Up 7-ish. Listened to a jazz podcast in bed, NYT Spelling Bee (did Tue. crossword last night), read 2 JA poems. Got an email that the mic I ordered on Mon is out of stock/on backorder; a little disappointing. Bridge work 10 am until a little after 1 pm, on the same passages as yesterday.
Since it’s December 1st, I should mention that my #1 goal/practice for the next 6 months again is to work on the book 3 hrs/day every day that does not involve a real emergency (e.g. medical). Depending on where the vaccine arrives, I expect to be holed up here for about that lawn, and I don’t want to regret that I didn’t do much with the time when life begins again, even if I don’t complete the MS by June 1. Tbh, the main reason I’ve started posting these entries again is to keep myself honest and accountable (to the anonymous non-readership!).
Nothing much from then until 3:30: Lunch, listened to readings of a couple of Agatha Christie stories, opened some mail and unpacked a box from Bree’s mom, who called later. Read a kind of op-ed about higher-ed diversity/inclusion Aaron Kunin sent me. Seems like a lost cause (cf. “successor ideology”.) Btw, 3 people have sent me a piece about Armed Forces from The Atlantic that liberally cribs from my 33 1/3, w/o credit. Hard to believe author didn’t read it. A mild annoyance.
Read about 20 p. Aufbau; finally getting to something of the nitty-gritty of what his “construction system” will look like, why we choose basic elements (“autopsychological” experiences) of one kind rather than another. Dubious of a section that illustrates some of his principles w/ music theory, but this sentence is heavy (and obscure if you’re not reading the book): “Quasi-analysis is a synthesis which wears the linguistic garb of an analysis.”
Reading took until almost 7, w/ some breaks. Played piano, some blues in Eb, in there, but not a full practice session; watched the first lesson of week 2. The ear training - on chord qualities rather than intervals - is much easier for me.
Listened to Wyatt, Old Rottenhat (on the reissue I turned up last week); it’s very good, and distinctive. Also just better musically than his slightly faux-naif rep suggests - e.g. the nimble ride cymbal on “Speechless,” or the vocal beds and layered percussion on “The Ages of Self.” Practiced piano after all - just some scales w/o metronome and a chordal etude that is probably too simple, even for me; will do it in other keys.
Read 10 p. Edmonds (the VC book). Took out several loads of trash and recycling, then short walk around 10:30. Worked on the bridge passage from until 12:30 am; lights out after that.