Testing out a new SGF plugin for Wordpress. :)
Easy problem
It’s amazing how your skill degrades
I’m practicing today on my practice chanter, just doing basic exercises. Simple scales initially going from Low G to High A and crossing noises abound! Sheesh.
So lots of basic note transitions today working on keeping the transitions clean. Nice slow repeated practice. I’ve also got Jim McGillivray’s Rhythmic Fingerworks book open which has lots of great exercises.
I may also need to rehemp my practice chanter. The top is a bit looser than I like.
The Marriage of Figaro
Yesterday, I went with my friend Kim to see San Jose Opera’s production of the Marriage of Figaro… and it was great as usual. For my birthday last year, my husband got us season tickets to the San Jose Opera. We honestly didn’t have a big expectation of greatness from the troupe, but I have to say, San Jose Opera really surprised us with their artistry.
The first Opera of the season, Manon had me crying at the end because the story was told so well and the ending, so sad. The second Opera of the season, La Cenerentola (Cinderella Story) had both my husband and I nearly falling out of our seats in laughter. The facial expressions were most amazing. We loved every minute of it. It was dazzling.
And the Marriage of Figaro was yet again an amazing performace. Bravo Bravo Bravo!
Hello Kitty AR… and Chainsaw
First, the Hello Kitty AR that one person built several years ago that I happened to stumble upon again. I still think it’s incredibly cute. Now some would call it “inappropriate” but keep in mind, just because something is pink, doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. Same thing goes with something that is black does not mean it is dangerous.
http://blog.riflegear.com/archive/2007/12/26/hello-kitty-ar-15—evil-black-rifle-meets-cute-and.aspx
On the Gizmodo tech blog today, they posted information about the Hello Kitty Chainsaw. It’s also quite cute too. :)
Thank you for holding that door but …
I have to say to everyone that holds doors for people who are handicapped “Thank You!” But, that said, I do have to add one thing…
Before you grab the door that someone who is handicapped is holding onto, PLEASE ask them first. I can’t say for everyone else out there who is handicapped, but I know that for me, in order to open that door, part of my weight (and thus balance) is being held by that door my hand is upon. In order to open a door, I have to adjust my balance and weight so that as I pull that door open, I’m also leaning against it. If you pull that door away from me, I can fall because I’ve suddenly lost that balance.
The same thing goes with helping me get back up after a fall. Please ask me first if I need assistance. Please don’t just grab my arm and start pulling. All that will do is cause me to lose my balance again and I’m going to fall again.
(No, I haven’t fallen recently, but last time I did people tried to help me over and over and over again… and I kept on falling because they kept on pulling me off my center of balance. I finally had to be rude and ask them to let me go)
Practice Practice Practice
Ok. I admit. I haven’t picked up my practice chanter much this past month and practice playing. And playing tunes (the limited number I know) does not count as practice. When I mean practice, I mean honest to God, sit down, and play scales and work on fingering — especially working on keeping those crossing noises to a minimum.
That also means that I have also not been practicing keeping the drones going on the bagpipes.
I do know that my interest hasn’t waned. I still check into the Bob Dunsire Bagpipe Forums daily. My energy level, however, just hasn’t been there. I come home utterly exhausted. There have even been times where I don’t want to turn the TV on because I just do not have the strength and energy. Dialysis and work really take it out on me.
But, tomorrow, I intend to fix this! I will practice on the PC for a little bit and I’ll pick up the GHBs and work on keeping a single drone nice and steady. I need to get back into the habit of doing this daily so that it truly DOES become a habit again.
In the words of a great little poster we have hanging by the door.
I want YOU to Practice Every Day!
“Smart” guns are such a bad idea…
While reading engadget today, I came across this article about the Armatix pistol “smartgun”.
For those that don’t know, these “smartguns” are designed to use some type of device such as a ring, or in this case, a wristwatch in order to act as an additional safety. But, these safeties, are actually a hidden danger. “Why?” I’m sure you’re asking — well, let me bring up some scenarios and talk about human nature.
Scenario 1
It’s late… 3:00 AM in the morning.. and someone breaks into your house… You quickly grab your gun as an intruder violently breaks into your room where you, your spouse and your baby sleep… Understanding that your life is suddenly at risk, you squeeze the trigger as the intruder wields a knife toward you… and you hear nothing as the knife plunges into you.. YOU ARE DEAD because you had a “smartgun” and your watch was not on your wrist… because like most people, you take it OFF when you go to bed. Oops.
Scenario 2
You get used to the fact that if you don’t have the watch on, the gun is “safe”. However, one rule about guns is IT IS ALWAYS LOADED and you NEVER POINT IT at something you do not want DESTROYED. You start getting into the bad habit of “it’s safe. I don’t have the watch on”. So you do some dry fire exercises… Except you think .oO “Unloading takes time. It’s safe. I’ll just fire the way it is.” and you start practicing…
Your friend, however, seeing you’ve left your watch in the living room decides to be helpful and brings the watch to you. As they come into the room you are in and starts to say “Hey! You left your watch ….” BOOM goes the gun as they get close.
Oops.
The number one safety of any firearm is YOUR BRAIN. NEVER depend on a mechanical or technological safety. Before doing any work or dry fire or anything else where you do NOT want the firearm to go off — make it safe. Always assume it’s loaded. Even if you walk away from it for a moment, before you start again, VISUALLY make SURE it’s UNLOADED.
Be safe out there. Let’s all come home to our families.
Hey! New Wordpress Blog!
Well, this past weekend was the She’s Geeky Unconference.
It was a ton of fun as it is every year! I attended a talk with Liz Henry on Wordpress. I knew what it was but had never touched it or installed it. The talk was quite interesting and obviously (by the fact this blog site now exists) I decided to play around with it. :)
