Music and Madness

Finally got a few basics on the new stringed toy down; cheshirebast tuned it and explained how it worked. We finally got as far as two chords. This whole doing things with both hands is freakin' the old Horn player out here. (I know my music theory okay for one note at a time, but when you're brass, the whole chord thing isn't your bag. Also, my fingers are short.) Still, I think I can manage some sort of minimal competency on this thing, which is all I'm really asking for. You can't sing and play Horn at the same time.

I paid him back in way-underdone brownies (the timer didn't start - either I need to change the batteries or the buttons are dirty again - so I took 'em out when they smelled done), which PB also liked.

Then we watched V for Vendetta, which was a first watching for me and a rewatch for most of the rest of the crowd. Visually beautiful movie (except for the fight scenes, and - hey - the Wachowski brothers wrote in a blade-time fight; I guess it was the obvious step, eh?), and watching Hugo Weaving act for a whole movie without the benefit of his face and still be perfectly clear is just stunning. Plus, bonus Stephen Rea, one of my favorite underrated actors. And an Emma Goldman reference for good measure. Good stuff. Now, if only it wasn't quite so bloody . . . .

Music and Madness

Finally got a few basics on the new stringed toy down; cheshirebast tuned it and explained how it worked. We finally got as far as two chords. This whole doing things with both hands is freakin' the old Horn player out here. (I know my music theory okay for one note at a time, but when you're brass, the whole chord thing isn't your bag. Also, my fingers are short.) Still, I think I can manage some sort of minimal competency on this thing, which is all I'm really asking for. You can't sing and play Horn at the same time.

I paid him back in way-underdone brownies (the timer didn't start - either I need to change the batteries or the buttons are dirty again - so I took 'em out when they smelled done), which PB also liked.

Then we watched V for Vendetta, which was a first watching for me and a rewatch for most of the rest of the crowd. Visually beautiful movie (except for the fight scenes, and - hey - the Wachowski brothers wrote in a blade-time fight; I guess it was the obvious step, eh?), and watching Hugo Weaving act for a whole movie without the benefit of his face and still be perfectly clear is just stunning. Plus, bonus Stephen Rea, one of my favorite underrated actors. And an Emma Goldman reference for good measure. Good stuff. Now, if only it wasn't quite so bloody . . . .

Tasty!

Bread pudding with dried figs and dried cherries = Teh Shiznit.

--

Okay, I can now almost accompany myself to "Down in the Valley." Not that this is an accomplishment, but it's an improvement from last night. I'm going to stop because my fingers hurt.

Oddly enough, this is actually giving me occasional urges to haul out the horn and fool around with it. I can't actually do anything with it until I get it looked at - the valves are slow - but playing something else is making me yearn for the familiar.

Tasty!

Bread pudding with dried figs and dried cherries = Teh Shiznit.

--

Okay, I can now almost accompany myself to "Down in the Valley." Not that this is an accomplishment, but it's an improvement from last night. I'm going to stop because my fingers hurt.

Oddly enough, this is actually giving me occasional urges to haul out the horn and fool around with it. I can't actually do anything with it until I get it looked at - the valves are slow - but playing something else is making me yearn for the familiar.