A river runs through my neighborhood. It is noisy, smelly and composed entirely of cars. I hate it. Of course the river is I-66.

It's been a thoughtful winter for me. I've had, and appreciated lots of time for introspection. First, Joel's been working long hours, second, I've made the commitment to walk an hour a day (usually alone), and third, we've had the snow to keep other folks at home. I am enjoying my solitude ( Read more... )

With this break in routine I find I have a lot I want to write about, especially when I'm out walking. However, I unfailingly postpone writing or sitting down to write until my time is severely limited. Like now, when I know I have to begin teaching in eight minutes. Why do I do this? What makes me putter around until my own time is chipped ( Read more... )

This break in routine has given me an opportunity to reflect. One of the things that I've been thinking about is how the break is not only necessary but also a little piece of reality. All of my students were looking forward to time off, and some of them obviously needed it. And it makes me aware of how much too much they are doing and how ( Read more... )

I'm still working on not caring about my weight. If it's something that's outside my control, which it seems to be, due to my "time of life", all I should worry about is staying healthy. I'm doing that, running, eating right (not getting enough sleep). I want to focus on doing what I love, making music, being a good friend, gardening, hanging ( Read more... )

We are bad Jews, last night as an expedient dinner we used our Passover matzoh to make matzoh brie. That's because we were traveling at Passover and forgot to celebrate. Oh well.

Woke up this morning feeling creaky in the joints, weather change, age, not enough/too much exercise. And this after another good run/walk yesterday. I am actually able to run for increasing numbers of minutes: first 1 then 2 then 3,3,3, and 4 and 4. It all feels good after I've gotten in a 10 minutes warm-up walk. Gone are the days when I ( Read more... )

Now that the intense weekend of performances is past, I'm finding that I miss it, the working with our friends, having them show up at the house and take over the living room with music. And the music in my head, becoming reality, hearing an arrangement the way I envisioned it (enheard it?). Loving the texture of five instruments, makes just ( Read more... )

I'm dying to start running again, have to remind myself to be patient. As it is I can walk for over an hour with run breaks of 20 paces, 30 paces, etc. up to 60 paces. And the knees don't ache. I know if I take it slow and increase 10-15 paces a week I'll be able to start really running "some" by summer. But it's so hard to take it slow. Every ( Read more... )

I've been having random thoughts on saving the earth.... Most of this insight is old news ( Read more... )