It's been mostly a bust for astronomy, despite several clear nights. Wildfire smoke continues to turn our skies milky in the daytime, and less than black at night. I have managed two outings, both hampered by the amount of particulates in the air. That's two months running now for smoke in our skies. After talking with my parents recently, it's worse in Sudbury.
I took a week off from strenuous piano practice, following my program on the 10th. I also took a week off from blogging. But this week it's back to a full time work schedule, with a few new pieces added to the heap. For now I will try for 2 1/2 hours per day, with a day off in there somewhere each week. The Beethoven Sonata (Op. 10 #3) takes up the bulk of my time, but the Bach Prelude and Fugue (Book 2, Eb+) and Chopin Nocturne take up an hour. I am also working with Paula on an (easy) piano duet for our next group gathering. As for the Beethoven, I am now attempting to memorize the first movement.
Sunday we resumed work on the yard, mostly strenuous clearing out of weeds, and overgrowth from ivy and shrubs. Only three large bags went out to the curb this time, but it's a start. There has been some rain, but not very much. We are not (yet) in another drought situation, but it won't take long. The smoky skies have been keeping down the temperatures to the low 80s so far. I guess one good thing came out of the smoke filled skies. Plus some very red sunsets.
And last night I returned to Iaido training! I thought today I would be in much worse shape, but aside from some stiffness in the hips, I don't feel too bad. Relearning the basic katas will take a few weeks. I hope to continue training over the summer, counting it as my cross training fitness day. Being fit for three years now is paying off in having more energy overall, and recovering more quickly from strenuous activity. Iaido also helps me with concentration, something I badly need to play piano successfully. I have not trained in at least five years. But last night felt good. It was time to return, at least for the summer. I was only able to dress in the hakama with help from Deb and the internet.
In movies news, there is only one film to report that I mostly enjoyed. The Misfits is from 1961, directed by John Huston, screenplay by Arthur Miller, and starring everyone. The film appears to be about Marilyn Monroe herself, who soars to new heights in this movie. She plays a woman who has just divorced, and who teams up with three very different men (played by Clark Gable, Eli Wallach, and Montgomery Clift). Highly watchable, though the wild mustang scenes might be too much for some people. But therein lies the catch: while Marilyn cannot stand to think of the wild horses being captured (they are to be sold for dog food), she is more than willing to take the wildness from Gable's lifestyle (it was time, anyway) and tame him. The movie does feature several scenes, some of them eye popping, demonstrating Marilyn's sexual attraction to men (the famous bar scene where she bats a ball on a small paddle board over and over, to name one). But her acting easily transcends those moments. At times in control, at times totally vulnerable, at times womanly, and at times like a young girl, she attains depths in this film that must have made other actresses add another reason to hate her. A very unusual Hollywood film, and not to be missed.
Mapman Mike
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