Trouble on the Homefront

The condo didn't work out.  My one or two readers will remember that Keith and I were waiting on a decision by the seller on whether to agree to an inspection of the exterior of the condo by a structural engineer to determine if repair of the mortar between the bricks was necessary.  The seller refused and has signed a release form allowing us to have our good faith deposit back.  Oh well.

We've been looking at rentals, and we pounced on a beautiful townhome in the Palisades.  It's billed as two bedroom, but there is space for a third.  There are two full baths and two half baths.  It has a one car garage, with room in the driveway for a second car.  The kitchen is big and fairly modern, with a gas stove and double oven.  The kitchen leads to a separate dining room, and off from the dining room is a deck and really cute back yard.  There is a den, which the owner uses as an office currently.  The best feature is the fourth floor bedroom.  I plan to use it as a studio.  A studio!  With skylights!  We offered more than the asking price and have filled out an application.  We'll hear in the next couple of days.  I must get out of this current broomcloset of a condo!

My first two days back to work since Footsurgerygate have been light and uneventful.  I've been working half days and plan to continue that throughout the week.  I am on call this Sunday, which I hope is slow, for my foot's sake.  I overdid it today and was certainly reminded of my recent surgery by a dull ache at the top of my defective appendage, as if wearing a cumbersome metal boot isn't reminder enough.  

My musical progress is progressing progressively.  Here's an update:

Long tones (Moyse) - I've been paying attention not only to the quality of my sound, but also to whether I can begin each note clearly and in tune, maintain a steady and clear steady and clear sound, and release the sound without a change in pitch.  The tuner is helping tremendously here.  

Harmonics (Wye) - I'm just waiting on being able to hit the fifth harmonic of low Eb.  It's gonna happen, I can feel it.

Scales (T and G) - EJ 1 and 2, fourth page, mezzo forte, articulation 6, 76 beats per minute, two octaves; EJ 4, Eb Major through C# minor, mezzo forte, articulation 6, 76 beats per minute.

Etude (Cavally) - 16th study in the book, which is the first of 12 studies by Kohler.  This one is fun, and the other 11 look like they are as well, although they seem to become long and tiring.  But isn't at least one of the points of practicing etudes developing endurance?

Orchestra excerpt (Baxtresser) - Rossini, William Tell.

Solo work - JSB Partita in A minor.  Getting the Bourrée Anglaise under my fingers.  After that, I must put the piece to rest and start on something else (Faure Fantasie)

My dear reader will recall that my new flute has arrived.  Ms. Trimber is en route home from Germany currently and will call when she arrives.  I really need for her to agree to delay payment for the flute until May 1, since it wasn't supposed to be ready until then anyway.  I hope she accepts and allows me to have the flute in the meantime.  Until then, the Trevor James she's loaned to me sounds pretty good with my Hammig headjoint, if I do say so myself.

And here's a picture of the living room of the home we're hopint the rent.  Nice, yes?