At the time of typing, the outside temperature is 30 degrees with a “feel” of a whopping 18 whole degrees. (Fahrenheit. -1/-17 for those of you in Celsius). It’s supposed to be in the teens and single digits next week.
Why do I live in a place where the air hurts my face?
Oh, right. Seasons. Cold is the price I pay for proper seasons and autumn.
Feh.
At least the sun is sort of shining? Kinda?
Joking aside, winter is a hard time of year for me. The short days and limited sunlight set off my seasonal affective disorder, the bone-deep cold makes my chronic pain worse, and the ice and snow make mobility issues extra challenging, all of which makes me less inclined to get outside and try to do anything. Just getting out of bed in the morning is a Herculean task.
The political landscape lately is not helping. It’s a terrifying time to be a marginalized demographic.
……
Ya know what? I’m not gonna think about that right now. I don’t need the panic attack.
This year, one of the things want to do is really lean into the idea of “Be The Weird You Wish To See In The World”. Things are tough, and they’re gonna get worse for a lot of folks, and dammit, we really need some whimsy up in this place. Along that line, I’ve decided that I want to start making music again.
Specifically, I want to learn to play the kalimba. It’s a portable instrument that was created in Africa about 3,000 years ago, and sounds like a lower toned music box, and I adore them. (Fun fact: I accidentally made one when I was younger by dismantling a broken music box, scavenging the tine bar, and attaching it to a bit of wood. I used to sit under a feral old crab apple tree and play with it.) I want to learn it and I want to take it and play it outside and add just a little more music to the world. If I somehow end up spawning a few urban folktales in the process, even better.
(Side note: if you want to help with that, I’ve got a ko-fi goal for one.)
As a bonus, it’s one more thing I can make videos with.
Send warm thoughts. I really want to get back out with the camera, but these damned freezing temperatures are killing me.
Tricksters Road 