January 14, 2023

Distant trees are uncertain smears behind the curtain of falling snow. 

I threw out some stale pretzels and hear the crows squabbling over them in the yard.

Despite snow, our concert came off last night, to a full house, it seemed to me. We did well. No one who came out that bitter night felt himself cheated. T will not be continuing as director, so who knows the fate of the group? 

Gout hit when I got home from the concert. Went from unbearable to merely distracting through the night.

Listening to the news: Education under attack from both extremes-- jackanapes deSantis trying to make Florida schools adhere to MAGA “truths” while avoiding left-wing indoctrinations such as diversity, critical thinking, academic freedom, science. Left wing trying to impose ludicrous extremes of individual delusion as new truths, somehow missed or dismissed by a thousand generations before. The only answer is for all sides to shut up and let teachers teach. Interference with the education process by those not part of the process is ipso facto censorship. 

Trying egg tempera as a finish over oil. Not sure of the result, but it does look slightly richer. Somebody must have thought of this before.