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“I played the wrong, wrong notes.” ~ Thelonious Monk
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Snow hits Seattle – Work from Home Day
We woke up this morning to thunder snow. Lighting was flashing while the snow came down. We’ve three inches of the white stuff much to our puppy’s delight. Here are some shots of the situation.
So there you have it, a very rare occurrence at our house, I am working from home. All my meetings were canceled. The news was so full of stories of people getting stuck, driving the wrong way on highways, and just stopping in the middle of the road that I finally turned it off. It is really a bad situation because most of these people rarely, if ever, drive in snow.
So I’m posting to the company blog, making my way through emails, and listening to Brad Benefield’s Xmas 06 "Acoustical Christmas" CD. Tasty stuff. Amelia the puppy just wandered over and flopped on the floor next to my feet. She has been sneaking on the end of our bed every night. When we are awake we chase her away but when we are asleep she gets away with it.
My next blog will be about how I set up my office. Lisa moved her office from downstairs to the loft and it made a huge difference space and view wise. My IM is buzzing with coworker’s pings. It’s hard to concentrate with all the stuff going on.
Be well. Enjoy those friends and family. Tis the season and all.
Posted in Holiday
7 Comments
Dogwork.com’s Snow Luvin’ Dawg
I’m just luvin’ this vid with the ultimate snow dawg. It just makes me laugh but no, I’m not anxious to get the snow in the northwest that they are predicting. So turn up your volume and click on the picture below for the whole experience. BTW, I luv the Harry Connick, Jr. music in the background. That guy sure has a great set of pipes.
Many of my coworkers have hunkered (is that a word?) down for the impending storm. Two inches of snow and cold weather really creates a traffic catastrophe around these parts.
Be well.
Posted in Pets
5 Comments
Desmond Quotes du Jour
Comment by Doug Ramsey on Paul Desmond: "We were in an elevator in the Portland Hilton, waiting for the doors to close when the car jerked and dropped slightly, and a bell sounded. "What was that?" a startled woman asked. "E-flat," Paul Desmond and I said simultaneously."
I’m reading "Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond" by Doug Ramsey. I’ve been making my way through it for a year or so. There is so much to learn and the book is a good read with keepers in every chapter.
It’s around 9:15 PM and Suzy is asleep already so I can’t play my sax. Well I could, but I know it would wake her. The puppy is nosing around the bari sax again. Guess I should see why she’s so interested in it.
I was walking down the hall at work today and I walked by a fellow. I realized that I didn’t even note if I knew him because I was thinking about other stuff. Suzy would have checked a person even if she’s deep in thought. Is it that way with all men? Are we so focused on what we are doing that we tend to miss a lot that’s happening at the same time. What kind of person can track all that’s happening like that? And is it a sign of high intelligence to be so aware of your surroundings?
Doug Ramsey wrote that Desmond on seeing Barbara Jones’ oil painting of four cats stalking a mouse said, "Ah, the perfect album cover for when I record with the Modern Jazz Quartet." Ramsey pointed out that the mouse was mechanical and Desmond responded, "In that case, Cannonball will have to make the record."
Posted in Saxophone
6 Comments
More Holiday Goodness and a shot of my Abs ;o)
So some of my blog posse were asking for holiday pictures, beyond the Christmas pigs pictures so I thought I’d include a festive picture of myself.
Yes, I really look like that; just ask anyone. The only hard part was finding a hat big enough to fit my head. :o)
Oh! You meant of Christmas in the Northwest. How embarrassed am I. How does this one look I just took on the way home from filming mom’s Christmas concert.
Suzy and I had our last concert last night at Crossroads Bellevue with the Pacific Cascade Big Band. I’ve been mixing and matching cuts from various videos (thanks Josie) and I think we have something usable.
This band was created in June of this year and there was some question as to whether we’d be good enough to play this our first gig ever. As a matter of fact, there was great concern. But we did it and with only members of the band, no ringers.
The audience was great too, cheering us on. They were a savvy group, clapping after solos and giving us such a good feeling of confidence.
The first video is of a song called Basie Straight Ahead arranged by Sammy Nestico. When we started practicing this one of the subs from a name big band on the Eastside suggested that this chart was a little too challenging for this band. Look how far we’ve come.
And here’s a montage "Book This Band" video. :o)
Not bad for a bunch o’ rookies, eh? Way to go band geeks.
Posted in Jazz
7 Comments
Xmas 101: For Husbands, Boyfriends, and Guys
Guys, think you have the Holidays figured out? Watch and learn.
Think I’m kidding? Brought to you by J.C. Penney.
Posted in Holiday
4 Comments
Tasty Lessons from England. Meet Matthew Stone
One of the channels I listen to is provided by a really nice bloke from England with the handle CrazyDaisyDo, aka Matthew Stone. In this video he plays with Brubeck and Desmond’s "Take Five" but then has some really nice advice at the end.
Here he is again with the Tenor and Soprano sax that he’s adding to his arsenal. Tasty stuff this "It could happen you" chart. Maybe I can get Gary to do it with me for the Dissonance?
I’ve a gig with the Pacific Cascade Big Band at 3 PM this afternoon. Will I see you there? Be well Peeps.
Posted in Jazz
2 Comments
Christmas in Seattle
Jan Bultmann took some pictures of downtown Seattle last week and I’m just luvin’ them. I thought I’d share my favs. First is the world famous Farmer’s Market. The labyrinth that is associated with this venue is full of weird and interesting shops.
And of course the decorative pigs is not to be missed:
Maybe Suzy and I need to wander down to the Pike Street Market this weekend. Although they are predicting snow which in Seattle is catamount to a natural disaster! Be well.
Posted in Holiday
8 Comments
Ever Done One of these?
Usually there is no chance to have a ‘do over’ either.
Moving on…
Posted in Health and wellness
6 Comments
WCB at Winterfest 2008 Meets the Grinch
Suzy and I had a very exciting day yesterday first attending the Seattle Symphony Holiday Pops lead by Marvin Hamlisch and then moving briskly to the Woodinville Community Band holiday concert gig at the Seattle Center House.
Getting the near 100 pound bass sax (with case) and about 50 pounds of stands, music, gear, and instruments into the venue was not fun. The free parking pass put us six blocks away. So we figured we’d pony up for parking closer. When we got there the Good Fortune Gods smiled upon us when someone leaving gave us their all-day pass as they were leaving! That saved $15.
When we got to the building there was no handicap entrance without walking another two blocks so I started lifting the bass sax up about 20 stairs when some more bandies showed up and helped me. Ah, I was really feeling fortunate.
The band played to a packed venue. There wasn’t a free seat anywhere and people were standing where they could find space. For highlights, we did the comedic thang:
And the crazy thang:
Note the bari sax man who refused to wear the clown nose. He now sports the moniker of section curmudgeon. :o)
The rest of the band recordings are at Gandalfe’s Channel on YouTube. Enjoy.
Posted in Music
7 Comments
The Bis Key Chronicles 