Dealing with some family medical situations, so that has me emotionally and physically tied up right now.Getting VERY into the instruments lately. Posted a video to YouTube of me playing the uke and doing "Pinball Wizard". I was surprised - I tabbed up the intro, adjusted fire to my liking, and managed to get through it without too many takes. I am not that good of a singer, so it is what it is, but I had a good time. YouTube posed a few logistical problems - the audio wouldn't sync up with the video until I ran the thing through Windows Movie Maker. Encoding problems. Worked great on Facebook's video dealio - and without further compression, the Facebook version is MUCH better. Too bad the netbook has a really cheezy 320 X whatever webcam on it.
I just put some new strings on the Yamaha JR-1 3/4 sized acoustic - and it plays AWESOMELY now. The old strings were the originals I bought the thing with. I got some Martin Phosphor Bronze with a high "E" of .010 - I like light strings. The strings are actually MUCH slacker and bendy. Sound bright, and I lost some bass, but much playability is to be had...
Really liking the Kala ukulele. I am starting to get the conversions in my head. I guess that's why I could never learn a new language - I ALWAYS seem to want to think the way I know and figure out how to convert to the new language. The uke is kinda the same intervals, but it is a few steps up on the tuning, so the chord shape I am used to for a "D" is a "G" in uke-speak.
Medically, we had some hospital time today. Not wanting to get into things here (trying not to think about it because I was nervous about the whole ordeal) but things seem to be ok. I did find out something I had always wondered - nurses seem to like to wear clog-type shoes. I asked one if there was a reason for this and I was told they are just comfortable. Go figure. They don't seem to have caught on in the general population anywhere near as much as the medical field, so I am still wondering. And after the hospital deal, I get home and Homer is limping, which sux. Might have to take him to the vet if he doesn't straighten up soon.
Getting into the roots music a bunch today. I started at the hospital - took the iPod and listened to The Devil Makes Three - love that old-timey ragtime rootsy strum shit - especially if it talks about booze and the like. Worked out a playlist of rootsy YouTube videos and have it rolling on the Blueray player. Nice.
