Do I want a Picture of a Bass on my Blog?

Ahhhhhh.....NO. I think not.

I was speaking with Ed Betts awhile ago. He was encouraging me to write another blog and saying that I must have lots of material as it's been a while. While we were discussing this point, my apple pie was crisping slightly black around the edges. Nice chatting with you though, Ed. And I knocked the black part off into the garbage so no one will ever know.

Speaking of 'crisp', I was looking at a website earlier today scrounging around for a new DVD to buy for Christmas. I can't tell you the artist; that part didn't stay in my head, but I do recall their description of the instructions used in the DVD. They used words like "sinewy slides", "crisp pull offs", "powerful hammer ons", and "locked-in right hand patterns". Sounds painful. I gotta run right out and get me one of those. I saw one that did catch my eye entitled "Splitting the Licks"... at first I thought it was about ice cream, but to my dismay, more banjo. My personal favourite and a winner for sure is "Banjo Set-Up and Maintenance" where those interested can learn to disassemble and reassemble their 5 string banjo. Pardon me, I can't hear you for the snoring. I betcha you want that one, don't you Mikey?

I was looking over Michael's shoulder recently as he was looking at the banjo hangout communication area...I can't think of the right term for it...and I read that someone had used the acronym "FMB". I asked my resident expert what that stood for and he said "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". Acronyms can be a lot of fun, I think. Perhaps we need to add to the glossary of terms for all things Bluegrass:

FMB = Foggy Mountain Breakdown
FLB = Fat Lazy...Buzzard
FSB = Five String Banjo

Now, let's use these in a sentence.

My Fat Lazy Buzzard was attempting yet again to play Foggy Mountain Breakdown on his Five String Banjo.

OR

My FLB was attempting yet again to play FMB on his FSB.

Much shorter and to the point, don't you agree?

Apparently we are soon to acquire a bass, hence the title for this blog. I don't mean a fish either. When I asked Michael where exactly he was planning on putting this new, quite large, toy, he said "In the living room" to which I replied that I didn't think there was room. Michael said that something would have to go and then he said that he's going to miss me. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to feel threatened by that, but I will say that between the drums, two electric guitars, two banjos, two acoustic guitars, and the soon to arrive bass, I'm feeling a little crowded out, and deafened by it all. I could move into say, a junkyard in full blown demolition mode, and have more peace and quiet.

Oh, and I did see one other DVD that made me laugh - it was named something about Picking in a Parking Lot but now I can't find it. Too bad, I say.

I'll write again soon, Ed. Promise !!