Mortaine’s Blog

Because they think that everyone likes being crammed into the table right next to the party of 6 plus 2 infants.

Because they think an order of fajitas should take less time than a chicken salad, and therefore served it to the people who came in after me, several minutes before they brought me my salad.

Because the waitress came by to verify that I had the regular Coke. I blinked at her, and replied, “No, that would be the plain water.” Who confuses water and Coke?

Because the waitress asked 4 different times if I wanted appetizers, a drink, a dessert, anything else….? No. Salad. And. Water. And some FUCKING PEACE AND QUIET!

Because it took me an hour to get to, WAIT FOR, eat, and come back from lunch. And I therefore did not get to practice the Christmas carols.

Am I such a bad person for wanting to steal just 15 minutes out of my day to put my hands on an instrument and make music with it?

SIGH.

Really, all this aggravation is due to the headache that’s been developing all day. Well, that and my complete lack of desire to be here, today, right now, with all the projects I have to finish staring me in the face. Oh, and the fact that I had to leave for lunch at 12:15 because the stench in the office was just unbearable. I think I’m going to drop a line to our HR person to see if any subtle hints can be made.

As you all know, I have a stuffed Cthulhu on my computer monitor, sitting next to Dust Puppy.

Cthulhu made me buy him and bring him home last Fall. He also forced me to buy a pin for himself and a couple of books of Lovecraft, for good measure.

He has been very quiet in the last few months. I think he’s asleep.

Just thought you’d all like to know.

For me, anyway.

August 2-3: This weekend kicked it off with Dulcimer Day on Saturday, which as I’ve mentioned was just SO MUCH FUN!

August 8-10: Next weekend is Jeeping with Johnnyb. Yes, we are going Jeeping. And camping. For 3 days. So everyone who is trying to invite us to go do stuff next weekend, we’re busy, okay? John is so excited about this, it’s almost scary.

August 16-17: The week after that is my birthday. And Kindred Gathering, which is in Boulder Creek this year, and which is apparently a big old’ folk-timey dulcimer event. I’m not sure if I’m going, or going to all of it, or what– we’ll see. I tend not to plan things for my birthday until just before, in case I decide I want to do something else.

august 23-24: The week after my birthday is Austin’s. I usually try to get out there for his birthday– I’ve been at 2 of his 3 birthday parties in the States (his first birthday was spent in Russia). That is also the weekend that John is going rafting.

August 30-Sept. 1: The weekend after that is Labor Day weekend. After such a busy month, I usually just want to crash out on Labor Day.

I brought the little dulcimer with me to work– I think I’ll play Christmas tunes at lunchtime– I need to get those up to speed if I’m going to play them at Christmas (it does no good to start practicing holiday tunes in late November– by then, it is too late). The mini dulcimer has 4 strings (not equidistant), and no 6+ fret, so I’m limited to strictly folk tunes on it. Which is fine– the Christmas carols are perfect, and if I travel over the holidays, this is the dulcimer I would bring with me anyway.

I replaced the strings on my dulcimer (the one I play most often) on Saturday night. Yesterday, I tried tuning it up to 1-5-8 tuning and string #3 snapped. This, by the way, is why I always tune with my hand stretch over the fretboard, and usually turn my head to the side. When those strings snap, they send a sharp, thin, metal wire springing up at you with considerable force. Most dulcimer players lean over their instrument when they tune, so that wire can spring right up to your eyes before you have a chance to blink.

So, I have to buy a new string for that dulcimer. I decided to tune it down a bit from DAD for the first month or so, so it wouldn’t be so likely to break. I found a place in Palo Alto– Gryphon Music (where, apparently, numerous people from Dulcimer Day hang out), so I will go there for my strings.

Gryphon has 1-day workshops, too:

August 16: Beginning Bodhran. Oooooh– do I dare? Quick! Let me add something to my insane August schedule!!

August 23: Hands-on Introductory Harp Seminar…… I would never miss Austin’s birthday for this, but if I can’t get out of work that week for a trip to MO, this would be a fun alternative!

Also at Dulcimer Day, I picked up Janita Baker’s CD (Blues/Ragtime– I have the song book, and the CD helps me get familiar with the tunes), and an electronic tuner for $20 (plus $12 for the pickup). 10 years ago, electronic tuners were a couple hundred bucks– I am sooo pleased!

Watched Office Space again last night, for various work-related reasons (I have 4 bosses now, as of last Tuesday, it seems).

Also, everyone must please marvel at the new userpic– that is my new license plate for Kirei– I anticipate its arrival sometime next year, given the molasses-like nature of the DMV.