The oboe is a criminally under-used instrument.

18. April 2011 · Comments Off on Oboe Outside My Little World · Categories: OutsideMyWorld™

The Pogues used oboe in at least one song, as I’ve just learned. Too bad I can’t find a live version, showing the oboe player, but here you go … far outside my world, to be sure!

18. April 2011 · Comments Off on FBQD · Categories: FBQD · Tags:

[name here] just took out her oboe and Chance, our dog, came running to me as if to say, “Really, I’m in the middle of a nap.” [name here] told her it is my fault because I am making her practice every day during spring break.

18. April 2011 · Comments Off on Hah! · Categories: Fun

As a friend wrote (hi Johne!):

You haven’t lived until you’ve heard Ride of the Valkyries augmented by harmonica and mouth harp.

… and of course An der schönen blauen donau is thrown in for good measure …

18. April 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: Ramble

For those who are struggling with this template (how many of you are there?) I continue to search for a template that allows me to have the pull down menus above but that also works better on all browsers. I looked at this one on Firefox, Chrome and Safari and was surprised at the huge difference in Safari. While Firefox and Chrom show grey in the background on the left and right of the blogarea and sidebar areas Safari doesn’t. (So, you technically minded people, what does that mean? Is that a CSS or HTML problem, both of which mean nothing to me?) I don’t have access to IE, because I can’t find it for Mac any longer, so who knows what that looks like! Fill me in … take a screen shot or something if you feel like it.

I’m really into “clean” and ease of use — both for readers and for me (since I am a computer idiot). I’m also into making sure videos appear correctly, that the blog entry section works no matter the size of a computer or tablet screen … and now I guess I need to think, too, about the tablet issue of turning it sideways … some templates work better with that. I’d like to find one that still shows blockquotes like this one does … it sort of makes it clearer when I’m quoting someone, whereas some just indent and have a line to the left of the text (some readers have been confused, thinking I’m saying things I’m not … and with some of the spelling errors on the QODs — well— I shudder, thinking you believe I spell that way! I most DEFINATELY DEW KNOT!)

What do you like blogwise? Do tell! I’ll gladly listen to your suggestions (whether or not I take ’em!). Thanks!

18. April 2011 · Comments Off on I HATE Exercise! · Categories: I ♥♥♥ This!, Videos

But I LOVE music.

So maybe I could do Conductorcise?! I actually think this would get me to at least move around a little. In the privacy of my own home. When no one is looking!

I’ve always thought I’d like to try conducting. But not with anyone — especially any colleagues! — in sight. I do have an issue right now with my right arm, but I think that particular motion is workable. (I just can’t reach back for some reason — yeah, no back scratching with my right arm!)

And those kids … how cool is that? No age limits ‐ in either direction!

I want to be Queen of Fun. Okay?

18. April 2011 · Comments Off on TQOD · Categories: TQOD

Why does the oboe have to be such a difficult instrument lol. It’s definately a skill that needs developed over time

18. April 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: BQOD

“Discipline sets you free,” the professor went on. “It’s like jazz. You can’t be great at improvising if you don’t learn your chords and scales first.”

I read it here, at Eileen Huang’s blog.

Sometimes fake sites that “borrow” from real articles just crack me up. Really.

I was checking out #operaplot news, and of course I’d already read the LA Times article that begins this way:

Long-winded opera and terse Twitter make for an odd couple, but online classical-music fans have shown that a harmonious duet is possible, especially when the two are mixed with the right amount of irreverent humor.

But THIS … this is even better! If you don’t laugh out loud you are nothing at all like me:

opera and curt Chirrup piddle for an odd duet, but on-line classical-music fans get shown that a symmetrical distich is potential, specially when the two are sundry with the rightfulness measure of saucy humour.

The LA Times writes this:

Concision is a must in the Operaplot game, but cleverness is usually what wins the day. Among the victorious tweets of the past are:

And the fake site features this:

Concision is a mustiness in the Operaplot punt, but ingenuity is normally what wins the day. Among the triumphant tweets of the preceding are:

I mean … which of those is more creative, if less understandable, hmmm?