Blog posts around here are getting shorter.

 

That's Peter, second from the left, and Robert next, to his right.

It looks like it's going to be a wet weekend. They say it's even colder in the Wairarapa. Yes, I'll get some face masks today. Peter told me what to do on his last short post. 

I'll take my violin with me, if we make it to the Wire Wrapper. Just so that I can get some practice done on Saturday. Don't worry Peter, I'll use a mute in the motel room. There is a good chance that we may not go. Time will tell.

Some pieces in my 30 tune repertoire need some work, so I need to keep working through those tunes. My double bass has been a bit neglected lately. Maybe I should give it some time today? Guitar practice happens when it happens. 

Compared to efforts of the other two bloggers, this can now be considered a long post. 

So, I'll sign off there.

Ho letto da qualche parte che questo è l'inverno più caldo mai registrato. Sì, e io sono il papa!

Bye.

I've picked up a bug.

 

A bug.

I have a cough and a sore throat and am a bit short of breath so I'm staying home from school today. I guess that means I have time to write a post.

I see that Robert is back. He's going on about Original Sin and how three people were born without it. That doesn't seem fair. The story goes that God the Farter Father inflicted it onto everyone because Eve bit his favourite apple. This 'all loving god' evidently let three people off. 888 was one of those three people. Hang on, he's part of the three entities in one god. One of the other two was a woman who became 888's earthly mother. Then there was a bloke named John. I don't know why he was so highly respected by this third of a god. Is God the Farter Father supposed to be older than 888? Well, they have both evidently been around for eternity, along with Karen. That makes them both very old, by human standards. If this father - son stuff is true, Karen MUST be the real mother and not Mary. Robert should start saying the rosary to Karen.

"Hi, I'm Karen, 888's 'real' mother."

In case anyone is wondering, my practice is presently one hour ahead of schedule - 175 hours, as of yesterday (day 174). Wow, if there really was a god, that should be enough to make me free from Original Sin! You'd better correct that last post, Rob, and change the number to four. 888, Mary, John and Richard of RBB*.

This is not the coldest morning I've experienced so far this year. Still, it's nice to be sitting near the heater. Shelley and I are due to spend a couple of nights in Greytown this coming weekend. I hope we're both feeling a bit better (Shelley is not well either). It'll be nice to get away for a couple of nights. Don't worry, Peter, I'll take my violin and keep the practice up. Evidently there are big celebrations on in Greytown on the Saturday night for Winter Christmas. Evidently the celebrations go on for a month. In my present state, I'd be happy just sleeping in our motel. We have friends who will be there too. One couple has a house in Greytown and the rest of the people are staying there. I chose a motel so that I'll have a better chance of finding an empty bathroom. 

Well, I guess that's it from me this morning.

No need to say the rosary for me. Well, I am one of the chosen four, at least I think I am.

Ciao.

* the original bass bagging site

Very cold.

 Off to work soon but having a little bit of time in front of the heat-him.

Today is going to be a busy day. Fitting in my practice is always a bit tricky on a Tuesday, but I'll do my best. Where there's a will there's a way.

888 it's cold!

I'm off to get my morning 'jobs' done.

Hey, this post is as short as some of Peter's posts!

"It's cold! I'm glad I 
brought my hat to Thorndon!"

Ciao.

God the Father, God the Son and Karen.

 

I don't think the Holy Spirit (formerly the Holy Ghost) is a bird, I think it is more likely to be God the Mother. Catholics tell us that there are three entities in one god. Supposedly they have always been there, so the labels father, son and mother are a bit silly. This god has existed forever. Imagine just a little bit of this eternity, before man was created and God the Father sent his 'only begotten' son down to Earth.

Here is just a little bit of this pre JC time...

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years.

Hey, eternity is a very long time!

I suspect that the whole mum and dad thing only came along when '888' was sent down to Earth to die on a cross. 

* * *

Rob's blog has gone again.

Hey, it's just like old times!

* * *

Well, the good news is that my left hand is feeling better this morning. That means more violin practice today. I've kept my practice up to date during the worrying time of an injured hand. I got some cream from our chemist shop and it seems that has done the trick. Thank you, young lady in the chemist shop who served me!

I guess I'll wrap it up there for today.

Ciao Peter (he's the only known post reader left).

Apologies to my violin.

 

It was my guitar that hurt my left hand and not my violin.

I found out the truth while I was doing some guitar practice yesterday. I'll get my poor old violin out today and I'll apologise to it.

* * *

"You cannot be the slave of 888 and swearing...do and say what you have to." Jim 6

When people bump their toe on something or hurt one of their fingers, two common phrases you'll hear are, "Jesus Christ!" and "God Almighty!" To understand why this is we need to read Jim 7.

"Alimana had two sons, Manoah and Bumcover. Both boys were keen carpenters and, for some reason, refused to wear shoes. One day 888 visited their workshop. Bumcover said, "Hey 888, what's a good phrase to use when I accidentally bump my toe on a piece of wood or something?" 888 told him that he was often called Jesus when he preferred 888. He suggested that Bumcover use Jesus Christ, but he should say it with emphasis - "Jesus Christ!" Manoah asked if there were any alternatives. 888 replied, "When I'm angry with dad, I say "God Almighty!" Notice that I've built emphasis into that statement too." 

When Alimana heard her sons using these two statements she was happy because she assumed they were praising two members of the Holy Trinity."

* * *

It's another cold day in the Nui. I heard it said that this is the warmest June we've ever had.

Che stronzata!

Oops, sorry about the Italian. That's bullshit!

Hey, Peter is wearing a jacket everywhere!

I've got to say that this is one of the better photos of Peter I've seen. It's almost up with this one.

Yep, Peter knows how to pose for a photo!

Rob, on the other hand, would have us all wearing barrels!

Weird!

I think this guy looks better in pants.

Hey, but I've already told you that.

* * *

Well, I guess that's enough for today. 

Rob has a new closing statement, "Embrace your cross."

I think he's telling a lady named Embrace that she is angry.

I know, I know, he should have said, "Embrace, you're cross."

He could have even put a question mark at the end of that statement.

Oh, well, there you go, I'm just trying to help.

Ciao tutti.

Keep your pants on!

 

Now, isn't that better?

I'm sure that Peter will be happier now! Yes, it's all tucked away.

* * *

It's nice to be sitting by the heater. It reminds me of a thing I read in the Bible.

Ronald 17:3 Two men were standing out in the cold. 888 came along. "Why are you shivering? Go stand by a fire. You'll need to get used to heat for when you go to Hell." The two men were not amused, but they did go and stand by a fire.

I hurt my left hand yesterday while doing a little bit of relaxed violin practice. It's sort just where the hand touches the violin. I wasn't putting any pressure on it when it happened. I'm going to a physiotherapist today because he's checking out my left elbow. He thinks I have Tennis Elbow. That's weird because I don't play tennis. Bloody old hands and arms! I wonder if Peter will get Violinist's Elbow?

[Bathroom time}

[I'm back}

I went to a guitar clinic in Wellington last night. The guy is a well known guitarist. He played a bit and talked a lot about blues. He played quite loudly and played through some pedals. He said that he wasn't keen on the more natural sound of a guitar in jazz, at least I think that's what he meant. Personally, I'm not into pedals and play my guitar acoustically - not that I claim to be a guitar expert. Ah well, I'll push on with what I'm doing, hand permitting.

I guess that's a long enough post for a Thursday. 

Ciao tutti.

166

 

Today is the 166th. day of the year and I have already done 166 hours of practice! My violin gets most of the practice. I'll spend some time on the double bass later today. 

Yesterday's jam was a bit of a waste of time but at least there were nice people there. I have absolutely no gigs coming, so why do I practise so much? Well, as a jazz bassist said once, "Funk is its own reward." I don't know why he used the word funk and not jazz but, never mind, the intended message is the same.

Rob is back to regular posting but nothing is really happening over on Peter's site. No big surprise there. Rob's latest effort is really short. Four short sentences, actually.

"Thank you God for this wonderful world and all you give me. I haven't done anything to deserve your generosity. Your world is beyond comprehension. Your intellect beyond limit. I pray you forgive those who treat you with contempt." There you go. You won't have to visit his site now. Peter left a message, "At least horseshit is good for the roses." He left a comment on my last post about roses too.  "I guess that your roses are doing ok." I don't know why he is suddenly so interested in roses. 

I thought he was more interested in meat pies.

Well, I've got some school reports to write, so I'd better move on. Peter might write a post some time over the next week or so. Robert's posts will no doubt be giving advice on the Christian god. Yawn.

Oh yes, and here's Peter's favourite picture.

You can thank Rob for that one. Evidently, in the Philippines, Catholics like things like that.

Ciao tutti.