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It's so nice to be back. I have a nice shiny new right shoulder and I'm finally reintroducing myself to my instruments. Phoebe was first, tonight. I felt some muscles I haven't used for a while!
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I've had surgery on both thumbs (once each, at the joint where they join the wrist), and several shoulder surgeries on both sides. Doctors are miracle workers. Just be sure, if you ever have a hand...

I've missed all of you people! At the end of the month, I'm getting a new shoulder. Once I've recovered from that project I hope to resume spending time with my instruments--and my instrument-forum...

Great job, Keith! Once one sees the system to it, or the logic behind it, I think it really clicks. My first instrument was violin and once I started goofing around with fretted strings it occurred...

It sounds as if your mandola engages you enough that you will enjoy spending time with her, Sue. I suspect your fluency will improve quickly. Enjoy!

Well, I would need one of those caps, except my sister gave me a stormtrooper LED headlamp for my birthday. :cool:

Don Julin has two self-paced video courses for octave mandolin available on his site, Mandolins Heal the World. It's via subscription, monthly or annual. He offers a 7-day trial period before you...

I have found a series of songbooks that I really enjoy, so I wanted to share in case anybody here might also like 'em.

It's a Hal Leonard series called "Strum Together." The volume I have in hand...

She's beautiful, Sue. Just gorgeous.

I've been needing a good cry over this week's horrors. That comment did the trick. Thanks, Louise. (I mean that sincerely. It's like my sorrow and everything was stuck in my throat.)

You've gotten lots of great advice here from people much better qualified to offer it than I. I would add just one thing, especially as you're planning to shop as a beginner, or relative beginner, to...

Why do you suppose I keep that list of names handy here in my Mandolin Cafe signature?

I have restored my vintage spouse to the list. I didn't know that his absence had been noted. Were he to no longer be here with me, I'm sure I would be such a blubbering mess that you could hear me...

I'm pretty sure my beloved husband knows better than to ask me to get rid of anybody.

Raise your hand if when you made your last instrument purchase, you promised your spouse you would not buy another one until 2023.

I don't see any hands--hold 'em up high! Is it really just me? ...

I'm just sticking my nose in to wish our friends who are celebrating Hanukkah a happy one!

Also, I haven't ghosted all y'all.

Update: Ayden is essentially all healed up, busy digging in to his senior year in high school. I offer heartfelt thanks to all of you who offered prayer and good thoughts following his accident.
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Here's one on eBay. It isn't blue, but it does have a nifty dragon. https://www.ebay.com/itm/372489297197?hash=item56ba179d2d:g:qfQAAOSwGoBb28wA

Sue, I was thinking I might call her Sally. What do you think of Sally? Everybody deserves a name!

Well, I am now the proud (and more than a little surprised) owner of an acoustic guitar. I'm not sure where I picked up the guitar bug, but it sure did bite. I'm having fun with the gigantic beastie,...

Bob,
These octaves are beautiful. Just gorgeous.

Wishing you a quick, complete, and comfortable recovery from a perfectly successful procedure. And praying for same.

I don't (but then, I don't have a guitar, either). It looks like it could do service holding spare strings, a winder and/or nippers, a polishing cloth? I'm fond of boxes to keep stuff in, so if those...

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills, which far exceed my own. I am reading, studying photos, and perhaps driving my woodworking husband a little crazy as I learn. I'm long on enthusiasm...

Was it a box like this one?...