insomnia problems

Been having trouble sleeping lately. Instead of lying there in the darkness, trying to will myself to sleep in the middle of the night, I got up and surfed on the Web instead. Cobbled together a list of harp links I've been perusing during my harp research. Bizarre how relaxing it can be to create a mini-website from scratch in one sitting. Normal people read or watch tv to relax; I write HTML. :-)

By the way, I just joined the FKOfilk mailing list. Peggi Warner-Lalonde and Judith Hayman are the moderators. Description on ONElist: "For those who recall the fun of the old GEnie Filk Round Table, a place to discuss filk music. We are looking for discussion of the music and the community and the related interests we have in common. An ongoing focus will be the posting of news, information and announcement related to FilKONtario." To subscribe, send e-mail to FKOfilk-subscribe@onelist.com or go to ttp://www.onelist.com/group/FKOfilk. Only a couple more weeks until FKO! Hope to see some of you there.

re: harp names. Experienced harpists in blatherchat tell me that it's no use trying to pick a name now, that my harp will let me know what its name is. So I've decided to wait... :-)

Thanks also for the advice re: travelling with a guitar. Here are a few comments people posted:

Andrea:
"Traveling with guitars - I have actually asked my travel agent to find out what the size of the overhead compartments are . . . After all if the guitar won't fit, it won't matter. I have also chosen to insure my guitar (maybe this would be a good idea for your harp). When I check in and board the plane, I never mention my guitar unless directly asked, at which time I politely ask about taking it on the plane. If they want me to check it, I always "gate" check it, meaning that they take it at the gate and that I pick it up and carry it through all connections, so it doesn't experience the baggage handling system (i.e. unkind baggage handlers). Using these tactics, I almost never have to check it, and then if I do, I don't fret wondering if it will arrive safely through connections, because I am carrying it."

Paul:
"My guitar/flying experience sounds much like Andrea's: just take it along with you, unless they try to tell you otherwise. Getting a seat toward the back of the airliner is handy, as it means you'll board first, when the overheads are empty. I will mention that I've never found a jetliner where my hardshell dreadnaught case wouldn't fit in the overhead compartments (and I tell them that when they try to tell me sometimes that it won't fit). Probably 90% of the time, they let me just carry it aboard. Unfortunately, the most hard-nosed attitude I've ever run across is in Toronto, where I've never been able to take the guitar aboard with me (when leaving TO). I'm told that it's a national air regulation, disallowing carry-on guitars (although I'm allowed to carry it on in Winnipeg)."

Scott:
"Unlike the charismatic Paul Kwinn, I've rarely been able to carry my guitar on board an aircraft with me. I will soon (although perhaps NOT before FKO) be investing in an ATA-approved case, so that 1) it is less likely to get broken, and 2) they can't make me sign a waiver, since it's packed in an officially mandated case. At least then I can worry SLIGHTLY less about it appearing on the luggage carousel in bits and pieces. As for a soft case... I wouldn't recommend flying with it unless you are guaranteed that you can carry it on with you. A soft case in the luggage compartment, even if it's gate checked, is a disaster waiting to happen."

Phil:
"I've very rarely been allowed to carry my guitar on board, but almost always carry it through for checking at the gate. Downside of this is that it comes through on the conveyor at the other end, so sometimes one has to barge through to catch it as it comes down the slide at the start! One piece of useful advice is to pad out your guitar with clothing inside the case. Not only does this reduce your fears about the guitar, it also makes (often badly needed) more room in the rest of your luggage - as Debbie found coming back from England!"

harp research

My harp research continues. As I've mentioned before, I've decided to get a Larry Fisher harp; he's a Celtic harpmaker out in Winnipeg, a friend of Dave Clement's and Tom Jeffers, and who has made a harp for Loreena McKennitt. Annie Walker also recommended him.

Larry and I have been e-mailing back and forth; I find the process fascinating, especially since I am completely harp-ignorant (except from a typical listener's point of view). He's been wonderful throughout, and extremely patient.

We've talked about types of wood (I'll likely opt for maple), possible artwork, carrying cases. Eventually I'd like to take this to some cons, so am opting for a Superlightweight Harp Case from Colorado Cases, one with wheels added on as well as fiberglass corners...incidentally, this company carries soft cases for all kinds of instruments, including guitars. You can get padded shoulder straps added, extra pockets, double insulation, wheels, embroidery, applique, etc. I'm going to consider getting one for my guitar, whose case is sadly disintegrating.

A question about soft guitar cases...one of my fears is that the airlines won't let me take the guitar on board with me even if it's in a soft case; that I'll end up having to check it (and then it will be more vulnerable than it would have been in a rigid case). Any advice, travelling guitarists out there? I will definitely have to get a new guitar case within the next year or so.

Anyway, I'm excited about my harp. I find myself purposely thinking about it whenever I get too stressed these days; it doesn't exist yet, but still comforts me. :-)

Annie Walker told me I should name my harp (both she and Talis have named theirs, I notice). :-) I've started researching Celtic names.

hockey monkey

During my report of our cottage weekend, I forgot to mention that I've corrupted Annie and Sara with the Hockey Monkey song. By the time we went home, Annie was coming up to me and asking for the "Monkey song"...Ruth reports she continued this request throughout the week as well. HAHAHAHA!

Went out for dinner with my dad last night; I took him to Fune. He talked in Japanese with the sushi chef and waitresses, hopefully not about me. :-) We came back to the apartment afterward, and watched The Matrix on DVD; he loved it. That sort of surprised me; I didn't really think it was his kind of movie.

Finished Orson Scott Card's Ender's Shadow on the weekend (borrowed it from my dad). For those of you who liked Ender's Game, you have to read this book! I was sort of skeptical when I heard its plot was basically a parallel of Ender's Shadow, only from Bean's point of view. Speaking of the Ender books, does anyone know of related filk songs other than Minstrel's excellent "Boy In A Room"? (Update: forgot about Julia Ecklar's "Tin Soldier", which is on Phoenix's CD, Into The Fire...thanks for pointing that out, Rick!)

Today's Blatherphoto:

Jeff in ice (To Andrea: no, I didn't jump in, too. You think I'm CRAZY??? :-))

my aunt

I talked with my aunt on the phone recently; she was diagnosed with breast cancer about fifteen years ago. Through chemo and various treatments, the cancer has basically been in remission for a long while.

It's out of remission now, and my aunt is not doing well. :-( There is another experimental treatment available, but is known to have terrible side effects. Having been through four other alternative treatments with terrible side effects already, my aunt isn't sure if she is up to going through another. She can no longer eat solid food; part of her esophagus is paralyzed, as well as her upper lip. One of her arms is in constant pain. She has stomach problems.

I find myself wondering what I would do, in similar circumstances, how I would cope. If I could cope.

When my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer ten years ago, we had barely two months with her before she was gone. She suffered terribly, and after she died I found myself torn by the desire that she had lived longer in conflict with relief that she was no longer in pain. And I felt guilty about being relieved.

It makes me feel incredibly helpless, seeing people like my aunt suffer, knowing that there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. Helpless and angry...the anger is unfocussed; there's no one to blame, I know. I'm not really sure where it's coming from, and I try to focus that emotional energy into something positive, but it's difficult.

But right now, all I can do right now is sit and feel helpless and think about the incredible bravery of people like my aunt.