1985-02 (February)

February 6th, 1985

Fallen snow refroze in the night, but by midmorning, with the temperature just above freezing and the sun shining bright, the thaw restarted.

Continued reading Great Expectations. Also continued Schumann, violin and piano concertos, piano trio 1, and the piano quartet. It’s good to be back with him after so many excursions elsewhere. Finished the first of Pep’s three “Stages of Expectation.” Carved the leftover rack of lamb for Gwyn to make into an Irish stew with potatoes and onions. Regan’s State of the Union television performance; a farce, like all his presentations there and elsewhere.

February 7th, 1985

Mary here for the first time in ten days because of the ice and snow and an ailing leg. Most Welcome. Continued Schumann, Quartet 3, Piano Trio 3; also the two violin sonatas and Chausson’s “Poeme.”

Well into Pep’s stage two. It holds up well; the old Dickens (Mr. and Mrs. Pocket and XXXXXXXXX ) and the new. Heavy into consideration of returning to ( or, really, beginning, or re-beginning) work on Two Gates- only to xxxxxx that I am by no means really for it. A lack of will or willingness.

February 8th, 1985

Post Office; mailed Hugs the French songs cassette- Berlioz, Faure, Duparc, Debussy. Sapor D; got my Dipyridamole prescription renewed. Also took my blood pressure on machine: systolic, 130, diastolic, 85; pulse, 68. All well below normal. Stopped by Sessel’s; got fresh Dover sole, two heads of lettuce, low-cal salad dressing, lemons.

Shiloh royalties from Rossey. I got half of $64.61, less commission: $29.07. Light Gas Water bill arrived. $702.93 ow! Finished Shumann, with the cello concerto- my favorite orchestral work of his- and prepared to work on to Brahms playing 14 violin concertos of Mendelssohn and Vieux temps.

Wrote to Hugs telling him I sent the songs cassette and advising him to get in touch with the Mozart Quintets through repeated hearings; also to be on the lookout for the Mozart piano concertos en route. Finished Pip’s Stage Two by 5 o’clock.

February 9th, 1985

Began the Brahms sequence with his violin concerto’s, then resumed Great Expectations, Pep’s third and final stage. Then broke for Brahm’s first and a bath. Took Gwyn grocery shopping at Sessel’s, then to one Steak and Egg for cheese burgers. Mailed letter to Hugs, also a request to Dover for a catalog of their large format scores. Back home; Brahms’ third, and finally the fourth.

Ate toasted cheese and crackers while watching an old Rene Clair with Girard Philips and Michele Morgan, Les Grand Manoeuvres; dated but amusing.

February 10th, 1985

Abed till 9; a new record. Casual breakfast; then resumed Brahms with the second piano concerto- one of the few orchestral things of his I really like. After Brinkley show- room to 1- played the Double concerto, which I also like; cast orchestral Brahms, now on to the chamber music- five more cassettes. TV evening, including a “dramatization” of the Atlanta child murders and a splendid French film, “La Truite.” Didn’t get to sleep till after midnight.