Glacial

[Update: Ah, it looks as if the aluminum case of my new MacBook Pro (I love getting Jeff's tech cast-offs!) isn't as Airport friendly as my old machine. Jeff says he's going to try moving the Airport base closer to my office. Meanwhile, I'm working on the dining room table upstairs, and I've added some photos to this post. :-)]

Augh, Internet access seems GLACIALLY SLOW today and I wondering if it's Bell's fault or the fact that we upgraded my machine yesterday (I suspect the latter). Example: it took one minute and 15 seconds from time I clicked on my Google bookmark for the page to load. Hence this photo-deprived Blathering today; I'm hoping things improve by tomorrow. Also having problems with e-mail, so may be incommunicado today.

But here's what I was going to post (if I manage to get this posted, that is)...



Above: Cross-stitch that Allison made for me.

I've been neglecting my harp lately, so decided to tune it. Tuning a harp is a more complicated process than tuning a guitar, especially when fiddling with a newly replaced string -- I find that the latter often requires some arm strength to get the new string to "take."



However, Gwyneth appears to be cooperating and holding her tuning now, and I went through some old pieces in my harp books on the weekend. And in case any of you are wondering why I named my harp Gwyneth Paltrow...back when I first got my harp, my harp-type friends kept asking me if my harp had told me its name yet. So I finally decided to ask it and...lo and behold, its name is Gwyneth Paltrow! Any nomenclature similarities with the actress are quite coincidental, of course.

Inspired by the Celtic jam at FilKONtario, I've also picked up my tin whistle again and started reviewing tunes. And learning new ones: I learned Banish Misfortune yesterday...now the trick is to keep practising it until it sinks in.



I also need to work on speed and confidence; I recognized many of the tunes that Al and the others were playing in the circle, but couldn't keep up. I've gotten back into the habit of keeping a whistle by my computer so I can take it out and run through a tune at least a couple times a day.

I'll continue my FKO highlights when I have better Internet access, but I did want to share the comments that Erica N. and Stevemac posted yesterday in response to my post about the Filk Hall Of Fame. Erica and Steve are involved in helping to run and promote the Pegasus Awards.



Erica:

"I actually believe that the Filk Hall of Fame is more significant than the Pegasus Awards. So I absolutely agree with promoting them more. *grin*"



Stevemac:

"Complete agreement.
The Pegasus Awards, by their very nature, are ephemeral. The Hall of Fame, on the other hand, is anything *but* ephemeral.

I mean, look at them. :) The Pegasus Awards recognize excellence in performance- while the whole focus of the HoF is acknowledging those who sponsor, build, and help glue together our *community*. And the requisite effort that each award demands is actually a mirror of its significance.

Pegasus? Spend a few minutes writing down people and songs you think are good (Brainstorming and Nomination phases), or spend anywhere from 5 minutes to a half hour voting in the Final Ballot.

HoF? Agonize over an essay- and care enough to make it the best writing you can, because the person you're writing about has left that much of a mark in your life.

In my life as a filker, I have won five Pegasus Awards. But the plaques that have the central place of honor in our living room are the one that say 'Hall of Fame'. (katyhh's and mine)."




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