Wednesday, 31 January 2018

I woke up VERY early this morning. I didn't get up for quite some time, but I still got up quite a bit before I really needed to. Of course, I easily made it down to the airport (walking) in time for my flight.

When I arrived in Tel Aviv, I did my usual walk from the airport to Ichilov Hospital, arriving at the department about 2 hours before my appointment. They actually took me in and did most of the tests quite quickly, but then I did have to wait a LONG time to see the doctor. The intake doctor had almost no personality at all, but he did his job, which was to make sure that there was no reason I shouldn't have the surgery, to check for any possible complications, and to decide which eye to do first. I suggested the left, since it's worse than the right, and he concurred. So, the first surgery is now scheduled for the 18th of April (although, when I put it in my calendar just now, I noticed that that is Yom HaZikaron, so I suspect they'll be rescheduling it!).

By the time I got finished, I was REALLY hungry because I had eaten only a small breakfast (at the Eilat airport) very early, so I popped over to the adjacent mall and had my usual lunch there (I keep forgetting what they call it).

I had made plans with a new friend that I met on a dating app to meet in person, but it turned out that he had meetings all afternoon (with a lawyer and a doctor) regarding an accident he had had a year ago when a car struck him in a crosswalk. I was disappointed, but I still had a nice afternoon, wandering about Tel Aviv.

I hadn't planned it this way, but it just so happened that I was crossing HaYarkon River (on the Namir Road bridge) shortly after sunset, so I was able to capture 3 quite stunning shots, one of which is today's pic of the day:

I still got to the airport about 2 hours before my flight, but that gave me time to relax and catch up with some things on my phone (while charging it, as well).

When I got back to Eilat, I took a bus home; I had walked more than enough for today.

I walked a total of 13.3 kilometers today.

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

I again slept well and got up very early this morning. This allowed me plenty of time to get various tasks done before going to WIZO.

שוב ישנתי טוב וקמתי מוקדם בבוקר. זה איפשר לי המון זמן לעשות משימות שונות לפני ללכת לוויצ"ו.

I walked over to WIZO as usual. Today, Bassia gave quite a dynamic presentation of the meaning of language and the importance of getting the "music" of a language one is learning.

הלכתי לוויצו כרגיל. היום, באשע הציגה הרצה על משמעות השפה ועל החשיבות לשים לב ל"המוסיקה" של שפה שלומדים אותה.

I walked back home afterwards by a more circuitous route, taking a couple of pictures along the way, including today's pic of the day, a nice view of White Mountain:

הלכתי הביתה לאחר מכן במסלול מעגלי יותר, מצלם כמה תמונות לאורך הדרך, כולל התמונה של היום, נוף יפה של ההר הלבן:

Today, instead of writing a fugue, I went back to some work I did over 4 years ago. At that time, I took a class on a computer language invented specifically for producing music electronically, called “ChucK”. I had gone considerably beyond the requirements for the final project, and after the class ended, I took it even further. The program I wrote composes a piece by selecting many properties randomly but within quite strict limits. Each time the program is run, it produces a different result. I tweaked it a bit today, mostly to make the results louder since I had previously set them MUCH too soft. Then I ran it and recorded 4 of its outputs. You can listen to the results, all of which are in the folder at this link.

היום, במקום לכתוב פוגה, חזרתי לעבודה שעשיתי לפני 4 שנים. באותו זמן, לקחתי שיעור על שפת מחשב המציא במיוחד עבור הפקת מוסיקה אלקטרונית, המכונה "ChucK". עברתי הרבה מעבר לדרישות של הפרויקט הסופי, ולאחר סיומו של השיעור, עבדתי על זה עוד יותר. התוכנית שכתבתי אותה מלחין חתיכת על ידי בחירת תכונות רבות באופן אקראי אבל בתוך גבולות קפדניים למדי. בכל פעם שהתוכנית פועלת, היא יוצרת תוצאה אחרת. אני עשיתי שינוים קטנים בה היום, בעיקר כדי להפוך את התוצאות בקול רם משום שקודם הן היו יותר מדי חרישות. אז רצתי אותה והקלטתי 4 פלטים שלה. תוכל להאזין לתוצאות, שכולן נמצאות בתיקיה בקישור זה.

I had a tomato, a cucumber, a carrot, half of an orange bell pepper, 2 baked potatoes, some cookies, and some fig treats for lunch.

אכלתי עגבנייה, מלפפון, גזר, חצי פלפל כתום, 2 תפוחי אדמה אפויים, כמה עוגיות וכמה חטיפות תאנה לארוחת צהריים.

I taught 3 units of Berlitz lessons today: 5:00-6:30 and 6:45-7:30.

לימדתי 3 יחידות של שיעורי ברליץ היום: 5:00-6:30 ו6:45-7:30.

I walked a total of 3.2 kilometers today.

בסך הכל הלכתי 3.2 ק״מ היום.

Monday, 29 January 2018

I slept well last night but woke up and got up very early this morning. This allowed me to get some work done on my fugue before my first lesson.

ישנתי טוב בלילה אבל התעוררתי וקמתי מוקדם מאוד בבוקר. זה איפשר לי לעשות קצת עבודה על הפוגה שלי לפני השיעור הראשון שלי

I taught only 4 units of Berlitz lessons today: 9:00-10:30 and 3:00-4:30.

לימדתי רק 4 יחידות של שיעורי ברליץ היום

After my first lesson, I walked down to Maccabi for a return appointment with the orthopedist. He looked at the ultrasound results and then gave me a cortisone shot in my shoulder and a referral to physical therapy.

אחרי השיעור הראשון שלי, ירדתי למכבי לביקור חוזר עם האורטופד. הוא הביט בתוצאות האולטרה-סאונד ואחר כך נתן לי זריקת קורטיזון בכתפי והפניה לפיזיותרפיה

Then I did several other errands in town, spent some pleasant time with Hannah, and walked home by a slightly longer route, stopping to get a few item at Shufersal (the one near WIZO) on the way. Not long before I got home, I shot today's pic of the day

אחר כך עשיתי כמה סידורים אחרים בעיר, ביליתי קצת זמן נעים עם חנה, והלכתי הביתה במסלול ארוך יותר, ועצרתי לקנות כמה פריטים בשופרסל (ליד ויצ"ו) בדרך. קצת לפני שהגעתי הביתה, צילמתי את צילום היום

After my afternoon lesson, I ate vegetables, cheese wrapped in tortillas, cookies, and treats made from dried apricots for lunch.

אחרי השיעור שלי אחר הצהריים, אכלתי ירקות, גבינה עטופה בטורטיות, עוגיות, ופינוקי משמשים מיובשים לארוחת צהריים

My fugue today was based on the word of the day, "anthropomorphic". You can listen to the results here.

הפוגה שלי היום התבססה על מילת היום האנגלית, שיא

anthropomorphic

 אתה יכול להאזין לתוצאות כאן

I walked a total of 5.5 kilometers today.

בסך הכל, הלכתי  5.5 ק"מ היום 

Sunday, 28 January 2018

I slept well last night and got up at just the right time this morning.

After breakfast, I had just a little time to start working on my fugue before I had to head down to Maccabi for my EKG (required for my pre-op visit at the ophthalmologist in Tel Aviv this coming Wednesday).

After my EKG, I walked up to Hannah's and then walked over to the hospital with her. She needs to find out when her appointment for a test there is. The receptionist couldn't tell us, but she did give us a number to call. However, according to the recording (in Hebrew) she must call on either Monday or Tuesday between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. So, at least we made some progress.

Then we walked over to Mega Sport so Hannah could buy a couple of yoga mats.

After walking back to her house and resting a while, I walked home. Along the way, I took several pictures, mostly of flowers. However, I saw a flag that I didn't recognize, so I looked at the sign on the house and learned that it was the Belgian Consulate. Here it is in today's pic of the day:

When I got home, I had a BIG bowl of soup, with some added crackers, and a few waffles for lunch. I had started the soup last night in my crock pot, with vegetarian chicken soup flavoring, rice, and onion, garlic, carrots, and soy protein balls.

I also continued work on my fugue, which is based on today's word of the day, "popinjay". The rhythm, however, is similar to that of the Game of Thrones theme, yielding a rather edgy fugue. You can listen to it here.

After that, I mostly relaxed before going to our weekly play-reading group in the evening, where we finished reading "Philadelphia, Here I Come".

I walked a total of 9 kilometers today.

Shabbat, 27 January 2018

I slept somewhat in segments last night but still quite well, and I got up reasonably early.

I had started working on today's fugue a little last night, and I continued this morning after breakfast, taking a break to talk with David in Tel Aviv for a while.

Then I walked over to Hannah's for our weekly Torah study. Along the way, I took a couple of pictures of pretty yellow flowers. One of them is today's pic of the day:

After we finished reading and discussing this week's Torah portion, we walked down to the Gulf Restaurant and enjoyed a really nice lunch there.

After walking back to Hannah's (and stopping to rest a couple of times along the way) and relaxing there for a while, I walked back home.

I talked for a few minutes with Joyce. She's out of the hospital and back in the rest home, working on building her strength and stability so that she can go back home. She sounded in pretty good spirits.

Then I went back to work on my Fugue of the Day. It's subject is the refrain of a popular setting of the first few lines of a Shabbat psalm, "Mizmor Shir". You can listen to the results here.

I walked a total of 8 kilometers today.

Friday, 26 January 2018

I again slept well and woke up at a good time. I also ate breakfast a little early.

After breakfast, I took out the trash and recycling, and I also walked up and bought challah.

I talk just one 3-unit lesson today: 10:00-12:15.

After that, I took a short walk up into the hills, taking a number of pictures along the way, including today's pic of the day, showing the subtle and beautiful colors of the desert hills on this mostly cloudy day:

After I returned from my walk, I continued work on today's fugue and also ate lunch (2 cheese and tomato sandwiches, a baked yam, and 2 baked potatoes).

Today's Fugue of the Day is based on an old ear worm of mine which, I'm sure, derives from some tune or other that I've heard (or maybe a combination of several). Anyway, you can listen to the resulting fugue here.

As the light faded from the valley, I lit candles, drank a little sweet red wine, and ate a little challah to welcome Shabbat. The rest of the evening, I just relaxed.

I walked a total of 4.2 kilometers today.

Thursday, 25 January 2018

I slept well last night and got up early enough this morning to relax a while before heading down to Maccabi.

At about 6:30, I set out walking to Maccabi, taking several pictures along the way. Some were of flowers, but there were also several of the sky, since the just-risen sun was playing peek-a-boo behind the clouds, yielding today's pic of the day:

I got my blood drawn pretty quickly. Besides the regular weekly check of how my blood thinner is working, there was also a battery of test required before my meeting next Wednesday with the ophthalmologist at Ichilov in preparation for my cataract surgeries.

I then walked back home, arriving in time to begin work on my fugue before my first lesson.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:30-12:00, 3:30-5:00, and 7:00-8:30.

After my morning lesson, I continued work on my fugue. Today, I experimented with instruments in several other synthesizers that I have, mostly ones that came with Digital Performer, my DAW (digital audio workstation). I finally settled on 4 quite percussive instruments selected from 3 different synthesizers. The fugue subject is the opening lines of a popular French song from the Renaissance, "L'homme Armé". Its primary claim to fame is that composers of that era seemed fixated on writing masses (believe it or not!) based on it. There are more than 40 such masses that have survived! For the masses, the tune was generally "buried" in long, slow notes in the tenor part, but since it's the subject of my fugue it's very prominent, and it's NOT played particularly slowly. You can listen to the result here.

I had a large salad and weenies wrapped in tortillas for lunch today.

Between my afternoon lesson and my evening one, I mostly just relaxed.

I walked a total of 3.8 kilometers today.

Wednesday, 24 January 2018

I slept well last night and got up at a good time this morning.

After breakfast and my other morning rituals, I decided to take a walk around the big loop. It was a lovely day for it (t-shirt, jeans, and socks and shoes). I took quite a few pictures, including today's pic of the day, showing some lovely little flowers that were blooming along the Nakhal Garuf Promenade:

After my walk, I had just enough time to get a good start on today's fugue before my first lesson.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 11:45-1:15, 3:30-5:00, and 7:00-8:30.

Before lunch, I did some grocery shopping at the Elimelech Supermarket, much of which consisted of stocking up on fruits and vegetables.

I had a salad with cucumber, carrot, half of an orange bell pepper, a large tomato, some cooked beet, 2 cloves of garlic chopped into small pieces, salad dressing, and nuts for lunch. I also ate a little more of the cooked beet and 2 veggie burger and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise and old-fashioned mustard.

After my afternoon class, I finished today's Fugue of the Day, which is based on the opening of the theme song for the Carousel of Progress which used to be located, many, many years ago, in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. You can listen to it here.

I walked a total of 5.9 kilometers today.

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

I slept well last night and got up fairly early this morning. Before I left for WIZO, I had already done most of the work on today's fugue.

I walked over to WIZO, which was very informal today. Except for Isobel, it just so happened that only Americans showed up today, which is quite unusual. Afterwards, I walked back home most of the way with Isobel, since she lives not far from me.

Today's pic of the day is a view of the sun behind the clouds that I took down a street not far from my place this morning:

When I got back, I finished work on today's Fugue of the Day, based on a Scott Joplin rag (from "The Entertainer", I think). You can listen to it here.

I had a large salad and weenies wrapped in tortillas for lunch.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 3:30-5:00, 5:00-6:30, and 7:00-8:30.

I walked a total of 2.9 kilometers today.

Monday, 22 January 2018

I slept well last night and got up reasonably early this morning.

After breakfast, I had some time to work a little more on yesterday's Fugue of the Day, which I had only barely started last night.

I was scheduled to teach 10 units of Berlitz lessons today, but one 2-unit lesson was a no-show (by a student who is ALWAY a no-show!): 9:00-10:30, 11:00-12:30, 3:00-4:30, 5:00-6:30 (the no-show), and 7:00-8:30.

After my morning lessons, I resumed work on the fugue and continued working as I ate lunch. I successfully finished it before my 3:00 lesson. Its subject is the beginning of "Somewhere over the Rainbow", and I think it turned out quite nice. You can listen for yourself here.

I had a large salad, cheese slices in tortillas (slightly toasted), and 4 small cookies for lunch.

Since I knew my 5:00 student would not show up, I decided to work on TODAY's Fugue of the Day. I was able to find out quite a bit about the "Game of Thrones" theme and even a number of scores for various instruments, so it was easy to take the beginning of it as my subject. The fugue came together quickly; I used 4 percussive synthesizer instruments. You can listen to it here.

I never even stepped outside my apartment today, which is probably a shame since I'm sure it was a lovely day out there.

Sunday, 21 January 2018

My landlady brought be a lot of delicious food last night, and I made the mistake of eating it all. As a result, I was so full that I couldn't relax and thus didn't sleep well at all. I finally got up in the wee hours for a while and then went back to bed after some time. I did sleep some more, but I never really got very well rested despite getting up very late. I was still so full that I didn't even eat any breakfast.

I had an appointment with my family doctor (over in Shakahmon) at 9:10 to get orders for the EKG and blood tests that I have to do before my pre-op visit with the ophthalmologist in Tel Aviv on the 31st (I'll be having cataract removal surgery). I walked over to Shakhamon, taking a couple of pictures along the way, including today's pic of the day, the morning sun reflecting off the gulf:

After I was finished there, I walked all the way into town to the main Maccabi office to begin the paperwork I need for the trip to Tel Aviv. Hannah joined me at the end because she needed to talk to someone there, as well. Then we walked down to Il Pentolino and both had lunch there.

Next, I walked down to her bank and then to the post office with her. Of course, we had to wait at both places, but it was easy to pass the time with enjoyable conversation. Then we walked back up for a little more waiting at the Maccabi pharmacy for me to pick up my monthly prescriptions. Finally, we walked back up to Hannah's place, where we visited a little more before I caught a bus back home.

When I got back, I was pretty tired, so I rested and even napped a little in my chair. Then I went up to the Einat Center market to get a few necessities.

In the evening, I went to our weekly play-reading group. We started a new Irish play called "Philadelphia, Here I Come", and it was really a lot of fun.

I walked a total of 8.7 kilometers today.

Thursday, 18 January 2018

I actually DID write this on Thursday, 18 January, but I forgot to post it then, so here it is, 2 days later:


I slept well last night and got up rather late this morning.

After breakfast, I walked down to Maccabi for my weekly blood test (to make sure my blood thinner is working properly). Alone the way, I took several pictures, including today's pic of the day, showing some flowers on the median of Sheshet HaYamim (at the traffic light kikar):

After the blood draw, I walked home in time for my first lesson of the day.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:30-12:00, 5:00-6:30, and 6:30-8:00.

After my first lesson, I ate another big bowl of my soup/stew for lunch. I also ate a few handfuls of trail mix (dried fruit and nuts).

During lunch, I worked on my Fugue of the Day based on a tune that probably very few, if any, of you are familiar with. You can listen to it here.

In the afternoon, I felt tired, so I just relaxed in my chair and even dozed off a bit.

I walked a total of 3.8 kilometers today.

Shabbat, 20 January 2018

I slept in a bit this morning and didn't even get out of bed very quickly when I finally was fully awake. But I felt very rested and energetic.

I had actually started work on today's fugue last night, and I spent much of the morning finishing it. Many of you will certainly recognize the source of its subject. You can listen to it here.

I also had my usual Shabbat morning conversation with David in Tel Aviv.

I went somewhat late to Hannah's for our Torah study, and then we ended up watching a movie first. But we did, nevertheless, read the whole Torah portion and talk about it. I got home just after the sun disappeared behind the hills, and it's a good thing, too, because it was beginning to get cool and I hadn't brought a wrap with me. I did take time on the way, though, to snap today's pic of the day, looking down Los Angeles Street from just below Sheshet HaYamim, showing Aqaba and the gulf still in the sunlight:

As soon as I got back, I talked briefly with Richard and Joyce. Unfortunately, she has been back in the hospital since last Monday due to water in her lungs. She sounded weak but is keeping up her courage.

The rest of the day, I basically just relaxed at home.

I walked a total of 3.7 kilometers (after walking 4.3 kilometers yesterday, which I forgot to post).

Friday, 19 January 2018

I woke up VERY early but stayed in bed for quite some time (and may even have gotten a bit more sleep), but I still also got up really early. At least it was easy for me to get challah and to take the trash and recycling out without any difficulty. When I first stepped out of my gate, the sun was hiding rather dramatically behind some clouds, as you can see in today's pic of the day:

I needed to be a little early, because I had an appointment at 8:40 for an ultrasound of my left shoulder. I walked down to Maccabi and arrived plenty early, even after taking several pics along the way. They took me in right at the scheduled time. Since he was doing my left shoulder, I was able to watch the screen during the exam, and I could tell that he was focusing on one particular spot. Of course, I didn't really know what he was seeing or what it meant.

I then walked back home and got here in time to get some work done on my fugue before my lessons.

I taught 4 units of Berlitz lessons today, back-to-back: 10:15-11:45 and 11:45-1:15.

After finishing my lessons, I ate the rest of my soup/stew (more like the latter now) and a couple of baked potatoes for lunch.

I also continued work on my fugue and finished it. Its subject is the beginning of "Sewannee River". You can listen to it here.

I already got the results from the ultrasound. According to the report, "There is full-thick. tear 13 mm long of M. Supraspinatus near GT" but no other visible problems. I don't know exactly where "GT" is, but I looked up M. Supraspinatus, and it's an important shoulder muscle that helps to raise the arm. So, apparently, I have a tear about a half-inch long in this muscle. Now it will be up to the orthopedist to tell me what can be done. I have an appointment with him on the 29th. I'm pretty sure he'll send me to physical therapy, and that's likely to solve the problem sufficiently well, at least based on the experience I had with my right shoulder a while back (which was much more impairing than the current problem).

I managed to get the dusting and sweeping done today, "weekly" chores that I haven't managed to do in quite a few weeks. That felt really good!

In the evening, I lit candles, drank a bit of sweet red wine, and ate some challah to welcome Shabbat.

Other than all that, I just relaxed today (and even took a short nap in my comfortable chair!).

Wednesday, 17 January 2018

I got up quite early this morning and ate breakfast early, too.

Then I walked down to Hannah's and accompanied her to Maccabi to help her get some important medical things done. Next, we walked on down to Misrad HaKlitah (the immigrant absorption office) to try to arrange for her to get more ulpan (Hebrew classes). It's a little more complicated than we had thought it would be.

From there, we walked back to Hannah's place, stopping for a couple of errands on the way. After visiting a while with her, I walked back home and began work on my fugue. On the way, I took a couple of scenery pictures, including today's pic of the day:

I had a BIG bowl of my new stew for lunch. It was quite good.

I taught only one 2-units Berlitz lesson today: 3:30-5:00.

Afterwards, I walked down to the mall to return the selfie stick that I had bought yesterday. It didn't work with my phone. I had to wait for the manager to come in in order to do it, but then it was no problem. I caught a bus back home.

Finally, I finished my Fugue of the Day, whose subject is "The Farmer in the Dell". You can listen to it here.

I walked a total of 9.9 kilometers today.

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

I got up fairly early this morning and ate breakfast early, too.

I was even able to finish my Fugue of the Day BEFORE leaving for WIZO. Its subject is the first line of "Morning Has Broken". You can listen to the final result here.

On my walk over to WIZO, I took several nice pictures, including today's pic of the day, the view looking north-northeast on Sheshet HaYamim Avenue from Los Angeles Street:

We had a delightful program at WIZO today. The presenter, Barbara Blum, had us imagine a family gathering in Victorian English (1875) and the kind of entertainment they might have presented after dinner for each other. It included piano pieces by Schubert, Chopin, and Lizst, as well as several lieder (German art songs), poems, and excerpts from plays and an opera. It was very enjoyable.

After WIZO, I walked down to Hannah's and went with her to Maccabi (where she had an appointment with her doctor), to lunch at the Thai place in town, to the pharmacy, and to Shufersal. Then we hung out for a while at her place before I left.

From there, I walked down to the Mul HaYam Mall. Along the way, I took a few more photos of the last light of day on the mountains across the valley. Here's one of them:

I did some window shopping at the mall and also bought a selfie stick and a couple of scoops of ice cream in a cup.

Then I walked all the way back up to my place, stopping a bit to rest on a bench at one point, and making a small detour to the supermarket along the way (above Rachel's Café).

When I got home, I started a new soup/stew in the big crock pot.

I walked a total of 10.4 kilometers today.

Monday, 15 January 2018

I got up quite early this morning and ate breakfast early, too. This gave me time to get a good start on my fugue even before my first lesson.

I was scheduled to teach 10 units of Berlitz lessons today, but one student, to no one's surprise, turned out to be a no-show (out of something like 10 lessons, this student has only attended one): 9:00-10:30, 11:00-12:30, 3:00-4:30, 5:00-6:30 (the no-show), and 7:00-8:30.

I had a salad with added nuts and a baked yam for lunch. A little later, I also ate a couple of cookies and a few more nuts.

I finished my Fugue of the Day just before my first afternoon lesson. Its subject is the familiar "Shave and a haircut, two bits", and it also includes the song "Turkey in the Straw". You can listen to the result here.

After the no-show, I just relaxed a bit before my evening lesson.

Sunday, 14 January 2018

I got up quite late this morning, and started my day off quite leisurely.

Once I did get going, I set to work on my fugue. Later, I took a break to go up and get a few things at the Einat Center market.

I also got some work done relating to upcoming medical appointments in Tel Aviv and the necessary paperwork.

I only had a few nuts and some dried fruit for lunch.

Afterwards, I finished my Fugue of the Day, whose subject is based on "Let My People Go" in honor of the current Torah portions and of MLK's birthday. You can listen to it here.

While the washing machine did a load of laundry, I relaxed in my chair and even dozed off a bit.

After hanging up the clothes, I walked over to Hannah's just as the last light of day was illuminating Aqaba. I took some pictures of it, including today's pic of the day:

Then I walked with Hannah over to the ulpan to explore with her what the possibilities might be. The lady who is the director was very nice, and it looks like Hannah will be able to get the ulpan (intensive Hebrew learning) that she wants and needs.

From there, I walked over to Fay's for our weekly play-reading group. We finished the play we had started reading last time.

I walked a total of 4.6 kilometers today.

Shabbat, 13 January 2018

I got up quite early this morning, and after breakfast I set to work on my fugue.

I also talked to David in Tel Aviv for a while, and then I walked down to Hannah's for Torah study.

From there, I walked up to David & Bassia's place for a wonderful afternoon lunch.

I walked home and took today's pic of the day shortly after leaving their place:

When I got back, I worked some more on my fugue, as well as talking to Joyce and Richard, before walking down to Hannah's again. From there, we walked to Eddie's Hideaway (in the industrial area) for a scrumptious dinner to celebrate Isobel's birthday (which is actually next Tuesday). All the food I had was delicious, and the company was also very enjoyable.

Finally, after returning home by taxi, I finished my Fugue of the Day. You can listen to it here. Can any of you identify the source of its subject?

I walked a total of 7.8 kilometers today.

Friday, 12 January 2018

I slept a little lightly last night and got up quite early. I also ate breakfast early.

After breakfast, I went up and bought challah and then took the trash and recycling out. I also got started working on the Fugue of the Day.

I taught 2 units of Berlitz today: 10:00-11:30.

I then went out for a short walk and a little time in the park, just to enjoy the beautiful weather. I didn't want to walk too far, though, because I'm babying my left knee. It does seem to be a bit better today, in any case. Here's the view from where I sat in the park, on my favorite bench:

I had a salad, cheese sandwiches (with old-fashioned mustard), and some Tunisian cookies for lunch.

While eating lunch, I continued work on my fugue and finished it shortly thereafter. The subject is from the beginning of the theme of a 1956 movie called "Around the World in 80 Days". I'm actually not sure where I know it from (I only learned about the movie just today), but I knew that those were the words, and it's been a long-term ear worm of mine. Here's the resulting Fugue of the Day.

I finally did the dishes, something I'm supposed to do every week but haven't done for more than a month. I still didn't get the other weekly chores done, but they're not as critical (dusting and sweeping).

In the evening, I lit candles, drank a little sweet red wine, and ate a bit of challah to welcome Shabbat. After that, I mostly just relaxed.

I walked a total of 2.4 kilometers today.

Thursday, 11 January 2018

I slept much better last night, partly because I just made Pascal move when I needed to get the right position to fall back asleep. Sorry, my dear black-and-white friend! I got up at a good time and ate breakfast early.

After breakfast, I walked down to Maccabi for my weekly blood test (to see how my blood thinner is working). I felt a little tired and was also getting some pain from my knee, so I decided to take a bus back home.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 10:30-12:00, 3:30-5:00, and 6:30-8:00.

I had a salad, weenies wrapped in tortillas, and another tortilla filled with peanut-carob spread for lunch today.

Between lessons, I worked on today's Fugue of the Day. See if you can figure out where I got its subject. Listen to it here.

I walked a total of 2.4 kilometers today.

Wednesday, 10 January 2018

I woke up in the middle of the night last night and couldn't get back to sleep because of pain in my knee. I just couldn't quite find a comfortable position. So I ended up getting up WAY too early. I then ate breakfast early and got a good start on the Fugue of the Day.

I walked over to Shakhamon for an appointment with my family doctor at 9:20. I think the cardiologist had accidentally given me a second copy of the letter to my primary doctor rather the other a referral to the electrophysiologist. In any case, my doctor gave me a referral (after grumbling a bit about how the cardiologist should have done it). I also asked him about my knee, but he said I needed to see the orthopedist for that (which I rather suspected). I do have a return appointment with the orthopedist on the 29th (after my ultrasound of the shoulder on the 19th). In the mean time, I can't take anti-inflammatory meds because I'm on Coumadin (blood thinner). So I'll just have to cope with the knee as best I can. Luckily, the pain is NOT constant, and most of the time it's not very strong, either.

I felt too tired to walk all the way back home, so I caught a bus. When I got back, I mostly rested and even dozed off a bit in my chair, but I did get more work done on my fugue.

I taught 6 units of Berlitz lessons today: 12:00-1:30, 2:30-4:00, and 7:00-8:30.

I had 3 beets and 2 baked potatoes for lunch.

In the afternoon, I finished my fugue, whose subject is the beginning of a tune that my dad used to whistle quite often. I guess it was his ear worm. Some of you may recognize it. You can listen to the Fugue of the Day here.

I walked a total of 2.7 kilometers today.

Tuesday, 9 January 2018

I went to bed early last night and got up early this morning. I also ate breakfast early and then started to work on my fugue for today.

I walked to WIZO this morning and took today's pic of the day along the way, another shot of the beautiful little white flowers:

Sharona gave a very nice presentation at WIZO this music, bringing together pop songs featuring various countries around the world. Everybody obviously enjoyed it (me too!).

After WIZO, I walked down to MaccabiPharm to get more Optalgin (anti-pain medicine), and then I walked up to Hannah's. A little later, she and I walked together up to my place, where we chatted and I made us some nice salads for lunch.

I taught 5 units of Berlitz lessons today: 3:30-5:00, 5:00-6:30, and 7:45-8:30.

I imagined the subject for today's Fugue of the Day while lying in bed, and it works really well. It does make for a rather intense piece, though, with lots of diminished seventh chords. A cool feature (that I did NOT think about when making it up) is that it sounds great when turned upside down. Even better, the subject and its upside down version work together, which happens at the very end. You can hear the final result here.

I walked a total of 4.4 kilometers today.

Monday, 8 January 2018

I got up early enough this morning to eat breakfast and easily walk to my 9:15 appointment with the cardiologist. Since my atrial fibrillation has returned, he is referring me to a electrophysiologist (an electrician of the heart) at the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. There may actually be something that they can do about it!

I walked back home after my appointment, taking some pictures along the way, including today's pic of the day:

When I got back home, I set to work on my fugue. My first lesson turned out to be a late cancellation, and the student came into the classroom early to inform me about it, so I had quite a bit of extra time to work on my music.

I was scheduled to teach 8 units of Berlitz lessons today, but the first lesson (2 units), as I mentioned, was a late cancellation, and the third lesson (also 2 units) was a no-show: 11:30-1:00, 3:00-4:30, 5:00-6:30 (the no-show), and 7:00-8:30.

I had a salad and cheese slices in tortillas for lunch.

I easily finished my Fugue of the Day, whose subject is the beginning of "When the Saints Go Marching In". You can listen to the result here.

I walked a total of 4.1 kilometers today.

Sunday, 7 January 2018

I got up reasonably early and very refreshed from a nice night's sleep. I ate a small, light breakfast almost immediately. Then I started work on my Fugue of the Day.

At about 9:00, I started walking down the hill for the monthly WIZO brunch at the Soleil Boutique Hotel. It was very delicious and filling, and the conversation was also nice.

After that, I walked up to Hannah's, and then we walked down to Mercaz Big together. She really needed some new shoes, and we were finally able to find the right pair for her (in the 2nd shop we checked). After getting a couple of other things she wanted and resting a bit, we hit both of the health food stores in the area and then walked back to her place. On the way, I shot today's pic of the day, a view across the valley from the area between the 2 health food stores:

I rested briefly at Hannah's, and then I took a bus back home. It was a really nice day, thanks to the beautiful weather, the shopping, and the enjoyable company.

I spent much of the rest of the day completing my Fugue of the Day, whose subject is from the beginning of the old French folk song, "Sur le Pont d'Avignon". You can listen to the results here.

I walked a total of 8.1 kilometers today.

Shabbat, 6 January 2018

I got up earlier than I really wanted to this morning because I had to pee. Then I just stayed up.

I started work on my Fugue of the Day and I talked to David in Tel Aviv after breakfast.

Then I walked over to Hannah's for our Torah study and general hanging out. She took me down to the Ethiopian restaurant for lunch, which seemed even better than the last time we were there.

Before it got dark, I walked back home, taking today's pic of the day along the way:

I talked to Joyce and Richard when I got home, and she is getting noticeably better. Then I just rested and even napped a bit in my chair.

Finally I got to work and finished my Fugue of the Day, but it was already after 9:00 p.m. Anyway, it turned out better than I thought it was going to. You can listen to it here.

I walked a total of 5.7 kilometers today.

Friday, 5 January 2018

Since I didn't take any pictures today, the pic of the day is one I took a couple of days ago:

I woke up and got up early despite getting to bed a little late last night.

After breakfast, I walked up and bought challah, and then I took out the trash and recycling.

I spent most of the rest of the morning working today's Fugue of the Day. I wrote a very chromatic subject for it, so it naturally has very complex, intense harmonies. You can listen to it here.

I also did some grocery shopping this morning. When I went out, I saw that we had had some rain, but it didn't rain while I was out there.

For lunch, I had a salad, weenies wrapped in tortillas, and a baked yam.

In the afternoon, I mostly just relaxed.

In the evening, I lit candles, drank a little sweet red wine, and ate some challah to welcome Shabbat.

I also planned out the vacation day's I plan to take in 2018 and when I need to request each of them. I'm going to be more organized about using my vacation time this year.

I walked a total of just under one kilometer today.

Thursday, 4 January 2018

I got up quite early this morning.

After an early breakfast, I walked down to Maccabi for my EKG (before my cardiology appointment next Monday) and my weekly blood test (to make sure my blood thinner is working properly).

Then I walked up to Hannah's place and visited her for a while before we both caught the bus over to Shakhamon. Since there were changes in my EKG since my last one, the nurse wanted me to have my doctor look over it today, so I got the secretary at the Shakhamon clinic (where he sits) to show them to him. He said I'd be fine until I see the cardiologist on Monday. Not far from the doctor's office, I took today's pic of the day, of this lovely white flower:

We then took a bus back to my place, where I baked potatoes in my toaster oven for our lunch. They came out delicious!

After some more chatting, relaxing, and walking in the park and next to the desert, Hannah took a bus back home.

Today's Fugue of the Day is on an original subject that I came up with last night. I'm particularly pleased with this one. You can listen to it here.

I taught only 3 units of Berlitz lessons today: 5:00-5:45 and 6:30-8:00.

I walked a total of 5.4 kilometers today.

Wednesday, 3 January 2018

I got up at about the right time this morning after a pretty good night's sleep.

I taught only 2 units of Berlitz today: 9:00-10:30.

Then I walked into town on a couple of errands. Afterwards, I walked up to Hannah's, and a while later, we walked down and had pizza for lunch at Pizza Shemesh (across from Maccabi). I then went grocery shopping with her at Shufersal and, of course, back up to her place.

On the walk home from Hannah's, I took a couple of nice pictures in the waning light. Since there was very little wind today, the sea, at least from way up in town, looked almost like glass, reflecting the color of the mountains on the other side, as shown in today's pic of the day, taken from the median of HaSporta'im near the Begin School:

"Over the hills and through the woods..." provided the subject (and other parts, as well) of today's Fugue of the Day. You can listen here.

I walked a total of 6.4 kilometers today.

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

I got up a little late this morning after a good night's sleep.

Before heading off to WIZO, I got a good start on today's Fugue of the Day. More about that later...

I walked to WIZO, taking several pictures of flowers along the way, including today's pic of the day:

We had quite a lively discussion at WIZO today about differences between Brits and Americans and between various dialects of the English language. I think everyone enjoyed it!

After WIZO, I went to lunch at Café Optimi with 4 other people from the group. Then I walked up to Hannah's for a nice visit. Finally, I took a bus back home.

I finished my Fugue of the Day after returning home. Everyone will recognize the subject of it, I think, but there's a little surprise at the end. Check it out here.

I spent the rest of the evening trying to get my computer and printer to talk to each other over the WiFi network (with no luck so far, but I'll keep trying tomorrow). All the "helpful" HP support just keeps taking me in circles.

I walked a total of 3.6 kilometers today.

Sunday, 31 December 2017

I got to bed early last night and also got up very early this morning, feeling very refreshed after an excellent night's sleep.

After breakfast, I set right to work on today's Fugue of the Day. It's subject is an ear worm from many years ago. Very few, if any, of you will be familiar with it, I think. However, if you CAN correctly identify it, you get to submit a subject for a future fugue. Listen to today's Fugue of the Day here.

I had a large salad, the rest of last week's stew, and 5 bread sticks for lunch today.

After lunch, I took a wonderful walk around the big loop, with some variations. I took quite a few pictures, including today's pic of the day, a stunning flower along the Nakhal Garuf Promenade:

I took a short nap in the early evening, so that I wouldn't tire before the New Year arrived at midnight.

I was invited to a New Year's Eve party at Ros's place, and I had a really good time. She lives on the 6th floor of a building over in Shakhamon, so we had a nice view from her balcony of the fireworks just after midnight. It was a small party, with 2 or 3 people I knew and several others who were new to me. They were all Brits; I was the only American there. The walks over and back were also very pleasant.

I walked a total of 7.2 kilometers today (not counting the 1.3-kilometer walk back, which will be in tomorrow's total).