First Cello Birthday

"I've been playing cello now for 11 months. On my birthday, the 27th, it’ll be a full year. So, what have I been doing for the past year?

Well. Let me tell you!

With my first cello, I learned how to tune first. When I got it, it wasn’t set up at all (for safe travelling). So, not knowing how to do any of it, I went to my first lesson with an unstrung foreign object that I had never heard. My instructor, Richard Frost, was NOT impressed with my cello, though he didn’t say anything about it - it was a good beginner’s cello - especially for someone who wasn’t sure if she was going to stick with it or not.

Professor Frost first had me learn open notes and told me to get some books, All for Strings theory and sheet music. I sounded horrid! Squeak and squall, sharp shreiks and hitting two strings at once. I felt so sorry for my Professor! He gave me practice to do with just the bow, at first. I thought he was a little nuts - the sound came from the cello strings, not the bow! Or so I thought. Ha!"

Fascinating insight into playing cello. Guess where she got the bow that turned her sound from unmusical to something that brings tears in a good way? Would you believe, eBay? Good going!

Chess Man's Birthday

Sue's space: Birthday Day: "January 31
Birthday Day
Today's was hubby's BD. Steak pie was on the menu as well of BD cake. He insisted on Spice Cake, but heck it was his birthday so he has a right to choose. Dinner went well we had friends to dinner then we played a couple games of cards. He also liked his birthday gifts. The girls and I gave him a coke popcorn tin as well as a Coke cookie jar we also gave him an Elvis tin. His parents mailed him a Coke chess board with I just know he loves. And from friends he received a gift certificate to a games store. I think all in all he had a good day."


I didn't even know there was a Coke chess board. Here's a pic, courtesy of www.chessusa.com. Happy birthday, fella!

Birthday Card Memory Trigger

Blog: "32 Birthday Cards

This past Saturday was my friend, Margaret’s birthday. I mailed her a card, the 32nd birthday card I’ve given her. My friendship with Margaret is the longest standing friendship I have. We met when we were pre-school age.

My backyard was sort of kitty-corner from Margaret’s, so we saw a lot of each other in those days when kids could roam a neighborhood, play at someone’s house for hours without parental arrangement, and be out til dark. I have many memories of playing at her house and having her over to mine as well as playing in groups with other kids.

Over email this week, Margaret reminded me of when we made “fuzzies”. (I don’t know if anyone out there remembers that storybook about warm fuzzies and cold pricklies – a good story.) We would make fuzzies out of yarn and some from pom-poms on the back of footie socks.

I also remember collecting and looking at stationery with Margaret, those tri-fold cards that you’d seal with a sticker that matched the theme of the stationery. I remember one of us had a set of strawberry themed stationery and matching red strawberry stickers. Another set of cards had little mice and stickers that looked like cheese wedges. "


A look down memory lane upon sending a life-long friend yet another birthday card. Great stuff!

110-Year-Old Birthday Story

Gnomist: Super-Centenarian: "Super-Centenarian

Several days have now passed since my great-grandfather’s one hundred and tenth birthday. The attention from local and national news outlets has now subsided from his ascent into super-centenarian-hood. Today I will take him back to Skye Acres retirement home, where he will spend the remainder of his days.

I arrive early to his hotel room and begin to help him pack his belongings. My grandfather sits on the bed, eyeing me suspiciously as I carefully place the artifacts of his life in the suitcase. I take a moment and stop. Marveling at how, after one hundred and ten years, a man’s entire worldly self can be packed into such a small space. I look up at my grandfather, and he doesn’t notice my hesitation. His eyes have wandered to the window. He focuses on the birds, the freedom of their flight. I see his eyes darting to follow the frenzied path of the squirrels. Finally, he looks out over the hills to see the sun rising.

“39,160,” my grandfather says.

“What does that mean?”

“The gentleman at the television station said that to me on my birthday. He said that’s how many sunrises I had the opportunity to see in my life.” My grandfather pauses and his eyes focus hard."


Here's a good birthday story I really enjoyed reading. Whether it's fact or fiction, I don't know.