Wow, good idea for a thread! Now, will we keep coming back to this thread to give updates on our progress?
I will, and I hope others will too…I started on the 29th so it’s been a week for me already.
1.Start a discussion / support group for homeschooling moms
I got the phpBB group set up-- Thank you Dale for the recommendation! …and thanks to others for panicky late-night technical assistance you know who you are, Denny This week, a few of us will be learning our way around before we open it up to homeschoolers in our group. Kevin and I spent an hour last night with him posting new topics and me deleting them. That was entirely too much fun
2.Create / teach another class. No work yet. 3.Be able to play flute in our church’s Christmas orchestra next year …Keyed Copley will arrive in a few months No work yet.
4.Keep a diet / exercise / health journal-- write down what I eat. Wear a pedometer, count steps. 8 days out of 8 so far. Woo-hoo!
5.Get back to some of the books that formed me spiritually, and read a bit every day, even if it’s just a paragraph.
Only 3 days out of 8. I keep intending to do this before bed, but wind up online instead.
6. Take up bellydancing!
One DVD arrived and I’ve tried it out twice. For some reason it’s much easier to do hip circles counterclockwise rather than clockwise, what’s up with that? Also…I ordered some zills
Oooooo!!! They look really, really cool!!! I want some!! How are the DVD’s going anyway, other than the whole clockwise/counterclockwise thing? I’m green with envy, that’s for sure. Especially since Mr Izz said he doesn’t think it’s something I need to do What does he know anyway? Puh!! I may just purchase the DVDs and then he won’t have a choice. HA!
Does anyone really, truly want to know that I’ve been practicing regular oral hygene?
1: check.
2: well, gotta have a chance to start that up, now that ‘12th night’ is over, HOPEFULLY mundane routine will triumph once again in the face of familial visitation, numerous invitations and ‘special’ things to do.
3: Ok I admit failure for week 1. But I have 6 months to catch up.
4a. yeah, that’s going pretty well just now…
5. Her BD is the 16th. ‘Every 2 weeks’ begins at that time. (She wants a boom box.)
Oh, that’s right…we’re supposed to be telling how we’re doing. Ummm…I don’t remember what I resolved to do now If it was to be horribly snarky as often as possible, I have that one down pat already…YAY ME!
And I still want some of those zills…add that to my resolutions.
I changed all my resolutions since that other topic. All but one, I guess. I still want to make some kind of career change or at least head in that direction. Other than that, I want to reduce my consumption of material things and go backpacking more.
So far so good, but the year hasn’t really gotten started yet. I haven’t gone backpacking, for example.
Unless a couple of nights at the Millennium Broadway hotel in Times Square counts. (Probably not, and it probably doesn’t count much for reducing consumption either. However, the wind chill was 0 degrees outside and that, to this California girl who thinks 55 degrees is cold, qualifies as a Significant Outdoor Experience.)
Izzy you know that you now must get the zills and the dvd. Mr Izz threw down the gauntlet.
As to my progress…
Yep, got the oboe last Thursday. It’s a cheap, poor ole beat-up thing, but it plays and I figure I can learn the mechanical adjustments, the basics and if it goes well then I’ll move up in instrument. If it goes poorly I’m not out much.
Yep, I’ve started re-learning playing. Not too bad since the basic notes under the fingers are identical to whistle. It’s just that there are a LOT of other keys cluttering up things. Another similarity is the importance of breath control. Big difference- back pressure multiplied by about 1,000. Whoa momma! … but it’s do-able and I haven’t passed out.
3- The orchestra hasn’t started back up after the Christmas concert but I will be back on tympani. The oboe does not progress that fast.
4- Wrote my pipe band resignation 1/2/08 so it’s a done deal. Now I’ve just got to take back their gear.
5- that’s coming along- instead of spending this past week off working like a mad woman to get stuff done- I lazed around and basically did very little. It was tough-how sad is that? I’m too hyperactive, but I did it and I’m back to work tomorrow.
6-That’s going to take more than a week.
7-I’m trying.
Someone else will have to be the judge of the last one.
Oh, I see. Well, luckily I have most of a year ahead of me.
I am now playing Rock Band at medium, for what it’s worth. Even the “nightmare” songs. I consider it a good brain exercise.
AH! ( I could tell you all about that thing, Played for 10 years in a n orchestra…)
Making reeds yet? Now’s a good time to start! … at the very least right now you ought to have a double -hollow ground knife, india combo stone , belly plaque, mandrel + chopping block. (tip: Flat plaques are lousy)
next thing you know you’ll be waxing tie-on -thread, screwing cup-hooks into furniture, soaking blanks, comparing French & Philadelphia cuts…
then you’ll buy a shaper tip + straight cane and well, it’s ALL downhill from there…
PS: Ditch Rubank: get the Barrett + Brod book. Bon Chance.
Yeah…you try telling him that He’s more stubborn than a mule, that one is.
Alright, at least one of mine, while I haven’t gotten my own fiddle, I have been practising on Shannon’s every evening for about 30 minutes. Is it normal to have the muscles on your shoulder that hold the fiddle hurt? Ay yi yi…but at least I can play without too many squeaks now. And I even banged out Sally Gardens yesterday. I was quite proud of myself
Ah Izz, I can’t believe Mr. Izz would say no to that.Surely not.
30 minutes??? I’m happy if I can make it 15 or so on this oboe before my mouth goes blotto. That’s not straight playing, that’s blowing and gasping time. If I’m lucky the intended note comes out vaguely in tune. …And you’re playing a tune?? I’m happy because I got up to G on the top of the staff tonight. Hey, I just realized, I’ve gotten 12 notes(after a fashion)
Oh that you were close enough to give me lessons… I’m winging it on my own with the help of some kind folks over on an oboe board, books and a dvd that is on it’s way.
Making reeds? Not quiet yet. More like gonna try to make this old oboe shaped object into a decent working thing. I just ordered Sawicki’s book because, though I don’t know much, I know this horn needs work big time. Pads, adjustments, everything. Since I didn’t pay much for it, I figure it can do more than just re-teach me fingerings, embochure and breathing, I can learn how to fix it mechanically I hope. Then if my honking ever turns into anything resembling actual playing I’ll spring for a used Fox Renard or some such. I’m avoiding wood because I don’t want the worry. I had to get a system for my baby grand’s soundboard, I don’t want to worry about the horn too. My reputation is ruined already because I was seen buying cigarette papers the other day.
So reed making is a bit down the road. I’ve got some good reeds ordered and am anxious to see if they make any difference at this point.
you know who you are, Denny 
This week, a few of us will be learning our way around before we open it up to homeschoolers in our group. Kevin and I spent an hour last night with him posting new topics and me deleting them. That was entirely too much fun 
Also…I ordered some zills 
What does he know anyway? Puh!! I may just purchase the DVDs and then he won’t have a choice. HA! 
