Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

December 27, 2022. This is the scene along highway 7 as it passes Kaladar, where we stopped for a quick break on the way home from Barrie. We made it before dark and arrived home to four very annoyed and vocal cats. https://flic.kr/p/2o8aR1H

December 26, 2022. We finally made it to my brother's house and visited with them and a collection of relatives. It was a really nice visit. Thanks to Bill and Shirley for the hospitality and everyone else for the smiles and laughter. Until next time. :) https://flic.kr/p/2o8dhff

December 25, 2022. It's late Christmas evening and I realize I haven't taken a photo of the day, so here's the hotel room. We spent most of the day here, with just a quick trip to the Shoppers for storm chips. It was fine, though, a nice quiet day instead of fighting bad road conditions and unhinged drivers. And our travel has been a lot easier than most people's out there, so I'm not complaining. https://flic.kr/p/2o7ZVCV

December 16, 2022. Winter snows are a bit early this year, and there's no chance of a green Christmas. Sad. We were told of the new policy forcing us to work in the office again starting in March, and I wondered, if it snows that day, does that count as an 'office' day that was cancelled, or an unscheduled 'home' day? What bout sick days? Much I always do doctor's appointments on 'home' days? Not liking this new policy. Not liking it at all. https://flic.kr/p/2o7vBbo

December 15, 2022. This is a Home Depot deer, spotted while I was picking up some new bright lightbulbs. We also went to the car dealership to sign the papers on our new car purchase (the exchange won't be until next week). https://flic.kr/p/2o7yaS8

December 14, 2022. That's my hand scritching Charlemagne as he enjoys the luxury of some pre-bedtime attention. A couple of meetings, and I'm still catching up with stuff from my absence. https://flic.kr/p/2o7wR3C

December 13, 2022. Cat pictures remain the stable of the daily photo. This is Julia in her little fur house, with red strings to play with, on the shelf beside my chair at the kitchen table. https://flic.kr/p/2o7y6Nw

December 12, 2022. No rest for the weary. Monday morning I was up bright and early to get back to work. First task: about 350 work-related emails that stacked up while my computer was locked on the road. https://flic.kr/p/2o7y5vG

December 11, 2022. Catching up with the daily photos after the trip, now that all the trip photos have been uploaded. This is Montreal airport the day after I arrived. Because my flight was so late, I stayed overnight at the Montreal airport hotel, an expensive indulgence that was far preferable to driving home in the dark on so little sleep (I never try to sleep on transatlantic flights). I also had a super-expensive but very nice dinner the night before. Made it home without incident. https://flic.kr/p/2o7wGNm

December 8, 2022. Also known as La Castellassa, this tower originates from the 12th or 13th century and was part of a chalet built to protect a village that dates back at least to 965 and whose residents relocated to the current site of Mont Louis in the 18th century. I discovered it while trying to follow a trail through the forest after touring Mont Louis; I had to turn back because the snow, wind and rain made the steep descent too dangerous to continue, but not before seeing this tower. I travelled to and from Mont Louis on the 'Yellow Train', a narrow gauge track that runs up into the French Pyrenees. After returning I got a ride to Barcelona airport and am sayping at the 'Sleep and Fly'. https://flic.kr/p/2o4Q3ea

December 7, 2022. This is the town of Eus, clinging to the side of a hill in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. We drove around the area talking about consciousness, representation, and whether machines can think. Outstanding day; one more in these hills and then it's the long road home. https://flic.kr/p/2o4C9n9

December 6, 2022. This is where I am staying in Prades. Off-season rates are very reasonable and I've been very comfortable here. Went to the market and then had lunch, more conversation about knowing and information. In the afternoon I explored the town of Ille-sur-Tet. Evening was my usual reading and updating for the newsletter. https://flic.kr/p/2o4tf1d

December 5, 2022. I spent the day with Ray and Neus exploring forts and monasteries in and around Prades and talking about ontologies and distributed representation. It was unsurprisingly a perfect mix for me, and we have more time over the next couple of days to do the same. https://flic.kr/p/2o4gtbZ

December 4, 2022. This is a rock outcrop where we crossed the Pyrenees at their lowest point, near Girona in Spain north toward the French border. With snowfall in the mountain passes we had to take the long route from Lleida in Spain to Prades, France. It also meant we couldn't go to Andorra, which is too bad. It was a long all-day drive but interesting. https://flic.kr/p/2o4fZYz

December 3, 2022. To wrap up the conference there was a cultural event where this singer (I don't know her name, sorry) sang some old standards. As always when I watch a good artist I noticed how the key to success is to fully immerse yourself in the performance and free yourself from worrying what the audience may think. That's also a good way to succeed at life. https://flic.kr/p/2o3WYLi

December 2, 2022. This is the boulevard down the centre of Rambla de Ferran, near my hotel. Today was presentation day; I gave what I thought was a pretty good talk in the morning, attended more of the conference after, and went for a nice evening walk. After that was the gala dinner, which began at 9:30 and had me out well past midnight. https://flic.kr/p/2o3WTQM

December 1, 2022. I didn't get a good photo of Seu Vella, Lleida's distinctive 18th century cathedral, until I crossed to the other side of the river, which I did today to attend the first day of the conference. https://flic.kr/p/2o3v37o