There is so much I will always remember long after COVID-19 has become a finished chapter of our history. I will remember the feeling of the world being turned upside down in 48 hours, knowing it was shifting under my feet and wondering if I would still be standing when it was over. I will…
Not worst, Not best, either. We chose words that are not real. Or real, but better. Not better but clear. “The worst” is easier than saying “It is.” “No” is easier than saying “In this case it might…” There is no reason that the future or today should be so full of absolutes. We make…
During all the craziness of the last few weeks, one thing I have found myself saying a lot, and hearing from others is, “We’ll just have to do the best we can” (or some such variation of that idea). What’s interesting to me about that is that it is an explicit admission that while circumstances…
When I was brainstorming blog post ideas a month ago, one of the ideas was to write about getting to know a new place, and talking about the places I love to go to write. And then the world shut down only a few weeks after I moved into my new apartment, so I barely…
I never watched The Office when it was originally on television. I remember hearing about it, vaguely, but it never really sparked my interest – even after seeing it pop up on Netflix. In the last few months, though, I finally gave it a shot. My brother recommended it, so I figured it was finally time.…
One of my favorite creative writing exercises – not even just an exercise, but a process that can lead to a finished piece – is to chose five sentences at random from five books that I pick from my bookshelves. I then take those five sentences and make a poem from them. Some of the…
I was introduced to Jane Austen in school when we read Pride and Prejudice. It’s only been within the last few years that I finally read all of her finished novels. (Her novela, Lady Susan is still waiting for me – although I love the film adaptation called Love & Friendship from several years ago…
It constantly amazes how the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know. In any aspect of my life or education, there hasn’t been a single exception to that general rule. (At least not that I can think of.) That’s both incredibly exciting and also frustrating at times. Sort of brings to mind…
Ever since I moved a little more than a month ago, I’ve been thinking about the process of becoming familiar with a new place. Everything from big things, like making sure you turn down the right street on your way home from work, down to the small things, like the specific way you have to…
So I have been spending a large portion of my free time in the last week or so brushing up on some piano pieces and, in some ways, becoming reacquainted with the instrument. It’s been a very long time since I really spent this much time and effort at the piano. Between that, and all…
Here are a few things I’m grateful for today: My piano. I have enjoyed playing so much, and am so grateful for the music I can bring into my apartment. Along those lines, I’m grateful for all the recorded music I have available to listen to in the background as I am cooking or reading.…
So I have been playing more piano in the last few days than I have played in a decade. Actually, more like thirteen or fourteen years. It’s been fun to look at some of my [very] old music from my final few years of taking piano lessons. I’ve been playing away – Grieg, Bach, Beethoven,…
Short post today, as all my free time has been spent playing my new piano! I am very excited to have a piano in my apartment and am really looking forward to learning new music and brushing up on old pieces that I haven’t played in months or years. So ever since Saturday, Bach has…
I’ve seen Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation of Little Women twice now. First in January, a week after it was first released, and one earlier this month after its digital release. And it’s been on my mind a lot. It’s difficult to put my finger exactly on why I think it works so well, but here my…