#the problem is ok i really like when a playlist alternates perspectives right

[stabknives]

In good faith I cannot fucking put an o.livia r.odrigo song on the v/b playlist. That's gotta be an osha violation.

[wearethegladiators]

ANSWERING RECENT HEADCANONS AND RADOTING

Sacha using his fists to defend himself before his wand is a big ass mood

Remember when the rebels rescued Lily in the Excidium verse and she head butted one of them

Like I said they’re actually super alike!! Sacha’s the alternative version of Lily that managed to stay on the right path :’)

HE’S PROBABLY AFRAID OF BLOOD THE BBY

Gnnn now I can see a Peeta/Johanna-like relationship between him and Lily?? Like the “we’re very familiar with each other’s screams” part. I’m not ok wbu

Sacha as a cook I’m 100% here for it

Lily too started getting tattoos when she was caught for the first time and sent to the Ministry around her “registration number”!!!!! The feels

EDAN SPENT 5 YEARS IN JAIL WTH HOW IS THIS MAN STILL ALIVE GIVE HIM A MEDAL

Sacha and Lily escaping all the time always <3 The deatheaters must be so mad hihihihi

How old is actually Edan?? Wait he must have known Wyn from Hogwarts + she was a prefect as well

Sacha completing a muggle degree made me so emotional like?? It’s like he felt he didn’t completely fit in and :’( :’(

I like these plots of people not completely fitting in tho (Sacha, the Auderic, the Blackbirds, etc.) JK Rowling always made it seem like tout allait bien dans le meilleur des mondes and hm?? Not buying it you’re not even a democracy oy

Also Lily contacted the Order pretty early on so that they could help her hide her family. So she probably met with Edan wayyyy before Sacha (or like, they probably knew each other from Hogwarts, but not so much?? Lily was too busy trying to save Slytherin souls you know :’))

All Gryffindors are assertive and arrogant let’s face it (Wynona is I am EVERYONE IS)

 The whole Edan plotline is :’(((((((( I have no idea how Wyn would react to that but she’d definitely be involved. Wyn has always been independent and has never relied on anyone (before the accident at least), but I feel like Edan could have been the one she was confiding to about the shit she was struggling with. Kids and Sacha could always confide to her and count on her support; but she was the mother, the big sister, it was all one-way, except maybe with Edan. So she would care a hell lot

Also she cares so much about Sacha and this is so terrible for him like

It’s Wynona tho so she may try to confront Edan mdr, so the explosion plot wouldn’t be so unlikely hihi

Or maybe she’d be surprisingly caring?? Like that would be the thing to reactivate her soft spot

Also caring for Edan would be her awkward way of showing Sacha she still fucking cares for him

Siblings relationships will be the end of me I swear to god

  Running away!! I can totally picture a scene in which Nathan and Lily would be quiet, and it would be weird because they’re rarely just the two of them now, and one of them goes like “maybe we should just run away/maybe we should have ran when we still could”

Nathan thinking he’s too weak is a big no tho

I also have had this scene in mind FOR AGES and I need this to be canon??? Nathan and Lily. Sitting on a roof. (This was Excidium’s era yo, remember how they lived on a mf roof??? MDR) It’s all quiet. And Lily grabs Nathan’s hand. “I’m proud of you. I’m proud of us.” BIIIITCH I NEED EPISODE 2 OF THIS NATHAN NEEDS EPISODE 2 OF THIS

The frequency to which I rely on capital letters is becoming concerning

Tbh I just miss the Nathalily banter. I just want my girl to go like “you’re my family BITCH”

Remember in Excidium (sorry hihi) when they found each other after MONTHS and one of the first things she said was “yo you look like shit”??? #MyNathalily

(Also I always forget how hot Nathan actually is. Mdr and Lily is just like “oy ugly”)

(And yes!!!! How he used to FAIRE DES PUTAINS DE LABYRINTHE A LA SORTIE DE SON DORM what a bitch I love him) (I miss them as kids :’(((((()

(Most of their les Ames Mortes friends must be dead btw. Bonne ambiance)

(Once I had a dream where Kira was somehow coming back??? Which was cool because he was sort of Lily’s psychologist and that would GREATLY help rn)

Gnnn Lily would be like “You CAN’T let the McMillan run this thing” but at the same time she would not do anything about it?? Placing all the burden on his shoulders. I’m sorry Wyn and Lily are such shitty friends atm but they’re… so far gone, in a way :’(

It will get better tho!! LOVE IS MORE POWERFUL REMEMBER

Actually Lily and Nathan are facing the exact same problems mdr so they should see it eventually

Lily’s not a leader, OR at least she never meant to be one. Pls just let her be Nathan’s bras droit once again, I feel like they both need it rn

OR MAYBE THEY NEED TO RUN AWAY

Sorry

I’m just thinking so much about how Aron’s death must have affected their relationship. Like Aron was Nathan’s brother too tbh

I also thought Nathan’s connection to both fire and water was so interesting yoooo, especially because Lily is so much the incarnation of water to me (even tho she’s also very earthly and she’s, in a way, full of fire)

NATHAN ON A DRAGON’S BACK IS BOTH TERRIFYING AND SEXY AF

Remember the part where Wynona now has two fully grown dragons?? Just sayin

Nathan was actually quite dark on Les Ames Mortes mdr, I remember this whole dark mark storyline and holy shit

“He’s been TAMED and you CAN’T tame him he’s a wild animal” *slow claps even tho this may not be a very reassuring perspective*

 I feel so sorry for Nathan and Sacha!! (And Wyn and Lily mdr)

 OK I’M HAVING SO MUCH WYNONATHAN FEELS ATM

As I was writing the Blackbird scene I was like “this reminds me of something hmmm” and then I remembered Nathan’s story and!!!!

These bitches have so much in common they must laugh it off to pretend like it’s not serious business

I can so much picture Wyn bringing Nathan to the Ranch and him seeing the Thestrals and casually saying “it’s been so since [he] was a kid” “oh me too” “hahahahaha how fun”

Wyn making fun of Nathan’s patronus “hahahaha you’re so in love with me right” (bonus if Nathan does not know her last name yet and she goes “do you know who the fuck I am”)

I LOVE Ydria and you know who else would LOVE her?? Wynona. Yes. If she ever meets her tbh she’s gonna stan (poor Nathan mdr)

(Rick Yaxley already???? Wtf I didn’t know about that what a bitch wtf wtf wtf)

(btw quite canon that Wyn’s family has also been executed by deatheaters because they were becoming too much of a threat/were too out of control/were non-white so no one could understand them mdr)

Btw. The parallel between both their families in terms of integration to the pureblood scene is EVERYTHING. They were such powerful families and the others were such racist pieces of crap

The Blackbirds have never been fine politicians. When Blackbird Père figured out it would be nice to have allies on the pureblood scene he probably rushed to the Lestrange because 1) they’re scary af and 2) Corvus oculum corvi non eruit. I swear to God

When they could have been allied with the Oderikos I’M SORRY BUT

Btw chapter 3 is Wynona at one such pureblood gathering :’) and SORRY AGAIN but don’t tell me the table for discussing politics was not organized by “family importance”. The Big Seven, then the other British families, than the… non-white people :’) Also just saying that if the table is organized alphabetically that means that WYNONA’S SEAT WILL BE NEXT TO NATHAN’S MDRRRRRRR

Is this really how they’re gonna meet (cause tbh I’m here for it) (I even mention it briefly at the end hihi you’ll see) (I’m a foreshadowing queen y’know)

Just saying that if the Oderikos and the Blackbirds could have seen their resemblances… “I have a son you have a daughter we’ll join our houses…..” In a parallel universe Nathan and Wynona could be married just saying hein

Sorry but the association of these two houses sounds terrifying I like it

But do you know who are the most terrifying people of these families?? YDRIA AND THE AMERICAN BRANCH. WHAT IF THEY COME. BOTH OF THEM.

Can Wyn somehow figure out that Nathan has Native American blood pls this just needs to be addressed

Can they teach other “unorthodox magic/ways of burning things”???

(YDRIA AS DESCENDANTS OF GREEK GODS I’M DYING!!!!!!!!!)

(ODERIKOS MEN BEING CURSED!!!!!)

100% agree that Nathan and Wyn could burn the world AND each other up

Not directly related but you know my original plan was to have Wynona die in a massive suicide-bomb attack. Just like casually leaving Nathan’s bed in the middle of the night to blow herself up. I mean I don’t know what this is doing here but I just needed to say it

Omg yes they’re such soulmates but I don’t think they’re good for each other. STAR-CROSSED LOVERS MUCH omg

Pretty sure Wyn knows that but… there’s not much she can do about it mdr

Like before the war she was confiding to Edan, but in the war she found someone so much like her, that can relate to the trauma she’s been through?? She craves it, she NEEDS it and she is always going to need it

(Gnnn she just needs someone to take care of her ok)

Plus if the kids have adopted Nathan, can you imagine

People being like “he’s good for you/you’re good for each other” WELL ACTUALLY

Maybe relationships which start with fights are not meant to end so well??? Maybe that’s just too much fire??

(Also huge need for an angsty RP where she’s just yelling at him “YOU LEFT ME AT MY LOWEST” and shit. Does Nathan need that? Probably not. But I do hihihi)

Anyway je radote ptn

 Et en attendant j’ai fait d’autres playlists just as messy as this post:

·         Lily : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ0c2JClJHl10O5TcXXte7AD8K7I46ARt

·         Evans siblings: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ0c2JClJHl2GyO486p5UjsMRHot_h-on

·         A bby one but well-needed for Cassiel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ0c2JClJHl3ZNPaKs-7i56Gcsosu7xyQ

·         Nathalily: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ0c2JClJHl3RUhSkv0gTftnzcBJj7aaE (pls don’t hit me for the last one ok)

·         WYNONATHAN: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ0c2JClJHl3cyiZtCP-40U6Ze8SXYGy7

 Bye

[randomconnections]

Exploring the Ukulear Options

Until a couple of months ago I had never really played a ukulele. Now it’s one of my favorite instruments to pick up and just noodle. I’ve also been enjoying playing in groups. I bought my first ukulele so that I could join my friends at Bring Your Own Instrument on ukulele night, but I wanted to see what other groups were out there. Over the last couple weeks I’ve visited three other active ukulele groups to see what they are like.

This quest started several weeks ago when we had a new member join us at Bring Your Own Ukulele. Charlie Drake is an accomplished ukulele player and said that he was very active with groups in Anacortes. He talked about how huge those groups could get, sometimes with as many as sixty players at a session. I was intrigued. Two weeks later Charlie came back to BYOU, this time bringing several of his Anacortes friends with him and I decided I needed to check out the Anacortes groups.

Actually, I really wanted to go as soon as Charlie told me about the Anacortes group. Those groups meet on Thursday, so I was ready to head over there the next day. Charlie said that I should hold off, though, and wait until the following week. I was confused. Apparently there are two groups that meet on alternating Thursdays. I needed more information.

When I did a quick search for Anacortes ukulele groups I found two that meet at the Senior Center. The upcoming group Charlie had recommended was listed as the “senior” group. That didn’t sound quite right. The following Thursday would be the Fidalgo Ukulele Network, or F. U. N. group. That sounded like more…fun, so I decided to wait another week.

Charlie said that this group doesn’t use a projector and that I’d need to have music. Fortunately they have all of their repertoire online. They also post a playlist for each session. I downloaded the tunes on the playlist and copied them over to my iPad. I was ready.

Fidalgo Ukulele Network (FUN)

I arrived at the Anacortes Senior Center and followed the ukulele cases into a large activity room. There were chairs set up in a semi-circle for at least sixty players. To my surprise there was also an upright bass that would be playing along.

Charlie came in and greeted me, as did Randy and Wendy from the previous night’s BYOU session in Mount Vernon. All of the folks were quite friendly.

Also joining us were my friend Anne Smock from BYOI and her parents, who are regular participants in both Anacortes uke groups.

Linda Zielinski is the group organizer and led the session. She went through her playlist, pretty much in order. There was no extended learning session, but we jumped right into the music. I liked the way the bass added depth to the ensemble, rounding out the overall tone.

Players came and went throughout the hour and a half session, but I would guess there were about fifty players at peak. Most seemed very accomplished. Most were my age or older. I guess if you’re going to have an event in the middle of the day at a senior center you should expect a particular clientele.

Overall it was a good experience. A few of the players would be staying for a smaller ensemble, the Ukadores. I headed on out with Anne and her family. Charlie may have recommended the other group, but I enjoyed this one just fine.

Mount Vernon Ukulele Fun and Song Circle

I had seen notices in the local newspaper about a ukulele group that meets every Wednesday at the Mount Vernon Senior Center. They don’t have a fancy acronym like the other groups, but I figured I needed to check them out, too.

The Mount Vernon group meets from 1:00 until 2:00. One again, the time and venue tend to determine the demographics. This was a smaller group, about the size of our BYOU group. I was surprised to see that the group organizer was Simme Bobrosky, who plays guitar with me at the Scottish music sessions. I didn’t recognize any of the other players.

This was a decidedly older group. There was one younger guy there with his great-grandmother, but he was the exception.

Simme led the group through a set of ukulele standards. She passed out printed sheet music for those that didn’t have it already. A good bit of that music turned out to be files and arrangements created by Linda Zielinski from the Anacortes FUN group. There was some instruction, but the emphasis was on playing and singing.

The music and playing were enjoyable, but the setting hit a bit close to home for me. I felt like I was back at Harbor Chase playing my banjo for the residents and for Laura’s mom. The younger man’s great-grandmother enjoyed the music, but she neither spoke nor played. It was too much like what we had been through over the last couple of years.

I stuck around in Mount Vernon for the rest of the day for our BYOG meeting that evening at Empire Ale. At the Anacortes FUN session there was a guy who brought his guitar, and I suggested that he come to BYOG. Harold was there that evening. I was glad he took me up on the invitation, but my first thought was that we were robbing members from another congregation.

Anacortes Senior Ukulele Ensemble (SUE)

This was the group that Charlie suggested. The name “senior” had thrown me off but since I had already been to two sessions in senior centers I figured another one would hurt. After all, I had to get a complete perspective of ukulele activity in the area if we were to combat it.

Once again I found myself at the Anacortes Senior Center for the Senior Ukulele Ensemble’s session. We were in the same room as last week, but it was arranged differently. There was a pull-down screen with a projector. Instead of one upright bass there was an electric upright as well as a bass guitar. Another guy was playing a regular six string guitar. They were going to for the full ensemble for accompaniment. Charlie was up front operating the computer to display the lyrics and chords.

There was a commotion before things got started, though. A doe and fawn were in the small yard behind the building. The doe wanted the fawn to follow her over the fence, but the fawn couldn’t yet jump that high. The doe jumped back and forth over the fence several times throughout the afternoon session, trying to get the fawn to follow.

The leader of today’s session, Kathleen Wolff, came over and introduced herself. This was another large group, about 40-50 players. These seemed more like aging hippies than senior citizens. My first impression that this would be a great group. However, first impressions can be very, very wrong.

As with the FUN group, Kathleen had a playlist and led us through the songs at a brisk pace. We didn’t stop to analyze, learn, or discuss much at all. It was one song right after another. There were some very good players and singers in the group and the ensemble up front rounded out the sound nicely. Even at that pace I was able to keep up with no problem.

That doesn’t mean I was having fun. I wasn’t. No one was talking to me. No one was sitting next to me. I’m sure these are nice folks, but apart from the leader no one introduced themselves or welcomed me to the group at all. It was weird. Part of what I love about these sessions is the banter and chatting between the songs. I soon got tired of just playing chords over and over. It got boring and I was losing interest quickly. It made me not want to come back.

About half way through the session a large group got up and left. They were headed to a beginners class, NEWkuleles, taught by Linda Zielinski from the other group. I detected noticeable scowls from some of the players. Both Charlie and Anne said that there was a bit of animosity between the Anacortes groups. There are some, like Charlie and like Anne’s parents, who just want to play and attend both sessions. However, some don’t get along with the other groups. Perhaps that’s why I was not welcomed into the group. I was a possible infiltrator.

I found out a bit more by piecing together snippets of conversations and what I read online. At first there was only one group founded by the late Richard Mitlyng. It met every other week at the Senior Center. Linda Zielinski was very active in the group at that time. According to what I’ve read and heard, Linda, was concerned that many of the players actually knew very little about playing, so she started a beginners group on the alternating weeks. That grew into the FUN group. Anne told me that some still refer to the SUE group as “Richard’s group” even though he is now deceased. Those in that camp think of SUE as the original, and FUN as the upstarts.

To me it just proves that people will argue over anything, including ukuleles. This could get out of hand. I had visions of dangerous uke gangs tagging the neighborhood with treble clefs and other symbols. I can only imagine what a rumble would be like. At least it would sound happy.

Visiting four different ukulele groups in two weeks was a bit intense. There are other community ukulele groups in Bellingham and the surrounding towns, but I think I’m done with the visiting. I was able to piece together some observations…

1. Ukuleles are the perfect starter instrument.

First, ukes are super simple to play. The chords often need only one or two fingers and the light nylon strings make it easy to press the strings to the frets and strum. With the abundance of three-chord songs out there one can build up a repertoire quickly.

Secondly, there is a low entry point for purchase. You can get an OK instrument for as little as $30 and a nice one for $100. You could probably pick up one for even less at a yard sale or thrift store.

The instruments are small so they are easy to handle, just the right size for kids or for seniors who would have difficulty playing something larger. The repertoire tends toward nostalgia, so it’s no surprise that there are so many senior ukulele groups in this area.

2. Everything sounds happy on a ukulele.

It’s such a bright instrument that even things played in a minor key sound…maybe not cheerful, but at least hopeful.

3. The ukulele is often an instrument of irony.

Since it is so bright and happy there seems to be an catalog of music arranged for ukuleles that probably shouldn’t be played on the instrument. Think Iron Butterfly’s “Ina-godda-davida” or Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” I’ve played Bad Romance on a uke, as well as AC/DC’s “Back in Black.”

4. The ukulele lends itself to cringe-worthy portmanteaus and acronyms.

Just look at the title of this blog post and tell me you didn’t cringe when you read it. Others I’ve heard include NEWkuleles, YesterUkes and Ukadores. Then there are the acronyms…the Fidalgo Ukulele Network (FUN), the Bellingham Ukulele Group (BUG), the Hollywood Ukulele Group (HUG), and a Saturday Morning Ukulele Group (SMUG). In Seattle you’ve got the Seattle Ukulele Players Association (SUPA) and Seattle’s Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians (STRUM). I don’t think there is a Greenville Ukulele Network but GUN would probably be appropriate for our city.

…and finally…

5. I am far too young to be playing ukuleles in a senior center

…unless I’m there to entertain seniors.

Yeah, I’m reaching up toward 60. I’m retired. I have white hair and a white beard, and I don’t mind getting the senior discount at movies. However, I am NOT a senior citizen…yet. I’ll stick to playing in informal settings and in bars. I’ll still play the ukulele ironically. (I’m currently working on an arrangement of the Cantina Band from Star Wars.) I’ll play a few songs that were already decades old before I came along, but that won’t be my exclusive repertoire. I’ll take the Sicilian’s advice – I refuse to get involved in either a land war in Asia or a ukulele spat. Most importantly, I’m going to have fun.

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