Ukulele No.9, No.9, No.9 …

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No, it isn’t a beatles uke, although George Harrison was known for playing one and promoting them as an instrument everyone should have and play as he explains in a letter on this page which also includes some video.

My ninth is one of my favorites, a Martin OXK. It sits in my library on a little shelf I made out of scrap wood that slides under some books and keeps it near at hand when I’m sitting at my desk. (Everything in my tiny library is near at hand from everywhere else in the library.) The review here pretty much sums up why I like it.

Kelsey 3 x 5

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When I began printing in the early 1970’s I bought a 5×8 Excelsior, new from the Kelsey Company in Meriden, Connecticut. After a decade or more of no use I sold the press and most of the supplies. Now as my collection has been rebooted it was only natural to add one though the price has climbed significantly since I sold my larger one and I settled for an older, smaller, repaired one. I bought it from a sale at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The idea was to use it to demonstrate on the road at events for Conestoga Press.

Bongo Cajon

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I completed this at the end of last month, but haven’t had an opportunity to post it. It was an easy kit from Meinl who offers many ready-made versions for not a whole lot more money… and it probably wouldn’t take a lot to make one from scratch, but the kit was easy and fun. I added the wren and drumsticks using some “borrowed” art as a pattern and burned it with the woodburning tools I bought Jolene a few years ago.

NAGT 2019

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The crew getting ready for the Geo-Auction in Martinsburg at the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Eastern Section Meeting. Auctioneer (Steve), runner (me), and clerk (Renee) and the giant stuffed eurypterid (Uri).

Ukulele Number 8

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This uke, the Kala Ka-Cem concert mahogany spends it’s time at the training center with uke number 3 with this one reserved for some more serious play. I remember getting it at Funky Frets. I had stopped in there just to look (not the first time THAT didn’t work) and to pick up another electronic tuner. Actually I think my reasoning was that since this one has a built in tuner and equalizer.
The Kala with amp.

Magical Mystery Tour Frederick

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Craig, Gath, and Duncan discuss Gath’s lack of color in his writings.

The playlist for our April 2019 Magical Mystery Tour to Frederick MD.

  1. Dublin Roasters’ Coffee – Great coffee, best according to Craig.
  2. One Million Liter Test Sphere – Weren’t there, just near and forgot to mention it at coffee because the great conversation distracted me.
  3. Spook Hill – The soldiers DID push our car… forward AND backward.
  4. National War Correspondents Memorial Arch – And Gapland or Gathland, or both as the sign above states.
  5. Washington Monument State Park
  6. Exotic Lumber – No one had to have a board on their head for the rest of the trip. I bought only short pieces.
  7. Record Exchange – What??? No Uriah Heep? But loved the new vinyl.
  8. Earthly Elements – Great rock shop with commemorative dino coins.
  9. White Rabbit Gastropub – Great secret spot hidden in an alley.

Ukulele Number 7

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Going BIGGER with an Alvarez RU26T Tenor. The spruce top and mahogany sides caught my attention as did the natural finish. I seem to shy away from the shiny ukes.

Paper Trevithick

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A paper model of the 1804 Trevithick Peny Darren. A Welsh locomotive that set out to haul five wagons carrying 10 tons of iron and 70 men over 9.75 miles. It was too heavy for the rails, but did complete the journey, winning a large bet for its owner. I completed this from a book of 50 supposedly “easy-to-make” models.

Ukulele Number 6

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IMG_2853My electric gas can uke. In my case it made more sense that it would be a can of blasting powder. Got it as a crowd-funded project that was so successful they had difficulty meeting the big demand and I waited for it a long time past due date, but it was worth it. One of the more unique ukuleles I have. It’s a bit of a challenge to play, so I don’t often, but fun to do.

Forgot My Cell Phone

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Photo on 3-2-19 at 8.34 AMAh the digital life… if you can remember your phone. I suppose I’m actually a bit happy that I’m not so attached to my  cell phone that I can’t forget it. Of course as I’m sitting here at Griddle and Grind without it and needing to make a phone call a tiny bit of me wishes I would be.

The cell phone is on that list of things in my life that despite its apps to locate now occupies too much time simply looking for it. When it’s lost it’s simply out of reach, not miles away so the apps don’t help. I even have a device on my keys to make it play a tune but the sound is still hard to locate and of course using it depends on my ability to locate my keys first. If I can’t find those I can use my phone to find them… oh that’s right. That’s what I’m looking for in the first place.