Just got in from hosing down the screens on the porch. What a difference. And so fast. I used to use the broom and try to sweep the pollen and dust off of them. Why didn't I think of that before?
So back when you played the piano, what did you play for relaxation? What type music filled your house or your den or living room?
Nobody else in my family played musical instruments. So the fun part to me was just the challenge of learning something new. Once I learned a song I rarely played it again. When I moved away from home I didn't have a piano. About 10 years ago I got an electronic keyboard. So there was a 40 year gap. The last song I learned on that was Stairway to Heaven (Led Zepplin). I want one of these outfits that has all the background and accompaniment built in. You can make the piano sound like an electric guitar by flipping a switch. Probably even a harmonica.
It might seem like a contradiction that I started out trying to learn on my father's old harmonica, but said no one played musical instruments in our house. Both are true. I never heard him play that harmonica. I don't know its history. It looks well used. Maybe someone gave it to him. All I know is he gave it to me. It didn't seem important to him at the time. He did try to learn the violin late in life and gave it up. The absolute hardest instrument to play of all, in my opinion. I tried it a few times and quickly decided I would never be able to learn that. Don't particularly care for the sound anyway. I should have bought my father a nice new harmonica at that time. He might have liked it.
Hair cut this week. This time it worked out well in the back. Pity it doesn't last. Moved the bed out from the wall and hung two long curtain rods over the double window (over and under, café style). Suspended them from the old picture rail molding near the ceiling using clear fishing line. No nail holes. You can't even see it. Looks like the rods are floating in air. (Story modified for brevity) Taped a piece of AC filter material over the HVAC vent in the ceiling to see if it collects an unusual amount of strange dust. Temporarily sleeping in the middle of the room. Need some 12' lumber for the steps. Found out if Lowes delivers lumber, they just pull it from the top of the stack. No way. I can haul some with the F-150, but not sure how strong the rear window on the Ranger will be, and don't want to scratch it first thing anyway. Hope it doesn't come until July 25th. N/A is a worrisome date. I can bend on hole #1 like a pro, because you don't have to tongue block or pucker on 1. Need to splice a wire on the fence at the farm right behind the neighbor's mobile home. I should do that today or tomorrow because they are usually out of town on weekends. I've lost momentum. And it rained Friday, so the grass is growing again.
Do you know someone who has a trailer you can borrow? My GMC Canyon has a very short bed and no sliding rear window, so I use one of these: One end of the lumber rests on the floor against the front wall, and then I lay the other end up on top of the back gate. I make sure it's secured properly. It's propped up so high that it's not a danger to any cars behind me, and at that angle it does not stick too far out the end. I made several trips to pick up 12' and 16' for that firewood rack I built. Not worth buying, but something similar is worth borrowing...or maybe renting from Lowes. I hate having someone else pick out the lumber.
Don't know a soul with a trailer. Over the years I sure could have used one, many times. But where to store it. I think it can be done in two trips. First the framing, later the flooring. Both should fit in the window. Max overhang allowed in the back is 4' here but I don't think anyone pays any attention. As slow as I am, there will be a long time gap in between needing the first and second loads. Learned the hard way if you let new treated lumber sit out in the sun it will warp like crazy. Last time I had to cover it with a tarp and wet it down every day until I used it.
You may have seen my last comment (in which case ignore this) or I may have buried it. Lowes rents trailers. Regarding warped wood, look at the slight arch over the door to my garden (if you can see it): That was a straight piece of 2" x 2" when I bought it, but it sat out for a while. Since I needed to brace those two uprights, I used it to buy a little more headroom. You're smart to buy it as you need it.
It's insane. I don't know where my head was at, but when I got home from a recent purchase one of the 2"x4"x16' was like that. A business that would sell stuff like that to its customers have no self-respect.
(5/31/21) Monday The neighbor just got home when I arrived. Wasn't too keen on splicing wires anyway. No good at it. Jumped on the tractor instead. It started. A few problems with the mower, but not worth mentioning. Long story short, I will either buy a new tail wheel assembly for the mower, or only mow smooth level surfaces, like the roads and top of the dam. The price looks like between $95 and $135. Not sure it can even be replaced until I take another look at it and take some measurements ... next week. From what I gather one might spend that much on a big night out on the town. I'd rather have a new wheel. Should get at least one day's use out of it before I tear up the mower. Just mowed a couple of strips around the edge of the yard at the woods and lopped off a few small trees, expanding the yard so it can be mowed with just the riding lawn mower.
(6/4/21) Friday I've almost learned to hit clean single notes on this harmonica. I'd say 90%, provided I go slow enough. After the 4th YouTube lesson the instructor said, "You've learned scales and hitting single notes. Now go have some fun with it." He pulled the rug out from under those of us with no imagination. Please give instructions on how to do this. The only guidance? Pick some songs and try them. The two I've chosen are Shenandoah and The 59th Street Bridge Song. The former is easier with tongue-blocking; the latter, with lip pursing. One is slow and one is fast. Meanwhile I thought of something to kill more time before having fun. Associate the holes on the harmonica with the notes (A,B,C,...,G) rather than the numbers. Then maybe I can read music. Eventually I might be able to do this by ear. But you have to know beforehand if there will be sharps or flats. At this stage I can only bend on #1 without using masking tape. By the way, the most productive practice time seems to be after midnight. The last thing for the day. It's always one step back in the morning.
Like the cartoon. Whatever works is good. Only hole four through seven is layed out like that: CDEFGA-B and back to C. But you know this. I keep forgetting you read music and play the piano. That being the case you will figure it out. I lost power last night, Came back on before I hit the sack but was out when I got up this morning at 7:30. Came on two hours later. Phone also out. Cox Cable doing maintenance. Ok, off to see the Wizard.