Foreground and Background

One of my favorite artists is MC Escher. In some of his works, he plays with 'regular division of the plane' or tessellation to create images that don't really have what you could call background, but instead have several 'foregrounds' competing with each. Or maybe they don't compete, they just co-exist. It's sometimes hard to 'see' them both at the same time. This period of his works was inspired by a visit to The Alhambra in Spain. It's all very beautiful.

I also like Cezanne, but maybe that is partly because I grew up with a copy of one of his Still Lifes in the entry hallway.

Band rehearsal last night, "Reelin' in the Years" sounds ok, "Don't Push, Don't Shove" (by a South African group) definitely needs work on the violin part, and "Wheels" is fairly intact if we can remember where the changes are supposed to happen.

Started French again on Monday, an 'intermediate' level class, it has been several years so some is simply gone but I think it will be good to actually have an hour each week and maybe more if I can work it in. It was on the 'someday/maybe' list.

Natalie pointed me to some of her statistics professor's problem sets, they use that 'R' computer language that I've mentioned. Like a lot of things, it can seem pretty foreign at first but with a little investment of effort becomes familiar and even useful.

And of course it is a birthday today...happy birthday my dear. The kids and I hope you feel loved today, even with the busyness and distractions of the typical day it may be. I know that my parents and your parents love you too. I hope in some way it is special, besides picking up the car from being repaired. We'll try.

-- Steve