The finished shape of our fate, the line drawn round it

1. I think the concert yesterday went well. For my own perfectionism, I should like an opportunity to perform the "Embroidery Aria" where I don't make any of the small stupid errors that never turn up in rehearsal, but I have been informed they were not of the kind that the audience noticed—honestly, there was really one of them and it could have been mistaken for a fermata—and I am rarely if ever one hundred percent pleased with a performance of mine no matter what its technical finesse, so there somebody goes. There was some terrific stuff on the program. Someone told me at intermission that they liked my voice best of all the singers, which was very nice. And I've met some people I am very, very glad of. In short, it was worth doing. And after all, I think, autumnal.

(And on a personal stamina note, I did this concert on next to no sleep for far too many nights running. I used to be able to do this; then for years I couldn't. It's not a skill I hope to exploit for the rest of my life, but it's nice to know it's there again when I need it.)

2. My poem "Sefer Yetzirah" has been accepted by Not One of Us for their next one-off. There are a number of reasons it's important to me, so I'm glad it's found a home. It's sort of a kabbalistic love song.

3. I have so many library books to return; I should walk them back before they start charging me things like firstborn children. Seriously, if I'm going to owe my soul to a library, couldn't it be to Alexandria?

4. I seem to be in a good mood. Excuse me while I go outside into the freezing overcast to enjoy it.