Update Update

[TubaRay]

We're on the cusp of Driving-for-Dollars Month, and - so far (unlike 2010 and 2011) I do NOT have an extremely serious case of bronchitis.

There's still time!

[TubaRay]

We're on the cusp of Driving-for-Dollars Month, and - so far (unlike 2010 and 2011) I do NOT have an extremely serious case of bronchitis.

There's still time!

agreed.
However, in 2010, it lasted from early Nov. thru the end of Dec., and in 2011 it lasted from early Oct. thru the beginning of February. Being the busiest time of the year for gigs, I was doing practically *no* repair work, and just going from the bed ~ to ~ very hot baths ~ to ~ gigs ~ and back to ~ the bed.

bloke "no 'sick days' or 'personal days' for the self-employed"

I can easily relate. I am quite allergic to Mountain Cedar. In the hill country just north of San Antonio grows an abundance of(gov't protected) cedar trees. December and January provide an extra challenge for me, on an annual basis. I regularly have some wheezing. Often it is full-blown bronchitis. One learns to get in the habit of taking big breaths. If I do this, I cough uncontrollably. Makes for some interesting gigs.

[TubaRay]

I can easily relate. I am quite allergic to Mountain Cedar. In the hill country just north of San Antonio grows an abundance of(gov't protected) cedar trees. December and January provide an extra challenge for me, on an annual basis. I regularly have some wheezing. Often it is full-blown bronchitis. One learns to get in the habit of taking big breaths. If I do this, I cough uncontrollably. Makes for some interesting gigs.

Around here, cedar trees are considered to be weeds and aren't really considered indigenous. Further, they seem to attract ticks and mess up the appearance of an otherwise beautiful hardwood forest. A cluster of cedars on one's property usually indicates an long-gone farmhouse (where rows or clusters of cedars were intentionally planted as windbreaks). You just inspired me to cut down most all of them on my property. I'm already hitting the cedar seedlings with Round-Up.

bloke "Cedar is the local 'tree' equivalent of privet hedge."

Full Disclosure: If left to me, ALL of the cedars would be gone. They are protected due to the Endangered Species Act. An act, that in my opinion, protects every species EXCEPT the human one.

[Dan Schultz]

Concert last night and another one tonight. Thought I might spend the day working on a few things outside. But... it's raining. I gave some thought to practicing some of the stuff I had trouble with in last night's concert but that idea quickly passed for wasting some time on The Internet!

[Dan Schultz]

The year us about over for me. Approximate totals in a nutshell....

- six music groups.
- 304 rehearsals.
- 64 performances.

[bearphonium]

I'm having a relatively light gig schedule this December, although cutting one group might just have something to do with that. Finished our (non-trademarked Tuba Christmas) event this weekend which had way more of a personal work load than usual, since I had to get the music together and make the program, along with handling my share of the registration table. Playing light music before the Eugene Concert Choir's Christmas program next weekend and just a couple other event dates.

[MartyNeilan]

Between church/college/other things I am booked every weekend this month. Played the first Christmas thing this past Saturday afternoon (in 70 degree weather )
Not a single one of them are paid gigs this year.

[tbn.al]

I regularly use my Dad's 50+ year old 12". They will have to pry it out of my cold hands.

[Chuck Jackson]

I have come to the realization that after 52 years on this planet that I HATE CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

With the one excpetion of "Oy To The World" by the Klezmanauts.

You have been updated.

Chuck

[Dan Schultz]

I'm running a December sale (Tennessee stock only) on IN STOCK blokepiece mouthpieces, rims, and underparts....

I'll have $20 worth of those underpants, please. Oh.... nevermind.

[bububassboner]

I'm going to Thomann music tomorrow. Looking forward to playing a ton of tubas.

[MartyNeilan]

I have come to the realization that after 52 years on this planet that I HATE CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

With the one excpetion of "Oy To The World" by the Klezmanauts.

You have been updated.

Chuck

It took you 52 years to figure that out?

[tbn.al]

And there are those of us who have at least one Christmas CD in the player the whole year. TEHO

[tbn.al]

Got a crick in my neck just listening to that. Might break my arm if I tried to play it. Wonder if Wade could be talked into converting his arrangement into 7/8?

[tbn.al]

Ahh, I am one of those unfortunate souls who LOVES Christmas music, AND Sleigh Ride. I did what would be termed a transcription. This guy truly (and heavily) arranged this.

So no. Never. HAHAHA!!!

However, in my Army band days we used to play our marches in 5/8 by either adding or dropping time to beat 2. It was this limping music, like "March of the Zombies"...

Good! I like yours the way it is. I bought the Purdie version several years ago and he just has a different view of the high register capabilities of the tuba than I do. Yours is much nicer. The Cb on the horse whinney is manageable though.Thanks! I too love Christmas music, at least most of it.

[tbn.al]

2 8-ounce mirliton squash
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup butter or margarine
8 ounces fresh or frozen cooked, shelled shrimp
1 cup soft bread crumbs, toasted (1-1/4 slices)
2 tablespoons snipped parsley
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Celery leaves (optional) add ingredients to list

Directions
1. Cook squash, covered, in enough boiling salted water to cover squash, about 40 minutes or until tender. Drain.
2. When cool enough to handle, cut mirlitons lengthwise in half. Remove seeds. Scoop out pulp to within 1/2 inch of skin. Set shells aside. Chop pulp. Drain. Squeeze pulp between paper towels to remove excess liquid. Set aside.
3. For stuffing, cook onion, celery, and garlic in butter or margarine until tender. Remove from heat.
4. Reserve 4 whole shrimp for garnish, if desired. Cut remaining shrimp into small pieces. Stir shrimp, mirliton pulp, toasted bread crumbs, parsley, salt, red pepper, and black pepper into onion mixture. Spoon stuffing into squash shells.
5. Place shells in a 10x6x2-inch baking dish. Bake stuffed squash, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven about 30 minutes or until heated through. Garnish each serving with celery leaves and a whole cooked shrimp, if desired. Makes 4 servings.

[tbn.al]

My math skills are sorely lacking! I volunteered to replace the rockers on a pair of outdoor rocking chairs that my daughter had recieved a few years ago from her in-laws. I broke my scroll saw trying to cut material that was too heavy for it. I replaced it with a very nice Rockwell band saw off Craigslist. That worked great. After the rockers were cut out I broke my Delta belt/disk sander. It has been getting weaker and weaker and finally quit. I ordered a Rockwell sander to replace it today. So far I have spent $375 for tools to replace the rockers on a pair of $100 dollar chairs. What's wrong with this picture?

[scottw]

My math skills are sorely lacking! I volunteered to replace the rockers on a pair of outdoor rocking chairs that my daughter had recieved a few years ago from her in-laws. I broke my scroll saw trying to cut material that was too heavy for it. I replaced it with a very nice Rockwell band saw off Craigslist. That worked great. After the rockers were cut out I broke my Delta belt/disk sander. It has been getting weaker and weaker and finally quit. I ordered a Rockwell sander to replace it today. So far I have spent $375 for tools to replace the rockers on a pair of $100 dollar chairs. What's wrong with this picture?

Absolutely nothing is wrong with that picture---you have new tools out of it and the eternal gratitude of your daughter.

[MartyNeilan]

Burping and farting are caused by healthy bacteria helping you to digest your food.
You have been updated.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Burping and farting are caused by healthy bacteria helping you to digest your food.
You have been updated.

Glad to know -- would hate to be methane out on information like that!