Inside My Velvet Rope

Volusia has saddlebags (hips)!





We took Volusia out on the highway today for about 60 miles. It was wonderful to have saddlebags to carry the chain and cover, so we wouldn't have to run them upstairs before leaving on our ride. And I happily put my purse into the saddlebags, instead of wearing it draped across my chest for the ride. The bags fit the bike's style very well. We're quite pleased.

Next up, a windshield!

At the start of our ride we stopped at Sam Ash, where I picked up both a shoulder rest for my violin and a job application. I'll walk my application over there tomorrow and see what comes of it.

The shoulder rest is a godsend! For my entire musical life, I have not been comfortable holding the violin. I could never understand how anyone could put the violin on their shoulder without it sagging; mine always sagged, and no amount of clamping (cramping) down with my chin would keep the violin in place. I snapped the shoulder rest on this afternoon, and presto: no more violin sagging! No more cramping fingers trying to hold the violin with the same fingers I need to play the notes! No more sagging wrist in an attempt to keep the instrument in place! My grasp is entirely comfortable and natural, as if by magic. Who knew all it would take was $10?

Since I am rusty with the finger placement, I've taped the first, third, and fourth finger positions on the fingerboard. This week I intend to play a little every day to begin building my finger strength back up. It helps that I'll be at home alone; I can work on playing with confidence without having an audience, too. :-) But T says I don't sound bad; I practiced the first eight measures of Canon in D, and she likes it.