Yay 'cause I'm baaaaaack!

I didn't know how much I relied on FOP for all kinds of things until my computer crashed. A (somewhat) creative outlet, a nexus of communication, geeky puttering, colors! and much more.

Now if someone will do me the favor of commenting, I'll find out if that feature is working again. New photos to upload, new bookmarks, catching up with friends, answering 45 days worth of e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, lots and lots to occupy my mind and time, especially since AVAE is dark for the summer.

That flat line was beginning to get me down. I don't have a big subscribership, but I cherish those intrepid, constant souls who kept me company post after post.

I have been working out on the DIIA Blog, and was astonished at the exponential number of page hits we got when we live-blogged SXSWi. Of course I had a lot of help there, we've got some gifted geeks posting there, which takes much of the burden off me. Sigh...I can't help but wish that I were as engaging as SXSWi.

I do want to express my great thanks and appreciation to my friend who not only un-crashed my computer, he optimized it to the max. Runs much more quickly and smoothly than it has since I got it. Plus, he saved me a big bundle of greenbacks. Thanks, JF!

My computer deserves a name. Even at its advanced age. I had a friend who finally came up with a name for her VW van a week before she sold it and moved to India: McBus. Maybe it's time for a poll...or a name contest.

So long to The Good Musician

This is one of the many altars, or groupings of art in St. Vitus basilica in Prague. This piece is solid silver, one of a grouping of five. It's quite stunning, as virtually everything else is gold.

The Good Musician blog will retire on July 31. It's been an interesting four months, I've certainly learned a good deal about the world of blogging for pay. I loved the writing discipline, and at the same time had a great lesson in my personal boundaries and commitments. b5media are the greatest--supportive, congenial, and their admin is superb. I hope to work with them again.

Freakin' hard work. My lovely readers are familiar with my freewheeling style, and I believe that's when I write my best. Or at least my most satisfying. Not to say that I am not quite proud of my work as TGM, I was in heaven writing about music. Fried Okra Productions and the people who pop in and say hi, and share fascinating ideas and stories, is home. I missed it.

Of course, that's all very self-serving. It's kinda like my relationship with my flute and my voice. I got my first flute at age seven, a Bundy nickle plated wonderful shiny music-making real instrument. Of my own. To play as much as I wanted. A black case with blue velvet lining. A St. Louis music store sticker nestled by the cleaning rod.

I've sung all my life, except for a period from age 12 to 18, after a grumpy church choir director made a snide remark about me being too sick to sing, but singing anyway, and lousing it up, sneezing, head aching, NOT wanting to be there. Withered my little feelings so's I didn't sing again til college, and by that time I was heavy into the instrumental groove.

For a very long time, through grad school and as a performing musician. Then I got tired of being so focused on going to the edge of flute playing. I just wanted to sing for a while. So that's what I've done. Taken lessons, always a member of the muni chorus, paid section leader, contractor, ringer, et al for several decades now, and I like a chamber chorus to keep my chops up. Or just any singing, wherever--Ballet Austin, ASO, Festival at Round Top, Georgetown Festival of the Arts.

Over time, I've learned to supplement singing by combining it with arts management. Dashing up on stage at the last second after hauling a portativ organ in my station wagon for 80 miles, my entire wardrobe was black so that I didn't have to worry about changing into concert gear in addition to putting the show up.

So where was I? Comparing TGM and FOP. Different instruments. Exceedingly cool at different times. So what do I do? My head is into repertoire at the moment, working with a group of musicians and admins to set programs for this year, while supporting the group during the transition in conductors. Listening to scads of music, going through old programs, awash in fond memories. There's so much good music out there. You might think about searching out the chorus in your town and having a listen.