Ok I played through about the first 15 measures yesterday… it’s hard But definitely do-able. Today I’m going to jump ahead to where the LH pattern changes to those sweeping arpeggios and see how that reads. Maybe that part will be easier for me actually. I think this will be a challenge in some ways, but just listening and reading along with the score, it seems like it should be ok. I put a bunch of rehearsal marks for myself to guide my practice. My fall piano lessons start either next week or the following. Maybe I can prep two sections of CdL for that… if so, those sections should probably be the first page and then maybe 8 measures of the sweeping arpeggios… hmmm

Using duckduckgo as a search engine, it offers a tracking blocker which I enabled on my latest Samsung s24. Checking, it blocked 4000 over the last week, and: [image: 1787030137868-9458.jpg]

I’m convinced that strength and balance training is something I need to do. I’m pretty sure that my weight loss in recent years is due to loss of muscle mass, not exercise or diet. Case in point: I can no longer lift the lid of my 9 foot Piano.

oddity

@Bernard said: Is this something you worked on with your teacher, or is it something you did on your own? I've worked on it before, so I did a fair amount on my own first, but then I worked on it a lot with my teacher over the summer. I don't think I could have gotten it to this point on my own. But now that I'm past the recording, I really like how I'm playing it.

The Tallest Man on Earth link text Surprised The Greatest Restaurant is in England. The Tallest Man on Earth is not really the tallest.

@DougG Yes, among other things.

That whattaboutism doesn’t land. We can dislike both maga and the DSA. Contempt is non-rivalrous in consumption.

Well, it is Iowa. Hardly a hotbed of leftist thought. (Having spent a weekend there recently, I am now an expert)

@wtg said: Bears announced a few days ago they're continuing their focus on Hammond. Fingers still crossed. From a prof at Ball State University. Guess some Hoosiers don't want the Bears to move there any more than some of us Illinoisans want them to stay here. https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/07/20/lets-hope-the-chicago-bears-stay-in-illinois/ He's just mad because he has to live in Muncie. Not that I blame him.

@RealPlayer said: Yes, the current piano bothers me. Nine foot grand, hard as heck hammers, harsh tone, really needs a new action. I wear musicians’ earplugs just to be able to practice. My god man-- get thee to a piano store!

The Navy situation is tragic. It would be great if the Democrats took the Senate. I wish the minority leader would resign, however.

Haven't made these breakfast pizzas but they look delish. [image: 20260810_152840-Edited-4x3-Copy-800x600.jpg] https://breadtopia.com/egg-and-herb-breakfast-pizzas/?utm_content

@dolmansaxlil I loved Notre Dame, too, and climbing up to the bell tower. LOUD. But cool to be up with the gargoyles.

@bernard I love that first blue house you showed. That’s a great color, and dark enough if you’re looking for heat retention. What would you choose for your trim? And would it work with your deck?