Text corrected by German language Instructor Luca. Her website is Comprehensible German.

Mitte Januar 2026 habe ich Peking in China besucht. Dort habe ich meine Eltern und meinen Opa gesehen. Opa ist jetzt 98 Jahre alt. Er ist immer glücklich und gesund. Als ich durch die alten Straßen ging, trauchten meine Kindheitserinnerungen wieder auf.

(Corrected by German Teacher Luca at Comprehensible German)
2025 war ein Jahr voller Lernerfahrungen und Wachstum.

(Corrected by my German teacher Luca)
Wir stimmen Klaviere oft bei unseren Kunden zu Hause. Die Persönlichkeiten der Kunden sind unterschiedlich. Manche von ihnen sind wunderbar, aber einige sind komisch. Und ein paar wollen wir nicht wieder sehen.

(Text corrected by my German teacher.)
In der Weihnachtszeit habe ich ein kleines Klavier gestimmt. Es ist sehr süß und es klingt wunderschön. Die Kundin ist ungefähr 80 Jahren alt. Sie hat vor 25 Jahren das Klavier gekauft. Sie hat es gut gepflegt. Die Oberfläche sieht perfekt aus.

(Text corrected by my German teacher)
Das ist Phil. Er ist Bauarbeiter. Ich sehe ihn ab und zu um das Gebäude. In diesem Gebäude arbeiten Spielzeugeisenbahnhersteller, Wresting Trainer für Kindern, Klavierrestauratoren und Fahrradmechaniker. Jetzt baut er den Eingangsfußweg aus Beton um. Er macht das ganz alleine. Diese Szene sehen wir recht häufig. Normalerweise laufen wir einfach schnell daran vorbei. Er ist auch an die Ignoranz der Menschen gewöhnt. Aber er arbeitet immer fleißig und konzentriert, egal was die leute denken. Ein Mensch kann viel Geld haben oder gar nicht reich sein. Wir sollten schwer arbeiten und den anderen Menschen helfen, wie er. Ich unterhalte mich immer mit Phil, wenn wir uns treffen. Ich bin stolz auf ihn, sehr doll.

About this time last year, I went to tune a family upright piano in a near by town. It was on a Saturday. The whole family was home, the parents and two small children.

According to them, the piano had not been tuned since who knew when. Usually this meant a humongous amout of dust bunnies under the keys and in the piano case. So I decided to take out all the keys and have the keybed cleaned. 

Seifhennersdorf is a small town in middle-east Germany. Everything is almost within walking distance. Here the chubby fluffy sheep eat freely without worrying about being taken by strangers. Here apple trees grow along the delightful little streets and they fall on the ground whenever they feel like it. Here houses are built per tradition without even one that looks not belong.

Gypsy moths and their caterpillars eat and kill plantations. Often in springs, those spongy moth nests appear on plants, especially on trees. The caterpillars inside feast on the beautiful greens till the plant is killed. Here is an article about it: 
https://tompkinsweekly.com/articles/what-to-do-before-before-spongy-moths-damage-your-trees-irreplaceably/
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There is one little tree in the barrier in between the lanes on route 128. It is a little over one meter tall. Early in the spring, it was covered with those spongy moth nests. It was very scary to look at. 

It has been eight months since I started learning German. The initial idea was to be able to go to piano factories in Germany someday to learn this craft in depth and in the traditional ways. This has not been changed. 

​I have searched crazily on the internet for the best affordable ways of learning, browsed many Youtube channels that looked decent, attended online group classes held by teachers in Germany. There were learning platforms difficult to navigate, teachers that were hard to feel a connection with, and also teachers who did not prepare the lessons well or who's lessons were not in good flow. Here is a note to myself and to learners alike who are looking for a dedicated German language teacher. ​

John Cameron is a very fine woodworker. He designs and makes artisan furniture, wood and metal engraving, boat building, etc. Soon, one of his works will be exhibited at Smithsonian Institute this summer. He is also a passionate Jazz pianist who plays gigs all around town. Some years ago, a friend of his was throwing out an old beat up Baldwin grand piano. Somehow he was informed and took this piano. Now Miss Baldwin sits happily in his woodworking shop getting exercises/PT  every day. Good for her ol' joints.