ProfessorTomoe

My sinuses absolutely refuse to clear up. I don't think I'm infected anymore, just clogged as all hell. I've tried sudafed pills, antihistamine sprays, saline mists, and the only thing that works is Afrin spray, but I can't take that for more than 3 days at a time. I'm on a forced break from it now since I've already taken it for 3 straight days. I'm currently on Mucinex-D, and it's not working. Whatever is in the air around here is driving me farking insane.

I'm done with the fourth movement of the Beethoven piano sonata. Now, if I can just get myself well enough to get over to the big Music Computer again so I can enter the MIDI files into Dorico. In the meanwhile, I'm toying with another Woodwind Quartet, this one original. Problem is, I'm not sure if I'm writing a first movement or a third movement. Classical music's weird that way, at least the modern stuff is. Did anyone mess around with the UIL PML? If you did, what did you think?

I know from whence you speak. This has solved that particular problem for me.

I recommend the following: https://www.vitacost.com/codeage-sbo-probiotics-100-billion-cfu-vegan-multi-strain-soil-based-prebiotics

Now that is funny.

I'm using that for my laptop right now. Problem with the big Music Computer is that I've got a subwoofer under my desk, so I can't fit a reclining chair under the desk.

I am working on another piece, this time an arrangement for Woodwind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon). I'm arranging Beethoven's Piano Sonata #18 in Eb Major, Op.31, No.3. If that title looks familiar, it's because I've arranged the 3rd movement for brass choir before (see YouTube link below). This time I'm going for broke: I'm arranging all four movements, and mister, I can tell you that this is going to be a bitch to play, especially for the bassoon part. I'm finished with the first three movements and only have the last movement left to arrange in Cakewalk, then I need to load it into a notation program like Dorico to get the dynamics, articulations, tempo markings, and so on put into the piece. Easier said than done. I chose a Woodwind Quartet for an ulterior motive. I want to get this arrangement onto something called the Texas University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List, or PML for short. The PML governs what students in Texas (and by common adoption, several other states) can perform for band, orchestra, and choir music contests, both region-wide and at the state level. They have categories for everything from Band Ensemble to Violin solo to Flute Trio. Even choral Madrigal ensembles are included. I chose to write for a Woodwind Quartet - and for a difficult class as well - because there is a current lack of repertoire for that category (only 42 titles in the Grade 1 category, the toughest of all). I reckon that a) they could use some more music in the category, and b] the dearth of entries improves my chances of getting onto the list. (I'm not shooting for the low bar, if that's what you're thinking - remember that I've also written two Woodwind Quintets, a vastly more popular category.) If you'd like to browse the PML, go here: https://www.uiltexas.org/pml/ . (Keep in mind that, while grade 1 is the toughest for all of the small ensembles like quartets and quintets, the classification is backward for the large ensembles like Band Ensemble, String Orchestra, and Full Orchestra: there, grade 5 is the toughest, and grade 1 is the easiest.) I've got some time to kill until the next selection period takes place, which won't be until 2025. No big rush, thankfully. Here's a link to my arrangement of the 3rd Movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ElhsuqXx5I (for some reason, it comes out sounding a half-step sharp) Here's a link to a piano performance of the whole thing:

For the first time in almost a month, I am no longer on antibiotics. Yay. Let's see if I can stay that way. I haven't been posting my weight because, frankly, I haven't been weighing myself lately. My weight has been steady around 314-316 for the past couple of weeks. I just have to make sure I stay on top of my Bumex, don't eat any extraneous salt, and keep my legs elevated all the time. The big downside is that I can't get up to go to use my big Music Computer yet, since I can't work out a way to budget my "unelevated" time on it. Sigh.

A small bowl of lingonberries whilst I catch up on Facebook. Sanniti brand lingonberries - something new off of Amazon. More fruit than the other brands. A nice change of pace. I might make it my steady brand from now on. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C579HL6S

What did the drummer name his twin girls? Anna One, Anna Two

That's what got Richard Pryor in trouble in one of the Superman movies.

Yeah, his troops were known to blast off a few in the vicinity of the Sphinx.

Anyone? Bueller? Anyone???

Panty

How dare. Seriously, thank you for listening. Anyone else?

For this forum only, please do not share: Someone loaded the MIDI file into a notation program, added a few (not all) slurs, and rendered it out to an MP3. So, here's the woodwind quintet #2 in mp3 format: https://we.tl/t-dDeE11LGbD Should sound much better. Please comment. Thanks!

Third panel is priceless

I have finished a piece for Woodwind Quintet, and I'm looking for feedback on it! If you're willing to listen through a MIDI file (and possibly read through a *very* rudimentary PDF score), please download the ZIP file at the following link: https://we.tl/t-jVQiYz0zkv There's a readme file in the archive with what you need to know to get started. Just ignore the bits about the Doomworld forum - either reply here, or send me an e-mail at dljcomments AT lbjackson DOT com with your critique. I'm looking forward to what you have to say!

I've ordered a study score for this so I can...you know...study...the score...anyway, I'm trying to write a woodwind quintet of my own, and I'm going to study Francaix's methods and techniques for scoring his quintet. Turns out I picked a doozy to study.

***The Edema Chronicles for July 2, 2023 Today's weight, taken at around 12:35 p.m., was 311 lbs. We seem to have broken through a threshold.

***The Edema Chronicles for June 30, 2023 Today's weight, taken at around 2:35 a.m., was 314 lbs. I was supposed to have foot surgery yesterday. It got cancelled due to an upper respiratory infection. Bleh. I've been on antibiotics for a week now, and I'm still sick. Going back to the doctor today for something different.

***The Edema Chronicles for June 27, 2023 Today's weight, taken at around 2:05 a.m., was 313 lbs. Down, down she goes, where she stops, nobody knows...

I've heard that crackers work wonders for migraines. Specifically, a crab cracker, in about the 6 to 8 pound range.

***The Edema Chronicles for June 25, 2023 Today's weight, taken at around 1:55 p.m., was 315 lbs. Pissing like a racehorse every time I stand up seems to help my weight a bit.

***The Edema Chronicles for June 24, 2023 Today's weight, taken at around 5:35 a.m., was 316 lbs. Sorry, but I've been sick with an upper respiratory infection again. Saw the doctor yesterday and got more Augmentin, plus some phenergan DM cough syrup. I caught my illness from Mrs. Prof - she's been sick going on 3 weeks now. Hers turned into bronchitis.