far too much writing, far too many photos Sunday, November 04, 2001 I've been addicted to music since the age of four. I've played instruments, sung (admitting that some might wish to quibble with that), had musicians as friends and sweethearts. I've heard scads of jokes about musicians and musical instruments, but have never seen a collection of those jokes as extensive and far-reaching as the one an individual at MIT has put together. (An individual with way too much time on their hands.) Some examples: Q: What's the difference between a soprano and a terrorist? A: You can negotiate with a terrorist. Q: What's the difference between an alto and a tenor? A: Tenors don't have hair on their backs. Q: What's the definiton of "perfect pitch?" A: Throwing a viola into a dumpster without hitting the rim. Q: Why was the piano invented? A: So the musician would have a place to put his beer. Q: How many drummers does it take to change a lightbulb? a. Why? Oh, wow! Is it, like, dark, man? b. Only one, but he'll break ten bulbs before figuring out that they can't just be pushed in. c. Two: one to hold the bulb, and one to turn his throne (but only after they figure out that you have to turn the bulb). d. Twenty. One to hold the bulb, and nineteen to drink until the room spins. e. None. They have a machine to do that. ********* Sunday night in Madrid, a cool, damp November evening. Early tomorrow -- way, way, way too early tomorrow -- I catch a flight back to the States. Will be gone for a month, spending it in New England. I have deeply mixed feelings about this trip -- in part 'cause this is my first time back since June, in part 'cause this will be my first time in the States in its current atmosphere of, well, whatever it turns out to be. And other things. I'm letting go of an apartment I've had for 5-1/2 years, and a city -- Cambridge -- I've lived in (not counting the coming and going of the last 2, 2-1/2 years) since Feb. of '82. A long time, passing through several lifetimes in that nearly 20 years. People ask me whether I'll be staying on in Spain permanently, people ask what exactly it is I'm doing. Good questions, both of them. Wish I had good answers. I'm winging it. I'll find out what happens pretty much when you do. (Maybe a few hours earlier.) Right. Off to finish packing, then cop a few hours sleep. Entries here may be sporadic and shorter than normal during the next month. Count your blessings. rws 3:27 PM [+] BLATHERINGS August 2001 September 2001 October 2001 November 2001 December 2001 January 2002 February 2002 March 2002 April 2002 May 2002 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 June 2009 July 2009 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . MORE FOCUSED BLATHERINGS Travels: London '01 Pamplona Italy '03 U.K. '03 Sevilla Casablanca Stoke-on-Trent Barcelona Québec/Ottawa Boston/Lisbon/Madrid Italy '04 Montréal La Sierra Events: Madrid -- arrival 9/11 Emergency Room I Holidays 2001 Holidays 2002 Holidays 2003 Holidays 2004 Holidays 2005 A neighbor's passing Madrid -- March 11 bombings   and aftermath Emergency Room II Israeli friend/Madrid Marathon Madrid -- Royal Wedding The DELE exam GONE, a novel: Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 THE BASTARD CHILDREN OF JOE ROCCO, a novella: -- Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3 BURBANK SHRUGGED, a screenplay: -- Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3 -- Part 4 Short stories: Murphy's Wife Another Autumn La Queja de Una   Hermanastra Muy Conocida Autobiography -- Personal History -- Hormones On Parade -- Accidents, Random Mishaps,     Personal Problems .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . OTHER SOURCES OF WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT People/Weblogs: dooce foxvox fudge it fear not rebekka bookslut 802online idle words madhaiku wockerjabby grow-a-brain rebel market letting me be out and about kung fu grippe fanatical apathy baghdad burning wfuv's music blog kexp's music blog mimi smartypants between the miles just a hippie gypsy the impossible cool tomato can brushes vermont homestead sugar mountain farm Good Clean Fun: gizmodo futurismic postsecret dave barry human clock mcsweeney's spaceweather book-a-minute internet archive self-portrait day my cat hates you out of context quotes surrealist compliment   generator strindberg and helium Makin' Musical Whoopee: last fm stereo8 pandora soma fm .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . ABOUT RWS/CONTACT This page and all its contents copyright © 2001-2011 by runswithscissors unless otherwise noted. runswithscissors would like to thank everyone who's ever lived for everything they've ever done. 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