We awoke well before sunrise on what has become a sunny, hazy, 18 degrees F morning. We are nearing the end of an extended cold snap that was punctuated by light snow events. Very beautiful.
We had a houseful for the New Year’s holiday, which was great fun. Way too many baked goods, lots of delicious meals, and hours of play. One of our guests was a three year old border collie who is a dear. Still, Nori the cat is very glad she is gone.
I’m sitting in the sound studio looking out to the empty feeder and field. There is much less snow than there was this time yesterday, the field looking more like March than January. Still no deer or turkeys, although we cannot say who has visited us at night.
Today is the first meeting for a new three month composing intensive I enrolled in. I’ve been feeling rather stuck in my sound work after the push to finish the piece for the exhibition, so I took the leap. I’m happy to see that there are people I like in my “pod”.
The idea for this intensive is that “students” are grouped into pods of eight, will meet virtually at least four times in person, will share a private e-mail forum, and will give each other ideas and feedback. There will also be large group gatherings and trainings of various types so potentially lots of encouragement and stimulation. I am curious as to how this will work out.
Speaking of sound, Jennie gave me a couple of gift certificates for gear for Christmas, and I have been mulling over what I might need. I have this thought that making a sound, word, and image journal might be interesting, so am trying to imagine what gear might help with that.
I have been contemplating how I might reduce the influence of billionaires in my life and journaling might be one way. I imagine that using screens less and looking out, and being out, more would certainly help as well. Now that writing by hand is so difficult I need the aid of a screen but at least it is my content not theirs.
Speaking of the influence of billionaires, I guess it should not surprise anyone that a felon would become an international criminal, or that a large section of our citizens would see no problem with this. I try not to guess or imagine what comes next but it seems a safe bet that this, too, will not end well. Still, the insanity inevitably worms its way into my thoughts and journals.
I take some refuge in knowing that the long trajectory of things is largely unknowable.
Please share your thoughts and join the conversation!