Un cenno è buono come un occhiolino per un cieco.

Singing, "Here we are again, happy as can be. All good friends and jolly good company."

It's getting close to 6am and my cup of coffee is almost finished.

Sono quasi le 6 del mattino e la mia tazza di caffè è quasi finita.

I'm off to Specsavers this morning to organise a new pair of glasses.

Not my actual glasses.

I pulled out my glasses one day and one of the side bits that go over an ear had fallen off. I've been using a $10 pair from Woolworths in the meantime. My glasses are bifocal and are used for music reading and word reading. The bit for music reading has to cope with something that is further away, on a music stand.

Not my actual music stand.

I guess it'll be a while before my new glasses are ready. Never mind. 

* * *

Hey, just for the record, I'm not interested in all genres of music. Recently someone tried to write that I should be. Unfortunately, grammar got in the way of their message, but I managed to work out the meaning. This writer also said that I am never polite. It was suggested that I should use the phrase, "Gosh, that's interesting!" instead of telling the truth. Gosh, that's interesting! So, I shouldn't tell the truth? Okay, there are times when that phrase can be used with effect.

• When you are listening to an idiot and you realise that there is no point in getting involved in the discussion.
• When you decide it is more important to protect a person's feelings than to tell the truth.
• When you want to be cynical.

Generally speaking, though, honesty is often the best direction to take.

"Hi Bill, do you want to come to the System of a Down concert tomorrow night? I have a spare ticket and it's only sixty bucks!"

[Bill thinks] "No. Definitely not my thing."

[Bill replies] "Shit, I'd love to, but I've got a guy coming around to get some help with his mandolin playing. I can't put him off because he wants to play at a folk concert the next day."

Bill has done three things.

• He has lied.
• He has protected his ears from a bashing.
• He has avoided being at an event he doesn't want to go to, thus saving $60.

Using honesty, Bill could have just said, "No thanks." He might then have been asked for an explanation for his refusal to want to go. He wouldn't be doing much harm with a little white lie, "I've got a few things I need to do tomorrow night."

Am I never polite?

I've decided to have a second cup of coffee. Why not? Is that impolite?

* * *

Violin practice coming up a little later.

Why is a violin bow so long? Well, if you use its full length, you get a bigger sound. 

I'll try to play through some Jazz charts, whose chord progressions I haven't yet memorised today. That's an exercise that can be good for both double stops and 3rd / 7th chords. Obviously, it also helps to get to know chord progressions better.

Okay, that's me finished for today.

Ciao tutti.