Reading: Analog, March 2005
Music: Gaelic Storm
TV/Movie: You Can Play the Fiddle instruction DVD
Link o' the Day: Gaelic Storm

I decided to shake the tree a bit regarding some long-outstanding responses to submissions sent in 2004. One result was a rejection slip on something that had been held for third-stage reviewing. I hope I didn't jostle the hand. Time to find another market for it. Some pieces seemed to simply be stuck at dead markets, so I found new markets to send them to. Sent out three today, and with today's rejection slip, will send out two tomorrow. Mayhaps over the weekend I can finish a little story I've been noodling with for a while.

* * *
On the music front, I can honestly say that I'm playing a better violin today than yesterday. Now mind you, that's like saying I can hold a gun and not shoot myself in the face three times out of five, but it's progress, and it's measurable. I got the fiddle to actually stay in tune. I can play the open strings just fine, and I can even play a few notes of a scale. What next? Morrison's Jig? A book and DVD I ordered came in today. It looks pretty straightforward. I ran through the DVD quickly to see how quickly the lessons progressed, and while they progress pretty far, it's obvious that it's only scratching the surface of all that goes into fiddle playing.

Poor Pretty Maggie. It's going to be a long time before I play anything close to well.

As for the new bodhran, it's growing on me. I was a little doubtful at first because it looks like the drum head is made of a synthetic material rather than the traditional goat skin. I took it out for a spin today, however, and have been fairly pleased with the results. I'm even starting to get the hang of controlling the pitch on that thing.

Progress indeed.

* * *
I'll go take a look at the bluelines tomorrow for the SFWA Bulletin, then that project will be done until it's time for the Nebula issue. Currently I'm working on over 200 photos for the upcoming Guy Williams book from Bearmanor Media. It looks like it's going to be a fun book, but it's going to be a pain to lay out. I can tell this already. Ah well. The funds go toward paying off the heating bill.

I've been given the back cover text for the first volume of the Twilight Zone book, Forgotten Gems. I expect I'll be mailing that to the printer this weekend.

* * *
Using a PDA to keep track of my writing notes has been working pretty well so far. I've been transfering my submission tracking notes to it as well, and have the addresses of most of my potential markets.

* * *
Today's link goes to Gaelic Storm's website, a one-stop place for everything you need to know about one of the hottest Irish bands around today. Most people have heard their music in the movie Titanic (I haven't seen it, but apparently they were the band down in steerage). From what I've heard of the pieces they played in that movie, it's only a very tiny portion of what they have to offer. Check it out.

Cheers!