Writing, musicstuff, doodles

It's a relief to get back into the normal swing of things, not having to worry about househunting, being able to focus on my writing again. Sent out a completed article yesterday. Started my regular combing of writers' job boards again, queried a listing, updated my weblog for writers: Inkygirl. I also heard back from a print publication that had accepted one of my articles but then the editor left (hate when that happens, since the article often goes into limbo-land for a while); the new editor is going to run the article in the fall issue, yay! Also getting back to working on novel writing.

And we have a house!! Ok, I've already Blathered about that, but I can't resist mentioning it again. By the way, I won't be posting photos of the outside of the house on Blatherings or Flickr. For one thing, there's someone else living there now; we won't be moving in for a few months. Also, though the Internet usually makes it possible for anyone for find out a lot of information about information about anyone else, I'd rather not make it too easy. From my traffic logs, I know that there are a LOT more lurkers in my readership than those who post in the message boards. 'Nuff said on that topic. If you see me in person, feel free to ask to see some pics. :-)

re: Irish session musicstuff: Learned Apples in Winter and Dusty Windowsills this past week on my own, two tunes that seem to be played frequently at the Tranzac. You can find both at the Durham Music site.

Corel Painter doodle.

This means that in theory, I've learned the following tunes so far:

Apples in Winter, Austin Barrett's (Dusty Windowsills), Thrush in the Straw, Maurice Manley's (Ballydesmond=2), Ballydesmond #1, Egans (the two Ballydesmonds and the Egans are often played as a set at the Tranzac), Dusty Miller #2 (can't find this in any online tune compilation, so I suspect it has another common name), The Swallow Tail (reel), Donegal Reel, Galway Rambler (reel), Cooley's Reel, Boyne Hunt (reel), Sligo Maid (reel), Drowsy Maggie (reel), Ms McLeod's Reel, Dunmore Lassies (reel), Green Groves of Erin (reel), Bank of Ireland (reel).

The last few are a bit hazy and need to be practised more before I'd be confident launching into without sheet music in a session. I've heard rumours that Mary Bertke and Dave Clement are planning an informal session sometime during FKO weekend. If this is true (and Mary just confirmed in LJ), I plan to bring along my sheet music in hopes of being able to play along on a few. :-)

Illustration Friday collab. This week's topic: "Ancient."

I'm really enjoying my lessons with Karen Light. I've settled into focussing on learning to play one tune with proper technique at a time. Karen told me that in theory, once I get in the habit, I'll apply this proper technique to tunes I learn on my own as well. So far I've studied Thrush in the Straw this way, am doing Austin Barrett's (Dusty Windowsills) next.

Looking forward to the session at the Tranzac tonight. The iTalk that Jeff bought for me a while back is wonderful; I've been recording session and lesson tunes, practising with the recordings back at home, listening to the tunes on my iPod while I'm out walking. I've also been gradually compiling an alphabetized master index of all the tunes for which I have sheet music.

Three more weeks until FilKONtario in Toronto!

Only seven more months until FilkContinental in Germany!

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