Well How About That.

Got an email yesterday from the College Book Art Association.  Back in August I submitted sum-of-parts to their Juried Show, which will be up at their annual conference this coming January.  Turns out, it got in, and also won an award -- the Best Crafted Student Work Award.  Hey!  But also, huh?  I wrote them immediately to make sure it wasn't a mistake; I only got the student membership because I am a student, not because I am a Student.  (I know that makes sense.)  I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm a professional!  I just happen to be getting a Master's degree right now.  (It's nothing.  I play the bass all day.  And learn how to play the harpsichord.  And about fugue structure.  In German.)  Anyway, they wrote me back and said Of course they knew it was me, and since I am technically a student right now I totally qualify for/deserve the award.  I guess I don't really understand the parameters, I would reserve that award for people who are just starting out in the field, not "seasoned pros" or however I think of myself, but maybe it simply means, People Who Are In School.  For anything.  I feel fraudulent in the same way as I feel about getting a Master's in music after receiving my Bachelor's in studio art.  But whatever, man.  They've seen my CV.  I accept.  Oh yeah, the award is $100, plus a $400 travel grant to fly to Bloomington, Indiana in January and attend the conference.  I told the CBAA they can give that $400 to some real Student somewhere who otherwise wouldn't be able to make it. 

School is going fine.  In some classes, I feel pretty smart.  Yes, I Understand the structure of a Minuet written during the classical period.  In other classes, I feel super dumb.  No, I don't understand German.  No, really, I don't understand German.  OK, a little, oh, wait, nope.  Also, it seems like some people in this one class in particular (the one in German) are fresh from a bunch of other theory classes and so have answers that I'm not even prepared to look for.  But maybe if I had just a little more German.  I'll keep you updated.  Today was less awful, I kept interrupting the teacher to ask questions in English.  It seemed to help some of the other people around me, so I didn't feel bad.

I tied some frets on David's bass this week.  It was a bit trying.  I've mostly gotten it, and it seems pretty good so far, but my fingers were pretty raw for a day or so after.  Here are some arty shots of the frets.

pegbox.

 And, look at this nice day!  What would you guess the temperature to be out there?  50?  60?  70?  It could have been any of those, I thought.  Wrong again.  It was 31.  Holy Crap.  I didn't think it was allowed to be that cold when the sun was out.  Against the rules of nature, or something.  Alas, no.