Jazz

The piano playing is heating up next door.  The musician keeps practicing scales, plus the first bars of "Clair de Lune."  (He never seems to finish it -- maybe it's just a warm-up exercise.)

Then, yesterday, he started in on some jazzy Christmas carols.  He was obviously practicing the riffing, etc.  "O Christmas Tree" and "The Christmas Song," and then, as if my mental request arrived on his music stand -- "Linus and Lucy" by Vince Guaraldi.  I now predict some gathering around the piano at Christmas and singing.

The Squirrel...

Meanwhile, my enemy, the very well-fed squirrel, has started in on this year's crop of avocados.  It's very annoying, because they're not ripe yet.  He chews around the stems but can't keep a hold of them, so they fall to the concrete below.  Sometimes he manages to get through about a quarter of it, before it falls. 

To be honest, if he's only chewed the stem, I'll take the avocado and let it ripen.  So far, no rabies.  Really, this is the healthiest squirrel ever -- very glossy coat and thick tail -- what comes from a steady avocado diet.  HOWEVER, the avocados are not ready yet.  They don't ripen if you pick them this early, they just rot.  I have tried to explain this to the squirrel, but he just ignores me.

Seeking Fresh Topics

So far I've only written about avocados and my musical neighbor!  Such is the life of the apartment-bound work at home writer.  However, I hope to have new material since I'm heading east, first to visit family in Philadelphia and New Jersey, and then to tour around the Hudson Valley in New York and experience some pretty fall leaf viewing.

Surprise!

This morning, after breakfast, my musician neighbor received delivery of a piano.  Shouts of glee ensued, along with a lot of riffing.  Throughout the day today, while mixing his latest assignment, a pop/disco piece, there were frequent breaks to play the opening bars of "Clair de Lune."

Memories...

I took piano lessons when I was younger, but I hated practicing and was in general a lousy, rebellious student (ditto for guitar and oboe).  I loved playing though, and after my parents lost patience and stopped paying for lessons, I played a lot.  "Clair de Lune" was also one of my favorites, along with the classic "Fur Elise," which I memorized, along with "The Theme from Romeo and Juliet."  Interestingly, another tune I loved to play was "Tubular Bells" from "The Exorcist," even though to this day, I've never been able to get through the movie (I'm VERY easily scared).

Cocktail Hour

This evening, the musician has segued from "Clair de Lune" to jazz riffs, like the kind you hear at a piano bar.  I predict future gatherings around the piano and singing by friends and family.  Once again, just like the movies...