Inktrails from Alaska

Performing Every Friday in June

I'll be performing every Friday in June at the gazebo (near the Harding car) in Pioneer Park, (more happily known as Alaskaland). It's a one-hour show, from 7-8,outdoors, fairly informal and relaxed, and suitable for the whole family. I'll be fiddling, and may or may not have special guests. You'll just have to come and see!

Freecycle Gripe

Why is it that people get so anxious to get your free stuff, but then never follow through? Or rarely?

I've got something lots of people need right now: moving boxes. My Freecycle ad says that I want them gone today, and the general area in which I live. I've gotten three emails saying "I want them" and I respond with my telephone number. Call and get directions, I say.

How many phone calls have I gotten in the last hour. None. Zippo. Zero. Zilch.

This often happens even with things that are on the garage sale list. They want it, they desperately want it, they even get directions, say they are coming out and then never show up.

It's just rude. That's what I say.

New Downloadable Music Links

I've added a section to the Tartan Tundra Music site with a list of places that have free downloads of traditional tunes. It's in the sidebar, scroll on down and check it out over at Tartan Tundra Music.

Got Lunch?

I'm teaching a couple group classes today, and in between went to have lunch. Since Ole has been kind of rascally when left alone (I went out the door for 30 seconds and came back to find him standing on top of my desk!) I took him with me and left Sofia there to man the joint. She's so responsible.

I drove up to the restaurant, got nice rock star parking in the shade right by the front door, which was open because of warm weather.

It was just after noon, so it was very busy: the restaurant was full.

I opened the door and in the blink of an eye Ole leaped out of the truck and ran into the restaurant and started running around, eating food off the floor, and even trying to jump up on a bench seat next to some lady! He ran up to people and said HI, YOU GONNA EAT THAT? and then ran on, all over....

Hey, he wanted lunch too! I was running and hollering, "Escaped Dog! Friendly dog!" I should have been yelling "Hide your food!"

I told him I had cookies and it made him pause enough that the waitress and I caught him.

What a NUT! The restaurant staff thought it was hilarious, and there was no fallout from it. I love my town.

When I put Ole back in the truck, he barked for a few minutes because he was so disappointed that he didn't get to eat lunch, too. Aww, geez. Yes Ole, they'll get that doggy buffet going soon, I promise!

The Beautiful Voice

I could fall in love with Roy Orbison. Could you imagine that voice talking to you? Whispering sweet nothings? Saying, "Come here, honey, let me give you a hug."

He was an entire generation ahead of me, and he died too young. I love his passion, his songs, his music, his voice.

Some pooh-pooh his songs as corny, but if you lived his life, you would understand. His music isn't for complacent suburbanites who live life through the characters on a soap opera or CNN. Roy Orbison's music is for people who live and feel and experience life without barriers. His songs make people uncomfortable, because of the bare emotions that come through and spear you right through the heart.

I wish I'd been able to go to a Beatles concert where he was the opener. What a bill! What a rush!

Trumpeter Swans

Every year a pair of trumpeter swans visit the pond next to Ballaine Road. I was driving along the road and saw something that looked like a white light plane shooting through the trees. I thought to myself, "What is that?" and hoped I wasn't going to see a fellow crashed into the swamp. But as I came around to the pond I saw our two swans had just landed!

Trumpeter swans are very large, and two of them flying close together and seen spottily through the trees did a credible imitation of one of those one-man light planes!

They'll stay here for only a day or two, and then they are off to more northern nesting areas. I love seeing them every year.

I took these pictures about 9pm. The sun was rather challenging at that time, but I wanted to get pictures before they took off again.

More information on swans in Alaska can be had here: Alaska Swans

A great article about Alaska swans from the National Park Service.

Very sad article showing why we must not allow industrial contamination of our lands. A mining company left lead in such quantities that it's killing tundra swans on their way to Alaska, plus many other animals as well.

 

Tartan Tundra Music Grand Opening

The music studio has its own name, and blog! Tartan Tundra Music is now the place to find all the news about workshops, my performances, thoughts and philosophy about teaching music, and much more as we go along.

I will be putting a music library there so that students can download their sheet music. Once I have a way to record myself digitally, I'll have videos and audio files as well.

A calendar of upcoming events is planned, including concerts of touring artists that I think are a good bet.

This Saturday, May 9, is the studio's grand opening! It's a potluck/jam session, so bring food or an instrument or both! Or neither, just drop by to see the place and say hi! Directions to the studio are on the new Tartan Tundra Music site.

See you Saturday!