The visits to this site have plummeted. Yesterday, it was twenty. Google Analytics only tells me yesterday’s total hits on my blog dashboard. One has to click through into their site to get more detailed information such as how many are looking at it at the moment and what part of the world are they from. I rarely go clicking in search of that kind of stuff.
So, to you, my dwindling batch of readers and/or bots I persist in casting out this silly blog and thank you for reading it.
Speaking of blogs, I went to the library yesterday and checked out Ursula K. Le Guin’s new book of essays, No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters. The essays are presumably drawn from her blog which she seems to have stopped updating. She was inspired by José Sarmago’s published blog posts, written when he was 85 and 86 years old and put into a book called in English, The Notebook.
I am inspired by Le Guin. I liked the essay “Would You Please Fucking Stop?” which seems to have been taken off her web site. I guess she and/or her publishers want you to buy the book. Or check it out of the library. The essay is about the devaluation of cursing into basically “fuck” and “shit.” Le Guin reminisces about when language was actually more colorful and widely varied, especially in terms of swearing.
I’m disappointed that she has blocked access to this and presumably other essays. But everyone does tech differently I guess.
For my part, I share stuff. Of course, I’m no Ursula K. Le Guin. In fact, I don’t think I have much commercial potential of any kind. But I weirdly persist in making up stuff. I do like making stuff up.
Speaking of making stuff up, I did complete and deliver the music composition, Breath Dance, yesterday. I did my best to polish the manuscripts. My software only goes so far in creating good clear notation. Finale, the notation software I use, requires a vigilant eye so that the final product is coherent. Since I had a deadline I probably left errors in.
I put PDFs of the score and parts up today on my sheet music page. This is actually the main reason I am blogging right now. Here’s an embed of my software playing my piece. It’s crappy but I thought one of you might be curious enough to listen to it.
It’s raining. Eileen is on an airplane coming home. I am drained and exhausted first thing in the morning. I’m looking forward to her being back, but am feeling less social than ever.
But I do love the rain.
I like your Breath Dance piece.
I purchased a copy of the Le Guin book on a pre-publication special. I enjoy her non-fiction. On my drive home yesterday, I listened to an conversation / interview that she did with Margaret Atwood on The Archive Podcast from Oregon Public Radio. Two excellent writers and fascinating human beings in conversation. What’s not to like?
Hey thanks for listening to my piece. I also like Atwood and Le Guin as you know. I read the Le Guin as I treadmilled today. I admit that I skipped some of the chapters about her cat.
Keep blogging Steve. I enjoy reading them…
Thanks for reading, Barb!
Hi Steve,
I love your piece! It is very beautiful. I wish I could be there to hear it, but I am hoping that you will provide a recording of these excellent musicians playing it. The saxophonist, Adam Briggs, is a good friend of mine. I still read this blog, by the way!
J
Jordan, Thank you for comments and encouragement! I’m glad that you are reading the blog as well. I’m not sure about the recording. Rhonda does record her recitals I believe. I will pass on anything that comes out of this.