January 21, 2026

Discovered that old CDs that will not play if you hit “Play” will do so if you hit “Random.” This gives me unexpected joy. 

Incredible flux of phlegm. How does the body have resources left for anything else?

Days of unexpected productivity, painting, revision, etc. Today it is Poets in Their Youth finally gleaming into wholeness. Yesterday it was the story of my heart surgery losing 5000 words and finally becoming readable. I carved out four days at the beach for myself for February. It felt futile at first, when I thought I’d just be sitting somewhere warm staring at the sea, but became an adventure when I thought I might have a project to work on. Work remains my life long after that impulse should have mellowed into something more restful. 

Gigantic mob to rehearse Mozart’s Requiem. Sat next to Patrick, the pastor of First Presbyterian. According to himself his congregation is doing exceeding well., I’d have guessed he was a clergyman from his singing, though I’d be hard put to say why.