I haven’t yet read all of the essays recommended in this article, but those I have read are fabulous.

A beautiful, clear day, and not even so cold, really, for late December. The news of the week, though, makes it so difficult to feel safe and sound. Today’s reports of more waves of Covid-19, and more transmissible mutations, just makes this all ever more frightening.

The vaccine is certainly good news, but it will take many months before enough folks are immunized to make a significant difference in ‘normalizing’ day-to-day life. [If, in fact, that ever happens.]

Feelings of isolation continue, deepen, and darken. Perhaps for you, too. My bright spots come via the wonders of today’s techlife, thankfully:

We received a fabulous gift from Joe/Cristin last week–something I’d not known about before it came in the mail. This Dragon Touch digital picture frame allows selected/approved people to email pictures directly to the frame. You choose an email address for the frame, then send that address to people you want to have emailing ability; they send you a one-time email with a specific code, and you approve their email address. Then, pictures just start appearing in an ongoing slideshow whose specs you can adjust to your liking.

Joe/Cristin, of course, have been sending pix, as have Pattie and I from our own phones/archives. These pix of Jackson recently appeared on our frame, bringing lots of smiles:

Winter solstice has arrived. The longest night, of one of the longest years. Not so sure that things will only get better from here, but the days will have more hours of light, and that’ll be nice.

Pattie and I really needed to do something to change the routine. With Surf City out of commission for, likely, at least another month, we’re really feeling every bit as ‘locked in’ as everyone else. So Pattie found a new hotel down in Beaufort (on the water, near where we departed for a diving trip last June), with a restaurant that looked nice. We went down Saturday, just for a night.

We stopped in to Pattie’s brother’s, near Beaufort, in Morehead City...

The bright spots in the days, without question, come via NY. THis morning’s video call might require some narration…Jackson does give kisses, but also gets a kick out of the next best thing, “smelling noses.”

A pair of fabulous, thought-provoking pieces

Some pix from last month, which I neglected to post.

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A project on the list is a collaboration with a faculty colleague choreographer. John Dixon wants to explore the idea (rather than the literal text) of a Requiem. [Perhaps I’ve noted this project in prior posts; not sure.]. This would involve dancers in the outdoors and, in my mind, sort of like a New Orleans 2nd line, but with dancers instead of musicians. I am imagining ‘speakers’ mounted on dancers limbs, and me able to control multiple speakers independently–rather than sending the same signal/sound to every speaker.

And that’s not quite as simple as i thought it might be...

Here we are, surpassing the number of Covid-19 cases from the spring. As in Europe, this second wave is horrific. Our inability to take basic steps, i.e., wearing a mask and keeping distance, is just astounding. Smart enough to figure out the steps to avoid disaster, but not smart enough to implement those steps.

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An ‘album’ of a few of my pieces seems to be nearing completion and release. The recordings took place January 28-29, 2019, the first edits made available for my review on November 7. A year later, things may be getting closer to completion.

I’ve checked in with some friends and colleagues with more experience than I, and it seems that this is actually normal...

’tis the season

Hoping you enjoyed a reasonable day yesterday, wherever you were. As large gatherings aren’t really something I particularly enjoy, our day here was quite relaxing. Joe, Cristin, Jackson, and Ellie departed before 10am; clearly it was a good idea to travel on t-day, as they were home before 6pm. Less than 8 hours is quick, so. that worked out well.

Just a sheer joy to have them visiting. All day fun with Jackson, a pleasure to get to see him growing. One of the biggest treats was when we all just leave him alone and watch him play on his own. He’s enjoying time on his own–of course, at his age, wanting to know that someone was nearby. He’s doing great.

We pretty much spent the day giving th...