note to self, and other stories.
a still, overcast autumn day.
yesterday was the coldest morning so far;
a little warmer today.
.
thinking this morning about an article i recently found,
written in semidemihemi-academese.
my feathers chafed so much (from all the ruffling)
that i just gave up, even though i really want to know what it said.
i’ve been told i’m not a complete idiot, but as a reader,
please don’t make me work this hard.
if we are to write, let's write more better; let's write for an audience, even.
say yes to direct & effective communication.
if i want incomprehensible writing/reading, i’ll go to Borges.
at least, it’s elegant and sometimes the payoff is much funnier.
and, there's always Joyce. or Gurdjieff.
basically, go straight to fiction. way less to hide behind.
analogies might be: bad music which somehow has a few good ideas.
or, food with good ingredients but inexpliably inedible.
i understand why one might persevere - sometimes with good reason -
but my current personal view is: just because something exists doesn’t mean
it deserves my attention. i can find nourishment elsewhere.
and if not, fasting isn’t the worst thing in the world.
that is: my life is too short for shitty writing.
note to self.
.
morning tidying: kitchen, cat stuff, bathroom.
.
11:52. listening to Nat Cole singing September Song.
i’ve never heard this version. interesting arrangement:
if i didn’t already have some sense of the song,
i would have no sense of the song.
.
12:10. jeremy calls to say hi and to brag about the
delicious mexican lunch he sent me a pic of.
i was happy to catch up.
.
12:30-13:30. tai chi lesson at the house. filling in the blank spots -
the plentiful blank spots. my instructor tells me a joke about the secret of tai chi:
Student: "O Master! what is the secret of tai chi?"
Master (after pondering the question): "sore legs."
Student: "no, really. what is the real secret of tai chi?"
Master (after giving the question even more consideration): "very sore legs."
.
crim-related activity of the day:
taking a passport photo at costo for my
soon-to-be-expired passport.
tour manager dave will be happy.
the lighting and background are awesome.
white on white on white. uffff.
.
late afternoon. out of the blue, an old friend PK
calls to say hi. it’s been years since we last spoke.
he says 20, but i don’t think so. maybe 15.
we met in 1989 in NYC, on a Guitar Craft course.
a significant week in my life.
the week in austin during Crim rehearsals was as significant.
but different.
.
