Search options (Page 25 of 41)

Being an odd duck is not all it's quacked up to be.

DE

Imagine an artist that only paints exact copies of other artist's work.  The skill involved is admirable but what's the point when you can just look at the original painting. If the artist paints the same subject matter but in their own style then the work becomes something new and interesting. 

DE

Just got home from spending 3 days at a state park lodge located on the Ohio/Indiana border.  The 5th was our 40th anniversary and the 8th (today) is Jen's birthday (her 39th ) so we decided to "get away" for a few days.  Wind chill was near -30 and the heat system at the lodge couldn't keep up (30ft ceilings and lots of glass), so the restaurant personnel allowed us to move a table within 3 feet of the dining room fireplace so we could be warm while eating and housekeeping had to provide us with extra blankets at night for our room.  Too cold to hike and roads were iced over and closed so we couldn't drive anywhere to look at local sights.  Due to the weather, many reservations had been cancelled so only 3 rooms out of 97 were occupied. It was nice to have the whole place almost to ourselves but it got pretty boring.  The biggest entertainment of the whole stay was provided by a water pipe that ruptured in the main lobby and poured hundreds of gallons of water into the lobby, gift shop and downstairs bar.

It was one of our most memorable anniversary get-aways and one we'll laugh about for a few years.

DE

Are you talking about being off key while you are singing and playing guitar or singing when the music comes from another source? The reason I ask is that due to hearing problems I also have a terrible time starting in tune while singing with a recording or while someone else is playing an instrument but when I can hold my acoustic against my chest and play I can do a reasonable job of starting and staying on key.

DE

Over the years my hearing has gone down hill and it was affecting my singing.  I was so concerned about being out of tune with my guitar that I found myself "holding back" instead of letting go with my voice ("preaching to the congregation" one of the local performers calls it).  When I play my acoustics, I find that holding them up closer to my chest allows me to "feel" the vibrations and do a better job of singing in key.  All my current guitars are smaller bodied (000/grand concert size) and when seated, instead of putting the waist of the acoustic across my knee like most pickers do, I place the lower bout on my leg and that positions the area behind the sound hole up against my chest. If I tilt the top of the guitar back ever so slightly, it really helps me to both hear and feel the vibrations with the guitar still projecting out toward my audience. Knowing that my voice is in tune with my guitar gives me a lot more confidence while singing.

Its something you might want to try Scott.

DE

I saw an acoustic that looked like that once after a barroom fight. Guy that was hit over the head with it didn't look very good either.

As someone that fishes 12 months out of the year, even during rain or snow (I catch some of my biggest stream smallmouth bass during winter) and spends a lot of time picking guitars around creekside campfires, my pickin' is more weather dependent than my fishin'.............. I don't like playing even my cheap guitars in the rain

DE

Nice rendition Jim.

And Merry Christmas to you too!

DE

Awright Zurf man!!

Many years ago the plant I worked at started a co-ed volleyball league.  One of my co-workers and I decided to put together a team.  We started by asking some of the best looking young secretaries at the plant to play on our team.  Once we had a few gorgeous girls signed up, we had no problems picking up some of the tallest and best male players for our team. Needless to say, we won the league.  .:)

DE

Kool!!!

I've done a lot of downhill snow runs in my WW kayaks but have never owned a boogie board.  I guess it'd be like a snow board without the foot straps.

In any case I'm just getting too old to play like that anymore - I went out a couple hours ago to shovel some of the snow and ice out of my driveway and did a back flip on the ice.  Not very graceful and I probably didn't get a very good score from the Russian judge. LOL ....... One second I was pushing snow and the next I was watching my feet above my head as I hit on my neck and shoulder. Took a little aspiran a while ago for the headache but can feel my shoulder tightening up as I type this.  Getting old SUCKS !!!!!

DE

Hi Dave!  Remember that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.  Sounds like you've already taken a few steps.  Have fun on your journey.

DE

She's a beauty !!!

DE