both with saya (scabbard), and a stand to sit them on. The sword also came with a lovely burgundy silk covering for carrying the sword around. The prize draw did not begin until 1 am, but by 1:20 am we were leaving with our new sword and knife!! We had won the grand prize! Now we each have a shinken, and our first cutting knife (we have a practice one, with an unsharpened blade). I will post some pics soon, including ones of the blade we purchased with inheritance money from Peter Wilkinson's estate. Oh, since Mike Dupuis wanted a stand, we gave him the black stand it all came with, as we already have stands for the swords.
Saturday, August 11th/12
We had an amazing night at the dojo last night. First off was a lesson with Sensei Jarret, 8th Dan and head of the international Iaido federation that we belong to. We learned a new kata that will soon be included at the black belt level. With nearly 80 people on the floor, it was a unique experience! Next came two tests, Mike D. ( a former APS student of mine!) for 2nd degree black, and Blake M., for 3rd degree black. It was the first black belt test I have seen, and both gentlemen did really well. The tests lasted about an hour and included actual cutting. Though we did not stay for the celebrations and promotions afterwards, both men were promoted, and our own Sensei Blok was promoted to 4th Dan, an honourary promotion as 3rd Dan is the highest test in the discipline.
Deb and I tested last Tuesday, Deb for 2nd Kyu and me for 1st Kyu. Things went about as well as could be expected, and I am confident that we will both be promoted next class.
Today Deb had a wedding gig at the Fogolar. She has been watching the Olympics, and the only event she really wanted to see was the women's racewalk. Guess what time the race was? Yup. Right during her one and only August wedding gig. Oh, the irony.
The exercise program has been going well, though frankly I am sick and tired of it (as I usually am by the end of Week 5). Next Saturday we will be entering Colorado, so hopefully it will all pay off once again. Our first big hike is Sunday, in New Mexico. We are off to Malden Hill just now (4 pm), and then later we are going to Lasalle to attend Sensei's party.
Tuesday, August 7th/12
I seem to have recovered quickly from yesterday's intense hike--no knee or ankle problems worth mentioning. Hopefully we will return next Monday. I am now less than a week away from departure, and half way through Week Five of my six-week preparedness program.
Last night was test night at the Iaido dojo. Deb tested for 2nd kyu (intermediate brown belt) and seemed to do a bang-up job of it. I tested for 1st kyu (senior brown), and was actually okay with my performance for once. Promotions will be either this Friday (special lesson with the head of our federation) or next Tuesday. If I pass, I will be done testing until I am ready for black belt, perhaps in a year or so. I could use a break from testing.
Only a few more days left to practice piano before a two-week hiatus. The Haydn Sonata will be completely memorized, along with the Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Bartok pieces. I have started in on the Schubert and the Scriabin. The Bach will remain unmemorized (at least the fugue will), as will the first half of the Schubert (a tribute to Bach).
Monday, August 6th/12
Today's hike was a 5 mile jaunt through Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, MI. We managed to grab a total of 700' of elevation, a pittance for New Mexico hiking, but the most we have done since last year's hikes in that state. My legs are feeling the excitement even as I write.
This little beauty was browsing with her mom along the trail at Nichols Arboretum today. We got very close without disturbing them.
We were rewarded afterwards with Sheerwater IPA on cask at Grizzly Peak, then a terrific vegan lunch at Jazz Veggie Cafe, and then more cask ale at Arbor Brewing Company, followed by coffee at Espresso Royal.
Afterwards we had a really fun day in downtown Ann Arbor, visiting pubs and cafes and shops before heading home around 4 pm. Border crossing north and southbound was busy, but we were through both times in about fifteen minutes, not bad for a holiday weekend.
Of course the big news today was of the successful landing of Curiosity, the most sophisticated Mars explorer yet. This is a huge shot in the arm for NASA, and should produce incredible science for years to come. And to think that a Mars orbiter actually snapped a photo of the damn thing doing its parachute phase of the complicated landing procedure. This might turn out to be the most remarkable photo ever snapped!
Saturday, August 4th/12
I have now completed 4 weeks of my 6 week fitness program, in preparation for hiking in the Rocky Mtns. Two weeks from tonight we will be in Colorado Springs, our first night at high altitude. Next day we will hike deep down into the Rio Grande gorge near Taos, and then back up, camping some 800' above the river along the rim. Exciting times are ahead. Today was not a fun day to exercise, as the humidity skyrocketed. Still, we survived. Not sure how many more summers I want to do this. Hiking in the autumn brings hunters and snow. Hiking in the spring brings snow and runoff, and sometimes early fires. Desert hiking in winter is a great alternative, and we may have to turn back to it instead of getting up so high. Training in July is one of the most unpleasant tasks we face all year.
Today was my first piano practice since last Sunday. Of course it was not a very productive one. Hopefully tomorrow my mind will settle down a bit, and I'll be able to control things a bit better. Early morning Iaido practice also awaits, at the dojo.
Friday, August 3rd/12
4:30 pm:
Music camp is over for another year, and we have used the money to fund our dojo activities for the next several months. Thursday was an exhausting day, involving a one hour presentation to parents after only three days of prep! It was a pretty good show, too! Super bunch of campers this year.
Emily performs during the concert.
Annika performs.
Campers and parents watch the show, which included plays, dances, harp ensemble and recorder ensemble. Our theme this year was the Far East.
Once home, we just chilled on the back deck for much of the evening, talking about our teaching week. Lots of fun memories from this year.
Today we went to Detroit, enjoying some fine cask ale at Slow's (Bells Porter), lunch at La Shish, and a visit to a new and very hip mid-town cafe, "The Great Lakes Coffee Co." It has become such an amazing city, and is always so much fun to visit, especially downtown and midtown. Can't get enough of it, though it is becoming so busy and popular that places are packed even in the middle of the day.
Wednesday, August 1st/12
The long week continues! Imagine a week in which you have to work three full days!! Now you know what we are going through! Haha--having lots of fun at summer music camp this week, and will be sad to see it end tomorrow with our final concert. About 20 kids are repeat customers, and most say they will be back next year, too.
Quiet, laid back Full Moon celebration tonight, the 1st of two this year in August. We sat out on the deck watching the moon rise, sharing a generous shot of dark rum in our ceremonial cup (a replica ancient one purchased at Cahokia Mounds, Illinois). This weekend is Lammas, a major cross-quarter holiday. It is a bread festival, and we also include blueberries! Sunday will be the day. New tarot cards to come, too.
Last night's Iaido class was a bit depressing for me, as one week before testing I was informed of many, many things I was doing wrong. Normally I would be very happy to find out this info, but not just one week before my test. I was out on the back deck for an hour tonight, trying to work on stuff. Lots more to do. Sigh.
Monday, July 30th/12
It was "long walk" day. I upped my game to 5.5 miles, whilst Deb trekked for 11.4. My ankle, though still swollen, is causing me few problems. I hope I will be able to hike on uneven ground in a few short weeks, as well as steep uphills and downhills.
Looking forward to meeting our 27 young music campers early tomorrow morning out in Woodslee. Japanese theme to the program this year. Hoping I will last through the evening for Iaido class, our last formal one before testing.
Catching what I can of the Olympics, including some stunning men's gymnastics today, and a very emotional 15 yr old gold medal swimmer. Good stuff!
Saturday, July 28th/12
Ordered a travel catalogue from Martin Randall Travel, and it's been driving us crazy as we look through it. So far, there are half a dozen tours that we MUST go on, though they are priced well beyond our current means. We hope to eventually narrow it down to one, and go for it. These are all once-in-a-lifetime tours, escorted by archeologists and art historians, and include 5-star accommodations and meals. Way extravagant, but some of the tours are to die for. Examples of our main choices will follow in future blogs.
Have now completed three weeks of training--by the time the Olympics are over I should be more or less ready for action. Three weeks from tonight we will arrive in Colorado Springs, on the eve of our first major hike.
As a result of all the early morning training (including tomorrow and Monday), summer astronomy is out of the question. Here is a pic of what I have been missing!
Randy G. at home with his 22" Dobsonian! I hope to have a 12" in our yard by early September.
Friday, July 27th/12
Nearly 2" of rain in the backyard rain gauge, and the old creek is flowing swiftly once again. The robins seem quite happy, too. This rain could have come a week ago, but I'm glad it's here at last. It had been over 3 weeks since significant rain fell here at the Homestead.
I have begun to ramp up the Iaido work in preparation for my 1st Kyu test in less than two weeks. Lots of polish to do, and not just on the newer katas. Will likely go to the dojo 3x weekly until the test is done.
Today Deb helped me get the recorder music ready for next week's children's summer camp in Woodslee. We will both be teaching Tues, Wed., and Thurs. Piano practice will be out the door, but I hope to have my next piece memorized by then (Bartok). I have just begun working on memorizing the Scriabin Prelude, but that won't get too far until September.
I am still fine tuning my itinerary for the Great Drive West in three weeks time. After tomorrow's hill bursts are complete at Malden Hill, I will be three full weeks into my fitness program designed to prepare me for mountain hiking. For the first time since I began, I feel as if my body is making progress, instead of just hurting itself.
Monday, July 23rd/12
Mike D., my Iaido kyu partner, has been released from hospital and appears to have recovered very quickly. He is expected back at the dojo tomorrow night! Maybe I won't have to test alone for 1st Kyu after all! Today was our long walk, but due to some weather issues this morning we broke it into two chunks. We walked two miles near our home, as storms were expected. Once the clouds passed we headed down to the riverfront, where I upped my total to 5 miles. I am into the third week of my mountain fitness program and chugging along okay.
We have been teaching lessons on Wednesdays during the summer, enjoying 6-day weekends. Next week, however, is Music Camp in Woodslee, where we will teach all day for three days. There are several return campers, and many new little faces, too. It will mess up our exercise program, not to mention my piano practice. Along with the upcoming trip, August will not be kind to my piano progress.
Saturday, July 20th/12
Much nicer weather last two days, including our first all-cloudy one in weeks and weeks. The disappointing thing is that we only received 0.1" of rain here at the Homestead. And here comes the next hot, sunny spell. Training for the New Mexico trip has been very challenging for me, both because of the weather and the fact that I haven't trained this hard in two years now. Yesterday my knee pain was flaring up. The left ankle is still swollen and very sore to the touch. Not entirely certain that I'll make it to the summit of Jicarita Peak (and back).
Fun Detroit trip today, first to Fort Street Brewery for lunch, then to Slows for some Arcadia Anglers Ale on cask. On the way home we passed an accident near the Starbucks on Huron Line. A red pickup had taken out a fire hydrant, leaving quite a mess. The bridge-bound lanes were completely blocked and traffic was been diverted to side streets. What a mess!!
Watched this creaker yesterday, starring George Zucco in two roles (though he is the star, he is not shown on the poster). A decent vampire flic, and one I had never come across before (thank-you Mill Creek B movie packs). As predictable as any vampire flic, but some nice touches. Twin brothers, one good and one playing around a bit too much with the dark arts, get into a brotherly feud when the bad one is murdered by the good one and comes back from the grave for his revenge. Haha--somewhat fun.
Wednesday, July 18th/12
The aches and pains of sore and outraged muscles continue, as I slightly up the stakes this 2nd week in my mountain prep program. Back to Malden Hill early tomorrow morning for more agony.
Great Iaido class last night, as Sensei gave another of his spontaneous talks, having us sit around him. Basically teaching us how to accept bad times, and what can be done (mentally) about them. Quite enlightening. Practice itself was given over to test preparation, and I learned several good points, especially about timing the body with the sword. Because the sword moves so much faster than the body, the body must move first, and the sword only at the last second. Sounds simple, but it isn't.
My sword brother and kyu partner is in the hospital, suffering a severe setback with his ongoing struggle with Crohn's disease. Mike D. and I have taken every test together, and were both scheduled to take our 1st Kyu test in early August. There is no way he will be ready. He is in the hospital for two weeks, and is not allowed anything by mouth. He currently has two blockages in his intestines, and the two-week watch will tell the tale. Grim times.
I don't know exactly what percentage of my life has been spent watching trashy and campy "B" movies. I now have hundreds of them on dvd, and am slowly working my way through them. My most recent one is a sci fi flic from 1960, with a budget of around $1. Called "Space: Assignment Earth," we first learn we are going to "Galaxy M12," which turns out to be Mars, and then Venus. Never mind that "M 12" is not a galaxy at all, but a very fine globular cluster well within our galaxy. And to think that "2001: A Space Odyssey" was made only 7 years later. The one female character also starred in Roger Vadim's infamous vampire film "Blood and Roses." Have yet to find a copy of that one.
Monday, July 16th/12
Watched a decent Dario Argento schoolgirl slasher/horror movie today. Usually these kinds of flics are so mind-numbing, but this one is stylish and quite intelligent. Cutie-pie Jennifer Connelly gets her first staring role (age 15) as a young lady at a Swiss boarding school who can communicate telepathically with insects! Donald Pleasance plays a wheelchair-bound Scottish entymolygist who helps her solve a series of gruesome murders of students from the school. Jennifer is quite capable of looking after herself, and is a far cry from the helpless girls these movies usually feature. I watched the cut version, which is still considered a good one. I've read about the parts that were cut, and it seems that I agree with them. There is still plenty of gore and gruesomeness to go around.
Much earlier today we were up and about for our weekly long walk. I upgraded to 4.5 miles, while Deb managed 10. My ankle seems stronger, and I now seem to have a good chance of completing my prep course for our upcoming mountain trip.
As I prepare for my next Iaido test in early August (my final one before next year's Black Belt attempt), I discover that my level partner, Mike D., is in hospital with complications from Crohn's Disease. He will be in for two weeks, and can have nothing to eat or drink.
Friday, July 13th/12
Summer days are a perfect time to attempt getting everything done in a day that is required. That usually includes piano practice 5 or 6 days per week, flute at least four days, Iaido at the dojo twice and twice again at home, along with the current exercise program. The current exercise program is my mountain prep one for hiking and backpacking at altitude. I have nearly completed one week of six, and I hurt nearly everywhere. This is an intense program, and requires getting up extra early in the day to get it done before the heat arrives. The first two weeks are always painful, then not so much afterwards. Sometimes after a workout it can be very difficult to concentrate on the piano pieces, especially since I am trying to memorize several of them. Anyway, things are getting done. My summer teaching has been minimal so far, and I hope it mostly stays that way. We should make enough to pay our gas expenses for the upcoming big drive. Up early tomorrow for hill work at Malden Hill. Good night.
Monday, July 9th/12
I completed a 4-mile walk this morning at Windsor's riverfront park. My ankle was sore at first, due to stiffness no doubt, as we rode our bikes yesterday. But I seem to be on the mend, and our full New Mexico hiking program still has achance of being completed as planned!
Speaking of being on the mend, Ferdinand, our oldest cat (20 years and counting) had a very bad bout of arthritis during our last week of teaching in June. He was actually trying to walk on three legs, and kept falling over. We thought his time was up. Deb bought some glucosamine pills for him, spreading the powder on his food. Within a few days he was back to normal, being a total pest once again. He always wants to eat! Anyway, he has been on some outdoor hikes with me around the yard again, and is in remarkably good shape. Go Ferdie!
Ferdinand out for a stroll with me in the yard.
Today I completed my first big walk (4 miles) since injuring my foot over two weeks ago. I am on the mend.
Saturday, July 7th/12
11:10 am
Sitting out the last day of a week-long heat extravaganza, anticipating more storms this afternoon and, hopefully, more normal temps for a few days afterwards. My mountain fitness program is in a shambles due to my ankle injury (getting better--it's been two weeks now) and the hot temperatures. Hopefully this week things can be ramped up. There is less than 6 weeks until departure.
Piano Progress--4 Months In
Overall, things are progressing well. However, I've had to cut back a little bit on practicing due to some weird little lumps on my right palm, which I was told might be a tendon injury. I have a specialist appt. on the 19th to find out if I will be performing the new program at all. If surgery is required, then.....
Bach Prelude & Fugue in F# Major
Both parts are nearly concert ready--they both need a bit more speed and a good deal more clarity in the Fugue. I may memorize the Prelude, but not the Fugue.
Haydn Sonata in C# Minor
The first two movements are mostly memorized. I will start on the third this week (there are only 3 mov'ts in the piece)
Three Romantic Works
The Schubert "Moment Musicale" will likely never be ready! The first two pages are among the most demanding I have ever attempted to learn. The lovely middle section is nearly prepared. The middle part may get memorized, but not the first half.
The Scriabin "Prelude" is prepared, but is the one remaining piece I have not yet began to memorize. Soon.
The Rachmaninoff "Etude Tableaux" is nearly all memorized, with just the coda (2 lines) to go.
Two Modern Works
The Debussy "Prelude" is memorized and ready to go. The Bartok "Rondo" is not yet ready, but I have began to memorize it.
Of course I will be gone for two weeks in August, but I hope to have the program 90% concert-ready when I leave for Colorado/New Mexico. Upon my return it should still be 78% ready. A solid month of practicing should be enough to get to the mid-90s, which is about as far as things could ever get with me!
Thursday, July 5th/12
The storms keep on coming. One very early this morning and another mid-afternoon, adding another 1.3" of rain to our previous amounts. I am officially happy now, and so are the robins! I had just begun to practice piano this morning when we had a brownout, accompanied by a loud bang and buzzing. It appeared that the transformer across the street was either arcing or exploding. Before dialing 911, we ran around and unplugged everything we could, as the power kept coming back on and going back off! Our inside phone line was dead, so I went outside with the cell phone and camera. The dispatcher had received a call, but didn't really know exactly where the problem was or what it was. I was able to readily help him. A branch had fallen across the main lines, and everytime a breeze blew, so did the branch, causing an amazing fireball up above. Amherstburg Fire rolled up (all three trucks from Station 1, as our station's response is messed up due to CR 10 being closed off), but Hydro One had managed to remotely shut down the line, sparing us any more drama. I managed to get a quick movie of one the outbursts, and will post it on Facebook and Youtube when I have time (link will be HERE). Much to our surprise, Hydro One rolled up within about ten minutes, and ten minutes later the branch was removed and power was restored. Yay! A happy ending!
An innocent tree branch smolders between explosive and noisy outbursts.
Hydro One came and removed the branch (promptly!), and we were soon back on the electrical grid.
After the mid-afternoon storms had passed, we headed over to Detroit to collect our mail, which included Deb's new GPS heart monitor. We stopped at Slows for cask ale (Two-Hearted!!!), shopped at Honey Bee Market, and came home for the evening. Tomorrow, it's time to cut the grass (and report on piano progress, unless something exciting happens again).
Wednesday, July 4th/12
Storms during the past two days (incredible heat and humidity today) have eased the drought situation. Our creek is flowing merrily once again, and the grass will finally have to be cut. 0.8" of rain yesterday and 0.6" today have helped a lot. Hopefully more will arrive. We lost power yesterday morning for an hour, yet during tonight's storm (much higher winds) it stayed on here (not so in Lasalle and Amherstburg proper). We lost one big branch from our front maple (starboard), but other than that all is well.
Last night I resumed formal Iaido training, going easy because of my slowly-healing ankle and foot. I have a large amount of work to do if I hope to test in early August for my next belt (senior brown). I was very stiff and sore, as I have not been very active since my accident.
I've now walked four days in a row on the treadmill, upping my distance today to 1.5 miles. Six weeks from tonight I will be on my way west, to meet the highest Rockies we have ever attempted. I will be needing lots of luck. Deb is likely ready now, but not me.
Sunday, July 1st/12
Deb played her annual Canada Day harp gig at Fort Malden this afternoon. She always gets a call to play at the new citizenship ceremony. When we got home we watched a number of storms just miss us--I wish we would get about two inches of rain--sigh.
In foot news, I managed to walk a mile today on the treadmill, as well as assist Deb at the Fort. It is still severely swollen in many places, but I am going half-crazy trying to stay off it. I also have some bad news about my right hand, specifically my palm, but that can wait for a night or two. Nearly 4 months into my newest program, so I will report soon on the progress there, too.
Saturday, June 30th/12
It's been slightly more than a week since I injured my foot. While I can walk (I even did a very light iaido session tonight on the back deck), it is still best to keep ice on it and to stay off it. I saw my m.d. on Thursday, and he told me to give it three weeks. If all is not well, then I am to return for x-rays and a bone scan. My entire foot is black and blue, and there is still plenty of swelling.
Today we went to the Redford Theatre in Detroit to see "Casablanca" on their big screen. Lovely theatre, with Japanese samurai-era decor (??!!). Great little cafe next door, free parking, and only $4 admission! The movie is one of the ten best that Hollywood ever made, and has been a favourite of ours since we first saw it in the late '70s.
Seen today at the Redford Theatre, Detroit.
Inside the Redford Theatre. Note the Japanese theme decor.
Redford Theatre.
Redford Theatre decor.
Redford Theatre decor.
Friday night we had the pleasure of attending a gathering downtown honoring Philip Adamson, Richard Householder, and one other professor whom I did not know. We met for drinks and socializing, though Deb and I did not stay for dinner, as Deb wished to practice at the dojo afterwards.
A fun gathering of School of Music profs, alumni and current students.
Deb, Philip and others chat over drinks at the City Beer Market on Friday.
It now appears likely that I have broken a bone or two in my foot. The entire foot is swollen and bruised, though pain is largely absent. I will see my doctor on Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, no walking, no Iaido, lots of resting and elevation and ice.
We went to the Gr. 8 Graduation today at APS, though did not stay for the ceremony due to my foot needing to get home again soon. We saw the kids, wished them well, then came back home. Deb went off to Iaido. I am home typing this entry.
Sunday, June 24th/12
Have been icing my left foot off and on for nearly 36 hrs now. It has turned nice shades of black and blue after I sprained it in Detroit yesterday morning. Deb had just finished her 5k racewalk, and I was heading to the rendezvous point to meet her. The street was blocked off to traffic, and large signs were in the road. These signs have long "rails" on either end to support the heavy signs and stop them from being blown over. The metal rail could not be seen, however, and as I stepped off the curb, my foot encountered one, and was twisted badly. I staggered a good while before I regained my balance, but knew immediately something bad had happened to my foot.
The swelling on my foot is quite impressive, as is the bruising. Less impressive is my inability to walk properly.
After picking up our mail in Dearborn, we headed to Sandwich Town to meet up with Jen G., visiting again from B.C. (without Aston, though). We met up for lunch, some light beer tasting, and then had coffee afterwards. It was a really fun afternoon, despite the throbbing in my foot. The bartenders were generous with the ice for me!
With Jen G. and Deb, having coffee and tea at a bakery/cafe in Old Sandwich Town. They have a lovely outdoor garden.
Once home, it was time to elevate it and rest it. Today we have it alternately bandaged with a pressure wrap, and then iced. Trying to stay off it as much as possible.
Also in medical news, Deb was finally able to dig out the last of the Missouri tick parts from my left shoulder. It had been itching off and on, as a small piece was still embedded.
Watched a dubiously great old movie today (foot elevated and iced). This one has to be seen to be believed! They don't make them like this anymore. Be thankful!
Friday, June 22nd/12
Finally it's all done! Final concert was tonight (adult student gathering, with Paula M. and students). Paula and I performed three jazzy duets by Christopher Norton, and I played the first movement of my Haydn sonata. Roger also played a pair of jazz pieces. Last night our final night of regular teaching. We are officially on summer holidays!! Things get off to an early start tomorrow, as Deb has an early a.m. 5k race walk in Detroit. After that, we might meet up with Jen G. for lunch in Windsor. She is revisiting from B.C. this weekend, and I'm hoping she can find time to see us again.
Stunning photo of Melisa, taken by Holly's mom.
Holly performs at the student recital last Friday evening. Her mom took the pics.
Angela and me, jammin' on flute.
Sunday, June 17th/12
Sadly, our vicinity received barely a trace of rain today. We need it badly, especially with severe heat on the way this week. Otherwise a fun day at home. A bit tired from yesterday, though. Quite a workout at cutting practice.
Today I got the piano memorization program into high gear, and now have the Haydn Sonata and Debussy Prelude underway, with lots to go. My goal is to have things memorized by the time we leave for NM in August, with a refresher course upon our return. Theoretically, I should be able to get a complete Gr. 10 program of 7 pieces wrapped up in 6 to 7 months. And, in just a few weeks, I will return to Iaido classes in preparation for my August 1st Kyu test!
Today was an excellent day for flower photography, being overcast, humid and relatively cool. Out came the trusty S9000.
Rose Mallow
The eye of an Ox Eye Daisy.
Butterfly Milkweed, looking like something from a corral reef.
Crown Vetch, quite a weed around our place.
Saturday, June 16th/12
A fun day at Sensei Blok's house in Lasalle, doing live cutting with our new sword, the "Peter Wilkinson Memorial Sword." Though everyone cut well, it was Mike Dupuis, my kyu partner, who really shone today. He was slicing and dicing like a black belt! Hope I can get there next time.
Mike Dupuis, my kyu partner, slicing wara (bamboo rolled up and soaked to get a similar consistency to a human arm). His new cutting blade was seeing first cut today, as was ours. The day belonged to Mikee! He owned the cutting area.
Deb cuts bottles with our new blade.
The day was long, and our new sword is about a pound heavier than our practice sword. As a result, we are both very tired just now and unable to get out of our chairs. A quiet evening at home watching old Sherlock Holmes movies seems to be in order, especially as it is not going to be a clear night for observing the sky.
Friday, June 15th/12
Starting to plan more details of the upcoming summer visit to NM. Soon the exercise prep will begin, always coinciding with the hottest temps of the year here in Windsor.
Tonight was our annual spring student concert. It was well attended, with only two students out of about twenty-five unable to make it. We got a group photo, too, so I will post it opposite as soon as I can. Thanks to Holly's mom for doing that. We had many pianists, several harpers, two violinists, a clarinetist and flautist, so it was a pretty good show and very well received by relatives and friends. Also a nice balance of little people, mid-sized people and grown up type people. So far I'm only losing one student next year. I thought I would be losing four, but the others are staying on. Plus new ones coming, too. Where in my schedule, I have no clue.
Tonight was also a good friend's retirement dinner. We had to miss out on the dinner part, but we stopped in early and gave our regards. Nancy is a sweetheart of the first magnitude. Several years ago she gave me the awesome record collection I have now, from her late husband.
Tomorrow is Iaido live cutting practice. We will be cutting bottles and bamboo, using our new sword, purchased with money left to Deb from the estate of Peter Wilkinson. It will be sunny and hot, and the party afterwards will go on much of the afternoon. Tomorrow night is also the annual picnic of the Astronomy Club. As much as I would love to attend, it is somewhat doubtful at this time...
Tomorrow is Iaido live cutting practice. We will be cutting bottles and bamboo, using our new sword, purchased with money left to Deb from the estate of Peter Wilkinson. It will be sunny and hot, and the party afterwards will go on much of the afternoon. Tomorrow night is also the annual picnic of the Astronomy Club. As much as I would love to attend, it is somewhat doubtful at this time...
Sunday, June 10th/12
Things have been going well of late, and I seem to be on a good track for practicing. I'm into my third month of practicing my newest piano program, and have begun to memorize the Haydn Sonata. Next will be the Debussy Prelude, and then the Rachmaninoff. No plans after that, though the Bach will likely not get memorized, nor the Schubert. At least I am playing those pieces now--it certainly took enough time! Flute practice continues on apace, including a smidgin of recorder. I will have an entire Handel Sonata ready for flute by the autumn, and two movements from a recorder sonata. I may add these to the piano program, which is short.
Iaido practice on the deck has also been frequent, and I am looking forward to returning to the dojo for two months in a few weeks. I hope to stay long enough to take my first kyu test in August, before the big trip to Colorado and New Mexico.
We have been toying with the idea of visiting Santa Catalina Island at March Break. More on this topic another time. Once the VW Golf is fully paid, we should be able to travel just about anywhere we wish, providing the students keep returning for lessons.
I have recently read two astoundingly good books. "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep," by Philip K. Dick, was the basis for the movie "Blade Runner," and is one of the best sci fi books I've ever read. "The Lost Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle has been on my shelf for generations, and I finally got around to reading it. It is such a good book (reviewed on my Adult Fantasy page) that I have no idea why I waited all these years.
We have both kept up our respective exercise programs, and in one week I will upgrade to my backpacking and mountain hiking prep course. I will stretch it out to just over 8 weeks, going easy on the first two. This time last year I could barely walk. While the knee lets me know it is still there, it has not caused a fuss in a long while. Same with the shoulder.
Thursday, June 7th/12
Another great work week has flown past. With students like the ones I currently have, I could probably teach lessons until the day I die.
Tuesday night I taught until 7 pm, which meant that the transit of Venus across the Sun was well underway by the time I got out there. My last two students were Sarah (aged 7) and Jayne (aged 5), and accompanied by their mom and Deb we headed across to Angstrom Park on the Detroit River and only a few steps from home. The view was spectacular through the Astroscan at low powers, and seeing Venus like that (with many large sunspot groups in the background for added effect) will be a memory that I take with me to my grave. Wonderful experience!
Transit of Venus, Tuesday evening. Photo by Randy Groundwater, who was doing a public observing event down at the Detroit Riverfront during the transit.
On a slightly more mundane plane, we went and had our teeth cleaned today. We no longer have any dental plan, so we had to pay cold hard cash for this service! Still feels good! Afterwards, we took a long walk along the river, ending back in Sandwich Towne at the "Stumble In" bar, actually much better than the name implies. We met the owner and his wife and had a great chat about beer and whiskey, before heading home for lunch. They have vegan food and Ontario microbrews at the pub, so we will be back!
Action on the Detroit River earlier today.
Big boat little boat.
Monday, June 4th/12
Popped over to Detroit to get myself some new walking shoes--it's been about two years since my last new pair, and I have walked them into the ground. The new ones are K-Swiss. They weigh 10 oz (man made material) and feel like slippers. I am one week away from commencing my walking program that will prepare me for some serious Rocky Mtn. hiking in late August. In the meantime I am finishing up my spring tune-up walking program.
One of my new K-Swiss walking shoes (they come in pairs!).
We had time to stop in to one of our favourite inner city cafes today, Cafe Con Leche in Mextown. Located on Vernor just across from Clark Park, we have not been in a while.
Cafe Con Leche, Mextown Detroit.
The weather of late has been incredibly gratifying, reminding us of summers growing up in Sudbury. Cool but not cold, and warm but not hot. Ah, the good life!
I am deeply immersed in my first reading of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep," by Philip K. Dick. It is an astoundingly good read, and was the basis for the incomparable film "Blade Runner."
Sunday, June 3rd/12
Deb had an all-day racewalk clinic today in London. Since it started at 9 am, we drove up Saturday night and stayed overnight, allowing us to sleep in a bit. I dropped her downtown at 9 am and went hiking at Komoka Provincial Park during the morning. In the afternoon I went to the Black Shire Pub downtown London, sipping and reading all afternoon. Driving up last night we hit a huge deluge just this side of London. It had mostly stopped by the time we turned off at Wellington (of course). I can highly recommend the Travelodge, especially if you book the CAA rate on-line. Great room and great breakfast! Outside our window was not one, not two, not even three, but SIX vintage amphibian cars, all in mint condition!! Two green, two yellow and two red. Fantastic!
The woods are lovely, dark and deep at Komoka Provincial Park.
Lots of little streams wind their way to the Thames River.
A whole squadron of yellow irises was viewed, in a suitably marshy area.
Right down at the Thames riverbank.
At one point the trail is way up there!
The Black Shire Pub, downtown London.
Saturday, June 2nd/12
We visited Heather W. and Isla this week, arriving with pizzas from the Caboto Club. We sat out on the lawn for a long while, enjoying the cool temps, sunny skies and shady trees, Isla is nearly nine months old, and crawls everywhere at an alarming speed.
Isla busies herself with gift wrap, ignoring the gift. She is into wearing funky summer hats.
Friday morning we went to Detroit, enjoying beer and beanburgers at Fort Street Brewery. We tried their stout, which was aged in whisky barrels--that was a treat!--as well as their IPA.
The chalk board at Fort St Brewery--the Third Shift Breakfast Stout was awesome!
Irish girl with her Breakfast Stout.
Saturday afternoon Deb played a wedding outdoors at the lakefront park in Kingsville. I took a walk while she entertained the guests and played during the ceremony. It was windy and cool, but it didn't rain.
Doggie in the window, near downtown Kingsville.
A very spiffy Rolls and fully-outfitted chauffeur were used by the bride and groom following the ceremony. We went home in our Tiguan.
The largest wildfire in NM history continues to burn and grow. It is only 15% contained, and is expected to burn much of the summer. The terrain is virtually impossible to access, and this can only be attested to by someone who has hiked there. Rugged does not begin to tell the tale.
Gila Wilderness Fire, NM
More fire photos from NM.
It is so dry right now that many other major fires are expected before the monsoon rains arrive (if they do).
Thursday, May 24th/12
Tonight was our first M*A*S*H Martini of the season. Instead of celebrating on Fridays, we have now switched over to Thursdays, the beginning of our looonnng weekends! Tonight we watched the one hour lead episode to Season Six. That's a lot of martinis so far!!
The 3rd annual Steampunk Convention is again being held in Detroit, and this year we are finally attending. Deb has worked on appropriate costumes (think 19th C. H. G. Wells sci-fi type stuff) for both of us, and we should be looking pretty snazzy. We are going on Sunday, along with Randy M. from Iaido class. Should be loads of fun!
Missouri Trip Conclusion
Monday was the day of our flight home, but we still had plenty of time for some hiking and the nearly two hour drive to the airport in St. Louis. Our hiking goal was Graham Cave State Park, the third and final park of our journey. This park only had modest hiking trails, but that was more than we needed for this visit. The highlight is, of course, Graham Cave, a site that offered archeologists rich fodder and gave good insight into prehistoric Missouri inhabitants. What a find this must have been for those lucky people. Water, shelter and good hunting! And not too far from a freeway.
The cave at Graham Cave State Park.
Hiking at Graham Cave State Park. Deb passes along a cool, shady cliff path.
We ate our bagged lunch in a cozy picnic shelter, kept company by a momma bird sitting on a nest inside the rafters. The drive to St. Louis was uneventful, though once ensconced in the airport we discovered our flight was an hour late. There were two bars in our terminal (Detroit airport is so much better than any other airport I have ever been in) and they were barely adequate for our needs. One was even called "Beer World." Good grief, what a misnomer!!
One highlight of the trip I haven't talked about was the Missouri State University Art Museum. We spent a very happy hour here on Sunday discovering the treasures within. It was a highlight of our trip.
Roman mosaic, University Art Museum, Columbia, MO.
Gallery of Ancient Art.
Entrance to Missouri State Univ.
I 70 West bridges over Missouri River, just after departing St. Louis Airport.
My final gift upon arriving home was discovering a number of tics gorging on my blood! Glad I wasn't the only one to have a good time!! Good riddance to them!
We are hoping to attempt a four-day Denver adventure in a year or so. Until then, our next major trip will be New Mexico Trip #32, coming up this August. Check back then for the highlights.
Wednesday, May 23rd/12
Looks like the heat is on for this weekend. Yuck. So is the annual Steampunk convention. Deb and I are hoping to attend, possibly Sunday, and in costume. More on this exciting event in a future post. Now, it's back to Missouri...
Missouri Trip Part 2
After a full morning of hiking, and an afternoon spent in Jefferson City, 30 minutes south of Columbia, we headed back for an afternoon rest. By 6 pm we were at our favourite Missouri pub, Flatbranch Pub. We started out with small glasses each of the Green Chile beer. It was delicious, really capturing the unique flavour of our favourite kind of chilies. Then it was on to the cask ales, with Deb ordering Irish Red and me my beloved ESB. This is truly first rate beer, and the vegan burger on offer wasn't too shabby, either.
Irish Red cask ale at Flat Branch Pub. Beer worth travelling half the country for!
Being a Saturday night, the place was packed. It is huge, with two large indoor areas and a massive outdoor patio. As usual, we preferred the bar, snagging the last two seats. We stayed put for quite some time. Afterwards we sampled the MKT Trail, a hike/bike trail that begins at adjoining Flat Branch Park, travelling south for nine miles before hooking up to the 240 mile Katy Trail, which runs all across Missouri. Impressive! The downtown portion of the trail is very civilized, and it was being well used that evening.
Part of the 9 mile MKT Trail, which begins downtown Columbia.
Saturday night sunset, Columbia, downtown.
Sunday morning we were back to hiking. Adjacent to the large Rock Bridge park was a wilderness area we had seen yesterday. We decided to hike today in Gans Creek Wild Area, and it turned out to be a very good choice. The crowds of Rock Bridge park were left far behind. We met 7 people on this hike, with 6 of them travelling together. It was quiet (except for the nearly constant bird singing), and we managed to see a deer, a turtle, and a little frog.
We managed to explore less than half the park today, leaving a large sample for a future visit. It was very hot again today, but we were in deep forest so at least away from the sun. In addition, a strong breeze kept up all day.
Notice that only hikers and horses are allowed here, as it is wilderness. And, horses were not allowed until June 1st! We did a little under half the total available miles.
Cabin ruins along the trail. There was a distinct jungle feeling here.
The trail was being used by other critters, too. This was a large snapper, fresh from the mud.
After our rest at the motel, we returned downtown to attend two flics at Ragtag Cinema, an independent house offering art house films in comfortable twin theatres, one completely outfitted with arm chairs! There was an on-site bar and bakery. We brought our pints of microbrew into the theatre with us. The first film we saw was really off the map, but quite enjoyable. We watched "Footnote," which won best screenplay last year at Cannes, then came back later to watched "The Kid With a Bike," which won the Grand Jury Prize. This movie was not my cup of tea, nor did it have a lot of logic to it. Basically, a woman fosters a terror of a kid whose dad abandoned him, and she does so with infinite patience and money. She is a saint and saves him from self destructing, somehow. I wish I had seen this one first, and then Footnote, which I liked immensely (to be continued).
Tuesday, May 22nd/12
Missouri Trip Pt 1
Back to teaching, after quite a remarkable little holiday. The last time we tried something like this was several years ago when we flew to Colorado for a Saturday to Monday long weekend in October. This time we were able to leave Friday morning, making for a longer and more relaxing trip. We hiked all three days (not Friday) and visited three different parks, all near our home base of Columbia, Missouri. In addition to hiking, we visited local brew pubs for some delicious craft beer, went to the university art museum (U of Missouri), did some downtown shopping, and went to two films at Rag Tag Cinema, an independent art house.
Friday was a travel day, and a fairly grim one it was. Neither of us could sleep Thursday night, due to some strong allergy meds we took. I napped for half an hour on our flight to St Louis, then we both sacked out for an hour once we arrived at our motel in Columbia (4 pm). It should have been a short drive (less than two hours). Instead, it turned into an epic lasting over six hours. First, we had to wait nearly 90 minutes for our rental car at Budget in St. Louis. Then we attempted to visit the art museum in that city. There was NO parking to be had, so we left. We were stopped dead by a distant accident on I 64, and had a very tough time finding a detour. Because of the wide and largely untamed Missouri River, bridges are hard to find. We eventually made our way to I 70, crossing its bridge before stopping for lunch.
We were famished and had a terrific meal at a Thai place in St. Charles, Missouri. Just as we left the restaurant, a police car went past, then a fire engine, then two more police cars. Back on the interstate highway, we were soon stopped dead again by another accident. We should have seen this one coming! Again, a detour proved to be nearly elusive, but we eventually found one, making it to our La Quinta motel and gratefully collapsing on the bed.
That night we headed for Broadway Brewery, and then dinner at a very fun veggie restaurant called Main Squeeze.
Hiking was the priority Saturday morning, but it was hot! Rock Bridge Memorial State Park was only a few minutes from our motel, but the trails lead into deep woods and ravines of the Ozark Plateau, and one soon forgets that Columbia (pop about 100,000) is just around the corner. We spent a very happy few hours here hiking several trails.
Butterflies were plentiful at Rock Bridge State Park.
Cool, mossy areas were abundant on our hikes.
Prison Brew, Jefferson City, MO.
We wandered through downtown, the river area and near the State Capitol (visited last year), going to museums, a cafe and a good bookstore. By now it was 89 F, so we headed home for a short respite.
Governor's Mansion, Jefferson City, MO.
Monday, May 21st/12
Home safe and sound--full report on our trip tomorrow, with pics here and on Facebook. Really fun time--would do it again!
Thursday, May 17th/12
Another ridiculously short week has zoomed past. Teaching's done, piano was practiced all three days, some iaido work got in there, as did flute! We are packed and ready for our next adventure, into the wilds of Missouri. Tomorrow will be largely spent at the St. Louis Museum of Art, then off to Columbia, MO for three nights. Lots of hiking and funky urban adventures planned. Up very early tomorrow, so going to bed extra early tonight. Watch for updates either Monday or Tuesday night.
Monday, May 14th/12
A successful and fun visit to Sudbury! We left Friday morning and returned late Monday afternoon. This was my first Mothers' Day visit at home since 1976! It was also Mom's 83rd birthday weekend! Lots of visitors and an almost constant party. In addition to the family visit, we also participated in "Sudbury Rocks," a marathon race. Deb race-walked a half-marathon, the 5th of her career. Despite a rather hilly course, she equalled her best time! Lynne and I casually walked the 5k race. Thank you to Jim and Pauline, and my parents, for their generous donations to Canadian Diabetes Society.
Emma-Lee kept blowing out the birthday candles before the song was over. It was Mom's birthday on the 11th, and Uncle Jim's was coming up on the 17th. Aunt Pauline created a fabulous Apple Cake for the event, worth the drive to Sudbury just for it.
Emma-Lee is nearly 3, going on 8! She is comfortably bi-lingual, and virtually runs her daycare center.
Lynne (my sister-in-law), moi, and Deb after the marathon event.
We got to watch "Wrath of Khan" on Steve's surround sound big screen, as well as the new version of "The Andromeda Strain." Really good flics, and highly recommend! We managed some climbing in the hills, and I had a terrific sauna with Lynne and Steve. The drive north is, of course, endless. However, on the way up we got to watch Spring recede from full (in Windsor) to just getting underway (in Sudbury). Much of the forest at roadside was carpeted in trilliums in southern Ontario, millions of them! The scenery between Parry Sound and Sudbury does not get much better anywhere in Ontario. All in all, a very fun trip!!
Tuesday, May 8th/12
Tuesdays are now my busiest teaching day, though it's fun ending with Jayne and then Sarah. This was also my first Iaido missed lesson, which will continue until late June, when I shall try and resume work on reaching the level of 1st Kyu. Much remains to be done, though mostly my cuts must improve. I have began to seriously address this issue with my outdoor practices, of which I managed four this week. Things will get too busy for the next two weekends to accomplish much with Iaido and piano. Must make the best of the next two days.
Monday, May 7th/12
Deb played another wedding, this time on a Sunday and at Essex Golf & Country Club. She has had a busy start to the season, though she is off now until early June. I have picked up another piano student, meaning I now have about seven or eight more than I would like to have. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are very busy, Thursdays a little less so. Thanks to our accountant, we made out like bandits this year on our taxes, even getting a slight refund. I had stashed about a thousand away in case we owed (last year I had to pay around $800). We have some travelling coming up, so that will come in handy. In addition, we received a small but welcome inheritance from Peter Wilkinson's estate. We are going to purchase a shinken, a sharpened Samurai sword used for actual cutting. Peter loved fine craftsmanship, and no doubt would have approved.
My sinuses are off to the races. Meds are a blessing, but one still feels wasted and wounded.
Saturday, May 5th/12
It has now been 8 weeks since the second failed attempt to perform my last piano program in Toronto. Learning an entirely new program has been taxing, to say the least. Two months in, let's check on progress with those newer works. The tarot card for this cycle (see image, below) seems to fit the bill nicely--the sword represents my progress with the pieces, and the mountains where I need to be in order to perform them. That is the third perfect fit for this card so far!
The Bach Prelude and Fugue in F# Major is coming along nicely. I have not yet switched over to harpsichord for this work, but hope to do so soon. The complexities of the fugue are still causing me some grief, but much of it sounds as it should. I have not yet decided whether to memorize this work--probably not, due to its 3-part structure and 6# key signature. Bach fugues do not lend themselves well to memorization in the first place.
The Haydn Sonata in C# Minor is mostly playable, and I have begun to memorize Movement 1. It's amazing how much Haydn can say with so few notes, though parts of this work are noisy and chatty. It is the only sonata I know of that ends with the slower movement of the three, leading to a bit of an anti-climax at intermission.
The most difficult work continues to be the Schubert Impromtu in C# Minor. The first section is a tribute to Bach (and does not seem easy to memorize), and is a real finger twister. While it may seem to the listener that there is a repetitive pattern here, there is not. Virtually every measure is different in more ways than one from its predecessor, meaning that it is taking forever to get to a playable speed. Maybe in one more month. The middle section is pure Schubertian song-like bliss, in the related key of Db Major (C# Major), but soon delving into the almost unheard of key of Fb Major!! I've never seen so many flats in a piece of music before in my life!
The two central works of the program (Scriabin and Rachmaninoff) are both coming along well, and mostly playable at present, though somewhat under tempo. The strange little Debussy piece that follows, "Mist," is sounding rather charming, too, though much more fluidness in the many rapid note passages is required. The final work on the program, a rousing Bartok Rondo, seemed at first to be the easiest of the set. However, the final tempi are so fast as to make the piece one of the more difficult ones! At least I should be well warmed up by then!
Full Moon bash tonight, expecting a moonrise shortly after sunset. I was supposed to make a batch of cupcakes for the event, but the baking utensil has gone AWOL. Damn!
Thursday, May 3rd/12
As I look at my new tarot card for the next seven weeks, I am struck by two things. The first is that the mountains are so far away. The second thing is that the sword, representing my current status, is so very far away from the mountains. Not only that, but the distance is increased by the fact that a huge bog stands between the mountains and me. It is going to be a hard slog.
This, however, is almost the perfect kind of challenge for me. I have always relished the journey at least as much as the goal. To take things literally, I have a lot of work to do to prepare for my chance at being in the mountains. This year we have chosen the Southern Rockies, which are the highest mountains in New Mexico. We plan to climb the highest mountain of our lives. It won't be easy or fun (at least in the traditional sense) to achieve that goal. Then there are those dark clouds approaching the mountains...
The fact that a sword appears in the card is also telling (there are four suits, including Sword, Spear, Stone and Grail, along with the Major cards). The cards were chosen last October 31st for our year, and this one will last until Summer Solstice, June 21st. If my sword goal in Iaido is a black belt (Shodan level), then it would appear that I have a lot of tricky ground to cover before achieving such a feat. I took a retest on my 2nd kyu material last Tuesday evening. I was not happy with my performance. That is due mostly to the late hour. Again my test was not until the very end of class, ending after 10 pm. I simply do not function well at that time with tasks requiring precision and great skill. For this reason I have decided to withdraw from formal lessons. I will come back to them in July, as I have no teaching duties on that day during the summer. However, come September I either have to cancel lessons on Tuesdays or withdraw permanently. Right now I am quite spent by the time I arrive at class, which begins about 8:45 pm.
Speaking of teaching, I had a new 5 yr old beginner this week. Gigi learned her first song, called "Two Cats." Her hands and fingers are the tiniest I have ever taught!
Monday, April 30th/12
Happy Beltane! It certainly was a spring day in these parts. We awoke to heavy rain, having planned some serious walking today near Rochester, MI. It was 65 miles driving each way, so we nearly cancelled the trip. Glad we didn't. We brought our full rain gear and made the drive, though we did not begin our walking until 11:30 a.m. Deb wanted a distance walk in preparation for her Sudbury half-marathon in two weeks, so she walked 8 miles of the Paint Creek Trail from Lake Orion to Rochester Mills. I headed into adjacent Bear Creek Nature Park for my annual spring wildflower walk. The flowers were far from dazzling, but the woods were lovely. It rained on us for about twenty minutes, but we were both mostly waterproof. We met up at 1:30 p.m. at Rochester Mills Brew Pub for lunch, enjoying some lovely ESB and IPA, as well as salad and sandwiches (both gourmet--yum!). I did see a few flowers, along with two pair of deer. The park is suitable for hiking, and we may return so Deb can see it. She was on the rails to trails path, which was also nicely wooded. My park had meadows, ponds, marshes and woodlands. The best part was that I was the only human in the entire park. Gotta love rainy, cool days!
Deb sets out on the Paint Creek Trail.
My goals were different than Deb's today.
One of four deer I encountered today.
A few trilliums were on display, looking even lovlier than usual in the dark, wet woods.
Wild geraniums at Bear Creek Park.
Sunday, April 29th/12
I am currently seven weeks into the new repertoire for my autumn piano concerts. Full report on progress next weekend!
It's almost impossible for me to grasp that another cross-quarter holiday is upon us. Beltane (April 30th-May 1st) is opposite the calendar year to Samhain, or Halloween. Six months has sped past, no doubt due to the fact that I'm as busy as ever, but without the stress. Deb is only two months away from being retired for one school year. Financially, there has been nothing to worry about, as our retirement and teaching incomes are keeping us comfortable, despite payments on two vehicles, and purchasing our own extended health care plan. We managed a trip to England last November, and though we skipped March Break this year, we have 8 days of travelling planned for May.
Filling up the day with meaningful activity has not be a strain on me, either. Piano, Iaido, and flute practice, along with reading, writing, map work (I am studying in detail every topo map of New Mexico in existence, nearly four thousand of them), along with a dozen other activities usually mean that I run out of time before I run out of things to do. I wish I could get seriously back into Astronomy. I have real difficulty staying awake past 10 pm after one of my typical days.
As to Beltane, we celebrate it mainly by taking our annual spring wildflower walk. This year it will be in Rochester, MI, at a park and walking greenway. It is also the last official indoor wood fire of the season (until Autumnal Equinox), and the end of single malt Scotch season (Randy, your donated bottle is still holding up well--lots left for next season). Watch for pics of our Monday walk here tomorrow evening.
Monday, April 23rd/12
As last week was a teaching week and a group lesson, we are mostly on a break this week. I have two students tomorrow, and then I am done for the week. Deb has one on Wednesday, as well as a harp gig at the Caboto Club. Our final semester begins next week, with only eight weeks until the summer break. We always hope for a few students during the summer, to help pay our gas bill for the big drive west in August.
I have taken up cooking again, and once a week preparing a real dinner is my responsibility. Tonight, with some help from the assistant chef, I made a lovely batch of vegan manicotti! Yum!
Vegan manicotti, prepared by chef Michael.
I follow a recipe, so am not really a very creative chef. Deb will simply open the fridge, see what's in there, and then make something incredible with on-hand ingredients!
I have been slowly updating the book cover scans on my Ballantine Adult Fantasy book page. The covers really drew me in as a teen reader, and many of them still fascinate me to this day. Instead of just showing the front cover, I am attempting to show the linked front and back art where applicable. Now the covers look twice as impressive!
Saturday, April 21st/12
A fun day with Jennifer G. and her son Aston. I have not seen Jennifer since she graduated from Gr. 8, about 1988 or 89! She was a favourite, and thanks to Facebook we were able to reconnect. She lives in B.C. and is on a big eastern road trip. We gave them an insider's tour of Detroit today, with stops at Eastern Market, the Heidelberg Project, Slows BBQ, the towering hulk-ruin of the Detroit train station, Motor City Brewing Company and Avalon Bakery. Aston is 8, in Gr. 2, and is quite a delight. Lots of fun today, especially as Jennifer is a big fan of craft beer!
Heidelberg Project, Detroit
Heidelberg Project, Detroit
Heidelberg Project, Detroit
Jennifer and Aston, Detroit
Friday, April 20th/12
And again a whole week has flown past! Good Iaido review class on Tuesday, as I prepare for my final test before I bow out for awhile. If all the classes were this good I might not leave.
Today we went and picked up our completed tax returns from our accountant in Amherstburg. We are going to get a small refund! Last year I paid $800. I am overjoyed!! We went to school later on to meet with our private students. This was our final group lesson of the year. 8 weeks of regular lessons remain before summer vacation. I picked up a new piano student. Gigi is 5 and raring to go. She is the younger sister of the twin boys I currently teach.
Deb did a mega walk today on the Chrysler Greenway, totalling 9.8 miles. I drove her to Oldcastle, then came back home to practice, picking her up later at County Rd. 18. I'm hoping to ramp up my walking soon, likely mid-May, to prepare for the big summer hiking trip to the Rockies. Deb is gearing up for her half-marathon in Sudbury in 4 weeks.
Sunday, April 15th/12
Deb had a busy day yesterday. We were up before 5 am so she could get to her 10k race in Dearborn that morning. Home for lunch and a wee rest, then she was off to Windsor to play harp for 2 1/2 hours at a Titanic-themed dinner. No problem for Supergirl!
After much soul-searching, I have decided to take a break from formal Iaido classes. It is getting very demanding, and my time and mental energy needs to be focussed on music right now. I will likely return to lessons in the summer, but in the meantime I will continue to practice sword work here at home. I am undecided about the retest in three weeks. Probably not. Doubt if I would be much better by then.
Wednesday, April 11th/12
Headline--breaking news---"Slo Go at the Do Jo!" I managed to NOT pass my 2nd Kyu Iaido test last night. I am allowed a retake in three weeks, along with two other testers. The good news is that Deb passed her 3rd Kyu test. Three others passed, too. Despite putting a lot of work into the preparation, and not doing anything seriously wrong, Sensei feels I need some polish on the newer kata. Back to the drawing--no, make that the cutting--board.
On Monday Deb completed a long walk from Harrow to Kingsville on the Chrysler Greenway. I opted for shorter walks and met up with her in Kingsville. I headed into the woods at the small conservation area near Arner, not surprised to find wildflowers blooming this early. It was sooo much fun getting into the woods again! We are hoping to make Mondays into regular hiking days, once Deb has completed the Sudbury half-marathon next month.
Spring Beauties were out early at Cedar Creek, near Arner.
Mossy tree stump.
Sunday, April 8th/12
Another busy day, with a lot accomplished. 2 1/2 hours of piano practice--check; 3 loads of laundry done--check; taxes prepared for accountant--check; outdoor walk--check; phone call to parents--check; iaido practice on back deck--check; flute practice--check; afternoon nap--nope. Oh well, no day is perfect.
My webpage entitled "Ballantine Adult Fantasy" has finally become more popular than the main page and blog. This is a good thing, since I do put in a lot of work on that page. I get daily hits (and rehits) from all over the globe. There really isn't a lot of info out there on the books, so I seem to be filling a niche, especially with the images on the covers. Some of the covers have two sides, and until now I have only shown the front cover. I am now going back and including all double-sided cover images, due to popular demand.
Hope everyone had a fun Eostre, one of the biggest pagan festivals of the year (fertility, which is why rabbits, eggs and a full moon got usurped by Christian mumbo jumbo--they figured that by putting the resurrection of Christ on top of a major pagan spring festival, the pagan aspects would just go away). Hahaha. Not sure why Christians were against a fertility festival, especially since they still say no to birth control of any sort. Probably because they didn't think of it first.
Another busy day, with a lot accomplished. 2 1/2 hours of piano practice--check; 3 loads of laundry done--check; taxes prepared for accountant--check; outdoor walk--check; phone call to parents--check; iaido practice on back deck--check; flute practice--check; afternoon nap--nope. Oh well, no day is perfect.
My webpage entitled "Ballantine Adult Fantasy" has finally become more popular than the main page and blog. This is a good thing, since I do put in a lot of work on that page. I get daily hits (and rehits) from all over the globe. There really isn't a lot of info out there on the books, so I seem to be filling a niche, especially with the images on the covers. Some of the covers have two sides, and until now I have only shown the front cover. I am now going back and including all double-sided cover images, due to popular demand.
Hope everyone had a fun Eostre, one of the biggest pagan festivals of the year (fertility, which is why rabbits, eggs and a full moon got usurped by Christian mumbo jumbo--they figured that by putting the resurrection of Christ on top of a major pagan spring festival, the pagan aspects would just go away). Hahaha. Not sure why Christians were against a fertility festival, especially since they still say no to birth control of any sort. Probably because they didn't think of it first.
Saturday, April 7th/12
Even though our NM trip is still months away, we are continuing to rethink it and tweak the details. We are venturing higher than ever before, and that includes sleeping at approximately 11,700'! At this altitude we could easily wake up under a blanket of fresh snow, not to mention succumb to altitude health problems. It will be cold, and it will be damp. The Southern Rockies are the coldest and wettest parts of the State (and of course, the highest), and we have largely avoided them until now. We hope to make two separate treks up into the high country, tent overnight, and get up early next morning to ascend a major peak. The first expedition will see us haul our gear about 3.3 miles before setting up base camp. It wouldn't be half bad except for the extreme altitude. It might be over 90 F down in the desert, but not up there. We will camp near Serpent Lake, which is right at tree-line, before heading up Jicarita Mtn into Alpine terrain at 12,800'. Our second big overnight trek is longer, over 5 miles one way, and again camping up around 11,500'. Next morning we head up to Taos Cone, over 12,200', before descending, grabbing our gear, heading back to the vehicle and driving back to Colorado Springs, about four hours away. This trip is going to keep me awake at night for awhile!
Friday, April 6th/12
We went to the dojo tonight for our final practice before Tuesday's test. It's a big one for me, as they all are from now on, through 3rd Dan. It's the knife kata that has taken up most of my time, but I think I finally have it down. Home practice on Sunday out on the deck, then again Monday.
I was likely the last person on the block to finally get around to cutting the grass. It wasn't so very long, but the first cut of the season is done. We also began the task of trimming our overgrown hedges. It was a fine day to be outside.
Tomorrow morning Deb has a race-walking clinic to attend in Huntington Woods, MI. No other plans that I know of. Sunday is income tax day. Good grief. Here's hoping I've kept everything I need, and it's in one place. At least two hours work involved just to get things prepared for the accountant!
Waiting for the full moon to rise--should be any second.
Sunday, April 1st/12
It's been about a month since I abandoned the Toronto piano concert idea and struck out head-first into new repertoire. Time for an inital evaluation!
Of the 7 pieces, none are concert-ready. Beginning a new program is akin to hacking through a very dense jungle. Using all one's strength a small path can be made, but it takes an immense amount of time and energy! It has been many years since I learned a mostly-new program.
The Bach Prelude and Fugue is not a piece that audiences will fawn over, but it is the one piece I will not be tired of playing by performance time. I am through the worst of things here, and the Prelude even sounds more or less like music! The Fugue still requires eons of work. Both pieces are still played very slow (the Fugue painfully so), but for the first month I feel that progress is decent. When I was actually in Gr. 10 piano (winter and spring of 1975), I managed to leap from Gr. 9 to Gr. 10 in six short months. If this still holds true, I should be ready to perform in mid-September!!
The Haydn Sonata in C# Minor was my actual Gr. 10 exam and Festival piece (I placed 1st in my class in the Festival with it). Still, 36 years is a long time... Regardless, it is now my most advanced piece, and should be ready to perform sometime in April!! Once learned, never forgotten. The human brain is a strange thing.
The Schubert Moment Musicale in C# Minor is quite another story. It is a 4-page piece and I am barely groping my way through 3 of them. This is a tough piece, though at a glance it does not look that difficult. Schubert was writing a tribute to Bach's Preludes here, and he has written one much harder than any of the Bach ones. Very slow going.
The thickest of the new works is Scriabin's Etude Op 2 #1. Very Chopinesque, this 2-page work is extremely dense, hard to stretch the hand, and along with the Schubert, is the piece that will take the most work to bring to concert level. Of course it must not sound dense or difficult, but rather as if anyone could play it...
The second piece I have previously learned is the Rachmaninoff Etude, though I have never performed it live. It will be ready sometime in April also, despite it's extreme difficulty. I have purposefully chosen very difficult works this term, in order to properly prepare for other things I have planned (such as the Beethoven Sonata Op 110).
The Debussy Prelude (Mist) is another serious challenge, requiring more tonal control than I presently have! I am through its 5 pages, though barely. I see this one as at least a three-month challenge.
The Bartok Rondo is a piece a good friend of mine (Maxime!) learned for her Gr. 10 exam (1975), and I have not heard it since! Bartok and I usually hit it off pretty well, so I'm hoping this will be nearly ready one month from now. Tune in then for the next report!!
Friday, March 30th/12
After two sessions of Iaido this week, I feel a bit more confident of passing the test on the 10th of April.
It was not the most pleasant day to leave the house and drive to Windsor, but we had that priviledge twice today. I had to attend an ORMTA meeting this morning at Greg Butler's place in Russell Woods. With the downtown library closing soon, we had to find a solution to storing our group's piano somewhere else. Deb did a long walk from the church in Tecumseh, down to the river, along the Ganatcho Trail, and then on to Walkerville via Wyandotte East. 8.6 miles!! We had lunch at Pause Cafe downtown Windsor, a place with the best soup, sandwiches and salads in Essex County. Just as we arrived at the Oriental grocery store we frequent on Wyandotte West, all weather broke loose, and continued to break loose most of the day. What misery! In fact, it reminded us of the kind of weather we have encountered in New Mexico at very high altitudes in July and August! Except the hail is even more fearsome, and the lightning, too!
We returned to Windsor this evening for open practice, spending a worthwhile hour on the mats going over our katas. I need to know twenty-six of them, and a few are very similar and easy to mix up.
A Facebook friend and former APS student is on a road trip soon from B.C., where she runs a ski lodge motel. She will spend a weekend in Detroit and would like to meet up with us for a day. Jennifer is one of the very "special" students from our past, and sadly we had lost contact for many years until finding each other on FB. I am very excited to actually see her again, and to meet her young son. And she loves craft beer. How awesome is that!!!
Sunday, March 25th/12
My first walk and Iaido home practice since wrenching my back last Tuesday carrying a big old tv outside from the basement. Missed my Tuesday Iaido class, but things seem to be much improved today. Lots of heat on it, and lying around, as well as wearing the back brace.
The shoulder and elbows have caused me no problems in quite some time now, and the knee seems to have healed, too. We have some awfully big hikes planned for August, so I'm hoping I can get the old body into gear for it. In the immediate future is my upcoming 2nd Kyu Iaido test--two weeks to get ready instead of three.
Saturday, March 24th/12
Isn't it odd how the first week back to work after a holiday can seem like two? And as if the holiday is some distant memory? And this is from a guy with a three-day work week! Ha ha.
Deb has a wedding to play at today at Willistead Manor. I will hang out at Taloola's during the event. I am currently reading a very good book on music and the brain. Called Guitar Zero, it not only encompasses the most current research on the brain, but the psychologist writing it is also attempting to learn guitar and music from scratch. He is nearly tone deaf and clueless as to rhythm, not to mention uncoordinated and nearing 40! Brilliant so far...
Last night we attended a Detroit Symphony concert at Orchestra Hall. Most of their concerts are now simulcast on the internet, and with headphones the sound is pretty good. The highlight was Robert Levin's performance of the "Emperor Concerto" by Beethoven, easily the finest performance of this work I have ever heard, live or otherwise. He brought the house down after the first movement, it was that good! After intermission he did something I have never seen before at a subscription concert. During intermission he took themes from the audience (in-house and internet), which had to be written down in notation. He then came out, took four selections from the two baskets (he didn't choose ours), played them for us, and then proceeded to improvise on them, a la Beethoven or Mozart, for fifteen minutes. Quite entertaining. The concert opened with the Don Giovanni overture by Mozart, and concluded with his Symphony in D, #38. Needless to say, the hall was packed to the rafters. Next weekend we will hear Helene Grimaud perform the Brahms Piano Concerto #1 in D Minor. She is one of my very very favourite pianists! Former music director Neeme Jarvi will conduct. Can't wait!
Monday, March 19th/12
We had a very fun final day of Winter and final day of our prolonged March Break. We spent the morning in Detroit, walking the River Rouge Trail. In addition to plenty of flowers, we saw turtles sunning on logs in the river! After our walk, we went to Motor City Brewing for lunch. They had the front window/wall wide open! We are currently running about 30 F above average for this time of year. Let's hope that doesn't happen in July... On our way home we shopped at Honey Bee Market in Mexicantown. At home we have marked off an Equinox sunset line, in the hopes of making a small front garden to commemorate the two Equinoxes and two Solstices. More details when they become available. We changed all of the living room art over to our Spring collection, got our new Tarot cards for the next segment of the year (Until April 30th, or Beltane), and even worked on our August trip to Taos a bit more. There is still a lot of planning to do for that. And tomorrow it's back to work (and Iaido--next test is in three weeks).
Thursday, March 16th/12
The weather has become quite ridiculous, as our warm streak enters it's 8th or 9th straight month. If this is any indication of what may happen in the summer, it is not something to anticipate cheerfully. I suspect quite a few 100 + days in our future. We were awakened at 5 am Thursday by a ferocious hail and wind storm. Thursday night we watched storms approach from Michigan, where they had a major tornado touchdown. Just before reaching us, they veered suddenly southeast and headed across Lake Erie. At least we got our downstairs shelter ready for the season! Ludwig the Tortoise has been outside a few times already. It is much too early to be this warm.
I continue to grind away at the newest piano (and flute) pieces. I have a very fine Handel sonata for flute, as well as a snazzy Latin tempo piece called Tico Tico. It would make a good Rumba. I am anticipating some progress by the end of the month, though certainly not anything you would wish to hear yet. I am currently undertaking 2 1/2 hours of piano every day, along with 30 minutes of flute and 30 minutes of Iaido. It is keeping me busy. This evening we went to the dojo to work on our katas on our own. My elbows are managing to get along fine with all of this activity, and even my knee has been behaving itself. The shoulder is nearly better, too!
Sunday, March 11th/12
A fun day at home, though we did get out for a longish walk in the pm. Though Spring is officially a week away, it has felt like Spring for quite some time. Today was the limit, however. I now declare it to be a new season, and that season is Spring! Setbacks will be brief and minimal, though I do fear a very uncomfortable summer.
Deb set up the hammock outside today--it's like a tent that floats above the ground. There are still a few kinks to iron out. She got in it briefly. It has a mosquito net that zips completely up, as well as a tarp that floats just above it. All cozy and protected, and it weighs just over 2 pounds, less than a tent and two sleeping pads. Of course we still require sleeping bags.
We had our first outdoor Iaido practice of the season today--it felt good, too!
Saturday, March 10th/12
Sometimes I am amazed when I realize the date of my last post--I cannot believe it's been so long! Time does fly when you are having fun. We are officially enjoying March Break, with zero teaching this coming week. We got things off to a good start with Thursday evening's Full Moon. Our last student of the week is always Alexandra, an 11 yr. old piano and violin student whom we both teach. She is quite fun to teach and works hard (she got 83% on her recent Gr. 3 Piano exam), but the fact that she is our last student of the week usually makes us anxious to see her on Thursday evenings. No sooner does she leave than our long weekend (or in this case, March Break) begins in earnest, usually with a wee dram of Scotch. For Full Moon occasions we have dark rum.
On Friday we went to Ann Arbor, arriving during a windy and cold snow squall. It was a day of cafes, pubs, shops and urban walking. That city continues to be our favourite getaway for a day trip. Today was a Windsor day. Deb's training called for a 7 1/2 mile walk. I managed three miles, but found the wind too much of an assault on my senses.
I've driven the new Tiguan enough now to know that I love it. I am really looking forward to driving it west this summer. We are heading to Taos, NM via Colorado Springs, and are planning our highest hiking and camping to date. In addition, we will forgo tents and sleeping pads for a new design in hammocks. We have one and hope to set it up in our yard tomorrow, with pictures to follow. Stay tuned to this channel!
Monday, March 5th/12
Whenever I begin new piano pieces, it seems impossible that I will ever learn them well enough to perform them in public. The learning curve is immense, and having to go from fairly competent pianist back to a beginner is a shock to the system. However, one month from now things will begin to gel, and no doubt I'll be playing one or two of the seven half decently.
We went to Detroit today, making the usual mail box run. In addition, I went to the Wayne State Science Library and looked at New Mexico topo maps for an hour or so. Then we went to Seva for lunch. Their $9 vegan lunch special includes a cup of soup, half a sandwich (five kinds to choose from) and sweet potato fries with sweet salsa. Yum! This is our fourth visit, and each one has been special. We also went to Avalon Bakery for coffee and a cookie. Then it was time to fill up the Tiguan for the first time at the duty free gas bar at the bridge. Gas prices have soared, and I paid $3.93 a gallon for premium. So far we are averaging 32 mpg, about 30% better than the Touareg.
Sunday, March 4th/12
I have finalized the pieces for my next piano program, which will be a full solo one consisting of a complete set of Gr. 10 pieces, the next step in my plan to acquire better technique, an improved memory, and enhanced musicianship. Starting new pieces is always a time of great excitement! From List A I have chosen a new (for me) Prelude and Fugue by Bach. From List B comes a Haydn Sonata, a long-overdue return to one I performed on my Gr. 10 exam in 1974! My List C choice is a new Schubert Moment Musicale, itself a tribute to Bach and his Preludes. Next come the two etudes, including a new one by Scriabin and another by Rachmaninoff (this 2nd work is one I have previously learned and recorded, but never performed). List D is a new Prelude by Debussy (Book 2), and the List E choice is a new Rondo by Bartok. In addition to these solo works, Paula and I will learn one of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances for four hands. I hope to record the entire program and issue it on CD. I may have a little Astronomy surprise for an encore, if time permits.
Flute repertoire is still tba.
Saturday, March 3rd/12
After yet another week of some very fine practicing, I find myself cancelling the Toronto concert once again. This time it was an insane wind that kept me home, as I was unwilling to drive. Light snow was also predicted. So I stayed home for a second Saturday, this time putting away my Beethoven and Spanish pieces for good and taking out the new ones. I practiced the concert repertoire on Paula's piano yesterday, and things went well. Ah well. Planning events far away in winter is not such a profitable pastime. We were certain the power would go out last night or today, but it stayed on.
With any luck the new pieces (a full set of Gr. 10 works, 7 in all) will be ready by October, a much better time of year to travel. In addition to performing in Windsor and Toronto, I hope to do so in Sudbury.
It feels strange not preparing for a trip during March Break. We will undertake several day trips instead. I really wish we were heading for some desert hiking, but we are saving ourselves for this summer. We will be centered in the Taos area, where the largest mountains in NM are situated. We have an amazing trip planned, including our highest summit ever, back-country camping, and overnight stays in some fine mountain resort cabins.
Monday, February 27th/12
So far, the Toronto concert is back on for this Saturday (weather permitting!). The big news today was that we finalized our dates for this summer's New Mexico trip. Deb will fly into and out of Colorado Springs, CO in August. We got a very good fare. If anyone wishes to drive down with me and then fly home, I can get you a pretty decent airfare one-way! In addition to spending time in northern NM (where the highest peaks are), we will plan some high altitude hiking in Colorado as well. Getting excited already!
Sunday, February 26th/12
The Toronto recital is back on, this time for next Saturday. I spent Saturday (yesterday) finalizing my choices for new piano repertoire. It was fun! I will say more about the new pieces later. For now, I must stay focused one more week on the Beethoven Sonata and the three Spanish pieces. The road conditions Saturday morning were far less than ideal, with blowing and drifting snow across the 401 from Chatham to Woodstock. So it turned out to be a good call, regardless of the fact that no storm ever hit Windsor or Toronto. Tomorrow I advance to Level 6 in my flute studies, and get to select new repertoire also!
Today we went to Detroit, enjoying a day of craft beer and good food, and some shopping at a few unique stores. Monday it's back to the old keyboard. I haven't practiced since Thursday!
Friday, February 24th/12
Seems like I cancelled the Toronto trip a bit prematurely! 7" of snow turned into virtually none, here and in Toronto. It is going to be very cold Saturday, though, and windy, so just as well to stay home. I may try again on March 10th, though my ambition has begun to wane. I had everything timed for Saturday, and had a fantastic week of high quality practice. Bit of a let-down. Thought for certain I'd be shovelling all day today, too. Thankfully, that did not happen.
I did not practice piano today, the first day missed in over a month. As a result I feel somewhat lost. Doing lots of reading, and might go to the dojo this evening to practice Iaido.
Thursday, February 23rd/12
We nearly made it through the winter without a big storm. Unfortunately, the timing of this one means that I had to cancel my Toronto recital for this coming Saturday afternoon. I doubt the 401 will be in great shape by Saturday morning. An opportunity in March may present itself. We'll see.
Saturday, February 18th/12
Yesterday's Detroit Symphony concert was off the scale in terms of fun, excitement and breathtaking beauty! The Mozart concerto was a great prep for the monstrous Mahler 5th. This is a very long work, but with a huge payoff after the first three movements have been digested. The justly-famous Adagietto for muted strings and harp brought shivers to me, and the final movement nearly brought down the walls with its incessant waves of ultra-dynamic sound. It was conducted by Maestro Slatkin from memory! Here is the review from the Detroit News. Afterwards, we went to Seva for lunch--that's two Fridays in a row we have been there, and we can't wait to go back again.
Last evening I performed a Beethoven Sonata for a small audience of close friends here at home. As my first performance of the work it went okay. The third movement, where I was anticipating all manner of problems, went off quite well. The first movement, where I expected virtually no problems, was fraught with gremlins! A few areas of concern to polish before next Saturday's Toronto recital. The lovely second movement went as planned.
We are just back from our morning Iaido class, and had been looking forward to going out to the observatory tonight for some winter sky astronomy. However, because of quite chilly temps and a biting wind, I have held off for now. Must stay healthy for at least one more week!
Thursday, February 16th/12
How can a three-day work week seem so long and involved? I feel drained tonight, and will be in bed early. I've been reading the manual to our new Tiguan. The vehicle hasn't even been out for a single drive yet, except to bring it home from the dealer on Monday--that's the kind of week it's been.
We did get our Iaido promotions on Tuesday night! My next test will be much longer and more complicated (and every test after that one, too). I wanted to work on the katas today at home, but did not manage to get to them.
A busy day tomorrow. In the morning we are off to Detroit to hear Emmanuel Ax perform a Mozart Piano Concerto with the DSO, along with Slatkin's version of the Mahler 5th Symphony (driving over in our new vehicle). Home in the afternoon to clean the house, rearrange some furniture and perform the Beethoven Sonata that appears to have only recently departed my brain. It has not been a great week. Let's hope things improve during the weekend...
Monday, February 13th/12
Fun and interesting times! Traded in Beorn today for a new Tiguan, which is not a true SUV, but a crossover (built upon a Golf body). Still an amazing vehicle, and more than ready for the mountain roads of New Mexico. We are already planning our next summer trip into the Mogollon Mtns. We can put regular gas into the vehicle, too, instead of premium! Has every option except nav, and it's ours on a 4-yr lease.
Starting work on the Beethoven sonata again today, which I had left alone since last week. Sunday's library concert was fun to do. Paula is an amazing partner, and even though our approach to the piano is so different from one another, I do think we make a dynamic duo! Two more performances (one this Friday!) and I can begin to learn some new pieces. My next program will be a mix of new and old, with a really great sonata by Haydn, a gorgeous Rachmaninoff piece, and some Schubert, Prokofiev, Bach and more Debussy.
Tomorrow being a teaching night as well as Iaido class night, we celebrated Lupercalia tonight. Mid-February is the beginning of the end of winter in Essex County. The daylight increases noticeably by now, and the worst cold spells are usually long gone. It looks like Wed. the 15th will be the actual day winter begins to leave us for this year. Hooray!!!
Saturday, February 11th/12
Friday morning's DSO concert was a blast! The Shostakovich Violin Concerto is a rather tough nut, and as long as a full symphony. And the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances give each section and soloist of the orchestra a solid work out. The Rachmaninoff was recorded today by Naxos, as part of their "recorded live" albums. The orchestra was flawless and in the groove!
We had lunch at Seva afterwards, Detroit's newest all-vegetarian restaurant. Good stuff continues to happen, especially downtown and mid-town.
Deb is now two weeks into her gluten-free phase, and feels so much better. Food allergies are a funny lot, though wheat is much more common than most people realize.
I didn't dare go out and shovel snow today, in case I pulled or strained something. I need to get through tomorrow's concert first, then I can return to normal, at least until Friday, when I will be playing again, this time a sonata by Beethoven. As it is, I have overused my right index finger practicing the repeated notes in the Albeniz, and will have to try and switch them to my third finger now. Yikes! Looking forward to tomorrow!
Wednesday, February 8th/12
Brought the Golf into VW today, as we were receiving an airbag error message. They have to order a new one for us, due in next week. In the meantime, we ended up leasing a 2012 Tiguan, fully loaded, and trading in our Touareg. As painful as that is to me, that vehicle is just too risky to drive without a warranty, especially to the mountains and back. It is in excellent shape and will no doubt last for many years to come. We lose one inch on the clearance, so we won't be going off-road with the new vehicle like we did with the Treg. We should have the new one on the road Monday. Thanks to the trade-in we have no down payment to make, and only $300 per month payments (48 months). Not too shabby.
Last night's Iaido test went off pretty well. It was very hot in the dojo, however, making the test a real sweatbath by the end. If I passed I will be promoted to 3rd Kyu. Next test is in two months, a much bigger challenge to reach 2nd Kyu. Deb did her 4th Kyu test, and Alicia did 5th. Five of us went for Thai food before class, a new pre-test tradition.
Firming up concert details for the 25th in Toronto. Morning reheasal with Paula tomorrow, our final one before Sunday's library concert. DSO concert Friday morning, and a student group lesson Friday afternoon. Not a lot of down time lately. It will be like that until we return from Toronto on the 26th, when I can begin learning new pieces.
Monday, February 6th/12
A slight cool down in temps for a week or so will remind us what month it is--the last few days have been too good to be true. I was supposed to accompany Angela, my flute student, in a concert Sunday afternoon. However, she phoned me to say she was too sick. I had to go downtown anyway, as Paula and I were going to rehearse on the piano after the student concert. It was my one chance to get on the piano before next Sunday's concert. It was mostly a wonderful experience, though the keyboard gave me grief for the Albeniz piece, with its fierce repeated notes. Ah well, c'est la vie.
Today we performed for the Gr. 6s at Anderdon Public School, a similar though shorter version of last week's school program at Amherstburg Public. Things went well, and there were some very good questions afterwards.
Tuesday is our next Iaido test. It occurs to me that this is a very busy month! My life consists of practicing one thing or another just now. Hopefully I will achieve 3rd Kyu without my body having a major malfunction! I strained a groin muscle yesterday while doing the newest kata, and it still hurts. I am rather surprised to have made it this far, to be truthful, especially after the way I injured myself at my very first class last March.
I have decided to perform the Beethoven Sonata on Friday evening the 17th, in a short lecture/recital format here at the house. I will announce it at the concert Sunday afternoon, for those interested in hearing it.
Monday, January 30th/2012
Two months of winter down, just over one to go! We have managed to get through December and January in a most un-Canadian fashion. Yippee! We are nearly through the worst. Beorn is now halfway through his winter siesta. Only three more days until Candelmas, which traditionally marks the beginning of the end for the winter season, at least in the British Isles. In Essex County, Ontario (Canada's southern-most county), we usually add about a dozen days to that milestone. By the time Valentine's Day rolls around, we are usually seeing the backside of winter in this area. Can hardly wait! Remarkably, we have been able to keep up our outdoor walking program this late into the season, almost without interruption.
Today was my first of six upcoming musical performances on flute and piano. Paula and I played a school concert today, and we have another one next Monday at a different school. On Sunday I will accompany my own flute student in a recital.
Playing flute today for the Gr. 7s at Amherstburg Public School.
Paula and I perform piano music for four hands at our school concert today.
The Gr. 7s managed to stay awake for most of the concert.
Friday, January 27th/12
I have a confirmed concert in Toronto in February, making a total of 6 upcoming concerts/performances in the next month. The first one is this Monday, when I play flute for the Gr. 7s at Amherstburg Public, with Paula accompanying. We will then perform the Mozart Sonata for 4 hands. The following Monday we perform for the Gr. 6s at Anderdon School. The following Sunday we play at the Windsor Library, including some of my solo piano work. Also in there is my next Iaido test, for junior brown belt. A busy time, most of it practicing either piano, flute or Iaido.
Today's rehearsal at Paula's house was okay. Not much to complain about. I even got through the Debussy Prelude fairly well. Sounds amazing on Paula's piano!
Going to the dojo at 6:30 pm to run through all the katas. A week and a half to go before brown belt testing! Certainly an exciting time!
Sunday, January 22/12
Invitations went out today for the library concert on Feb. 12th--if you did not receive one (or two) please e-mail us at the address at the bottom of this page. I have decided to replace the Beethoven Piano Sonata with a number of shorter flute pieces. About three weeks afterwards, I will perform the Beethoven at a lecture/recital instead. There will still be lots of piano pieces on the upcoming program.
We attended a Detroit Symphony concert this afternoon at Orchestra Hall. The main attraction was the very accessible and totally delightful and captivating Piano Concerto #2 by Camille Saint Saens. It was performed by a 17 year old Asian boy, and he was completely outstanding. With eyes closed one would have thought it was one of the great virtuosos of our time! Conrad Tao is an incredible musician, and has the concert itinerary to prove it! He plays with more heart and soul than Lang Lang, and has the technique of Yuja Wang. Read the Detroit News review of last night's concert. What a world!
Friday, January 20th/12
We are back on-line, after a short hiatus as we switched over to a new desktop computer. It wasn't too difficult of a switch, as we had everything backed up on another disc. We still have all of our e-mail to retrieve, however. Maybe tomorrow.
Old Man Winter finally roused himself enough to give us a few genuine January days, even adding a bit of snow and blowing. It will all come to an end again by Sunday, however, as warmer air pushes back in.
Saturday, January 14th/12
I finished reading the first of two Bulldog Drummond mystery/crime novels that I bought last weekend at a used book store. They are actually highly entertaining and well-written. We recently watched six old b&w movies based on the books, and after enjoying those I wanted a taste of the original material. Just about to start my second one.
Old Man Winter has been lacking some teeth so far this season. We should be well into the deepest and coldest part of winter right now, usually lasting until early February in Essex County. So far, not much of anything in our area. Very thankful! Two weeks of the worst gone, and four to go. We can get through this!
Paula and I rehearsed Friday morning. We have a flute and piano concert booked for January 30th at a nearby school, with one other tba. After that comes the piano-only one at the library on Feb. 12th. Hopefully that will also be the day when an early spring arrives!
Thursday, January 12th/12
Perhaps by tomorrow it will become more obvious why I use a white font in January. Spring appears to be coming to an end sometime after midnight tonight. Although only a couple of inches of the white stuff is predicted, it should be gone by next week, when it is supposed to warm up once again.
A full week of teaching music lessons has zipped by, and a four-day weekend awaits! A trip to Detroit on Friday, weather permitting, and a stay-at-home holiday on Saturday and Sunday. Now that a concert date has been set (Feb. 12th), practicing will intensify. Tomorrow I also have a rehearsal with Paula. We have two school concerts coming up soon, as well as the duet part of my piano program. I am really looking forward to playing the entire Mozart Sonata in D+ for four hands, especially on the downtown library piano.
Monday, January 9th/12
The final day of our extended vacation has come to an end, as we resume our private teaching duties tomorrow through Thursday. In four short weeks we will be halfway through the school year. If the weather continues to be anything like it has been, the time really will fly past! Though seasonal temperatures will be arriving later in the week, there is nothing in the 10 day forecast to strike fear into my heart. Each mild day is a gift!
Deb managed to wiggle out of jury duty today. She was excused, much to her relief, because she is friends with one of the upcoming witnesses. The civil trial is expected to last 3-4 weeks! Lucky Deb!!
Chatting on Facebook with some of my younger former students this evening--most sound glad to be back into routines. Not sure about the teachers. I'm sure they'd rather still be on holiday.
Friday, January 6th/12
Had a really fun day in Detroit yesterday, It was a beautiful day, and we walked on our usual River Rouge Trail for a couple of miles before heading to Buddy's in Dearborn for a free pizza. Deb signed up for their e-mail notices, and gets a free pizza during her birthday month, as well as lots of coupons during the year. Next we picked up our mail and then headed to the Wayne State University Science Library, home to every topo map of New Mexico! I have been attempting to look at each one of them for several years now, and am nearly done the "Cs". Deb usually wanders through the library stacks while I study, this time discovering a multi-volume edition of "Wildflowers of the USA." Next came a stopover at John King Books. We were in search of some mystery novels by "Sapper" McNeile, author of the Bulldog Drummond series (we've been watching the old movies lately), as well as a novel by Philip K Dick. We had success with the mystery books, but not the sci fi one that Blade Runner is loosely based. Finally came Slows restaurant. They had just tapped their latest cask, and we enjoyed a very fine glass of Bells Best Brown Ale before heading homeward.
Today I had a rehearsal with Paula for our upcoming school concerts, as well as for my library recital (tentative date is Feb. 12th, 2 pm at the downtown Windsor Public Library).
Incredible weather continues, as we seem to have skipped from December to March! Fine with me! Must get outside again today.
Wed., January 4th/12
The year is off to a decent beginning for us, especially as there is no snow! Each day without it is like a little bonus from the gods of mercy. It's been awhile since we had a mild winter. I hope our ship has come in!
Mom had her eye operation today, to replace her lens in one eye. Early reports are that everything went okay. More news tomorrow.
Iaido classes resumed last night. I posted some pics on the dojo Facebook page, and one on my own wall. Alicia got a new, very expensive and wonderful sword from her grandparents for Christmas. Sensei was away, so we are still awaiting word from our last test at the final class of 2011. I have begun working on material for my next test, junior brown belt level.
