Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

If it will make you happy... I believe in a God that is infinite and unknowable, but who had to take on limitations in order that the world could exist and in order that humans could apprehend even a small fraction of God's existence. I believe that God set the natural world in motion with the scientific properties by which it operates (that is, I believe in scientific cosmology, not in any creation stories), and I find endlessly fascinating the diversity and beauty which evolved naturally from those simple rules. I believe that the world is imperfect, and that our job as religious people is to assist God in repairing what is broken. I believe that God weeps with us when bad things happen. I believe that people are born basically good and need no intercessors to have relationships with God. I do not believe that any individual or group of people has a monopoly on the truth or the best perception of what God is or what God wants.

And I am not interested in any attempts to convince me that my theology is wrong. It works for me. Yours works for you, and I'm glad for you for that.

        -- Aimee Yermish

On the piano I worked out a harmony line I think I like for "Scottish Bransle" that isn't based on the Barron arrangement. (I'm trying to wean myself from Marshall Barron's arrangements so as to have non-copyright-infringing music to work from, but it's hard because most of hers are so good, usually easy to play, and often catchy. Either that or I should track her down and make some sort of royalty-payment deal. I've run across a reference saying they're not the most historically accurate (nor intended to be), but they don't sound glaringly modern. For "Scottish Bransle" on the HCB album we're recording, not only is the copyright issue more significant, I also need a slightly different effect than the Barron harmonies to fit how the rest of the band is treating it.) And I'm thinking I need to get off my butt and string some Cat-5 up to the third floor so I can put a computer next to the piano. Oh how spoiled I've gotten, not wanting to scribble arrangements with a pencil (or pen) and staff paper, when I know that I can just fire up 'vi' and key it in.

By the way, have others noticed that it's easier to write music with a fountain pen than with a felt-tip or a ball-point? I think I'm about twice as fast with a fountain pen, and that's despite the reduced-ink-smearing advantage a ball-point has for a southpaw.

Anyhow, as much as I value improvisation, I figure the less time I waste saying, "I didn't like a couple of my note choices on that take, can I have a do-over?" in the recording studio, the better.

Before I crash again, I'll pick up a 12-string and see whether my right index-finger nail has grown out enough to record "Butterfly" tomorrow.

And all of this was going to be preamble for something else entirely, but I got sidetracked and now I think I'll either find something to eat or start a new entry for what I had planned to write about in the first place (once I remember what that was).