Blog Archive 2014

2014 Blog

Monday, Dec. 29th/14
Today was our weekly Detroit day, and though the large trucks crossing the border were at a minimum, the car traffic was crazy!  It was still busy everywhere we went, as if Christmas was still approaching.  Haven't people shopped enough yet?
Our first stop was Stingers Exotics, where Deb went to look at tortoises, lizards and snakes.  It's one of her favourite shops in Detroit (Livonia, actually).  Esther is the largest tortoise, now about 38 pounds and on her way to 150 pounds.  Esther is a going concern.
We went to Buddy's for lunch, and then to Michigan's largest gaming store.  They are moving soon to a larger location.  They have hundreds of board games, and we had a good look through all of them.  In addition to picking up four mini-expansions to Carcassonne, we purchased a new two-player game.  It's called Akrotiri, and looks like a lot of fun.  It's a cooperative game taking place in Classical Greek times.  This is one of three games we will play on New Years' Eve later this week.  Game review coming soon.
Last night we played two games of Carcassonne, using one of our many expansion sets.  Inns and Cathedrals adds several new dimensions to the basic game, and we haven't played it in a long while.  We will play using a different expansion on New Years' Eve, as well as another game of Middle Earth The Wizards.  I have made up five games using the cards, and we will play the first one of that series.
It has been clear two nights in a row now, but the moon is flooding the landscape and sky with light.  However, we set up the 6" scope last night and had a look at several of the finest objects of the winter sky.  This is only the 2nd time since my eye surgery that I have looked through a scope, and I have yet to look through the 12".  Things seem so much better with the left eye that I can barely believe it!  Tonight we went out with just the binoculars and had a good look at Comet Lovejoy, low in the sky beneath Orion.  It is enormous and getting brighter.  It's always a shock to first see one of these sky wanderers, taking up so much space where there is no such thing normally.  It was well worth the cold temps.  Winter temps have certainly arrived, with some severe cold coming over the next few days.  As long as it doesn't snow until midnight Wednesday, our area will set an all-time record: absolutely no measurable snow in December.  Last year we were setting opposite records. 
Weird times, indeed.

Sunday, Dec. 28th/14
I am happy to report that my piano repertoire memorization project is on course.  For December I had hoped to memorize the 2nd movement of the Beethoven Sonata Op. 110, and movements #7-9 of the Couperin suite.  All done.  As a bonus, I managed to memorize the first Philip Glass movement!  January goals will be set in a few days.
The Beethoven Sonata is turning out to be the most inspiring and uplifting piece of music I have ever had the pleasure to learn.  By the time I am finished practicing the final movement (which I can almost play now!) I feel pretty damn good.  I hope to be able to play this publicly (twice) before our late April departure to England.
Yesterday evening was another gaming night.  We played the final game of our most recent Middle Earth The Wizards tournament (Game 5, Series 15).  The 5th and final game is always a three-deck game, which takes a long time.  Deb made a plain-coloured cloth "shower cap" to fit over the main table for gaming, making it easier to see the cards.  This will work well for Carcassonne, too (which we are playing tonight).
Yesterday we also got to watch a black & white film from 1964.  "Long Hair of Death" (great title!) stars Barbara Steele, the horror queen with big eyes and such an oddly attractive face that it is difficult not to look at her when she appears on-screen.  It was directed by Antonio Margheriti.  I subsequently found a number of interesting films by him and have added them to our dvd queue at Netflix.

This is a suitably creepy little film, which opens with a very young girl seeing her mother burned alive at the stake.  Much of the middle part makes little sense and seems to lose continuity, but it still holds interest and makes a great afternoon horror movie!  Recommended.

Barbara Steele, looking unique!

With the end of December now here, in come some very cold temps.  It's going to be a shock; we've been out walking nearly every single day of the holidays so far.  This afternoon we finally got the outdoor water taps shut off, and the bird bath heater set up and turned on.  Tomorrow won't be so bad, but watch out after that!  Speaking of tomorrow, we are off to Detroit.  Michigan's largest game store is in our sights!

Saturday, Dec. 27th/14
We are enjoying the last of the very warm days, as winter prepares to return and kick us again.  However, we should sneak through December with no measurable snow.  Which is unheard of.  Usually we get some, then it melts, then it returns, then it melts.  None so far.  Nada.  It's like November and December got switched around.
Christmas Day was fun.  We got to watch two of the three episodes of the new series that we had missed (Robin Hood, and robbing the bank).  There is still one we are missing (Orient Express), as we were off to Ruth's for the afternoon for some gaming and a Scotch tasting.
There were four types of Scotch on the menu, as well as Carcassonne, which was new to Ruth.
Later that night we returned home to watch the newest Doctor Who episode, the annual Christmas special.  This one featured Santa Claus, the north pole, and some very scary aliens.  It was one of the best episodes of the entire first season!  Huzzah!  The new series begins filming in February.
On Boxing Day Amanda came over in the evening.  She brought Star Trek Catan, which she had received for Christmas from her sister.  We played a round of the beginner game and liked it a lot.  Might be getting this one, though it is best with three or more players.
I've managed to keep practicing, and we have had our daily long walks.  May the holidays continue, unabated.

Wednesday, Dec. 24th/14
At last a few normal days have come along.  Despite a quick trip to a very busy town today, we have managed to lie pretty low.  I've enjoyed my daily piano practice (on my newly tuned piano), my naps, my reading, our walks, some London pub guide research, and a continuation of my lifetime work studying my thousands of NM maps!
I also managed to write up and publish the blog entry on our trip to Buffalo.  To read it and see some photos, go to the right, beneath the large photo and click on American Midwest Travel Blog.
The weather has been delightful so far this month, and there is no snow on the ground.  We might just get through the entire month, too.  Today it was very mild and foggy, but this evening a fiercely strong wind has come up.  Colder, more seasonal temps are on tap for tomorrow, but it should warm up again this weekend.
Christmas night is the winter Dr. Who special, and all day tomorrow they are showing episodes of the new series.  We have missed three with the latest Doctor, but should be able to catch two of them before the special.
Tomorrow afternoon we are initiating a Scotch and Whiskey tasting at our friend Ruth's house.  I have four different types of Scotch and 2 kinds bourbon whisky.  Then home for the Dr.  Who special!

Monday, Dec. 22nd/14
We seem to be keeping ourselves pretty busy so far this holiday period.  I had hoped for lots of piano practice, reading, some long walks...there is still some time for those, but it's not going to be that easy.
Today I went on a Detroit pub crawl with Amanda and Ruth, with our driver Deb.  We began at Motor City Brewing Company, which was fun, then walked across the street to Traffic Jam and Snug.  Both places brew great beer, but TJs excels in food also, so we ate lunch there.  Then it was down the street to Hopcat, the newest pub on the block, with 130 tap handles.  We finished up at Avalon Bakery for coffee and dessert before heading back home.  Even though it was a mid-day Monday, every place was either very busy or jammed with people, even all the little shops in between.  Good times!
Yesterday was our observance of the Winter Solstice.  As usual, it was an awesome day filled with music ("Die Walkure"), food, drink (for me) and looking through our two art books we purchased in Buffalo.
The Buffalo trip was centered around an exhibit of paintings by Charles Burchfield, one of our favourite artists.  I will do an entire blog entry on the whole journey on my Midwest Travel Blog in the very near future (when I get some time).  We left Friday at noon hour and returned by 6 pm Saturday.  So there has been very little time for anything else so far.  Tomorrow is a normal day for me, but Deb is off to physio in the morning for her shoulder, and then has to go and get her monthly blood test.  After this, things may return to normal for
a day or two.  Back to Detroit Friday, and then again Monday.  Fun times are here, but not for musician hermits.

Wednesday, Dec. 17th/14
The weather has turned wintry again, after a five-day hiatus of wonderfully mild temps.  Looks like we are in for it from here on in, though no snow on the ground as yet, and none forecast.
We returned to Detroit on Monday, first heading to King Books.  We traded in two boxes and came out with three books.  We need to keep doing this.  One of the three books is a decent hardcover edition of Frankenstein, with some colour plates.  I'll try to get around to it over the holiday period. 
We managed to get in the door of Hopcat, the newest craft beer pub just opened in Detroit (some pics and a new blog article can be found in my Midwest Travel Blog, below, right).  130 taps, all very choice selections.  They will change frequently, too.  What a great place!  An afternoon pub crawl is scheduled for next Monday, with Amanda L. and Ruth.
Last night was our final Iaido class of 2014.  As usual, it was an awesome one, headed by Sensei Blok.  Always lots to take home and think about.  He doesn't just teach Iaido, but also a way of living.  Almost everything he teaches about Iaido can be applied to music, too.  Good stuff!  That was my 92nd class since my Shodan test.  At 125 I am eligible to test for Nidan.  The classes will likely be done by April, but I will likely wait until at least June before testing.
We have a whirlwind trip to Buffalo coming up, to see this art exhibit.  This weekend is also our Winter Solstice Celebration!  The Solstice Tree and decorations are up, the wood is stacked and ready for an all-day fire, and the fridge is full of snackies.  We hope to listen to the 2nd opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle, "Die Walkure."  A day of food, fire and music!  At least one day of winter will be banished.

Saturday, Dec. 13th/14

A fun day in Detroit, with lots of walking.  We began by collecting our packages from the mail box, which included a new climbing tree for Gustav the Cat.  So far he hasn't gone near it.  Gotta love cats.  The box it came in is of some interest, however.
Afterwards, we walked in Dearborn.  The Springwells neighbourhood is adjacent to our UPS box location, and we often walk here.  It had been awhile, though.  It's a lovely, peaceful neighbourhood filled with smaller but very fine houses, tucked away from the noisy main streets.
Next, we headed downtown to have a look at the crowds lining up for the opening of Hopcat.  This is a new pub that offers 120 microbrew taps.  The line up was about a thousand feet long!  Perhaps we will try to get in on Monday.  Another funky new place opened downtown, but it, too, had lineups.  Detroit is now as popular as any other big city.  I'm not sure I can stand it.  We are used to having it to ourselves!
We were supposed to go to John King Books, but I forgot my trade books at home.  Postponed.  We did go to Whole Foods, where we found no less than 4 kinds of vegan eggnog!!  We came home with three of them.
We went for coffee downtown, to the usually quiet 1515 Broadway Cafe, following a second long walk.  However, the Nutcracker was playing across the street at the Detroit Opera House, and the Detroit Puppet Theatre was on around the corner, so the cafe was quite busy.  There is so much renovation and construction going on downtown and in Mid-town that it is completely unbelievable to someone who has followed the progress (and lack of it) since 1976.  And it's just getting started....
Before heading home we filled up the car with diesel fuel.  It was $2.62 a gallon!  Haven't paid that little in about ten years!!

Thursday, Dec. 11th/14
Three more piano students and the weekend will begin!  I've been working on a London itinerary, trying to balance some days out with time in the capital.  Walking will be the focus, as we continue trying to complete the Capital Ring (15 segments that encircle London's Zone 3) and the London Loop (15 segments that encircle Zone 6--a much more ambitious walk).  We are not even halfway through them as yet, but perhaps by October!
Deb has been in a sewing frenzy these days, and is rarely seen outside of the basement sewing room.  She buys old kimonos and fabric from Japan (e-Bay) and makes sword and knife bags out of them, as well as small drawstring bags, a traditional part of a Samurai's gear.  She sold a lot of things on Tuesday night and is busy making more.
Oddly enough, after taking one of my diuretics yesterday I had a Meniere's attack.  It consisted of a loud ear buzz in the afflicted right ear, and is usually followed by an intense attack of vertigo.  However, I took some beta histine and it seemed to subside.  Still can't hear worth a damn, but at least the buzzing has quieted.
The temps here are chilly but seasonal.  11 days now into December and no snow yet!  Montreal and Toronto are getting some, but not us.  Yay!

Monday, Dec. 8th/14
It's amazing how much you can cram into a five-day weekend, with still one day remaining!
Today I saw an ear specialist, re: my right ear, which has been firmly plugged since June.  He thinks it's Menieres, and has prescribed a diuretic to see if some of the excess fluid in the inner ear can be drained the good old fashioned way.  My hearing test showed classic Menieres hearing loss in the right ear, which might be permanent.  The hearing loss is bad enough, but the pressure in it changes hour by hour and can sometimes be very intense.  Loud ringing is also a frequent symptom these days.  And so it goes.
We are currently 8 days into December, and no snow is in the immediate forecast.  Good news, indeed.  Who knows, it might even be clear one of these nights.  It was perfectly clear Saturday night, for the full moon.  Usually is.  We had a long lasting fire, and listened to Das Rhinegold, the first opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle.  The other three will follow on successive weekends.
Last Friday was a Detroit day, and I went in search of cask ale in two likely locations.  I struck out both times, but found good second choices.  In addition, we had an incredible lunch at Fort Street Brewery in Lincoln Park.  In addition to our usual perogies smothered in onions and sauerkraut, they had a veggie puff pastry on.  It was fabulous, and reminded us of the veg pot pie at Chimes, in London, UK!  The Scottish Ale was also quite good, preceded by Meantime Russian Imperial Stout at Slows.
Speaking of London, UK, we booked flights for late April!  It will be our first visit there since November 2011!  We are also hoping to visit again in October.  Decent fares were available from Windsor via Air Canada, so we'll give it a try.  We haven't booked rooms yet, as we will likely be outside of London for some of the trip.
Lots of Iaido lately.  We are trying to learn about a dozen new katas that come into the testing program in January.  Tuesday will be my 90th class since my Shodan exam.  At 120 I am eligible to try for Nidan.

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd/14
We watched a little film called "Safety Not Guaranteed," an offbeat independent flic that should be on everyone's radar.  Hilarious, touching and very easy to watch, it tells the story of a magazine reporter and two interns setting off to find the story behind a guy who advertised for a partner to time travel with him.  A gem.

I got out on the back deck tonight (after teaching) with Deb's scope to have a look at the moon.  It is now 11 days old, so it's pretty bright.  I saw some truly wonderful detail on the terminator, things I had never seen before.  Usually when the moon is this bright I don't bother setting up a telescope.  However, Deb's scope is carried out, put on a table and is ready for action!  This is the first clear night since our ill-timed concert back on Nov. 21st, so I had to get outside, even for a few minutes.
I have concluded my eyedrops (31 days worth), and today I revisited my optometrist.  I do not need glasses for distance (or driving), but I will need complicated reading glasses.  If I wish to read novels, music, and a computer screen, it gets very complicated.  We are three days into December, and no snow so far.  Though temps will hover just below normal for the next 10 days, no snow is forecast.  Winter would be so much less complicated with no snow.  It's happened before.

Monday, Dec. 1st/14
Ok, so it's December now.  As a card-carrying Canadian I am no longer able, in good conscience, to complain about the weather (other than the clouds--my astronomy status gives me leave for that).
Things I learned today: 1):  Dot to dot activity books are not what they used to be.  I bought one today geared to adults.  Good stuff!  Nostalgia kicked in, for sure, but when I saw those 125 dot to dot puzzles in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble in Detroit, I couldn't resist.  Well, that's about all I learned today. 
Carrying on with the nostalgia theme, I ordered a paint by number kit from Amazon, a winter close up scene of an owl.  I did these things by the hour when I was a kid.  We'll see how this one goes.
With most of our holiday shopping now done, we can simply relax and watch for our Visa bill to come in.  Best to get it over with early in the month, so as not to overspend later.
My main music goal for this month is to move on to Phase Two of the repertoire memorization project.  Beginning tomorrow I will memorize another 3 movements of the suite by Couperin (I already have six in my head, more or less), along with the 2nd movement of the Beethoven Sonata, Op. 110.  The middle section of the 2nd movement is quite an enigma, seeming to presage those remarkable stream of consciousness sentences by James Joyce in Ulysses.  It will not be fun to memorize.
Next weekend we begin listening to the Wagner Ring Cycle!  Can't wait!  We recently finished the 6-album set of Ravel's complete songs, which I absolutely adored and will hear again.  Lots of very good Symbolist poetry, too.  We also heard 24 concerti by Vivaldi, his Op. 3 and Op. 9, both indispensable to any record library.
We finished watching "Gothic," which I must pronounce as mostly a miserable failure.  However, it did interest me in reading (for the first time) Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  It was fun seeing Detroit's painting featured prominently, too ("The Nightmare," by Fuseli).

Despite great casting and a wonderful setting, Ken Russel went way overboard in showing us what influenced the author of Frankenstein.  At least it finally nudged me into reading the novel.

Friday, Nov. 28th/14
Deb is doing rather well of late.  The metho and her infusion drug seem to be doing the trick for her.  Of course it's a game to see how long her liver can tolerate the metho.  Last year she went for nearly six months before being cut back, then cut off.  We haven't heard anything back from her recent bloodwork, so she will likely get at least one more month of it.  Hopefully the lower dosage can continue indefinitely.
It was a slippery, slidey drive to Iaido open practice tonight.  There was just enough snow to make the roads very greasy.  I was heartened to discover that I have 85 class credits since my Shodan test.  I need a minimum of 120 before I can test for Nidan (2nd degree black belt).  I'm hoping to have 90 before the Christmas break.
I have a specialist appointment a week from this Monday for my plugged up ear.  I've also been getting some helpful advice from Taedem, a FB friend and former student.  She too suffers from a similar ailment.  More on her cure idea later, after I give it a go for a few days.
We had to go into several shops today, and managed not to encounter any "Black Friday" madness.  I suspect most serious shoppers were across the border, where the true madness lay.
An entire lunar cycle has passed, and I was unable to get out and observe.  I will likely have to wait now until spring to really try out my left eye, which is a huge disappointment.  We had one clear night (I had to attend a concert).
We do observe from the back deck in winter, but light conditions are so poor back there that very faint objects won't be seen no matter what kind of eye one has.  Still, even looking at the Pleiades and Orion Nebula should be much more pleasurable now.  I will certainly report on it here when I get to find out.
We are currently rewatching Ken Russell's "Gothic," a fictitious account of a night spent in an Italian mansion in June, 1816 by Percy and Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, his physician, and Mary's half-sister, Claire.  The movie dates from 1986, and we have not seen it in decades.  Like a lot of Russell's films, it's wildly overdone and melodramatic.  Natasha Richardson makes her film debut as Mary Shelley, as we gain insight into what led her to write the novel "Frankenstein" while still a teen.  Byron's doctor, Polidori, would write Vampyre.  Sadly, I must admit to not having read either novel yet.  I think I will pick up a copy of each this Monday when we visit John King Books.  We are 3/4ths through the film.  More on it tomorrow.

Monday, Nov. 24/14
After two days of seasonal and above seasonal temps, we are back to winter with a vengeance.  Most of southern Ontario is getting hammered by fierce winds right now.  So far our power is still on, but not so for many thousands of others.  Along with the wind comes a strong cold front, with freezing temps right behind it.  Yay.
I had been depressed the last two days because our wood stove's electric igniter is broken and cannot be replaced.  However, we learned today that most people start their stoves manually.  So Huzzah!  We are back in the super warm house business!  There are many methods of starting it manually.  The problem is that the blower runs for five minutes before the auger starts up and feeds pellets to the firebox.  Tonight we started it with a piece of fire starter, the same kind used in fireplaces or campfires.  It works even better than the auto system did, as heat is produced right away, instead of taking about ten minutes to ignite.
I went back to see my family doctor today regarding my right ear, which has been plugged since June.  Right now I have about 5-10% hearing in my right ear.  I went for sinus x-rays, and he will send me to a specialist.  He's still convinced it's a blocked eustachian tube.  Nothing can be done medically for this.  It's supposed to eventually drain and unblock itself.  And so I wait.
In eyeball news, I have one more day of twice daily drops, then I scale back to once daily for my final week.  I already have an appointment with my optometrist for Dec. 3rd.  Can't wait to get proper reading glasses.

Saturday, Nov. 22nd/14
Last night it was clear.  There were stars visible in a beautiful, dark sky.  It was the first really good night for the November session, and by the look of the forecast, it will be the only clear night.  The only problem was that we had two relatively expensive tickets to a solo piano recital in Detroit.  I informed Deb more than a week ago that it would be perfectly clear during that concert, and guess what?  I was right!  I can predict the weather far better than any meteorologist.  Just pick a night when we have a commitment, and it will be remarkably clear (loud scream of frustration at this point).  It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't really (justifiably) eager to try out my new cyborg left eye on some faint telescopic objects._
Fortunately, the concert was fabulous (so was dinner).  Paul Barnes played a solo program of music written by living composers, including one who is 21 years of age.  It was a memorable and worthwhile concert, and I'm glad we went, despite the $45 parking ticket we got.  Up yours, Detroit.
Today we stayed home.  It went well above freezing for the first time in 10 days.  Until Monday the weather will remain seasonal.  After that, it's back to winter.  We managed a walk later in the day.  However, when we awoke this morning, there was a thin coating of ice atop the car and the driveway, sidewalks, etc.  There were likely a lot of visits to hospitals today due to slip and falls.  Very dangerous situation.

Wednesday, Nov. 19th/14
Back to work, after a nice little break.  Five students now done, nine to go for tomorrow.  Still cold.  Still snowing.  However, after last winter it's like we've just fallen back into our winter routine.  Was there a summer?  I can't remember...
We finished watching La Dolce Vita, my favourite Fellini flic.  I don't think he did another film better than this one.   Each episode is brilliant cinema.  I can't wait to watch it again.  The ending, where he encounters the young 'Angel from Perugia' for a second time, is such a perfect way to end this film that it just defies description.  Despite pretty well knowing what is going to happen to Marcello from here on in, I would still love to watch a sequel, if only one had been made.

Marcello and the 'Angel', in the final scene of La Dolce Vita.  A tragic ending, as they are unable to hear one another.  Marcello is instead now lost to mere worldly pleasures, unable to reconnect with Innocence.

Monday, Nov. 17th/14
The weather goes from bad to worse.  We have left December and have now moved on into January.  WTF?  Last year, the worst winter I can remember since moving here in 1976, didn't really begin until Nov. 23rd (more than a month before it usually does).  This year it arrived on the 12th.  Last night's little bit of snow did not melt.  That tells you the situation here.  Usually anything up to 2" or 3" this time of year is gone by early afternoon.  Not this time.  The winds are currently howling, the temperature is falling, and we await tomorrow when the high temperature will be approximately 22 F below the normal for this time of year (27 F is expected, instead of near 40 F).  It has all the makings of a worse winter than last year. 
I am still living off the high of yesterday's Detroit day, from all the wonderful little shops, cafes, and new pub we visited, to the most amazing piano recital I have been to in years.  I have always wanted to learn the Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven.  The third movement is a real finger cracker, but it can be done.  Coming first on yesterday's program, it was the easiest of the five major pieces performed.  Jon Kimura Parker spoke to the audience between pieces.  He came out after the Moonlight and said that he was certainly warmed up now.  For me, learning that sonata would be a major life project.  For him, it's a warmup piece for the difficult ones ahead.  Ha ha.  I think I'll just go and shoot myself now.
Every once in a while I head to the basement and discover record albums that I own but have never heard.  Years ago I got to pick any classical albums I wanted from a vast collection that belonged to the deceased husband of a friend.  I went crazy and literally filled up my basement with records, still barely making a dent in the original collection.  I probably took about 5% of the ones available to me, probably less.
Anyway, I just discovered a 3-album box set down there of the complete songs of Ravel!  The booklet that comes with it not only has all the lyrics in French and English, but also has a marvellous essay on this important oeuvre of Ravel.  He is one of my very favourite and most highly respected composers.  I began listening tonight, and I am completely captivated and enthralled!  This is a major discovery, and will become a regular listening feature for me.
We have another 6 Delius concerts prepared, as we are about to enter the 3rd phase of his composing career, beginning with the works composed during WW1.  First I want to hear these Ravel songs, though.  December has been set aside as Wagner's Ring Cycle Month.  The four operas will be heard during the month, hopefully finishing up by the New Year.
Perhaps winter cannot be avoided completely, but there are ways to push it into the background...

Sunday, Nov. 16th/14
Detroit and its suburbs are the main reason we still live in this area.  Without them we would be long gone.  We had an amazing and fun day today, climaxed by a most incredible piano recital by Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker.  This was piano playing above and beyond great piano playing.  I haven't heard such wonderful playing throughout a full concert since Ivan Moravec days.  His concert today was entitled "Fantasy," and he performed five of them.  He began with Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, following up with Schumann's incredibly massive and amazing Fantasy, which he wrote in two stages two years apart.  After intermission came Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy, and two Fantasies on Hollywood movies, the first one featuring music from several Bernard Herrmann films, and the other from Wizard of Oz.  The audience was not large, but was most appreciative.
We crossed over earlier in the day, avoiding the busier lunch time border tieups.  I got to a new taproom, we visited three terrific grocery stores, the last one in a little village still in the Detroit metro area but seemingly dozens of miles away (Franklin).  Franklin's main street has a bank, cafe, park, cider mill, the grocery store and a few other commerical establishments, and a fire station.  We had driven through once on the way to a concert.  It is hidden and out of the way, but not really far from any of some of our main hangouts.  We managed two cafes and a large bookstore, too.  Lunch was at a noodle place, and despite the cold and wind, we managed a walk as well.
Deb had a very good day, two in a row now.  We are hoping she has turned the corner yet again.  The Methotrexate and Symponi are supposed to work well together, and after about 17 days I would tend to agree.  Her infusion was last Thursday, and apart from some nausea the next day she has been improving.  Mornings have been very bad for her lately, but much less so this weekend.
We are curently watching "La Dolce Vita," one of my very favourite films.  I try to see it about every two years or so, though I could watch it more often than that.  We are watching a newly restored print by Criterion.  Watching and listening to Anita Ekberg howl along with some dogs outside of Rome at night is always a welcome highlight of the film!
Winter weather continues, with some snow falling tonight.  We are prepared for winter, though we don't like it.  Some very serious cold temps are on the way for mid-week.  As we approach new moon, it looks fairly hopeless for any astronomy at all this month.  Already looking forward to spring skies...

Thursday, Nov. 13th/14
Today was certainly one of the busier days of my retirement life.  It's been that way a lot lately.  The day began with two doctor appointments, one for each of us.  I dropped Deb off in Tecumseh for her bi-monthly infusion, then hurried into Windsor for my final eye checkup.  My eye is healing well, though it is still swollen.  It usually takes a month for it to fully settle down.  At that point I can return to my optometrist for reading glasses.  At least I'm down to 3 drops per day, instead of 9.  Afterwards, I went back to Tecumseh to pick up Deb, who was waiting in a nearby cafe.
Home for lunch.  The tree guys showed up to finish the job (Rylee's nose is a mess--uggh).  My advanced student came for her lesson.  Even though it is a non-teaching week, Alicia has missed so many lessons that I offered her one this week.
After the lesson Deb and I went for a walk.  I haven't yet discussed the current weather situation.  I will now, and later.  As predicted, winter has descended upon us.  It is windy, very cold (normal high today is 50 F; it only got to 34 F today--this will last for at least 10 days).  I haven't yet mentioned that it snowed today.  I will now.  It snowed today.  There is only one word I could use right now to properly describe how I feel about that, but as this is a family rated website, I won't use it.  There is snow on my car as I write this, as well as on my back deck.
Speaking of my back deck, it was finally clear enough tonight to set up a telescope (briefly) on the back deck.  I have been itching to try out my new eye!  I set up Deb's 6" scope (it was windy and 27 F) and had a look.
First up was a bright star.  Deneb looked amazing with the new eye, and focussed perfectly.  No diffraction, no aberrations.  Big, bright and beautiful!  Next came a famous double star, Albireo.  First the right eye.  A lovely pair, deep yellow and a rich blue.  Gorgeous.  Now the left eye.  It was as if someone suddenly plugged in the two stars, and they began to glow like Christmas lights.  Bingo!  I needn't have gone further.  I did.  Star clusters.  Brighter, richer, more 3-D in appearance.  Background and field stars--brighter by far.  I tried a fairly faint galaxy (eg 205, alias M110).  The right eye showed it big, pretty bright, and oval.  The left eye doubled the brightness, doubled the size, and showed a blazingly bright center, along with a really elliptical shape.  Okay, that cinches it.  Time to get the right eye done, too!

Wednesday, Nov. 12th/14
Well, Rylee the tree guy showed up bright and early this morning.  All went well for the first half of the day.  Then he got whacked in the face by a falling branch that snapped back at him.  Off to the hospital to get his nose glued back together.  Jesus!  And his uncle was helping him, and lost his cell phone.  He later found it--it had been on the back bumper of his truck, and he had backed right over it, demolishing it.  So our yard is half done, with branches and logs lying about everywhere.  Will we ever see these guys again?  Hopefully they will come back and finish up, so they can at least get paid.
Meanwhile, snug, warm and safe inside the house we watched a remarkable film called "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia." 

It won the main prize at Cannes in 2011 (Grand Prix).  It's a very low key film, and there are only two small parts for women.  All the leads are men.  A police chief, a prosecutor, a doctor, a confessed murderer and several underlings embark on a three-car journey to recover a body buried by the two murderers.  Taking place mostly in the steppes far from Ankara, the night time filming is remarkable, as is the dialogue and acting.  Not very much happens as far as plot goes, but a lot does happen regardless.  The late night visit to a small village for some food and rest is a highlight, as is the sub-story that takes place between the prosecutor and the doctor.  Easy to watch despite its formidable length, this is a highly recommended film for foreign film buffs.

Tuesday, Nov. 11th/14
It has now been a full week since my eye surgery.  My left eye now has excellent distance vision.  I am driving and walking around without glasses now.  It began on Sunday.  When I looked out our window across the street I could read a road sign without glasses on.  Yesterday I drove to Ann Arbor and back without glasses.  There is still some glare from lights, but I think that is mainly related to the 9x daily eyedrops I have been receiving.  Beginning tomorrow that gets reduced to 3x daily.
Deb went and got her blood work done today.  It will likely be next week before she hears anything.
Tomorrow Riley the Tree Guy comes to take down a large maple in our backyard.  It is pressing into my two beloved white pine trees, and therefore must go.  It should help with our east sky for astronomy, too.
Speaking of Wednesday, that is the day that winter weather arrives.  Monday and Tuesday were two of the nicest autumn days of this year, but autumn weather is done.  The ten day forecast shows nothing warmer than 39 F., with most days being much colder.  Instant and unwelcome winter is arriving as I type.  Ridiculous to be going through all of this once again, after last year's horror story that was winter.  It's going to be a long haul until April.
Thursday it's double doctor day.  Deb has her infusion in Tecumseh at 10:15, and I see my eye doctor again for a final followup at 10:30.  In three more weeks I can visit my optometrist to get some reading glasses.  Even though my distance vision is near perfect, it is impossible for me to read without glasses.
We enjoyed a long, pleasant walk today through the canals and houses in Edgewater, as well as in our nearby back field with its large pond and grassy trail.   Other than Iaido (tonight and Friday) we have no other plans this week.  It's a non-teaching week, too!  Reading, writing, practicing, gaming and watching movies!  The indoor season begins.
Speaking of movies, we recently watched Pasolini's version of Oedipus Rex.  In glowing colour and filmed in the spectacular desert of Morocco, it is as visually stunning as his Medea.  He sticks pretty close to Sophocles' story, and the film itself is nowhere near as avante garde as Medea.  The music is less interesting, too.  He focuses mostly on the story, one of the best, as well as the character Oedipus.  Back in Greek and Roman days, once the Gods had decreed something, there was nothing that could be done to prevent it.  In fact, as in Oedipus' case, it was his attempt to prevent what the oracle had predicted from happening that led to it actually happening.  One of the truly great stories from Greek myth, and brilliantly told here by Pasolini.  The director appears in the film at one point, with a fairly long speech.  Both films, Medea and Oedipus Rex are highly recommended.

Monday, Nov. 10th/14
It was a rather epic day, in a good sense.  We began with a visit to Deb's regular doctor.  More blood work has been ordered to see if she has issues with hormones and/or blood sugar, as well as iron, etc.  Her blood pressure is on the low side of normal, being 90 over 60.  Her heart meds keep it low, but this can cause light-headedness and perhaps some nausea.  So can prolonged standing!  Last month we did have some very long nights at the observatory, about when her newest issues began.  Anyway, today was a good day for Deb.
We went to Ann Arbor, MI, heading to bookstores, record and cd stores, cafes, pubs, a bead store a food coop and an upscale grocers.  We found the books we were searching for, and a few other goodies, too.  It was sunny, near 60 F., and was probably the last great day of autumn coming our way.  It is currently snowing and sleeting in Sudbury, and cold weather will envelop us down south beginning on Wed., for an indefinite period.  It looks like another early start to a long, cold winter.  Curses!

The beer board at one of my favourite Ann Arbor pubs!  I enjoyed a glass of cask ale, their American Mild.  It was delicious, more British than American, and made me long for London.

Lunch was at the buffet restaurant Earthen Jar, where you pay by the pound.  It is all vegetarian Indian food, with more than half of the offerings being vegan.  The food is top notch, and is a favourite place of ours.

Saturday, Nov. 8th/14
The annual Tarot reading took place on Samhain, Oct. 31st.  Each of us chose nine cards, one for each quarter and cross-quarter, along with one for the entire year.  The quarter cards are valid for about 6 weeks.  The readings are story based, but also strongly influenced by the title of the card and the visuals.  Despite shuffling the cards ad infinitum, we seem to draw from a very small pool.  Despite having done this for years and years, there are many cards we have never drawn.  I have had The Seeker before, as well as Sword Eight, though not necessarily in the same placement.

The Seeker is my guiding card from Oct. 31st until Dec. 21st.  It implies that I should be expanding my horizons, allowing as many new experiences to come into my life as possible.  Though it would seem a good time to travel, for instance, this isn't necessarily what the card meaning is.  There are more ways of Seeking than meet the eye.  The card is not a prediction; rather it suggests that an expansion of one's world would be appropriate at this time.  Last year we visited Tucson during this time bloc, thus it is an opportune time for us to travel.  However, I will have to do my seeking this year in different circumstances.  I will report on this as the quarter continues...

Sword Eight is my Year card, guiding me until next Oct. 31st.  Unlike my Quarter card, which is a Greater Power in the Arthurian Tarot Deck, this is normally an average card, from the Sword suit.  However, to me this card has great significance.  Any sword card obviously applies well to me (and to Deb), as I work on perfecting my Iaido skills and attempt to test for Nidan sometime during the year.  The card pinpoints my location, as I am currently rooted in the marshes of Essex County, and at considerable distance from the mountains where I long to be.  I have had this card before, but never as a year card.  One of my possible goals this year is to climb Wheeler Peak, the highest point in NM.  It has been on my bucket list for about 30 years now.  Perhaps it is time to face up to the challenge and get on with preparations...
In a more metaphorical sense, I am not where I wish to be, and need to work both hard and cunningly to get out of my current circumstance.

Friday, Nov. 7th/14
I had a pretty good group session tonight with my piano students.  Nine of them performed, and they did quite well.  Two of the younger ones, Sarah and Julia, did exceptionally well!  Of the nine players that came, four were boys.  Two of my top players are boys, and a third, younger one is showing a lot of promise.  The Savoni home is one of the loveliest on the river, just up the road from my house.  The grand piano sits in front of a floor to ceiling window with views onto the Detroit River.  Knowing the owners they would probably allow me to perform my own concerts there, too.  Might be worth a try.
I wrote another two blog entries today on my astronomy site, making it seven for the week.  I will take a bit  of a break, and then write several more later in the month.  Most are observation reports, but a few are geared towards how to see some of the objects that I seek.  Many of the objects are very small and very faint, and require a certain amount of skill and experience to locate.
Regarding travel plans for 2015, we have several options before us.  I am eager to attempt New Mexico's highest summit, Wheeler Peak.  The number of years left to me when I can even attempt it are few, and it might take several attempts.  If the weather turns bad, one must simply turn around and try on another day.  Luckily it is a day hike, so no overnight planning needs to be done.  An attempt could be made in late Spring, and again in early Autumn.  Either suits my schedule, though it's easier to train in the Spring (less heat).  Other options include a conference in Colorado Springs in July, an Amtrak ride to San Francisco in early September, and a return to England in October.  These are being discussed, but no firm plans are likely to be made yet.  Shorter trips include possible visits to Buffalo, NY, and Kansas City, KS.
Despite my eye surgery on Tuesday, I was able to practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  I'm having some trouble reading and focusing up close, as the left eye has not really settled in yet.  I will need reading glasses still, but am hoping that my dependence on glasses for distance vision diminishes.  Intense eye drops continue for four more days, before beginning to taper off over the rest of the month following the surgery.  So far everything is totally fine.

Thursday, Nov. 6th/14
I had my first shower since Monday night, followed by a busy afternoon and evening of teaching.  We still managed a bit of a full moon celebration.  Deb baked a chocolate cake, we had a fire, and I imbibed in a shot of dark rum.  We also concluded our Delius opera, "A Village Romeo and Juliet."  It's a wonderful work, filled with some of the loveliest music ever composed.  Next up is the Wagner Ring Cycle, which we will attempt to get through by Winter Solstice.
My left eye is much more normal today, and getting better as time passes.  I am curious to see how far towards normal vision it will get.  I am still no used to the whiteness of whites.  I can't wait to compare it with my right eye on a faint galaxy in the telescope eyepiece.  However, being November that could be a long time in the future.  If it ever does clear in November, the temperatures are usually quite a shock to the system.
I have finally been catching up with my astronomy backlog.  It's been such a busy summer and autumn that I have not blogged much on my astronomy site.  In the past week I have written five new entries, with a sixth already started.
Tomorrow my students will come together for a group lesson at the Savoni home, just up the street.  They have a grand piano and a large room.  I teach their three children in their home.  Most of my students are playing amazingly well this early in the season, and I am quite happy.  It should be a successful class!
My next blog entry will hopefully deal with my tarot cards, featuring both my year card and the one that takes me through to Dec. 21st.

Wednesday, Nov. 5th/14
My 24 hour post-op check up with Dr. Emara went fine.  Everything looks great!  The nurse could not tell which eye had had surgery!  A lot of drops are still going in, and will for the next month.  Nine per day right now.  I am already noticing a huge difference.  For instance, I always assumed that white was white.  Nope.  Things that are now white with the left eye are quite yellow with the right one.  Things that are bright and strongly coloured with the left are now faded and somewhat tawdry with the right eye.  An amazing difference!  I will see Emara once more in one week, and then my optometrist in one month.  I may plan to get my left eye done before the spring observing season.  I'm still waiting for a bit of haze to go away when I look at lights at night.  The doctor says that should be gone in a week or so.
I also got my seasonal flu shot today, at the pharmacy where my eye doctor is. 
In other news, Deb took her 2nd batch of Metho last night.  She had a bit of of nausea today, but overall her pain seems to have diminished a bit already.  If only.
This is a long week of teaching, with an added group performance class on Friday afternoon.  However, next week we have off (except for two doctor appts. for Deb and one for me)!

Tuesday, Nov. 4th/14
Surgery went fine today--I was in and out in 3 1/2 hours.  The actual surgery took about five minutes, but the prep took a long time (eyedrops, pre-anaesthetic).  You are awake for the surgery, but barely.  I came home (driven by Deb) and slept for a couple of hours.  I am currently wearing a plastic eye patch over the left eye, taped to my face with masking tape!  The vision in that eye is quite blurry, but much brighter due to my enlarged pupil.  I have a week ahead that restricts lifting objects that weigh more than 10 pounds, and I am not allowed to bend forward.  I can't shower until Thursday (sorry Wed. piano students), and when washing my hair cannot get water/soap in that eye.
We have managed to return to our Delius listening program recently, and today I sat and listened to the first four scenes from his opera "A Village Romeo and Juliet."  I have heard it twice before, but now that I have been well steeped in his aura, I am enjoying it even more this time around.  There will likely be a lot of listening to music over the next several days. 
Tomorrow morning I return to my surgeon for a quick check up.  The plastic eye patch can come off then, and we'll see how well I see...

Monday, November 3rd/14
My final day as a normal human being was a rather busy one.  This time tomorrow I will be a virtual cyborg, with a new lens in my left eye.  8 of the 10 pre-surgery drops are in, with one left for tonight and one for tomorrow morning.  Nothing to eat or drink after midnight, not even water.  Check into hospital at 10 am tomorrow, and hopefully out by around 1 pm.  Deb has to accompany me.  Due to the anaesthetic I am unable to drive home.
Today we went for groceries, cat food, and Deb's flu shot.  I'll get my shot next week.  Then I drove the lawn mower around for awhile, mulching the millions of leaves that have gathered on our lawn.  Then I trimmed the back hedge, so Deb could see out of her harp room window.  Lastly, we took down the decorations.  Very very lastly, I prepared the wood stove, cleaning it and refilling it with pellets.  No lifting for me for about a week.  If all goes really really well, I hope to post briefly here tomorrow sometime.  If not, then Wed. for sure.

Saturday, November 1st/14
We had a really fun day, despite record low temperatures backed by strong winds.  Last night was one of the windiest nights I can remember here, and certainly the coldest October finish ever.  Looks like another one of those polar vortex winters will be coming our way.  If this is true, it is seriously time to think about moving to the Southwest desert.
Our Samhain celebration last night was a good one, and we have started our new year with new Tarot cards (Arthurian).  More on those at a later date, but both my Year card and my cross-quarter one are very apropos.  Same with Deb's.
Today we went to the DIA to see their Day of the Dead display, and then visited Woodlawn Cemetery.  We were dressed for winter, and needed it.  The strong wind and the temps in the 30s F. were offset by some sunshine, but it wasn't a real nice day out there.  Sudbury got themselves a decent snowstorm, too.
Today I began my eye-drop routine.  I have to have drops for 32 days, three different kinds.  From now till Tuesday I take one kind 3x daily, then once on surgery day (Tuesday).  The big regime begins Wed., with nine drops a day for the first week afterwards, from three different prescriptions, then gradually downhill from there for three more weeks.  Hah--what could possibly go wrong with the surgery that drops couldn't cure?!!

Wed., Oct. 29th/14
I haven't exactly been ignoring this blog.  I wrote up a very long entry on Monday.  However, when I attempted to load a picture at the very end, the entire computer crashed.  I lost the entire entry.  So much for remembering to save often.
Last weekend was an astronomy orgy, with Saturday and Sunday nights being spectacularly clear.  Sunday was the better of the two, but they were both excellent.  Jennie and Amanda, visiting from Toronto, came out with us on Sat. night.  It was open house at the observatory.  I was prepared to show them the autumn constellations and several deep sky objects,  However, Randy G. was out with his 22", so I sent them over to him for a far superior view of the sky for much of the night.  There was also a 28" scope on scene, in addition to the club's 14" and my 12".  A regular star party!
At one point I walked over and had a peek at the Veil Nebula through Randy's scope.  In short, it is likely the finest view of any object I have ever had through an eyepiece, in over 45 years of observing.  That telescope is a keeper.
Yesterday we returned to see Deb's Rheumatologist.  She has been slipping back a little lately.  She is being sent to her own physician for some blood work, to check on things like blood sugar and hormones.  She has been hurting a lot more of late.  He also put her back on Methotrexate.  She was on this drug at first, but it was too hard on her liver.  She is back on it, but at half dosage.  The two drugs she now takes (bi-monthly infusions and weekly Metho.) apparently work very well together.  We are hoping her liver can handle things.  Deb has to have monthly blood work again to keep tabs on her liver.
I am now less than a week from my eye surgery.  I've already rearranged some of my teaching.
I am sitting here awaiting delivery of our new clothes dryer.  Excitement is running pretty high.

Friday, Oct. 25th/14
We finally got a decently clear night last Wednesday.  We rushed out after teaching and were set up by 9 pm.  It turned into a wonderful night of observing, and we packed up at 2 am, cold but happy!  Saturday and Sunday are also looking pretty good right now.  Woot! 
Our 95 year old clothes dryer finally bit the dust, and it's time to bite the bullet and purchase a new one.  That is tomorrow's project.  Also, I completely buggered up the upstairs computer a few nights ago trying to load an old game.  Oops!  Luckily a guy from our dojo does repairs.  He had it fixed in about 20 minutes, and he left me a copy of Windows XP!  Thanks, Shaun!  On the downside, Shaun is leaving next week for a new job in the Northwest Territories.  No second chances for my gaming computer.
I managed to give the lawn its final cut of the year (all three of them) this afternoon.  A lot of leaves are down already.  This will be the last weekend of observing where we will get some help from the trees by keeping the sky a bit darker.
And we got our Samhain decorations up!  It's starting to feel like an important pagan holiday is almost here. 
In final news, Amanda and Jennie are in town.  We should be seeing them tomorrow.
That is all for now.  Good night.

Tuesday, Oct. 21st/14
"Thirst" turned out to be a very different kind of vampire movie, though gory as hell.  With a priest as the vampire, it throws a whole different twist on the morality of killing people for blood.  He was basically leeching it from people in hospital who weren't dead yet, and was averse to killing.  Then he got hooked to a young Korean girl whom he infected.  When she, too, turned into a vampire, conflict ensued.  Watchable, funny and interesting.
Ten cloudy nights now, IN A ROW!  There are words I could use to describe my feelings about that fact, but I will not use them.
In other news, my good friend Caroline, the London filmmaker, has a film trying to make the short list of a contest.  If you have about two minutes to spare, please watch her film pitch and vote for her!
Hoping for clear skies tomorrow, but it could be very cold and breezy.  Should it be overcast, I'm certain to go quite mad.

Monday, Oct. 20th/14
It has now been cloudy nine nights in a row, right during peak observing season.  Tomorrow makes ten, and then we finally have a clear sky predicted for Wednesday.  Of course that is a teaching evening, so we will have a late departure from home and a set up at the observatory in complete darkness.  When it's clear, astronomy is a wonderful hobby.  It's not too bad if there are a few cloudy nights at a time, either.  However, ten nights of clouds and rain in succession?
We bought a new bike rack for the Golf today.  Deb is enthused about biking again, so we'll try and get out there a few times before the weather closes in.  We also went to Detroit for the afternoon, enjoying lunch at Detroit Beer Company downtown.
Iaido has become somewhat more challenging, as about 17 new katas are being added to the mix, and will be included on future tests beginning in January.  Senior students are expected to learn them all to assist in teaching them to juniors.  So in addition to my Nidan test material, I now have 16 additional katas on my plate.  That is a lot of new stuff, casting doubt on whether I will be ready for testing next summer.  We had a good class last night, concentrating on just two of the new katas.
At a game store in Indiana last weekend, we purchased a tile game called Carcassonne: The Castle.  This is a stand-alone game for two players only.  We tried it tonight and were not impressed.  It's a very low scoring game until the very end, when suddenly scoring hell breaks loose.  I am not convinced this game should have been published, though I will try it again before adding it to the pile of kindling beside the fireplace.

Saturday, Oct. 18th/14
I've been busy with the Indiana updates on my new blog, and haven't had much time to write here.  It's been one week since the last clear night.  On that night, as fine as it was, the moon rose at 9:30 pm, giving us a very short session.  The next few nights look cloudy, too.  At least there's been time around here for other things, like reading, writing and piano practice.  However, with winter temperatures already arriving at night, observing might be nearly done for the year.  Last year October was very good to us, but Nov. and Dec. were outrageously cold and cloudy (and snowy).  With the exceptionally cool summer we have just experienced, I do not have high hopes for a mild winter, either.
Amanda L. will be visiting this weekend.  We missed her last time, as we were in California.  Looking forward to it!
It's also time to decorate the house for Samhain.  Tomorrow and Monday it shall be.  The wood stove was cranking out heat a few times today, and temps will sink into the 30s overnight.
Not much planned for Sunday--laundry and piano in the morning, and Iaido in the evening.  Monday may be a Detroit excursion.
Chan-wook Park is a South Korean film director and screen writer, and we have recently come across three of his films.  The first was Lady Vengeance, from 2005.  Disturbing and violent, it tells of a young woman who took a long prison sentence to protect a child murderer.  Once out of prison, however, she has plans for the guy who really did it.  It's an extraordinary movie, very stylish but quite hard to watch.  This is the third  film of the director's Vengeance trilogy.  Haven't seen the others yet.

Next, we watched Joint Security Area, a taut mystery that takes place on the border between North and South Korea.  Violent and bloody, the same murder scene is shown from different viewpoints, as the truth slowly comes to light.  This was a very good film, but the dubbed version we had sounded like it was cartoon voices.  Highly recommended, especially if subtitled.

There is a wonderful final image in the movie, too.  Quite a different sort of "buddy" movie.
Thirdly, we are currently watching Thirst, a unique vampire movie, also written and directed by Park.  A priest offers himself for scientific medical research to help stop a deadly virus.  Of 50 people who tried the vaccine, only he survives.  However, he soon develops a powerful thirst for blood.  We're still watching this one, and it's pretty gross so far.

Not sure we'll make it through all the way, but if we do I'll let you know!  I will be checking into several more of his films.

Wednesday, October 15th/14
I have begun writing a new blog, one that will allow more space for discussion and photos of our adventures closer to Detroit.  I am currently writing a three or four part entry about our recent trip to Indiana.  While a failure astronomically, the trip was fun in many other ways.  Speaking of astronomy, we are now in prime observing season.  The weather continues to be bleak, with rain, clouds and storms predicted for the near future.
To find the new blog, look for Midwest Travel at upper left, opposite.  I will post here when an update arrives, but check back often anyway.

Tuesday, October 14th/14
Though we had a really fun trip to Indiana and Ohio, cloudy nights ruined any attempt to hook up with astronomy buffs in that area.  It rained a lot, and was cloudy for the entire trip.  We hiked, ate and drank at some fine pubs, hung out at cool cafes, and strolled some rejuvenated small town main streets.  It was a refreshing getaway, and pretty close to home, too.

Craft beer is everywhere, and so are vegetarian options.  We discovered possibly the coolest brewpub ever, and hope to make a return visit someday soon.  Sorry, but you will have to pay me to find out where it is.  Or come with us when we return.  Great beer, and an atmosphere that cannot be beat!  And I didn't even mention the food.  Hint:  it's not far from the courthouse pictured above.
It was a fairly nasty drive home from northwest Ohio today, with many periods of heavy rain along with the inevitable heavy truck traffic.  It was still worth it, and we'd love to do it again, maybe with bikes next time, as there are all kinds of bike trails there.
We have hung our autumn astronomy poster, a beautiful galaxy in Cepheus, often overlooked by amateur astronomers because it is a bit out there and not as easy to find as some of the more popular ones.  Look up images on Google of NGC 6946, also called the "Fireworks" galaxy.  Quite a stunning object!

Saturday, October 11th/14
Dr. Emara is one of two busy ophthalmic surgeons in Windsor.  I got into see him within days, and now have an appointment for cataract surgery on Nov. 4th.  A week after that I should have good vision back in my left eye.  I opted for an upgrade lens ($450 out of pocket), which will supposedly help with night vision and enable me to focus light to a point, which is required for astronomical observing.  If this works, my night vision will actually be enhanced, making dim objects easier to see.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that the right eye is also developing a cataract, so this procedure will likely be repeated in 2015.  This means that if the upgraded left eye lens does not work properly for astronomy, then my observing days are quite numbered.  I should know within one month...

Tuesday, October 7th/14
Two bits of good news: the link to the California trip photos is up and now live.  See the upper left side of this page for a link.
Secondly, I have an appointment with an eye surgeon this Thursday at 10:15!  How's that for service!

Monday, October 6th/14
A somewhat busy afternoon, as I had an eye appointment at 1:30, and arranged to get the VW Tiguan in for service at 1 pm.  Everything worked well, and we even managed to walk back to VW most of the way before the rain hit.  We called for a pick up from them (they drove us to the optometrist in Tecumseh, too).
My left eye cataract is now ready for surgery.  I am awaiting a consultation with a specialist, to be followed by out-patient surgery at a local hospital.  As my left eye was my dominant one, it will be nice to have some decent vision back in it.  Whether it will benefit my telescope observing, only time will tell.  I was told what kind of new lens to request to keep good night vision.
Looking forward to our small-town trip to Indiana.  When we return it will be observing season once again.
Deb painted the entrance way today, after prepping it on Sunday.  It looks quite amazing.  The colour is "Pixie Palace!"  Some of the art we hang looks even more incredible now.  Nice colour.  For a palace.
I have begun work on the final page of the California website update.  Maybe tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Sunday, October 5th/14
Cold weather continues, but it didn't rain.  And the wind is dying down, too.  I'm trying to be optimistic.  And it isn't observing season, either!  Good time to be cloudy.  It doesn't seem right, somehow.  Clear during the new moon and cloudy for the full one.  Oh, wait!  It's a total eclipse of the moon early Wed. morning.  Of course it's going to be cloudy!  HAHAHAH.  As mid-eclipse is around 5 am around here, I wouldn't likely be getting up for it anyway.  However, if I happen to be awake, I will take a peek out the window.
We finally got around to ordering our autumn astronomy wall mural.  We actually ordered three of them, including a winter one.  Want to see them?  Pay us a visit!
I have managed to get two more pages finished on the website, making five so far.  Page Six will be a round up of the craft beer adventures I had, and might be done by tomorrow.  Originally I had hoped to upload the completed site today.  However, life got in the way.  I had two very good piano practices this weekend, as well as a decent Iaido class tonight.  So all is well.
Tomorrow I have an appt. with my optometrist, to check up on my cataract.  The left eye has gotten much worse, so hopefully it will be ready for surgery.  If not, then it will be another year with deteriorating vision in that eye.
As to my ear problems, which I haven't mentioned much lately, they are slowly beginning to subside.  My right ear has been plugged since late June due to allergies, and except for a short respite on our return from California, I have had about 25% or less hearing in that ear.  Now that outdoor pollen season is winding down I am drying out a bit more.  I haven't had a bad ringing ear attack in several weeks now!  It almost feels as if it will never unplug, and I will always have this problem.  Other than taking antihistamines and nasal sprays, there is nothing to be done.

Friday, Oct. 3rd/14
We had lunch today at Seva in Detroit, a veggie restaurant.  Woodward Ave., the main drag, is being torn up for over 3 miles for a new streetcar line.  An 8-lane main artery is down to two lanes.  Near gridlock in and around midtown and downtown.  Still, it was relatively quiet today, no doubt due to the wind and the rain, and the construction.  I had a lovely pint of Final Absolution with my lunch, a Belgian trippel ale from local Dragonmead Brewery.  It went down rather well with my vegan pesto pizza sandwich and kale/bean soup.  Afterwards we went to Whole Foods for a bit of shopping (again, strangely quiet in there).  Back in Windsor, we went to International Market, an Asian grocery store.  There were bowls of noodles for dinner tonight, with veggies and coconut milk.  We bought a vegan pumpkin pie at Whole Foods, and enjoyed a delicious piece each for afters.
I managed to get two more pages of the California website done.  At least three more to go.  Tomorrow is piano day.  If time permits I will try to add another page or two to the website.  I hope to upload it by Sunday or Monday.
Despite the wind and rain today, it was mild and not too bad a day.  Tomorrow, with the wind and rain come drastically falling temps.  It will feel like late October when we wake up.  The wood stove is ready for action.

Thursday, October 2nd/14
A fairly normal day, with a full load of teaching for me this week now completed.  It was nice and mild today, but it is raining now.  Very cold and even wetter weather is to be inflicted upon us this weekend, with Saturday looking particularly nasty.  It will be time to fire up the wood stove.  Deb hopes to paint the entrance hallway on Saturday.  I hope to get my Beethoven and Liszt back to pre-California levels of readiness over the weekend.
Tomorrow is Detroit day.  The usual mailbox run (Deb has a new star atlas arriving) and lunch somewhere funky.  Nearly unlimited choices now.  So amazing!
I have managed to complete about 1/3rd of the website update of the California trip!  If I can get another batch done tomorrow, I might be able to finish it by Saturday (don't hold your breath).

Wed., October 1st/14
We made it through September without having to use the furnace.  We had the wood pellet stove on a few mornings early in the month, but not lately.  We had a small indoor wood fire in our fireplace the day after Equinox, but that was more ceremonial than helping with the heat.  So far so good!  The stove should get us through October, except when we are gone on our upcoming two-night excursion.  If the weather is fine we will be camping.  If not, we will be hoteling.  Either way, we will escape in a few weeks, likely our last trip until next year.
I have selected the California photos for the website update, though I will likely cut back on a few of them.  The Tucson photos will be gone any day now, though I will keep the beer guide!
We've been perusing telescope websites, ever since I had some long looks through Randy G.'s 22" scope a few nights back.  When I jumped from an 8" to a 12" scope I went from approximately 64" sq. inches of mirror to 144".  That is a significant jump.  Essentially I am now seeing objects with well over 200% more light than the 8", and I am very pleased about it.  To get the same effect again I would have to upgrade to an 18" telescope, though I would try for a 20" if the budget allowed.  None of this will happen as long as we live at our current address.  However, with plans forming for a move to a darker location and the ability to have a permanent backyard observatory, then an 18" scope becomes a definite possibility.  Looking at some objects through that 22" was pretty much like looking at an astronomy photo book!  For now I am still more than happy with my 12" scope, especially its portability.  But the near future may bring a further upgrade.

Tuesday, Sept. 30th/14
As our weather patterns return to normal, so do our lives.  It's been cloudy three nights running, killing any hope for a last view of September skies.  In exactly two weeks we will begin the October observing session, skies permitting.
I have completed writing (by hand) the California travel journal, and later this week I will turn my attention to building the website version.  It should be finished and ready for uploading by the end of the weekend, if not sooner.
We have attended Iaido classes pretty regularly since returning from our trip.  I have a new, lighter sword that I am hoping will help ease my elbow pain.  We'll give it some time and see how it works out.
Life is boring again, so not much to write about.  I am nearly finished my Ballantine Adult Fantasy reading and on-line review project.  It will free up my reading choices somewhat, though I do alternate a random novel with a Ballantine one, as well as a few short stories.  I have nearly completed the Sherlock Holmes canon.  I think I want to reread some classic science fiction after I am done with the current project.  My shelf is currently overflowing with books to read, so I will probably whittle that down a bit first.
Even though I thought I was done with traveling for a while, we are contemplating a trip to Phoenix/Tucson/southern NM in November.  We'll see.  With far fewer students this year, there will be a lot less money flowing into the travel fund.  But there is enough for a week in sunny Arizona and NM. 
As it will occur during observing session time, we would try to connect with the Tucson astronomy club, using one of their pads and guest 17" telescopes for a few nights.  Stay tuned for further details.

Sunday, Sept. 28th/14
It was clear again last night, the seventh night in a row!!!!!!!  However, we were too exhausted to leave the house, so we missed out.  It might even clear again later tonight, but for now it's cloudy.  Off to Iaido class in a few minutes, and I will be trying my new and lighter sword.  We'll see how the elbows feel later tonight.  Probably a whole lot happier.
Despite the hectic week, we managed to watch Pasolini's "Medea," one of the most beautiful colour films I have ever seen.  While the story is tragic well beyond words, Maria Callas makes it all believable, as she is abandoned by Jason after he takes her with him after getting the golden fleece and seeks her revenge.  The scenery is among the finest ever filmed, the acting is superb, and while Pasolini leaves a few holes in the story, it is a rather famous one so it is not difficult to fill in the blanks.  The pagan rituals are difficult to watch, but the costumes and music rate A++.  Also on the disc is a superb one hour documentary on Maria Callas which I found fascinating!  I think I may wish to own this disc and re-watch both the movie and the documentary.

I am all caught up with my astronomy notes, and have resumed working on the travel journal from our recent Amtrak journey.  I hope to finish it up this week and immediately begin work on the website update.  I will likely have to take down one of the two trips I currently have posted, so have a last look if you wish.

Saturday, Sept. 27th/14
And on it goes... we just had six more clear nights, all in a row!  We are sleep-deprived, bleary-eyed and jet-lagged by about six hours.  However, we have seen some wonders of the deep sky this week!  It's been an interesting way to live.  Tonight there is a chance it will be cloudy.  One can only hope....
Yesterday we went to Detroit.  Packages were piling up at our UPS mailbox.  I got a new iaito, a lighter practice sword that won't be so hard on my elbows.  It is about half the weight of my regular sword.  Deb also got a rabbit cage, a roll around one.  No, there are no rabbits, but once Deb has it set up with earth, the tortoise will be able to come visit us in the main room now, safe from the cats.  We can even wheel him down the sidewalk, should the urge ever strike us.  He has spent a lot of the summer outdoors this year, in his fenced enclosure next to the garage.  His main habitat is still in the back room, but as Deb does not teach much any more, he is alone back there much of the time.  Soon he can come and sit round the fire with us!
I also received a nebula filter, something to enhance my observing of certain deep sky objects.  We went to TJs in Midtown for lunch.  It used to be the only restaurant in that area for many blocks.  Now, the area is crowded with shops, bars, restaurants, a bakery, and even the alleyways are getting wonderful, people-friendly make-overs.  The pace of new things happening in Detroit  continues to accelerate.  More than 25 major projects are currently underway downtown and in Midtown.
Lots of astronomy notes to work on today, and some serious napping, too.  The grass continues to grow at break-neck speed, and has been ignored for well over a week now.  And someday I will be able to get back to writing up my California trip journal, and updating this website with the photos.  So far, seven pictures have gone up on Facebook.

Saturday, Sept. 20th/14
Why the scarcity of posts lately?  Have I suddenly lost interest in writing?  Or, perhaps, from last Sunday through Friday was it miraculously and beautifully clear four out of five nights?  You decide.
While it's always fun to spend a day in Detroit and vicinity (today we went to Royal Oak), getting there and back from Amherstburg in one piece is always a big challenge.  Though nearly impossible, drivers continue to get stupider and stupider.  Stop sign?  What's that?  Red light?  What's that?  Lines on the pavement dividing the lanes?  What are those for?  Etc.
Anywho, the highlight of my visit was Bastone Brewery, where I sat and had an atrociously delicious pint of Belgian style (brewed in Royal Oak, MI) "Dubbel Vision."  One of my favourite beers, EVER!  We also went to the funky Saturday morning farmers' market.  At Holiday Market (a separate, very fine grocery store) I bought my birthday pie.  It is a pear pie with walnuts and sweetened with maple syrup.  Should go well with homemade vegan ice cream!!!

Tastes as good as it looks!  Bastone Brewery's "Dubbel Vision," an award-winning Belgian style brew.

As to what else we have been up to--not much.  Iaido and astronomy.  Not even piano practice.  I have yet to catch up to where I was with the piano repertoire before leaving for California on Sept. 1st.  Grim, indeed.  Beginning Monday night, it appears that another straight sequence of clear nights is headed our way.  Yee hah!!  Life goes on, but just barely.  I somehow managed to get my teaching done last week on very little sleep.  I did not get to write up my observing notes until Friday, however.
As to notes, my poor California journal is lagging, too.  Not enough time in a day, even with minimal sleep.  So far I have written up the train journey west, and got us to L.A. and to our first park and hike.  Days of writing to go before that gets finished.

Sunday, Sept. 14th/14
The new astronomy session has begun, and the clouds are here.  Since I have so many things to do at home, it isn't really biting me yet.  I have edited the California pics down to 229, and selected 50 to print for the journal.  I hope to go to A'burg today and print them, as writing has commenced.  At some point I will select about 50 for this website and undertakedo that project.  I am limiting my Facebook photos to ten this time.  When the link to the webiste is ready, I will post it on FB for those who wish to see more.
I am also trying to get back into the piano pieces, abandoned now for two weeks.  That is always a painful retransition.  Two of the lawns have been cut, with the far back one yet to go.  I need to cut across my neighbour's property to reach my yard across the creek.  He presently has a huge hole dug in his yard and I cannot get by.  Awaiting progress and refilling of the hole.
We haved resumed Iaido studies, another painful re-transition, especially the kneeling bits.  Tonight will be our first actual class in quite some time, though we went to open training Friday night.

Thursday, Sept. 11th/14
Our first work week has come to an end.  36 more to go!  We are down a few students this year, though it's not something I am mourning.  Still, if we lose any more we will have to advertise, something we have not done in many years.
The first quick edit of the 320+ California photos is done, and the 2nd edit is underway.  Once I have chopped them down to around 200, I will tweak about 50 for inclusion in the novel version of the journey, and another 50 for the website, though many of those will overlap.  There were many remarkable photos taken, though shooting from the train remains a big challenge, due to all the windows and reflections.
The journey on board is long, but not long enough to become tiresome.  In fact, we are contemplating an even longer, circular journey of the USA on Amtrak, using several different routes.  Deb seemed comfortable on board, and she did remarkably well on the three big hikes. 
In fact, she is virtually back to her old self once again as far as hiking goes.  Her shoulder and hands still give her problems, but the six month trial period is not yet over.  Her next infusion is in one week, and a month after that will be the six month signpost.  She is improving, however, and the previous Deb is nearly completely back with us.

Wednesday, September 10th/14
Our first California adventure went off without a hitch.  Photos will be posted as time allows.  Should it prove to be a cloudy weekend, they might be posted by Sunday.
Today, again, an enormous amount of rain fell into our rain gauge.  1.6" came down today, much of it in torrents.  No thunder or lightning.  Got the laundry done, and some grocery and catfood shopping.  Unpacking is mostly complete.  And, it was our first teaching day of the new school year.
We got home last night at (this morning) at 2:30 am, as our train from Chicago was 90 minutes late.  The Southwest Chief ran much closer to schedule, and we had a blast riding on it.  California proved to be a truly blessed place, though severely hampered by way too much traffic.  We might return someday.  We know we would like to.

Sunday, August 31st/14
One day until departure.  Because of on-going track work between Dearborn and Ypsilanti, our departure time has changed from 06:51 to 06:06.  That amounts to 45 minutes less sleep for us tonight, though it also gives us extra time during our downtown Chicago layover.  We will be in L.A. Wednesday morning, after leaving Chicago at 3 pm Monday.
We will return shortly after full moon (we will see it rise from the observation car!) and immediately begin our autumn teaching semester.  Observing should resume the weekend of the 15th.
Closing off here for awhile--you can follow us on Facebook.  Southwest Chief, here we come!

Thursday, August 28th/14
Sunny most of the day, then watched the clouds roll in near sunset.  Story of my life, and most amateur astronomers that live in Essex Co., Ontario.  Last night, despite a lot of passing clouds, we went back out to Comber to check out Comet Jacques.  It was at its closest approach to Earth, and looked quite impressive in the 12" viewfinder!  The tail was too faint for visual observation, and the colour was gray rather than blue, but otherwise it looked pretty much as the photo, opposite, shows.  We were hoping for a follow-up glance tonight, but alas...  Over 90 minutes of observing last night the comet moved noticeable away from the bright star at upper left in the photo.

Comet Jacques.

We are one day closer to departure.  As a result, house cleaning has commenced.  Deb tackled the kitchen today, including the fridge.  Impressive work!  I began the bathroom, a two-day task.  Today I did the tub and tiles.
Reading material and most electronics, including camera, are packed.  We are not bringing the laptop this time.  Deb has a Pro Scan tablet, and our US phone has both wi fi and 3G connections.  Any time our train is passing through a town or stopped at a station, we can check e-mail, etc.
Though we are both very excited for the trip, Deb is now feeling well enough that we now know we could have flown to London after all.  We had compared prices months ago, and had found a decent fare from Windsor on Air Canada to London.  However, at that point she could not have sat on a plane for very long.  She has improved a lot since then.  Hopefully we will travel there either next Spring, or next Autumn.  We miss London.
We are also beginning to seriously consider a move deeper into the country, away from city lights but close enough that we can still access Detroit on a weekly basis.  It would mean abandoning our current students and finding others out where we might chose to live.

Wednesday, August 27th/14
If nothing gets written here for a week, then assume it's been a very busy one!  Intense heat and humidity have kept us close to home, though on Monday we did venture to the heart of Detroit for the afternoon.  Gone are the days when I knew of every development that was under construction or in the planning stage.  So much is happening there it is now impossible to keep track!  And it seems to just be getting started, too.  Detroit is getting its Mojo back.
 Last night was clear, after an evening of storms.  We observed from Comber from around 11 pm until fog rolled in at 1:30 am, enjoying great skies and wonderful views.  We may get a second clear night tonight before a weekend of rain arrives.  Just as well, as we have a lot to do before Monday's departure for L.A.  We have upgraded our Tracfone to a larger model, which we can use on the train, which does not have wi fi.
This time next week we should be pulling into L.A.'s Amtrak station, getting our rental car and preparing to head north!

Thursday, August 21st/14
Today was our 38th wedding anniversary!  We did not do anything extraordinary today (except perhaps stay home all day!), but spent it recovering from a wonderful astronomy session last night.  Against all odds (it's been very humid, warm and stormy) it was a fantastic night of observing at the observatory.  Dark clouds initially made us think we'd wasted yet another trip to Comber, but we were soon rewarded by a spectacular night sky.  We stayed until just after 3 am, making it to bed just after 4:30 am.  Needless to say neither of us felt like doing much today.  I worked on my observing notes and napped. 
Deb had bought me a special bottle of beer in Toronto last week, so I cracked it open and sipped away.  We had also saved some very special chocolate mooncake, keeping it in the freezer for emergencies!  It was supposed to rain hard today, but it didn't.  More storms are predicted overnight and for the next week.  July seems to have finally arrived in Essex County!
The Tuesday pm storm caused our power to blip a few times, though it stayed on.  Much of the county went dark for awhile, however, and two tornadoes were confirmed.  We made it to Iaido training, as things cleared up nicely afterwards, producing a spectacular double rainbow as we drove into Windsor.
Wednesday was my final summer teaching day.  I am off duty for three weeks, before resuming a full autumn schedule.  Each year should bring me less students, as I am very reluctant to bring on anyone new.

Tuesday, August 19th/14
It's just a little over one week since Detroit received some of its worst flooding ever from severe storms.  It is 6 pm, and another serious round of storms is approaching.  We will be hit momentarily, as our house quickly is growing darker and darker.  Results will be posted later...
Deb had a great visit with her mother in Lindsay, returning here Friday night around midnight.  I was out at the observatory, getting home not too long after her arrival.  My parents arrived for a 4-night visit on Friday also.  The three of us went out for dinner around 7 pm.  They were tired from their drive here from Sudbury, so went back to their motel early while I prepared for my first observing run of the new session.  It turned into a pretty good night, though the moon rose before midnight, ending things early.
Saturday we all drove to Kingsville for lunch, then went to Lakeview Winery.  I bought two bottles that I really liked, a red Syrrah and a white (I never drink white!) of which I will say more later, when it has been opened.
We all ate here at the house on Saturday, enjoying fresh blueberry pie for dessert from Klassen's, another of our stops on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday morning we left bright and early for a two-night stay in Ann Arbor, MI, at the Clarion Hotel.  Pubs, restaurants, museums, shops and parks awaited!
We visited the U. of Michigan Museum of Art, a huge place with a decent collection, and temporary shows that are always of interest.  In addition to the permanent collection, we viewed Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 3, which was quite an outstanding exhibit of contemporary art by Native Americans.

Landscape painting by George Inness, an American artist from the 19th C., from the U. of M. Museum of Art.

Monday morning Deb and I hiked at Nichols Arboretum, with my parents doing a shortened loop down to the river.  We got to explore the Fairy Forest, a location where children are allowed to build little fairy forts and dwellings.

A tiny fairy fort at Nichols Arboretum.

A table set for fairies in the woods.

A house bordering Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, MI.

We saw four deer while hiking in the park.

We met up down by the Huron River, heading downtown for book shopping and a pub lunch.

Arbor Brewing Co. was the scene of our Monday lunch.  I had one of the best pints ever, a cask ESB.

Dinner was at Grizzly Peak Brewing Co., with more scrumptious cask ale!  This morning we separated, with mom and dad heading back to Sudbury via northern Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, whilst we returned home.  We came home loaded down with 48 craft beer, of which there are 18 different ones.  We also found a shop selling our favourite coffee, Raven's Blend.  We stocked up with three different kinds!  We had only seen it previously in Colorado.
Tonight it's back to the dojo.  Tomorrow is my final day of teaching summer lessons.  Less than two weeks until our Amtrak Adventure #2!

Wednesday, August 13/14
It's a bachelor pad around here for the next few days, as Deb is off to Lindsay to visit her mother.  Ludwig the tortoise, Gustav and Mogi the cats, and Mike the human are hanging out together at home until Friday night.  Somehow we will all scrape some meals together and survive until then.
It was a remarkably beautiful day today, with clear, blue sky, cool temps, and a lovely breeze blowing in lower humidity.  It is clear tonight as well, but alas the moon rises far too early for any hope of dark sky astronomy.  Friday will be the first opportunity for observing for this lunar cycle.
I managed a neighbourhood walk, as well as a dreaded trip up to Wal Mart for some supplies.  The rest of the day was spent reading, napping, teaching and practicing piano, and watching a quirky Pasolini film called "Teorema," or "Theorem".  Though decidedly out there, it is a lot more watchable than Malles' "Black Moon," which we suffered through a few weeks ago.
Looking forward to the new Doctor in one week!  Very excited for this new series.  I am hoping some of the high speed giddiness will be replaced by some reasonable pacing, and the plots become a bit more manageable and less tangled within themselves.  And fewer Daleks.

Tuesday, August 12/14
It rained yesterday.  It rained and rained and rained.  When we got home from a soggy Detroit day, there was 3.1" in the rain gauge.  Plus 0.8" more today.  Detroit became completely flooded over, with every single freeway and major highway closed most of the afternoon rush hour, evening, and overnight Monday.  We were heading back to Windsor as the upteenth heavy rainfall hit.  That was the one that finally broke Detroit's back.  Minutes earlier we had been using the freeway system to get from downtown to the bridge.  We did have a fun day, with stops at two pubs, a cafe, and a bookshop.  Jennifer, who was with us, is almost certain that she is moving back to Ontario now, and wants to be in the Windsor area to have access to Detroit and all that it offers.  Can't say that I blame her, though we now hope to find a place with a darker sky, yet within reach of Windsor and Detroit.
Deb is currently preparing for her visit to Lindsay to spend two nights with her mother.  She takes an early train from Windsor, then an afternoon bus from Toronto.  Leaves home at 8 am and gets into Lindsay at 7:30 pm.  A very long day, with several hours to while away in Toronto.  Tomorrow is a teaching day for me, with at least four students currently scheduled, and a fifth one expected.  It is supposed to be sunny here for the next several days.

Sunday, August 10th
It was party-at-home day!  With a mid-day time for full moon, we had the whole day planned with nothing planned!  Except for two movies.  After having vegan blueberry pancakes for breakfast, it was time to get a moon cake baking.  It was a very hot day, but the baking was over well before noon hour.  We watched Kurosawa's incomparable adventure film "The Seven Samurai," followed later in the day by "The Magnificent  Seven."  Good times, though that was about 5 3/4 hours of cinema today.
In addition to tonight's moonrise, we saw last night's, too.  We made a short appearance at the annual backyard dojo party at Sensei Blok's home.  He has a lovely backyard, and when all the fairy and pool lights are turned on, it is quite a magical garden, especially on a moonrise night.
Yesterday we also enjoyed a long walk on the Amherstburg riverfront  trail system.  It is a beautiful walk, and we hardly met anyone we knew.

Great Lakes freighter heading upriver from near downtown Amherstburg.

Last night and today we began finalizing our itinerary for our upcoming California trip.  We already had our train times and motel locations, but we have now planned our hikes and found the locations of various restaurants and pubs.  The hiking is centered on ocean-view trails, as that will be a novelty for us.  On the final day we should be able to enjoy a long afternoon in downtown L.A. as well, and we hope to make it to Chinatown, and also a Japanese shopping district.  We arrive in L.A. on a Wednesday at 8:30 am and depart at 6 pm that Sunday.  Not a long California stay, but long enough to dip our feet in the water, so to speak.  The main plan is to drive the most scenic part of Highway 1 north to Monterey.

Thursday, August 7th/14
With my one work day complete, I once again get to enjoy a six-day weekend!  Just the usual planned for today--piano practice, some reading, some work on my NM photo enlargement project.  We enjoyed a long walk this morning.  And tonight I am going to a nearby pub that has recently instituted cask ale on the first Thursday of each month!  Life is good.
On Tuesday I spent a fun day in Detroit with Jennifer.  We began our adventure at Slows, which has 52 beer taps.  We both chose Bean Flicker, a coffee ale from Odd Sides.  However, this wasn't a dark beer, but rather a pale ale sort of colour.  It was not sweet but had strong hints of cream soda mixed in with the coffee.  Delicious!  Next stop was John King Books, finally getting due recognition as one of the best bookstores in the entire world!  This was Jenn's first visit.  After that came lunch.  We went to Traffic Jam and Snug, a restaurant/pub that was Michigan's first microbrewery.  They had their deeply delicious Doppelbock on, and we each had a pint along with our food (I enjoyed a Tex-Mex Lentil Burger, while Jenn chose a giant Burrito).
After lunch I bought a new pair of walking/light hiking shoes.  They are needed for the upcoming California trip.  The store is right next to the pub.  There is now nearly as much shopping in the nearby area as there is downtown!  Next, we went into the main section of downtown, stopping at Foran's Grand Trunk Pub.  They have 24 taps of Michigan-brewed ales.  This time we divurged.  I had a pint of Dark Horse's Reign Blood, a delicious and refreshing ale made with blood oranges!  Jenn had another pint from Oddside, a Dutch Chocolate Koffee Stout.

Grand Trunk Pub, Detroit

 Next door is an ultra cool cafe, NY Coffee Roasting Co.  You choose your bean and it is ground and filtered right into your cup, after flying through the air from the bean container through vacuum tubes.
We took our coffee and went and sat in the park across the street beside the big fountain, surrounded by skyscrapers.  Downtown was busy, and there were a lot of families and kids.  We took a stroll, observing major renovations to old buildings on nearly every block.  Even more exciting was seeing Woodward Ave. dug up for the new M-1 streetcar system!  That is two years away, and will be such a fantastic addition to the central city.
Deb's heart doctor appointment went well.  It was a routine checkup to get her prescription refilled.  Yes, RA affects your heart, too.

Monday, August 4th/14
Five tasters showed up on Saturday afternoon for the 2nd annual craft beer tasting.  The weather was not conducive to outdoor events, so we stayed indoors.  Blake "I don't like beer" actually found three or four that he liked.  We sampled nine, though Jenn and I split the last one down the middle after the others left.
Craft beer tasting, l to r: Blake, Ruth, Jennifer, Deb (Blake's wife), and moi.  There were 9 bottles sampled, and plenty of food and coffee.  It was Jennifer's birthday, too.  She is a former student, now in B.C. but hoping to move back east.
Saturday night was supposed to be clear.  It wasn't.  Sunday night was supposed to be clear.  It wasn't.  Our lunar-timed observing session is now over for two weeks, until  the next last quarter moon.  There are some medium large plans afoot for this full moon cycle, and of course during the next next one we will be off to California.  Keeping life interesting, two weeks at a time.
Tomorrow, Jennifer and I will be visiting a pub or three in downtown Detroit.  Deb is off to see her heart specialist to renew some meds.  I wonder who will have more fun?  Sadly, it was the only day that worked for Jennifer.
Deb and I just finished watching the 1922 silent film "Nosferatu."  This is a genuinely creepy film, thanks to the appearance of the vampire, which has never appeared more horrifying.  If his shadow doesn't scare the hell out of you, then his actual appearance will.

Scene from Nosferatu.

While it's a film every serious film buff has seen, it's easy to forget how sinister and dark it really is.  I have not seen it in many years, and had forgotten much of it.  Very chilling.
Next up tonight on our viewing list is "Bad Wolf," the penultimate episode of the new first season of Doctor Who.  Of all the new Doctors to date, Christopher Eccleston is still my favourite.  I have a feeling he quit the job (after only one season) when he realized that the writers wanted Rose romantically involved with the Doctor.  That is exactly what happened to Rose when David Tennant took over, too.  But then again, what young girl would not fall in love with David Tennant?
Earlier tonight we listened to another Delius concert, #7 in an on-going series.  "Fennimore and Gerda" is an opera, but not in the traditional sense.  Delius tried something rather interesting, by extracting 'pictures' from a Danish novel, almost in the same sense as illustrations might appear in a book.  Much of the story is skipped over, but enough is there to get the gist of things.  Instead of acts and scenes, the opera is divided into 11 pictures, along with several short instrumental preludes.  This is a wonderful idea, if not completely successful in this instance.  For one thing, the story is too conventional, though this does make it easier to follow for listeners unfamiliar with the novel.  This was the last opera the composer wrote, even though he was still quite young when it was completed.

Friday, August 1st/14
Tomorrow is our 2nd annual craft beer tasting, held on our back deck.  Last year we had four attendees, with three sampling (Deb abstained, as she will again this year).  This year's event will be bigger and better than ever, with up to six imbibers plus two abstainers (Deb and Aston, Jenn's 10-yr old son).  Jenn will supply most of the beer to be sampled, though we have prepared some snacks, as well as supplying plates, glasses, and a nifty door prize!  I have five different craft ales to offer if needed.  With six people sharing a bottle, that's only 2 oz. US per sample.  Which means we can try six beer and only actually have had one!  Photos should be forthcoming.
We went to Iaido on Tuesday and tonight, as I continue to struggle with some of the newer and longer katas.  I will soon cross the half way point of being eligible to try for 2nd degree black belt.  Still a long way to go.
Last night we were at the observatory until 3 am.  It was clear, the first time in a while, but very muggy and somewhat hazy.  No matter, we had a great night of observing, along with Larry B., who is usually out late with us as well.
Memorization of piano pieces continues apace.  I have never memorized so much before in the summer months, and I still have a month to go.  Joy!  I think having less repertoire to work on is great, though the difficulty of the Beethoven Sonata and Liszt Rhapsody are near my extreme limits

Monday, July 28th/14
Last evening's storms kept us home from Iaido, as I have no wish to drive through blinding rain and high winds, dodging fallen tree branches and power lines, and waiting in line at intersections where the traffic signals are out.  Our power went out once, but then came right back on and stayed on.  Huzzah!  We received 1.4" of badly needed rain in the backyard gauge.  Today, as a result, I cut the two back lawns, saving the front for another day.
This evening we listed to Delius Concert #6, an entire program of orchestra and voice.  The first pieces, "Sea Drift", are from poems by Walt Whitman, and proved to be as memorable a set of pieces as I have ever heard.  Delius' music is the finest of poetry in itself, and gains much more when combined with vocal settings.  The remainder of the concert featured songs set to poetry by Ernest Dowson.  His famous lines include ..."gone with the wind...," which was used as the title of Margaret Mitchell's famous book, and ..."they are not long, the days of wine and roses...."  The former is used in the wistful vocal setting by Delius called "Cynara", and the latter in his extraordinary set of pieces called "Songs of Sunset."  It was a wonderful concert, and I hope there is time in my life to hear these works again and again.
Though we are currently socked in by clouds (it's 7:30 pm), we are promised clear skies by 10 pm, so after dinner we will be packing up and heading out to the observatory, hopefully for another classic, memorable night of deep sky observing.

Sunday, July 27th/14
Received news today that Uncle Jim has had a stroke, and is in Intensive Care in Sudbury.  Jim has Parkinson's Disease and has been going slowly downhill for months, so the news is not a total shock.  He is 85.  Jim has been so good to Deb and I, buying us almost unlimited records when we were in university, along with art books.  He would send us his Book of the Month Club list each month and we were allowed to order anything we wished!  He was also a photographer, and took the photos of our wedding.  And he was a pilot.  And owned two TV stations.  Lately he had been involved heavily in Science North in Sudbury, and was also an officer in the Irish Regiment out of Sudbury.  Wishing him well, though a full recovery seems a bit too much to hope for.
Yesterday Deb, Jenn G. and I went to Detroit, in search of a bit of culture and some craft beer.  We went to Belle Isle to visit the Aquarium.  Right next door is the plant conservatory.  Both are under the care of volunteers now, and have never looked better.  The aquarium had been closed years ago due to funding issues with the city.  Volunteers are now running it, and despite many tanks still being empty, the ones that are inhabited look lovely!  Some of the empty tanks have been creatively filled with (dry) displays relating to aquatic themes.  Electric eels are back, and are very popular with the many people in attendance yesterday.

Coral reef eel, Belle Isle Aquarium

The island's showpiece fountain has also been lovingly restored.

Lily's Seafood and Brewpub was new to me.  The beer was so-so.  Nice place, though, right downtown.

In Royal Oak we tackled that city's three brewpubs.  One of them was new for me, while two are old favourites.  We also found a great vegan restaurant and enjoyed a fabulous and tasty lunch!

We also went to Royal Oak Brewery and Bastone Brewery, the latter a truly fabulous place that makes award-winning Belgian beers.  I had halves of IPA and Dubbelvision.  The bartender kept refilling my glass of Dubblevision!!!  Gotta love a place like that!!
Thursday night we had a classic night of summer sky observing.  Conditions were as perfect as they get, including dry, very clear skies.  We were out until just after 3 am, getting to bed after 4:30 am.
Having slammed one of my fingers while closing a window the other day, piano has been off the schedule of late.  However, today I managed a light practice without too much discomfort.
We went to Iaido Friday night, and will start out again tonight for the dojo, unless the predicted storms are too intense.  Deb has been making us new sword bags from old silk kimonos she has been buying on e-Bay from Japan.  Photos will be forthcoming.

Thursday, July 24th/14
Deb had her third drug infusion today at her Doctor's brand new clinic.  He has his own building, all to himself.  Very nice, especially compared to the old one.  Her next infusion will be Sept. 18th, after our trip to California.  Talking with her nurse today, we discovered the drug can take 2-4 years to fully work its medical magic on Deb, though she should get progressively better with each infusion.  After a few bad days, Deb is doing okay again just now.
Last night we went out to the observatory with the promise of excellent skies.  When we arrived and set up (10 pm) it was perfect, and we thought for certain we would have a classic night.   However, by midnight we were all but clouded out.  Same excellent weather prediction for tonight, but I am a bit more skeptical.  Still, I managed to log an additional 10 deep sky objects, and Deb made some good progress with her charts, too.  With her infusion this morning, it's probably just as well it clouded over.  At least we got most of a night's sleep.

Tuesday, July 22rd/14
Out late with the telescopes again last night has left me groggy today.  It's also one of the hottest days this year, a measly 90 F (32 C).  This is only the second day this year, and the first for July, to reach 90 F.  This is turning out to be the coolest summer in Essex County since we moved here in 1976.  As a result, we have been enjoying it immensely.  There is a group of four of us that are at the observatory site regularly.  Ted Gervais winters in Florida, and is always remarking how cold it is here at night.  He has his usual place where he sets up, as does Larry Burgess.  They both use their own 5" refractors.  Larry stays late, while Ted goes home when his telescope battery dies, usually about 12:30 am.  We stayed (in our usual place, the parking lot) until 2 am last night before the high humidity shut us down.  The telescopes have two mirrors: one is the primary mirror which gathers the light from the heavens.  The secondary mirror focuses this light and sends it off to the eyepiece.  In high humidity the secondary mirror usually fogs over sooner or later.  Last night it was later, so when we packed up we'd already had a good time.
Today we visited with Heather W.  We used to teach with Heather at APS.  She has since moved on to another school, and has two daughters, aged 1 and 2.  Isla and Malin are adorable, but they are multiple handfuls of energy.  It was great to visit for two hours, and then it was great to leave and go home to our two quiet cats (and very quiet tortoise).
Monday we went to Detroit, where our newest astronomy wall poster awaited us.  We took down our spring galaxy one and replaced it with the summer one, a wide shot of Messier 13, a globular star cluster that is a favourite object of amateur astronomers.  Containing about 100,000 stars, it literally explodes off our wall.
Tomorrow I have a light teaching day, with four students expected.  While tonight's sky promises rain, it is expected to be clear Wed. and Thursday nights.
We've booked a 2-day trip to Ann Arbor for mid-August.  More on that later.

Saturday, July 19th/14
I think we are finally caught up on our sleep, though there is a slim possibility of clear skies tonight, and a better chance for tomorrow.
We finally had time for Delius Concert #5, another incredibly rewarding series of pieces, all of them fairly short.  The highlight for me was "Brigg Fair," a set of variations on an English folk tune, showing wonderful inventiveness and orchestration, filled with a wistful and gentle mood.  Other beautiful pieces included "Walk to the Paradise Garden," a short piece extracted from the opera "A Village Romeo and Juliette;" "On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring;" and "Evening on the River," a lush nocturne that should be played over and over again.  Superb music!
In other music news, I am getting serious about memorizing the newest program.  Having made a good start on the Beethoven sonata, I am now beginning to memorize the Liszt Rhapsody, as well as the shorter works by Couperin.  I have hardly played the Glass pieces enough, though they are so repetitive that memorizing them will not be difficult.
As to cinema, we are currently watching "L'Eclisse" by Antonioni, the 3rd of his pictures featuring Monica Vitti.  The others in this loose series are "La Notte" and "L'Aventura."  So far I like it a lot.  The camera basically follows Vitti everywhere.  She is ravishing, expressive and born to be photographed.  Rome and Verona also feature.  The story is very flimsy, as Monica breaks up with an older man and begins dating a young stock broker (Alain Delon), a hyperactive guy who lives for the thrill of the exchange floor.  She prefers quiet intimacy.  I think I see where this is going...
Last weekend we watched another fantastic adaptation by Kurosawa of a Dostoevsky novel.  "Ikiru (Life)" is a riveting portrait of a man dying of stomach cancer.  He has been a bureaucratic robot much of his life, but when he realizes how little time he has to live, he devotes his life to one good deed, mainly trying to get a small children's park built overtop a raw sewage pond.  The entire film is a wonder of the world from top to bottom, showing the director to already be at the top of his powers.  The very next year he made "The Seven Samauri," possibly the greatest action picture ever made.  "Ikiru" is exactly the opposite.  So little happens, but so much goes on.

Friday, July 18th/14
It was an exhausting week of teaching music to 25 little campers.  This was the 10th year of the festivities, and my 3rd or 4th.  We get enough money from this to pay our dojo fees for almost a year.  There was no camp last summer, due to Deb being incapacitated.  So it was somewhat strange seeing some of the same kids after two years of growth, instead of just one year.  Luckily for us it hit on the coolest stretch of weather we have ever had in July!  Usually it is a very hot and humid affair.  The action takes place on Anita's horse ranch in Woodslee.  She has a lovely pool, and hires a lifeguard for the lunch hour, getting most of the kids out of our hair for awhile.
After three days of small group lessons, there is a final performance involving drama, harp, and recorder.  Deb did drumming again this year, too.

Mary teaches art outdoors each year.

My recorder band, final concert.

The camp had students aged 6 through 15.  Here is the older group performing a skit.

Two young harpists.

Harp ensemble performing.

Each day we came home totally exhausted.  We are somewhat unused to dealing with many kids at once, for a full day.  After the final concert Thursday, the skies looked promising.  Once home, we rested, had dinner, packed the Tiguan with telescopes and gear, and headed back out to the observatory.  After some initial cloudy skies, it cleared up and we enjoyed two hours of observing before the late rising moon sent us packing.
Today is a recovery day, unpacking the camp gear and generally unwinding.  We were supposed to go to the Scifi Con in Detroit tomorrow, but I think we'll stay home instead.  I need to practice, for one thing.

Monday, July 14th/14
First, some exciting good news:  though Deb will not swear to it yet, she thinks the meds are finally working!  It's been 9 weeks now, but she has had about 5 good days in a row.  Her next infusion is July 24th.  We are hopeful, as ever.
Yesterday was our steam train excursion to Fort Wayne, IN, our first long distance ride pulled by a steam engine.
When we started out early Sunday morning, the weather was dismal.  However, it was perfect for a steam train passing, as captured here by a bystander and posted on Youtube.   Turn up the volume!   We are in the 3rd silver carriage ("The Golden Sea") once the red ones pass by.  There were literally hundreds of people lining the track as we went, coming and going.  Sometimes it seemed as if an entire town had turned out to watch us pass!

Trackside scenery, as we crossed through parts of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.  Nearly every crossing had people standing and filming as we went past.

We left on time (8 am) and arrived in Fort Wayne about 10 minutes early.  We walked around downtown for a few minutes, but most places were closed up.  No buses running, either.  So, we called a taxi and headed to Mad Anthony Brewing Co.  This turned into a great place to spend a few hot summer hours.  There were several veggie selections on the menu, and the beer was fabulous.  We had their Pale Ale to start off, and after lunch enjoyed a dark and mysterious Java Porter.

Deb drank half pints.  This is the pale ale, which was rich and full-bodied. 

 

The only brewpub in Fort Wayne also happened to be a really good one.  Very few places were open on Sunday. 

 Downtown Fort Wayne, a mid-size city in northern Indiana.

We called a cab to take us back downtown afterwards, and walked around their amazing riverfront park system.  The festival was spread over a wide area, and we eventually covered it all.  It was pretty hot by now.  The clouds had gone and sunshine poured down.  I was surprised when I got home and there was 0".95 of rain in the gauge!

Deb began the day using the umbrella for rain, but later was glad she brought it for sunshade.  River park, Fort Wayne.

Little Turtle statue, with midway ride behind.

Our train pulls out of the station in downtown Fort Wayne.

The weather had significantly improved by our return journey.

Heading home.  We arrived ten minutes late.

Home today practicing, cutting grass, and preparing for teaching over the next three days at summer music camp.   I also managed to write a new review for the Ballantine series.  Not even time for a nap.  Did I mention we also got groceries?

Saturday, July 12th/14
We finally had an evening to sit and listen to Delius Festival Concert #4.  The main work on the program came after intermission, the "Appalachia: Variations on an Old Slave Song."  Though not a masterpiece of the first rank, it comes pretty damn close.  The main song is lovely, and there are 14 variations on it.  Several have chorus, with two near the end also having words.  It isn't until Variation 13 that we finally hear the actual song sung with words, by the choir.  This is a work that we will certainly listen to again and again.
The concert opened with "Calinda, from the opera "Koanga."  Eric Fenby arranged a short orchestra version of the local dance.  "Legende" is for violin and piano, and reminded me quite a bit of "Scheherazade."  One of the lovelier poems for these two instruments.  I would love to perform it!  The third piece on the first half of the program finally took us into phase two of the composer's life (1900-1912).  "In a Summer Garden" is a very descriptive piece, encapsulating in music Delius' colourful garden in France, along with the adjacent Loire River.  Again, a truly marvelous bit of writing, and worth many hearings.  The more Delius I hear, the more amazed I am that I have never come across his music, either in Windsor or Detroit.
We bottled our latest batch of wine today, a 6-week Shiraz from South Africa.  Though just in the bottle today, it already tastes smooth and mature.  We have 30 bottles, so come over for a glass soon!
Tomorrow is our steam train adventure on the Detroit Arrow.  We are off very early from Detroit on a 4-hr. trip to Fort Wayne, IN.  Their big arts festival is going on.  Pictures should appear here on Monday. 
In addition to two hours of good piano practice today, I also finally got a new blog entry up on my astronomy page.  Huzzah!

Friday, July 11th/14
We had a fun day on Thursday, arriving at the Wyandotte Street Art Fair around 5 pm.  Our first stop was a relatively new brewpub downtown, imaginatively called Sports Brewpub (rolls eyes).  It's a busy place, and more or less tries to be a 50s diner.  They had 11 beer on hand, and we managed to try 7.

 

Their Naked Blonde was comparable to a Bud Light, thus quite horrible.  Solace Wheat was drinkable, but just.  Raspberry Wheat was much better, with strong raspberry flavour mixing well with the wheat beer itself.  Perhaps a little too much raspberry flavour, it was even better when mixed down with the Solace Wheat.
Irish Red was a decent amber, though usually not my favourite style.  Weiner Dog Stout was nice and bitter, with lots of coffee overtones.  The IPA was excellent.  One of three special beers on now was a Peanut Butter Stout, and it was extraordinary!  My first peanut butter beer!
We walked the length and breadth of the street fair, seeing (as usual) some incredibly fine booths.  One guy had made a life-size great blue heron from copper.  It was $6,000, and even at that price I doubt he made much profit.  It was the finest thing we saw.  One lady made incredible paper notepads, themed but made from different books.  For instance, the turtle pad had images and partial stories of turtles from many different sources which had been removed from the original and placed amidst the blank papers.  There were several themes.  Children's clothing was also outstanding, especially the overly cute tie-dye outfits.
We ate at a main street diner that had, among other things, Middle Eastern food.  The expected vegan food truck did not materialize at the festival.
Afterwards, we went to Fort Street Brewery, a favourite of ours in the suburb of Lincoln Park.  Each Thursday they open a unique cask.  We hit the jackpot tonight with "Michigan Hop Lovers IPA."  It was outstanding!  We were there for the opening of the cask, which was a bit like a messy champagne opening.  Beer was everywhere.

Seconds later the cask erupted, spewing beer far and wide.  I hid behind the brewer (with cell phone camera) who got pretty soaked, as did the guest tapper.
Luckily the tapper kept on tapping, and the cask eventually was plugged.  I ended up having two pints, and Deb one.

Cask night at Fort Street Brewery.  The Michigan Hop Lovers IPA was one of the very finest beers I have ever had!

It was our first time here at cask time, but it seems to be quite the weekly party.  There were prizes given out in a raffle, and Deb was one of three winners.  Included in her prizes was a map of the metro area, a 2014-15 National Wildlife Federation Calendar, two tickets to a bluegrass concert in Detroit, and a "free beer" token.  That last one got used quickly.  We sat at the bar, watching the Detroit Tigers demolish Kansas City in baseball.  The final score was 16 to 4!  Deb drove home.
Today was much more mundane, with lots of piano practice, two back lawns getting cut, weeding of the yard part 3, and then out for open training at the dojo.  It was too cloudy to see the moon rise, but I had a taste of dark rum to celebrate.  In about six days, weather permitting, astronomy can resume.

Wednesday, July 9th/14
First day of summer teaching has come and gone, with 6 students appearing for piano lessons.  Next week it will be three full days of teaching at summer music camp.  And a scifi convention!
My right ear has been plugged up now for 10 days.  My hearing in that ear is about 20%, and it is very distorted.  It makes practicing or listening to music (or teaching) unpleasant.  This is one of the longer Meniere's episodes, which seem to be getting worse as I get older.  No dizziness yet.
We are hoping to go the the Wyandotte Art Fair tomorrow.  Wyandotte is another one of the suburbs of Detroit that has a small but interesting downtown area.  The festival is on the main street, and is usually of high quality.  There is also an unvisited brewpub there.  If our timing is good, we will head towards another suburb afterwards.  Fort Street Brewery is in Lincoln Park, and has a new cask-conditioned ale every Thursday at 8 pm.  Frivolity returns after only one day of work.  Long live frivolity!
We cleaned the main mirror of the 12" telescope the other day.  It was very dirty.  We just gave it a good rinse this time under luke-warm water.  Next time we will use some liquid soap and do a more thorough job.
And Deb cleaned up my iaito, or practice sword, which had become very worn looking.  It is now like new again.  We went to Iaido last night, but Deb did not receive her diploma.  Maybe it will arrive by next week.

Monday, July 7th/14
Three used bookstores, a record store, a wonderful health food store, a cafe, and a brewpub.  Yes, we had a fun adventure day in Detroit.  Ferndale, to be exact.  Woodward Ave. at Nine Mile Rd. has long been a favourite destination, going way back in time.  It's still a fun area to walk around and spend a few hours.  Detroit itself is ringed by about 30 smaller suburban cities, and several of those have good vibes and wonderful areas to visit.  Ferndale is a close suburb, actually bordering Detroit.  I was hunting some used paperback fiction today, coming home with two novels by A. Merritt, three by C. J. Cherry (her Morgaine Saga, of which I've read "Ivers Gate--I got the omnibus edition today, containing all three novels), and the third book of Patricia McKillip's "Riddle Master" series.  I have read the first book but am still searching for the 2nd one.
We were surprised by a large banner hanging from the downtown Detroit John King Bookstore, proclaiming it to be the 2nd best bookstore in the world, according to Business Insider!  It got beat out by a store in Venice.  Hah!  As soon as that one sinks, we will be NUMBER 1!!!

Pizza and in-house made beer today at Woodward Ave. Brewery, Ferndale, MI.

View of Detroit from John King parking lot--a large storm had just passed by.

Not that I need more books to read, but nonetheless they are now on my bedside shelf, in good company.
Since we have now concluded the first part of our Delius music festival, it was time to make up the concerts list for the second phase of his career, taking us from 1900-1912.  Concerts 4-10 will occupy this phase, including another opera, a Mass (for atheists), several suites for orchestra, and many smaller works.

Sunday, July 6th/14
I was in bed Saturday night at 9:30.  This was due to two very late nights out with the telescope, as well as a 6 pm glass of wine.  I didn't awaken until 8:50 am Sunday!
We managed to finish the opera "Koanga" today, nearly concluding our Part 1 listening adventure of the music of Delius.  Act 3 is certainly the most accessible part of the opera, hitting its dramatic high point with voodoo rights, murder, and some general mayhem on the old plantation.  As Deb noted while we listened, much of the composer's choral writing is out of this world in its beauty and depth of feeling.  However, all of the elements worked today, including the solo parts and orchestra music.  While the entire opera may not be classified as an unqualified masterpiece, Act 3 and the Epilogue certainly does.
We have two short pieces remaining from his earliest period, and we will simply fold them into our first concert of his second phase.
Sunday night Iaido classes tend to be very small.  Last week there were three of us, and tonight five.  This lends itself well to doing advanced training, as when the classes are larger higher ranks usually end up teaching the lower.  Next Sunday we will have to miss class, as it is our steam train excursion to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Saturday, July 5th/14
We are recovering from two late nights in a row at the observatory.  In bed at 4 am early Friday morning, and in bed at 4:30 am last night has left us feeling very jet-lagged.  With the moon now at first quarter it meant staying up late to get the darkest sky.  While both nights were excellent for observing, the first was damp.  In addition, we were visited by a police car.  They were searching for a suspect who had run from a car, likely stolen.  They often steal them in Leamington and joy ride them around the county.  It's pretty empty out where we are, mostly just farmers' fields.  Anyway, the bright headlights of the cruiser nearly blinded us.  After speaking with us they left, leaving our eyes virtually useless for more observing.  Luckily this occurred near the time we were getting ready to pack up anyway.  Last night there was no moisture, so nothing got wet and the seeing conditions were even better.  So we really had two great nights of observing!
Friday evening we went to the dojo for open training, and we will return to class Sunday evening and Tuesday.  That should get us back into the groove.
Thursday afternoon we listened to Acts One and Two of "Koanga," an early Delius opera.  See in slave times on a Louisana plantation, the story is quite good.  The music seems to take its cue from R. Strauss.  It is lush, late romantic in style, with several Wagner-like orchestra idioms.  It is certainly not melodic in the sense of Verdi or Puccini, but more song-spiel in tone.  There is no speaking at all.  Hopefully today we are able to finish it up with Act Three.
Plans for summer music day camp are heating up.  At present there are 25 kids attending, from age six through fifteen.  The camp is scheduled for July 15th-17th. 
As soon as that is over, two things happen.  First, the moon will be favourably fading to resume night sky observing.  Second, Detcon1 begins.  This is the North American Science Fiction Convention, and it is coming to downtown Detroit!!  Woot!

Wednesday, July 2nd/14
The Delius Festival continued today, with the 2nd program of early music.  We played the short tone poem "Summer Evening," a gorgeous piece of writing for orchestra, to open the 2nd concert.  The audience at this festival consists of 2 people and 2 cats.  Everyone seemed to agree that this piece deserves to be heard again.  Next came the composer's only piano concerto, in C Minor.  It is a big, virtuoso work in three movements, a la Tchaikovsky, and I am surprised that I had never heard it before.  Quite a stunning piece, and certainly worthy of a performance by a major artist and orchestra.  Still, it was only this year that the DSO finally got around to performing the Britten Piano Concerto!  Perhaps someday we will hear the Delius one live.
After intermission came a large, lush orchestral work, the Florida Suite.  The composer spent some of his early years in Florida.  The landscape, the natives, and even the black plantation workers all left indelible marks upon Delius, affecting his compositions.  The four movements of the suite are: Daybreak-Dance; By the River; Sunset-Near the Plantation; At Night.  Since the work ends so peacefully, and is about the same length as a symphony, and since it describes beautifully a very popular part of the USA, one would think I would have heard this piece live by now.  Nope.  It is virtually unknown to Americans (and Canadians). 
So this festival, like the recent Bach one, is all about discovery, peeking into corners where others seldom look.  This has always largely been what I have been about.  Our travels have taken us to places so obscure (especially in parts of New Mexico, but even so in London, Mexico, Spain, and Denmark), that virtually no one knows about them.  Likewise my observations of the sky are often in very obscure sections, and a glance at my page of Ballantine Fantasy literature (opposite) will confirm similar patterns in my reading habits.

Tuesday, July 1st/14
Today marked the opening concert of our in-house Delius Music Festival.  We began with several orchestral works from his earliest period, written between 1880-1900.  These are lush works for large orchestra, especially the tone poem "Paris: Nocturne (Portrait of a Great City).  There is a wonderful organic quality to his music, as if it were living and breathing, growing excited and calm by turns.  Even quiet moments have a certain energy and momentum.  We also heard two other tone poems, my favourite being a kind of fantasia called "Over The Hills and Far Away," itself an English folksong.  The other less successful larger work was called "On the Mountain," inspired by Norway.  It wasn't bad or anything, just not up to the same standard as the other pieces heard today.  There were also 2 short works, both quiet lovely.  "Marche Caprice" was the first piece we heard to open the festival, and we also enjoyed "Winter Night--Sleigh Ride," a gently paced and evocative work.
We currently have 3 "concerts" of his early works planned, so perhaps tomorrow we shall continue with our exploration of this virtually unknown composer.
Today, despite it being our main national holiday, my dentist's office was open for business and I went and had my teeth cleaned.
Last night, Amanda L. was over from just after 5 pm until nearly midnight.  Lots of beer and various bottles of dubious alcohol from the back of our cupboard was sampled, as well as music, great food and our usual conversation about music, literature, travel, etc.  It was a very fun night!
Tonight looks as if it might be clear, so we will soon be heading out to the observatory.  There is absolutely nothing official going on in our lives until July 9th, when I begin my summer teaching schedule.  Practicing, reading, writing and other fun activities are on the list, as well as some serious yardwork.

Sunday, June 29th/14
Life is returning to normal at the homestead, though we did start out for the Comber observatory tonight.  However, we saw thick haze up above and we turned around and went back home.  Earlier tonight we went to our first Iaido class since Deb took her test  back on June 10th, and all went well.  We have begun training for the next level, Nidan, or 2nd degree black belt.  I am at least one year away from that test, and Deb is a minimum of two years away.
Last night was the final concert in the chamber series we have been attending.  This was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we are both so happy we made the (extensive) effort to attend as many of the concerts as possible.  We managed 12, which was probably just about right.  While the Festival occurs every June (it's in its 21st year), there has never been a more attractive theme to it.  Not only are we coming away with a deeper and richer understanding of the music of J.S. Bach (who is essentially the foundation of Western music), but of the many composers he has influenced, right up to present day.  We managed to hear the music of, meet and talk with three living composers during this festival, as well as most of the major performing artists.  One of the very best things about the festival is how easy it was to talk with the people involved.  Most performers went to many other concerts to listen, as did the composers, so it was easy to talk with them before and afterwards.  There are too many highlights to mention now, but I will reflect on them over the next several days and give some summative thoughts then.
In the meantime, tomorrow we will finish up our June opera, Manon by Massenet.  We only have Act IV left to hear.  In July we are going to have our own music listening festival.  We recently purchased a box set of cds, the 150th Anniversary Edition of the music of Delius!  There are 18 cds, the equivalent of about 18 concerts.  As they include several operas, we will still fulfill our July opera goal!  After that, we have Benjamin Britten waiting in the wings (with 37 cds!).

Friday, June 27th/14
First the good news--I was supposed to cut the two back lawns today but I didn't, as the grass is not growing very fast anymore. Huzzah!  The bad news is that a squirrel chewed through our upstairs screen and got into the a.c. tube that vents out the window!  The screen is in for repair, though we only have a stop-gap fix in place for tonight.
Due to driver stress and fatigue, we did not attend the two free concerts tonight at the Art Institute.  Since we purchased and attended two more paid concerts, we decided to stay home and relax tonight.  We've been tackling rush hour traffic all week in Detroit.  Tomorrow night is the final concert in the series, as well as Iaido cutting practice during the day.  Sunday night we resume attending Iaido classes.
The concert on Wednesday night was in a very warm, unvented church in Grosse Pointe.  Situated right on Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pte. Memorial Church has some wonderful stained glass panels, as well as an impressive pipe organ!  The concert prelude was a string quartet by Benjamin Britten, a stunning musical work that overwhelmed us with its passion and brilliance of sound.  The Telegraph Quartet (from San Francisco) performed it.  The festival has been divided between older, more experienced musicians, and much younger, emerging artists.  Tonight was given over to the youthful performers.  The pianist was only 23, but already a great master.  He performed an all-Bach first half, and an all-Rachmaninoff second.  It was so hot in the church.  Everyone was dying.  However, the poor pianist resembled someone who had fallen into a pond.  By the end he was completely drenched in sweat!

Ivan Moschuk not only survived an extremely uncomfortable environment, but performed like one of the greatest professional interpreters I've ever heard.  He's 23!

Stained glass, Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, MI.

Stained glass entrance doors, Grosse Pointe Memorial Church.

Last night we went back to Kirk in the Hills, a significant drive through
horrendous traffic, and road construction projects, to one of the far northern suburbs.  It was worth it to hear the Donald Sinta Sax Quartet again (3rd time!), as they performed the pre-concert set (all from memory!!).  The main concert consisted of a Haydn Trio, a Strauss violin sonata (the only horrible piece we have heard in two weeks of concerts), and a world premiere performance of a powerful piece by an American/Iranian composer.  The composer was tortured and taken out of Tehran into the desert, where he had a gun inserted into his mouth.  The trigger was pulled twice, both times with no bullets.  His talk at the beginning explained somewhat of how he felt at that moment, when he thought for certain he was going to die.  The piece describes the moments leading up to the false shots, as well as being left in the desert to wander back on his own to the city, with pepper spray still stinging his eyes.  It was a very intense, extremely wonderful and lovely piece, worth many hearings, should the occasion ever arise.  It was written for the piano trio performing it, and for this festival.  Certainly a festival highlight!
Once home, we headed out to Comber.  Despite weather reports of excellent sky conditions, the sky was pure crap, so we came home.

Baby swans and parents swimming in the lake, Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield, MI.

Wednesday, June 25th/14
11:00 am:  Usually I write these entries late at night, but of late, night time has been taken over by concerts.  Getting home around 11 pm most nights, from the far reaches of the northern suburbs of Detroit.  We are more than 40 miles away from some of the concerts.  Yes, Detroit is a very large city!  Many of the concerts have been in churches that more resemble palaces.  Tucked into landscaped woods with flowing streams, ponds and/or lakes, has only enhanced the concert experience.  Needless to say there is no public transport to most of them, so having a car is a necessity.  In addition to the expense of the concert tickets (we did purchase two more evenings, making our total number of concerts rise to 14), we have the added expense of a $10 toll to cross the bridge each visit, as well as our gas/diesel expense.  We have also had to leave early some days, and have dinner over there to avoid rush hour traffic.  So this two week festival is going to cost about what a small trip would cost.  Not a problem, as it has been better than many small trips we have taken!
Monday night we heard an entire concert of the music of Peter Shickele.  Known mostly for his humourous works as P.D.Q. Bach, his serious writing is ten times better.  His funny pieces are great, but usually hearing them once gets the joke across and they are not worth repeating.  However, some of his more serious music is much more expandable.  He wrote three blues pieces for two bassoons that have to rank with the best blues ever written, and as Deb said afterwards, blues should only be played on bassoons from now on.  His piano/string quintet also blew us away.  We happily got to meet and chat with him afterwards, and he seemed happy that we enjoyed his more serious music so much.

Peter Shickele

Last night we heard a mix of composers and pieces, including the Goldberg Variations by Bach, two fugues by Schumann (transcribed for sax quartet), and the Sonata Op. 110 by Beethoven (which I am currently attempting to learn). 

Kirk in the Hills is an entire campus.

Tuesday's concert was held in the spacious rectory.

View of sunset and lake from my seat, looking out a side window.

Tonight we hear a solo piano recital of works by Bach and Rachmaninoff!  The pre-concert prelude, however, will feature a string quartert by Britten.
For the first time since the series began (months ago, it seems), we might have clear skies afterwards, which means a late trip to the observatory.  The madness will come to an end Saturday night, though Sunday night we hope to return to Iaido!

Sunday, June 22nd/14
Two more concerts down, five to go.  Maybe more.  We are tempted to purchase a few more.  There are over 20 concerts altogether, and so far we are committed to 12.  We may try to go to one or two more, especially since the astronomy weather forecast is the pits for this week.  Today we heard music of Jean Marie Leclair (1697-1764), Bartok, Reger, Schubert, Richard Strauss, Schumann, Bach and Poulenc!  Now that's variety!  The Bach piece was a Fantasia and Fugue for organ (g minor), arranged for the piano by Liszt.  It was supposed to be played by James Tocco, who has been doing so much this past week.  Instead, he gave it to his student, Woori Kim, a week ago.  I've gotten to know Woori a bit over the past week, as she had been turning pages a lot at the concerts and we have been chatting at intermissions.  She studies with Mr. Tocco.  I thought she was about 18 when I was speaking with her.  Turns out she just graduated with her Doctorate of Music and Performance Diploma (a double major), and is a powerhouse pianist!  It was wonderful to hear her play.  She confessed to being very nervous today.  Though the piece is in her repertoire, a week to prepare it is a bit thin.  She was awesome!

Woori Kim performs Bach/Liszt today.  We have become festival buddies with her.  She is an amazing pianist!

Tomorrow I finish up my last semester of teaching for the regular school year.  I have 4 lessons to make up with students due to a previous badly-timed Meniere's attack in May.  Summer semester will begin July 9th, and I seem to have a lot of students returning then.  That following week we will again be teaching at summer music and arts camp in Woodslee.  It is sold out again, so we will be kept busy for three days in mid-July.  I am actually looking forward to working with lots of kids again (for three days only, however--no more than that, please and thank-you).

Saturday, June 21st/14
At last a day to stay home and catch up.  Looks bad for observing tonight, too, so likely we will get back to our June opera.  Since December we have been choosing one opera each month to play.  We are currently finished act one of Manon by Massenet.
With a new tarot card to last me for the next six weeks, I finally came to terms with my one from last term.  Here it is:

This has been a powerful card, and though it has been obvious for some time, I finally acknowledged the fact that my life is being dominated by three things.  The central one is, of course, music.  The other two are astronomy and iaido.  Rather than pulling against one another, they complement each other nicely.  Iaido is really helping me to discipline myself even more, and giving me courage to memorize more music.  I've always had a difficult time memorizing pieces, and it can be very frightening performing that way.  However, it is also liberating, freeing one from the tedious task of having to read and communicate at the same time.  Memorizing dozens of katas has certainly helped me improve, though there is still a long way to go.  Of course it has helped in other ways, too, especially in simply moving through space with confidence, and in tackling big problems one step at a time, much like music.
Astronomy would likely fit with just about any other activity, but it really is wonderful to be as familiar with the night as much as the day.  This, too, is very empowering, and opens up avenues normally closed to people who remain indoors at night all the time.  Imagine someone who remained indoors during all the daylight hours and you will get a general idea.  Escaping the city for true darkness and astronomical observing has become a necessity for me, as much as escaping into the woods and or mountains for hiking.  My new tarot card, which I will discuss next time, appears to show that I am on the true path, and exploring it with vigour!
Solstices are great times for re-evaluating one's life, and fine-tuning any changes that need to be made.  Though Deb is not totally happy with where she is right now, she is headed in the right direction.  A few weeks more should help us determine what her limits will be.  On the metho last year at this time, 6 1/2 weeks had not made a great difference.  It took nearly 10 weeks before she felt good.  So, as before, we patiently await the full effectiveness of her newest drug.

Friday, June 20th/14
HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE!!!!
This whole Bach thing is really beginning to take hold of our lives.  Five concerts down, seven to go!  I wish we could afford going to all of them, but alas, it is not to be.  At least we might get to twelve of them!
This morning's concert was another memorable one, and for several reasons.  We were out late last night at the observatory, and had to roll out of bed this morning just after 8 am.  The concert began at 10:45, but it was way out in the far suburbs again, at Telegraph and 14 Mile.  The pre-concert event began at 10:00, but we knew we would never make it.  However, we did!  Everything clicked.  We got right over the border, traffic zoomed along in Detroit, and we were at the temple hall in time to hear one of the most amazing young groups in existence.  And they are local!
The Donald Sinta Sax Quartet opened with two movements from a Dvorak string quartet.  It was the most wonderful sound ever, and they performed from memory!!!  They continued on to play 4 other works, contemporary, and just continued to blow us away with their sound and total musicianship.  We will be on the lookout for them in the future.  They only used music for one piece.
Another reason the concert was so good was because one of our favourite pieces of music was being featured in the main concert.  We heard the Bach Chaconne in D, this time arranged for violin and piano.  This was done by Mendelssohn, as solo violinists were not accepted on stage in his day.  By adding a very easy piano part to the extremely difficult violin part, he made the piece palatable and acceptable to people in his day.  He is famous for making much of Bach's music reappear in the public eye a hundred years after Bach's time.
The third reason the concert rocked was because Peter Shickele was there, to introduce one of his new chamber pieces.  A very funny man (perhaps more famous as P.D.Q. Bach) who also composes terrific chamber music.  His piece was a highlight today.
By the time we had lunch and got home, it was after 3 pm.  We both napped, then re-emerged for our Solstice party.  We got new tarot cards today, which will last us until Lammas in early August.  More about tarot cards in the next post.

Wednesday, June 18th/14
Just back from the J.S. Bach vs Philip Glass Smackdown in Bloomfield Hills!  Such an awesome concert, one of a kind in the universe!   Alternating a keyboard piece by Bach with one by Glass for about 90 minutes is a most wonderful way to spend a summer evening.  Due to terrible storms earlier this afternoon, all the power was out in the area, including the church where the concert was held.  No matter:  three tall candles from the church and one emergency light, and Frederic Chui was good to go!  Great atmosphere, as it gradually got darker and darker.  Probably one of the best ways to hear either Bach or Glass.  Fantastic night!
Last night we heard him perform in Windsor, where he did his now-famous Prokofiev vs. Debussy Smackdown.  We brought Justin along, my talented 12 year old piano student, and he seemed to really like it.  So, two more concerts down, 8 more to go.  So far it's been a totally mind-expanding series, and it will likely continue that way.  Next concert is Friday morning, way out in the suburbs again.  Can't wait!
In other news, Mogi went to the vet today for an eye checkup.  The drugs have worked!!  The eye pressure is way down, now back in the high-normal range.  The drops will continue indefinitely, though not as many.
I went to my family doctor Monday, and came out with a lot of good weapons against my allergies, which have been bad for the last two years.  I've had a good week as a result.  Nasal spray, eye drops, and a different anti-histamine, as well as a refill on my Serc, for Meniere's.  The drug box is full!
We also went to Comber with our scopes on Monday night and Tuesday.  We managed some observing, but the moon still rises quite early.  Looking forward to this weekend and all of next week, should it happen to be clear.
Very tired--so much driving lately.

Sunday, June 15th/14
Two concerts down and at least 10 to go!  The first two have been completely amazing, and in completely different ways.  Last night's opener did not feature any music by J.S. Bach (the festival is called "In the Shadow of Bach"), but today's certainly did!  We heard the entire "Art of the Fugue" on organ, by the 80 year world's leading expert.  She was totally in the zone, ripping off fugue after fugue after fugue: singles, doubles, triples, mirrors, along with 4 2-part canons.  Of all the concerts in the series, this is the one I most wanted to hear.  It was held in Grosse Pointe's Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, which has an admirable organ and perfect acoustics for hearing unlimited counterpoint.  By intermission she had played more fugues than I had in my whole life, and then it just went on from there.  Unforgettable, but head-exploding at the same time.  Most of last night's performers were there today to listen, and I got to speak to several of them, including James Tocco, the festival's organizer and one of the leading performers.  He was in two-thirds of last night's concert.  We heard Busoni's "Fantasia Contrappuntistica" for two pianos, which is all based on "Art of the Fugue."  It is a bear of a piece, and very seldom performed, but a real masterpiece and tribute to J.S.  Then we heard Brahms' 1st Sonata for Cello and Piano, with Tocco on piano once again and the new incoming festival organizer, a Welsh cellist by the name of Paul Watkins.  Never heard that piece before, either, and it was lovely and worth a repeat hearing.  The last movement is a brilliant two-part fugue. 
After intermission came Beethoven's late string quartet, Op. 130, nicknamed "Grosse Fugue."  In six movements Beethoven basically rewrites Western music, taking it to levels where even today composers have seldom tread.  Stravinsky said of the work "It is a contemporary work, and always will be."  How true!  And what a ravishing performance by the young Ariel String Quartet.  The final movement is the "grosse fugue," certainly one of the most difficult ensemble pieces in the quartet literature.  Looking forward to hearing more of the Ariel in the coming days and nights.
We are off now until Tuesday and Wed. evenings, both piano recitals.  One of them is in Windsor, at the Capital Theatre.  Though it is not directly related to the Bach Festival, the pianist is, and Wednesday's concert in Detroit will feature music of Bach and Philip Glass, alternating.  Wow!

Friday, June 13th/14
A fairly normal day, mostly spent at home.  Some piano, some grass cutting.  We went to A'burg briefly for more eydrops for Mogi.  His next appointment with destiny is Tuesday.  We should learn more about his eye, specifically whether he will keep it or not.
I also did some 5 x 7 and 8 x 10 enlargements from our November trip to Tucson.  Once I get some from the recent Amtrak trip printed, I will be all caught up with enlargements.  However, I am seriously behind in putting them into albums, and must get busy on that.
We watched another silent classic movie today, the "unrestored" 1923 "Hunchback of Notre Dame," a movie that launched Lon Chaney to Hollywood fame.

It's a really amazing picture, with fabulous sets, pretty decent acting, and huge numbers of extras.  The climax is a battle in front of Notre Dame between the soldiers of Louis XI and the peasant rabble that is quite breathtaking in its scope and power.  Watching Quasimodo ring the bells is a highlight!
Tomorrow is the beginning of our two-week Bach Festival of concerts in Detroit.  I am very excited!  However, we haven't received our tickets.  Hmmm.  Anyway, there is a lot of driving and border crossing to do in the next 15 days.  Combined with the new astronomy session beginning in three days or so, it could get a bit hectic.  At least for now, Iaido is not a part of that frenzy, though we hope to resume training as soon as possible.

Thursday. June 12th/14
Well, it seems as if we are finally coming out of the woods.  My concerts are done for now, travelling is over and done till September, Deb's charity walk has happened, and the long-awaited black belt test is now history.  One more week of teaching to go, and our Bach festival also begins this Saturday.  The new astronomy session begins on Monday.  So we'll still be busy, but we are not tied down to anything.
Deb aced her shodan test in Iaido.  It's a fairly grueling test, and except for the kneeling bits (which she did standing), she did the same test as I did.  So there is now a new black belt in the house!

Iaido class warming up.

Deb can slice and dice with the best of them.

Knife work is also part of the training.

In other exciting news, best friend Randy G. got himself a new vehicle today, one capable of transporting his massive 22" telescope to a dark sky site!  He has only been able to use it in the city where he lives.  He now has access to the entire sky at Hallam Observatory, or anywhere else he chooses to bring it!  Congratulations.  Best of all, he will retire in December, freeing him for as much observing as he wishes!!

Sunday, June 8th/14
It rained most of the morning, except when the actual walk took place.  Weird.  Anyway, Deb raised $569 in pledges.  She walked 3.2 km this year, and did it easily.  Next year, perhaps, the full 5k.
 

The front of Deb's self-designed tee-shirt says "Help!  My body thinks I'm an alien invader!".

The back of her shirt says "To my immune system, I am the alien invader."

About two hundred people turned out to walk in the cool, damp weather.

There was quite a spread of goodies afterwards, and they even had veggie burgers!  Deb finished 5th in individual fundraising!  Thank you to all who contributed!!
I got about five minutes into the walk when my sinuses literally exploded.  I sneezed for the remainder of the day.  Deb went to her last Iaido class before her big test, but I stayed home, wiped out from the allergy attack and the meds I took to control it.

Saturday, June 7th/14
Student concert done!  All went well, despite more jitters than your average war-time battle.  Some played better than expected--some didn't.  Life goes on.  Thumbs up to Justin and Max, who did quite well.  The rest were mostly cute little girls, whose parents and grandparents thought that they were the highlight of the night.  Alicia (piano) did quite well, and Julia (harp) did exceptionally well.  At least they are all quite fun to teach and to be with each week.

Julia, Deb's most advanced harp student, wows the crowd tonight at the recital.

Fun Detroit trip this morning, too.  Lots of stuff in at the mailbox.  I got summer pants and a headlamp!  Lunch at the extravagantly revamped "La Shish" restaurant.  A very warm walk on the River Rouge Trail.
Tomorrow morning is Deb's arthritis walk--she has raised well over $500!  3km this year, perhaps 5 km next year.  If it was a dirt path, she could easily walk 5k this year.  However, pavement is not good for her joints, so 3k will be plenty, until her meds fully kick in (Sept., we hope).

Thursday, June 5th/14
We watched "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," a 2010 documentary by Werner Herzog on the Chauvet caves, discovered in 1994.  The rock art dates back roughly 40,000 years, making them the oldest figurative art yet discovered, and about 20,000 years older than other cave art in Spain and France.  This is a reflective, highly watchable film, and most highly recommended.

A stunning documentary by Werner Herzog, with 40,000 year old cave art that looks like it was created last week.  Unmissable film!

We are currently watching "L'Avventura," one of  my all-time favourite classic films.  A stunning picture by Antonioni, this is my 3rd or 4th viewing, and it's just as mysterious and beautiful as ever.  I wish I had time to watch all of The Criterion Collection films.  Clear nights keep on rolling in, but by now the moon sets too late.  Gorgeous night out there, with a first quarter moon.

Wednesday, June 4th/14
I am almost beginning to dread clear nights, especially before teaching days.  It was beautifully clear last night, so after Iaido class ended (10:15 pm) we drove out to the observatory and set up our equipment.  The 5-day old moon was bright but we hid behind the large barn, blocking its light.  We were observing by 11:30 pm and had a superb sky for galaxies.  We wrapped up at 2 :15 am when clouds began to roll in.  Home by 3:15 am and in bed by 3:45 am.  It made for a long day, as I was up by 9 am.
Earlier that day we had driven to Windsor for Deb's 2nd infusion.  She was told that it takes four months before reaching peak effectiveness, which would put it around Sept. 4th.  With luck we will be in California, hiking!  She had a very bad day today, but after everything she did yesterday, plus her teaching today, it's not too surprising.
Once home from her infusion yesterday, she did some cutting practice outside with the sword and pre-soaked mats.  Then came Iaido class followed by our final astronomy session of this lunar session.  Though Saturday night is the club's public open house, it's also the night of our student recital.
Sunday is Deb's Walk for Arthritis.  She has raised $410 so far, and a bit more should be coming in.  We're trying to reach $500 this year.  Less than a week till her black belt test.

Monday, June 2nd/14
A normal day!  We got to stay home, except for our two walks (morning and evening) in the neighbourhood.  Glorious!  Relaxed piano practice, reading, short nap, some grass cutting, some John Pertwee Dr. Who episodes--it's almost like what I thought retirement would be like!
From here till next Tuesday night it will become busy again.  Two trips to Windsor tomorrow, the first in the morning for Deb's 2nd batch of meds, then back in the evening for Iaido.  It will be one week from Deb's black belt test.  Teaching Wed. and Thurs.  Iaido Friday night.  Saturday night is our annual student concert, held at the university again this year.  There are 15 performers, will three abstaining.  Sunday night is Iaido, and that brings us to the following Tuesday with Deb's big test.
Beginning on the 14th we have tickets to a major Bach music festival in Detroit.  The scale of this festival is wonderful, and is something that one might find in London, UK, and wish fervently to attend.  Called In the Shadow of Bach: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH AND HIS INFLUENCE THROUGH THE CENTURIES, (June 14-29, 2014 in venues throughout Metro Detroit), this is something I can't wait to hear, with music from Baroque times right up to contemporary!  We did not try for all concerts, as that would have been too crazy.  However, I think we have tickets for 8 events.  Just wait till the new astronomy session kicks in during those concerts.  Then you'll see two tired cowpokes!

Sunday, June 1st/14
Our three predicted clear nights turned into a bit of a dud.  With all the rain we had on the ground, Thursday night turned into one of the more humid nights we have seen.  This really hampers the seeing of galaxies, which requires a dark, dry sky.  Still, we drove out and stayed until all of our equipment and books were dripping wet from dew.
Friday night we set out for the observatory, got ten minutes into our 40 minute drive there and turned around, based on what we saw in the sky.  Despite predictions of "clear" it was quite cloudy.  As it is such a long drive to the observatory, and as we require near-perfect skies for our current work, we tend to turn around if the sky does not look promising.  I seldom trust weather predictions anymore.  We cannot see much sky from our yard, so we must begin the drive east before we know what's going down that night.  With no wind it looked like another damp one anyway.
Saturday night, however, we hit the jackpot!  Official predictions were calling for so-so sky conditions, but it turned into a classic night, until high clouds rolled in about 2:30 am.  This was a great night for picking off galaxies, and I added 13 to my life list!  However, home by 3:45 am and in bed at 4:15 am made for a lousy Sunday!
Our dojo had a table at the Windsor Sports and Hobby Expo this weekend, and we had signed up to man the table today from 4 till 6 pm.  Due to great weather all weekend attendance at the indoor event was low and we didn't have much to do.  We helped with the take down.  I got to visit the Celestron exhibit, and saw some really nice binoculars!  Something we don't have is a good pair to use for astronomy.
Predictions for tonight are miserable for astronomy, and despite it being very clear overhead here, we decided not to travel to the observatory.  From my front yard I can see a solid bank of clouds moving in from the southwest.
Deb is two days away from her second infusion of her biologic drug, Symponi.  It appears to be working rather well, though Deb has yet to have much stability in her recovery.  It's coming in fits and starts.  Still, she has managed an amazing number of hours last month outdoors doing astronomy, something not too many RA sufferers could boast of, and her gardening has been going full tilt, including the new enclosure for Ludwig the tortoise.  She is also doing some handwriting again!  We're hoping the second treatment gives her the boost she needs to stabilize, and I'm sure it will do just that.
In other news, former student and now best friend Jennifer G. (my craft beer buddy), has sold her motel in B.C. and is moving back to Ontario, specifically to this area.  She wants to get into the brewpub business, and possibly even grow her own hops!  Her family farm is on Lake Erie, east of Wheatley.  It will be so much fun having her here, along with her young son, Aston.  We plan on doing some home brewing together!

Wednesday, May 28th/14
We seem to be all caught up with life once again.  I have 8 new pages of astronomy notes in the logbook, and a new astronomy blog entry on-line.  However, beginning tomorrow night we have a strong chance of 3 clear nights in a row, so it's back to late night living once again!  Today was new moon, so in about 5 days this observing session will be over.  Three more nights would be awesome, though!  Fingers crossed.
Since last night 3" of rain has appeared in the backyard gauge.  We had some serious downpours, beginning last night as we left for Iaido around 8 pm.  Another deluge hit once we were in bed last night, and then it rained much of today.  If you think Ireland is green, you should see our yard just now!
We both had full teaching loads today.  Margi, mom to the three students I teach, seems to be getting better very rapidly.  She looked perfectly normal today!  Quite a recovery.  And Deb isn't doing too badly, either.  She's been unable to hold a pencil now for over a year.  Today, she was able to write for awhile, and it was neat handwriting!
I am currently in the midst of battling another onset of Meniere's.  That means taking Serc, which does not affect me negatively, and Gravol, which does.  I will be in bed very soon, not by choice.  Hopefully I will get an uninterrupted night of sleep.

Monday, May 26th/14
Three clear nights in a row have exhausted us.  It was clear Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, as well as last Wednesday!  Extraordinary, as all of those nights were excellent seeing for astronomy.  We never got to bed before 3:30 am, and Sunday morning it was 4:40 am.  We are going to bed very early tonight.  Clear skies are also predicted for next weekend.
Two of those past nights were also Iaido nights, so after our workout we left the dojo with our gear and headed straight to the Comber observatory.  So I guess you could say that Deb is beginning to feel better!  Next week she goes for her second infusion, and then that's it for two months.
Some yard work got done on the weekend, as well as laundry, groceries, walking, and even some groggy piano practicing.  The AC is also up and running.  It's been getting pretty warm in the house by late afternoon.
I watched a really good sci fi film from 1979 called "The Day Time Ended."  Deb gave up on it half way through, but it just got better and better.  Borrowing heavily from "Close Encounters," the film goes its own way and mostly does a pretty good job of it.  The beginning and the ending are the best parts, but some of the middle is well done and believable.  There is some silliness with a Gumby-like alien, but once that is over things become much less silly.  Except for the prehistoric monster battle.  Well, no movie is perfect.  Recommended.

Saturday, May 24th/14
A few times each year our lives descend into madness.  It used to be caused by school (report cards, concerts, etc.).  Last year at this time it was Deb's many medical appointments.  This time, it is being caused by a run of clear nights.  So far, two of the last three nights have clear.  We were not in bed Thursday morning until 3:30 am, and last night it was 3:45 am.  It is also going to be clear tonight, and likely tomorrow night.  That's a possible 4 of 5 nights with clear skies!  Chaos.  With yard work, piano practice and our other daily regimes under stress, and our sleep patterns seriously disrupted, life at the eyepiece is certainly different.  And fun!  Spring is galaxy season, and we have been pulling them in one after another.  Wed. night we were at the observatory, but last night we went to a site on Lake Erie, considerably east of our usual location.  Getting a bit further from Detroit/Windsor light pollution makes a world of difference.  We also enjoyed wonderful views of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, which are still prominent.
The reason we go all-out on these nights is because they rarely happen.  Perhaps two or three times a year we get such great skies all in a row.  Still, by Monday we will be ready to see some clouds...

Tuesday, May 20th/14
Last year at this time Deb had just received her massive dose of cortisone, to hold her together until she began taking her methotrexate.  We were able to take a short walk in the woods.  What a difference a year makes.  Tonight she was running through her black belt katas at Iaido like a pro!  Her test is in three weeks.  She also got her vegetable garden planted today!  Not bad for an RA sufferer.  Mornings are always the worst, though by afternoon she usually feels better.  If her new drug is working, it is very subtle.  It's been two weeks, and her doctor said it would take at least that long to begin noticing any improvements.  So hopefully this week we will see improvement.  It may already be helping her afternoons, but her mornings have been getting worse for some time now.  Hopefully that will reverse soon.
We have a steam train excursion booked for July 13th.  The Detroit Arrow, a newly restored locomotive, will pull a train of restored passenger cars from Detroit to Fort Wayne, Indiana.  We leave at 8 am, will spend 4 hours downtown at a major arts festival, then leave for home at 4 pm, getting back to Detroit at 8 pm.  We have never been on a long steam journey before, so we are looking forward to it.  We have seats in the deluxe coach!
It looks as if we are in store for a run of clear nights, beginning tomorrow.  Don't be surprised if this blog goes quiet for several days.

Monday, May 19th/14
We had a wonderfully clear night last night, packing up the telescopes and heading out to Hallam Observatory at sunset.  It was one of the finest nights in a long while, though the rising moon at 12:30 am soon had us packing up.  One clear night each week appears to be our lot in life.
Amanda visited today before heading back to Toronto, always a pleasant and welcome surprise.  We divided our time between inside and out, as it was a lovely day.  Ludwig the Tortoise came outside with us, enjoying his new spacious outdoor enclosure that Deb is preparing for him.  It's nearly done, and when it is he will be able to remain outside on his own, protected from hawks, raccoons, etc.
We recently watched an animated feature called "The Secret of Kells," a fantasy re-telling of how the famous book came to be.  It is a lovely film with some very fine art, and a story and characters that would greatly appeal to children around ten.  Worth viewing.

In choosing new piano repertoire for my next program, I am really scaling back the number of works.  I no longer have the time to prepare a full concert, an onerous task at the best of times.  To open the program I have chosen 12 short works by Couperin for harpsichord (actually there are 13, as the final one is usually included with the suite), though I may only initially prepare the first 6.  I have begun work on one of Beethoven's greatest sonatas, the Op. 110.  It was the next to last sonata he wrote, and has always been a favourite of mine.  I will learn the first 2 movements this year, and the final 2 next time, before performing the work in its entirety.  I have also included a Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody, #7, which I last performed in 1979!  That's only about 25 minutes of music, plus a duet with Paula.  We are working on a new one already, a Tango.
I also have several accompaniments and duet parts to learn for our upcoming student recital (June 7th), and I am performing the Chopin Nocturne again at an adult recital.  I would love to perform the Haydn and Debussy again, too, but have no place to do so.

Friday, May 16th/14
I was left awestruck and speechless today by Yefim Bronfman's performance of the Beethoven 3rd Piano Concerto.  It's one of my favourite pieces of all time, and I have never heard anything close to this perfect of a performance.  Every note mattered and meant something.  This was Beethoven played the way the composer would want to hear it.  It's an unusual piece, with a definite continuation between movements.  The first is stormy and grief-laden, alternating between despair and flashes of hope.  The ending of this movement is about as fine as they come, with rippling chords in the piano, and a minimalist dialogue with the orchestra that promises more to come.  I often get chills during this part, but today I positively shivered.  Bronfman understands every detail, and is able to express things perfectly.  The very slow and tender slow movement involves a comforting instrumental part and a hopelessly wounded piano solo, with the pianist pouring out his woes to an enveloping and warmly sympathetic orchestra.  The third movement reconciles the drama, ultimately releasing the dark side of life and welcoming new found hope and optimism.  This is very ironic, as it was to be the exact struggle that Beethoven himself would go through several years later.  It must be so amazing to be be able to play great music at this level of expertise, along with an orchestra and conductor (Slatkin) who can match everything you do with perfection.
In two weeks we attend the final concert of the season, which has been unusually outstanding.  We will hear Mahler Symphony #3.  It is an epic piece lasting 90 minutes, and is the only piece on the program.
It was a bittersweet concert.  This year 7 veteran members are retiring, nearly 9% of the orchestra!  Donald Baker, oboist extraordinaire, is leaving, as is the principal clarinetist.
We finished watching "The Fall," a very unusual movie that harkens to Tales of the Arabian Nights, as well as The Magnificent Seven.  The star of the movie is a little girl (Catinca Utaru), who is in hospital healing from a bad fall.  She befriends a wounded stunt man (Lee Pace), who lost feeling in his legs during a stunt gone bad (another fall).   He exudes little charm in the role, more or less a requirement for his part, but the girl is totally amazing and steals the movie.  Their friendship is based upon him telling her a continuing fantasy story when they get together in his ward.  He is using her, however, to get morphine for him from the dispensary.  He continues the tale when she successfully returns with drugs for him.  This is the bare outline of the reality part of the tale, but soon this gets mixed in with the fantasy story.  Wonderfully told and very powerful, it's a wonder it was ever made.  Worth it alone to see the Monkey Chant sequence, though the photography and settings are completely breathtaking!

Today was the official opening of martini season, as we watched the first episode of Season 7 of M*A*S*H.  Hawkeye is left in command of the 4077, and becomes totally overbearing. A really good episode, filled with more one-liners than a typical comedy sketch of the same length.  One of my favourites:  "I've met a lot of people, and you're not one of them!"

Thursday, May 15th/14
It has rained every day since Monday, and the gauge shows just over 3" so far this week.  I suddenly remember why we had so much damn snow this past winter.
Yesterday about 2:30 pm I had the full onslaught of a Meniere's attack.  It's like being stuck on a roller coaster for 7 hours, non-stop.  I lost count after 10 how many times I was sick.  So far my new meds have spared me these not fun times.  I haven't had an attack that continued like that since Aug. 20th.  So today was a bit of a lost day, as my body tries to recover.
I managed to teach today, though yesterday had to be cancelled.  We have a fun day planned tomorrow in Detroit, including the Beethoven 3rd Piano Concerto with the orchestra.  Hopefully I will sleep soundly tonight.
Before I got sick yesterday we were able to finish watching "Port of Shadows," a French film from 1938 starring Jean Gabin that was at least 15 years ahead of its time.  The photography is moody and unforgettable, and the plot is wonderful and unpredictable.  A true classic, and deserving of several viewings!  Michele Morgan plays a 17 year old runaway.  She was 18 when she made the picture, and is truly a gorgeous and talented actress.  She is still alive, about 94 now!

Jean Gabin and Michele Morgan, an unforgettable couple in the fully engrossing "Port of Shadows."

I also managed to finish the Amtrak webpages next door on this page, including the beer page (for Jennifer G.).

Our next big adventure will again be courtesy of Amtrak.  We will return to the Southwest Chief, but this time ride it all the way to LA.  We will spend 4 nights on the California coast before returning home by train.  Two nights each way this time!

Monday, May 12th/14
A day of darkness, storms, rain and all kinds of weather warnings.  We made out fine in A'burg, though we had lots of rain. 
Mogi went back to the vet today.  His eye pressure has increased from 41 to 43.  The vet is pretty certain that he is mostly blind in his right eye.  We go back in 4-6 weeks to see if he will lose the eye.  It seems likely.  Meanwhile, his drops are down to four a day from five.
Speaking of invalids, Deb is already beginning to notice a difference on her new medication.  While her mornings are still filled with stiffness and considerable pain, by late afternoon she says she is feeling pretty good!  We'll give things one more week before proclaiming a definite "yea" to the drug Symponi, but early indications seem positive.
I got two new pages of photos up on my Amtrak trip website today.  That only leaves the pub page left to go!  Maybe tomorrow.

Sunday, May 11th/14
I played my recital program last evening for my loyal Windsor audience.  Eleven guests ended up coming, so we were pretty snug!  Though my performance was a bit messier than I would have liked, I was quite happy overall with the performance, especially the musicality.  I was able to get deeply into the music most of the time, even after recovering from mistakes.  Several pieces went very well, including the Fugue, the Chopin, and all 4 Debussy works.  Likewise with the 2 duets with Paula, which came off as nearly flawless!  Unfortunately something happened at the climax of the Haydn piece, in a place where nothing has ever happened before.  C'est la vie!!
Today we crossed to Detroit, and Deb got to enjoy a Mothers' Day brunch, complete with a Mimosa.  We also paid our second and final visit to the Samurai exhibit at the DIA.
More work is being done here every day on the recent trip website, with a new page added today.  Three more pages should do it.  I may have to take down the Tucson pictures to make room for the newer ones.
We are home for a short rest, then off to evening Iaido class.

After brunch at PJ's we went next door to Brooklyn St. Deli for espresso and dessert.  They have mini-vegan carrot muffins!

Friday, May 9th/14
No word on Margi, still in Florida.  Right now I can only assume no news is bad news.  Please not!
Taedem is out of the hospital, saying that her mouth feels like she was drinking boiling water.  That must feel good.
No change in Deb, though she worked outside in the yard today and went to open practice at the dojo tonight.  She is preparing, in addition to her gardens, a larger outdoor space for Ludwig the Tortoise.  Photos coming soon.
My big project for today was changing the oil on the ride-on mower, and then cutting the two back lawns.  All went well, though storms threatened us off and on all day.  Coming home tonight from Windsor we drove into the blackest sky I have ever seen, mixed with a bit of sunset red.  Oddly terrifying.  The storm passed south of us, but somebody got it.
Another page of photos is now up on the website.  At least three more to go, including the pub page.

Thursday, May 8th/14
Deb is cured!  Well, almost.  Well, she did mention that she might feel a teeny bit better today.  So progress, maybe...
I have the first webpage done on the Amtrak adventure!  See the other side and link to some photos.
Every Wed. I go up the road and teach piano to three wonderful children in their home.  Twin boys are nine, and Gigi is seven.  Mom or dad always gives me a glass of red wine, and usually a salad, too.  They are wonderful people, and quite young.  Dad invests in property and rents them out.  Their house is a palace, they have a boat, jet skis, and a back yard on the river with a pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen.  They also have a 5' Yamaha grand piano.  They also travel a lot with the kids, and last weekend they went to Florida for a long weekend.  They haven't made it back yet.  Mom had a major stroke, and they had to do emergency surgery.  No news yet on how or if she might recover.  She is slim, fit, eats well and is in her early thirties.  She also teaches a 4/5 split grade class in Windsor.  Very shocking and upsetting news.
So my week of teaching was shortened somewhat by the absence of those three children.
I had two decent piano practices in the last two days, and have time for two more before the recital.  Mary has confirmed, so only Bill is left to hear from.
It reached 85 F today, and it was a bit too much.  Many windows are now open trying to cool the house down.  It was strange being outside in a tee shirt, and have the kids coming to lessons in shorts and tank tops.

Tuesday, May 6th/14
We were up nice and early today to get Deb downtown for her first infusion treatment with Symponi, her newest drug.  So far she is on the drug company's compassion list, meaning we are not paying for anything yet.  That will come later, once the Trillium Grant form is complete.  Anyway, her doctor said that she should begin to notice a difference in about two weeks. We are counting down, as Deb is stiffening up as more time goes by.
Our former student and friend Taedem had her massive dose of radiation this morning--she has to remain isolated for several days in the hospital, and shower often, drink a lot of water, juice and tea.  Luckily she is an avid reader, and is able to message her family and friends on Facebook and e-mail.  Hoping she comes through that ordeal in one, unglowing piece.
Miracle of miracles, but the lawn mower started today.  Easily.  It sat outside all winter, waiting for spring.  Good news indeed.  I cut the front lawn, but I need to change the oil now before continuing.
We have booked our next major vacation trip, though some details remain to be worked out.  So far only one other person knows.  We're not ready to spill the beans to everyone yet.  Perhaps Saturday night at the recital/party.
Which reminds me--practicing has been hellish, mostly due to an overly busy schedule so far this week.  I'm finding it very difficult to concentrate and stay on task when playing--too much else going on in my life just now.  I was able to get hold of Ric Moor to tune the piano Friday afternoon.  So far the following people are confirmed as attending:  Randy and Anita, Ruth, Elaine, Roger,  and Paula.  Haven't heard yet from Bill or from Mary.  That would make a very full house.
And I finally got the snow tires off and the summer ones on!  And judged a piano competition.  And went out to Comber for some observing.  And did 4 loads of laundry.  And went to Iaido.  And continue to work on my travel journal.  And finished work on the back deck.  Not all on the same day.  But see what I mean about sensory overload?

Saturday, May 3rd/14
I replaced nine boards on our back deck that were getting a bit rotten.  Even though I did all the work myself, it still cost over $200!!  Nine boards!  And some nails!  To replace the entire deck at once would cost over $2000.00.  Guess we'll continue to do it a bit at a time.
We have been very busy lately, and my piano practice is suffering.  It's getting done, but not with full concentration.  Too many other things going on.  Yesterday's DSO concert was another memorable one, with Canadian pianist Louis Lortie giving the finest performance of the Chopin Piano Concerto that one could ever dream of.  It was superb, filled with nuance and colour, power and tenderness.  I ended up buying his 2-disc set of Liszt's "Annees de Pelerinage," which I cannot wait to listen to.  He also has the complete set of the Beethoven Sonatas.  I am seriously interested.  The concert went rather long, and by the time we had finished lunch we decided to postpone the Samurai exhibit by one week.
At the mailbox we picked up Deb's newest sword, a light one that she might actually be able to handle for cutting purposes.  She needs to demonstrate actual cutting techniques at her upcoming black belt test in early June.  One would think that bringing a razor sharp sword across the border would raise eyebrows.  We were asked how much our purchases had cost, but not what we had actually purchased!  So we got across back to Canada in seconds, without having to even pay duty, let alone answer questions as to why we were importing a samurai sword.  Yay Canada!
That evening we went to the dojo to practice Iaido, and though practice went okay we were both tired and uninspired.
Sunday I am helping judge a student piano competition, our local branch of ORMTA, being held at the university.  I am giving up a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony by the Detroit Medical Orchestra for this.  Drat!
Then home for more work on the deck, and perhaps at long last getting the lawn mower started.  Then back to Iaido that night.  And so it goes.
Randy and Anita G. dropped by briefly today to say they could make it to the recital here next Saturday.  Haven't heard from Bill, nor my piano tuner.
Work continues on my Amtrak travel journal.  I am now about to write about the train trip home.  After that is the summative essay.  Once that is done I can begin work on the website version.
I have remained in contact with Taedem, a former student about to undergo some serious radiation therapy.  She begins her treatment on exactly the same morning Deb begins hers (Tuesday).  Weird.  Fingers crossed on both hands.

Thursday, May 1st/14
What a whirlwind week that was!  I managed to get to the piano twice.  However, now that I have decided to go ahead with Recital #2 next Saturday, I'd say I better get to it a lot more often!!
Mogi has been getting his eyedrops, so things will hopefully improve, though the prognosis for this rare disease in cats is blindness in the affected eye.
I was short two students this week, and Deb was down one, so it was a fairly light week of teaching.  I have been working on my travel journal during spare moments, and also trying to get the lawn mower started.  Hopefully the new battery will work.  I just can't wait to begin cutting grass again.  Ugh.
Tomorrow morning we are hearing the Chopin Piano Concerto in Detroit, followed by lunch in Mid-town, and then our second visit to the Samurai exhibit at the DIA.  Home in the late afternoon and then back to Windsor for open training in Iaido at the dojo.  No time for piano practice tomorrow.  Ugh.

Monday, April 28th/14
An insanely busy day, though we finally kicked back around 5 pm.  Mogi has developed a problem with his right eye, and it began getting worse just before we left on our trip.  We got him to the vet this morning.  We've had the same vet, Martin Ross, for many years now, and this is the first case of glaucoma in a cat he has ever seen.  We left with two sets of ultra-expensive eye drops, which Mogi needs 5x per day.  We will be lucky if we get a single dosage onto his eye!  His eye pressure is way up, so we have to try and get it back down.  The key word is try.  We shall see.  The really fun part will be trying to get him back to the vet in two weeks.
After lunch we went to visit our accountant and pick up our tax returns (hold on--news bulletin just in from the bedroom:  Deb has managed to get an eye drop into the correct eye of Mogi!!  One down, 69 to go!).  We pay Joanne $145 to do both our tax returns, as well as the business one.  We are getting a refund, too, of nearly $800!  Might get to buy that orange grove in California yet...
Next came the drug store, to print some of our recent NM pics for my travel journal.  So far as I have written today, we are in Kansas, beginning our 2nd day on the train.  It's lots of fun to write up the doings a week or so afterwards.  There were certainly some wonderful moments!
Next came groceries, as the cupboards were bare.  Despite some on and off rain, we got a short walk in, accompanied by a very nasty, chilly wind.  Tomorrow we are expecting some very wicked storms.  At least 17 people have died in tornado outbreaks in some southern states, and that group of storms is now heading our way.
I did not get to the piano today.  Perhaps tomorrow!

Sunday, April 27th/14
Life is trying to get back to normal, after a fabulous vacation.  The Amtrak sleeper car was perfect for us, and the ride was amazing in its scale and its comfort.  We will definitely do it again!  However, our final train back to Dearborn ran an hour late on Saturday night, thanks to some rowdy passengers that were eventually kicked off the train in Jackson.  We arrived at our station at 12:50 am, getting home around  1:40 am, thanks to road construction in Windsor on the Ojibway Parkway, where we were delayed yet again!
I have begun to edit the more than 400 photos we took last week, getting a small batch ready for printing for my upcoming journal review of the adventure. Then I will begin working on the journal and this website.  It will be some time before things get done, however. 
Today we had a pm DSO concert to attend, hearing a wonderful performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto, likely the best I've ever heard, along with the indescribably brilliant Symphony #6 by Prokofiev!  Great stuff!
As we didn't get up until after 10 am today, because of the concert not much got done except the unpacking.  Tomorrow we need to get Mogi to the vet.  He began developing an eye problem just before we left (of course!).  We also need groceries, and the laundry isn't going to get done on its own.  Not to mention I haven't touched a piano now in 8 days.  I thought I might perform my recital here on the 10th of May.  Not too likely!
Deb's black belt test is just over a month away, so we will be attending a lot of Iaido classes from now on.  Teaching resumes this week for the final 8-week semester, and it's just about time to get serious about yard work.  Good thing it's going to be cloudy for the next week.  With late astronomy nights occuring it would be nearly impossible to find time for everything.

Saturday, April 19th/14
We had a fun night last night at the observatory, with clear skies and a late-rising moon.  It was windy, though, and we had to move our setup at one point to a more sheltered spot behind the large barn.  We packed up around 12:30 am, when the rising moon began to wipe out our dark sky.  Tonight also looks clear, so we might just go to Ruth's for an hour, a neighbour south of town with a much more decent sky than we have.  It's only a ten minute ride each way, as opposed to the nearly 45 minute one to the observatory.  We have to get up tomorrow morning at 4:50 am to catch our early train in Detroit to Chicago.
Day 23 of the 28-day walking program got done today, and hopefully day 24 will get done in Chicago tomorrow.  We have several hours between trains.  Watch for updates and photos on Facebook, and then back here next week, when time permits.  We can be reached via e-mail at the address at the bottom of this page.  Bon Voyage!

Friday, April 18th/14
The walking program is back on track, though we won't finish it in time.  Combined with how crappy I was feeling last week, with my trip to Toronto and our final (I hope!) blast of winter on Tuesday and Wed., it's been a tough time for excercising.  Our long walk today was at Ojibway Woods.  Part way in, while admiring a few migrating birds, Deb spotted a little brown bat sleeping on a branch right near the path.  It was partially hidden by dead oaks leaves of the same colour.  It was an amazing find!

Little brown bat, Ojibway Woods.  He was snoozing on a branch near the path.

We are just preparing to depart for the Comber observatory.  It is clear out, so we will give it a try.  This is our final chance to observe before our Albuquerque departure early Sunday morning.
Yesterday we had a fine day in Detroit, managing a long walk on the River Rouge Trail in Dearborn.  Pizza at Buddys afterwards, then on for coffee and an incomparable vegan cookie at Avalon in Detroit.  I came home with two new eyepieces for the telescope.  I am hoping to try one of them tonight!  I also came home with a 4-pack of Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock, one of the finest beers in existence!  Had one last night, and it was bliss!!

Celebrator Dopplebock rates a score of 100 on ratebeer.com!  I found a fourpack yesterday in Detroit and snapped it up.

Tuesday, April 15th/14
Ah yes, the night after a total lunar eclipse, which was completely blocked out by clouds and a snowstorm.  The night after, when it is perfectly clear out, and the moon is shining brightly.  What a wonderful hobby we have!  Sigh.
We awoke this morning to the horrors of a mid-April snowstorm, the first I can remember.  Though it was mostly gone by nightfall, it's the principal of the thing.  No one is safe.  Ever.  Haha.  Anyway, the green grass and the yellow daffodils were completely covered in white stuff, as was the car, which needed some serious scraping this morning before our grocery trip.

Our backyard, upon awakening this morning.  April Fool!

Compared to yesterday it was quite a productive day.  I practiced piano, and even began to study a new piece!  I wrote a new article for the astronomy blog, too, detailing my very successful month of observing since last full moon.  And tonight we went to Iaido, enjoying some superior training with Sensei Blok.  Two more days of teaching and we are off a week for our spring break.  More about that later...

Monday, April 14th/14
Feeling a lot better tonight.  As I mentioned in Thursday's blog, I went to bed with a fever, chills and low-level nausea.  Friday morning I ate a smoothie for breakfast, but could not really face the piano.  The fever broke early Friday, so I carried on with my journey to Toronto.  My train left on time from Windsor at 1:45 pm, arriving 4 minutes late in Toronto at 5:54 pm.  I took the subway to Woodbine Station, where I was joined by Amanda.  We were invited to Dino and Kathryn's house for dinner, and we also had use of their piano to practice our duet for tomorrow's big performance.  Despite the fact that I ate nothing, it was a fun evening.  We were joined by Kathryn's 18 year-old  son Zach.  He plays piano, too, and entertained us after dinner with some jazzy tunes.  He had just read the Silmarilion and had to do a 2000 word essay on it by Monday night.   It was good to spend some quality time with Dino, my best friend growing up and also best man at my wedding way back in 1976.  Amanda headed home around 11 pm, and I spent the night at Dino's.
Saturday was recital day.  I was at Stephen's by 11:30 am.  I'd had tea, dry toast with cinnamon and a banana for breakfast, still having no appetite and even less energy.  Not good for a concert day one has been preparing for over a year!
The recital went really well, and I was very pleased with the pieces I played.  I performed solo works by Bach, Haydn, Chopin and Debussy, then was joined by Amanda for our duet by Satie, and lastly by Stephen for our Gershwin duet.  Amanda was my piano student for many years, and Stephen was my first teacher.  Both duets went flawlessly, and the three of us will likely collaborate again next year in some fashion or other.  We enjoyed a great post-recital party with wine and snacks, and some wonderful conversation provided by Bill, Doug, Jenny, Douglas, Stephen, Amanda, and occasionally even me.  We stayed late, and I left Stephen's for the public transport ride to Union Station.  My train left on time, but arrived in Windsor 30 minutes late.  We kept hitting red lights and having to stop.  However, we made up considerable time between Chatham and Windsor.  I have never travelled so fast before on rails.  I thought the wheels were going to come off!
I was home and in bed by 12:30 am, and up bright and early Sunday morning to attend the Michigan Vegfest in Detroit.  This is a huge annual affair with dozens of vendors, many top speakers, and food to die for, much of it free!  Daryl Hannah was one of the keynote speakers, and she was completely amazing and wonderful.  She's long been a favourite person of mine, even before I found out about her activism.  Two of my all-time favourite movies are "Roxanne" and "Blade Runner," and she is amazing in both of them.
She is a very passionate person, despite her self-confessed shyness and awkward geekiness.  She told how she began to be interested in animal rights (she was 11), and gave such compelling reasons for becoming a vegan that had I been a mere vegetarian at that point, I would have immediately switched over.  Of course already knowing the full horrors and unhealthiness of dairy products (perhaps a topic for a future blog), I was not hard to convince.  But her passion, clear-headedness, intelligence and ability to portray herself as a girl next door type of person to the audience made her a huge hit with Vegfest attendees.  We could have stood in line afterwards to speak with her, but we headed back into the main festival area for more freebies.
Then it was back home for a short rest in the late afternoon, and then back to Windsor to hear my current piano teacher, Philip Adamson, perform the Beethoven 4th Piano Concerto with the Windsor Community Orchestra.  My adult student Roger came, too.  Philip did an amazing job with the piece, and tired as I was, I easily paid attention and listened to every single note.
Today was a veg-out day, spent mostly lying on the couch.  I ate my first solid food meal tonight since Wednesday's lunch.  Being a full moon eclipse night it is, of course, completely and hopelessly overcast, with a night of freezing rain and snow ahead of us.  All of our daffs bloomed yesterday and today.  Two more days of winter coming up, though.  Sigh.

Sunday, April 13th/14
That was certainly one epic weekend, one that I am far too tired to talk about now.  Tomorrow is laundry day, postponed, so I will write then.  Toronto concert went very well, as did Philip Adamson's performance of Beethoven Piano Concerto #4 tonight in Windsor.  Daryl Hannah was nearly too awesome to even discuss at today's Michigan Vegfest, but I will try.  Tomorrow.  The lunar eclipse looks like it will be a complete wash out in Essex County.  In fact, we may be having a snowstorm overnight Monday when it is occurring!

Thursday, April 10th/14
Finally some news on Deb's new drug.  There was a flurry of activity yesterday and today.  She is booked for her first infusion on Tuesday, May 6th!  She will get another dosage a month later, and then every two months afterwards.  Within six months we will know if a) it is helping her, and b) if it is harming her as it helps her.  Still almost a month to go before her treatment begins.  It's been 8 weeks already.  Sigh.
I was supposed to do some last minute heavy duty practicing today for my Saturday recital in Toronto.  Instead, I'm wrapped up in many layers of clothing trying to keep warm, fighting off a fever and nausea.  Hoping this goes away by tomorrow.
With the teaching week complete, we have only one more work week until our trip to Albuquerque via Amtrak.  We are looking forward to it, to say the least.

Monday, April 7th/14
Sitting here blasting the Pogues' "Peace and Love" album while Deb prepares one of her famous spaghetti and vegan meatball dinners.  As usual, it's been a fantastic long weekend, though filled with an awful lot of piano practice.  I leave Friday for Toronto on ViaRail, with a concert Saturday afternoon.  I ran through the program for Paula at her place Saturday evening.  Definitely a week's worth of improvements to work on before Saturday.  Afterwards I will ease up on the program, picking it up again in earnest upon our return from Albuquerque, and setting a May date for a Windsor concert.
Saturday night was also one of the clearest nights in quite a while, and despite a very high and bright 6 day-old moon, we headed out to the Comber observatory with our scopes.  It turned into a fabulous night of observing, and we didn't get home until almost 5 a.m.!  Good times.
We are currently watching a creepy, very well-done British tv series from the mid-70s called "Children of the Stones."  Aimed at young teens, the show has a cult following and after five episodes is living up to its hype.  Set in "Millbury", a village surrounded by a stone circle, it was filmed in Avebury, Wiltshire.  Must visit there soon.  We will likely finish it up tonight (with spaghetti dinner!).

Friday, April 4th/14
It's been an action-packed 24 hours at Lone Mtn Homestead and beyond.  Thursday evening our CO detector went off.  We had a visit from a big, red fire engine from Station 2.  "Jason" the fireman came in and took readings, which were all negative.  Apparently the detectors will go off when they reach the end of their useful life, which is about five to seven years!  We bought a new one today on our way home from Detroit.  So far all is quiet again.
We attended another morning DSO concert today.  First on the program was a brand new piece, a "World" premiere of Bright Sheng's latest work.  It is based on the Chinese interpretation of the Zodiac, and featured some incredibly difficult and noisy music, along with two slower and much more instrospective movements.  We were nearly deafened a few times by the brass section!  Not a bad piece, though.
After that came the Ravel Piano Concerto for Left Hand Alone, performed by the great master Leon Fleischer.  Written by Ravel for a pianist who served his country in WWI who lost his right arm in battle, there are few pianists who can pull this one off.  Fleischer himself lost the use of his right hand due to nerve damage for many years.  An experimental treatment actually worked for him, and he began performing with two hands again in 2002.  Closing one's eyes and listening, one would never know it was a piece written for only one hand.
The finale was a monstrously large and difficult symphony by Shostokovich, his 10th.  Stalin had died (1953), and the Russian composer immediately tested his boundaries yet again with this very long work.  The bleakness of Russian life during the Stalin years is soulfully and painfully rendered, though reconciling oneself to it and finding joy amidst such heavy state control and dismal urban surroundings is also a big part of the piece.  It was an incredible experience, and the orchestra nailed it.  The concert will be broadcast live on Sunday, at 3 pm EDT.  Highly recommended.  They will likely interview Sheng, as well as the pianist.
We had lunch at the newest veggie restaurant in Midtown Detroit, then went to the mailbox to pick up our new astronomy wall mural.  We hung it when we got home, and it is still up there! 
A short respite at home, and then we were off to Iaido open practice tonight.  After a very foggy start to the day, it rained rather hard for awhile.  Now the wind is up pretty high.  Clear skies are promised for Saturday night, though.  Despite a waxing moon we will likely head out to the observatory with our scopes for a very late session.
Deb is hanging in there.  We like to sit in the highest row of seats at Orchestra Hall, and she still manages to climb the stairs all the way up and back down.  It is a long walk from the car to the concert hall, too.  And she practiced Iaido for an hour!

Wednesday, April 2nd/14
In my last post I mentioned that our friend John was on an astronomical observing trip to Chile.  The 8.2 earthquake hit on his last night there, and though he was 300 miles from the epicenter, he felt it strongly.  I quote from his e-mail:
"Our whole building started rocking back and forth about half an hour ago, then lost power. This went on for almost 3 minutes before stopping, I'd guess an amplitude of maybe 8", moving in an elliptical pattern. When I got outside, the water was still sloshing around in the swimming pool, which spilled a substantial amount up to 10 feet beyond its edges."
We haven't heard back from him yet, as to whether or not he made it back to Ottawa as planned today.
Today I am having a major spring allergy attack.  Feeling very tired, so I will be abed early.  All of my students showed up as planned for lessons today, though Deb had one absent.  One more day and the weekend begins again!  We have another symphony concert Friday morning, and our new astronomy wall mural should be in at the Dearborn mailbox!
Deb enjoyed a decent day today.  We both continued our fitness program this morning with a medium-length walk.  Upcoming rain could spoil our longer weekend walks.

Our "snowdrops" have been blooming for three days now!

Monday, March 31st/14
March has come to an end by giving us our two best weather days of 2014!  We now have flowers blooming, at last!  There is no more snow in our yard--at last!  Not only did we get two sunny, relatively warm days in a row, but it was clear last night.  Very clear.  We drove out to a new remote site to observe, and the long drive proved worth it.  We set up our scopes on a bluff high over Lake Erie, 55 minutes and 42 miles east of Amherstburg.  Other than a small dome of light from cities in Ohio across the lake from us, it was the darkest sky I've ever seen in our neck of the woods.  We stayed out until nearly 2 am, observing until our eyeballs gave out five hours later.  We have such warm winter gear that despite the temperature being in the high 20s F, we did not get cold.  I spent much of my day today writing up notes on the many deep sky objects I saw.  Deb is on her own observing program with her scope, but she is unable to write notes easily.  Tomorrow we are going to The Source to buy her a digital recorder.  She can dictate her field notes verbally and type them out later at home.
Our friend John Thompson is in the Atacama Desert of Chile, observing the southern skies from a fancy smancy resort that caters to amateur astronomers.  From the messages he has been sending, he is having the time of his life.  Southern skies are filled with constellations and stars we cannot see from our northern latitudes, so in a way it is like being a beginner again.
We have been planning an astronomy trip to NM in mid-October.  We will take our scopes and observe from a dark sky preserve near Clayton, NM.  More details to follow.
Our walking program continues by necessity, as does my piano practice.  Concert in 11 days.  New Mexico in 19.   Memory issues still plague me on some pieces, but overall they are sounding pretty decent.

Saturday, March 29th/14
I just completed Week One of my four-week walking fitness program.  It was yet another winter walk, with a temperature of 36 F, a biting north wind, and snow flurries.  We have yet to see a flower bloom, though all but a few puffs of snow have vanished from our yard.  With luck I will finish the walking program the day before we leave for Albuquerque.
In other weather news, despite predicting clear skies Saturday night for the past week, the weather powers that be have rescinded their promise.  However, they promise us a clear Sunday night now.  If so, we will try out a new location along Lake Erie, pretty far from home.  This will give us better views of southern skies, something that is hard to do from our usual observation points.
We enjoyed a fun day in Detroit yesterday, with our first visit to the Samurai exhibit at the DIA.  It is in two parts, and we focussed on the first part yesterday, dealing with the samurai as warrior.  The second part is about how the true samurai also included a wide knowledge of the fine arts, from flower arranging to calligraphy to scroll painting, poetry, etc.  We will return soon to see it again and finish it up.
We went for dinner at Seva, one of three all-vegetarian restaurants in Detroit, enjoying a great meal, as per usual here.  Deb had a vegan Ceasar Salad, while I had a char-grilled veggie sandwich.  I also enjoyed a pint of Detroit-brewed beer, a fantastic pint of Atwater's Mocha-Java-Vanilla Stout, at the ridiculous price of $2.50!  Both large seating areas were packed, a very good sign.
Next up came a DSO concert, an interesting mix of shorter pieces that included works by Vivaldi, John Williams, Elliot Carter and Benjamin Britten.  The theme of the concert was the featuring of some of the DSO's own musicians as soloists, and it worked beautifully.  We heard a brand new harp and orchestra piece (written by a Canadian composer), as well as a fine flute concerto and a tuba (!) concerto (serious music by "The" John Williams of movie music fame).
After the concert we went back to Seva and had dessert (vegan banana walnut bundt cake with cinnamon and ginger glaze).  Yum!  The best part is that we were able to park the car on our first arrival in Detroit near the restaurant and walk the rest of the afternoon and evening without any more driving!  This part of Detroit, anyway, is now safe enough to do this.  Deb lasted just fine on our seven hour visit, including the DIA exhibit.  We also went for a long walk from home earlier in the day.  Maybe she could handle London, too!

Thursday, March 27th/14
It's been a busy week, but a fun one, too.  Monday night was beautifully clear (and very cold), and we were out late on the back deck with the scopes.  Tuesday night was Iaido class.  Deb got to work on her test techniques, while I helped out two junior students get ready for their next test.  Wednesday was a full slate of teaching, but it was also clear, at least until just after 10 pm, so we set up late and observed until clouds rolled in.  Clear skies are predicted for Saturday and Sunday nights, so we are hoping to head out to the observatory, or perhaps to a new possible location a bit further and along Lake Erie.
I have also officially begun my initial walking program, the one that will take me to a very basic level of fitness.  It is the best I can hope for before reaching Albuquerque.  There will be no major hikes on this trip, but some lovely shorter ones we have tended to bypass until now.  Today I completed Day 5 of 28.  All walks have been winter ones, as the temps have been far below normal, not even getting above freezing for four days.  There were even some snow flurries today.
Deb has heard nothing yet, so still we wait.  Luckily she is not having a flare-up, but as they are inevitable sooner or later it would be nice to get this new program going.
"The Matrix" turned into an incredibly stupid movie, more a male teenager's wet dream than the intelligent, thoughtful and deep movie it could have been.  I wonder how many shooting fantasies this movie spawned, let alone real ones.  Guns, guns, guns, and some silly martial arts thrown in.
We are just finishing up John Cleese's "A Fish Called Wanda."  This is classic Cleese from beginning to end, and luckily I remember very little of it from previous days.  Enjoyable in a Faulty Towers sort of way.  Great stuff!
I am just awaiting my first of six music students for tonight....

Sunday, March 23rd/14
Yet another fine January day today, as we began our walking program to help us prepare for Albuquerque.  Despite frigid temps (22 F, with a biting NW breeze) we are down to 4 weeks and counting until departure.  In fact, at exactly this time in four weeks (10:45 pm) our train will be in Kansas City and we will be crawling into our bunk beds for the night ride across Kansas.  By breakfast time next day we should be approaching the Rockies in southern Colorado.
Anyway, the walking went well and Deb continues to act as normal as she can.  Between Iaido and walking she is keeping active.  We are really hoping to hear something this week regarding her new drug treatment.  Wednesday will be six weeks off methotrexate.
In addition to our April train journey, we are hoping to spend a few weeks in London in early Sept., and take a trip to El Paso and vicinity in mid-Nov.  El Paso is within easy reach of some incredible NM desert mountains.   So we have some exciting plans, and we will act upon them once the new drug regime is underway.
We are currently watching "The Matrix," though we will have to finish it up tomorrow as we are too busy and tired to finish it tonight.  Why have I not seen this movie before now?!  We also have to finish listening to our March opera selection, which is "The Magic Fountain" by Delius.  It's been okay so far, though nothing too special.  The story is about a 16th C. Spanish explorer searching for the fountain of youth, and getting assistance from a native woman.  There has been some lush interlude music.
A few days ago we finished watching a creepy little German cult movie called "Spare Parts."  A couple honeymooning in New Mexico is kidnapped.  She escapes and gets help from a trucker in finding her husband, who is in danger of having his organs harvested.  Pretty intelligent movie, though the ending gets a bit silly.  Lovely scenery in and around Las Cruces, NM.

The international title of this chilling little cult flic from 1979 is "Spare Parts."

Friday, March 21st/14
Our first week of teaching since the March break went well, and quickly.  There were no cancellations so we were kept busy.  In addition, it was clear Thursday night, so once the last student was out the door we began setting up the two scopes on the back deck.  A quick dinner (Deb prepared a wonderful vegan quiche-like concoction) and we were out the door.  I stayed out until nearly midnight; Deb came in a bit earlier.
Then it was up early Friday morning for the next in our series of DSO concerts. Ravel's Mother Goose Suite and Rimsky's Scheherazade were the main highlights, however the 3rd Piano Concerto of a modern composer (MacMillan) actually went down pretty well, too.  Whole Foods for lunch, a mailbox run to Dearborn, and we were home.  However, we were soon heading out again for Iaido.  So it was a big day and previous night for me, and a humungous one for Deb!
We had to sign more forms yesterday, so things are still progressing towards her biologic meds.  She has been off her RA drugs for over 5 weeks now.  While she is holding together pretty well, it's time to get some treatment going here.  Hopefully next week.
One of the things that came in the mail for us today in Dearborn were two packs of finger warmers.  Everything around here is sold out.  We ordered some from Amazon and they came right away.  We need them badly for observing with the telescopes in cold weather.
We are both getting excited about our upcoming train ride to New Mexico.  We leave Easter Sunday, very early in the morning, and get into Albuquerque late afternoon the next day.  However, before that I have a Toronto piano recital to get through.

Tuesday, March 18th/14
Spring has finally arrived, two days before it's official, and about one month later than it should.  While we still have some snow lying around, it is mostly now a bad memory.  Good riddance, and bring on the flowers!
I know you came back here for more about those B movies.  Have you ever seen "The Brain That Wouldn't Die?"  It is a classic crappy horror pic that is so bad it's good, at least in places.  Well, "The Head" was a movie made in Germany the same year, though done a little bit better.  It's creepy and atmospheric, and has Michel Simon's head in a large petri dish talking and moaning a lot.  An interesting, very low budget take on Frankenstein, this mad doctor takes the head of a deformed young nurse and plunks it on the body of a stripper.  After all, he had successfully done this type of transplant using dogs.  The music is quite good, and some of the b & w photography evokes earlier German Expressionist films.  At two and a half stars rating, it beats Brain That Wouldn't Die by a star and a half!

Another one we watched is called "The Alpha Incident," and is a low-budget take on The Andromeda Strain.  A trainman on a caboose gets too curious about the secret government cargo his train is carrying, unleashing a terrible disease.  It traps four other people in a small train station for the rest of the film, and resembles a movie-length episode of Twilight Zone. It could also pass as a Quatermass movie, though quite American in setting and feel.  Ralph Meeker gets an interesting role, and plays it well.  Everyone dies.  Literate and compelling, even though made on a shoestring.  Apparently released briefly the same year as Star Wars, some bewildered cinema goers got to see it on a double bill with it!

Monday, March 17th/14
Winter's last bite is upon us, as it has been very cold these past few days.  We seem to be where we should have been a month ago, with little snow remaining and a bit of a warming trend beginning tomorrow (though Northern Ontario will get more snow).
There was no St. Patrick's Day nonsense for us.  Instead, we enjoyed nearly two hours of observing on the back deck tonight.  Because of the early moonrise I did not set up the big scope, so we observed using Deb's 6".  It was a great night, and we were even able to view the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, seen beautifully at 150x!  The detail on the major and minor cloud belts was also impressive.  The main focus for me tonight was a sketch I did of the "Christmas Tree Cluster" in Monoceros.  Tip the photo image to the left to see the tree (brightest star is the base)
11 days of holidays have flown past.  One more day to go before we start teaching again.  And there are less than five weeks to go until our departure for Albuquerque!  In less than four weeks I will perform my piano program in Toronto.  Though practicing is going well, I still largely feel that my brain is like a spaghetti strainer.  Put something in and it leaks out presently.  Memorization is not my strongest point!  I will go to Paula's tomorrow morning and practice on her grand.
A couple of B movies to discuss, but I'm too tired just now.  Goodnight.

Thursday, March 13/14
An exciting day for us as we booked our next major trip, and worked out some details for my upcoming Toronto concert.  We bought our tickets to travel to Albuquerque via Amtrack.  We leave Detroit/Dearborn at 7 am Easter Sunday, arriving in Albuquerque next day around 4 pm.  We will rent a car and stay in town for four nights before hopping back on board for the trip home, leaving on Friday at noon and getting back to Dearborn around midnight Saturday.  Basically it's a train ride expedition, with a few days exploring some new parts of NM.  We are hoping the train works okay for Deb, as she will be able to walk around as much as she wishes.  We have our own roomette, and the ticket covers all on-board meals.  We got a discount with our auto club card, too!  During the day our room has two wide chairs and a picture window, while at night we have bunk beds.
I booked a train seat for my Toronto trip, too.  I will leave Friday afternoon and return Saturday night, hopefully spending Friday night with Dino and Kathryn.  That leaves one week in between trips to prepare for Albuquerque.
Meanwhile Deb is still in drug relief limbo, awaiting word from either her doctor or the drug company.  Nothing yet.
It was a sunny but very cold day today, though one hardly notices anymore.  We are buried in snow once again.  Eh.  So what.
I enjoyed a fun evening visit with Randy G. last night.  He is retiring from his job at the end of this year!  Do I sense some astronomy-themed trips next year?  Randy's job keeps him on the road so much.  He is very much looking forward to diving full time into amateur astronomy again next year.  Let's hope for the most clear skies in a year ever for 2015!

Playing on the Heinztman at Randy's house.

Wednesday, March 12/14
We happened to take our mini-trip on the two days when Spring actually made an appearance!  Monday and Tuesday were beautiful days in Ann Arbor, and when we came home much of our snow cover had vanished.  Happy days!  Then came the view from our upstairs window, upon awakening this morning (photo below).  Another 6" or 7" of new snow on the driveway.  Of course.  And plunging temperatures, going to near 0 F tonight.  It will all be short-lived, though, as Spring returns Friday, maybe to stay longer than two days.
We went to Iaido last night, and Deb is pretty stiff today as a result.  She is now one month without any meds other than anti-inflammatory and pain pills.
Ann Arbor was loads of fun, with five pub stops for me, many book shops, cafes, game stores, and veggie restaurants.  I came home with a bottle of Laphroig whiskey, too!  All good.  Deb walked all over town without too much trouble, but the pavement was much harder on her than the nice dirt trails in Tucson.
One of the main sites she wished to visit this time was the Great Lakes Zoological Society.  We happened to arrive with a large group of Girl Guides, so it was a lively visit, to say the least.  Reptiles and amphibians, including turtles and tortoises, are all on display. Deb was impressed with the set ups and the care the critters received.

Russian tortoise, one of several on display.  It is the same breed as Ludwig, Deb's tortoise.

Morning view from the upstairs window.  Sigh.

Tonight I am heading to Windsor to visit Randy G., who is recovering from shoulder surgery to repair damage from a fall he took last winter on an icy walkway.  I'm bringing over a load of astronomy books, too!  The only reason I am able to get there tonight is that the dad of Julia, my piano student, has offered to come over and plow the driveway for me!  Good times!

Saturday, March 8th/14
We awoke to a bit more snow today, but we are now so used to it that it hardly mattered.  Another possible snow storm coming for next week, too.  However, the next few days should be mild with some sun, and we are heading off to Ann Arbor for them.  Watch here for a full report in a few days.
We'd invited several students and their families over tonight for our own version of an astronomy open house, but alas it was totally overcast.  Next time we shall try again.
I've spent the last 24 hours fighting off a cold virus.  Tonight I would say I am winning, though tomorrow should tell the tale.  I've been tired all day.
We have watched two movies of interest over the past week.  The first was Kurosawa's post-war version of "The Idiot" by Dostoevsky.  It is a fairly literal telling of the tale, though set in northern Japan just after WW 2.  It is certainly one of the greatest cinematic depictions of winter that I have ever seen!  Stunning exterior and interior settings, as the tragic story plays out over a very severe winter.  Fabulous characters, and though the ending is seen to be inevitable well before it happens, it is still a riveting feature.  Needless to say, there is more than one "idiot" in this story.

Original Japanese poster for Akira Kurosawa's "The Idiot."

The second film of note for us this week was "Rushmore," a bizarre and extremely funny and touching tale about a unique high school boy's crush on a Gr. 1 teacher.  If you enjoyed "Moonrise Kingdom," this is an earlier film by the same director.  Though not as masterful as that work, this one has plenty to offer, including super performances by Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, and our hero played by Jason Schwartzman (in his first film).  Too good to pass up, and worth more than one viewing.  Wes Anderson has a new film coming out called "Grand Budapest Hotel!  Can't wait!!

Thursday, March 6th/14
It's official--we are on holidays again for 12 days!  Hopefully by the end of it we will know much more regarding Deb's next step into the wonderful world of modern medicine.
She has been to the Lasalle Medical Clinic three times this week.  Monday was her g.p. appointment, as well as a chest x-ray and her t.b. test.  Wednesday, she went and had her t.b. test read (negative), and today she went for further r.a. blood work and a zillion more x-rays on fingers and feet.  So her part is all done now.  We wait for results to be sent to her specialist, then for his office to contact the drug company nurse, and then she will contact Deb.  If she is refused compassionate coverage, there is always a Trillium grant.  If that falls through, she will have to try something else.  So we wait.
Clear skies tonight, so after teaching until 7:45 pm and then having dinner, we were out on the back deck with the 12" scope.  It was one of the coldest nights on which I have ever observed, but I am getting desperate for spring temps.  14 F. out there tonight, but no wind so it wasn't too bad.  Still, after just over two hours, my fingers and toes had had enough.  Deb lasted about an hour, then headed to bed early.  She's had a long week, with all her students showing up for lessons, as well as all her medical tests.
We have a two-night visit to Ann Arbor coming up, our only excursion this March.  However, we have a chance at going to London for a few weeks in September.  Our friend Caroline will be off to Japan and New Zealand, and has generously offered us the use of her cozy and well-placed flat.  Since Deb's new drug may take up to six months to start working, it is hard to plan much for the future.  Right now a long plane journey for her would be out of the question, not to mention traipsing about a big city on public transport.
We may possibly return to Tucson in November, this time aiming for a more astronomy-themed trip.  We made some good connections last time, and may follow up on them next fall.

Monday, March 3rd/14
Deb saw her physician today and got her TB test and chest X-ray.  We are now awaiting further test notifications from her rheumatologist.  We'd hoped it would arrive in today's post, but perhaps tomorrow.  Deb goes back Wed. to have her TB test analyzed, and maybe more bloodwork and more X-rays, if her requisiton form arrives.  We got to look at how her liver enzymes had spiked, on a graph her doctor called up onscreen.  He didn't seem to think there was anything to worry about, now that she was off methotrexate.
I shovelled out the crusty, hard snowbank at the foot of our driveway left behind by the snowplows, and managed to get one parking lot done.  It was cold out today!! It reminded me of a January day when I was growing up in Sudbury!  March 3rd and we reached a high today of only 15 F, instead of our normal 40 F.
I also got a 2nd new article up on my astronomy blog, using it as the basis for the one I have submitted to Aurora, our astronomy club's newsletter.  This will be my third article published, and I hope to write many more.  It is a very clear sky tonight, but too cold to even contemplate standing still at an eyepiece for any length of time.

Sunday, March 2nd/14
On it goes.  Bitter cold, more snow.  It's not just that temps are below average, or snow is above average.  Today, as usual, we are more than 25 degrees F. below average!  This is already the coldest winter ever recorded here!  We are currently heading towards a snow record, too.  Can't wait to celebrate that milestone.  An unshovelled driveway (5" of new snow) and two parking areas mean that my day is mostly planned.
We have had two fun days this weekend, anyway.  Friday night was Philip's piano recital at MacKenzie Hall.  It was incredible!  As usual he chose mostly out-of-the-way repertoire, opening with a big piece by Dukas (of Sorcerer's Apprentice fame), then two gorgeous preludes by Rachmaninov.  He concluded the first half with the short, intense and highly moving Sonata by Berg, Op. 1 (of Wozzeck fame).  After intermission came four Spanish works by de Falla, and he concluded with a big Fantasy by Bridge.  All selections on the program were composed between 1900 and 1910.
In less than two months he will perform the Beethoven 4th Piano Concerto with the Windsor Community Orchestra.  More info to come on that.  I will be performing my solo program in Toronto that weekend, though I hope to be back in Windsor for the evening concert.
Yesterday we went to Detroit, enjoying some great book browsing at John King Books and excellent food for lunch at a new (for us) very hip hangout.  We traded another box of our books at King, getting rid of about twenty of ours and coming back home with five different ones.  I hope we can keep doing this!  Our basement continues to be flooded with books!  A ratio of four books out and one in just might help, eventually.
For lunch we tried a new place.  PJs Lager House  has a vegan-friendly menu, and is sandwiched (ha ha) between the new and unexplored Detroit Bagel Factory and one of our favourite newer finds, the Brooklyn St. Deli.  On Sat. and Sun. PJ's only has a brunch menu, on till 3 pm, when they go back to a normal menu.  It had many vegan options and we enjoyed a great lunch! 
After lunch we walked up Michigan Ave. (past old Tiger Stadium) to Astro Coffee, undoubtedly one of the world's greatest little cafes.  Besides flawless coffee in all its forms, there is always a fabulous mural on the wall-size chalkboard.  Didn't have the camera.  Damn.  Next time for sure!  The walk was half a mile each way, so Deb was pretty tired afterwards, but happy that she could do it.
We went to the mailbox in Dearborn, shopped a bit at Kroger and came home after a stop at Fred's Market in Windsor.
Tomorrow Deb sees her family doctor and begins her barrage of tests required before her next meds can be offered.  I will report on how that went sometime tomorrow evening.

Thursday, Feb. 27th/14
It's very frustrating to see another amazingly clear night go by without any observing, due to extreme temperatures.  Combined with the fact that I taught until 8 pm made it nearly impossible for me to set up the tarps, scopes etc.  Still, the astronomy bug has been reawakened after last Sunday's session.  I even wrote a new entry in my astronomy blog, the first since November!
Another full week of teaching has come to a successful end.  This was the third lesson of the 3rd semester.  One more week and we will be off for another twelve days!
Speaking of retiring, a large group of retired APS teachers got together for lunch today.  I lost count but I think there were twelve of us.  The fact that Deb can still go out on days like today (bitter cold, breezy, snow squalls) is a very good sign.  However, the attempt to get on with her newest drug for RA keeps getting more bogged down in red tape.  Now she needs other tests, not mentioned at her appointment last week.  More blood work, more x-rays.  And on it goes.
Tomorrow night is Philip Adamson's solo piano recital.  He only performs every other year, and it is always the most anticipated recital on my calendar!  Can't wait!  Plus, next week I should be able to resume lessons with him on my upcoming program.

Wednesday, Feb. 26th/14
Looking ahead, the long term forecast for the next two weeks show that it will remain very cold and far below average.  It will also snow, though no major events are forecast at this time.  Tomorrow will be one of the coldest days of the year!  I am as sick of writing about this as you are of reading about it, and yet they both go on.
Just finished a full teaching day with seven students.  Six more tomorrow and my next 5-day weekend can get started.  Then there is one more week of lessons before we are interrupted for a week by the school break.  I had plans for us to spend a few days and nights in Ann Arbor, MI again.  However, the weather is not conducive to getting in and out of cars and walking around a city.  Looks like we will just stay home for the break.  Hopefully Deb's new meds will be started by then.  Then we wait a few months to see if they work.
After last night's Iaido class Deb is very stiff today.  She is sliding downhill much more quickly now, two weeks after stopping the methotrexate.  We are supposed to go out for lunch tomorrow with a large group of retiree friends, though the temps may keep us indoors.  We shall see.
Despite the long and very grueling, tiresome winter I have managed to keep some of my spirits mostly up.  Winters less severe have sometimes dragged me right down to the point where I do not feel like doing anything productive.  But writing is going well, and piano practice also.  And it's certainly been a good winter for reading!  And I am still on a high from our fine night of telescope observing last Sunday.  With the temps the way they are this week, there will be no more astronomy during this lunar cycle.  New moon is Saturday, and a dark sky excursion to Point Pelee National Park was possible.  Oddly enough Saturday is going to be mild, then back to freezing again on Sunday.  Whether it will be clear and mild Saturday is hard to predict, but even so it will not be warm enough to lure us over there.

Monday, Feb. 24th/14
The words 'polar vortex,' unknown to most Canadians before this year, have become words to fear.  Another insidious arctic blast is headed our way, and will sit upon us for the next ten days.  No spring, no flowers.  Just cold and snow.  Drat and double drat!
Our furnace had been suffering, so we had it attended to today.  The boiler was not able to replenish itself when it needed more water, so the pressure had dropped almost to zero before I called for help.  Had this been a normal season I would have just switched to the wood stove.  However, with some impressively horrible cold air arriving tomorrow night, the furnace does a much better job of keeping the house an even temperature.
Despite the chilly air we were out on the deck last night with our telescopes, enjoying the finest night of observing we've had since November.  In addition to some very rewarding stellar, cluster, and nebula viewing, Jupiter put on an amazing show for us. The amount of detail visible in the two main equatorial belts was truly astounding.  The Great Red Spot was enormous, a deep orange in colour, and it was fun watching it rotate as the night went on.  It took me a long time to write up my notes this morning.
Tonight we went out for dinner with Ruth and Mary, retired teacher friends with whom we are keeping close contact.  A much larger gathering is planned for lunch this Thursday, unless we are all frozen in place.  Thursday is supposed to be the worst of the cold temps.
Deb's next doctor appointment is a week from today, when she will get her required tests to see if she is a candidate for the next line of drugs.
We are hoping to attend Iaido class tomorrow night, though snow and cold may keep us home.

Sat., Feb. 22nd/14
We've certainly had a wee taste of Spring this week.  Snow, sleet, rain, high winds, and temps above freezing for four days in a row!  And we are one week closer to true Spring, whenever that may be.  Probably when I take off the snow tires.  Try mid-April.  Our snow pack has been reduced, and our 4-foot snowbanks are now 2 1/2 foot ones.  Progress!
We had an awesome day in Detroit today, with lunch at TJs.  They were showing the biathalon from Sochi , as well as some snow boarding, so we sat in the bar where the tv was.  Deb has been into the Games far more than I have, and she is now a confirmed fan of curling!
One huge disappointment for me today was finding out that Wayne State University has closed their science and engineering library due to budget constraints.  Huh???  A university closing a library?  I no longer have access to their incredible map collection, which is a real blow to me.
High winds prevented us from setting up the telescopes on the back deck last night.  Though it was very clear and mild, winds were gusting over 40 mph and we were getting the brunt of it off the river.  We went to open practice at Iaido instead.  Deb still hopes to test in June for her Shodan level.  Meanwhile I have virtually done nothing towards getting my 2nd black belt level.  I would like to try that test in the summer of 2015.  There is still a wee bit of work to do!
Deb has been off her RA meds since Wed., and growing slightly stiffer every day.  There does seem to be hope she can start a new drug in a few weeks.  Simponi is a biologic drug that must be taken by infusion, once per month at first, then maybe every other month after a few times.  It costs around $20,000.00 per year (no typos there).  Our drug plan only covers $3,000.00 per year.  However, apparently they do not cover Simponi at all!  Deb has been recommended for a "compassion" package, where the drug would be supplied free of charge to her, though we do not know for how long.  It can take up to six months before really helping her.  Side effects do not include liver damage, but any latent TB can emerge.  So she needs the chest x-ray and TB test next week.  More news when I know anything further.

Tuesday, Feb. 18th/14
It was certainly an up and down kind of day.  Waking to 4" of new snow, which included two-foot high drifts on the driveway, was definitely one of the downs.  On the upside, it did get to 34 F today, getting above freezing for the first time since the 1st!  Considering that the average high for us in Feb. is above freezing every day, something tells me this has not been an average month.  Even today's balmy weather is 3 F below our average high for the 18th.  However, the next two days will go above average.  So the Stirring Season has officailly begun, and only three days behind schedule.  Good job, Brigid!  The problem with shovelling the driveway today (and tomorrow the two parking areas) is that I have to push each snow float shovel up a 4-foot embankment of previously shovelled snow!  Hopefully the mild temps and expected rain will compact the banks a bit for the next, invevitable blizzard.
Deb had her appointment today with her rheumatologist, which is usually an up event.  However, today it was a considerably down one.  Though methotrexate worked wonders for her, the doctor has pulled Deb off the drug due to liver issues showing up in her blood work.  This brings us to an entirely new and unknown (for us) secondary medical attack, one which is guaranteed to suppress her immune system.  She will have to take a very strong (and very expensive) drug by infusion once each month at the doctor's office.  It is called a "biologic."  Before she can begin she must have a chest x-ray, a tb test, and another blood test.  It will be several weeks before any of this happens, so her doctor has given her a strong anti-inflammatory drug to take in the meantime (and, of course, no alcohol while she takes it).  We will be called regarding specifics of our drug plan to make certain it is covered by our policy.  We pay 15% of the cost of medication, plus dispensing fees.  The monthly cost for the drug is anywhere between $1000 and $3000--we don't know yet.  But life goes on. 
Because we already travelled to Windsor today (Deb's doctor is very close to the dojo), we will not be attending Iaido tonight.  Next chance is open practice on Friday evening.

Monday, Feb. 17th/14
Old Man Winter, as if to prove he is still virile, kicked us in the teeth once again.  Pathetic old bastard.  Be gone!  We are currently amidst our upteenth snowstorm of the season, a season that has already broken most records, ones that no one ever really wanted to break.  Another two days of shovelling ahead.
However, it is still supposed to go above freezing tomorrow.  By Wed. it is supposed to be really warm, and on Thursday we are to receive half an inch of rain.  So take that, you old buzzard!
Did I mention it is astronomy season, now that the full moon is rising later and later?  We'll see when the next clear night is.  Next full moon?
Luckily tomorrow's medical appt. for Deb is later in the afternoon.  We may be partially shovelled out by then....

Sunday, February 16th/14
It's official!  My piano program is memorized.  It was a battle and a half, but the notes are now crammed tightly into my head.  There will still be a tendancy for several of them to leak out the various holes in my head, but the bulk of them should remain in there long enough to play a few concerts.
I have lost one of my two Toronto venues, as people who were going to host one of them are now unable.  I still haven't decided where to perform in Windsor, but it will likely be the weekend before Toronto, which would be the 5th-6th of April.
We are now about 48 hrs. from going above 0 C.  Forecasts call for warmth beginning Tuesday.  This will be the first time since the 1st of Feb.  While reading the March issue of Sky and Telescope Deb came across an article called "The Month Between the Seasons."  It references Tolkien and how the Eldar recognized six seasons, not four.  Spring, Summer, Autumn, Fading, Winter and Stirring.  We are just about to enter the Stirring
season.  I like that.  I've always known about it but never officially recognized it as a season.  Likewise the November to Winter Solstice time period now called the Fading.
We are hoping to return to Iaido again tonight.  We are unable to go on Tuesday due to Deb's appointment with her doctor.  We are hoping to learn a lot more about her future with methotrexate at this time.

Saturday, February 15th/14
I remember how the last day of school used to be my favourite day of the year.  Since retiring 2 1/2 years ago I have been able to enjoy our pagan holidays so much more.  There are 10 major ones, plus the 12 (sometimes 13) full moons that a year brings.  I think my favourite day of the year now might be Feb. 14th.  Lupercalia was the Roman festival that ran from the 13th to the 15th, which in turn was built atop an equally lustful pre-Roman pagan holiday.  While the Christians (as usual) tried to water things down considerably, Valentine's Day occasionally regains its pre-Christian place among the great festivals of the year.  However, even better than the whole lust thing is the fact that around mid-February, at least where I live, Winter's back is finally broken.  From here on in, Spring begins to win more and more battles, until Winter is just an unpleasant memory while still wearing a sweater in May.  The amount of daylight has increased significantly, and the angle of the sun means that any more snow that falls will melt faster than it did a month ago.  Anyway, since it is mid-February I am a pretty happy guy once again!  This insidious winter that has taken away sidewalks and forced me to pile snow higher than our cars is beginning to vanish!  Brigid has done her thing!
Admittedly today is bitter cold, but it was so bright out, and it didn't get dark until 7 pm.  We will leave our Brigid figure up until the temp finally rises above freezing (the last time was Feb. 1st).  Looks like early next week we can celebrate the real thing, packing away Brigid until next year!!
Anyway, we attended a really good concert yesterday in Detroit.  We brought Alicia, my most advanced piano student, as there was a major piano component to the concert.  The guest conductor of the Detroit Symphony was Costa Rican, and he brought music of Cuba, Russia, Italy and Argentina to us.  It was a packed house and as usual the orchestra was in top form.  Afterwards, we went to a new veggie restaurant for a late lunch (it was a morning concert!).  Detroit continues to provide us with our weekly big-city fix, and though it is no London (our other favourite big city), it sure provides a lot of cultural stimulation.
And as winter begins its long-awaited vanishing act, thoughts turn once again to the night sky and astronomy.  Hopefully as the moon wanes we can finally return to some sort of observing.  Twice since late November is quite ridiculous!
I have recently reconnected with another highly intelligent, sophisticated and altogether wonderful former student from long ago.  I have not seen Taedem since she left our school after graduating from Gr. 8, quite a few years ago.  She is amidst a rip-roaring battle with cancer of the lymph nodes, surviving two surgeries and preparing for a second gruelling session of radiation.  Not something you like to hear about former students, especially ones like Taedem.  We began a correspondence about a month ago and it seems to be just getting started.  I've been thinking of her a lot lately, needless to say.  I know she is giving it everything she's got, and I also know it will be more than enough!

Tuesday, Feb. 11th/14
Our 12-day break from teaching has come to an end.  Time to clean the house tomorrow!  Despite the cold weather we have had a lot of fun.  We have finished watching all the 1st season episodes of the 3rd Doctor, the only one where Liz Shaw (Caroline John) is the assistant.  She is amazing, and possibly my favourite companion!  Why?  She is smart!  She has Ph Ds and is even an M.D.  And she is certainly pretty enough to fit the role.  She assists the doctor in all kinds of lab work, too.  So why did they get rid of her?  Replaced with a cute little dumbell?  Heaven forbid in 1970 if there was a role for an intelligent female on television--the BBC would have collapsed from the effort.  Anyway, Season Seven (its official name in the lexicon) is pretty good stuff!  Next up is another series with the 7th Doctor (we are alternating).
We also just recently began watching some Buster Keaton silent short films.  From 1922 we saw "The Blacksmith."  It is quite funny, with typical Keaton sight gags and perfectly timed ones.  He is such an original, seldom repeating himself and always striving for, and reaching, perfection.  He and Chaplin are likely the funniest people who have yet lived.  Several more Keaton films on our current disc to watch.
We finished a pretty terrible pc game called "Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Mummy."  Glad it is finally over.  We are now replaying Myst, with Deb at the controls.  I moved my oldest computer from upstairs out the door, finally using one of our more up to date pcs for my older games and for writing fiction.  I was unable to play parts of Tomb Raider 5 on my older machine, so I have resumed play on the newer one.  Have to learn all the key commands over again, and relearn how to swim!
We returned to Iaido class tonight, our first time with Sensei since before Christmas.  It is also one of the coldest nights yet, and will likely break another record overnight.  It is clear, but the moon is too bright (and it is far too cold anyway) to set up even the small scope.  With full moon arriving on Valentine's Day, we should be able to resume observing about five days after that.
We now begin 4 weeks of teaching before getting another 12-day break.  This is the life!!

Thursday, Feb. 6th/14
Winter is not sexy.  Not in the least.  With our sixth or so snowstorm now behind us, in come the howling winds and falling temps once again.  The 10-day forecast shows us remaining below freezing each day.  So far we've had one day above 0 C.  After finishing with shovelling the driveway and half of a parking lot, along came a distant neighbour on a Honda 4-wheeler to finish things up for me.  He also widened the driveway considerably.  Mark is the dad of Julia, one of my piano students.  I think we might be able to do some bartering here.
Despite considerable upper body stiffness today, I managed to practice.  Not an inspiring one, but I did practice.  One of my Toronto concert dates is set, and I am awaiting confirmation of a second one.  Memorization is still an issue.  The pieces themselves sound pretty good, providing the music is in front of me.  Except for the Debussy, that just may be how things will be.
So far Deb seems to be managing on 4 pills a week, though we would like to see it back to six.  Her next blood work is Tuesday.  Fingers will be crossed.  Tomorrow she gets her new pair of orthodics.  Depending on how cold it gets, we may stay home from Iaido, though we badly want to attend open practice tomorrow night.
Sure was nice having no teaching duties this week.  Next week Semester Three begins, and lasts until near the end of April.  However, there is another week off in there for the March school break.

Monday, Feb. 4th/14
Last night was almost heartbreaking in its weather cruelty.  We finally got a clear night for observing when it wasn't windy and wasn't minus 4,000 degrees.  It's a big effort to set up two telescopes, protective tarps (from stray lights), and get dressed for the occasion, but skies were predicted to be clear.  The temp was around -8 C, so it wasn't exactly like observing in the tropics, but we have the clothing for it.  Out we went, and enjoyed about an hour of casual observing before the clouds rolled in, thick and merciless.  This happens very often.  We persevered for about thirty more minutes then gave up in disgust.  It takes just as long to take down the tarps and put all the equipment away.  No sooner was everything put away and we were back in the house then it cleared up again, staying that way until at least midnight, when I went to bed.  Needless to say we did not set everything back up again, because if we had it would have likely clouded over again.  This is what makes an otherwise fantastic hobby so miserable, and keeps me thinking about moving somewhere with more predictable and consistently clear skies.  And what about tonight?  Snowfall number 477 is arriving shortly, promising a miserable day again tomorrow.
During the day yesterday we enjoyed a jaunt to Detroit, having lunch at Motor City Brewing Company.  Deb had to have tea (mint) but she discovered their very attractive mugs and bought one to take home.  I enjoyed their hard cider, one of the best in existence.  They also bottle it, and I brought six bottles home.  Next came Whole Foods Market, now our favourite place to buy food.
Today I went to my 2nd lesson with Philip Adamson on my newest piano program.  We spent much of it on the Haydn piece, and a little on the Debussy.  Because he is performing on the 28th, I won't have any more lessons with him until March.  Looking forward to his recital.  He gives a solo one every two years.
Afterwards Deb had to return to her heart specialist for a follow-up echo-cardiogram.  We don't anticipate any problems.  Her blood pressure was excellent.  We went to our favourite Thai restaurant for lunch, then home for twin naps.  It is getting progressively gloomier outside, as the storm approaches.  It will be another night of noisy snowplows passing back and forth, back and forth.  Haven't heard them in three days now!

Sunday, February 2nd/14
It has been fun celebrating Imbolg, one of the major holidays in the ancient Celtic calendar.  In northern Celtic lands the light is starting to return, heralding the first hint of spring.  Winter's back is broken and relief is in sight.  However, due to our latitude and local climate, we fully celebrate this day in mid-February.  Things are usually winding down by then, and it is significantly lighter in the evening.  We got our next set of Tarot cards laid out, which will guide us until Vernal Equinox.  Brigid is out for two weeks, in the fervent hope that she will banish winter by then.

Our Brigid figure, hand decorated by Deb, is out for two weeks.  Will she be able to banish winter by then?  In the background is part of our winter art display, a landscape by my late great aunt, Alexis McKinley.

White tulips for Brigid.  Same painting in background.

Tulip close up.  They should all be open by tomorrow.

Saturday was filled with snow and rain.  It was a thoroughly miserable day, with about 5" of snow falling (very heavy stuff it was, too) and about 1/2" of rain.  Today our driveway was all ice-covered, and will remain so until it thaws again.  No temps above freezing are predicted for several days.
We will likely head for Detroit tomorrow.  Lunch and hard cider at Motor City Brewing Company, and a trip to Whole Foods, along with our usual mailbox run.  Next weekend is that city's winter carnival, which we hope to attend.

Friday, January 31st/14
I've been waiting the better part of a month to see the backside of January.  It has been the most intense one I can remember, except for my Sudbury years.  It only went above the freezing point 6 times during the month!  There were 25 days when the temperature stayed below 0 C!  Then we can add in the constant and ferocious winds, adding the most severe wind chills this county has ever seen!  And I haven't even mentioned the snow yet!  More snow than we have ever had in January, and more than our usual amount for an entire winter!  February is not promising a whole lot of relief for us right now, with the next storm hitting us tomorrow.  At least Feb. will last only 28 days!
We finished semester two of our teaching year yesterday, putting us at the halfway point.  We are off all next week, though I have scheduled a second piano lesson with Philip Adamson, and Deb has a check up with her heart doctor.  We also hope to return to regular Iaido lessons sometime in February, though Tuesday looks like yet another snow day.  We went to the dojo tonight to attend open practice.  Before really knowing what the weather was going to be like, I had planned on getting us to the dojo 8 times in January.  We just made it 4 as of tonight.  Could be worse, I suppose.  It's been 6 months since my black belt test and I have yet to begin studying my next level techniques.  Deb still has hopes of testing in the spring.
I am tentatively planning 3 or 4 recitals in April.  Practicing is going well, though memorizing is a battle.  The Haydn is nearly memorized, and the Chopin about half done.  All of the Debussy are memorized.  So my goal is to have everything solid by March 1st, providing nothing interferes with my daily practice routine.
This is an official holiday weekend for us (and other pagans), as we celebrate Candlemas on Sunday!  We feel in need of a holiday, especially one that brings hope for the coming of Spring!

Monday, January 27th/14
Despite horrid weather (wind, cold, crappy roads) we managed a rather successful visit to Detroit today.  We got lucky, as there were accidents on both eastbound and westbound I 94, our main highway to Dearborn.  Lucky we were near an exit and got off as traffic continued to back up and come to a standstill.  We did a little grocery shopping at Kroger, where they have an amazing health food section.  Then it was on to the mailbox, where my March issue of
Sky and Telescope awaited.  Which is great and everything, however, we never received our Feb. issue...
Then we headed downriver, stopping at a pet store for Deb to nose around (she really doesn't get out much), then a great little bookstore, where we walked out with four books and three Dr. Who magazines from yesteryear.  Deb got a biography of Marie Curie by Barbara Goldsmith, called "Obsessive Genius."  I got three murder mysteries set in New Mexico!  After that we went for lunch to Fort Street Brewery, where I tried two of their beer.  Snowplowed and Malcomson's Scotch Ale were both fabulous.  Deb had a delicious glass of ice water.
Last night we went to Iaido, our first formal class since mid-December.  Due to cold and wind we will likely be forced to miss tomorrow's class with Sensei Blok.  We are another week closer to Spring...there will be flowers again, someday.
I put up a new review on my Ballantine page (a very popular page with readers worldwide).  George MacDonald is now confirmed as one of my very favourite authors.  The current read contained three novellas, and all three were so good I cannot believe I have not encountered them before this!  His two main adult fantasy novels, Lilith and Phantastes, were published earlier and reviewed here.

Friday, January 24th/14
In three weeks of teaching I have had only one cancellation!  That has made for full teaching days for me.  Deb has been luckier, with several cancellations.  Some of my students are actually making progress, too.
Winter's version of a living hell has descended upon us once again.  High winds, snow, and bitter cold have been ours since early December, with January being even more intense and cruel.  I am going through a lot of bird seed outside!  Cardinals, jays, sparrows, chickadees, pigeons, and a flock of cowbirds that should have known better are here in great numbers.  There are five squirrels that visit each day, too.  No Iaido, either, for a week now, and we have yet to return to regular classes since mid-December.  It's just too cold for Deb to be out.  We have been twice to open training, but not tonight.  Even Detroit is an uncertainty this weekend.  With the sudden crash of our dollar against the US dollar, we can afford to miss a week.
So that means lots of reading, writing, gaming, and movie watching.  Tonight's feature was a 70's horror flic from Montreal, made in the Euro-horror style from that time period. 
Cathy's Curse shows promise, but the film ultimately succumbs to horror cliches.  However, there are moments of such unsettling effect as to make this worthwhile on a snowy Friday night when not much else is happening anyway.  Watching Cathy (nine or ten years old) taunt and swear at an older woman who is also a medium is an unforgettable moment, as she scares the living hell out of her and a few other adults, too, after trying to take an eye out of another little girl.  Oh, and she kills her nanny, too.  However, Daddy still sees her as a little angel.  This is one of the creepier little girls in horror film history, though in her defense she is innocent, but possessed by a very pissed off spirit.

Tuesday, January 21st/14
We are one weekend closer to spring!  We are on track to make this the snowiest and coldest January ever in Essex County, at least since we have lived here.  It almost gets normal for a few days, then another Arctic front swoops down.  This one has us pinned to the mat until at least Saturday, though it looks as it it will continue much longer.  March 21st, please hurry!!
Depite a horrid weather day on Sunday, we managed to get out of the house in the afternoon for a visit to Colasanti's greenhouse.  Deb has quite a collection of plants inside her tortoise habitat now, and it looks pretty cool in there.  County roads were terrible that day, with winds gusting to 40 mph blowing snow across roads and making visibilty very poor in places.  The major highway was even shut down at one point, stopping traffic between Detroit and Toronto for several hours.  We used back roads, but they were not in good shape.
Saturday we had a fun day in Detroit, visiting John King Bookstore and then the DIA.  There were numerous works by one of our favourite artists, Charles Burchfield, in a temporary exhibit.  A few of the works, many from the permanent collection, were jaw-dropping in their intensity and understanding of nature.  He is tagged as a "Neo Alchemist!"  What a great title!  There is a museum dedicated to his work in Buffalo.  We must  get there soon.
We had lunch at Seva in Detroit, a veggie restaurant, then had coffee and desert later at Avalon Bakery.  We brought home some vegan carrot cake for later, too.  We also stopped in at Whole Foods, where I picked up some New Belgium Farmhouse Ale, and Deb some of her favourite coconut water.  I have been bringing a 6-pack of microbeer back home across the border for six weeks now, and not having anyone question it.  I currently have 10 different microbrews in my basement!  So, all in all a fun birthday weekend!  Deb got new shoes (her new orthodics are on the way), a giant poster of her tortoise, and we watched two episodes of Sherlock, the newest and mostly brilliant reincarnation of the famous detective, starring Benedict Cumberpatch.  We have one more episode of Season Two to watch, though Season Three is already showing on PBS.
Deb is just about to complete her first week on a much lower dose of methotrexate.  So far nothing too bad has happened, but it does take a few weeks to get the old dosage out of her body.  Her next bloodwork is in three weeks, along with her doctor's appointment.
I've been following a former student's battle with thyroid cancer on Facebook, and talking privately with her there.  Taedem is having a rough time of it, with worse to come.  Her incision has not healed yet, more than a week after surgery.  Her upcoming radiation treatment (in about 5 weeks) sounds like some horrific invention of a mad scientist, designed to cause the most inconvenience and discomfort as possible to an already very ill individual.  I may post her description of it here, as she gets closer to the date.  Luckily Taedem was always a strong girl, and her attitude is positive and she has good family support.  Still, I do weep for her.

Thursday, Jan. 16th/14
The piano has been tuned, and I've had a lesson with Philip Adamson, my first in nearly a year.  Back in two weeks for another one, I hope.  His solo piano concert is Feb. 28th at MacKenzie Hall--mark your calendars!  Mine will be sometime in April, if I can keep making progress on the memorization. 
Week Two of teaching is over--only two more until our week-long break!  Then only four more until March Break!  In the meantime, our five-day weekend has begun.  There, that's most of the good news for the week.  Oh, except that Deb now weighs 114 pounds, up from 98 last spring!
Now for the bad.  Deb has failed another blood test (she really should study harder for these).  She has been cut back again on her meds, from 6 to 4.  She is now taking half the dosage that worked so many miracles for her.  This stuff is hard on the liver.  Not sure what this means for Deb, but we will find out soon enough.  How far back will she slide?  She sees her doctor again in a month.  We already know that any additional treatment will be even harder on her body.  Not a nice disease.
It's cold and windy and snowy again, too.  At least much of our previous snow vanished first, except for the bigger drifts and the snowbanks from shovelling.

Monday, Jan. 13th/14
What a difference one week can make!  From the depths of a snowy, windy frozen hell to a pleasant and mild winter day, life in the era of climate change is not boring.  Two days in a row of being outside for a walk is not in itself remarkable, unless you had seen the sidewalks and streets last week at this time, not to mention temperatures unfit for human consumption.  There is still plenty of snow around, about half of what we received, and the river is still frozen shut.  But even a few days of respite, quite unlooked for, helps get us closer to Spring Equinox, so far away.
Practicing is going well, even if memorization is not.  The Haydn is lovely to play but proving to be a beast to memorize.  I have begun memorizing the Chopin Nocturne, and hope this will bear some fruit over the month.  I have a lesson Thursday morning with Philip Adamson, my first concerning the newest program.  Tomorrow the piano tuner will visit here.  That now seems like a busy week to me!
Deb continues to remain mostly mobile, though a comination of cold, damp weather and the forced reduction in her meds gives her more bad days than before.  She has resorted to pain meds a few times as a result, and it always seems to help her a lot.  Her next blood work is tomorrow, her last before revisiting her rheumatologist in February.

Saturday, Jan. 11th/14
Detroit has nearly always been the oddest of cities, being the best and the worst of what a city can be.  However, it's also a highly eccentric one.  For instance, on weekends nothing much happens until about noon on Saturdays and Sundays, except perhaps the farmer's' market.  It's a city that likes to party late into the night and then sleep in.  Today, what with the heavy fog and our unusually early border crossing, it was an atmospheric visit.  Not much was open, and anything that was had no parking available, mostly due to the huge amounts of snow still blocking access to legit parking spaces.
After getting my new winter coat at the mailbox in Dearborn, we drove around for awhile.  Some lovely views in the fog, including the abandoned rail station.  No pics today, though.  Too bad, it was a classic day for downtown photos.
About a third of our snow has vanished today, thanks to overnight rain (over half an inch) and very mild temps all day and overnight.  It will be a bit more normal tomorrow, though still on the mild side.
We have a fun weekend planned for Deb's birthday next week, including a visit to the reptile house at the Detroit Zoo, so we are hoping the weather cooperates.  Her birthday always falls amidst the dead of winter and is usually a stay-at-home celebration.
Tonight we watched some very early (1913, 14, 15) Fatty Arbuckle comedies, as well as another episode from the new Season 1 Doctor Who series (Charles Dickens episode).  The Arbuckle stuff has zero appeal for adults, though would probably be a hit with a third grade class.  The Christopher Eccleston series continues to hold up well, and he still remains my favourite of all the Doctors.

Thursday, Jan. 9th/14
Thank the Gods that is over with!  Driveway and parking areas all shovelled; just the back deck left before the weekend rain hits us and freezes everything solid!  It is still bitter cold as I write this tonight, but the temps are supposed to slowly rise all night and into the weekend.  A bit more snow to fall overnight before it turns to rain tomorrow and Saturday.  What a world.  I have shovelled 8 of the last 9 days, and likely will tomorrow, too.
Only three student no-shows this week, so not too bad!  If the winds hadn't subsided a bit on Tuesday, we would have never been ready.  First teaching week has now ended, and I'm looking forward to a 5-day weekend!  I have a new winter jacket awaiting me at the mail box in Detroit.  Though mostly for astronomy nights, it would have come in very handy this past week.  Speaking of astronomy, there is a good chance of a significant aurora display tonight.  Of course it is overcast and snowing!
We had hopes of watching the new Sherlock: Hound of the Baskervilles tonight.  However, out of the blue our satellite receiver decided it would not work anymore.  Sigh.

Monday, Jan. 6th/14
As I write this it is -25 C outside, with a wind chill of -40!  Winds are blowing snow around everywhere, at about 70 km per hour.  Needless to say we are breaking all-time cold records here.  I've never seen anything like this since I left Sudbury in 1976.  Currently it is much colder here than in Sudbury.  Go figure.  I don't wish to see it anymore, either.  Our furnace has been running non-stop, and the house is only at 19 C.  We received another 10" of snow yesterday and overnight, which I attempted to remove throughout the day.  It was so cold I could only stay out for 15 minutes at a time.  I cleared most of the driveway in 5 shifts, only to see it get blown back over with snow later on, twice as deep as when I began.  We are essentially trapped until the wind stops (Wed. ?) and I can clean up the snow.  There will be no teaching this week.  We will have to take a loss of around $400.  Not much we can do about it.  Hoping to possibly get the car out by Wed., but there will be no parking available here for parents.  It is a very depressing time.

Sunday, Jan. 5th/14

As predicted, it is upon us.  As predicted, the storm is as bad as they said it would be.  We shovelled once today, but we are now totally buried.  Can barely see across the highway from our window. Tomorrow will be an unhappy day, too.  High winds and extreme low temperatures are coming just behind this thing.  NO escape.  Next weekend looks mild, but likely another storm will brew as a result.

Saturday, Jan. 4th/14

Round Three of the big snow season is nearly upon us.  Barely 2 1/2 days after the last (2nd) big storm of the winter, the next one is ready to batter us into submission once again.  I only hope my neighbour comes through for me again.  Even with him helping with the main driveway, I still have to shovel the heavy snow left behind by the road plows, as well as my parking lots, the back deck and the walkways.  I may have to gain access to the roof after this one, too, and shovel some snow off of there.  Snow is not the end of the world, but the extreme temperatures and high winds that will follow bode ill.  Though we are as cozy as can be in our home, the outdoor birds do not take well to this.  I have spent a small fortune every month since we moved here over 20 years ago feeding the birds.  Generations of them have come here to feed, being especially voracious in breeding season, when the yard is filled with the screaming of hungry babies (often larger than their parents), and when deep snow covers their natural food sources.  I have a small water heater I keep outside, too, so the birds and squirrels can drink, even on the coldest days.
Detroit Saturday Adventures occurred today, and all went well until we came home about 3 pm.  The border was clogged with Canadians returning from sunny, warm vacationlands.  Poor sods--paradise one moment, and suddenly in Canada  during a particularly bad January the next moment.
We visited two pet shops today, as well as made our usual mail box run (lots of good dvds awaited!).  The first shop specialized in tropical fish, and had the most amazing and enormous displays of coral--absolutely stunning fish amongst even more stunning coral!  The second shop specialized in reptiles and such, and Deb was in her second home.  Afterwards we picked up a take-away pizza (Buddy's makes the best vegan pizza in existence) and went to Dragonmead Brewery and Pub to play some Carcasonne.  I enjoyed pints of ESB and Chocolate Stout, made on premises and as fresh and delicious as can be.  I also brought home 4 bottles of their beer, a Scottish ale and Belgian something or other.  We drove 100 miles today (Deb drove after leaving the pub).
Back home tonight we are watching another 4-episode series with the 3rd Doctor, whom I quite like.  It's still his first season so Liz is still in it, one of my very favourite companions.
I'm just finishing up a SF novel by Iain M. Banks called "Transition."   Perhaps more on that later--just the epilogue to read tonight, then it's back to my Ballantine review project.  I've also been reading "Afoot in England" by W. H. Hudson, alongside the Banks.  I bought it at Stanford's Travel Book and Map Shop (world's best place to be stranded for a lifetime) on our last visit to London in 2011, and finally got around to reading it.  Quite good, especially his two visits to Stonehenge--hahaha.  We have been to a few of the locations he talks about, which makes the book even more interesting.
Providing our power stays on and our roof doesn't cave in, I will report back tomorrow.  The last snowfall gave us what we usually receive for the entire month of January!  This time tomorrow we will be well past that, and likely ready to surpass February, too...

Thursday, Jan. 2nd/14
So what is worse: a summer where it is so hot and humid that one dare not go outside, or a winter where it is so cold and snowy that one dare not go outside?  I remember two severe winters in Essex County since we moved down here in 1976.  The winter of 1977 was one of the worst, though since we had just arrived from Sudbury we didn't think it was so bad.  Old timers down here still talk about it.  Then in the early '80s, when we lived in the Town of Essex for a few years, there was a winter so bad we literally did not get out of town for six weeks.  Our water pipes froze, and it was complete misery.  Though it is currently only Jan. 2nd, this winter is shaping up to be a real monster.  It snowed steadily from 10 pm Tuesday night until today around 1 pm, a 40 hr. storm that brought us just over 14" of snow.  I am trying hard to remember when we got more snow in one storm, and I cannot remember.  Right now it is windy and cold with blowing snow, though much worse in my native city of Sudbury, where it will drop to almost -30 F tonight, with wind chills almost off the scale!  Tomorrow will be a very cold day, though sunshine is promised.  Some normalcy for the weekend, then back to snow and cold again next week.  The dojo is closed tonight, the first night martial arts classes were to resume.  Fun times.  Lucky for us a kind neighbour came along with his John Deere tractor and plowed our driveway this morning.  Otherwise, it was going to be a two or three day project!  Getting too old for this white stuff.

Wednesday, January 1st/14
We begin the new year with snow, and plenty of it!  5" here in A'burg so far, and it's still coming down.  At least it's light and fluffy.  We shovelled once today, but we're done now until it stops.  It's been snowing since 10 pm last night--the roads have been a big mess, too.  Luckily we had decided to stay home last night and today.
Looking over the summer months of 2013, things slowly improved for Deb.  By mid-August she was functioning well and coming out of her months-long depression.  I continued to have serious attacks of Meniere's, including one the day we left Lindsay where I spent a whole day in emerg at Oshawa General Hospital.  I caught a serious cold in July ???, which thankfully Deb never got.  But I finally managed to take my Shodan test in Iaido, and even passed it first time!!
The trip to Lindsay to visit Deb's mom was a test of Deb's ability to sit in a car for hours.  She did well, though we stopped often.  Coming home she had to drive part of the way, by necessity, as I was still woozy from hospital drugs.  So that was another landmark.  With some confidence we booked a one-week trip to Tucson for mid-November.
Deb really got interested in astronomy, and purchased her very own telescope.  No more lonely nights for me out at the observatory!
With the Tucson trip being very successful, we will likely plan a few similar trips this year.  Salt Lake City looks like a go, and we would like to visit Denver.  Catalina Island also awaits, and a few astronomy trips to the southwest.  Providing that Deb doesn't have to reduce her meds any further, we should be good to go.  Still, we will not book major trips too far ahead.  She sees her doctor again in February, so after that we should know more.