Update Update

[Kayla]

The fact that my dog is licking my tubas isn't helping.

Jeez, cats denting tubas, now dogs licking them. Must be something in the lacquer or something.

[Tuba Guy]

He honestly likes to hear me practice...he'll come in and lay by my feet. We don't know why he licks it all, though. And as much as I love him, if he ever did anything permanent to any of my instruments, I wouldn't give him carrots, peanut butter, or cookies (if you know my dog, you know how huge a punishment that is)

[Tuba Guy]

As much as he bugs me sometimes, he's still my little puppy (...ok, so he's 8....but he still thinks he's a puppy). I'd never do anything to actually hurt him...
If I still had my pictures, I'd put up the one of him "playing" my 27J

[Tuba Guy]

Heh, with the beard i've got going now (fairly epic), I can't even tell the difference in feel between plastic, gold, silver, pitted silver, or stainless steel. Definitely don't notice any tastes...
Now smells are a different story. One tuba smelled a bit like beer for a little while (that one, i'm honestly not sure why), and another smelled a little like smoke.

[MartyNeilan]

I'm not taking my sneakers off, I am Sneakers O'Toole.

I didn't take my sneakers off, I'm still Sneakers O'Toole.

[tbn.al]

' finishing up my six days doing Pro' Baseball "Fan-Fest" 2009...' short day today... ' done by 5 P.M., and managed to cop a coveted parking pass, so my car is right here...As Mr. Pres. is throwing out first ball @ the game this evening, will have to do some Obama-dodgin' (some closed roads, etc.) to get on the freeway headed home when done...' will be glad to be home.

I'll bet the hay is waiting to be cut. A little tractor time might be a blessing.

[The Jackson]

UPDATE:

I just got my check from my very first paying gig. I feel like a grown-up, now...


Jackson "Level 2 Tuba Dork" Parodi

[Tuba Guy]

Waiting for the person I'm supposed to give a lesson to...he was supposed to be here half an hour ago...
he doesn't show, i'm out some decent money...tried calling....just waiting. and waiting...etc

[TubaRay]

UPDATE:
I just got my check from my very first paying gig. I feel like a grown-up, now...
Jackson "Level 2 Tuba Dork" Parodi

I remember that feeling very well. It was quite special. I feel pretty good every time I get a check from a paying gig.

Congratulations!

[rocksanddirt]

UPDATE:

I just got my check from my very first paying gig. I feel like a grown-up, now...


Jackson "Level 2 Tuba Dork" Parodi

yay!

[SplatterTone]

Been doing a lot of metal work lately. Started enclosing the big front porch with metal work. Partly for looks, partly because the wood supports were rotting out, and partly because I'm convinced the city is gradually joining other cities that have become havens for section 8 trolls and their bastard kids. Made a pretty good door, learned quite a bit about doing it ... the hard way. Got it to fit nice (finally), swing nice, kinda proud of it. It wasn't easy. Metal does weird things when you start welding on it.

Made a 10 foot rack for the Toyota Tacoma to get the steel for the above project. Tried going light weight, 16 gauge (about 1/16 inch) and using generous bracing. It turned out strong enough -- I've loaded about 700 pounds of square tubing on it no sweat. But light metal warps more during welding, so it's a little squiggly if you sight down it.

The deck on the lawn tractor was getting so tattered that one of the blades got blocked from turning. I've done fixup on the deck in the past, but now had to do a major fix, patch, and reinforce with 1/4 X 2.5 inch flat around the non-output side; and doubled up strips of 1/4 X 1 inch on the output side. Welded up some cracks (again).

The beam that holds the front wheels was giving out so that the wheels were bending back and rubbing the deck when turning. I built a new beam out of 3-inch, 4.1-pound channel and 1/4 inch flat. I made some outrigger sort of things with metal wheels to weld to the frame to add support to the outer end of the beam, but will have to rework the steering tie rod to get it out of the way if I want to use them.

Found some cracks on the main frame of the tractor. Ground out a V with the die grinder and welded them. Next is to finish making some reinforcement pieces out of 3/8 flat and weld those around the fixes so it doesn't crack again (at least not there).

Bought my first bottle of Bombay Sapphire. Liking it.

[MartyNeilan]

I am thinking about entering the world of fretless bass.
Frets are for sissies; real men play fretless.

Financial constraints are now putting this on hold.
(The part about getting a fretless bass, not the part about being a real man.)

[tbn.al]

Ms. bloke kept everything cut ....

What a woman! Ever wonder how you lucked out so

BTW the Olds is getting better every time out of the case. Last night it was especially right. Played a 2 hour rehearsal and grabbed for 1 once. Low Eb. This might just work. Thanks!

[Donn]

These are decent quality, look good, and can be bought (either 4-string or 5-string) for roughly the cost of one Helleberg + one Kellyberg:

http://www.rondomusic.com/Bassguitarfretless.html

It has been a long time since I looked at electric basses - like, 30 years - but I was surprised to see all those pictures of ostensibly fretless basses, with what look like frets. The items at the bottom of the page are more like what I remember. Do some fretless basses have non-functional frets, maybe for visual reference, or is that just sloppy catalogue editing?

[TMurphy]

After major surgery to have both eyes removed, and about a month's worth of recovery time (including being anesthetized again the have new stitches put in) my cat Roxy is finally fully healed, and back to her normal, energetic self.

Most recently, she has learned that if she pushes on the folding door to our bedroom enough, the magnet holding it closed will open, and she can nose her way into our bedroom, and wake up those lazy people who are trying to sleep at 3 AM rather than play with her. Sigh.

[pwhitaker]

Self Pity

I never saw a wild thing
sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.

That was the poem that Viggo Mortensen left in Demi Moore's locker at the end of the movie "G.I. Jane". Very apt.

[Tuba Guy]

fix marching band instruments
eat
fix marching band instruments
check email
fix marching band instruments
eat
fix marching band instruments
check tubenet
fix marching band instruments
make a delivery
fix marching band instruments
eat
fix marching band instruments
check email
fix marching band instruments
wash face/hands
sleep
=================================

repeat ad infinitum

need an apprentice/help?

[Tuba Guy]

fix marching band instruments
eat
fix marching band instruments
check email
fix marching band instruments
eat
fix marching band instruments
check tubenet
fix marching band instruments
make a delivery
fix marching band instruments
eat
fix marching band instruments
check email
fix marching band instruments
wash face/hands
sleep
=================================

repeat ad infinitum

need an apprentice/help?

might prefer an expert/boss

I offer what I can

[The Jackson]

and I can what I offer

[The Jackson]

bloke "Why do his yams always look like spinach[k]?"

I usually just leaf that little inconsistency alone.