Out of Tune

Yesterday I was listening to DD playing piano, and thinking "How beautiful. I wonder if only a mother would like this? No, it's got great phrasing and shape and OK, it's not perfect, but it sounds wonderful." She went on from one beautiful piece to another and another, and the last one got more and more dramatic at the end to a flashy finish, when the Whirlwind appeared screeming and demanding the paino be tuned immediately. Well, maybe that's pretty good timing, because a life insurance company that my dad had a policy with sent me a check that should cover piano tuning. That was probably connected to the piece of paper my brother stopped by with and had me sign. I wrote down that tuner that used to work for Liberace on a piece of paper, now where is it? I'll just look it up again. I know a trombone player who used to play for Liberace, and another trombone player who used to trick or treat Liberace. Then I could be a trombone player who got her paino tuned by Liberace's piano tuner. If he'll do it.

Wheeeee

We're motoring down I-5 getting close to LA when we see an unbelievable sight---huge roller coasters, high roller coasters, looping roller coasters--every kind of roller coaster I ever saw in pictures, there in the distance beside the road. We weren't the only people to notice, because we soon came to the exit for this roller coaster paradise, and traffic pretty much just stopped while waiting for their turn to go to this amazing place. We eventually noticed that we could keep going if we just got out of the right side lanes. But not before I drug out the camera and got this picture.

Back from LA

Mission accomplished. We are back, and we have the Moto Guzzi. The drive was somewhat harrowing, us being country bumkins in the big city. We saw three young men in fast heavy LA freeway traffic on sport bikes and one of them was doing a wheelie. I don't know what the other two were doing because they were out of sight when I saw the 3rd up on his back tire, no protective clothing, zooming fast with the traffic. Bikes split lanes in LA. I told him (of course he didn't hear me) to stop distracting my driver. HH did all the LA driving. Yikes. We traded off other places. Big sighs of relief when we left the LA area.

The fellow selling the bike was from Ireland, and is going back for a reunion with all his friends and the Isle of Man tt race. He, and his wife who had just gotten back from her own trip to Ireland, were very fun to visit with, and brought out garage furniture so we could have a little party on the driveway while we watched HH assemble the Trailer in a Bag. They regailed us with tales of LA and Ireland, insurance, universal health care, health care costs, education, and motorcycles.

HH is the first non-engineer owner of the bike, and the prior owners kept pictures, records, diaries. If you scroll down a couple entries here you may see a photo of the car, trailer and bike. I changed out the photos.

Do you see the dark spire in the left quarter of this photo? It is a tree. We started seeing them in Sacramento and south, so I assume they require a warm climate, but when growing singley with various other trees and bushes, they are spectacular. I wonder what they are?

Looking for Cali

Alley doesn't understand why she can't find Cali. She is so confused, and no, she doesn't like dogs. HH is off riding the Harley and expects to eat when he gets home, and DD is hungry. She's going to something she calls "Devising". It's a theater thing. Saturday she has a rehearsal for Ragtime. What fun. She's playing piano now, and it's beautiful. Why is she such a good sight reader? Must be smart.

Goodbye, Cali

I miss you.

Need a Tune

Planned on getting pianos tuned. I had just decided we'd caught up enough financially to tune at least one if not both pianos, and was wondering what tuner to use, but there has been a slight setback. The Moto Guzzi (which I hope will work fine) is the setback. Some friend of a friend in Seattle has one, too. Maybe I should ask him if he's heard any lemon talk from that guy. This one's an 89, so maybe some of the bugs were worked out before it was made. It doesn't matter anyway, because we already bought it. HH won the bid. I'm taking old kitty to vet today. Hope all works out OK.

Vita and HH's Next Adventure

Sometimes a deal comes along that is just too good to pass up, and when such things happen, the fun and smart thing to do is go for it, so that is what we did. It is a 1989 Moto Guzzi Le Mans with low miles, meticulous care and lovely paint. We are going for a fun weekend drive to LA to pick it up. Ya Hoo!

Fun In Sun or Taxes

What a beautiful day. We have sun, there are flowers outside ready to plant, the temperature is perfect, an outside sort of day. I need to spend all my spare moments finding all the tax papers I put off filing so I can do my taxes. HH has a cold, DD has allergies. I'd be wonderful if my head wasn't plugged up.

Scramble

That's like eggs, not a motorcycle race. That's what my head is doing this morning. That and the little Morse code thing that's been going on constantly for several days. I'm pretty sure that's because of my head being plugged up.

Do the rest of you have times when you're smart and times when you're not so smart. Sometimes my brain is just right on top of things, and I can clearly think of several things and keep them all straight. Other times it's all just a muddle...... I had to stop for a minute to turn on iTunes to hear the Bassoon Quartet instead of my head ringing, except now it seems my head is playing along.

I so admire the beautiful gracious manners of my friends. I really enjoy watching them socialize with their great skills. One in particular must have learned at her mother's knee. I think she's brilliant and admire her so! I tell myself to be like her, but when I get in a social situation, I'm just so excited to be around people I forget to think before speaking. I'm so lucky to know such fun people.

I hope Roger isn't mad at me--I told some entire band that he'd had a birthday of which he didn't wish to be reminded. He told the band I was delusional. Ha! I was around people and got excited. Sorry, Roger. It just slipped out.

My MIL tried to deposit a "check" that was just a voucher saying "we owe you money." I carried this and other checks to the bank for her, never thinking to question, as I am used to her being the mom, and me being the subordinate. I feel like I let her down, though. Should I have looked through the pile? Now she thinks she threw away a check, but I think it's possible that they haven't sent the check, just a notice saying they would be sending one. I have to pick her up at 10:30, so I'd better get going so I can get things done before I leave.

Shopping

We did it. Yesterday DD and I went on an adventure in the world of Teen Fashion. OK, she's used to it, but I lead some sort of sheltered life. The picture above shows a teen fashion when I was young. Now things are a lot different, and I feel lucky that DD has such conservative taste. Do people really wear the stuff they try to sell in stores? I did see some goofy looking things on people, but nothing as awful as what the stores wanted to sell, which was mostly of inferior quality. Actually it was fun, and I like what the clever daughter picked out, and don't think I had any inhibiting effect on her. We came home with packages. Since we didn't buy any motorcycles, HH barely noticed. Today we go to the dentist! I can hardly wait.

Odd You Should Say That

Friday I took MIL to visit a doctor--thank goodness the tests turned out OK and she won't have to have surgery--but when HH and I came back later after picking up her medicine, she pointed out that she was wearing odd socks. Maybe that's why the outcome was so positive. After pointing out the odd socks, which were barely noticable, one being navy blue the other black, she announced that her mother often told her if she put her underwear on backwards, and it had to be accidentally backwards, not to change it, because if she left it as was, she would have good luck all that day. No, I haven't said anything to her about my recent run-ins with underware. But I see now that I should have left it odd, and yes, boggywoggy, it was uncomfortable.

Where is Mind?

Several mornings now, I've had to actually take of my underpants and put them on again right way front. Am very proud of self today, as I remembered to check first, and got them right first time.

Tonight is a trombone clinic by (with?) Henry Henniger, but also DD is coming home from basketball tournament and will need ride from school around time clinic is under way, so will have to see how that pans out.

At masked ball, was off getting picture taken with DD and masks when band started playing and missed one whole tune. This is 1st rehearsal since, so I will see how mad everyone is at me. Now I'm leaving early for trombone clinic. Scanner not working, so am safe in saying you will not see picture.

Red Lights

I heard on the news that Eugene had so many red light runners (people driving cars through red lights) they put up cameras to catch them. Up until then, I hadn't noticed much in the way of red light running here in Corvallis, but it's like hearing that on the news gave Corvallis people the idea, or maybe the Eugene runners drove up to Corvallis to do their red running to get away from the cameras. (We're about three towns away, depending how you travel.) I have lately been seeing a lot of red light runners. Also, a lot of deer wandering the roads, not to mention skunks, so drivers, be cautious.

Our local tuba playing USA presidential candidate is traveling to New York today to meet with other presidential candidates. Good luck, Michael Charles Smith!

Sunny Girl

What was that? Play? Play play play play play. Yes! I love to play.

Accidental Change

Today is a beautifu day for a motorcycle ride, and HH went on one, while I stayed around kicking my heels. He met up with people with Yamahas and Moto Guzzi's, and took this photo.

I thought I'd lost my name, but now I have it back, so I'm happy. This is very confusing.

Happy Valentine's Day

Just wanted to wish everyone, and especially Mrs. Staggs, a Happy Valentine's Day. HH is going to take me to the Darkside to see Pan's Labyrinth. The Darkside is the most romantic theater in town. I can hardly wait.

Hee hee. He had a little excitement with his 1954 BSA Monday. Got stuck and had to call the rescue trailer (me). Thank goodness our very able neighbor was home to push the Gold Wing out of the way of the trailer for me. He also hitched it up for me. HH says it's all part of the excitement of driving old British bikes, and he's also looking forward with glee to rebuilding the magneto.

Into the Sun

Can you see it? There the sun is just behind that tree. This is the sort of weather that makes one appreciate puffy down coats with pockets and fluffy socks.

34 F Outside, 58 F Inside

Can you blame me? I'm waiting for it to warm up in here before I take my shower. I could take it now, but I have to wash my hair, and I don't feel like hanging around with wet hair in a 58˚ cold house. I pushed the thermometer up a little, and got an immediate sigh of appreciation from Old Kitty. Fluffy Kitty doesn't seem to care. Old Kitty was hollering, and I think it was because of the cold. The weather forcast says it's going to warm up to a blistering 45˚ F outside, with a bit of sun peeking through the fog. I'll turn the heat back down in a couple hours, OK? After I've showered. Meanwhile, I have parts lists to type and a quilt to bind, and the band wants me to prepare several new charts. Ugh! I don't even like them. Why can't we get some GOOD new music?

Mask Making is Fun

With the help and suggestions of the creatively brilliant Cabaret Chairwoman, I made two beautiful masks. Now, under no pressure to make more, and with my newly accuired experience, I can just try to aid and supervise other mask-makers at the next go-round. I am looking forward to it. All masks made at the work session are in her care, and the materials were provided by the symphony associationa and by her, with the exception of a very few minor contributions by her volunteers. Time flies when one is making masks with all sorts of beautiful materials at hand to decorate them. Some of the students were absolutely brilliant, creative artists.

One Hundred

Hey! That's not a motorcycle? No, it's the engine of a big yellow piece of mysterious equipment. Maybe it's road equipment. We have snow. We have school, too, at least so far. Maybe the big yellow thing is a snow plow, but I don't think so.

Oh, boy. A masked ball. The Corvallis Youth Symphony is putting on a masked ball. I get to make masks. But I don't get to wear my green velvet gown because the band is playing, so I have to wear my black dress. I like my black dress, but maybe not as much as my green velvet. Maybe I could wear both. You know, change before we play. Don't know enough yet to know if that will work.