I’m doing it different this morning: blogging between cleaning the kitchen and doing Greek. I’m hoping that Eileen and I will drive off to Grand Rapids today to see the Ai Weiwei exhibit before it closes Saturday. I like his work and want to see some of it in person.  All the pics in today’s blog are from that exhibit.

Yesterday I managed to choose anthems for November. I’m trying to chip away at preparing for the upcoming season a bit each time I go to the church. I have decided to prepare Calvin Hampton’s “The Primitives” from his “Five Dances.” I had an odd email from Craig Cramer which seem to indicate that only three people are playing at the organ dedication in October. if only three people are playing, I think I know the low man on that totem pole who has been eliminated. It’s probably a misunderstanding, but my boss is in Scotland and hasn’t answered emails about this (not that I blame her). If I’m able to, I will perform the Hampton piece at that recital and also a piece I am writing.

Otherwise, I’ll just perform them some other time.

Insecurity is a bitch. I had a nice chat with my bud Jordan VanHemert yesterday. His career is exploding as he is finishing up his doctorate. But I could still see this superb player struggling with occasional insecurity in our conversation.  (Hi Jordan!)

Jordan and my friend Rhonda continue to reach out to me. I appreciate that two such fine players find time to check in with me even though they are both very busy. I like chatting with them and I like playing with them when we can.

My brother, Mark, and his wife, Leigh, are visiting Ireland right now. I have enjoyed watching them make these trips.  Since I began some significant travels, I have always felt that Mark especially would enjoy seeing history and traveling. I like it that he’s doing that.

I’m seriously thinking of reversing myself and begin using the gym at Evergreen. My treadmill is not reliable. I’m tired of buying cheap ones that break down so easily and are a pain to both move into and out of the house. But if I’m going to spend some money, I want to get my harpsichord fixed. The builder that I wanted to fix it is not returning emails but there is another one. As soon as I think I have the money, I will look into getting the harpsichord fixed.

I just chatted with Eileen and she pointed out that if I only use the gym, it will be free to me under my Medicare. Seems like a no brainer.

Are there white nationalists in the White House? | PolitiFact

Politifact doesn’t give this question a simple rating because it’s so complex. But the short answer is that the charge is too extreme.

More history in the news.

George Saunders: what writers really do when they write | Books | The Guardian

I like Saunders.

The Books We Don’t Understand | by Tim Parks | NYR Daily | The New York Review of Books

Bookmarked to read.