ClusterThrak

Easter Sunday: Woke at 5:30, and slightly less intentional about getting out of bed than I might have been. Began my practice later than yesterday by about 3 minutes. When I was wrapping up a little after 7 AM, someone came into the classroom. Don't know who. Sitting at 7:15. I began feeling quite chilled about halfway into it. At the end my body said "Glenn, go back to bed and get warm, or you will be sick." I did, and slept from 8 to 11.

Waking up again, and walking down the hall to look at the board, Rob R said "The groggy walk of shame." I laughed... But I wasn't really ashamed. The Level Three has changed my relationship to courses... I am at home, and nothing is compulsory. Still, I have obligations and responsibilities.

Took a shower, and then did a little sweeping in the room and hallway. MB borrowed some nail clippers, and we talked about her meeting with RF, which sounded very productive. Then out to the garden. Adrian asked me about the Chrysanthemum exercise, so I went over it with him. Played a bit more guitar. Saw Javier show up again. And soon it was time for lunch. I played Chrysanthemum in the corner while people got food. My hands were shaking quite a bit even from this, but I got through the piece. A nice lunch of polenta, carrot salad, a little fried potato fritter, and a bit of squash (clever use of leftovers). I gave up my seat after a bit. I don't think there are quite enough chairs for us all at the table at this point.

RF left the dining hall, so I knew there wouldn't be anything too important talked about. Ducked out to the garden intending to play a bit more. He was there with his digital camera. I asked him if he knew the history of the garden, he said he did not. Now I see he goes to the back corner for cell reception, as many people do. Talked to Sylvan. Found an Easter Egg under a tree. I sat in the corner by the fountains by myself for a spell. Talked to Lilliana. Worked on Lark's and Moving Force. Talked to Valentina about the fact that I'll be gone after tea tomorrow.

Met with the dessert team, which included Lilliana, Rob R and Barbara. We made flan and caramel sauce. The carmel boiled over and dripped into the stove. Quite a mess. Cleaned up, and then played some more in the dining hall. Martin came and asked me if what I did before was a performance, or a practice session... The time is now 5:27, and I'm intending to go play guitar in the garden until 6, when I meet with the dessert team again.

Practiced in the garden: 16 bar exercise, and then first primary variations. Back inside around 6. A bit of confusion getting the assembly line going. At one point I asked for translation in a loud voice. Then it all worked smoothly, cutting flan and plating it, adding a blob of doce de leche, drizzling on caramel, and adding a cherry, then carrying them out in sets of 5 to the dining hall. About 50 minutes later, we'd created 110 dessert plates.

Saw Tony in the hall and apologized for calling him "Matie" yesterday. Dinner was very good, with boiled (then broiled) potatoes, carrot and cabbage slaw, and cauliflower and peas with a cream sauce. Talked to MB about her day. The conversation got a little carried away when it drifted into politics (comparing the Nixon and Bush presidencies). Just about then Robert asked what we wanted to do with the evening. We wound up, after some amusing exchanges, with Robert agreeing to lead a circle at 9:30. Back in the room now, with about an hour and a half of free time.

Hung in bed, then out to the garden. Cold. Practiced until about 9:20, working more on 2nd primary permutations, and articulation. They had set the dining up up in big circle again. I had hoped the Level 1 would be with the buddies... So, we began again. Circulating triplets. There was some small improvement compaired with the previous evening, but still couldn't really handle it. So: Thrak. With some fun variations, and always a treat for the ears. RF broke it down a bit, and asked for several people to take solos. I broke a string during my "freak out" style solo. Then he gradually moved us all to tremolo, and then one big chord to end. He exited, leaving us staring at each other wondering what was next. Tony asked if we wanted to keep working. We did so, back to the triplet circulation. He tried several approaches to make it easier, but it was beyond us.
I helped put tables back. Talked to MB a BIT, then headed back towards the room. Had a NIN rehearsal, but we felt the piece wasn't really jelled enough to perform. Getting ready for bed, then chapel.