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Monday September 04 
Tuesday September 05
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Wednesday September 06

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Monday September 04

Totally unable to write last week.  Not for lack of activity or intensity.      

* * *

Carpet crawling today: gotta get in to get out. 

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10:20pm -- I can hear the crowd at Bumbershoot going wild for the headliner, whoever it is.  I've been listening to Jonatha Brooke in my downtown apt this evening, so I have have my own living room headliner.   Crowd, schmoud.

* * *

No SGC rehearsal this evening -- it's a night "off."   We played Bumbershoot last Friday afternoon -- a remarkable show in that I've heard (and made) some potentially useful remarks about the show:

- we're still adjusting to the chemistry of this new sextet;

- the level on stage was very low, and this reflected itself in me as a feeling like a low energy show;

- an honorable performance with some nice moments; but not a life-changing performance (for us anyway);

- tempos were fast; but this felt right most of the time;  BAD ADVICE: if you can't hear yourself, play faster;

- not sure what the audience experienced (what else is new.)

* * *

Stranger Horoscope for the week: 

"Maybe in late September I'll dare you to take smart risks and be a feisty adventurer.  Right now, though, there's a more humble them to work on: your security needs.  That's why I'd like you to write out a list of every last thing that would make you feel profoundly safe.  Now I know you Geminis often resist being at peace with your destiny.  You're afraid stability might diminish the power your imagine you derive from being so compulsively restless.  But let's put that delusion to sleep for now, okay?  Believe it or not, the best way to prep for the autumn's feisty adventures will be to build up the cohesive, dependable permanent parts of your life."

* * *

Feeling like I need another vacation. 

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Tuesday September 05

Eighty-One

Truthful words are not beautiful.
Beautiful words are not truthful.
Good men do not argue.
Those who argue are not good.
Those who know are not learned.
The learned do not know.

The sage never tries to store things up.
The more he does for others, the more he has.
The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance.
The Tao of heaven is pointed but does no harm.
The Tao of the sage is work without effort. 

- Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching

* * *

Happy 50th Birthday, SteveA.

* * *

Feeling Puck tonight.   And remembering myself as Puck in 1977 in Dekalb, Illinois:  

"Lord, what fools these mortals be."

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Wednesday September 06

I am privileged to be working with some amazing people.  CVB was a total hero today.  In meeting after meeting, I was impressed with his attention, professionalism, and complete ease in doing the right thing at the right time.  JN also continues to shine.  She is a force of nature.  

* * * 

SGC rehearsal this evening with Dean, Bob, and Jax.  Dean presented a colorful new section of a something which is in development.  Then we spent most of the evening working on Circulations:  a symmetric/harmonic scale that I've been working with, then modulating from C to Ab, then triad circulations through the circle of fifths.  In the end, we explored how and what we might do to increase the musicality and listening during our circulations.  

A good rehearsal.  Full of solid work.  Nothing mind blowing, but solid work.

Circulations are a measure of our groupness.  Strange how dissection of a living body leads to cells, but still does not explain where the life comes from.  Likewise, dissecting a circulation into it's notes and parameters and components does not necessarily lead to an explanation of where the music comes from. 

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