An old senile Cajun was celebrating 92 years on this Earth. Speaking to his toes, he said, "Hello 'dere toes!" "How you are, toes? You know, you 92 years old today.
Oh, 'de times we've had! Remember when we walk along 'de bayou wit all 'dem pretty girls every Sunday afternoon? Them times we do-si-do-ed on 'de dance floor wit dem same womens? Oh yeah, ayyiiiiee ! Happy birthday, toes!"
He continued, "Hello 'dere, knees," "How you are, knees? You know you 92 years old today. Oh, 'de times we had, huh? Remember when we march in 'de crawfish parade? Oh boy, 'de hurdles we jumped together me and you. Happy
birthday, knees!"
Then, he looked down at his crotch, "Hello 'dere Pierre! You little booger, you! If you were alive today, you'd be 92. "
Hmmm....my archives aren't showing up & I can't get an extended entry to post. I've tried every code known to man, but nothing's working. I still have all the posts, but the "archive" function won't work now that I have categories. Rats. Oh well, no big deal! :-D
So I give up trying for tonight. I think that my patience level is not up-to-par right now & that's why my normally intelligent grey matter (i.e., cerebral mass) has shut down.
So, think I'll grab some coffee, pull out my portable dance mat, get the tap or pointe shoes out, work on my dance routine for my solo show, & annoy my neighbors...who, btw, are playing rap music so loud that my apt. walls are shaking.
They'll never even notice! LOL!
Actually, I'm doing any & everything possible to laugh, because as I told Meg, laughter is so good for you, even when you don't feel like it. Right? Right!
I forgot to tell you all something. I had to go play a huge show last night. (yes, I was amazed it was still on, but glad, because we all lost work since the hurricane. And we do not get paid if we don't work)
A violinist friend of mine, came up to me with a key-ring in her hand, and said, " I want you to have this, Sheri."
I said, "Nancy, that's really sweet of you, but I have a key-ring."
She then told me that something I'd said to her lifted her spirits so much (her mom died recently), that she just *had* to give it to me. She said, "What you said to me, the hugs, just being there with a cup of coffee and your friendship...that meant more to me than you know. AND.... I think this key-ring sums up what life has been like for *you*, lately."
So I looked down, and on the key-ring it says:
"Presently, my world has been turned upside down, so if you don't mind, you'll HAVE TO TALK TO MY ASS."
*grin*
We started roaring...laughing, crying, holding our sides, and hugging each other. I had to sit on the floor and just let loose. Then musicians started to walk over to see what we were doing. Pretty soon, 58 orchestra musicians were ALL howling with laughter. And we needed it. A lot of my friends lost their homes, their instruments, etc.
Funny how something so small brought a much-needed few minutes of relief.
I put my car keys on the ring, and all day today, everytime I walk by my hall table, I laugh.
Thank you, Nancy...you are too twisted for colored t.v.
:-))
On Friday, August 13th, at 9:35 p.m., we were hit head-on by Hurricane Charley.
The storm brought 120 mph winds, massive destruction, death, and....I'm finding it very hard right now to type anything. The tears start, and my heart aches.
I'm just now getting back some assemblance of power, phone, and food. I fled to my best friend's house, so I wouldn't have to ride it out alone.
I'll try to perhaps post about what this past 9 days has entailed. But I'm okay, and so many others are not. They've lost everything, including their loved ones.
So, for at least ONE MINUTE today, count your blessings. Stop bitching and moaning about the minute things in life. If you have a roof over your head, clothing, food, and your family, you've got *everything*.
And Meg, thank you SO MUCH for asking if I was okay. It meant a lot. *big hug*
All I have to say about nitrous oxide is:
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
This announcement is brought to you by the American Dental Association
We interrupt your normally scheduled programming to announce the following:
I'm having a root canal done this morning.
*sigh*
Root canals don't bug me at all. My dentist is gorgeous, flirts with me, is single, gives shots that don't hurt AT ALL, and allows me to have the best invention known to man:
nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
So, I'll return in a few hours, in a numb, drooling, giggling heap. Buh-bye!
I slept wonderfully last night...just testing my "categories"....
Morning, everyone!
OMG...I'm human, again. That nap was WONDEROUS. I feel half-way human again.
*big smile*
And...this is truly the FIRST day off where I decided to kick back and just veg. Just wish my violin would stop talking to me from its case. It wants out to play, but I told it to chill out...mama needs this down-time.
Can't figure out why every time I fly from Hollywood (1 home base), to Orlando (other home base), jet-lag hits like it does. Never had problems fine flying east to west, even if when it was a 28 hour flight to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia to play a command performance for the king and the royal family there. And that included getting deathly ill from eating 5 inflight meals of curry on that on that trip. Hey, I didn't know what curry would do to you if you ate that much of it.
I will never forget that lesson! LOL!!
So, it's storming, as usual here. We're now in hurricane season, so it's an indoor day. Am about to put on one of my fav. movies of all time:
"The Color Purple"
I've watched it over and over...wow, so many times that I've lost count. The music in this movie is FANTASTIC. (I play a lot of jazz and blues, too. )Also read Alice Walker's novel of it a million times...just incredible. If you've never seen it, or read the book, don't walk...*run* out and get either. One reason I love it so much is that Walker truly wrote it in the vernacular of the times.
Hope everyone's having a great weekend!
Wow...am I bloody tired. I flew home last night, via the lovely "red-eye" flight.
*bug-eyed and I.V.-ing coffee*
I was wide-awake on the plane, due to the adreniline that always happens after a show. So, I sat there, and started thinking.
I figured out why I like to talk so much *grinning*:
It's because I have a violin under my chin for at least 6 to 8 hrs. a day...you *can't* talk because your mouth is closed! (unless I'm doing a gig that involves me playing and singing simultaneously...or tap-dancing for a jazz show)
And, you know what's odd? It's mind-boggling to realize what's exactly involved in playing this small body of wood & strings that costs as much as a home:
1. multiple co-ordination that defies logic: left hand is furiously flying over the strings, arm muscles going full blast, full-hand forced to do the proper thing to allow the fingers to be relaxed *to* fly furiously. The right arm and hand dealing with the bow...totally separate from the left side, but working together.
2. Then, there's the mind, that has to focus on cues, making sure the entire orchestra is following you, while you're following the conductor. And there is NO tolerance for error in recording/performing, etc.
3. The ear, that has to be perfectly in tune...yourself first, then everyone else. That's my responsibility.
And these are just 3 of at least 45 duties that I have to do *every* gig.
I go on auto-pilot, meaning that I don't think. Everything takes over and just does it.
Ok...am SO tired that it might be a good idea to take a quick nap. I'm off today, but the jet-leg just hit me hard.
Still wouldn't trade what I do for a living for *anything*...I'm really blessed!!
Before I go, Thanks so much for all the great comments...seriously, I was stunned!!! This is FUN!! And Meg and Doc are going to meet me at some point. I can't wait! Hope I'll get to meet Shelley, too!
More later...there's a bed calling to me right now.
Good-night, all...errr, or should I say "Good Morning"!
*stunned look*
Why am I working on jazz arrangements at this hour?!!
**God Bless Community Coffee!
*ode to Lauren*
We're off and running!! THANK YOU Lauren and Chuck so much...I'm having a blast!
I'm going to have FUN here, be myself, talk about Megan, my young daughter who passed away 3 yrs. ago, and who knows what else. Maybe someone will actually read my corner in blog-space.
Guess I'll start by telling anyone who's interested about my career.
I'm a well-known, professional violinist. I began at 5 yrs. old, after my parents took me to symphony concert. I wanted a violin and right *THEN*. I didn't give up. I was deemed a gifted child in many ways (including reading the New York Times in the 1st grade. Yep, it's true. My teacher, who was shocked, called my mother, who just laughed and said, "She's been reading since she was 2 yrs old." And that was that. No "See Dick and Jane for me!
*thinking*
I'm getting off track.
*grin*
And I like to talk, as Lauren now knows. LOL!!!
I'll have to probably change *some* of the people's names I work with in telling my tour/recording stories, because super-stars have EGOS that are unreal. They also are litigous beyond belief. I've never understood the ego-mania and just ignore it, that is, until some have tried to treat me as an imbecile. Bad choice, there! LOL!
I've toured and recorded with everyone from Ray Charles, to Led Zeppelin (Page and Plant), Rod Stewart, Carlos Santana...and...and....
However, here's one very personal story that I can post right now.
I miss Ray Charles, my adopted grandpa, so much it hurts. I lead his orchestra as concert-master & toured w/him (and so many others), from the time I graduated college in 1993 until his recent death. I loved him so much, as he did I, and his death devestated me. We had a special relationship. I'll post a lot of stories about "Brudda'Ray, along with photos, too. :-) *sniff*
Rest In Peace, Ray. You impacted my life tremendously. And how I miss the laughter.
I finally fiddled with the code and fixed it. *go me!* I hope you like the template, if not let me know. I can always redo it to something you prefer. Chuck says the login and password are what you requested, so you are good to go. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.
It was really wonderful talking to you on the phone today. I hope we can do it again soon! =)
-Lauren-