just for expanding his horizons

I woke to an alarm today, as I have done on Tuesdays for almost a year now.

That's because this is the day that Mayor Van Johnson gives his televised update to we citizens of Savannah about our progress during this time of pandemic.

It's usually at least thirty minutes in length, with questions from the media after.

Today, he didn't do that.

Not any of it.

I have no idea why, but it didn't happen.

So, instead, I pulled up a tv show I haven't watched for a while: "Beat Shazam".

That provides me a bit of entertainment and music, a winning combination, right?

Absolutely!

And I got that in spades today!

(Give it a minute and you'll know why I  went and fetched that definition.

I don't want anyone thinking I''m being racist with my choice of words.

Go ahead, look up the phrase, I'll wait.

*

*

*

Just a reference to a centuries-old game of cards, naught else.

Okay, forward we go!)

So... where was I?

Oh, yes, watching Jamie Lee Fox and his daughter, Corinne, this morning.

Episode 1 of Season 3 featured three pairs of teachers vying for the money.

One of the pairs, two brothers, did poorly the first round, scoring no money.

Then, for the second round, in which they were able to choose the song categories (they opted for 80's rather than 2010's), they continued to fare poorly...

until the final two songs, which they answered correctly...

preventing them from being dismissed and allowing them to continue playing.

They had gone from zero dollars to $9,000, putting them in second place.

For the next round, which was Corinne's choice, the artist was Shania Twain.

Let me allow that to sink in a moment while you recognize who that is.

Got it?

White woman, Canadian, the Queen of Country Pop.

Honestly, I know, possibly four of her songs, primarily because my husband was working at "KIX 96 and a half" during our first few years of marriage in the 1990's.

Two of those tunes I knew showed up in the game; I didn't know the other three songs that showed up at all.

I mean, I'd never even heard them and they were supposed to have been some of her top hits, as only those are used for the game.

The contestants - the two brothers versus a pair of female friends - had to correctly guess the title of the six songs and score the most money in order to continue to play for the truly big bucks in the final round.

"That Don't Impress Me Much" was one of the two I knew and the fourth one in the set...

and the one that cinched their lead.

After the last one in this set, Aaron and Martin, two African-American men, had $64,000 and had won the chance to play, versus the machine, for a million dollars.

Wow, what a Cinderella story, right?

From absolutely zero in the first round to almost losing out on the second round and missing the Motown song, then knowing all that country music that few would regard as culturally relevant for them and going to the final round - wow!

But it wasn't the two of them that knew the songs...

oh, no, Aaron didn't have a clue and was openly surprised that his brother knew them.

Seriously.

He was in open-mouthed surprise by the third Shania song.

Even the two white women they were playing against were in awe.

But Martin had it down pat.

I was thrilled!

I always am when people venture outside their comfort zone and open their minds.

That's what I do, trying out new ideas and concepts from different cultures, embracing the activities in the Savannah Black Heritage Festival, in the Jewish Film Festival, in the Clergy Talks by Zoom on Wednesdays, in the Savannah Music Festival, in the Telluride MountainFilm on Tour, in the Savannah Jazz Festival, in the Savannah VOICE Festival - most of which is free, by the way, so there really is no good reason to not attend.

Seriously.

Some folks may think I'm "just going to a lot of movies", but that isn't how I regard it.

Movies are the fastest way to 'read' a story about another person, another country, another culture, another way of thinking.

I've been a bookworm since I was young, eagerly reading of other's adventures, and I credit books with opening the door to travel, with the military, and on my own afterward.

I know so many who do not venture outside their circles, staying around only those who look like them and think like them.

How wonderful to watch this show this morning and see another adventurer!

And what were Martin's plans with the money?

His daughter was going to college to become an immunologist and he wanted to be able to help her with that so she wouldn't have loans to repay.

Wow.

So, how did their story end?

The two brothers won the million dollars, that's how it ended...

with Martin answering all the questions, correctly naming all six songs before the computer could.

The first was Taylor Swift's "22", a song I have never heard.

The second was an oldies tune that I did know: "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys.

Third was a pop-rock hit, "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train, a song I love!

The category for the fourth song had him worried, but Martin recognized Harry Chapin's "Cat's In The Cradle" before I did, and, more importantly, before the machine did, too.

The penultimate song was rhythm & blues and one I didn't know: "Nobody Knows", from the Tony Rich Project in 1996.

I suppose I might have been too busy trying to finish my doctoral dissertation...

but Martin knew it.

He knew it justthatfast, too, as he had known all of these songs.

His knowledge had brought them $189,000 and to the point of no return -

hmm, I wonder if he might recognize the pun-titled song by Kansas? -

(I'm guessing he would) -

meaning, they would need to decide if they wanted to opt to leave the game and to keep the money amassed, or risk losing half of it if they continued to play.

That final song category was "90's".

After the commercial break, Aaron had convinced Martin they should continue.

Aaron's wife had been in a recent car wreck and had not worked for some time.

Aaron told the audience that their mother had always told them to never give up...

so they kept playing, gambling that the adventurous brother would know the song.

And he did!

So did I, incredibly.

The Gin Blossoms' "Found Out About You" was, literally, the million-dollar tune for these two Pennsylvania teachers.

Wow.

He had a moment of uncertainly after, wondering if it should be "I Found Out About You",

as he said in an aside to his brother, then he had shaken his head -

no, he'd said it right the first time.

And he had.

Wow.

Good for Martin!

Being adventurous truly paid off for him, literally and figuratively.

I hope his daughter is just like him...

and I hope his brother will try to follow his lead.

What a wonderful way to start my day!

i thank You, God!

what a grand noon30 finale!

The 31st Savannah Music Festival noon30 series
went out in high style today, granting eager
listeners five videos!
First up was Aoife O'Donovan, lower left, singing and playing guitar from NY.
She was joined by Jeremy Kittel (violin, NY), Maria Gotoh (viola, NY), and one couple, Brittany Haas and Paul Kowert (violin and bass, TN), with a "Valentine" across time and space.
As I told them, "What a plaintive-sounding love song!
Loved that y'all had smiling faces for it! :-)"

The next one for me featured Camille Thomas, on cello in Belgium, with two songs.
She was joined by Julien Brocal on piano, in France.
They gave us "Le Cygne" first, then Melodie from "Orfeo and Euridice", which I very much enjoyed!
As I commented to them, "Oh, my! I especially liked the second song, having recently seen the beautiful 1959 movie "Orfeu Negro". Very nice that y'all were still able to "play" together!"

Elana James had to play without the other Hot Club
of Cowtown members.
No matter, though as she and her solo fiddle in Texas gave one of their usual diverse shows!
She gave us four tunes: "Put Your Shoes On"; "Ashokan Farewell"; "Redwing"; and "Ayrliq".
My response was "Such an interesting mix of tunes! "Redwing" was my favorite for toe-tappin' fun!
But "Ayriliq" inspired me to find the words for it, and I did, as sung by Rashid Behbudov.
Thanks for including that one that was new to me. :-) "

Balsam Range's Darren Nicholson was another
one who was playing solo from the band, due to the COVID-19 quarantines in the world.
Accompanied by his guitar, from his home up in
North Carolina, he sang a coming-home love song, "Callin' Caroline".
"What a nice, peppy, upbeat tune!", I said. "Loved
the shirt, too! Looking forward to seeing y'all live and in person again!"

The fifth concert was aired live from the Czech Republic.
Featuring the artist who has such a unique style that it is named after him, this was a visual treat as well.
Radim Zenkl, scheduled to be part of the Ger Mandolin Orchestra here, gave us "Erev Shel Shoshonim", complete with flowers.
"Such a beautiful instrument... and, what a nice touch to have the red roses for this love song. <3 "


Many thanks to the Savannah Music Festival.
Y'all didn't need to have organized these little concerts...
but they have certainly brightened my days these past three weeks.
(smile)

groove table, party of four

What a large, heapin' helpin' of fun Hawktail provided!
I would have ushered this noon30, but I don't know that it would have been quite as crazy-lively as the video concert has been!
Brittany Haas, violinist, clearly would agree!
My guess is her man, Paul Kowert, would also concur.
(He is the bassist for Punch Brothers, too!)

Here the couple are again, with Paul on bass,
and with Jordan Tice on guitar, as the third
of their two-year-old band of four.
Paul's sister was dancing for them, too!
They're playing "The Tobogganist", song
three on their four-song playlist, in TN.
And, as teachers, they even included the
music for folks to play along!

One of the things I very much liked, a simple
thing which certainly made this video feel more
casual, were the written notes scattered about,
that invited the viewer into their world.
As for this mandolinist, he's Dominic Leslie,
the fourth, and final, member of Hawktail.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
(smile!)

Another of the notes on this compiled video featured
a guest playing in New York City.
The man behind the accordion is Sam Reider, the same
guy whose band stepped up to fill a last-minute void at the 2018 Savannah Music Festival.
The sheet music posters in these two shots advocate
the use of good old-fashioned pen and paper to share compositions with others.

The lone saxophonist in this conglomeration is Eddie
Barbash, also guesting from NYC.
Hey, I'm a sucker for a sax man, what can I say?
But, in my defense, I also wanted to show this particular note, as it lets the viewer know that a special treat is in store - the written music, to all four songs, so they can play along!

"Last One On The Line" was the first played and included everyone.
Mike Marshall and Darol Anger paired up for "Horpe's Reel".
As I said earlier, Hawktail performed "The Tobogganist".
"Unless" was the final song, highlighting the fiddle, but also showing a horsehead fiddle, like those of Anda Union!
Yes, I very much liked that one!
"That was a hoot, y'all!
So good to see so many people, so many instruments! Plus, new dancing music!"

Surprisingly, that was the only noon30 on Day 14.
Only one video was premiered to the world on Day 15, as well.
Bridget Kibbey soloed, from South Carolina, with a peaceful number, "St. Denio", the hymn from Suite for Harp, Opus 83.
What a thrill to have such a close-up on her instrument!
"What a beautiful piece, on a beautiful instrument.
I had not realized until now just how lovely, physically, a harp is."

Today, Day 16, the 31SMF was back to its usual of two noon30s for our viewing pleasure.
T. Michael Coleman was aired from his home in Maryland.
Accompanied by his guitar, he did a folk ballad, "Sittin' In The Middle", that flashed back in time to road tours with a long-gone father-son duo, Doc and Merle Watson.
"Nice ballad there, nice tribute to a time gone by.
Loved the [Beatles] shirt, too."

The other concert featured two Steves, one in Michigan on trumpet, the other on bass in NYC.
This duo, Etienne Charles and Barry Stephenson, played a song I knew!
It was "Swinging At The Haven",
one of the same Marsalis tunes heard from Chris Pattishall on piano!
"Very nicely coordinated, y'all!
I am amazed at how differently a song can sound simply by the choice of instruments used!
Thanks for the lesson!"


I must say, one of the nicest things about this concert series is being invited into the safe havens of these artists and seeing how their homes reflect the personalities of the people that inhabit those spaces.
That has made this video concert series so refreshing!
I have been able to watch them on good days and on sad days, just like I have.
I have been privy to seeing how they are handling this COVID-19 quarantine, those sequestered together and those living solo.
I have witnessed how well some perform to an invisible audience and how, in some case, the lack of people before them has affected song choice.
Kudos to the Savannah Music Festival for sharing with the world!
We all need music in our lives, always.
i thank You, God, for those who give us that heartbeat.

Yes, I could have waited for the remaining noon30 concerts to air tomorrow, but I desperately needed a distraction.
Sometimes, my inner control freak takes over.
This is one of those times.
My best friend running bear has told me he plans to drive five hundred miles to see his parents in Tennessee.
Like, starting tomorrow.
Even though we are under orders to shelter in place until some time in May.
Even though this will be another unnecessary trip at a dangerous time.
This is right on the heels of his Wednesday drive down to St. Simons Island to purchase weights from some guy, because none of the stores online will ship them right now.
Sigh.
Angry, hurt, sad, sigh.
If it had been daylight, I'd be out murdering shrubbery.
Again.
But I did not learn of his impending trip until two hours ago.
As that was long after sunset, dismantling yard growths was hardly an option to physically vent my frustration.
Now I had to find some other way to calm down.
So, I chose to transform that negative energy into something more positive, here, scribbling love letters into the sand, enjoying the feel of the gentle surf around my toes.
Sigh.
That will do.
Nice to be caught up on the Savannah Music Festival offerings before the final day.

seven pianos and a saxophone - what a groove thing!

Well, I decided that since I had nowhere to go, I might as well keep going here... so, here I am, back again!
While Day 13 of the 31SMF is still playing out, may as well strike up the pianos for Mama and Grandma.
The Emmet Cohen Trio is a good place to start, with him on piano, Russell Hall on bass, and drummer Kyle Pool.
From NYC, they gave us three songs.
"Billy Boy", a traditional well past its first hundred years, was first.
Next up was "My Old Flame", a jazz tune from at least the early 1950's.
Finally, they played "Walkin' ", a jazz song from the late 1950's.
Grandma played piano and had taught Mama to play, too, so I am sure they would have known those three songs.
I only knew the first one, but I toe-tapped for all of them.
"I had fun dancing to the music, as I would have had I ushered this concert. Woohoo!"

As it turns out, I would have multiple opportunities to dance to their beats!
A few days later, they were back, accompanying singer Veronica Swift as she broadcast from her NY home.
"What Is This Thing Called Love?"
Well, that's certainly the age-old question, isn't it?
Nothing like a scat songstress to bring it home, though!
"That was a lot of fun! Nice to see the trio again, too!"

That may have been the last time I saw the trio in action, but not so for the pianist!
Here he is again, this time playing alongside Melissa Aldana, of Chile, but in NYC at his place.
Her saxophone sounded a bit rough during the first song, "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", but she had control of her nerves for "Along Came Betty".
"Nice to see these two performing together! Loved the polka dots song!"

So, the above concerts were on Days 5, 11, and 10.
On Day 13, Melissa Aldana had a solo performance on her tenor saxophone, still in NYC.
"I Loves You, Porgy", from the 1935 Broadway musical "Porgy and Bess", was played as a very sad song.
She was clearly having a difficult time during the COVID-19 quarantine, and I certainly understand.
I soothingly told her, "Quite beautiful to hear!"

Perhaps she was missing her home in South America.
Not so for André Mehmari, dressed in a stunning shirt and broadcasting his performance from Brazil.
His song was an original, "Maysways", dedicated to jazzman Lyle Mays, who died in February.
How incredible to be treated to such a new work!
"Quite beautiful!", I responded, "I also liked the "starry night sky" shirt. :) "

So, he had paid tribute to an American.
Drew Petersen, on the other hand, chose to commemorate a Spaniard composer who died young.
The pianist gave us almost fourteen minutes of his time, playing all of "8 Valses Poéticos".
"How wonderful to hear all eight of these poetic waltzes, and to have the second one repeated at the end! My favorites were the third (at 4:00), the sixth (at 7:08), and the eighth (at 10:45), which reminded me of dancing in a summer storm. Many thanks!"

Coming again from NY, as had Petersen's concert, this one from Chris Pattishall provided us with two songs.
Both were in memory of Ellis Marsalis, Jr., who died the first of this month.
"When First We Met" was a slower tune, while "Swinging At The Haven" had a lot of pep in its step!
"Perfect demonstration of Marsalis' range of composition! I very much enjoyed seeing your hands reflected as you played, too! That was definitely a perk from this video concert."

This long-time favorite of mine, Marcus Roberts,
chose not to perform alone.
Instead, he presented an earlier concert, with his full Modern Jazz Generation in glorious harmony alongside, which was recorded in NC.
I'm sure he thought a little bit of "Blue Pepper" would certainly spice up everyone's day - and he was correct!
I just had to gush a little: "That was fabulous, loved dancing to it! Looking forward to seeing Marcus again. Last year was fabulous! "

Yes, last year had been fabulous, but I know more good times will come along.
I have faith... plus, I already know that several of this season's entertainers have been rescheduled for the fall.
Yes, indeed, more good times will come.
Meanwhile, I am so blessed to have had these bite-sized tastes of the dishes that were to be, but must be prepared for some other time.
There are four more days of goodies in store, to tide me over.

I am so blessed.

i thank You, God.

in the groove with guitars, mandolins, and violins

My Daddy would have been 84 years old today.
I know he was a fan of country music, and I have no doubt he would have liked these noon30 concerts!
If it was toe-tappin', he liked it, just like I do.
I know he wouldn't have known Vilray, but this guitarist has a keen sense of humor.
That was evident in this song from his NY home, titled "At Your Mother's House".
It was about a guy who still regularly visits his ex-girlfriend's mom!
Yeah, Daddy would have thought that was a hoot!
So glad I was able to catch that one live, as it premiered today.
I'm trying to make sure I let the artists, as well as the good folks at the Savannah Music Festival who schedlued these concerts, that someone is listening and being touched by their gifts to the world.
In other words, I'm being an appreciative audience, now as always.
(smile)
So, for this one, I wrote, "Such a great sense of humor in "At Your Mother's House"! Plus a lively tune!"

I think Daddy would also have liked this mandolin-playing Michigander.
Brian Oberlin's noon30 was one of the two yesterday.
Perhaps his heritage is the reason he chose "The Russian Lullaby" to share with us.
It was certainly not like any lullaby I ever heard!
Here's what I told him: "What a gorgeous mandolin!
I think the song may be too lively to lull a baby to sleep, though. LOL!"

Continuing to work backward in time, the Sunday concert, on festival Day 11, aired from Tennessee.
Adam Roszkiewicz wielded a guitar, but no perky beats.
Instead, he graced us with "Tune For Paul", which must have been in memory of a friend who had died.
Fairly somber, but appropriate for the day, I thought.
I wanted him to know that, too.
"Loved this heartfelt tune, even though it was a little sad - maybe even BECAUSE it was a little sad."

Day 9 of 31SMF had featured a father-son duo from down in Louisiana... and Outlaw, a cat that had no idea its bathroom break was on video!
That's Steve Riley on accordion, with his boy, Burke, backing him up.
I know Daddy would have chortled about their song.
Why? Because "Chez Waby" was about a shady bar where men do what men do, my dear!
"Loved this lively song for this father-son duet!",
I commented, "What a hoot that the cat was just doing its thing... la ti da! LOL!"

The concert by a married couple, Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall, a week ago Sunday was a definite change of pace, especially in instruments.
Their noon30 came in from Oakland, CA, near the home of my friends Paul and Cathy.
Playing the mandocello and mandolin, the duo gave us "Shalom Aleichem" and "Penso a Te", which were livelier than they sound like they'd be.
As I told them, "Thanks for ending, and beginning,
with tunes for my toe-tapping feet!"

For a complete and total variation, there's the concert from merry old England!
Plus, it had a classical bent, as the piece was Robert Schumann's "Adagio and Allegro, Opus 70".
Trust Philip Dukes, violin master, to have made that selection, accompanied by Daniel Wills on piano.
With tongue in cheek, I sent a little joke to them:
"A little bit of slow, a little bit of fast - quite nice!"

And then, my dears, it's those Swedish guys, the ones from four years ago today.
Yes, indeed, who better to have opened this visual concert experience with than Väsen, a fun-loving trio
if ever there was one!
Here's a clue about their sense of humor: they kept changing up the camera angles throughout the song, with at least three different cameras at play!
At one point, they had nine images on the screen,

switching it up between the artists and the guitar, the nyckelharpa, and the violin.
Sheer zaniness and good humor!
"IPA Gubben" was more of the same, written to mark Mikael's 50th birthday and love of beer.
As I told the boys in the band, "Oh, yes! I remembered tapping my toes to this one!"
I'll be dancing along again, and soon, to this one -
it's positively joyously filmed!
As for the other stringed instruments in the noon30s of the first thirteen days - i.e., from March 26th through April 7th - I've already spoken of them.
The Dover/Escher Quartet, Darrell Scott, and Robin Ashwell are all in this post.
Germán López, Amythyst Kiah, Marta Pereira da Costa, Kaia Kater & Andrew Ryan, Allison de Groot & Patrick M'Gonigle, and Martin Hayes followed the next day in this post.
For those, like my bfrb panda, who like to have numbers, that means sixteen of the twenty-six little concerts have focused upon an artist with a stringed instrument.
That's a little over 60%.
That's actually fairly typical for the Savannah Music Festival.
I wonder how many of the groups over the next four days will follow suit?
Well, if 31SMF continues to provide two groups per day, that'll be eight groups total.
So, I would expect five of those concerts to be from strummers.
Any bets?
(smile)
If Daddy were alive, I know he'd bet me a dollar.
(smile)
Such good memories of him have I.
i thank You, God.

more grooving going on

My poor little car.
She has not been driven since Saturday.
For five days, pollen from all over and dead
flower stalks from the nearby oak trees have
fallen, unheeded, all over her.
Proof positive that I have been staying home,
sheltering in place.

Today, the laundry begged to be washed,
so off to Sandfly we all went -
me, the car, and the clothes.
The site had removed all tables and requested
that customers return to their cars during
the wash and dry cycles, then take clothes
home to fold.
I was glad it was still open.
I checked the CVS to see if it had t.p. -
no, of course not.
I drove out to the Publix in Twelve Oaks; no toilet paper there, either, nor Lactaid milk -
bought groceries anyway, mostly canned veggies and soups.
My last stop was the Post Office, to mail some items and buy more stamps.
Then, to home again.
Almost three hours had elapsed.
Still, I had accomplished something I normally do, where I normally do it.
Success!

Earlier, I had done something "normal", too.
I'd "attended" the 31SMF noon30 concerts of the day!
The first up was an Irish fiddler broadcasting from Spain - talk about world music!
Martin Hayes began with "Aisling Gheal", which sounds like it would be about a girl, but it's more ethereal, speaking of "a bright hope".
Then he gave us two jigs and a reel!
That let me dance just as I would have at CMC!

The second concert of the day was another one that I would have ushered, just as his had been - sweet!
Best to continue standing and prepare to dance, per my usual course of action at the Sav'h Music Festival!
Christian Sands led off with a long-time favorite on his piano in his Connecticut home.
It was the Beatles' "Blackbird", complete with chirping noises in the background!
His second song was good, but I loved that first one!

The two noon30's were done, but I wanted more!
So I went ahead and continued, catching up with
some of those missed last week.
Germán López was one of the two acts that opened
the series on March 26th.
He was new to me and so was his instrument, a timple, played from Spain.
I truly loved his song about softly falling snow, "A Punto de Nieve" - such beautiful imagery in the notes!

He had been in Spain, like Hayes, but young, like Sands - nice coincidences, for me at least.
Amythyst Kiah, like the two of today, had also been on my ushering schedule.
This blues-rock guitarist in Tennessee was determined to make her set rockin' out and casual.
She definitely succeeded, with a song that was "Opaque", but with clear intent!
(smile!)

Marta Pereira da Costa was another woman of strength, this time with a Portuguese guitar.
That would figure, of course, as her March 28 noon30 came live from Portugal - yes?
Like Kiah and Lopez, she graced us with a single song.
"Terra" was an energetic piece with nice tempo changes - the type of song I definitely dance to!
It was bright and cheery, too!
(smile!)

Saturday and Sunday, Day 4 and Day 5, each had a
banjo player with a friend and a single tune.
From Canada, Kaia Kater was joined by Andrew
Ryan on bass.
Both had been to SMF before, though as students
of the Acoustic Music Seminar.
"Starry Day" was the folk ballad, nicely sung,
nicely played - good for them!

Allison de Groot was joined by Patrick M'Gonigle,
also playing from up in Canada.
However, although she played banjo, his instrument
was the fiddle, not bass.
That gave them a brighter, faster-paced sound -
exactly what was called for in their "Laurel
Mountain Breakdown"!
Woohoo!!! They were getting it done!!!
(smile!)

I didn't feel right about having Sands as the only
pianist in the mix, so I listened to one more concert
so as to include Jeb Patton.
His was one of the two noon30s on Monday.
Don't mind his country-sounding name - this was aired from New York City.
His first tune, "You Go To My Head", was definitely the keeper for me, like a haunting refrain.
(smile!)

Time for something else I would normally do!
Showtime still has their free preview going, so I'm watching "American Graffiti".
It'll be nice to hear Wolfman Jack's raspy growl and see Sweet Richard Dreyfuss.
Monday, I had treated myself to "Peggy Sue Got Married" - love that movie!
Both had such great music, too.
I've tried to concentrate on watching movies I never saw, but it's nice to have some familiar ones tossed in now and then.
Anyway, as I said, I'm outta here - figuratively, I mean.
After all, the Shelter In Place order is in effect until April 30th.
It was to have expired on April 5th, then April 8th...
who can say how much longer it will be if folks continue to not obey.
I'm truly trying to do my part to comply.
Here's to hoping for brighter days ahead...
and enjoying still breathing and toe-tappin' today.
i thank You, God.

getting into a groove

I keep hearing it, so it must be true.
The first time that it really connected with me was while watching "The Catcher Was A Spy", an excellent WWII true story that had a bit of baseball in it, too, as well as an excellent cast.
Anywho, Moe Berg was talking to a quarantined Italian physicist.
Amaldi was working on his bicycle as gunshots blasted outside.
When asked why he was fixing his bike, he replied, I'm cleaning it, as I normally do at this time and on this day of the week.
"We try to live as normally as we can, doing the things we normally do, when we normally do them."
I had rewound the film several times, so I could hear that again and write it down.
"We try to live as normally as we can, doing the things we normally do, when we normally do them."
The words shone like a beacon.
That was on Wednesday of last week.

The second time that advice registered with me was while watching a video of an Italian family at home.
It was a father/husband, a mother/wife, and a teen son.
They each had their own space in the apartment, to give them private time during the day for remote working and for remote school lessons.
They had been in lockdown for eighteen days by Friday of last week.
The dad was the spokesperson for the family.
You need to plan well your days, do a little workout every day, actually acting as though you are at the office.
I made note of those words.
Normalcy, he was saying, you must keep the normal rhythm of your life, as much as it's possible to do.
Essentially, that was the same message as in the film.

Try to live as normally as you can, doing the things you normally do, when you normally do them.
That was what I was being told.
How was I to do that?
All of my evenings communing with friends at social events had vanished into thin air.
What normalcy remained for me?
Honestly, that had probably been the penultimate straw too many for my psyche.
The final straw had been tossed on, unwittingly, by Tara on Saturday, via fb.
She was bemoaning the lack of being around those at Odd Lot and other friends, promising big hugs when next she met them.
All I could think was: seriously?
She's home with her husband and son and complaining about lack of touch?
Seriously???
What the hell???
Her similarity in situation to that of the real-life Italian family and that of the Italian physicist and his family in the movie struck me hard.
How dare these people, who have others still around them, preach to me???
How dare they???

Then, on Monday night, I was getting the same advice from Kevin during our texting.
He didn't even notice my lack of exclamation points.
Then again, maybe he did and that's why he granted me a Gripe-a-thon.
He truly is a rather smart bear... and he's setting a good example.
Plus, while my conscious mind was ranting to him last night, my subconscious mind was listening to the hurt words spewing out of my mouth and trying to puzzle out a workable solution to mend my broken spirit.

I need to plan my days.

Planning has been part of my day for years, writing notes and posting them to my kitchen cabinet.
Why that location?
First, so I don't overbook myself.
One really good thing per day is the goal.
Then, every morning as the coffee brews, I shall look to see what lays ahead.
At night, I will remove the expired notes and move the others up in the batting order.
(smile)

This morning held a little something extra for me:
my roofing arrived!
I had actually expected the work to begin at 0730,
but, thankfully, it did not.
It may or may not begin tomorrow, but at least the Golden Cedar shingles are here.
That's definite progress on this project that began in mid-February.


I need to write in my blog as I normally do.

Well, that's what I'm doing now, n'est-ce pas?
I'm talking to myself, allowing the words to be transferred through my fingertips to the ether, touching the keys on my laptop, making physical contact -albeit remotely - to other people, reaching out to the world as the tiny Whovian had
done toward Horton the elephant.
I'm here!
I'm here!
Even if I hear no response, I have to keep trying to let
others know I exist - or, perhaps, to prove to myself
that this reality exists.

I need to do the things that I normally do.

At this time of year, the 31SMF would have been in full swing and I would be working the music festival events.
Thankfully, the noon30 events are now virtual!
Maybe not the ones originally scheduled, and not in hour-long segments, but I am grateful for these bits of normalcy to my spring days!
From Pennsylvania, Milena of the Dover Quartet was joined by the Speltz brothers (her hubby Brook and his brother Brendan) of the Escher Quartet for a beautiful

and bubbly bit of Beethoven.
Of course I danced along, as I wold have as an usher at the Morris Center!
That ten-minute draft of waltzing classical was followed with a chaser of old-time blues, brought to life from Tennessee by Darrell Scott.
I wish I could say I'd known the Hank Williams tune before, but I'm glad to have made its acquaintance here and now!

That noon30 was actually one of the two concerts first aired yesterday.
Trust me, I'll be doing trios as I'm catching up this week on those earlier ones.
Today, though, I made sure to catch the Ashwells, Robin and Kate, live from their home in Wales.
As I commented on their feed, the Chanson de Matin was "such a beautiful song, at evening or any time!"
Get that little lingual joke?
Got to keep my sense of humor, don't I?
(smile)
Hey, feel free to answer, truly.

I need to do a little workout every day.

The purple Planet may be no more, but my yard probably has enough work to keep me busy for at least two weeks.
A few minutes ago, the city's people hauled off my six piles of branches and three bags of yard debris.
That means I can start making new piles with this stuff left over from my work on Sunday.
Oh, joy. Oh, fun.
(smile)

I need to do what I normally do, when I normally do it.

Today is Wednesday.
Tonight, I will have PFS, through the magic of the "online viewing parties" created by Jim Reed.
That won't be until 8 PM, though.
Heretofore, in the afternoon, I would have gone to the grocery store after WW.
I have stopped my membership with them, but I still need milk...
and maybe I'll get lucky and find toilet paper.
I have started my penultimate roll, one of the two Smitty gave me when we did his sales taxes on the 19th.
I had just started the last roll I had on that day.
Hard to believe I made that roll last almost two weeks.
(smile)
Good thing I'm a chemist and know science.
Good thing that urine is a sterile fluid.
Good thing I'm a puzzle-solver by nature.
I've been getting by with using a washcloth for those pee-only bathroom trips.
One washcloth can be used for an entire day, for multiple trips.
Oh, that reminds me: Thursday is my usual day for going to the laundry.
Tomorrow will be a very good day to wash clothes.
Know what I mean?
(smile)