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Thank you.
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Wind organ update
You were all waiting for an update, weren’t you? I thought so. To date, I’ve finished three “pipes” for my wind
organ and based on my preliminary testing (consisting mainly of waving them wildly about), they all have unique voices. I’m
not sure yet how many pipes I’ll need or whether additional tuning will be necessary to achieve a pleasing harmony, but I
think I’ve made a good start. I’ve also developed a prototype mounting system (using PVC pipe fittings) and if all goes well,
you should hear my debut performance this weekend. I think this is going to be very cool, wind willing.
Tonight I resurrected the clarinet. The old licorice stick. And the good news is that I didn’t totally suck.
Why our little dog even sang along for a while—not exactly a ringing endorsement, come to think of it. (I may be practicing
in the basement for a while.) It’s not exactly like riding a bicycle, but it’s amazing how much I remember. Seven years of
drilling has deeply imprinted the clarinet lobe of my brain, I guess.
I began playing (squeakily) in the fifth grade and continued through my senior year in high school. At that point,
as I headed off to college, I dropped the clarinet like a hot potato, it not being a guitar or the least bit psychedelic.
Since that time, I’ve made occasional abortive attempts to pick it up again, but never with any lasting result.
We’ll see where it goes this time. Froggy’s been after me to jam at the Balsam Bandstand and I’m hip to that.
Let the wildlife beware.
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be
grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:
God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her, Thru the night with a light from above. From
the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam, God bless America, My home sweet home.
The dated links above are to previous week's posts. Take a look if you haven't been following along.
And just for the record, all words and pictures, except as noted, are mine and mine alone. I take full responsibility
for them (unless, of course, legal action is threatened).
Willie, here, is both the mascot and the arbiter of good taste for this site... So, as you might
expect, people will be offended. My apologies.
"There's nary an animal alive that can outrun a greased Scotsman!"
