Memes, Muses and More

When I see that I haven’t written in more than a month, I start by feeling guilty and apt to make excuses, but probably to my most regular reader, myself.  The truth is I also set up some equipment for drawing and painting and that didn’t go very far either.  Like most people, I think I can accomplish more than I actually can, and it’s not because of age or willpower. I just have made other things take a higher priority - and they are worthwhile.

They have been good results. I spent August preparing for twice-monthly piano selections for coming lessons in the fall and enjoyed them. I was inspired by online instruction from Seymour Bernstein as well as his book on practising piano. I came upon a handbook which helps even an amateur learning to play any instrument. The Practice Handbook is designed for those who it describes as “seriously enthusiastic”, musicians, but it is a model for any serious endeavor. You can find out more at Muse & Mate. Serious confession. The first lesson happened and I played really badly - but different studio, no listener for too long, too much self confidence. It’s good to come back to earth.

Like many others, I have laughed at all the memes that resulted from some of the crazy comments about pet cuisine at the debate - and I was right that it was AI that produced a great page that looks like it comes straight from Dr. Suess with those famous lines. There have been good memes as well as well - until I stopped smiling when I read about their effects on legal immigrants - bomb, threats, closed schools, distrust. Racism isn’t funny. Political vitriol anywhere should make us ashamed. We are very eager consumers of just about anything set before us. I won’t share the meme.

And then there are two related invitations today. One is from a faith body inviting me to a special service celebrating a Season of Creation. The other is inviting me to a Green Drinks Party, “Saving the world one Sip at a Time” - meeting in a local pub with an invitation to people already interested in the environment or looking to find such a group. It is an Irish pub of course. I’m already booked with a group discussing the important book, The Wall Between, tomorrow night, or I might have been drawn to the second. The first group may have to deal with the the reality that climate change and its impact isn’t restricted to a season!