Weeknotes: December 2-6, 2024
A condensed edition this week. Yet again, I’ve borrowed a format idea from my hero, Walknotes (thank you, Denise!).
STRAY THOUGHTS & OBSERVATIONS
I take Islay to the pet store to have her nails trimmed by a professional. She trembles, but tolerates it, giving me a wounded look through the grooming salon window. Afterward, I reward her with a walk at County Farm Park. We're behind a Ford Escape with the shaft of its rear wiper missing. I don't think the driver realizes it's on. Its little black stump wags back and forth every few seconds like a shy, sweet dog.
At work I rewrite all but a few lines of our bio for Davy Graham, then review Cherry Tree’s new eight-disc box set of his 1960s output. He's considered by many to be the godfather of British folk guitar and by most accounts is the originator of the now ubiquitous DADGAD tuning. I've written songs in DADGAD. It's like pressing the "instant trad" button. Everything sounds cool, like an old Celtic song. It gives you the false impression you can suddenly play like Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, or Martin Carthy.
In class I get Duke Silvered. A quiet guy I've sat next to all semester turns his laptop screen toward me, revealing the ticket link to my next gig. My nighttime identity has been compromised.
Later that night I introduce my parents to pub trivia. We compete alongside several friends and finish in first place for both games before gambling them away on the final bonus question. Who bets all 15 of their points on "Senators?" The Monger Family Singers do.
The neighbors relocate their cars to clear our shared driveway. This usually indicates an impending party. Instead, a flatbed pulls up to haul away their old Honda Pilot. They've donated it to the NPR winter fund drive. Good for them.
Islay is beside herself with excitement and we walk around the backyard watching the operation. Winter has finally claimed the hanging fern and tropical houseplant I left for dead on the ledge next to the shed. I thank them for their sacrifice and apologize that I had no more room in the house.
ADVENT PHOTO PROJECT
Every December I host an Advent Photo Project on Instagram and Facebook. K and I started the tradition in 2012 (it was her idea) and I inherited the responsibility somewhere down the line. I post a new theme every day until Christmas and participants tag their submissions with that day's hashtag so we can all view them together. It's not a big project, but every year a group of die-hards, many of whom I've never met, return and share little glimpses of their lives. There are years when it feels inconvenient or I think I just won't have the time, but once it starts I'm grateful we've kept it alive. I feel especially close to it this year.
If you'd like to follow along or contribute photos of your own, here are the two links:
The Advent Photo Project:
