Dinner with Feht...

But before dinner came most of the day, during which it became clear—after a brief conversation with our real estate agent—that I will not be leaving Pagosa just yet.

On other news, I ran across an interesting quote involving Montaigne, having to do with the disdain his Essays provoked in his own country (particularly in the Academy), because the work did not "fit in" with what was authoritatively considered "literature."

This is rather close, I think, to a query posted in ru_translate, from a participant looking for certain English language translations of a couple of Pushkin's poems. What caught my eye was this:

Гугление показывает какие-то любительские переводы, но может быть кто-то может запостить в ответ официальные переводы?

Googling shows some amateur translations, but perhaps someone could post authoritative translations in response?

Curiously, this is related to some comments Feht made this evening after dinner, to the effect that his ability to pursue his passion (music) is degraded by what appear to be ever-greater demands on his income from various revenue-collecting authorities.

And that can lead directly to a discussion of the role of "amateurs" in culture (e.g., Edward FitzGerald's translation of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, Mendelssohn and the Bach revival) vis à vis the seeking of art of an authoritative nature.

There is, no doubt, a good essay in there, somewhere. But I need to hit the rack. Lots to do tomorrow.