So today instead of random music, I’m embedding this very cool 1987 interview with 61 year-old Miles Davis.

It’s fun to listen to Miles. I haven’t seen many videos of him talking like this. it’s funny to hear what he has to say about Wynton  Marsalis (“good trumpet player, very precise, straight”). I have boundless admiration for Miles Davis.

Today was Birky day. Curtis Burky is my therapist. It usually puts me in a good mood to talk to him. Today was like that.

It’s also five days of having an evening fake gin martini. This is working out pretty well. Like I told Birky today, I don’t have any clear plan on all this. But I am glad that I am able to skip my evening snacks because after a martini, I’m more interested in a light supper than a glass of wine. Of course today is pizza day. I haven’t made any resolution about alcohol use but plan to keep trying to avoid snacks. In order to do this, I will probably drink fake gin in my martini.

I just ordered 3 more bottles. Eileen doesn’t really  go for this. But it seems to work for me.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m on a bit of an Ishmael Reed kick. I read some more in the linked article. I like how grumpy he is.

Here are a couple other links to stuff on/by him that I plan to check out.

Konch Magazine

Ishmael Reed, Paris Review – The Art of Poetry No. 100

Muskegon prisoners can soon get four-year degrees from Hope College | WOODTV.com

Believe or not, this looks pretty good. I know one of the people who is leading this, David Stubbs. He’s a good guy.

Today’s random music.

I used to own the album that Russell put this song out on. It came out in ’72 according to Wikipedia.

I have been getting up later. Why not? I’m practicing to be retired. But this morning I was under a little more pressure to move through my morning routine of stretches and exercises. I had a funeral at 10 AM. I left before Eileen got up.

The funeral was a bit odd. The person who died has been dead a while. They delayed a memorial service because of the Covid plague.

I began with gentle improvisation at the piano. I noticed that most of the people were elderly. Also, most of the men were in suits. I only saw one or two people who weren’t older. I stuck in a little Bach on the piano just in case anybody would appreciate that.

During Communion I played a piece I have been had in  my repertoire since Oscoda (before studying organ). It’s a charming, gentle setting of Ach Gott und Herr by Walther. Here’s a nice version I found online.

I like that the guy playing doesn’t use a nasty reed on the cantus firmus. That’s the way I hear it too. Have for decades. Nice Taylor and Boody organ i n this video as well.

The dishwasher that Eileen picked out and ordered is up and running.

The cabinet she picked out came yesterday. She worked on assembling it last night. She sees assembling something likes this as a bit of puzzle. She loves puzzles.

It’s an excellent choice for our kitchen which is getting quite snazzy due to Eileen’s diligence.

After I got home from the funeral today I was complaining about being so tired after doing so little. Eileen told me, “That’s why you’re retiring.”

Touché!

I recently picked up a copy of Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home. I hadn’t realized that I hadn’t read it. It is amazing. Highly recommended!

An Interview with Alison Bechdel – Believer Magazine

Recent interview that I bookmarked to read.

The new New Yorker came today. It’s a good day for it since I’m so tired . The first time through I usually only look at the cartoons. I then put it aside to read the poetry in my morning reading session unless there are some articles I would like to read.

I got lucky. There are two articles in this issue I want to read.

Lyubov Sobol’s Hope for Russia | The New Yorker

This is by Masha Gessen. I will basically read anything Gessen writes.

Ishmael Reed Gets the Last Laugh | The New Yorker