State of Me
Aug. 24th, 2019 06:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
glitch25It's been a while since I've posted much about much that wasn't reposting a meme or commenting briefly on someone else's post, so I thought I'd make up a post.
First, the fun
I recently had the fun of performing bass for Sunnie Larsen's CD release concert! That was a fun collaboration with so many people! For my part, it was the culmination of about 2 years of work from deciding that I want to play the bass to being on the stage actually doing it! Its been a fun journey and I've been really pleased with both how much it feels like bass fits with my musical ideals and also how I've been able to contribute to this music in a way that only bass can. I also contributed a little bass and some drums on Mary's' set in this concert, and I was pleasantly reminded how much drums are ultimmately to be my biggest calling. When I got behind the snare, I remember helping set the tempo, and then I was no longer in the room with the band. I was both floating above it and melting into the floor. And while bass has been my big focus lately, drums will not be my next. Which brings me into my next bit of fun.
After several years of lusting after a particular keyboard for myself that would not only give me a nice piano to keep digging my skills out of mothballs but a great gigging keys, I finally punched the button on it. It is a Korg SV-1 which is a great performance keyboard, and I'm having a really good time getting to know it and play it. I've decided that it is finally time to pick up my skills on keys, and once my wrists heal, I will focus on piano nearly exclusively.
Wrists, you say? Thats part of the not-fun. Apparently, I overdid it when we were hauling things in and out of the concert venue, and I pulled ligaments on both of my thumbs. The left seemed to settle down some, but the right has gotten worse, and I've had a hard time with discipline, so healing has been not great. I finally committed myself to a thumb imobilizer and am hoping it will help things along. That has meant no music, but I want to make sure things heal well so I can hit it hard when I'm ready.
One of the other sucks was a long term thing that I finally decided to get looked at. I have problems with my Achilles tendons at the heel and am now doing PT to help resolve that. Walking has been challenging, and since my foot time has dramatically increased since taking the job at the hospital, I figure that's about the time line for when this all started. :/ My sedentary lifestyle has led me to a place where if I don't stretch for almost any moderate movement, I risk hurting myself. The PT has finally been giving me a framework to improve, and a kick in the butt to do the work I have been needing to do. So that's something.
So it's been an adventure lately. As we start to exit summer, we're looking over the work we put into the garden, and considering we got a late start, I'm pretty pleased with the results of our efforts. We have a long way to go to make things perfect but we have a really solid start and it will be easier as things go along. That means that we've been in the house just over a year now, and we continue to settle in and make things workable for us all. And we convinced the landlords to let us have a cat! So that will be the new adventure soon.
Otherwise for me, life continues to be an adventure of self-discovery, adjustment, and progress. More tech projects on the docket, more outings and adventures planned. And winter is coming. So.. you know..nesting.. :-)
What's new in your world?
First, the fun
I recently had the fun of performing bass for Sunnie Larsen's CD release concert! That was a fun collaboration with so many people! For my part, it was the culmination of about 2 years of work from deciding that I want to play the bass to being on the stage actually doing it! Its been a fun journey and I've been really pleased with both how much it feels like bass fits with my musical ideals and also how I've been able to contribute to this music in a way that only bass can. I also contributed a little bass and some drums on Mary's' set in this concert, and I was pleasantly reminded how much drums are ultimmately to be my biggest calling. When I got behind the snare, I remember helping set the tempo, and then I was no longer in the room with the band. I was both floating above it and melting into the floor. And while bass has been my big focus lately, drums will not be my next. Which brings me into my next bit of fun.
After several years of lusting after a particular keyboard for myself that would not only give me a nice piano to keep digging my skills out of mothballs but a great gigging keys, I finally punched the button on it. It is a Korg SV-1 which is a great performance keyboard, and I'm having a really good time getting to know it and play it. I've decided that it is finally time to pick up my skills on keys, and once my wrists heal, I will focus on piano nearly exclusively.
Wrists, you say? Thats part of the not-fun. Apparently, I overdid it when we were hauling things in and out of the concert venue, and I pulled ligaments on both of my thumbs. The left seemed to settle down some, but the right has gotten worse, and I've had a hard time with discipline, so healing has been not great. I finally committed myself to a thumb imobilizer and am hoping it will help things along. That has meant no music, but I want to make sure things heal well so I can hit it hard when I'm ready.
One of the other sucks was a long term thing that I finally decided to get looked at. I have problems with my Achilles tendons at the heel and am now doing PT to help resolve that. Walking has been challenging, and since my foot time has dramatically increased since taking the job at the hospital, I figure that's about the time line for when this all started. :/ My sedentary lifestyle has led me to a place where if I don't stretch for almost any moderate movement, I risk hurting myself. The PT has finally been giving me a framework to improve, and a kick in the butt to do the work I have been needing to do. So that's something.
So it's been an adventure lately. As we start to exit summer, we're looking over the work we put into the garden, and considering we got a late start, I'm pretty pleased with the results of our efforts. We have a long way to go to make things perfect but we have a really solid start and it will be easier as things go along. That means that we've been in the house just over a year now, and we continue to settle in and make things workable for us all. And we convinced the landlords to let us have a cat! So that will be the new adventure soon.
Otherwise for me, life continues to be an adventure of self-discovery, adjustment, and progress. More tech projects on the docket, more outings and adventures planned. And winter is coming. So.. you know..nesting.. :-)
What's new in your world?
(no subject)
Date: 2019-08-25 01:29 pm (UTC)FWIW, I feel you on the needing to stretch thing. I used to be great about it, but fell off in my thirties. I need to get back into that as well or I'm going to be sorry.
Glad you have the keyboard. Music is important!
(no subject)
Date: 2019-09-02 02:03 am (UTC)Music is one of my guiding lights. Listening to it. Watching it being performed. Performing it myself. Music has led me to finally decided on my first tattoo. And music helps me cope with life. I'm very excited to delve deep into the piano, and happy I have the option and ability.
(no subject)
Date: 2019-08-27 03:04 pm (UTC)I tried heaps of things, most where only a temporary relief.
What really helped me (might be different for you, because bodies) was a combination of
- cooling the ankle twice a day for a couple of weeks
- shock wave therapy
- yin yoga and daily stretching
One to ease the pain, one to reduce inflammation and one the fight the cause.
My muscles on the backs of my legs are shortened to to bad habits.
I hope you find something that works for you. Do not lose hope, it might take a while to find your combination.
My doc also had an MRI made to see if the tendon was frayed or if a heel Sporn had developed. I was super disappointed when it did not show anything helpful but am now quite happy it was nothing serious.
Thumbs up for the bass! Mine, sadly, is mosty gathering dust.
Your drum experience sounds awesome. When I paint I sometimes get into a zen mode, which is a timeless, super I tersely focused and super free feeling at the same time. It often gets followed by annoyance at things taking ages or physical pain from sitting crouched for too long. I will want a proper studio at some point, with the right furniture to cause less pain.
Sending hugses!
(no subject)
Date: 2019-09-02 02:50 am (UTC)My tendons are improving with time and exercise. I'm optimistic, but I'm also aware that I need to start treating my body better. Guess it's time.