1st
March
2017
In my younger days, I owned a tuning fork. Used a tuning fork. Knew about that sweet spot on my mastoid, allowing “natural amplification” while trying to coax a set of recalitrant timpani up to pitch during a long rest. Oh, the skills we needed. When it came time to move to other instruments, I learned that my violin could be brought into tune by use of the fork (and harmonics). Felt good, too.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in food, music |
23rd
February
2017
Today marked a personal combination of gestalt with great expectations. Let me explain.
Despite my preference for solo efforts, I agree that some of the best outcomes are the fruit of combined input. Music, for example, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Symphonic, or even emsemble gestalt. And, around here (in my family), there are great expectations of how good the music would be, if only I would “play well with others”… the kindergarten model.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music, travel |
21st
January
2017
Another sleepy Saturday. I did get up, for a while. Even went to town for breakfast. Or as I refer to it, bacon with sides. And after we’d exhausted conversation possibilities with our tablemate, we headed off to the market to replenish staples. For the dog, at least. To run out of biscuits would be a tragedy.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music |
23rd
December
2016
Went shopping this afternoon, hoping to score a small chicken for an intimate dinner. Really, I don’t need a $60 turkey to get me through the holiday season (and beyond). No luck. I’ve adapted my menu, and we’ll now have chicken that comes without a skeleton. Safer for the dog, but my carving skills will take a back seat.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music |
11th
November
2016
While waiting for a stone to pass, I don’t sleep soundly. Found myself at some unspeakable hour, searching for the best price on a ten foot section of steel pipe. Has nothing to do with the stone, I hope. And no, I didn’t find what I wanted. Given that today is a civic holiday, there was no chance to impulse shop; that will have to wait for tomorrow, maybe.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music, pets |
8th
November
2016
Strangely, the land was calm. After fifteen months of “he said vs she said”, the chatter ceased, and the nation went on task. Today, the neighbours are voting; the rest of us (as Tim Curry stated so well, back in 1975) “quiver with anticipation”. We won’t know how things are going until midnight, locally. Maybe not even then, given that one candidate has put the rest on notice about how a decision to accept will depend on the results. Ain’t never been an election quite like this!
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music, politics |
28th
October
2016
I wish I’d been more attentive to detail, back when learning to play piano was an actual academic requirement. I had a rather lackadaisical approach to the discipline, coupled with a (false) belief that I could cram and pass the practical exams. Alas.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music |
15th
October
2016
A new first on my list, today. We were off to join our “breakfast club”, like most other weekends, and we ate a standard kind of meal… or at least I did. On the other side of the table, only coffee. Anyhow, when the meal ended, I headed off to exercise the car dog. Back in the car, we headed out to explore back roads. The Glen, etc.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in food, music |
13th
October
2016
Call it the affirmation of a generation: Bob Dylan is now the Nobel Laureate in Literature. I’m willing to bet that nobody saw that one coming.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music |
23rd
September
2016
That tingling sensation in my fingertips has nothing to do with a supposed superhero condition. No, I did something silly this evening. I played on my guitar, for too long. Not even a practice session.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in music |
