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Today included a trip up to Cranberry for CostCo goodies and, of course, a trip to see Nanny. (my MIL) This afternoon featured basement shopping because a lot of old stuff was going to be given away if not taken first, so our daughter now has a chalkboard easel, and a poster of Snow White from the '70s that used to belong to my Sister-in-law. But the unexpected prize is that I am now in possesion of the girls' Yamaha keyboard that was bought back in 2001 or so. Dude, it has 6.5 octaves (71 keys), touch sensitive, recording capabilities, and it has MIDI capability. So all I need are the frickin' MIDI cables and I can synch up the keyboard with Finale and get some real work done on my music. (when I have the bleeping time...) This just saved me oodles of time, money, and is fun to play with to boot. Yay!!
Short, short takes
Apr. 13th, 2006 09:38 pmI'm on spring break now, so my regular computer-cruising schedule is thrown way off. Much has happened, here are the headlines.
-Palm Sunday performance went well, and re-inspired me to continue my choral compositions, get the women's piece finished and really take the Gloria seriously. New ideas, too, which'll help.
-Music class management in-service at CMU. Only slightly necessary for me /dripping sarcasm. Very good, very, very good. Lunch at Schatz dining also bonus. Found and spoke with Douglas Ahlstedt, am sending him music for "I Seek Your Face" for feedback, possible (??) performance? Maybe? Also want to collaborate w/him for writing communion anthems.
-Finished first collaboration song w/GS, lyricist from Philly. He and his wife really liked the song, could tell I enjoyed doing it, and he's real hopeful. I have two more to do to make a demo CD which he will then send to record labels. As he said, "It only takes one song to open the door"... Good god I hope...
-Next song looks like it might be country. Eek!
-New TV today. 32". New TV stand, too. Yay, open-model discount plus gift-cardage.
-Bad husband today. No biscuit.
-One new publisher found to send music to, KJOS, and a composition contest in Italy for choral music that I'm sending "Seek" to. Hey, it's free, and what the hell? Who knows?
-I'm tired. My daughter didn't get the memo that my spring break started today and was ready for breakfast at 6:11 this morning. Must find my secretary and work that out.
-Palm Sunday performance went well, and re-inspired me to continue my choral compositions, get the women's piece finished and really take the Gloria seriously. New ideas, too, which'll help.
-Music class management in-service at CMU. Only slightly necessary for me /dripping sarcasm. Very good, very, very good. Lunch at Schatz dining also bonus. Found and spoke with Douglas Ahlstedt, am sending him music for "I Seek Your Face" for feedback, possible (??) performance? Maybe? Also want to collaborate w/him for writing communion anthems.
-Finished first collaboration song w/GS, lyricist from Philly. He and his wife really liked the song, could tell I enjoyed doing it, and he's real hopeful. I have two more to do to make a demo CD which he will then send to record labels. As he said, "It only takes one song to open the door"... Good god I hope...
-Next song looks like it might be country. Eek!
-New TV today. 32". New TV stand, too. Yay, open-model discount plus gift-cardage.
-Bad husband today. No biscuit.
-One new publisher found to send music to, KJOS, and a composition contest in Italy for choral music that I'm sending "Seek" to. Hey, it's free, and what the hell? Who knows?
-I'm tired. My daughter didn't get the memo that my spring break started today and was ready for breakfast at 6:11 this morning. Must find my secretary and work that out.
Lazy Saturday
Apr. 2nd, 2005 08:23 amIt's 8:24AM and pooky's still in bed, sleeping. I checked on her around 8, intent on getting her up, but since she was still snoozing, I figured I'd let her sleep. I really don't think she's had a chance to catch up on sleep, and hopefully this'll make her feel well rested.
It's back to crappy weather, after a couple of gorgeous days of what spring should be. It's raining, and won't get above 50, which nixes my plan of taking Lake to the strip this morning. That was another factor in letting her sleep. If it was pretty, I'd've gotten her up to get down there in a reasonable time. It sucks, because I really wanted to go, but dealing with the backpack on a cold and rainy day all by myself doesn't sound like fun.
I accidentaly closed Tiger up in the front room last night. I thought he was out when I put Alfred in his crate for the night, but he must've hid somewhere and, well, didn't get out until this morning.
I got my violin! I put the bridge on, tuned it up, rosined the bow, and did what pathetically little I could. I *would* like to be better on the violin, but it's going to take a lot of practice. I also realized that the blue is in fact painted on, not stained. I know that it's a student model and any degradation of the sound the paint will cause is minimal, because it's not like I'm going to make a virtuoso-like sound on it any time soon. It's still blue. And mine. :-)
It's back to crappy weather, after a couple of gorgeous days of what spring should be. It's raining, and won't get above 50, which nixes my plan of taking Lake to the strip this morning. That was another factor in letting her sleep. If it was pretty, I'd've gotten her up to get down there in a reasonable time. It sucks, because I really wanted to go, but dealing with the backpack on a cold and rainy day all by myself doesn't sound like fun.
I accidentaly closed Tiger up in the front room last night. I thought he was out when I put Alfred in his crate for the night, but he must've hid somewhere and, well, didn't get out until this morning.
I got my violin! I put the bridge on, tuned it up, rosined the bow, and did what pathetically little I could. I *would* like to be better on the violin, but it's going to take a lot of practice. I also realized that the blue is in fact painted on, not stained. I know that it's a student model and any degradation of the sound the paint will cause is minimal, because it's not like I'm going to make a virtuoso-like sound on it any time soon. It's still blue. And mine. :-)
...grumble...
Mar. 3rd, 2005 09:06 pmThe cover display on my new phone is cracked. Need to see if it can be fixed as opposed to tossed. Don't wanna spend the $$ for a new phone.
Happy March, everyone! For a long time March had been my favorite month because it was my birthday month. Yes, that's right, four weeks from today I turn 34 and give a how-the-hell-are-you salute to my mid-30s. So, I'm writing my wish list. Not that I expect anything, but if yer interested, here it is.
( Schtuff! )
Yipe! Meant to post this 'round noon...
( Schtuff! )
Yipe! Meant to post this 'round noon...
What I accomplished this weekend
Feb. 20th, 2005 10:13 pm1) Hefty and equal parts amazement and frustration with technology.
We chatted for about two hours with ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lordandrei and shimmeringjenny over iChat and their web camera, which was way cool.
I recorded all parts of "I Seek Your Face" to GarageBand and exported to iTunes, and can now hear a quartet of myself.
Yet-
I am wholly unable to simply burn the sound files to a CD, even after I changed the 60 meg file (for each part) into a 3.3 meg file and clicked "burn CD."
I now have Apple X11 yet can't operate GIMP because an Xterm pops up and I have no clue what to do- Need to find web sources for what the hell to do.
All of this just makes me feel extrordinarily stupid because I want to do simple things (open software, convert files, burn a CD) and always, always run into at least one snag to which I have no obvious solution, and have to cry for help either to my wife or sk4p.
2) Family wardrobe acquisition.
fiannaharpar got cool things at Ross Park, like a super nifty black knit poncho.
We got our daughter more Chuck Hi-tops, in bright pink and a larger size that's black and pink with "Chuck Taylor" in white printed all over them. They're most cute.
Broke down and bought the white Heins Ward #86 jersey. The nice sales lady gave me the sale price of a competing store in the mall, making the purchase more worth it. I have a feeling some people are going to want picture proof of this...
3) The witness of a sleepy weekend.
Turkey Butt slept for over three hours for her nap yesterday, and about two today. It seems as if the busy-ness of last week and being kinda sick all caught up with her these last two days.
Not related to #3, but got to spend fun time with sk4p, blackpaladin, and drquuxum at the Outback last night. Mmmm, beer, steak, onions, Benny Hill. Can't get much better.
So, all in all it was a good weekend. Just wish technology wasn't being a bastard right now.
lordandrei and shimmeringjenny over iChat and their web camera, which was way cool.Yet-
sk4p.2) Family wardrobe acquisition.
fiannaharpar got cool things at Ross Park, like a super nifty black knit poncho.3) The witness of a sleepy weekend.
sk4p, blackpaladin, and drquuxum at the Outback last night. Mmmm, beer, steak, onions, Benny Hill. Can't get much better.So, all in all it was a good weekend. Just wish technology wasn't being a bastard right now.
Let's review
Jan. 18th, 2005 08:05 amThe Good:
Hainging out with Tim, our choir director, and his 8 month old daughter Emily at Monroeville with lstrobel, watching the two of them have fun, and chatting for the first time in a long time.
Writing the lyrics for a men's acapella piece to be played Palm Sunday during church this past Sunday and having Tim say, "That's pretty much exactly what I wanted to be expressed." On my first draft.
Getting painting and spackling done last night at the new house.
Hearing the "Daddy, daddy!" song in my back seat this morning taking lstrobel to day care.
The Bad:
Having every school district in Allegheny County except Wilkinsburg on a 2-hour delay because it is 2 frickin' degrees outside.
Forgetting to give my sweetie the key to the house (old house) which she'll need to get in this afternoon. (will do during lunch)
Feh. It's not that bad, I guess. Gotta get my room ready.
lstrobel, watching the two of them have fun, and chatting for the first time in a long time.lstrobel to day care.The Bad:
Feh. It's not that bad, I guess. Gotta get my room ready.
They keeps askin', I keeps writin'
Jan. 12th, 2005 07:34 pmFor tangerinpenguin:
Your eyes scroll, feet move,
Keep it up so you don't hear
"Just shut up and dance!"
tangerinpenguin:Your eyes scroll, feet move,
Keep it up so you don't hear
"Just shut up and dance!"
Haiku, round 2
Jan. 12th, 2005 11:31 amHey, they're your interests, I just make up some shit about 'em.
Forgroen
One ring to bind them,
Millions of words to tell them,
Three flicks to show them.
Forsk4p
For the Black and Gold
my friend would like nothing else:
Lombardi trophy.
Forshamey
Some call it a war,
others call it a party,
still others: "Heaven."
For
groenOne ring to bind them,
Millions of words to tell them,
Three flicks to show them.
For
sk4pFor the Black and Gold
my friend would like nothing else:
Lombardi trophy.
For
shameySome call it a war,
others call it a party,
still others: "Heaven."
(no subject)
Jul. 7th, 2004 07:45 pmTotally unmotivated to update. Feeling of "why bother" abounds. Not that interesting stuff hasn't happened. The long weekend was great, Lake is hilarious in squeaky shoes, and I got to dig up a still at a family reunion.
Camp is going well enough. I'm realizing more and more that I do enjoy teaching the older kids more in general than the younger ones. But it's still being fun and I like it.
Today's my brother's birthday. He's 54. I oughta call him. Hmm... after doing dishes, I think. :-)
Camp is going well enough. I'm realizing more and more that I do enjoy teaching the older kids more in general than the younger ones. But it's still being fun and I like it.
Today's my brother's birthday. He's 54. I oughta call him. Hmm... after doing dishes, I think. :-)
