Music

Did I ever mention that I like music? It may be evident since all of the videos I've ever posted have music soundtracks. Actually, it's the music that inspires me when I start thinkingg about making a video. I browse iTunes and Napster looking for the perfect music. I like classical, jazz, rock, country, some pop stuff and more. So, for now, I will be including "music to read the blog by". Just turn up the volume and start the music video. The song on thie "music video", actually a slideshow to accompany the music, is "You Can Close Your Eyes" by James Taylor as sung by his ex-wife, Carly Simon, his daughter Sally and son Ben. It's a beautiful version - my favorite. The photographs are ones that I have taken over the years and they linger for a bit, so don't think something is awry when the picture doesn't change quickly.

.....and speaking of music.

Pandora Radio. If you haven't tried it - do. My daughter recommended it to me and now I'm a big fan. I use the free version which means that every 40-45 minutes they stop the music and ask me if I'm still listening. I just click a key and it resumes. They also throw in a short commercial every once in awhile that I could do without, but hey - it's free. The great part is that you can create your own radio station by typing in the name of a favorite artist or song. They will then setup a station that plays that music and other similar types of music. It works. I have several radio stations. the Loreena McKennitt station (so far my favorite), The Beatles station, the James Taylor station, the John Williams station and so on - you get the idea. I guess you can have as many stations as you like. They also have their own stations you can choose from, all commercial free (except for that one infrequent commercial).

I subscribe to Napster. I also download occasionally from iTunes to my computer for video soundtracks because their player has a WAV converter for the Mp3 songs. I use WAV with Windows Movie Maker. OK. No more technical stuff. Anyway, I have many playlists with Napster. However, there is now one Very Refined Playlist I've compiled that has my most favorite tunes on it. It brings me much happiness to listen to it as I do things around the house. I also haved owned a Samsung Mp3 player for several years now and have no complaints. When we travel, it goes with me. A set of Bose speakers also travels in our little trailer.

In addition to all of the musicalness, I play the piano - not well, but adequately. We have an older piano that I occasionally dust off and play. I'm pretty rusty, though. I used to sing way back when. Now, the only singing I do is with my downloaded songs or the radio and certainly only to myself - well, my grandson, only 7 months old, has heard me but he doesn't know any better...........

For Christmas, I bought Merle a Fender acoustic guitar. He is currently taking lessons. When he comes home from his lesson, he shares the information with me and I also practice so that I can learn to play. We are both working to get callouses on our fingers because without them, it hurts to hold down those strings (more like garrote wires, if you ask me). Merle is ahead of me in the callous department - probably because he practices more than I.

So, in closing, I can gladly say that music is a huge part of my life. I love beautiful songs, funny songs, complicated songs, simple songs, love songs, sad songs, instrumental songs, hymns - just lots of songs. I have some sort of music playing all of the time. Without it my life would feel very strange.

LANNIE