How "not" to spend a lovely Sunday!

Night before last as I was headed to bed, I stumbled as I was passing through the dining/music/miscellaneous storage room and rapped my left foot's little toe hard against my organ's solid wood bench.
My foot went one way but my little toe decided to do a split. I didn't notice immediately that it literally split, and the tear in between my little toe and its neighbor was bleeding like a stuck pig. Bright red was pooling up around my foot as my little toe stood out at a 90º angle. I limped over to grab a hand full of paper towels and managed to make it to the bathroom, where I was able to prop my left foot on the toilet seat allowing the blood to drip into the bowl instead of continuing to pool on the floor.

Luckily, my emergency first aid supplies are kept in an over the toilet cabinet, so I was well positioned to get what I needed. I drenched my left foot with hydrogen peroxide, then used some 4x4 sterile gauze to stop the blood flow long enough to place a folded 2x2 sterile gauze pad between my two toes (moving my little toe back into place) and wedged it down to the torn slit. I put some clean 4x4's on the top and bottom of my foot and then wrapped a short length of elastic bandage. That ended my Friday evening.

Saturday I thought about going to the VA Hospital Emergency Room (a 21 mile dive), but dithered around and decided to wait until Sunday when traffic wouldn't be as bad. I found out this morning that a blizzard was expected to hit Chicago area around 4pm so off I went after some pain meds had kicked in. I felt rather silly about going an ER for a "stubbed toe," but it's good that I did. X-Rays showed that the second joint of my little toe is broken. They cleaned the tear, bathed it in betadine, and re-bandaged it. I have to go to the podiatry clinic next Thursday so they can do a follow up, and adjust my treatment if necessary.

So for the next ten days I have to bathe my wound with betadine, check for any excessive swelling, redness, or pus coming from the wound. Anti-biotics 4x/day as well. I am also clunking around in a special shoe until it's all healed up since I can't get my regular orthopedic shoe on my left foot.

Ouch ! You have my sympathy. I've done the little toe split, but thank goodness never that bad. I think I did break something last time though. It was sore for a month.
Sue

No fun indeed. This summer when handing off luggage my left little finger was pinched in the handle. That snapped the last phalange in cleanly in two. That led to a surgery and weeks of healing. I even had physical therapy (imagine exercising a pinky finger).

However, the most interesting piece of your tale is the presence of an organ. Who plays?

I feel for you!
My lovely wife stubbed her pinky-toe on/in a milk crate, just before I went to work one night. I took her to the ER, but they couldn't get it reset so it could heal properly. Darn interns... :banghead:

We went to a podiatrist with the same first name as me, and he laid his hand on her foot and POP! It was right back where it belonged. THAT is a good podiatrist!
And she had to wear the shoe-of-shame for a month or two, but it healed up nice and straight, just as it used to be. Nearly as good as new :encouragement:

Now, it just requires some attention, like when a strong weather system rolls through. Needs plenty of massaging, but I don't mind at all.

I wish you all the best, N4GIX. Just be ready for the bad-weather blues :biggrin-new:
Pat☺

Bet I know who will buy himself a new, sturdy pair of bedroom slippers to wear from now on!:encouragement: Me, I just need catcher's shin guards:very_drunk:

Ouch...sorry to hear that Bill. That's going to hurt for quite a few days. Good excuse to elevate it and do something to take your mind from the ache.

A bit off topic, but what kind of organ do you own? I started on the Hammond B3 when I was 7, moved up to a huge Wurlitzer Theater (Electric) when I was a teen, then the X-66 Hammond when I was in my twenties. Moved over to piano about then, but now have a Yamaha Motif-8 which, by the way has a good array of Hammond sounds. Lacks a real Leslie, but the action is very close to the Hammond, so it feels right at least.

:very_drunk:

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Originally Posted by mfitch

No fun indeed. This summer when handing off luggage my left little finger was pinched in the handle. That snapped the last phalange in cleanly in two. That led to a surgery and weeks of healing. I even had physical therapy (imagine exercising a pinky finger).

However, the most interesting piece of your tale is the presence of an organ. Who plays?

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Thanks. I admire anyone who can spell "phalange", much less know what it is! :encouragement:

I studied in my early youth with the ambition of becoming a concert organist, and had even won a full-ride scholarship to Julliard. See: https://www.juilliard.edu/music/instruments/organ

Unfortunately for me, while working as a paramedic, an attack with a butcher knife by a patient who'd attempted suicide, I nearly lost the middle, ring and pinkie phalanges on my right (dominant) hand. Although a very gifted surgeon manage to reattach my mangled fingers, I lost about 50% of my mobility, as well as my dreamed of career. It took me nearly 40 years of 4 hours/day practice to win back enough dexterity to play adequately again, but I'll never be as good as I once was. I do get invited to perform three or four times per year both in Indiana and Illinois. It helps to pay the bills at least! :biggrin-new:

When the surgeon checked up on me after I awoke from the anesthesia, I asked him if he thought I be able to play the organ. He looked at me curiously with a huge smile and replied, "Oh no! You aren't going to make me look foolish with that old joke!"

I wasn't going to embarrass him so I simply kept quite. My late brother though nearly had him in tears when he told the doctor my actual background and ambitions. He turned beet red and tried to stammer out an apology. I stopped him and told him not to worry as I wasn't offended, but just wanted to know the truth about my prognosis. His prediction of 95% muscular and 40% nerve recovery was pretty much backward, as I have 100% nerve recovery but only about 40% (now closer to 80%) muscular.

PS, if you like Bach, here is me playing the Dorian Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538
Warning: very loud, so lower your volume.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r6c1ft2fnh...20538.mp3?dl=0 :encouragement:

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Originally Posted by ********

Ouch...sorry to hear that Bill. That's going to hurt for quite a few days. Good excuse to elevate it and do something to take your mind from the ache.

A bit off topic, but what kind of organ do you own? I started on the Hammond B3 when I was 7, moved up to a huge Wurlitzer Theater (Electric) when I was a teen, then the X-66 Hammond when I was in my twenties. Moved over to piano about then, but now have a Yamaha Motif-8 which, by the way has a good array of Hammond sounds. Lacks a real Leslie, but the action is very close to the Hammond, so it feels right at least.

:very_drunk:

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Thanks! It's a bit difficult however to elevate one's foot whilst sitting at the computer keyboard. That's why I take a "happy pill" twice per day. Hydrocodone works a treat! :loyal:

I have a highly customized Conn 651, 3 manual with full pedalboard. I say "highly customized" because about twenty years ago it was given to me! I yanked all of the guts from it aside from the amplifiers and speakers.

I replaced the guts in it with four Pentium 4 computers, and "midified" the keyboard and pedalboard. I run Hauptwerk (see: https://www.hauptwerk.com/support/midi-hardware/ ) and can load custom sound fonts to recreate many, many different pipe organs from around the world.

The reason for the "antique P4's" is because the newer computers won't support the four SoundBlaster Live! Gold sound cards!

https://puu.sh/C8i6P.png

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Originally Posted by n4gix

Thanks! It's a bit difficult however to elevate one's foot whilst sitting at the computer keyboard. That's why I take a "happy pill" twice per day. Hydrocodone works a treat! :loyal:

I have a highly customized Conn 651, 3 manual with full pedalboard. I say "highly customized" because about twenty years ago it was given to me! I yanked all of the guts from it aside from the amplifiers and speakers.

I replaced the guts in it with four Pentium 4 computers, and "midified" the keyboard and pedalboard. I run Hauptwerk (see: https://www.hauptwerk.com/support/midi-hardware/ ) and can load custom sound fonts to recreate many, many different pipe organs from around the world.

The reason for the "antique P4's" is because the newer computers won't support the four SoundBlaster Live! Gold sound cards!

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Impressive would not do justice to the work you have put in to your instrument. Anyone who can manage complex midi software and develop simulator aircraft has my reverence. I've wanted to go down the rabbit hole and get serious about composing/mixing on the Motif, but that is a serious learning curve. I'm not sure the brain cell could handle it.


When my dad retired he bought a 100 year old movie theater in Pennsylvania. The theater came with the original four rank pipe organ, which my dad had professionally restored. When the theater restoration was completed I went back and had a couple days trying to learn my way around the organ and recall some of the Gus Farney pieces I learned in my teens. I didn't do too badly, but I had learned all of those pieces by ear and didn't have any sheet music to refer back to.

There is nothing quite like sitting in an empty auditorium with all of that sonic HP to draw upon. I quite liked your Dorian Toccata and Fugue. Thank you for posting that.

You are most welcome, and many thanks for the kind compliments! :listening_headphone

Speaking of Leslie, I forgot to mention that along with the Conn console, I was also given two 15" speakers in huge and very solid wood cabinets, and a genuine mechanical Leslie speaker cabinet with separate 600 watt amplifier. I originally had the organ in my library room, but had to relocate it to my dining/music room because when I let it rip at full volume my neighbor was somewhat annoyed. It rattled things on his living room wall.

In its new location, there is both an alley and an empty lot on that side of the house, so there's no one to disturb... :bump:

Just for fun, here is a jazzed up version of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" using one of my custom soundfonts, which is as close to a "Hammond sound" I can get:

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Public/...lkjazzed_2.mp3

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Originally Posted by n4gix

You are most welcome, and many thanks for the kind compliments! :listening_headphone

Speaking of Leslie, I forgot to mention that along with the Conn console, I was also given two 15" speakers in huge and very solid wood cabinets, and a genuine mechanical Leslie speaker cabinet with separate 600 watt amplifier. I originally had the organ in my library room, but had to relocate it to my dining/music room because when I let it rip at full volume my neighbor was somewhat annoyed. It rattled things on his living room wall.

In its new location, there is both an alley and an empty lot on that side of the house, so there's no one to disturb... :bump:

Just for fun, here is a jazzed up version of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" using one of my custom soundfonts, which is as close to a "Hammond sound" I can get:

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Public/...lkjazzed_2.mp3

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Hey Bill, I tried the link and got a file doesn't exist. Might be on my end. Headphones are at the ready.

Me too. Loved the Tocata, wanted more!
Sue

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Originally Posted by ********

Hey Bill, I tried the link and got a file doesn't exist. Might be on my end. Headphones are at the ready.

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Hm, I just tried and it worked.

Try this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/preview/Publ...?role=personal

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Originally Posted by Penzoil3

Me too. Loved the Tocata, wanted more!
Sue

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Trumpet Fanfair

https://www.dropbox.com/preview/Publ...?role=personal

Hi, Bill!

This is what I am getting from your dropbox link.

Attachment 65118 Sorry to have to make you click on the pic!

Try these links:
Trumpet Fanfair:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rl37iln735...nfare.mp3?dl=0

Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Jazzed up version)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e8g2faiwh0...zed_2.mp3?dl=0

Menuet from Suite Gothique

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbcp9e7iol...thiqu.mp3?dl=0

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Originally Posted by n4gix

Try these links:
Trumpet Fanfair:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rl37iln735...nfare.mp3?dl=0

Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Jazzed up version)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e8g2faiwh0...zed_2.mp3?dl=0

Menuet from Suite Gothique

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbcp9e7iol...thiqu.mp3?dl=0

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Yes Sir...these links are good.

Anecdote: I woke up at 02:00 today with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor playing in my head. Got up and did some poly bending. :encouragement:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by n4gix

Try these links:
Trumpet Fanfair:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rl37iln735...nfare.mp3?dl=0

Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Jazzed up version)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e8g2faiwh0...zed_2.mp3?dl=0

Menuet from Suite Gothique

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbcp9e7iol...thiqu.mp3?dl=0

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About all I can play on organ is the first 14 seconds of what you see in this video (baseball music)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFR3S6jN0Ng

I do like the style of Booker T & MG's organ music (Time is tight my very favorite). Good ole' Memphis Music with Memphis style back beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbBcXvKvB08

EDIT: I changed the video. MGs were opening for CCR (you can see them waiting offstage.)
This is a longer version and was recorded live then for their album. A lot of smiles there.
Notice the Drummer Al Jackson as he takes a temp brake and then returns.
Looks like rosewood Strat (Steve Cropper) and Donald "Duck" Dunn - He passed May 2012.

Thanks for sharing. I too like Booker T &MG's music.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ********

Yes Sir...these links are good.

Anecdote: I woke up at 02:00 today with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor playing in my head. Got up and did some poly bending. :encouragement:

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You are old enough to recognize which TV program used the Trumpet Fanfair as their theme opening music... :adoration:

I really like the both the Trumpet Fanfair and Menuet because they give me a chance to use my Trumpet en Chamade soundfont, which includes a 32' pedal stop. The very last note of this rendition is a good example of the 32' trumpet.

Funnily enough I frequently play back both organ and orchestral music while either reading or lying in bed waiting for sleep...

...in full stereo mind you! :encouragement:

Those work ! Thanks, enjoying now.
Sue