June 2018

Friday, June 29th/18 

This might be called the monthly music blog.  Turn away if you have little no interest in music.  At your peril.  The Haydn listening project is up to Symphony #28.  Unlike the early Mozart symphonies, the works by Haydn are all unique and very artistic.  These are not the writings of a guided child, but of a mature musician using his imagination to the fullest.  Each work is filled with eye-opening surprises, and artistry beyond the extraordinary.  Very few people get excited by Haydn's music.  That says more about most people than about Haydn.  The Britten and Brahms projects have seen Op 51 completed.  The Brahms Op 51 set consists of two major string quartets.  We know that most people listening to music have an attention span of about 45 seconds, before they begin wandering off in other directions unrelated to their listening.  The best composers were quite aware of this, and their music incorporates composition techniques with the short attention span of their listeners in mind.  Being a practicing pianist, my attention span may be slightly longer, but I still need variety and constantly changing harmony and rhythm to keep up my interest.  These quartets are splendid places to begin your work, if interested.  The first quartet in C Minor is especially good for this--it is awash in fabulous music, ever-changing!  Listen to one movement at a time, and preferably more than once.  Your brain will thank you.

As to my own piano pieces, I have begun memorizing the 1st half to the program, which consists of two short preludes by Bach and two short sonatas by Haydn.  The 2nd half will consist of a major work by Schumann, his Op. 2 "Papillons."  The butterflies Schumann had in mind were more of the social variety, as we attend a masked ball in 12 movements.  I will conclude the program with the final three astronomy pieces by Alexina Louie, entitled Shooting stars, Blue Sky II, and Into Forever.  That final piece is the only one I have not yet started to work on.  Hopefully once the first half is memorized, it will save me enough time in my two hours of practice to include that final, and necessary, piece of music.  This will also mark my 3rd or 4th concert in a row featuring a female composer.  I think I will try and continue with this idea in all future concert planning.

Wednesday, June 27th/18 

My summer holiday is well underway!  No teaching at all this week, and then only on Wednesdays.  Sunday evening's recital went well; I am still awaiting someone to send me a group photo.  When the concert ended, Deb and I headed to a local brew pub.  Sandwich Brewing Company does a mean vegan cheese board!

Yesterday we went to Detroit for a fun visit.  It took us 48' to get through the tunnel and through customs, but once clear we had a very fun day.  I doubt any other city in the world is seeing the kind of explosive growth and renovation of old buildings that Detroit is seeing.  With Ford Motor Company's recent announcement of their purchase of the long-abandoned train station, and their intention to fully restore it and move 5,000 employees there, it just doesn't get any better.  There are still no streets downtown to walk where construction can be avoided.  this has been going full blast for about three years now, with building after building restored, open for business, and doing well.  Downtown yesterday was as busy as central Croydon, and that is saying a lot.

The Book Building, background, is one of the largest renovation projects ever undertaken  in the US.  The exterior has been completely cleaned.  Once restored inside, it will house offices, retail, and condos and apartment.   The foreground building is one of dozens of lesser old buildings currently undergoing restoration.

 Not only this fabulous old building is being renovated into a hotel, but the project also includes the three buildings to the left of it, as well as new construction in the rear.

3 new high rise buildings are underway downtown Detroit, including this one, which will be Detroit's tallest building when completed in 2 years.

 New construction and renovation is everywhere in central Detroit.

 The two buildings in the background, both once long-abandoned, are being converted into very unique and fancy hotels.  The one on the right is open now.  It is called The Siren.  Their website is filled with great photos, but it takes a while to load.  The lobby is like standing in an Edward Hopper painting.

 Entrance to The Siren Hotel, Detroit.  This place is beyond words!!

 A loafer in the lobby. The lobby also serves as cafe seating.

 Part of the lobby of The Siren Hotel, Detroit.  7 restored buildings downtown have been or are being turned into boutique hotels.

 View south along Woodward Ave.  (looking towards Canada).  The foreground buildings on left and right were once abandoned skyscrapers.  The left one is now apartments, and the right one is a hotel.  Nearly every building looking along Woodward has undergone, or is undergoing, a complete refit.

 One of Detroit's trams, which connects the downtown area to Midtown, the Medical Center, the Cultural Center, Wayne State University, and the New Centre, where the Amtrak station is.  $1.50 lets you ride for three hours, any direction.

 Detroit's downtown parks have never looked so welcoming!

When Detroit was in the doldrums (80s, 90s, 00s), the only shops etc that managed to remain open were on the main drag.  All of the side streets that had once hustled and bustled with commercial action, had died.  The side streets are not only back, but better than ever with their unique shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants.  There is an overwhelming demand for residential space downtown, and all of the office space for the next five years has been spoken for, including space not yet fully renovated.

Anyway, a good day was had by all!  I should be blogging a bit more regularly now that I am teaching less.  No excuses.  See you tomorrow.  And have a very happy full moon!! 

 Downtown Detroit, showing part of a row of refurbished buildings, including the skycraper taking up the right side of the photo.

Open street furniture is everywhere downtown, including really comfy and shaded chairs for napping (not shown)!

 

Tuesday, June 19th/18

We set heat records for both Sunday and Monday, not surprising if you lived through those days.  Last night at bedtime we were deluged by rain, thunder, and lightning.  I awoke to find 2" in the backyard rain gauge.  However, it was so dry that by this morning, other than a muddy and fast-flowing creek, there was little evidence of the heavy rain.  In fact, I was able to cut the grass by 11 am! 

I have managed to publish the first part of our recent voyage to Columbus, Ohio.  I hope to work on the rest later in the week, mostly concerning some very fine brew pubs we visited. I also just finished a very odd book by Piers Anthony and Robert E. Margroff called The Ring.  The short review can be found on the Avon/Equinox page, under Piers Anthony.  I really like Anthony's SF work, and this is a very early story he wrote with another author.  Glad I read it, though.

I have now completed my teaching for Monday and Tuesday, and won't have to do that again until September.  I will finish up tomorrow, but in two weeks I will resume Wednesday teaching for July and August.  That money should pay for the gasoline for our upcoming road trip to NM in mid-September.

I am looking forward to a summer of reading, practicing, riding my bike, writing, playing games, both computer, card, and board variety, as well as generally taking things easy.  In the old days when teaching school I was able to completely get away from kids for two months.  That won't happen again this summer because of teaching, though very few kids take lessons for the entire vacation.  After tomorrow's lessons it will be time to prepare for the Summer Solstice partay!!

Sunday, June 17th/18 

We are just back from Columbus, Ohio, and our 2nd annual visit to Origins Game and Film Festival.  Once again it was very hot.  On our return home today the temps were in the mid-90s, plus loads of humidity.  Later this week, possibly tomorrow, I will be blogging about the trip (see the Midwest blog) and posting photos.   Two of Deb's short films were screened, and we ended up buying three board games.  On Friday I visited the Columbus Museum of Art, and I also managed to drink some delicious samples at 4 different brew pubs.  We found some new cafes and veg friendly restaurants, too.  All in all it was a fun trip, though tiring.

We left for Columbus on Thursday, and of course the night before was clear with spectacular skies.  I stayed at the observatory until 1 am, enjoying the best night to view galaxies in a long time.  I finished my work in Bootes, a constellation I have been studying for several years now.  I also began work on a new one, Draco.

I have one week left of teaching regular music lessons, plus the final student concert next Sunday evening.  I am, as ever, looking forward to summer break.  At this point I do not think I will return to Iaido, but that may change once things settle down a bit here.  I have been away since December, and would like to return, but I also enjoy not having to drive to Windsor 2x per week.  I should know more after next week. If I could have one less night of teaching, I would probably return full time.

Sunday, June 10th/18 

More about books....  I managed to pick up 22 books relating to my Avon/Equinox project recently.  Most of them were by Silverberg, but I also got some by Piers Anthony, Kenneth Bulmer, and Jack Williamson.  In addition to those, we picked up three others.  I used to have a copy of Three Men In a Boat, and I promised to loan it to Anita G.  It is a very funny book, though it also has moments of poetic beauty and dreamy prose.  Alas, I no longer had a copy, so we picked up another.  There is also a short film about the book, staring Michael Palin and Tim Curry, which occasionally measures up to the writing.  It is a Victorian novel, and began its life as a travelogue of rowing up the River Thames.  It captures the essence of life in Britain before WWI, and is worth more than one or two readings.

Two other books acquired yesterday were written by August Derleth.  Derleth is the man responsible for Arkham House Publishing, including works by H.P. Lovecraft.  He also wrote a number of highly regarded Sherlock Holmes stories, in the tradition of Doyle.  Derleth's character is called Solar Pons.  I had never even heard of these until I came across them in a recent essay by P. J. Farmer, himself an incurable Holmes fanatic.  Really looking forward to reading these!  They take place in the 1920s.

I recently had my two-year anniversary of the Avon/Equinox Project.  To date I have read 21 of the 27 books in that SF series, and continue to delve into other works by those 24 authors.  Last year (since June 3rd., 2017) I read and reviewed 120 books related to the series, making a total of 220 altogether.  Last year I also read 11 other works, unrelated.

Saturday, June 9th/18  

Today was our first Detroit day in ages!  Mostly it was a visit to John King Books, where I had a very long shipping list.  I stopped after about 20 books, but I could have easily bought 20 more.  I was in the SF section the entire time.  At one point (I was in the "Bs," checking out Kenneth Bulmer) when a voice came through the book shelf towards me.  I bent down and saw a face, a young woman of perhaps 20 years.

     "Do you work here?" she asked.

     "No, but I know the store pretty well.  Is  there anything I can help you with?"
    "What is your favourite SF book?"  Suddenly I felt like Robbie the Robot in Forbidden Planet, when he is asked to shoot the Captain.  My brain short circuited, and I was unable to respond.

     "Sorry," came the voice.  "I probably shouldn't have asked you that.  It wasn't a fair question."

      Since I had just finished with the "A's," I told her about my favourite works by Piers Anthony.  We located the first two of the three Man and Manta series, and she took those, but we could not find a copy of Macroscope.  We chatted briefly, and she seemed very appreciative of me for the recommendations.  She was from NYC, visiting Detroit for the first time.  She'd already been in the bookstore for two hours, and showed no signs of wanting to leave. 

We next went to Eastern Market, but it was just too crowded to hang out.  We went to Brew Detroit, then next door to Batch Brewery, then to nearby Anthology Coffee, and then Deb drove me home as I sang songs for her.  It's was raining a bit as we got home, and I have a small truckload of books to check off my list and order properly into my reading list.  Yay Detroit!    

 The moat at Arundel Castle.  Another previously unpublished photo from our recent trip to London.

Thursday, June 7th/18

We have had a splendidly cool week, as compared to last week.  No A/C running, fun to be out on our bikes, comfortable to sleep--if only this was what summers are like in our area.  With this week's teaching out of the way, I only have two weeks left to go, plus the final concert.  Then I will have one week off before beginning the summer session, when I only teach Wednesdays.  I have at least 5 students interested in regular summer lessons.  That would be plenty for me.

Today is election day in Ontario.  What a sorry choice of characters to choose from.  We voted, but it was a matter of choosing the least obnoxious of the candidates.  Whoever wins, Ontario is in for a sorry 5 years.

Last Sunday Jennifer G. drove here from Cambridge, ON, bringing food, beer, gifts and books.  We spent a fun day sampling beer, snacking, and planning our epic drive to New Mexico in September.  She brought us two Steampunk books.  We checked on the dates for the upcoming convention in Detroit in July.  Sounds interesting!  She also brought us a home beer tasting kit, with four small sample glasses, beer tasting notes, and a checklist to fill out for each beer.  It will be another fun thing to do, possibly on the trip to NM, which will include several brewery stops and tastings.

On the battlements of Arundel Castle, from the approach to 

the Keep.  The gaggle of school children that kept us company 

aloft can be seen re-entering the castle proper.

May 2018

Thursday, May 31st/18 

I had hoped for a fun day in Detroit on Saturday.  However, we just found out that the annual Grand Prix race is this weekend, and the Toronto Blue Jays are playing ball against the Tigers.  So the border will be much more jammed than usual.  I really wanted to get to John King books, but it will have to wait.

We are just finishing up a nasty week long heat wave and attack of humidity, brought on by the approach and presence of tropical storm Alberto.  Things are supposed to improve by late Friday, but it's been a bad week.  Kids are literally burning out in overheated schools.  Detroit had the good sense to send home students three days over the past week.  Our kids (and teachers) sit and swelter in classrooms above 90 F.

We just finished listening to  Haydn Symphony #25 in C Major, pairing it with Mozart Piano Concerto in C Major (#13).  Last weekend we watched a 1966 BBC production of Britten's Billy Budd, a full-length opera based on the book by Herman Melville.  It's a jolly time aboard a British warship in 1797, as men are conscripted (kidnapped) to serve in the navy.  It's a laugh a minute as Billy is persecuted by an officer to the point where he strikes the officer and kills him.  The final scene, where Billy is hanged and the men are shown watching, is one of the most chilling things I have ever seen.  For King and Country, and all that....

I am now teaching Monday to Wednesday, and so have Thursdays off instead of Monday.  Had I realized earlier what was going on this weekend in Detroit, I would have gone over today instead of waiting for Saturday.  Damn! 

It is coming up to the 2nd anniversary of my Avon/Equinox reading and blogging project.  220 books read and discussed on-line.  I'm currently reading a massive (780 pages) collection of works by Farmer that were not widely published after their first time around.  So far it is one of the most brilliant collections of stories I have ever read!  When Farmer is on the mark, he is one of the best SF authors to have ever penned a story.  It will take me quite a while to finish this one, as I write about each story, and there are a lot of them.

Sunday, May 27th/18 

All of the London journal work is complete.  It took nearly a month, but such are things during a busy life.  The website is complete.  Columbus, Ohio is coming up in three weeks, then a solo trip to Sudbury in July, Deb to Lindsay in August, and then off to New Mexico on a long road trip in September.  

I've had to rearrange some teaching.  Instead of Thursday, I will now teach on Monday.  So this week I get a shortened weekend, but I am done on Wednesdays now until early September!  

The heat has arrived!  We are suffocating under a heat warning, and mostly staying indoors.  Either too cold or too hot.  As the moon nears full we have had four or five nights of clear skies, too.  Because of late sunsets, June is a less than ideal month for observing anyway.  Still, it would be nice to occasionally have a clear night when the moon isn't bright.

 A favourite shot of Arundel castle.

Thursday, May 24th/18 

Another busy week of teaching has flown past.  All students showed up except for one, making it a pretty long week.  But it's over, and a very hot, long weekend lies ahead.  We got the air conditioner installed upstairs, otherwise there would be no sleeping or reading up there.  The grass got cut, the third time this year.  And actually it was the first time that a big part of the lawn got mowed.  It was still wet and muddy in places, but at least not under several inches of water.  More rain coming Saturday.  Yay.

Tonight I am working on the final page of the London blog, the one concerned with pubs.  It's always fun to do that one.  I will continue to add a photo or two here that I have not used on the webpage, until I run out. 

The listening program continues apace.  Haydn Symphony #23 is up next, and Britten's Op 50, an opera called "Billy Budd." Brahms Op 50 will follow the opera.  Piano practice has been more sporadic than I would like, but progress on the new pieces is steady, if slow.

In gaming news, we have finished our replay of "The Longest Journey," a fabulous story based game that we first played many years ago.  And we have started on a much older game, "Gabriel Knight 1: Sins of the Father."  It was remastered in 2017, and is playable on modern equipment.  So far it's a lot of fun!  I have played the two sequels and enjoyed them both very much (Jane Jenson is the writer, and her work is quite special).

 Anita had her 2nd round of the new chemo treatment today.  It's bi-weekly, so a bit less driving involved.  Hopefully we will see her on the weekend.  Even more hopefully there will be some good news to report in a few weeks.

Walking along the River Crane, London Loop.

Sunday, May 20th/18 

2018 is showing signs of being just as hostile to amateur astronomers as 2017 was.  There has been no let up with the clouds and the rain.  Yesterday we had 1.7" of rain, and today has been darkly cloudy and threatening, though no rain has fallen.  It's been amazing weather for the   lilacs and flowering trees, however.

Without astronomy to interfere with my life, I have had time for piano, writing, and the London project.  I have finished working on the written journal of our recent voyage to London and its environs, and have now completed two parts of the on-line version.  Look left for a link to the London blog!  Enjoy some amazing photos, and our memories of yet another fun trip to the 2nd best city in the world!

Wednesday, May 16th/18  

We are one day past new moon, and the clouds won't let up.  I've had two decent outings in two weeks, and that is all I'm going to get.  Despite promises of "excellent" skies tonight, it is completely hopeless.  Always nice to know that people get paid for these forecasts.

Last Saturday was the 11th annual Michigan Cask Ale Festival.  I did a short write up on my Midwest blog (see links at the left on this page).  It was in the mid-40s, raining (we were outdoors but under a big tent), but the crowds were out regardless.  Jenn and I sampled about a dozen ales of the 25 on offer, discovering a few choice ones on our journey.  Deb walked to the nearby shopping mall for a few hours, then joined us at the festival near the end.  She had the job of driving us home safely afterwards, and she aced the task.  I might even use her services again (and again!).

The rains have finally ceased for a few days.  I was finally able to get out and cut grass today (along with the entire neighbourhood), though there are parts of our lawn that are still underwater and I have been unable to cut at all this year.  

While we have no plans for the weekend (it is a long weekend for Canada--Queen Victoria's birthday!), we have been planning summer visits to family.  I will go solo to Sudbury this year, and Deb will visit her Mom in Lindsay for her 90th birthday.  Deb's trip will be a combination of train, bus, and plane.  Mine will be strictly flying.  Our next big trip is to Columbus, Ohio, as we return to Origins to the film festival there, where two of Deb's movies will be shown.  There is seldom a week somewhere where one of her films is not shown.  If only we could somehow get rich from all this success!

Friday, May 12th/18 

An entire day at home seems like such a luxury! And a good thing, too.  It was cold and it rained much of the day.  Two hours of piano done, finished a novel, worked a lot on the London journal, and basically had a day to just relax with the cats.  They always appreciate a day when we are both around.  We have a fire on just now.

Tomorrow I will be paying a visit to the annual Detroit Cask Ale Festival.  This will be my 2nd visit; I have not attended in many years.  There is a shopping mall nearby, and that's where Deb will wait, before driving me home (I will likely be singing much of the way back).  Jenn G. is coming along, too.  Should be a lot of fun!

Anita G. is now in a new phase of chemotherapy, undergoing two drugs untried on her.  The first batch did not give her the kick she needed, so it's on to Plan B.  So much is happening with Anita just now that it is difficult to report on it.  But we are in constant touch with Randy, and are trying to keep up with things.  A long-awaited allergy test is finally scheduled.  This will indicate whether or not contrast dyes can be used to help better diagnose her progress.  Hopefully this is one test that she will ace!

Thursday, May 10th/18  

It has been a very busy and hectic week.  At least the teaching part is done.  It was clear Monday night and Tuesday night, throwing off my entire schedule of practicing and writing up my London travel notes.   The nights were clear, crisp and dry, and I logged so many objects that I just managed to finish up my notes today.  It is now supposed to be cloudy forever, so that may be it for this session.  Tuesday night I taught till 8:45.  I was out the door before 9 pm, heading for the observatory.  I was pretty tired, having got bed very late the night before.  Two nights in a row in spring means a badly shifted body clock.

On Wednesday night Deb had a short film being shown at a small independent film festival in Detroit.  I shortened my Wed. teaching and we blasted off for Detroit.  We left home at 6:15 pm and managed to get to the theatre by 6:50!!  From Amherstburg to the heart of Detroit in 35 minutes is very impressive.  Ten films were selected.  Deb had entered "You Are Here," her post card film that takes place along a forested lake shore.  At 59 seconds it was the shortest of the bunch.  The only other film I really liked was called "White Time," about a bearded Yemeni American flying back to Yemen, and what he feels compelled to do to make his flight less challenging from a security angle.  Thus he tries to make himself appear respectable and "more white."  The film was amusing, but had a very serious message.

Today was just a normal day, with 3 1/2 hours of teaching.  After finishing my astronomy notes I got to finally work on my London journal for a time.  And I managed one genuine hour of piano practice, my first since Monday.  A short but challenging bike ride got fit into my timetable as well.

We have been having a lot of heat and humidity for the past few days, but a strong cold front is moving in as I write.  Some cold and cloudy, rainy days are ahead for the weekend.  Sounds like a good time to stay home and get caught up on some reading, writing, and practicing.

Sunday, May 6th/18  

Friday night turned into a beautifully clear night!  I stayed two and a half hours at the observatory before heading home.  Saturday was filled with projects, including getting the London photo prints developed, writing up observing notes from the previous night, and beginning to write this month's astronomy article for the club newsletter.  It is due tonight, but will not be finished in time.  C'est la vie!

It has been one week since returning from London.  I am already looking forward to a return trip.  We are so advanced on our walking program that it would be a real shame if we had to quit now.  Before London,though, we are hoping for a return to Vienna.  One short visit to that amazing city is not nearly enough!

New piano pieces have been officially underway for a week now.  It was not a great week of practice, but I did manage more hours than I thought I would.  Hearing someone like Louis Lortie perform with the Detroit Symphony is an experience that I find very uplifting, and it makes me want to practice as much as possible.  The first half of my next program sounds a familiar theme--some short pieces by Bach, and two early sonatas by Haydn.  The second half will be weighed down by a major piece by Robert Schumann, his Papillons.  I hope to also include a few more of Alexina Louie's astronomy pieces.  Someday I hope to perform the entire suite at one sitting.

We visited Randy and Anita today, as Anita prepares for a new phase of aggressive treatment for her liver cancer.  Her first chemo in the new regime is scheduled for Thursday, preceded by a biopsy on Tuesday, both in London, ON.  She still seems up for the fight, which is remarkable, considering what she already been through.  It is nearly impossible to keep Anita from our thoughts, and we hope some positive vibes are emanating her way from our general direction!!

I am working hard on the written volume of our London adventures.  In the meantime, here is a second photos from our recent journey.

A unique insect bench, along the London Loop between Fulwell Station and Hatton Cross Station.

Friday, May 4th/18 

It's been a busy week back home.  Though I did have a few absences this week from lessons, it still seemed as if everyone came.  One week down, 7 more and a student concert to go.  I have been editing London photos, and there are some lovely ones.  I now have a batch ready for printing, and that will happen Saturday or Sunday.  Then next week I can work on the written volume. 

While we were away Deb had some amazing successes with her various movies.  The main thing was that two of her films were accepted for screening at Origins in Columbus, Ohio.  This marks the 2nd year in a row they have accepted two of her films!  We will be in Columbus in mid-June.  She also has acceptances from Cardiff, Berlin, Barcelona, and New York City.  Not too bad for an Amherstburg gal!!

Today we went to hear the DSO perform in Detroit.  Louie Lortie, one of my very favourite pianists (he is also French Canadian) was performing the Beethoven 3rd Concerto.  It was pure poetry from start to finish between him and the orchestra.  A very sublime experience!  Also on the program were three Scandinavian works, all quite short, but quite good.  The Nielson piece (he is Danish) explored the Faroe Islands.  A piece on the 2nd half used recorded bird songs from northern Finland to accompany the orchestra, and worked quite well.  The third movement was especially pleasing, with flocks of trumpeter swans flying overhead as the orchestra breathed along with them.  Called "Concerto For Birds and Orchestra, Cantus Arcticus," we will hear it tomorrow again on the live internet broadcast from Orchestra Hall.  The final movement on the program was the 7th Symphony of Sibelius, a one-movement work of unique scale and beauty.  He uses the orchestra in wonderful ways, including a huge brass section.

While we were in Detroit there was a terrific windstorm and rainstorm.  As of now, hundreds of thousands of people are without power in Michigan, and quite a few on our side, too.  Winds went up to 65 miles per hour, and the rain pelted down like a hurricane.  It is a clear sky now, and the wind is dropping.  I am hoping to head out to Comber soon for some observing.   Quite a day!!

April 2018

Monday, April 30th/18 

We are back from a short but very fun trip to London, UK.  It was my 15th visit, and Deb's 13th.  There was walking.  There were museums.  There were concerts.  There was a castle.  A really big castle.  And there were pubs, including some glorious ones.

We got home five hours later than planned, due to a missed connection in Toronto.  However, we were booked on the next flight to Windsor, but it ended up leaving one hour late.  So we were home at 10:30 pm instead of around 5:50 pm.  However, all flights were smooth and comfortable.  Air Canada got all our meals right, too.

I am currently editing the photos, and will get some printed later this week.  Then I will complete the written volume.  Only after that is done will I work on the London and Europe blog.  So it may be awhile before most of the photos are on view.  In the meantime, I will post one here each time I blog.

Tonight is not only a full moon, but it is Beltane!  Last wood fire of the season is on now, and I am sipping the last single malt Scotch as well.  New Tarot cards, too.  My last card was Merlin, which is pretty interesting, seeing as I managed a trip to London during its tenure.  Not only that, but I finally got around to reading T.H. White's "Once And Future King," giving a unique retelling of the Arthurian legends.  I always take a large book on long journeys, and this one is 631 pages of very small printing.  I am still not done, despite starting it over a week ago at the Windsor airport.  It is a brilliant book, one of the best I have ever read.

 We had dinner at this wonderful pub along the Arun River, just south of Arundel.  It was a bit of a walk from the town center, but totally worth it!  The town of Arundel was our day away from London this year.  We visited Arundel Castle and the small but vibrant town center.

Friday, April 20th/18 

We are now at the beginning of a long clear spell.  Of course.  Now the the moon is interfering, and now that I am setting out for London, everything is fine.  We just passed through 2 of the most miserable weeks of weather that one could ever imagine.  Where Deb's mom lives (Lindsay, ON), she was trapped inside during a three day winter storm.  In mid-April.  Needless to say it was cloudy here for the entire dark sky session.  First time I can remember that happening.

However, last night was really nice, and I made good use of it.  It was cold, though, and by the time I packed up at 11:45 pm, I'd had just about enough of winter temperatures.  An interesting thing happened just as I was about to leave home for the observatory.  A gigantic rumbling occurred, as if they were blasting at the Amherstburg quarry.  However, it was 8 pm and they don't blast at that time.  The house shook for several seconds, but it was the very loud booming that tended to grab our attention.  The first thought that crossed my mind was that a military jet from the nearby US air base had been scrambled, and had pushed through the sound barrier.  When that happens, windows often break in houses.  The boom reached a crescendo that was deafening, then slowly died away.  The rumble continued until it gradually faded and then stopped, lasting at least 15 to 20 seconds overall. 

Not knowing what had happened, I left in the vehicle with my scope, heading for the observatory.  I tuned the radio to a Detroit news station.  They were receiving calls from a wide area regarding the boom.  About ten minutes into my drive they announced it had been an earthquake, centered in Amherstburg.  Now that is just weird.  It ended up as a 4.1 shock, and I hope I never experience one stronger than that.  It was a very memorable experience, especially under a clear blue sky and calm weather.  Anyway, I really had an enjoyable, albeit chilly, time.  Only one other person was at the observatory, and as he/she was inside the dome, I never actually saw him/her.  It was a night of galaxy hunting in Leo, and I was quite successful.

Today we enjoyed our final walk before London.  It was chilly, but so much better than the rest of the month that we had an enjoyable time.  Students began arriving at 4:15, but everyone was gone by 6:03.  I am sitting here sipping a well-earned (in my opinion) single malt Scotch from Islay.  Everyone played well, and most volunteered for a second round.  Only two students didn't make it; my trumpet player had another engagement, and another one had a dance class.  Semester 3 is over!  I have 10 days off, and plan to visit a lot of pubs in that time.

Time for laundry and packing.  We have our boarding passes, and will be in London Sunday morning at 8:30 am, tired and unprepared for the nightmare that is Heathrow in early morning.  Not enough customs officers, and countless planes all arriving at the same time.  Then a 95 minute bus ride to our hotel.  After that, things should be more fun!

Thursday, April 19th/18 

I am greatly excited just now!  It is clear, and the moon, though waxing, isn't too bright to curtail deep sky observing.  So in less than an hour I will be on my way to the observatory with my 12" scope for the first (and last) time this month.  Yippee!

We have been bumping up the walking this week, in final preparation for some big mileage next week in the outskirts of London.  Today it was sunny and mild, and it felt good.  Our daffs have finally bloomed, and so have the favourite food of Deb's tortoise; dandelions.  Normally I would be finished teaching for the week just now, but tomorrow is a group lesson, with 14 students expected in our small house.  If everyone arrives, it could mean a world record for number of people in our home all at once.  Fortunately, several of them are quite small.

Last week Deb had her R.A. infusion, and yesterday she received her second shot in her right shoulder.  She should be in good condition for our London visit.  It's actually a pretty open week, with the focus on walking if weather is good, and museum visits and concerts if not.  Looking forward to music, art, pubs, and walking, and of course reconnecting with Caroline.  Not looking forward to the flights....

Sunday, April 15th/18  

It rained all day.  At 6 pm we had received 1.8 inches.  It has been raining since, and it is now past 9 pm.  Yesterday we had 1.2 inches.  That is a lot of rain.  Our backyard creek is a muddy torrent, and is approaching its banks.  Even the ducks seem to have had enough.  It staggered up to 40 F today, but it was windy and slightly damp.  We managed a walk, but it was not the long one we had anticipated for our final weekend before London.  We have complete rain gear, but it still wasn't pleasant.  Toronto and points north and east got an ice storm.  Had our London flight been last night or today, we would not have departed.  And of course Sudbury is getting snow.  We awoke to some ice on the car and the tree branches, but it melted by noon.  So lots of indoor activities today.

I failed to record my final astronomy piano piece today.  It's one long take, and it's a difficult piece with hundreds of very rapid notes.  Perhaps tomorrow.  I have made a half-hearted attempt to start the new works, but will mostly wait until back from our upcoming journey.

Speaking of journey, Anita G. has been off chemo now for a few weeks.  Her liver tumour became active again, so specialist heads are huddled in an attempt to try and find another route.  Everyone is waiting anxiously for some news.  Anita (and Randy) was at my recital last weekend.  Though looking a bit tired, she still seemed okay.  Still, she has a lot on her mind.  I wish there was something we could do.  I'm pretty certain that torrential rainy weekends do not help her overall disposition.

Deb herself has had a pretty rough winter, as it has been a pretty rough winter.  This week she goes back to her doctor for a second shot in the arm, so to speak, in an attempt to heal her insistent and acute shoulder pain.  The walking definitely helps her arthritis, except when it's in the cold and the pouring rain....

Saturday, April 14th/18 

On the ides of every month I assess our monthly financial situation, as well as at the end of the month.  For the past several months our situation has been good, with usually a surplus by month's end.  This is largely due to Deb's 2nd pension that began arriving in February 2017.  This September I will be collecting a 3rd pension.  Ideally, this means my teaching can be reduced.  We'll see... 

I wanted to record the first half of my recent recital (Bach, Haydn, and astronomy pieces), and this is now mostly complete.  Only one of the astronomy pieces remain, and hopefully we will get this done tomorrow.  New pieces await!

 As far as the listening program goes, we are up to Haydn symphony #18 waiting in the wings.  These early works, like the piano sonatas of which I have recently become enamoured, are a pure delight from start to finish.  My next program will contain two early Haydn sonatas, linked by a movement comment to both.  Unique in the annals of sonatas!  We are also done with up to Op. 49 of Britten, and ready to listen to Op 49 of Brahms (5 songs).  In addition, we have been pecking away at the complete organ works of Buxtehude, who was a major influence on Bach.

Today's brief walk was done in a drizzly and very windy +37 F.  Wind shill was well below freezing.  Will winter weather never end?  It is snowing not too far north of us, with another blast on the way, and then another later in the week.  Toronto area just went through a major ice storm today.  Detroit's northern suburbs could be next, and even us, to some extent (Detroit is several miles north of us, and it does make a difference).

Thursday, April 12th/18 

Last Saturday night it was clear after my final recital.  Jennifer G. had come from Cambridge, about 3 hours away.  I had told her if it was clear afterwards we would go to the observatory.  I was tired, but kept my promise.  We arrived about 10:30 pm.  Only Randy G. was out there, and he had one of the club's 8" scope set up.  Jenn had never looked through a scope before, so between Randy and I she soon had her head filled with some of the best sights in the heavens.  Temperatures were wintry, but it turned into a fun night.  On my solo drive home I bit into a Clif Bar that had been sitting in the vehicle.  Thus it was quite cold and chewy.  I bit into something hard, thinking it was a nut shell or such-like.  Nope.  It was part of my 2nd-from-back right molar, along with a part of the filling that always accompanies that particular molar wherever it goes.

Thursday was dentist day.  This is the second time in less than a year that this sort of thing has happened.  After undergoing an x-ray, freezing, and more drilling than a deep sea oil platform does in a month, I was out the door with a cottonish mouth and a bill for $331.  An expensive Clif bar.  We went to Ojibway park for a somewhat muddy walk after that.  But we did hear the first frogs of spring singing away somewhere in the woods!  They are about two weeks late this year, along with many other things.  At least today was quite warm, reaching the low 70s.  But it's gone already, as we will have a cool and very wet weekend.

Teaching is over, with one week remaining in Semester 3.  Our walks are in jeopardy due to some incoming weather this weekend.  And of course our entire London walking program could just as easily be in danger if it's too wet and muddy over there.  We will take things as they come, as we are as yet unable to control the weather very much.

Wednesday, April 11th/18 

We are now into our 4th week of the walking program, in preparation for several long walks in England.  Conditions have been wintry for most of the time, though tomorrow spring is supposed to finally arrive.  Even today we had snow and snow pellets.  But our legs are getting there.  Sunday we did our first hill walk at Malden Park, and Monday we undertook a long walk in Detroit.  Jenn was with us.  She stayed nearby for the weekend, coming to my recital Saturday evening, and then to Detroit with us on Monday.  We managed 4 pubs and a cafe, plus the long walk.  Fun times!

I have decided to try and record some of the recent pieces, namely the Bach (on harpsichord), the Haydn sonata, and the three astronomy pieces.  IF that is successful (I find recording much more stressful than live performance), I will go back and record six previous Bach pieces I have recently performed, and the two other early Haydn sonatas, as well as record the complete astronomy suite.  In addition, I will begin new pieces for next year's program. 

We are attempting to do our own taxes this year.  Our accountant of the past 7 years has retired.  It isn't fun, even though we use a very helpful computer program called Turbo Tax.  The piano teaching business end of things is quite complicated to do.

Nothing else happening right now.  Just trying to get through my 2nd last week of teaching before heading off to London.  Lots of prep work to do yet for that journey.  In the meantime, here is a recent cat picture for you. 

 Gustave catches some rays and listens to an early Haydn symphony.

Tuesday, April 3rd/18 

The piano pieces are in good shape, as D-Day approaches.  Friday night seems like it will be jam packed in here, whereas Saturday so far only has 3 people.  I'm trying to get Saturday's performance up to around 7, but everyone wants to come Friday.  We can seat 9 comfortably, but 12 seem to be coming Friday.  Good grief!  Needless to say, I will be glad when it is all over for another year.

We are now about to begin our 3rd week of walking training in preparation for London, where I hope to add one more walk beyond what I originally planned.  Monday we undertook a long walk in Windsor, both along the river and through parts of Walkerville.  We had a brewpub stop, and a lunch stop.  We seem to have weathered it well, as it approximates the type of walking we prefer to do in outer London.  

Sudbury is getting its 2nd snowfall in the past 4 days!  They had snow Easter Saturday, with a very white Easter on Sunday.  Today they are getting hit much worse.  Very depressing for them.  We are getting a lot of rain and thunder tonight, and it will continue overnight.  Tuesdays are rest days for us, with walking resuming (hopefully) tomorrow.  Our cold weather is just arriving, though it shouldn't snow here very much.

Sunday, April 1st/18  

It's been a chilly Easter Sunday here at the Homestead.  We were out walking twice today, once in the morning and once late in the afternoon.  It never warmed up at all, staying in the low 30s all day.  Sudbury had snow last night, and awoke to a white Easter morning.  We enjoyed very cold rain last night, as we sat inside by our warm wood fire to celebrate the 2nd full moon of March.

On Friday I went to Windsor with Amanda and Jennie.  Deb wasn't feeling up to a full day of sitting in bars and not drinking, so I became the designated driver.  It was a fun day, and we were gone nearly 8 hours.  We took in three micro breweries and one cafe in that time.  The ladies seemed to have a great time, insisting that the ales were fabulous.  We went to Chapter Two Brewery, a brand new place, and spent a while there while they tried several small pours.  The space is quite wonderful, and suitable for gaming.  They have board games there, but we will bring our own next time.  Next came Anchor Coffee, followed by a major stopover at Motor Craft Ales.  We had lunch here (all had veg burgers, which were very good), and the gals sampled beer after beer, exclaiming at how wonderful and delicious they were.  On their recommendation, I pronounce this as Windsor's best craft ale house.  Our last stop was Sandwich Brewing Company, in olde tyme Sandwich Towne.  I had been here once with Amanda, but it was Jennifer's first visit.  Amanda is coming over Monday morning before heading back to Toronto, to hear my upcoming piano program.  Jennifer is coming back next weekend to hear my program.  She is hoping to move out of godless and soulless Cambridge, ON soon, hopefully to the Windsor area.

Tomorrow we hope to finish up Week Two of the walking program.  We are now three weeks away from our first big walk on the London Loop for 2018.

I leave you with my favourite Easter pic of all time, an old one I've had for many years.  It shows a Navajo baby in Gallup, NM, gathering eggs.  By now she probably has kids of her own.

 Happy Easter!!

March 2018

Thursday, March 29th/18 

It turned into a light week of teaching, with 4 students missing lessons.  As a result I managed to get in my practicing without having to stay up late.  With just over one week to go before my recital, I am feeling pretty confident.  With 13 pieces on the program, some of them should go well!!  My right ear is stable at the moment, with 40% hearing still gone.  I dug out my hearing aid from the back of the closet, and it is ready to go if needed.  So far I can still play well enough without it.

Despite a rainy day, I managed to get outside for a walk, wearing my squishy waterproof clothing.  Deb stayed home and worked on the treadmill.  We are now into our second week of training.  We will manage 5 weeks before we leave for London.

And now for a reading report.  I just finished reading #20 (of 27) in my Avon/Equinox SF series, a strange little tale by an American by the name of Hal Clement.  Before I got to that book, here is what I have read since #19 in the series:

Dark Heart of Time, by P.J. Farmer.  Literally one of the worst books I have ever read.  Stinky.

His Share of Glory, by Kornbluth.  A wealth of short stories, and totally fabulous! 

King of Dreams, by Silverberg.  A late Majipoor story.  Flawed but always worth while.

Songs From The Stars, Spinrad.  California after the Big War.  Very good alien contact story.

Steppe, by Piers Anthony.  History of the Steppes, made into a story.  History and fun. 

A novella and 3 short stories by Eric Frank Russell.  He is incredible, and a favourite author!

Broken Eagle, Chad Oliver.  Riveting account leading up to Little Big Horn.  One of the best!

Cloud on Silver, by John Christopher.  The real Gilligan's Island story.  Good but flawed.

Make Room Make Room, by Harry Harrison.  Overpopulation in NYC.  Quite good.

Beyond The Silver Sky, Kenneth Bulmer.  Classic SF, and very good!  With women scientists!

Meeting at Infinity, by John Brunner.  Complex tale of the future, with many layers.

World In Torment, by E.C. Tubb.  The mutants take over!  A good classic.

Girl From Mars; Prince of Space, by J. Williamson.  Very early SF.  Think Buck Rogers.

First To The Stars, by Rex Gordon.  Excellent story!  A new favourite author.

Tuesday, March 27th/18 

Yesterday was Detroit day.  3 books were waiting at the mailbox, and one from Canada was in our home box when we returned.  Only one book is missing from the last (very large) on-line order I put in.  We enjoyed a sunny, mild day in Detroit, walking from Midtown to Downtown and back, with stops at Hopcat Taproom, New Order Coffee, and Whole Foods (for vegan cookies!).  Downtown continues to be one giant construction zone, with 90% of it being renovations on once-abandoned buildings.  There are no more abandoned buildings downtown.  The new skyscraper, which will be Detroit's tallest, is blocked off and will get underway soon, too.  New apartments are underway, and condos.  Somehow they are managing to keep the street car system running, but just barely.  And if the strong rumours prove to be true, the forever-abandoned train station in Corktown, once the symbol for Detroit's decline, will be renovated by Ford Motor Company, and used for their young engineers and high tech development, bringing about 1300 more workers downtown.

 Renovations of old buildings continue in Detroit.  About 15 have been completed, with about 15 more in development.  Also, several new building projects are underway, or about to be.  Not since the 1920s has Detroit seen such a boom in downtown development.  Just north of downtown is a vast housing project underway, and I mean vast.

Here at the Homestead it was back to work today, plus a lot of practicing.  Invitations to the two recitals are sent.  So far, Friday seems the more popular day, but I'm hoping that Saturday will fill up, too.  As for Easter weekend, Amanda and Jennifer should both be around.  I might get to run through the program once and see how things are with it.  I play a piece now and then for a student, but that is not the sustained period of intense concentration required for a full recital.  And guess what?  The pieces for the next one are already chosen.

Saturday, March 24th/18 

I'm caught up on my astronomy notes.  I managed to get my 4 good nights of observing in for the month.  I logged a total of 48 new deep sky objects in February and March, along with a large number of double stars.  It has been a very cold season, though.  I am running very low on hand warmers.  Things have wrapped up now until after my recital, in two weeks time.  By the time I finish playing the final chord of the Liszt piece on the Saturday night, thoughts will be turning back to astronomy.  I have a lot of work to do on the pieces over the next two weeks, and will be devoting more and more time to that project.

Tonight we heard the DSO perform Beethoven Symphony #7, the best of the bunch outside of the 9th.  Finnish conductor Saraste lead the orchestra in a very different reading of the score, as he emphasized many of the under melodies and the wonderfully dissonant harmonies.  Much of the symphony seemed brand new as a result.  The orchestra performed with its usual virtuosic polish, with the wind players especially doing exceptional musical work.  Even after more than 40 years, I still can not get used to the idea of an orchestra this marvellous close to where I live!  And we can get $15 tickets for virtually any performance.

The walking program has been in full swing for nearly a week now.  Today was our first long walk.  We made it, but barely.  Things had dropped to a pitiful level, and we'll be lucky to be ready for London.  We hope to complete more of the London Loop, the outer trail that stretches for 140 miles around the capital.  It will require lots of travelling to get to the trail each time, and then home again.  We need to start staying in north London next time, instead of the south.  Still, we love the area of Croydon near our hotel, with almost limitless pubs, cafes, shops, and restaurants.  Not to mention the best transport connections of any major world city.

Monday, March 19th/18  

And thus comes to an end another long and peaceful vacation.  Back to teaching tomorrow, from 4 pm till 9 pm.  Ugh.  I am slowly getting my immune system back into shape, though problems with my right ear have resumed.  It began with a low grade fever a few weeks back that came with a mild flu.  It is ringing and about 40% plugged.  I can still practice, at any rate.  I got quite a bit of that done during the time off.  And two whole evenings of observing.  I actually spend more time preparing object lists than I do actually observing.  It's kind of a sad life being an amateur astronomer.  And on-going problems with my focusing mount means I will have to send it back to the manufacturers for repair.  Any bets on what the sky conditions will be like when I don't have a functioning telescope?

At long last, despite cold temps and blustery north winds, the walking program is finally underway.  In 28 days we should be in moderately good shape.  London walking is less than 5 weeks away.  Concert in less than 3.  Things are going to be busy here for awhile.  Upon returning from London, it's back to Iaido for the summer. 

One of Deb's newest films has just been picked up by a film festival in Minnesota, and will be showing next weekend.  Virtually every month she has a film or three showing somewhere in the world.  Hove, England soon, too.

Thursday, March 15th/18 

How time flies when you are on a holiday break.   It was Detroit day today, our first visit in 10 days.  We started out at Germack Coffee Roasters in Detroit, then went over to my favourite craft ale taproom/store.  I tried 4 different ales, and came home with a 6-pack of 4 different bottles, most from Germany (5/6; the other was from Belgium).  We left the car parked on the street, which is still free in that neigbourhood.  We then walked to Woodward Ave. and took the streetcar downtown.  It cost $1.50 per person for a 3-hr. fare.  We went to a new and very funky and fun place for lunch.  The Checker Bar has always been a downtown institution, but is now under new management.  In addition to a great tap list, they have many vegan options, and the pizza we had today was one of the best.  Called the "Gringo," it features their homemade vegan chorizo, spicy sauce, and a good brand of vegan cheese.  Add on onions and tomatoes and it turned into a feast!  And upstairs they have around 30 vintage pinball and Atari-type games.  We will be back!  The Twilight Zone pinball game looks really amazing, and so does the Star Wars one.

We then took the train back uptown and went to New Order Coffee, on Woodward and not too far from the station.  It is one of the newer roasteries in town, and one of our favourite places to go.  Then it was back to the car and out to Dearborn to visit our UPS mailbox.  I had placed a large book order recently, and 8 or 9 books were waiting, along with a neat little promo package Deb received from the California film festival that Deb had been selected for (the Coffee Film again).

We just found out tonight that Deb's new "Alice" film won Best Animation at the Alternative Film Festival in Toronto!  She will have an upcoming screening, but we don't know when yet. 

Yesterday we received our new, improved CD storage case.  It is a rotating one, with four sides for storage.  We put it together yesterday (once wrong, and then correctly), and today we began to load it down.  All of our CDs are now in one place, though not completely organized yet, along with our large collection of cassette tapes!  There is still plenty of room left, so soon my PC games will have a new permanent home, easily accessed.  Any leftover space will house our DVD collection.

I recently completed work in Auriga, a winter constellation bustling with clusters and double stars.  I finished a new blog entry on some of the bigger objects, and have one more part to go.  It's been cloudy since Sunday night, but we are being PROMISED 3 clear nights in a row, beginning Friday.  I fervently wish this to come true.

And last but not least, about two weeks ago I began complaining to Amazon Prime that part 2 of a new series was missing from their website.  I could write a long short story about how involved it was contacting them and getting them to actually understand the problem.  However, as of today, episode 2 of Detective Anna is up and running, and we finally got to see the conclusion to the first story (there are 8 stories, each in two parts).  It is in Russian, with subtitles, and is quite an engaging series.  And the lead actress is quite wonderful.  Score one for the little guy!

Monday, March 12th/18 

Last night was clear and cold, and I made my first excursion of the year to Hallam Observatory in Comber for some deep sky fun.  At least 8 others were out as well.  It was 27 F, and I was outside for 2 1/2 hours without being cold.  That is when you know you are properly dressed!  I finished up work in Auriga, a winter constellation I began a few years ago, and continued work in my newest winter playground, Orion.  This marks the 2nd clear night of this session--I am really hoping I can get at least two more.  After that I will move into my spring work.  Randy G. was out briefly, doing some photography.  He got this terrific shot of me at the eyepiece, with Orion in the background.

Photo of yours truly, hard at work in Orion.  Taken by Randy Groundwater.  

Old Man Winter continues to bite us, with snow still flying and daytime temps hard pressed to get much above freezing.  It's been a winter, I can tell you.

I am hoping to get to my 2nd lesson with Philip A. later this week.  We also have a trip to Detroit planned for mid-week.  And we have ordered a single CD rack for our CDs and my PC games.  By the weekend there should be a dramatic improvement to our living room and music room area.

Saturday, March 10th/18 

I managed a happy two hour observing session on the back deck last night, though it apparently affected my immune system.  Last Wed. I had a major sinus attack, out of the blue.  I somehow made it through 3 hours of teaching, though I went through a box of Kleenex.  After three hits of meds it finally calmed down at bedtime.  Thursday I was tired.  These attacks really suck the strength out of you.  Friday I felt normal again.  I had a wonderful time on the back deck, but towards the middle of the night in bed, I could feel my throat getting scritchy.  Today I am attacking it with zinc and plenty of rest.  I will likely have to miss a clear night tonight, something that pains me deeply.  It is going to take awhile for my immune system to recover from all this.  We have yet to begin our walking program for our upcoming London journey.  It had better start real soon, or it will not be a walking trip.  That means even more pubs.  Good grief.

Sometimes there are some very funny posts on Facebook.  This one from yesterday still has me chuckling....

Thursday, March 8th/18 

Today would have been my Uncle Jimmy's 71st birthday!  Jimmy died as a result of a car accident when he was 33.  Jimmy was really an older brother to me, rather than an uncle.  We shared things that no one else in my family could have shared--our love for similar books, movies, board games, outdoor adventures.... And he always treated me as an equal, never as a "little brother."  I'm happy that I got to introduce him to Classical music, and to astronomy.  Coincidentally, I concluded my 200th book related to my Avon/Equinox SF series today.  I just read "Broken Eagle" by Chad Oliver.  It is not SF, but could be considered as a historical Western novel.  But it is much more than that.  It tells the story of The Battle of Little Big Horn.  It tells the story from the point of view of a Native American, and from the point of view of a captain under the command of General Custer.  And it is told by a masterful writer and an anthropologist.  It is easily one of the ten best books I have ever read, and I know that Jimmy would have started reading it as soon as I had shipped it out to him.  As I said, we had similar interests.  The book leaves the reader with a very deep understanding of what was transpiring those days, out on the plains that I love so much (1864-76).  And what was transpiring was not a pretty sight.  No wonder the "empty" prairies have so much to say to me when I visit.  What a fucking mess the white man has made of this world.  It can never be forgiven, and never made right.  What really strikes home is how much Custer comes out looking like Trump.  Enough said.

All music students reported for duty this week.  I am very recently done teaching, and will not have to resume until March 20th.  This thought lifts my heart above my head.

The weather this week is remarkably similar to what we usually experience in mid-December.  The difference now is that we are not in the beginning stages of winter, but are watching its final, painful throes before succumbing to spring.  Nothing that winter can still throw at us bothers me now; I laugh at winter, as it slowly dies and makes room for new life.  I will feel differently next December, though.....

Monday, March 5th/18

Today was Detroit day!  We only went there once in February, mostly due to weather issues.  However, the previous weekend we were sick.  Anyway, we made it over today.  We visited a new coffee roasters, and one of the world's more unique cafes.  Qahwah Cafe in Dearborn (https://www.qahwahhouse.com/) features in-house roasted organic coffee grown in Yemen, along with some wonderful sweets.  Deb bought some of the medium roast beans, as well as some green ones to roast herself.  We also tried a pot of coffee (with added cardamom), and a kind of tea-coffee blend that turned into one of the best beverages we have ever tasted.  Called  Jubani (medium, light roast with husks, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon), it must be tasted to be believed.  If you think it is easy getting Yemeni coffee out of Yemen, read this Detroit Free press article about the poor owner's epic ordeal to get his beans to Dearborn!  https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2018/01/13/dearborn-coffee-shop-yemen/1022161001/

We also went back to Founders Brewing in Detroit for lunch.  I enjoyed a 4-glass sampler (they have about 25 brews on tap), and came home with a 4-pack of their Sumatra Mountain Brown Ale, one of the world's greatest coffee beers (it scores 99% on RateBeer.com)!!  From there we walked over to Woodward Ave. and took the street car downtown, then gradually walked back towards Founders.  We stopped for some more coffee beans on the way, at Ashe Supply Co.  Deb purchased a bag of their blended beans, Papua New Guinean and Guatemalan.

The previous night looked clear enough to set up my scope on the back deck, but it turned out to be a frustrating experience, with more clouds than clear sky.  The night before that (Saturday), Randy and Anita dropped by for a visit.  In addition to a wood fire and some great eats, Randy and I went out on the back deck with Deb's 6" scope and had a look at a few seasonal objects.  It was very clear, but the moon was rising and very bright.  Still, it did whet the appetite for some real observing again!  Anita is continuing weekly chemo treatments in London, ON, and is making slow but steady progress towards someday being cancer free.  The drive to London and back, and the long wait time to receive her treatments, plus the drugs themselves, all take a heavy toll on a human being.  Hopefully Anita can stay strong and persevere in a good state of mind.

Group shot, with Randy and Anita Groundwater. 

It is now officially astronomy season.  Except for Tuesday and Wednesday ofthis week I will be heading out to Comber on any other available clear night.  I only have 3 more nights of teaching, and then I am off for 12 days.  I'm hoping for at least 4 clear nights over the next two weeks.  We'll see.  We are expecting more snow overnight tonight, and temps are going to remain below average for the next little while.  I can observe if it's cold, but not when it's cloudy.  I handed in my March article for the club newsletter, and my clipboard is filled with objects I hope to see this spring.

Friday, March 2nd/18

February 28th was sunny, with a high of 61 F.  March 1st was a snowstorm.  Go figure.  First we got 1.8" of rain on the 1st.  Just north of us it was already snowing.  By mid-afternoon it was snowing hard and heavy in the 'burg.  We got about 3" of very heavy, watery snow.  It was an ugly mess, and of course the police scanner was busy with car accidents all over the county.  No use changing any driving habits for a bit of messy weather.  Today was sunny and cool, but most of our snow has already melted, at least where the sun has struck.

We watched the first episode of a Russian paranormal detective series on Amazon Prime recently (Detective Anna).  There are supposed to be 16 episodes.  Episode 2 is missing from the line-up.  I have spent the past week trying to get Amazon to rectify this situation.  Do you think they can?  Chat, e-mail, phone calls-doesn't matter, they are incapable of fixing it.  One response was that they were sorry the subtitles weren't working, something I never mentioned in any correspondence.  Still no Part 2, so we will forgo the rest of this promising series.  Sigh.  Dealing with mega corps or government has to be the single most frustrating experience for a human being, and yet the one that teaches us the most about communicating in the modern world.

After teaching last night, we had a wonderful full moon party.  We made one of our now famous apple/pear crisps, lit a wood fire, turned on some music, and spent a relaxing night (while the snowstorm raged outside).  Music was provided by Orchestra Baobab (whom we will hear soon in London!), and Jordi Savall playing music by Marin Marais, Sainte Colombe, Couperin, and Lully.  One more week of teaching to survive, and I get another week off!  In addition to being an intense week of practicing, I hope it is also an intense week of astronomy.

We are looking forward to a visit tomorrow evening from Randy and Anita.  It's time to catch up!

Mapman Mike