July 18, 2026

Arvo Part on CD

Teaching myself to yodel. It was good one night, but I have not satisfactorily reproduced the sound. 

Teaching myself to sing countertenor. I can actually do it for a few bars, and have found a way to sustain the sound without waver. But it is exhausting. Is it as exhausting to those who actually have the right voice?

Teaching myself the use of colored pencils. I bought several sets in the past, I suppose in anticipation of this moment. It requires more patience than oils, but is proportionately more relaxing. Excellent tutorials on You Tube. 

Re-reading the Lattimore Odyssey in preparation for seeing the film with DJ and Russell. Still the most amazing narrative energy. Athena keeps mentioning how big Telemachus is, as if in subtle rebuke for letting himself be pushed around. I’d forgotten that the murder of Agamemnon was, then, still the news. 

Linda sends photos of dad during his dating and social life after mother’s death and we left home. He looked so happy and full of life---

Blue Spruce

 July 16, 2026

Heat returns. Two inspectors who came to the house today remarked on the beauty of the house and the luxury of the garden. “You have a green thumb” says the dehumidifier guy. Then he adds, “I want to go out back and have a look at your blue spruce.” I’m not altogether sure how he knows about my blue spruce, but spruce and I take whatever admiration we can get. Dehumidifier guy worries about my stand of poke, fearing its proximity to the house may tempt carpenter ants. I do not articulate my excuse that it causes birds to perch against the bathroom window, where I can watch them from the toilet. Iris the cleaning lady says she will never raise my rate, for now “dear old Dorothy” and I are her favorite ancient customers. 

 

July 15, 2026

DB has died.

 

July 14, 2026

AVGMC planning meeting last night. Initiated use of my Godzilla ice cubes. 

As I moved the trash barrels for trash day, a fledgling towhee scampered out from behind and hid under the porch.

Jameson Currier has died. 

UU

 July 12, 2026

Concert at the UU fellowship in Hendersonville. It brought back memories of my visits there as a guest speaker. We did well (in the sense that we pleased the crowd) and shared remembrances of B. They served us delicious sandwiches. Drove home with T, which provided pleasant conversation rather than the usual melange of brooding thoughts. Fell asleep on the sofa, and woke at about 3 AM to a news program announcing the death of Senator Lindsey Graham. They were trying mightily to name accomplishments other than the various hypocrisies he used to stay in power. They repeated, “he was a friend to Israel” as often as they could. Shocked that he was younger than I. I’ve not done my research, but I’m thinking he spent a whole lot of time in the public eye for doing not much of anything.

Deaths

 July 10, 2026

All Souls gets a million $ + grant from FEMA to pay for clean up that happened two years ago. Sarah says on the news, “It allows us to start from ground zero, instead of from a hole.” 

Brief, welcome rain. 

B has died.

FT has died. 

Supper at Rye Knot with M and his kids, passing on their way to Williamsburg. After hard times, he has landed in his feet. 

 July 9, 2026

The last several nights as I’ve gone to bed, birds were singing in the dark. I can’t identify them, but they go from midnight until dawn, when the usual suspects take over. Considerable weeding in the heat of the sun, which I had not planned to do, but one foot gets set before the other. Snipped or pulled the vines that peak out at the summit of the holly wall. Rehearsal for our Saturday gig. Each time I sing these silly songs I think it’ll be the last time, but so far it has not been. My desire that we sing really well is thwarted at the very start, as the repertoire into which we have fallen does not require it.