Productivity

Sorry for the non-music related posts as of late, but unless you are interested in hearing about the dozen weddings I've done, or am going to do, there really isn't much to write about. So I bring you a few posts of "life in the off-season of a freelance musician"

This past week, my wife suggested that every night we should do something "productive" in the house. On Tuesday, we cleaned the main floor of the house, yesterday we put up some paintings on the wall that we took down to make room for an upright piano which we are babysitting, and today, we took on the biggest job on the list. The Garage! We emptied it out, swept it clean, cleaned out the mouse droppings (that's another story), and then reorganized it in such a way that everything is accessible. It is a very small garage, in fact, it's technically a 1920's carriage house, so we can't park a car in there even if we wanted, but at least all our outdoor tools, lawnmower and wheelbarrow are now organized amidst the winter sport equipment, bicycle, and camping equipment.

My wife and I work very well together on projects like this. We've hung ceiling fans, put shelves up, painted, renovated a kitchen, built IKEA furniture and moved our various apartments into one house without any fuss or arguing.

Decorating the Christmas tree however ...

The Dentist

I don't like the dentist.

It is understandable though, considering my dental history:

12 teeth extracted (four of them because of a childhood accident involving sliding down an icy hill on my stomach, while having my head sat on halfway down - the other eight due to having my Dad's large teeth, and my mom's small mouth).

Two rounds of braces - first round from Grade 4 until 9, second round from Grade 11 until first year university.

So when someone says I have a million dollar smile - I tell them that it is probably not too far from the tooth . . . er . . . truth.

Today, I had my annual check-up and cleaning. About a month ago I started feeling sensitivity in one of my molars, one which about eight years ago was drilled and filled with the caveat of "I'm not promising that this won't need a root canal some day". So with some reluctance, I told my dentist about my recent sensitivity. After x-rays, tapping and humming and hawing - the good news is - no root canal needed! I am however going to get it crowned - as a preventative procedure.

The bonus prize was that I have a cavity on the other side of my mouth.

Thursday's not going to be a fun morning for me.



* Photo credit - Good Rockin' Tonight

Dormant, but alive

Just thought I'd put down a quick post letting all my faithful readers (all two or three of you) that I am still alive and well, and on holidays.

We've just finished a ten day holiday in California, Six of them in San Francisco, and four days trekking through wine country in Sonoma County. To the left is a photo of me taking a rest between wineries in a vineyard.

It was a holiday to remember!

Now I'm off to Southern BC for an annual golf trip and tournament, then I'll be back in full swing.

You may look forward to a variety of posts on Handel's Solomon, which I am conducting in late November, as well as Monteverdi's Orfeo, which I will be singing in early November. I'm also conducting a concert with Da Camera in November.

So, this holiday is going to be well deserved!