Well Walking is considered an exercise, can't imagine why it wouldn't be? (Physical therapists prefer it - running causes lots of injuries. I should know, I used to run.)

And I've been doing "Japanese Walking" my entire life. Three minutes fast-paced, then slower walking, then increasing intensity, then a slow down.

I slow down to take pictures, then speed up. I walk everywhere. My preferred mod of transportation is my feet on the ground.

Also finally started on the watercolor of a woman I saw on the train, that was plaguing me. It's turning out better than expected. Now lets hope I don't destroy it - which I often do - by not adding to much to it.

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Television Shows

1. Paradise - I don't know about this one. The mystery is okay. The science fiction trope - annoys me. I don't like the trope. I'm not a fan of ( spoiler for the reveal in the first episode )

Also, there's something about the lead actor, that always has grated on my nerves? A kind of smug self-righteousness or superiority? It comes across in every role he plays? I do however like Julianne Nicholson and Cassidy Freeman, so I may stick with it, not certain?

2. Andor S2 - Episode 7 was good. I kind of split it in half though. I do like the sense that each episode is its own separate movie?
It's getting better as it goes. And I've fallen for Cassian.


3. And So it Goes - Billy Joel documentary on HBO Max - is about five hours long, and I'm three quarters of the way through. It encompasses Billy Joel's life from a child to roughly 76 years of age now, where he is now. Joel as previously stated is an American Pop Singer, Song-Writer and Composer who rose to fame in the later half of the 20th Century. He was/is classically trained, and his musical underpinnings are classical - not blues or rhythm or blues like most rock and roll music. His musical structure tended to be closer to the 1950s and early 60s rock and the songs of Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Frankie Valley, the Sherrels. Which you either appreciate and like or you don't. Many rock critics have a fondness for the Blues, and don't like anything that veers away from it. The other problem was well - a prejudice against Long Island. There's a kind of Manhattan/NY snobbery about those who live out on Long Island or Jersey (it's silly of course, but people are well silly.)

The documentary much like the Beatles docs - focuses on the music, and the personal hand in hand. It's well edited, and well put together. But it does...how to put this exactly? Goes a bit overboard in promoting the product of Billy Joel, and how great Billy Joel is. And it's a difficulty I have with musician documentaries. At times they feel a bit like fan service? I find them slightly more interesting when they back down from the fan service and let the person and their life stand for who and what they are. Instead of asking - why do we like him, what appeals to us, and trying to answer that? Just let those questions and answers go unsaid? It's not a critical documentary at all - however, there are critical things under the surface? Joel married much younger and very beautiful women, post-Elizabeth Webber. The latest 33 years younger. Those were the women he has had children with. He also is a heavy drinker, and at least two of his marriages broke up because of heavy drinking, partying and not being around. And he was never satisfied - always hunting for something else, out there.

I think it goes back to my painting - adding too much on top, which causes problems. Sometimes stepping back and letting it stand is best.

I don't need to hear that music saved his life, or he doesn't know what else he could have done, or you do what you love...just let the music stand with the story, and let it just be that.

At any rate, others loved it, I have mixed feelings about it? But I've always had mixed feelings about Billy Joel and his music. And I can see why people don't like him.

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Today's and yesterday's questions:

2. Do you like milkshakes? What’s your favourite flavour?

Yes. At the moment? Coffee. When I was a teen - Strawberry - I loved McDonalds'Strawberry milkshakes - I can't drink them now of course. But when I was in Junior High aka Middle School - I'd get one on my walk home from school at McDonald's which I passed in the mini-shopping center one block down from the school. (The Middle School is long gone - it's now an independent retirement center, and so too, is the McDonald's. I haven't seen them - was told this by a friend of my brother's - I've not been back to that area of the world in more than 20 years.)

3. Have you ever played hopscotch?

Yes, as a child, and as an adult.

It's a popular pavement or sidewalk game.

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Here have a flower: