No, really. It was a long day at the office.
And now for more fun stuff…
Author Archives: mariannedecher
My heart is full…
I had my first hammer dulcimer lesson yesterday since the summer of 2011, at which point I was battling chronic pain and not really understanding anything my teacher was saying. Last night I felt pretty good and I could follow the teacher and remember some parts of the tune via watching and listening. HOORAH.
Today, I got to immerse myself in the glorious land of DB tactile ASL and reconnect with some dear friends. As soon as the workshop started, I was absolutely overcome with tears of joy.
My heart is full, my tears are dry, the possibilities are endless. Music in Portland, DB terping in Seattle, terping in Hawaii, move back to the south???? I’m ready to fully reclaim my life and get on with it but I’m going to need some Divine road signs – *really* clear ones – because I can’t be everywhere, doing all of this at once!
THIS way, moose girl!!
Post…
Post Las Vegas business trip frenzy
(where I transported people and equipment amongst scattered venues teeming with people and equipment)
Post Honolulu frenzy
(where I could be snapped up in a heartbeat as an interpreter but the cost of living slammed on the brakes)
Post midnight massive immune response
(panic at the not so disco last night with a burning, swollen face – all alone – waiting for Auntie Histamine to do her thing)
Posting a new post
The whirlwind has calmed
Once again the magic dust of possibility sprinkles the air…
(not an “official” poem – more of an imagery sketch)
All That Glitters
I’m stepping way out of my comfort zone to post a picture of myself. While I realize the sparkly dress for Vegas is cool, it’s the Christmas socks that totally make the outfit, eh?
The sparkles shall be saved for another time. With 200,000 computer geeks in Vegas for CES, I decided that going casually (and meeting Elvis impersonators!!) is where it’s at. I always said you couldn’t pay me to go to Las Vegas. It’s still true – because I am paying “them” for the privilege.
Eat your hearts out Kardashians 🙂
Grotto Music Finale
I just completed my 5th and final night, playing flute outdoors for 3 hours, at the Grotto. Compared to the 19 degree temps from a few weeks ago, tonight’s 34 degrees were downright balmy – sort of. 🙂
I loved the whole experience, especially hobnobbing with so many folks and educating them on the ways of the alto flute. Several children got to “help” me play by mashing keys but I found out that “gently!!” is a relative term.
For posterity’s sake, I want to record the fun highlights from tonight. A grown man (with special needs) played with his yoyo inches from my face. A young girl picked her nose inches from my face (a few weeks ago, a child sneezed all over my open song book). The top prize tonight goes to the young boy who grabbed the flute I was not playing at the time and just slobbered all over the mouth piece. The poor mom and grandma were mortified. I just smiled and realized I would need to use my special Slobber Be Gone spray at home. (Not quite sure what that would be? A shot of whiskey for me, a shot of whiskey for my flute. Silent night, all is sterile and bright!)
Whataweek!
What a week this has been so far. Last weekend, I played flute outdoors at the Grotto in sub 25 degree temps. The first 3 hour night was do-able but the second night, with my holding *very* cold metal with bare hands and standing still, was just too painful (It’s not possible to play the flute with gloves and the fingerless ones don’t help that much. Jumping jacks while playing flute is right out).
What added to the excitement is that a family member was taken to the ER on the first night of my Grotto stint. We will be doing an emergency, pre-holiday visit soon with said anonymous sick person. Today, I had to cancel playing at the hospital because my guts were so off. I’m guessing it might be stress?! 🙂 Tomorrow, I will be playing briefly in a public performance with the key thought: sometimes “good enough” just has to be good enough. If it’s somewhat pretty and it makes one person’s day better – that would be great! I would like that.
Tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of when Chris left us. We miss you everyday, Chris. I will be like the little drummer boy and play my best for you – because that is all I can do. If you can send some good llama energy down to the frazzled moose, I sure would appreciate that!
For you Chris.
We forgot Dad somewhere?
Chris (aka llama boy)
House concert – 12/21/13 – in Lake Oswego
Hello All!
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays to refresh your spirit with some excellent music in the cozy setting of a house concert. Featuring Carl Thor on Hammered Dulcimer and Jennifer Pratt-Walter on Celtic Harp. Seating is limited so be sure to make a reservation as soon as possible. When you make a reservation, you will receive directions to the location in Lake Oswego and information about the potluck social before the concert.
Wishing you a musical holiday!
The Books are Here!!
We are proud to announce that my mom’s 2 memoirs, one in German and one in English about her experiences of growing up in Germany during WWII, are now available on Amazon. Of course I am biased, but these are well written, eyewitness accounts of what it was really like to endure bombings, bomb shelters, post-war poverty and eventual immigration into a new life in the US.
“Church Bells, Bombs and Lilac Trees: Growing Up in War Torn Germany”, by Susanne Teuber, is available here:
“Abschiede und Lichtblicke: Im Kriegsdeutschland und in den USA”, bei Susanne Teuber, is available here:
New Crafts are Looming
Today, October 26th, is the 3rd anniversary of my 1st spinal surgery. To “celebrate”, I got a Zoom Loom. It has lots of Loom and not too much Zoom yet, until I know what I am doing. It took 3 times to finally get it set up without threads popping out all over the place.
Here is my completed 4 inch – wash rag for doll’s dishes? A potholder for lukewarm doll pots? Actually, if I can survive making a bunch of these cute little squares, they can be sewn together to make scarves and placemats. I’m looking forward to eventually moving up to a table loom.
This “carry it anywhere” Zoom Loom may not go over so well with the airlines though. There is a 6 inch needle (to poke my eyes out when I get too frustrated) and tons of spikes on the loom with which to poke out fellow passengers’ eyes. The airlines tend to frown upon such weaponry.
Loom avec Zoom
A woven….thing!
Woven things – with crochet.
Up close and personal
Good Day
Yesterday, I got a bit of sunburn on my face. In Oregon!!! In October!!! The weather here has been glorious. Sure wish it could always be like that. I can live just fine without rain.
I also played music at one of the Children’s Hospitals and had great interactions with the staff. One PT knew that I was playing an alto flute. A nurse asked if I was a professional player. The facilities man said my playing was very soothing. I have to chuckle at the undeserved last 2 comments because I was “jamming” – essentially playing glorified scales while watching the happenings around me.
One thing I am proud of is that I can play through anything – patients doing PT exercises right in front of me, facilities people moving equipment up close, children screaming and crying down the hallway (ok, that’s a bit tough but I figure I can help them the most with soothing music) and loud noises such as alarms or espresso machines (from the hospital lobby snack bar).
BUT – I finally met my match!! A very cute, bald from chemo, sweet little boy was completely mesmerized with my flute. He walked up and stuck his finger in the end of the flute while I was playing. He then proceeded to mash keys and pry the flute out of my hand and attempt to play it. There is something about these kids that I just hand over my $2,000 flute and think nothing of it. I finally blew air through the mouthpiece and let him mash keys. And throughout this whole time, neither of us said a word. I’m not even sure he spoke English – or spoke at all. But it was as if we had had a meaningful, heartfelt conversation.
Ahhh – I always receive so much more than what I give at the hospital.
Alto flute with curved head piece.
Alto flute with, what I believe to be, saxophone keys
mariannedecher 