I've been taking banjo lessons now since January. I bought, in January, a really cheap banjo, one that I could take anywhere with me and not worry about. But in the meantime I've been hunting and shopping and looking for a fairly good banjo, telling myself that if my lessons lasted I would get myself a good beginners to intermediate banjo. I finally narrowed the choices down, and went out this morning and bought the one that seemed the best buy. It's a Fender FB58. Fender doesn't make exceptional banjos, but this banjo is exceptional. The inlay work, the tone ring, the resonator and other touches are of banjos priced at $1000 or more! It has a warm, sweet tone, but it can be picked with the best of the bluegrass banjos. It's really spectacular looking, having finishing touches that only banjos costing three times as much have. So after a lot of research this seemed like the best buy. The pictures are below!

First midterms to correct this week and weekend, then a chance to relax a little bit after the last three hectic weeks! Wish I could sneak away to see Jenn, but it just isn't gonna happen this weekend! Maybe soon...

Well, I've been added to a few more numbers. Is it because I'm such a ham? I'm now doing:

 

Doctor Von Scott (the criminologist) in "Time Warp", from Rocky Horror

Don McClean in "American Pie"

Sax player in Blues Brothers "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"

Keyboard Player in Everly Brothers "Wake up Little Suzy"

 

SO I've been practicing my tail off this week. Last night's rehearsal ended abruptly, though, when the director fell off the stage! Joan, the director, was dancing in a number and didn't see the end of the stage. She fell into the orchestra pit. I think she probably broke her collar bone. They took her away in an ambulance and we'll probably find out today how she's doing. I know why it happened. In the American Pie number the spotlight is on me and I couldn't see at all in front of me. Luckily I always remember the advice given to me many years ago when I was in Equis, "Don't go past the side of the stage, which you can always see in a spotlight."

 

In any event, of all the shows I've done (not many) this one seems the most plagued by misfortune. Joan is not the first person to have to drop out, which is how I got two of my parts. It's gonna make for an interesitng opening night on Friday!

Every year the faculty puts on a show to raise money for scholarships. Last year the show, "Puttin on the Hits", brought in $25,000 for student scholarships, so it's quite a big deal. There are three performances this week, one Friday night and two on Saturday, with rehersals for the sho every night. This year I'm playing Doc Von Scott, the criminologist, in the Rocky Horror song "Time Warp." I'm also doing Don McClean's American Pie. Those are my two big numbers. I also play a sax player in a Big Brother and the Holding Company Number. Puttin on the HIts means puttin on lots of rehearsal time. Not much free time this week.

When I was running the other morning I took my Ipod along, and the Peter, Paul, and Mary song, "Day is Done" began to play. it brought back lots of wonderful memories of singing and playing that for Jaemon when he was young. As I heard the lyrics, I heard them anew, thinking this time of Jennalise:

 

Tell me why you're crying, my son
I know you're frightened, like everyone
Is it the thunder in the distance you fear?
Will it help if I stay very near?
I am here.

Refrain:
And if you take my hand my son
All will be well when the day is done.
And if you take my hand my son
All will be well when the day is done.
Day is done, Day is done
Day is done, Day is done

Do you ask why I'm sighing, my son?
You shall inherit what mankind has done.
In a world filled with sorrow and woe
If you ask me why this is so, I really don't know.

(Refrain)

Tell me why you're smiling my son
Is there a secret you can tell everyone?
Do you know more than men that are wise?
Can you see what we all must disguise
through your loving eyes?

(Refrain)

 

May Jenn's world be better than the world I gave her father and mother!

 

Also, the rest of my test results of my physical came back. The one I was sweating was the PSA test for prostate cancer. When you get to be my age, that's a real concern. Well, the results were wonderful and, as the doctor put it, "Not bad for a man your age! Nothing to worry about, Joe."

 

Good news, indeed!

UGH!

 

I normally get up with Monster at 4:30 am to run for an hour. With the time change this weekend, it meant I got up at what was essentially 3:30 am this morning. Harder than hell to wake up, especially since I couldn't have coffee or breakfast because I had scheduled myself a physical and had to fast for 14 hours before it. Poor Monster wondered what happened to sharing dinner and breakfast. He kept looking at me th8is morning like, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

 

You'll know how much I was looking forward to this physical when you know I haven't had a physical in over 30 years. So far the results are: blood pressure "a little high, but better than the last time", blood glucose, "a little high but nothing to worry about",  prostate "a little enlarged, but nothing to worry about" and occult blood stool, "negative". I said to Dr Simgee, "What do you expect, at 60 I'm a little old, so everything being a little off is not unusual." Besides, those who know me know I've always been a little off!

 

Oh, the indignities of getting older.

 

Soon time to go home, make myself a drink, and enjoy being a little off...

I added new photos today. Would have added more, but Windows Live Space is terrible! The interface, like everything else Microsoft does, kept bombing out! Anyway, enjoy the new photos of the Gerber Baby!

Last weekend was my first job at leading Pacific Yearly Meeting as Presiding Clerk. It was a wonderful experience. As every clerk knows, it is impossible to clerk folks unless they are already committed to clerking themselves. So it was a pleasure to clerk Representative Committee. We got lots of good work done to prepare for Yearly meeting in August and I even got to see Jaemon, Tana, and Jennalsie, too. She finally seems adjusted to seeing me and didn't make a single cry. In fact, she played really well with me on Sunday evening.

 

Again, Jaemon and Tana offered hospitality. They are such a wonderful family and it's clear what a fine mother and father they are becoming!