Not every day is as boundless as today has seemingly been. My gusto was uplifted by those with whom I communicated – whether in person as I tricycled about the neighbourhood, by email or message. And the weather! It has so far been one of those none-stop glorious autumns reminiscent of my erstwhile university days in Toronto and Halifax when I walked along the rocky ocean shore or streamed down Avenue Road without a care! My ardent gardener acquaintance across the street informed me that the overnight temps are approaching freezing, that there was frost on the rooftops this morning. So she has removed her tomatoes, preferring not to cover them instead.

When driving my car earlier this afternoon I was on the lookout for the ideal autumn scene. I saw many – some along the highway (the vast yellow corn fields for example), others along the country backroads (a collection of stalwart copper coloured maples on the Panmure Road), the downhill view of Martin St S as it collides with the Mississippi River at St. Paul Street; and then, naturally, our own back yard. Surrounded as we are by a bowl of spotless blue, the atmosphere is clear and dry.  There is no wind; as a result the river water is a magnificent mirror reflecting the bright azure sky above and the burnished trees on the shore.

My amusement with Artificial Intelligence was further animated today as I sought to convert a photo to a painting – that of an old dog and its mistress. Though the rendition below appears to be an original photograph, it is actually a creation by AI based upon the original photograph. The distinctions are small but not without a difference.

This fleeting artistic bent immersed me once again in heraldic exhibition of which I never tire.

Whether because I suffer a want of capacity or because (as I prefer to imagine) I have a healthy curiosity in on-going technological advances, I relish the entertainment of Artificial Intelligence.  I see it as a springboard to practical solutions. There are no doubt far more esoteric functions of the technology but I find it both amusing and helpful to synthesize my mundane absorption with everyday necessities.  Indeed the spectrum of utility of AI is enhanced by the day, as I continue to experiment and to step further along the jumping board (perhaps ultimately into an abyss).

Complementing today’s euphoria are the appetizing aromas from the kitchen.  Chef Arial is once again in the throes of producing what is assured to be a mouthwatering meal. Our diet has progressively changed over the past several years reflecting our own transitions and growing preferences  Each meal is a new take on taste and content. I happily report that – from my consumptive perspective – it is all healthful, including, I might add, the latest plant based “meat”.