Hobbies...

So I have a blanket that I've been trying to crochet and finish - I had great ambitions of making it to fit on top of a queen bed so that I can use it in the winter over our quilt. But after a year of working on it (or rather, not working on it), I think that if/when I finish it, I will frame it and hang it on the wall as my biggest accomplishment at this point in my life. I did find a use for a freebie tote bag that I got at the Dallas Market (3 days of walking the Dallas Trade Center buildings buying items for our little gift shop, but that's another story in itself). So my blanket has been sitting in this little tote bag since January basically untouched. And before January, I think it was sitting in an Old Navy bag (again, untouched). But before the end of 2007, my goal is to finish this thing. I like the colors - well, really I like the aqua color and the brown color. I put the darker blue in there just for a 3rd color, and some days I like it, and others I don't, but it's staying because I'm definitely not starting over! Here are some pics so you can see what I mean...

Another hobby that I've re-discovered is playing my clarinet. In high school, I practiced almost every day for marching band and then concert band, and in college I played a little - I think I did 2 semesters of concert band. I always enjoyed it. But one day I got busy, and stopped playing. I've kept it with me all these years, though, and about 2 weeks ago I decided to see if I could still play. Turns out, I can. The first few days were a little scary - I think the dogs ran to the other room, and there were definitely some squeaky notes in there, especially as I got higher in octave. But now I'm getting better again. Although my lips are definitely out of shape - I can play for about 15 min and then my lips/cheeks are tired, and I have to take a break. But I hope to build up endurance so I can play longer - I had forgotten how relaxing it is for me. But last night I got it out to play and as I was putting it together, I ripped the cork on the bottom piece, so I couldn't put the bell on. So now my clarinet is in the shop in Austin, and won't be ready until Monday. But when I went to the shop to drop it off, I got a new book (20% off, too). So that will be fun. For all of you reading this that haven't played an instrument before, you probably think I'm crazy. But that's okay.

Here's a thought for those "musicians" out there that play music, but don't compose music (I'm in this category). I went to a music school or intense "camp" of sorts after my junior year of high school at the University of Richmond. Again, those of you who haven't played an instrument, (and maybe those of you who have) probably think I'm super weird. But I can't change my past. And I actually had a good time. All kinds of "artists" were there - those who painted, sang, played instruments, sculpted, danced, etc. All the performing arts.

But back to my thought. One of the guys who painted asked me, "Do you really consider yourself an artist - I mean you didn't write the music - you're just playing what someone else wrote, so how does that make you an artist?" As if throwing paint on a canvas in no particular order or recognizable form makes him an artist (sorry, I never understood that kind of painting). But here's my thought on that: No, I didn't compose it. And I probably never will compose anything because I don't have the desire or skill. But if all those composers (especially the great DEAD ones), composed their music, played their music, but then kept it for themselves and didn't publish it, their "art" would have died with them. And who would appreciate that? But because they did publish it, and I know how to read it and play it, I can in some way keep their art "alive" because it is still appreciated (at least by me, if no one else in my house appreciates my attempts at playing it). And because music can be reproduced so easily, thousands if not millions more people can appreciate it all at once, around the world, because it's not limited to one canvas in one place of the world. And the people who are playing the music (of the DEAD composers), are artists in my book - especially if they can play really well. Anyone else have any thoughts on this? I'm not trying to start a war between the musicians and those who paint - I truly respect painters (and all other artists) because I have no talent in any of those areas. But I just wonder if that was the opinion of one narrow-minded painter, or if all other "artists" think that musicians who play other people's compositions are not really artists.

Okay, off my soap box. Wow, that happened over 10 yrs ago - I guess I really needed to get that off my chest.

Anyway, I think I'm going to try to upload more photos - this time more recent ones. So check back later to see more pictures!