I had a very busy day yesterday. It didn’t help that I got up a bit later than usual. Eileen had made an appointment for some friends to stop buy and pick up all the leftover stuff from Edison: baby food, cat litter, and sundry items. They came by about 10:30. We did the usual zoom meeting with Sarah. After lunch I set out to register my stupid phone with the makers of the screen protector. Apparently they guarantee its efficacy and will refund the cost of the entire phone if the phone shatters.

I’m not sure if I have that guarantee correct but what I do know is that I promised Eileen I would take care of this. First, of course, you have download their damn little app (grrrr!). Then after I entered the 16 digit thingamabob on the little card that came with the phone they wanted the receipt number of the purchase. Of bloody course they do!

This is how I spent my afternoon yesterday: looking and looking for a receipt. I promised Eileen I would contact the place where we purchased both the phone and the screen protector tomorrow in hopes they can tell me the receipt number of our purchase. Hah! At least I put that off for a day so I could have a bit more normal day today.

Fanny Mendelssohn has been on my mind. I requested several books regarding her from the library today. I am planning on eventually purchase one or more of these books but would like to see them in person. Plus I promised Eileen that I would slow down on non-essential purchase until she determines they are okay with her budget. She did allow me to donate money to National Constitution Center. Here’s a link if you’re interested.

I loved this quote about Fanny Mendelssohn in the Groves online dictionary: “Upon seeing her first-born daughter, Lea Mendelssohn remarked that Fanny was born with ‘Bach fugal fingers’ as reported by the new father in a letter to his mother-in-law Bella Salomon, … thus immediately placing the infant in a rich context of music, erudition, and strong female leaders in the Itzig-Salomon family.”

I have to admit that Covid news, Supreme Court news, and Democracy news are all getting me down. Sheesh. Thank goodness for music, poetry, and beauty. I’m reminded of a cartoon by the late, great Vaughan Bode.

The lizard and one of Bode’s nubile females are falling to what looks like certain death. The lizard proposes that they should make love before they hit the ground. The female points out that he doesn’t have any genitals (although he seems to in the pic above). He replies that maybe they could squeeze this or that while they fall.

Beauty in the face of madness and end times is like squeezing this or that before we crash.

NYTimes: Supreme Court’s Conservative Majority Appears Skeptical of Biden’s Virus Plan

I like what this commenter had to say:

Mark Keller from Portland, Oregon writes on Jan. 8

Sadly, this Supreme Court wants to legislate, rather than apply the law.

The dumbfounding anti-vax comments from Alito and vax-hesitant interjections from others show that the Court’s conservative core eagerly bring personal, anti-science, pro-conservative Christian biases and agendas to their deliberations.

And what of the laws, the constitution and precedent? This not-so-Supreme Court chooses to hunt and peck for a word here and a phrase there to bolster their narrow viewpoints, rather than treat them has coherent, guiding documents and traditions

I told my therapist, Dr. Birky, today that I resisted making a list for stuff to talk to him about since we have not met for four weeks. I resisted because talking to him is not so much a report of what has passed in my life as talking about my own self in the moment. a holiday four weeks hiatus is a long time for staying connected with a mental health care provider.

I did notice that when I talked to him about something that wasn’t all that happy his next question was about playing music with my extended family. When I talked to him about that I told him it was probably one of the high points of the holidays for me. He must have made a mental note to use that to stop me from focusing on the negative too much. Clever man.

Yesterday I played through three of Fanny Mendelssohn’s Vier Lieder für das Pianoforte, Op. 2. I was surprised at how lovely I found them. I have played through them before but my attraction for them was different this time and more profound.

I chose to embed the recording above after listening to a live recording on YouTube. The live recording, although recorded and performed well, didn’t attract me. In fact, I wondered why I thought the piece was so beautiful. Then I found the recording above of Irene Barbuceanu. I think it was partly the tempo but all the simpatico of Irene Barbuceanu’s beautiful interpretation that helped me remember how much I like this piece

.

We had a heavy snowfall yesterday. Eileen and I got into it so that I could take her for her MRI at Holland Hospital. The hospital is not very far from here but we drove. Eileen broke out her snow blower today and did part of the drive. I dragged the Christmas tree to the block through the snow. Today was snow day for all local schools, plus the library didn’t open until noon due to weather.

I continue to read poetry every day. These two poems from the current Poetry magazines grabbed me.

Sparks in the Sun by Kelan Nee | Poetry Magazine

Elegy for the Four Chambers of My Brother’s Heart… | Poetry Magazine

Sounds Like Hate: Red Flags Everywhere

I have been listening to this podcast from Southern Poverty Law Center. It’s a good exposition of the Jan 6 insurrection. I love the SPLC.

Welsh Cakes Recipe | Allrecipes

A recipe for Welsh Cakes came across my Facebook Feed today. This looks like fun.