The Good Musician

Image details: ECHO Klassik 2006 served by picapp.com


I've been so busy, I just realized that I have not announced my latest endeavor. I contracted with b5media to blog as The Good Musician. This requires 1-2 posts per day, plus various music channel activities, group posts, et al. Not to belittle the opportunity, the pay is not why I'm doing this. I have a lot of building and connecting to do.

In addition to this disclosure, I'd like to invite you all to visit The Good Musician and send me your reviews, ideas, comments, anything you'd like, as long as it's not rotten tomatoes or worse. You don't even have to be a musician.

I'm happy to accept new CD releases for consideration for reviews. Or if you heard something on the radio and want to investigate further, let me know and I'll try to help.

As soon as I get some posts queued up, I'll be able to post more regularly here at Fried Okra Productions.

Come visit!!

Theraplex: the medical moisturizer

This is a lengthy project completed. A while back, some folks asked me to sample Theraplex, a new medical skin moisturizer--no strings. I've never reviewed a product in FOP, and don't know that I'd want to do it on a regular basis. Over a couple of months, I sampled the four types of products.

I read the brochure, looked at the site, and used each of the four products. The important features for me were

• Do they test on animals? No, or you wouldn't be reading this.
• Do the products live up to their claim of effectiveness? Yes. Each product did exactly what it said it would do, to a greater degree than I expected. Theraplex is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic, which we insist upon as well.
• Is their Web site smoothly navigable for elderbloggers as well as younger users?

The last may have to wait for another post--I'm working on a rubric to (anecdotally) assess elder blogs and sites, plus not-elders wanting to sell, er....communicate with elders. Authenticity is in the top five.

I gulped at the price, but compared to other equally pricey, top-of-the-line skin moisturizers, I was impressed with the Theraplex results. It takes a much smaller amount to get results, though, so it would probably be accurate to say that in this case, you get what you pay for.

There. Not a particularly well-written review, that's true. However, it is an authentic opinion, and over the months this project has been worth pursuing as much for the philosophy of the blogosphere, as for the pure joy and satisfaction of bumping my thinking up a level. Or informal learning, as a group of colleagues would identify this activity. So many possibilities. So many challenges.

Indie book stores

Joared, of Along The Way, recently wrote a wonderful post about books. Are you aware that there is one and only one woman-owned independent book store in the entire state of Texas? Yep, and it's right here in Austin. The store is BookWoman, and it just moved from mere blocks away to North Austin.

In addition to books and assorted eclectic sundries, BookWoman is the place to go for live music, book and poetry readings, and lots of other celebratory activities.

If you're in Austin, I urge you to make BookWoman a regular stop--you'll enjoy the store, and help preserve a vital, independent book store. If you can't be in Austin, order online.

The photo is a view of Panther Canyon, behind Devil's Backbone.

AVAE's American Tapestry concert

The extended drought has severely limited the bluebonnets this year. As you can see from the photo, they're sparse. If we'd had enough rain last fall and winter, the frame would be filled with a deep saturated blue, with contrasting Indian Paintbrushes scattered throughout. They are companion plants, and you won't see one without the other, except perhaps in a drought. Few Mexican Blankets, either.

So what does any of this have to do with Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, you may ask? Well, some of the best music happens during bluebonnet time, however lush or sparse the blooms. The concert was very satisfying, good crowd, pitch stayed up pretty well, although I hate flatting at all.

A new opportunity presented itself: I've been hired by b5media to blog as The Good Musician, and went live on March 31. I can still write about music on Fried Okra Productions, and am free to publish any post from TGM a month later. You might as well go over to TGM, check it out, give me your ideas, contacts, and critique. I'm open for suggestions--anything having to do with music.

Learning curve on WordPress, I like it. It will take a bit to get up to speed. I'd love to hear about WP tips or advice--anything to fine tune the digital media, it's a frisky pony at present.