I've been having vivid, intense dreams lately. One was of a friend driving off a cliff, thinking the road continued. We fell in slow motion, looks of disbelief on our faces. Another was at a chamber music gig. There was only an electric grand piano, but no outlet to plug it in. The event was due to start any moment, and I had no power! I kept searching for an outlet. I finally found one, plugged in the cord and then went to the piano. But when I looked up, my chamber group had vanished along with most of the crowd.
I wake up from these dreams with my heart pounding. And they stay with me. But today's stretching piece, Chopin's Prelude, Opus 28, #15 for piano was inspired by a dream that Chopin had. He made good use of his intense dream!
Here is the story:
"An intense dream may have been the inspiration for one of Chopin's biggest piano hits
Chopin's
piano music is often dream-like, but his so-called 'Raindrop' Prelude
might actually have been inspired by a rather intense dream the composer
had.He and his partner, George Sand, were holidaying in Majorca in 1838 when Frederic had something of an episode. As Sand would later recount: 'He saw himself drowned in a lake. Heavy drops of icy water fell in a regular rhythm on his breast, and when I made him listen to the sound of the drops of water indeed falling in rhythm on the roof, he denied having heard it.'
This has led many to speculate that the Prelude, Op. 28th No. 15 was directly influenced by Chopin's dream experience. Listening to the recurring A flat that permeates the whole piece, it would be hard to argue that Chopin wasn't at least aware of the similarity. Either way, this particular prelude has become synonymous with rainy imagery" http://halloffame.classicfm.com/2015/chart/position/243/
Last night I stretched to one of my favorite Chopin pieces. It brings tears. I played it for one of my solo concerts a few years ago. I lamely felt tears well up at MY OWN playing! lol
Don't laugh. Let's see if you can make it through the piece without a tear! I just read an interesting blurb on Wikipedia about this piece:
"The piece was famously played by Holocaust survivor Natalia Karp for the Nazi concentration camp commandant Amon Goeth, with Goeth being so impressed with the rendition, that he spared Karp's life." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturne_in_C-sharp_minor,_Op._posth._%28Chopin%29)
I think I will start studying this piece again. I need to get going with my goal of memorization. This would the perfect one to start with! A plan! I love a plan! :)
Chopin Nocturne Number 20 in C-sharp mino
Now on to pain. I have been complaining about joint pain for quite a bit of these 272 days. Especially over the last several weeks since my blood draw. My left elbow has been quite sore. And my neck and upper back much stiffer than usual. I had been taking NSAIDS nightly to keep myself going. A body in motion tends to stay in motion, right?
But my nurse practitioner friend was concerned about my kidneys.
We talk once a week after her son's lesson. She gives me a ride to my next family's house. We have wonderful talks. Usually about me! And my pain. Lately I've been trying to not talk about my pain. I'd hate to become a bore! (Probably too late for that, sigh)
But she asked me how I was feeling. I told her that I feel like I've been run over by a semi-truck every morning. And if I don't stretch and take epsom salts baths, I feel like that truck ran me over again. In reverse.
She suggested I keep track of my cycle of pain. She also suggested a low dose of Ibuprofen. Either 2 200 mg tablets at bedtime. Or 1 200 mg at bedtime and one in the morning, since mornings are the worst.
So I took 1 last night, and 1 this morning at 4:00 a.m. And it helped quite a bit. I did my normal stretching and then headed to the gym with my daughter. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and a little bit of light weights, crunches and more stretching.
I am going to keep this dose up for the next week and see if I can get past the pain and into better workouts. Then I will taper off the Ibuprofen. Especially after reading warnings like the following!
"Do not take more than your recommended dose. An ibuprofen overdose can damage your stomach or intestines.
The maximum amount of ibuprofen for adults is 800 milligrams per dose
or 3200 mg per day (4 maximum doses). Use only the smallest amount
needed to get relief from your pain, swelling, or fever."
On another note, I enjoyed my piano practice immensely with less pain. So there is a balance in here somewhere. And I am determined to find it!
My hymn of the day is a perfect bedtime hymn. "All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night. Words by Thomas Ken, 1674. Music by Thomas Tallis ("Tallis' Canon), 1567.
All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.
O may my soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.
When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.
O when shall I, in endless day,
For ever chase dark sleep away,
And hymns divine with angels sing,
All praise to thee, eternal King?
For ever chase dark sleep away,
And hymns divine with angels sing,
All praise to thee, eternal King?
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The tune is quite lovely too. I think I shall play this tonight at bedtime. Determined to wake up feeling like a spring chicken instead of a dead duck! :)
I weighed in at 187 pounds today. Hopefully kicking the pain in the butt will help me propel forward in my weight loss.
Happy Friday! :)
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