Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Quite well, thank you.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your weekend.
JOE: The construction upstairs finally settled down, at least for Saturday. I finally got to work taping my videos. I decided to begin with a brief general video on The Pastor's Inferno and then move on to Ten Reasons to read The Pastor's Inferno and Ten Reasons Not To.
CALLIOPE: Why did you decide on the general one first?
JOE: I thought it might be easier to do and I could also refer to Ten Reasons at the end.
CALLIOPE: I see. How did it go?
JOE: I'm getting there. The process is working. I was able to record a video, transfer it to a usable format and edit it without difficulty.
CALLIOPE: Any difficulties?
JOE: A few things to work on. The sound level was quite low which I can fix by moving the camera closer to where I sit or using an external microphone. I have a few annoying mannerisms I will need to limit. I also rock in my chair while talking which I found distracting and think my viewers will too.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: More takes. Any video I know of goes through a series of takes much like a movie scene until it is acceptable or even exceptional. The hardest part for me will be remaining patient rather than rushing to get something posted for the sake of having it done. I thought people got more patient as the got older. I have in some ways, but in certain areas I have the same impulsive drive I always have had.
CALLIOPE: Good that you at least recognize this.
JOE: I agree. Holding my horses remains a major challenge. Talk with you tomorrow.
(A leisurely stroll in Central Park)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I was afraid you might be sleeping in.
JOE: No. I had an appointment with my doctor this morning to see what condition my condition is in.
CALLIOPE: And what is your condition?
JOE: Good. I have lost considerable weight and am ready to try a decrease in blood pressure medication.
CALLIOPE: Good progress. What about your mind?
JOE: We didn't assess that. I think my physical progress provides an incentive to pursue my emotional well being.
CALLIOPE: What are you doing in that regard?
JOE: Continuing to work on recharging my batteries.
CALLIOPE: How?
JOE: Concentrating on reading good literature and looking for inspiration to improve my own creative expression.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Any progress on the publicity videos?
JOE: I finally have mastered the technology involved. I can now record, edit, convert and post videos to YouTube. This should also include MySpace although I have not tried it yet.
CALLIOPE: Good, what about the planning for Ten Reasons for and against reading The Pastor's Inferno?
JOE: I finished the outline a few days ago. Sorry I forgot to mention it. In my practice video yesterday, I recorded the introduction to Ten Reasons. I think it should go smoothly. I will continue working on it. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Erie Canal Lock- Lockport, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Excited.
CALLIOPE: That's a nice change. To what do we owe the honor?
JOE: To my intention of creating a video podcast. I finally found the wire for my Canon camera but could not get the camera and computer to communicate for some reason. I decided to try using the webcam with Windows Movie Maker and found the whole process relatively painless.
CALLIOPE: How far did you get with the process?
JOE: I recorded and posted the podcast about Commonsense Wisdom for Everyday Life on MySpace and YouTube.
CALLIOPE: With no difficulty?
JOE: None. The whole process went swimmingly as the British would say.
CALLIOPE: I'll have to take a look at it. Is it professional quality?
JOE: Well, no. Just a conversation with me and a brief reading. Quite informal. But I don't think my approach needs to be slick. I tire of slick ads on TV and find them annoying in their competition to outdo each other.
CALLIOPE: Agreed. How is your editing of Marital Property coming along?
JOE: Quite well thank you. I can smell the end of my initial edit and inch up on it every day. I make a conscious effort no to minimize the use of the verb "to be" in all its forms. I find it quite a challenge sometimes but I think my work sparkles more without it.
CALLIOPE: What about your story?
JOE: Haven't started it yet. Editing keeps my attention. This weekend might be the time. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Nantucket Bay Sunrise- Martha's Vineyard)