The Bis Key Chronicles

Linda Ronstadt, sometimes it’s the simple thangs in life

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Gandalfe

Having done a tribute to one of Mom’s fav singers, I thought I would highlight one of mine. A long time favorite of Suzy and me is Linda Ronstadt. This picture is from her Hasten Down the Wind album. Yes, I said it… Album. :o)

One of my favorite songs by Linda and one that is not on everyone’s list, Lo Siento Mi Vida. Here is a YouTube video of that song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c7qhW7eLA8

As noted by others, one has to wonder why this popular vocalist and entertainer who has earned multiple Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden Globe nominations has not been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here are some of my other fav pictures of Linda.

She always got a lot of new media attention and magazine covers.

That’s my Sunday morning reflection as I wait for Suzy to wake from her stint on the all-night shift at the hospital last night.

Posted in Female vocalists, Music, romantic, Video, Vocalist, YouTube | Tagged Linda Ronstadt | 7 Comments

Soprano mod to Low A

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Gandalfe

I was talking to Stephen Page about his soprano that he had Benedikt Eppelsheim modify to play to low A. You might remember that Benedikt built me a custom bass sax that plays to low A. Stephen sez:

“For a while now, I had been lusting for a Low A soprano. I am a classical player, and I do a lot of violin transcriptions, which of course may require a low concert G. So, after seeing one that Mr. E had made for a friend in France, I got in touch. A few months later, I sent my Yamaha EXHG for the work. I’ve had it back for a month now, and it is simply amazing. The whole lower register is much, much better. The new tone hole gets rid of a dissonant overtone that used to be present with the previous final tone hole. The key is operated by a LH thumb key, just like a Bari. The work is simply impeccable. You can hardly tell it is aftermarket!”

What an exciting idea. Note, I haven’t run this by Suzy yet for funding so mums the word okay? ;o)

Here are a few pics that Benedikt sent me.

Ouch, that’s gotta hurt!

Benedikt does top-notch work. Like the line from Batman, “Where does he get those toys?

And the modified instrument still fits in the case. Shipping is very expensive, almost one quarter the total cost. Stephen adds, “I’ve turned the old bell into my new reed water cup 🙂 Great conversation starter!”

Well, I’m considering asking Suzy about this tomorrow. It’s not like I don’t have enough musical instruments already. But this would be a pricey investment but one that I would really enjoy and use. And knowing Benedikt and his work as I do (I own one of his soprillos and have played one of his contrabass saxes), the instrument will play better than when I purchased it before his work.

Cheers.

Posted in Collectable, Eppelsheim, Music Instruments, Saxophone | Tagged custom music instruments, design, low A mod, sop to low A | 3 Comments

For Mom: A Tribute to Jo Stafford

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Gandalfe

Mom, Jo Stafford died this week. I know you two were Long Beach girls. Let’s remember her with this song and here are the lyrics so you can sing along with me. :o)

Dream, when you’re feeling blue
Dream, that’s the thing to do
Dream, while the smoke rings rise in the air
You’ll find your share of memories there

So dream, when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream

Things never are as bad as they seem
So DREAM, DREAM, DREAM

Here an interesting obit.

Posted in Music | 5 Comments

Front Yard – Advice on beauty without watering and fertilizing

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Gandalfe

“Americans have long treasured a well-tended lawn. But a small, if determined, movement would replace vistas of unrelentingly green front lawns with at least pockets of exotic flower and vegetable gardens that not only are feasts for the eyes but sources of cheap veggies, too.No statistics exist, mainly because the movement so far amounts to little more than a persistent dandelion. But largely because of an art project to turn a front lawn in Salina, Kan., into a so-called Edible Estate, it is gaining widespread publicity through the Internet.” – Paul WenskeI have this patch o’ grass in the front and another small patch in the back of my yard. I spend a lot of money watering and fertilizing each year. Truth be known, I pay a landscape guy to keep the place looking spiffy. But for three months a year, the front turns into a straw farm. Brown, unhappy the grass just dies unless I pay hundreds of dollars to water it. This I refuse to do.So I’m looking to find a solution to the front yard. The back is green all the time because it is protected by trees. Suzy wants to plant a bunch o’ trees in the front. I’m toying with replacing the grass with clover and other drought resistant stuff that only needs to be mowed once a year.The Germans, where Suzy and I lived for around five years, luv to plant every inch of their fenced, front yards with flowers, fruit trees, and the like. But then they are wont to spend hours tending their spaces and making it beautiful. I’d like to find an almost maintenance-free solution that will not put the neighbors up in arms.So my gardening friends, what say yea? What would you do?

Posted in Ecology, Everyday Science, Pagan | 9 Comments

Talking about I Just Can’t Wait To Be King

Posted on July 15, 2008 by Gandalfe

From Gerg’s collection, the WJE does "I Just Can’t Wait To Be King". I’m the guy in the funny hat in the front row and that’s Suzy to the left of the girl in the santa hat. Hot

http://images.video.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf
Just havin’ fun and playin’ wit da old folks.

Posted in Jazz | 9 Comments

PCMAG: 8 Geeky Ways to Save Gas

Posted on July 15, 2008 by Gandalfe

From PC Mag: "Yes, we know—if you only had a nickel for every "save money on gas" article you’ve read or seen in the past year. And to add to the confusion, many of the tips in these stories are in fact based on superstition, junk science, or grandfather wisdom that doesn’t really apply to today’s automobiles. (Check out our TechnoRide piece on debunking gas-saving myths.)

Sure, you could just go out and buy a hybrid. Or trade in your sedan for a Schwinn. But beyond the expensive or impractical solutions, there are ways you can use your tech-savviness to stretch your gas dollar. Since you’re a PC Mag reader, you already know you’re smarter than most others on the road. So prove it by applying your geekiness to a good cause—keeping money in your pocketbook. Here are some of our favorite high-tech tips for saving gas, starting with the easy and working up to the truly geeky."

DoshDosh: How to Say Nothing in 500 Words (A Lesson on Writing)

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Gandalfe

This is a good read on a number of levels. I started out reading this thinking, “Yes, why don’t more bloggers know this!” I ended up realizing I’d slid into some of the traps that come from being a lazy blogger, a writer who wanders, and someone who could be a bit shorter and still get the message across.

“The ability to write well is very useful for our personal and professional lives. It helps students, business people, politicians, writers, bloggers, marketers and everyone who has ever needed to arrange words together to convey ideas or opinions. The written word has become an essential means of social communication: mastery of it helps you to enthrall and persuade an audience that would look upon you favorably in return.It goes without saying that learning how to create compelling content is a part of one’s success as an online publisher. Reading widely and deeply while consistently honing your writing skills helps a great deal in bettering your prose. Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to read a few stylebooks/essays on writing by professional teachers or authors.”I included the anime character because I just thought it was cute. :o)Read more…

Posted in Language, Writing | 3 Comments

Sara Gazarek – Local Girl Makes it Big

Posted on July 13, 2008 by Gandalfe

Sara went to high school in Seattle. She is a very good singer, don’t you think? Just enjoying some jazzy vocals today.

Posted in Jazz | 4 Comments

Houston Food and the ride home

Posted on July 11, 2008 by Gandalfe

Some of us at the convention spent most of the trip asking around for authentic food joints. The recommendations were mostly for national chains like Chili’s and Cracker Barrel. We finally got an endorsement for Papa’s BBQ and headed over there. The crowd out front were mostly locals who greeted us and some vendors trying to sell us tamales before we even got into the restaurant.

The food serving size were huge and the pictures below don’t even begin to show how huge the servings were. The tea glass so large enough that you needed two hands to pick them up!

The decorations were a little more primitive than I would have chosen. I made sure we didn’t sit under the stuffed turkey or deer. And of course there was the obligatory Texas spurs chandelier.

The flight home was uneventful but I did try to capture some shots of Mount Rainier as we flew by. I was in an aisle set and had to reach over two people.

This doesn’t do the view justice, but often is the favorite part of my trip as the pilot jockeys to get as close to the mountain as possible. Whenever I see Mt. Rainier I think, "I’m home." :o)

Posted in Travel | 11 Comments

At the Houston Aquarium

Posted on July 9, 2008 by Gandalfe

We were treated to a trip to the Houston aquarium on Wednesday night. The food was excellent and our tables faced a huge tank full of fish. The water was pristine and the fish exotic.