What's on your mind now?

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Am I the only person who feels a bit sad every new year's eve?
I'm going to miss 2011. Time just keeps going forward.... unless we invent a time machine of course.

But hopefully 2012 will be better... happy new year

[Bob]

Nope.  I'm here practicing tonight.  Yee haw.  And everyone is out partying.  Poor me.  But practicing is going ok.

I've been getting more Grinch-like and pessimistic lately, which is sad.

[oxy60]

On a real stage doing real shows? That sounds interesting! 

Well if you ever want to know something more about my country just ask  (if I will know the answer...  )

Thank you, we will.

Yes, on a real stage. The auditorium of my high school was also the theater for the city. We kids had a chance to work on all sorts of shows right along side the pros. Of course within the scope of our ability... It was a great!

[m1469]

Gah, why does it look like that under my kitchen sink?  SERIOUSLY.  *runs away full speed* (of course I can't get very far in here, so I got in anyway about a milli-trilli-moment's running workout ... *counts it as something and devours 3 doughnuts* (that's a joke))

[49410enrique]

Gah, why does it look like that under my kitchen sink?  SERIOUSLY.  *runs away full speed* (of course I can't get very far in here, so I got in anyway about a milli-trilli-moment's running workout ... *counts it as something and devours 3 doughnuts* (that's a joke))

now i'm thinking about donuts (which are no joking matter!).

at least not the heavenly bacon bit donuts (i don't tolerate gluten very well but if i ate some of that floury yumminess i would go this route)

[Bob]

https://www.regretsy.com/2012/01/03/from-the-mailbag-27/

[Bob]

https://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/01/02/144482863/double-blind-violin-test-can-you-pick-the-strad?sc=fb&cc=fp

[candlelightpiano]

Since we're on the subject of food, take a good close look at this menu that we photographed when we were in Beijing.

Wonder what kind of qualifications you'd earn from the Institute of Tortilla Pork!

[birba]

https://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/01/02/144482863/double-blind-violin-test-can-you-pick-the-strad?sc=fb&cc=fp

In my professional experience, I've found violinists to be some of the most self-centered, holier-then-thou a....... around.  I came to dread every time I had to work with one.  "what's the intonation of this piano?  440?!  OMG, I can't play anything less then 444...blah blah blah"  The ones I worked with who actually listened to me, were few and far between.  (Violists, on the other hand, tended to be lots of fun and didn't take themselves so seriously.)  And here we have an example of their general ignorance.  Loved it!  By the way, I couldn't hear any difference between the two.  I mean any difference that would make any difference (!)  But don't ask me.  I'm just a piano-player...

[ajspiano]

@birba -

I once had a violinist (teacher) assert very pompously that her ears were brilliant, and that mine were useless purely because I'm a pianist. This was after I asked a question about developing accurate intonation on the violin. The thing that amused me most about this was that she had just seen me tune the violin.. as it turned out, the reason my intonation sucked was because it was a cheap violin with terrible strings.

[birba]

There you had a double dumb-dumb.  Not only a violinist, but a "teacher" as well.  You know what?  As tiring as it can be to work with singers, they don't bicker and tiddle-widdle around with you and tell you what to do.  In fact, they LISTEN to you.  And pay you, as well.   

[49410enrique]

Since we're on the subject of food, take a good close look at this menu that we photographed when we were in Beijing.

Wonder what kind of qualifications you'd earn from the Institute of Tortilla Pork!

oh my gosh you found 'ENGRISH'! that's awesome. you should totally submit it!!!
i love this site (i mean no offense to our asian friends, it's just an amusing collection).

https://www.engrish.com/

they have some goodies up there but i like youre more

[candlelightpiano]

oh my gosh you found 'ENGRISH'! that's awesome. you should totally submit it!!!
i love this site (i mean no offense to our asian friends, it's just an amusing collection).

https://www.engrish.com/

they have some goodies up there but i like youre more

Yours was pretty funny, too. I think what was missing from your menu was THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA!!!!!    

[m1469]

Teacher, is this Beethoven?



He seems a little scary ... I didn't know he had a mohak and all that jewels ...  :-  I am a little bit scaried of him.  Probably he does have music inside his muscles and that's why he also does has a vest on and a mohak on his head.

[49410enrique]

lol 

[ajspiano]

Those menus are pretty amusing..  I saw one in the city a few weeks ago..  it had an item titled "vegetarian duck"

ROFL.

[candlelightpiano]

lol 

That's one cool piano!

[m1469]

lol  

ha ha ... I got a good laugh out of this, thanks for posting  .  I especially got a good tickle out of the details .

[m1469]

now i'm thinking about donuts (which are no joking matter!).

There is actually a donut shop that I know of which has donuts with bacon on it ... ah gawd ... som'bdy STOP me  .

[birba]

That video was hysterical!  I wonder who made it.
Bacon on donuts?!  YUCK!      What I wouldn't give for a glazed Dunkin Donut right now.  I mean I love european cooking, but with age, my roots call me back more and more...

[49410enrique]

What I wouldn't give for a glazed Dunkin Donut right now.  I mean I love european cooking, but with age, my roots call me back more and more...

are you originally from close to the mid west or the us east coast? it seems dunkin is pretty popular over all but especially so in those areas, in the south and west it looks like krispy kreme wins out, have you tried them? for a while they could not get any more popular,... not so much now, but when i used to indulge that was definately the route i went.

in other news, this made me wonder, do (or if) idiots had a time machine....

i love the idiocracy that is yt sometimes, i find it funnier than the video itself that he had to put a disclaimer due to the trolls insisting and complaining to the uploader about the cell phone anachronism. go figure..

[oxy60]

That video was hysterical!  I wonder who made it.
Bacon on donuts?!  YUCK!      What I wouldn't give for a glazed Dunkin Donut right now.  I mean I love european cooking, but with age, my roots call me back more and more...

I feel for you Birba. After about three months in Europe I'm ready to leave and I do!

Coincidentally, Dunkin Donuts coffee is on my shopping list today for Costco. At the Dunkin Donuts shop they don't sell the ground coffee. Their old fashioned glazed donut is my favorite.

[candlelightpiano]

I didn't know that Costco carried Dunkin Donuts! I'll be sure to get a box today, now that you got me craving for it.

Enrique: That video with the cell phone was hilarious!! 

[49410enrique]

Enrique: That video with the cell phone was hilarious!!  

it's very well done. the timing and editing with vh's facial expressions is freakin great.

i'm  a sentimental schmuck sometimes too, i hadn't thought about this in quite sometime and randomnly i wanted to see it and it's a shame its not on youtube (pretty sure folks have tried and it got removed).
i also don't think this is the full original version, it started out i believe with the parents trying to teach litte tommy how to throw a ball, etc. with little success, he just wasn't good at it, then then this.....he finds something he likes and encouragement, q  sappy music...
https://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/100-Concert

supposedly based on a true event with ignacy paderewski and the tune was chopsticks not twinkle twinkle...

[oxy60]

I didn't know that Costco carried Dunkin Donuts! I'll be sure to get a box today, now that you got me craving for it.

They only carry the ground coffee; $20 for 2.5 pounds to make 135 cups.

Did you read the cover story in the latest magazine? I shopped at their first Fed-Mart store and later became friends with their chief counsel. Many years later that first store was turned into the County Mental Health Center. 

[littletune]

I'm trying to figure out if the shoes that I got for Christmas are the right size or if I would maybe need one size larger...  so I'm wearing them now... but I still don't know... the left foot seems completely ok but the right one seems a little tight in some places... but I mean maybe they will stretch right? 

[candlelightpiano]

I'm trying to figure out if the shoes that I got for Christmas are the right size or if I would maybe need one size larger...  so I'm wearing them now... but I still don't know... the left foot seems completely ok but the right one seems a little tight in some places... but I mean maybe they will stretch right? 

It sounds like you're growing out of your shoes! I don't think your shoe is going to stretch. You may need to get it returned or exchanged for a larger one.

[candlelightpiano]

supposedly based on a true event with ignacy paderewski and the tune was chopsticks not twinkle twinkle...

That's cool! What a wonderful improvisation on Twinkle Twinkle!

[candlelightpiano]

[cherub_rocker1979]

I've got family visiting tomorrow.  I'd like to try to clean up the place a bit.  It's not easy being a bachelor.

[49410enrique]

i am excited about these kids coming close to my area here pretty soon so i can see them live. i need to hurry up and order tickets before they sell out (if they haven't already! )

[m1469]

I think there should be a single, grand music/piano competition that governs the entire piano and music world, where the very first (and maybe the only) thing you do is send two things in:  


1.  A portfolio of photos of yourself.
2.  A birth certificate.

In the case of a tie, THEN they play to see who can play the fastest and that person wins!


hmmm ... does anything like that already exist?

[Bob]

  Is that what the big competitions are?


Your criteria.... Pics and birth certificate?  Not a recording?

Haha... "Best musician... in the world!"  It's a piano competition for the best musician in the world but only pianists can compete? 

The fastest thing... Scales or the piece itself?  Someone's going to play fast but sloppy vs. the person who's very clean but a little slower.

All the competitions are probably making money doing them.  *Bob considers making his own competition.*  I could duck tape together some scrap wood for trophies.  Entrants would have to bring along their own piano. And have their own performance space.  They could invite me instead.  I'd listen.  But I wouldn't judge.  Someone else could do that.  Some naive college students -- They could judge "for the experience."  I'd require lodging, travel expenses, etc.  Of course I'd need a private jet or something like that too.  I couldn't be expecting to drive myself around either.  And... Some practice time on their grand piano would be good too. 

[m1469]

Is that what the big competitions are?

I don't know.  But, that is what musicians seem to be psychologically competing with in general.  

[littletune]

It sounds like you're growing out of your shoes! I don't think your shoe is going to stretch. You may need to get it returned or exchanged for a larger one.

Thanks! Yes it's funny... I think my feet are just inbetween two sizes.  so it's kinda hard to know what's the right one. 

Today at music theory the teacher said we should practice reading notes more, she said that we're not as good at it as we should be for grade 4...  and I know I noticed it! And I'm always planning to practice it but.............................  there's no time, no time for anything!!!!!!   

[49410enrique]

i'm excited about this finally releasing this year! it looks so over top ridiculous, fun times ahead!

[Bob]

When one of those quiet, oppressed, bullied cheerleaders finally goes nuts in a school and starts hacking everyone up with a chainsaw... They'll blame this game for all that.   (Which actually wouldn't mean anything.  No one's ever proven tv or video games or comic books to actually cause nutso behavior.)  And I'm sure some people out there will be apethic and just say, "Oh sure.  It's just another cheerleader who went nuts and chainsawed people.  What else is new?"

I don't know.  But, that is what musicians seem to be psychologically competing with in general. 

Birth certificates and profile pics?

[49410enrique]

When one of those quiet, oppressed, bullied cheerleaders finally goes nuts in a school and starts hacking everyone up with a chainsaw... They'll blame this game for all that. 

i say bring them on, we need nutso cheerleaders around when the zombie apocolypse finally hits

[Bob]

[birba]

Why is it when I see that, I can only think of violence.  In one moment, he's going to be beat over the head by some crazy norwegian (no offense) hunter.
My kindle book arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[49410enrique]

thinking bout danbo again, noo danbo watch out for your arm!

[49410enrique]

silly danbo what mischief won't you get into?

[candlelightpiano]

Why is it when I see that, I can only think of violence.  In one moment, he's going to be beat over the head by some crazy norwegian (no offense) hunter.
My kindle book arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, more like a crazy Canadian hunter!    It's a big shame for Canada that our government continues to support this massacre.

YIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm so happy your Kindle arrived. What books do you like to read?

[birba]

Historical biographies.  Big on english history.  Zen.  Musical biographies.  I want to see if I can load some musical pdf things from the amazon library.  
This is where I walk my dogs:

[candlelightpiano]

Birba: Thanks for the photo. What an absolutely gorgeous stretch of coastline! You can meditate here with the sound of the waves crashing upon the rocks and the gulls wheeling and dipping and feel as if you're in a whole different world. You're lucky to be in such a heavenly setting. I used to live in a place called Pacifica, about 5 miles south of San Francisco. Fog would roll in almost every morning and many people who didn't live there thought anyone who wanted to live there was nuts but I always loved the dense fog. It reminded me of Brigadoon (have you watched that movie?) and the coastline was spectacular, like in this picture. I miss Pacifica very much and have often thought about returning to live there someday.

How many dogs do you have and what are their names? I'll bet they have a terrific time there. Do they get into the water? I wish I could be there, too.

[littletune]

That picture is really beautiful Birba!! I want to be there too!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone here is sick!! At school and at my music school... so I don't have my piano lessons this week cause my teacher is sick... but I have a cold too and today I kinda feel like I have a little fever too... so I won't have to go anywhere this week anymore  and I don't mind being a little sick and having fever like most people do... so it's kinda like holidays again to me.    oh it's cool being a little sick!!!   
(i know I'm weird)

[candlelightpiano]

That picture is really beautiful Birba!! I want to be there too!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone here is sick!! At school and at my music school... so I don't have my piano lessons this week cause my teacher is sick... but I have a cold too and today I kinda feel like I have a little fever too... so I won't have to go anywhere this week anymore   and I don't mind being a little sick and having fever like most people do... so it's kinda like holidays again to me.     oh it's cool being a little sick!!!    
(i know I'm weird)

Wouldn't it be nice if you and I could be with Birba and his doggies in that heavenly spot? Alas, only in my dreams.

When I was going to school, I always found excuses for not going to school so I am not a good example for you, LittleTune. You wonder how I learned to read and write at all!  What grade are you in?

Be sure to drink lots of liquids, soup, and grapefruit juice. Grape juice is also very good when you come down with a cold.

[littletune]

Wouldn't it be nice if you and I could be with Birba and his doggies in that heavenly spot? Alas, only in my dreams.

When I was going to school, I always found excuses for not going to school so I am not a good example for you, LittleTune. You wonder how I learned to read and write at all!  What grade are you in?

Be sure to drink lots of liquids, soup, and grapefruit juice. Grape juice is also very good when you come down with a cold.

Thanks yes that would be great!!! 
Grape juice? like the one you buy at a store or you have to make it yourself?
Oh I mostly learned how to read and write before school anyway  so who needs school anymore!   
In 8th grade, only two years till high school    (or not even the whole 2 years!) 

[candlelightpiano]

Thanks yes that would be great!!! 
Grape juice? like the one you buy at a store or you have to make it yourself?
Oh I mostly learned how to read and write before school anyway  so who needs school anymore!   
In 8th grade, only two years till high school    (or not even the whole 2 years!) 

So are you 13 years old? (your age is not a secret when you're so young, right? If it is, you don't have to answer it.)

 I only buy grape juice. I never make it. I like Concord grape juice but grapefruit juice is actually better for colds. I used to always get a cold when I went away in the winter to a warm place and then returned to winter wonderland here but I learned that if I drank a glass of grapefruit juice everyday or nearly everyday, I wouldn't come down with a cold. I don't know why it works but it has worked for me. So now I drink it every other day even when I don't travel and I don't come down with colds. It's very strange.

What would be great? You and me and Birba with his dogs in that beautiful place? I'd love to but I just had a thought that he may not want us there with him! Have you thought of that?

[littletune]

So are you 13 years old? (your age is not a secret when you're so young, right? If it is, you don't have to answer it.)

 I only buy grape juice. I never make it. I like Concord grape juice but grapefruit juice is actually better for colds. I used to always get a cold when I went away in the winter to a warm place and then returned to winter wonderland here but I learned that if I drank a glass of grapefruit juice everyday or nearly everyday, I wouldn't come down with a cold. I don't know why it works but it has worked for me. So now I drink it every other day even when I don't travel and I don't come down with colds. It's very strange.

What would be great? You and me and Birba with his dogs in that beautiful place? I'd love to but I just had a thought that he may not want us there with him! Have you thought of that?

Yes I know Birba probably just wants time for himself! 
No it's not a secret I even have it written in my profile.  I mean my age.
Well I wouldn't want to drink too much grapefruit juice then, cause I like having colds or getting a little sick sometimes so I get a little break from school and everything  but now that I already am a little sick it would probably be good!!  So I'll tell my mum about it!