The only music I listen to when I work is classical or jazz. This past week I put on an opera playlist just to try it out, but for the most part I stick to Pandora’s Jazz, Classical Guitar and Classical for Studying radio stations. Yes, I use Pandora with ads. Blasphemous I know.
I have zero musical training or background, so I know close to nothing about either genre of music. I know some of the big names, but have no idea who composed what, how to recognize certain styles or even what I’m listening to.
It’s a weird place to be after listening to thousands of hours of the stuff.
I’m not sure if anyone else has something like this, but it’s almost embarrassing how little I have to show for my enjoyment of classical and jazz music. I’d be useless in a conversation about the stuff. When I recognize the first few notes of a – composition? – all I think is “I love this song.”
Obviously the point of music is to enjoy it, not talk about it, but I want to learn more. It’s also difficult not being able to put a playlist together, since I don’t know the names of anything. Add to that the classical complexity that the composers are no longer living, so there are thousands of versions of their work to sift through.
Even one book goes a long way to learning about a subject, so I’ll be looking for some kind of beginner’s guide to read in the next few weeks.
Winter Running Payback
I’ve been really gung-ho about running in the cold over the past few weeks, so naturally New York City got a foot of snow Monday and my running game was thrown off all week. Other than a rest/hibernation day on Monday itself, I still got out there, but my runs were shorter than usual and at times felt like I was running through sand. Those early runs in fresh snow are often quite beautiful, but the ones that come a day or two later, when the snow is wet, brown and icy, aren’t so great. Definitely a mental “L” for the week, but it rained today and I’m hoping that will clear some of the snow away for this weekend.
Some journal entry goodies from this week:
2/1 – I was planning on running but I’m just not sure. Doesn’t seem necessary, snow is still coming down and the wind is blowing.
2/2 – Just finished up 4 miles in the snow in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Can’t say I loved it, because the ground was pretty uneven, but I’m glad I got out there. Muscles had started to atrophy.
2/3 – I ran 3.5 miles this morning in the icy slush. Shitty conditions, shitty run, not really any redeemable qualities about it. But will feel better sitting behind the computer all day knowing I got out for a run.
2/4 – Went for another shitty run this morning. Just glad to be out there but it’s not fun. Snow will clear up soon enough.