Kishi,

Thats why I want to go teach and play in southeast Asia when it starts to get cold here, gettin too old for winter

I do agree that, to a certian point, the type of instrument does matter, but I have found that, for myself personally, I can play on something the repairman has given up on and I can still hear what could be called music! (Honestly, it's true, one of the piccolos I use during summer marching band has been deemed "junk" by the local repairman. I just screw whatever falls off back on!)

I don't tinker. I am more of a chemist, if I need to mess around with something. HCL and sodium bicarbonate are facinating to me if I need to do something hands on. I don't like to take apart instruments because it feels to me like I am taking apart something that shouldn't be taken apart. It's like the flute is missing it's clothes or arms or something when I have to take something off to fix and then put it back on. I don't know anything technical about repairs because I don't like doing them! If I controlled the universe, the first thing to go would be bad instruments and music facilities (in the musical universe, that is... for the real world, I would have much different plans! )

I love to conduct. I love meeting conductors. Some of my absolute idols are conductors and band directors, ect... I was taught that if you play on the best instrument, you are going to be the best, but my beginner flute was an ancient Artley that the director couldn't get a sound out of, but what I played beautifully on! (If I say so myself!)

I have been the type of person to go with what I feel and think other than what people tell me. I'll listen, but I don't obey half the time! If I think I can make music, then, even if I have to play on an old jug, I'll make music! To me, the actual flute doesn't matter so much as what the musician can get out of it, no matter what it is!

(Sorry for the little speech... I am in a mood, I suppose!)

No problem...I realize we all have different opinions on these types of things, and I enjoy hearing from people with ideas other than my own. It keeps things interesting.

Aaah the southern hemisphere- so topsy turvy

Having said that, despite it being nearly June, it's pouring outside. Good old Blighty.

Stupid rain!! And the sunny patches in between make it all the more annoying. Ruined bbq and bouncy castle plans this afternoon! Still, summer was ok here last summer... British summer is just a bit unpredictable I suppose. But then technically it is still spring!

Well, it's already pretty much in the triple digits here (over 100 degrees fahrenheit,which I think is somewhere around 38 degrees Celsius). Rain? What in blazes is rain? We are soooo dry. We are in for a huge wildfire season here. Scary stuff. My air conditioning is already driving my elctric bill sky high. Next time we'll see temps under 100 will be late October.
I'd love to "head up the hill" (go to the mountains) for the summer, but alas, I don't have a cabin. Perhaps we'll tent it!!

Patrick - come here in the winter, it's gorgeous! But, I haven't a clue if you'd have the clientele you'd need for teaching.

Today is one of the first days it's stopped raining, actually, where I live! The weather now is just crazy! Winter is not a good season where I live... it's a little like that story that grandfathers like to tell: "When I went to school in the winter, I had to walk uphill, both ways, with no shoes, beating off grizzly bears and coyotes with my notebook... ect..." Only, we have bus service for the local schools here! Ha! I wish I could run off to a tropical island right after Christmas and not come back until June! (I still like a little bit of snow in the fall, though!)

I despise snow! I love the weather where I live because snow is a rarity here. I like it super warm like it is now. That is the only thing I am going to miss about the south when and if we move.

You despise snow, Kara! I can understand, though, why you would; why most people would, actually! Considering it snows more where I live than it doesn't snow, I should really not like it either! But, I am a melodramatic writer, you see! To me, snow is poetic and beautiful and can mean so many things (frostbite, for one!). Like I asked on my profile, "What does snow become when it melts?" Beware, it's a cheesy answer...

Yes, the last time when I was in snow I broke my ankle and three different spots. Ahh...good old NY when I used to live in the snow belt! That I can say I truly do not or will not ever miss. While a good portion of the people may not be the brightest where I live nor can you ever understand them, at least I like the weather. That is about it though!

Okay Celebrian, I'll bite...(or maybe I'm just being stupid )
What DOES snow become when it melts? Water? Slush? Wet? I didn't see the answer in your profile.

As far as player vs. instrument is concerned: Yesterday I briefly (3 minutes) swapped flutes with my teacher. My rented Yamaha 271 for her Aurumite Powell.
Her Powell felt AMAZING to play, and made my flute feel like a silverplated stick. BUT she still made my Yamaha sound infinitely better that I did her Powell...

As far as the summer is concerned, I'll be working normally for most of it, except for a 3 week holiday to Switzerland and Germany. I'm still debating whether to take my flute with me. I was away for a week last may, and I regreted not taking it, but I don't want to drive the family insane either, or take it and then find I don't get a chance to play.

I almost (but not quite) regret playing that Powell. I don't think my Yamaha will ever feel the same again, I'll update as soon as I get the cash, but it'll never be anything quite that fancy...

<Added>

I meant "upgrade" of course, not "update".

Snow becomes Spring, of course!

(I've had a few people say mud... that could be true, too, though!)

You didn't have to "bite" if you didn't want to... It's just a silly poetic thing that I read once that I absolutely love! I should maybe put the answer in my profile, though! Thanks for reminding me...

snow?
nope, no snowdays here.even in christmas season, it gets cold in here but we never had snowdays.awww.....
jaz wet and dry season.

----kishi