After a couple of slightly down days, when my Spanish didn’t feel like it was going particularly well, and at work the piano seemed to rise higher overhead, and it was difficult to concentrate, today was a little better. For one, I spoke to the Gentleman Friend briefly, which cheered me up. Last night I had a late-night conversation with a potential client for an interesting but difficult project that, I hope, will not be squashed by the piano. I hope this whole piano business makes sense, think the classic cartoom conjunction of sidewalk and piano, only the piano is work.
An eruption on Stromboli has killed a hiker. The GF and I hiked up to look down into the crater some years ago. It was a wonderful experience, and though I’ve seen other volcanoes since, never so close (in Hilo the volcanoes were silent) and so magical. The way up was nightmarish, and I was less fit those days, even aside from my fabled inability to go uphill, so I slowed down the entire party and all photos of my face have a very purple tinge. On the way down it was sand all the way, and sliding down in the dark was great fun. I would not have liked there to be an eruption, even with the hard hats we were provided. I mean, it would have been terrifying + exciting, but also very dangerous, and there is not much one can do to prepare. The village we stayed at on the way down, and where the GF had a really hideous day of flu after our descent (later transmitted to me) appears to be engulfed in smoke.