I’m not sure when I made the change from leading the fast lane to cruising in the middle of the road, but I came to the realization this evening that I am now a middle-lane driver.  I don’t mean this as a metaphor, I actually mean the difference between the fast lane and middle lane of a highway.  It feels like a sudden and tragic indication of aging.  Or an indication that my muffler is becoming so loud that going over 60 drowns out the music.  The latter is probably more accurate.

Liz and I rode down on the lakeshore bike path this afternoon, she on the yellow mountain bike dubbed “Pedro”, and myself on my sexy, black road bike named “Shakira”.  Luckily, my girl is not concerned that her boyfriend has an intimacy with his bicycles that has produced nicknames.

The city was sunny and lovely this afternoon.  The water was light blue and the sailboats sailed bright white against the sky.  We rode down to Navy Pier, but quickly evacuated the tourist zone and headed back to the beaches.  We may return to Navy Pier tomorrow and have a proper look around.

Tomorrow is my second lesson with Anthony and I’m feeling good about it.  I’m a much, much, much more dedicated student this time around.  I’ve learned and memorized the Beethoven variations I was assigned.  I found recordings of them.  I recorded myself.  I went back and learned them again, one hand at a time.  I played them with my eyes closed.  I played them staring at the music one last time.  They are as ready as they will be.  I have a dozen or so questions for Anthony – if I’m not careful I will talk through the whole lesson and not glean and lick of information.

I’m such a resolute student, in fact, that I’m currently planning to dedicate the end of August and majority of September to lessons and practicing.  My plan is to be better than ever by the time I reach my gig in AZ.  In the past years I’ve been busy with conducting, cancer, and working gigs that I haven’t invested enough time in raw practice.  I’ll admit, for a while there I didn’t even look at a piano unless somebody paid me to.  But now I’m on a practice & technique kick, and it can only be good.

I did get together the recording equipment, so I will be recording and posting progress.

biking