Concert Today ~ Last Week's Project

Today was the day that our community band performed for the church service at a local church. Not one song - eight songs! We basically performed a 45 minute sacred concert. OK. An hour counting two saxaphone duets, a flute solo and a vocal solo that filled out the program.

The really big news is that I got to play my new clarinet for the concert. I have been unable to put the clarinet together or play it for about 3 weeks as it was too dry to assemble safely. The rings were loose on the bell - both ends, and the left C key wouldn't play because the wood had shrunken to the point it wouldn't re-open after being used. The wood was in great danger of splitting.

I contacted my clarinet expert/repairman who warned me to get some humidity into it (see the previous post). Many have been the efforts to get enough moisture into it:

1. A moist paper towel in a small cup
2. Large humidor
3. 2 small humidors
4. And finally a moist paper towel right in the bell of the instrument inside the case, is what did the trick (that is what I did in academy and college - low tech but effective).

Clarinet Humidifiers

As you can see it took a lot to tighten up those rings but it was worth the effort as that clarinet really does sound very good.

Last weekend's project was to reinforce the bunk beds so they will be safe for our grandchildren. It only took two (of the requisite three) trips to the hardware store to finish the project.

Reinforced Bunk Beds

1. The top and bottoms bunks are held together with bracing strips at each corner.
2. The back side and rear of the bunks are cross-braced.
3. The exposed side of the top bunk has a built-in bed rail/board to prevent children from falling out of bed.

That bed board/rail is a bit unique for being screwed at the bottom and brace at both ends at the top with U-bolts.

We have bought two new mattresses - one moderate priced "memory foam" with a box "spring" and frame that can be taken to use in a college apartment, if need be, and the other a less expensive and more typical bunk bed foam mattress of the $100 variety. We already had two Sealy Posturpedic mattresses, so we should now be set for the near future.