"ELECTRIFYING. INFINITE TIME-TIME-TIME-TIME." -Ross Gellar Also, I break the [ ] barrier.

[stoney321]

That episode of Friends where Ross makes everyone listen to his crappy synthesizer music makes me LOL every time. That was my junior high, yo, everyone had Casios and tried to recreate the sounds of Depeche Mode and Siouxie & the Banshees. And honestly, most of the dubstep/80s inspired music that's out right now sounds so terrible to me. It's

Comments

[entrenous88]

Yay for your civil lunch with your aunt!

And now via the opening of your entry, I'm thinking of Ross and Monica doing The Routine.

[stoney321]

There were recipes shared! Pies eaten! PIE, J, PIE. It solves all of life's ills.

(Which... don't you need a slice of pie today? Perhaps a delicious buttermilk or Chess pie?)

THE ROUTINE. I knew you would enjoy the Friends references! Pretend I'm doing Monica's Turkey Dance for you.

[entrenous88]

That's so lovely! It's great that you reconnected with her, yay!

CHESS PIE! Awww! I seriously should make a pie today. It really would help absolutely everything. Maybe that one, or maybe Shoo-Fly Pie?

PIE!

[stoney321]

SHOO FLY PIE. Oh my stars, let me man the fwoomp tube!! <3

[stoney321]

There's a difference in a glissando (which is a change in key shift/pitch shift) to, say, the guitar work on one of those Black Eyed Peas songs where it's just a high pitched screech every time they shift chords. That's not a musical technique, that's a lack of technique.

I'm telling you, this is what you'd learn from Paco de Lucia or Andres Segovia.

And it should go without saying, this is my journal, my opinions, you are entitled to your own, wash, rinse, repeat.

[stoney321]

I just called my dad to make sure I wasn't talking out of my ass here, and he said that round-wrapped strings are notorious for making that sound on the low end, and if you get flat-wrapped, it cuts down that sound significantly.

Some is inevitable, but the squeaking I'm talking about is people using the string as a guide to slide up/down to a new chord, not, say, the fast chord work of an acoustic piece where a tiny "ree" noise might be heard.

Like, listen to "Classical Gas" when the bridge plays - four chords in quick succession, no screeching.

So I offer you a partial mea culpa. ;)

[a_mistletoe]

I don't know what chess pie is. *is British*

Those young men should not only be punched in the Bert and Ernies (never mind the sweaters) but their hair should be taken out and humanely put down. I'm afraid the vocal hurt my head but I liked it up to that point.

Also yay for not liking squeaky chord changes. Dashed unprofessional I say and they make money?!? How standards are declining.

Reconciliation is good. Two thumbs up!!

[stoney321]

...I think it's close to a milk pie? Does that translate? It's an old school southern US pie, very sweet, like a baked custard with a crust. NOM NOM!

THE HAIR, AHAHAHA, YES! But that remix is awesome to me. I don't care for the original song, I should say, just the remix.

There's a mini kerfuffle happening about the squeaking chord changes, but I stand by my opinion and will not falter! *dies on stupid hill* Lol.

[a_mistletoe]

OK I googled chess pie and it sounds a bit like custard tart except it has cornmeal which is not a staple over here.

*stands beside you on stupid hill as the tattered standard flutters and grapeshot flies*

[stoney321]

Yes! Very similar. The cornmeal (a scant amount) floats to the surface and browns, giving the crust a crunchy little texture. You could omit it and brown the top like you would a creme brulee. OM NOM!

[stoney321]

AHAHAHAHAHAH! At least I didn't lick my thumb and wipe off that schmortz from your cheek.

I know that it doesn't bother some folks, but I grew up with a master guitarist (studio guitarist, instructor, etc., the man has skills, is what I'm saying) and that was Lesson 1: Proper Technique.

Finger exercises are easy, and you can do them any time. When I played viola, I did this multiple times a day: flip your instrument over so the back is facing you (or you can use a table, or other hard surface) Lay your left hand on the surface, as if you have a ping pong ball trapped (your fingers are curved.)

Tap your index finger 10 times, perfecting a sharp "tick!" noise, repeat with your middle finger, all the way down to your pinky. It's hard, that ring finger and pinky! But you'll develop strong, crisp fingering as a result. YAY! Then repeat over and over again. As important as mastering scales, says I!

<3

[stoney321]

There's an illuminating convo happening above about strings, etc.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND, WOULD READ AGAIN, ETC.

;)

[stoney321]

I LOVE MY PFAFF. I have suffered under the weight of inferiority long enough, I have earned my new baby! LOL.

Ooooh, see, it's the "all metal" that makes a difference, though. My old one has some plastic parts, which is why it skips, etc.

The old machines are work horses, for sure! (But I couldn't find any good ones online at Craigslist, woe!)

The Husqvarna Viking equivalent to my new one retailed at $2400. DUDE. That's a huge chunk of change, yo.

[ryokomusouka]

Loves my Singer Featherweight. Old 40s machine with a belt on the outside. I sewed my first wedding dress on that baby.

Think I might have it pinstriped someday.

[stoney321]

Those old Singers are WORKHORSES. They just don't make Singers like they used to, huh? There's nothing like having a machine that just WORKS, right?