I just like a busy brain, is that so wrong??

I’ve noticed a trend.  I like to learn some stuff.  I think about it for a good while, it becomes "a thing" and depending on how engaging I find it depends on how long I stay with it.

It all started with knitting.  And knitting continues.

Last spring and summer it was Spanish.  Come to find none of that made it to my long term memory.

I keep trying to force drawing and visual art making but so far it’s fleeting.

After summer vacation it became all about the Zumba and the food. I am still exercising three times a week and mostly not eating bad stuff. But  there are days when a protein cookie for breakfast, some quinoa and fresh vegetables for lunch, a protein shake for afternoon hunger and some light dinner (maybe a refried bean quesadilla) is acceptable.  I’m looking forward to the farmers market in the  summer and feel like I’ll know how to take advantage of it, but I’ve gotten out of the habit of thinking about food every breathing moment.  (Until I do again, of course.)

A good bit of my mental energy this year has been spent trying to keep high school music appreciation educational and interesting.  Just when I think there are no more ideas, one shows up.  Sometimes they like it, sometimes not but very little of it has felt like busy work.  (I finally broke down and gave a way too easy review sheet for those dingbats who have to take a final and don’t even try to do well-  getting them ready a little earlier this semester.)

Three summers ago I took a class sponsored by Smithsonian Folkways (it was that class that left me laughing about why dogs sniff each other’s butts- completely unrelated but still hilarious to me-it’s in a June archive somewhere). It’s really an online collection of folk music from around the world.  At the end of the week we had to write a lesson plan using the site.

Last week I assigned those kids five countries (which they had to show on a map) and they had to research the pop stars of that country.  It ended up being a pretty cool assignment.  I collected the names, YouTubed them, and they listened to (and informally) evaluated them while working on the next country.  Ethiopia has a pop star.  Mongolia has a favorite. I knew that was likely, but still.

My quarter of world music was curtailed due to the strike (thankfully so because I was struggling there) and it’s now time for American music beginning in the 1620's.  After some notes today we listened to the classic ballad Barbara Allen.  Here is tomorrow’s assignments: 

Go to this website

https://folkways.si.edu/search?query=Barbara+Allen

Listen to each 30 second sampling of Barbara Allen.  You don’t have to listen to duplicate performers (Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie) or ones that just say “various artists”

1. Write the name of the artist performing

2. Write down any changes in the lyrics (especially who, when and where) in the first verse.

3. List any additional instruments you hear. (or is it just voice?)

4. Describe what makes this version unique or anything else you notice    

     about it.

5. Rank it compared to the other versions you’ve heard.  

     4 is “this is the best one so far."  

     3 is “its not the best but I can tolerate it” 

     2 is “this makes me uncomfortable.” 

      1 is “ N.O. NO

By the time they finish they will notice how oral transmission affects folk songs and how a good song travels across time.  Also there are quite a few more modern versions of it on YouTube. (Simon and Garfunkel, Dolly Parton, EmmyLou Harris)

And that plan just bounced into my head while I was thinking about something else.

And the latest brain occupier has been two days of studying logic and logical reasoning.  Logic involves the logic games (Bill wear blue.  Tom wears green. Sue will only go out with someone wearing yellow on Fridays.  What is Martha wearing?). They made me crazy when I took the GRE.  They are a big part of the LSAT.  I love them.  Especially with strategies from Kaplan to solve them.  Last night I read and studied and got 2/5 on a practice test- really just guessing on some of them.  Tonight- same problem (too complicated to remember answers from last night.) I got 5/5 and could say exactly why it was right. So. Much. Fun.

I started the logical reasoning workbook at school during free time today.  An argument with premises and an analytical question to follow.  These are definitely more difficult for me what with all of the convoluted wording but I thought that about the games last night so there is hope.

I’ve been hanging out at the brain gas station saying “fill 'er up."