Disco, Bakery and Donkeys

Hey there. I had a good day today. I got up at 9 and collected and deposited my first paycheck. I thought I would be funny, by walking up to the desk and saying "GIVE ME MY MONEY!!" in a loud voice. However the appearance of the 300 pound biker who was checking out of the hotel dissuaded me from doing so.

After this was done, I returned home and reacquainted myself with the 12 string guitar. At 11, I went out again for my interview at the Cheshire Horse. It went well, and I found that the work would be well within my capabilities. I also found out that I would be starting at $10 an hour, and that this would increase after 3 months. I also found that the job would eventually become full time, and with this would come complete health care coverage and a salary... Sounds awesome. It is the sort of work I would not even have to go in for, as all I would need would be a computer with Internet access. I was told before I left that other candidates would be interviewed this week, but that so far I was the favorite. I was also told that Amber had said some really nice things about me, and we talked for a while about how awesome Amber is. I would be quite happy with this job if I could get it, but if I do not I would not be too bothered.

Today I decided not to order a mandolin.. Partly because I wish to exercise a bit of restraint, and more because I want to wait until I can comfortably afford the Giannini GBSM3 with a built in pickup. I will also purchase a small battery powered amp so that I can be better heard amongst the other musicians I play with. I am definitely stuck on buying a professional quality Brazilian mandolin. I do not want another Italian one, as the lute style bowl on the back is not very convenient. I do not want an American style mandolin, as they are too quiet and not as aesthetically pleasing and I certainly do not wish to buy a mandolin from a part of the world with no history of mandolin building, as I learned my lesson the last time. In Brazil, there is a history of mandolin players and playing. Mandolins are mostly found in the Choro genre, which as far as I can tell is an offshoot of samba. It is the lead instrument in this acoustic style, and is accompanied by a cavaquinho, which is like a ukulele; a Spanish guitar and a Brazilian 7 string guitar, which acts as a bass instrument. There is also usually some Brazilian percussion.. If you are interested in learning more about this, try searching for songs like tico tico no fuba, naquele tempo and the brasileirinho. If you are a youtube user, check out the group Conjunto Som Brasileiro.. Today I learned some other interesting stuff..... (If you don't want to read more music crap, stop now.) The Portuguese Guitar that the Brazilian mandolin, or bandolim is based on actually comes from England.. I never thought that this could possibly have happened, but apparently it is true. I found a picture of an English "guittar" from the 17th century, and it is the spitting image of the Portuguese version.. You see many years ago, the British and the Portuguese were very close, and they not only exchanged alcoholic beverages but also stringed instruments. Well, I am excited to be taking a course in Brazilian music at college..

I also got together with some cool people and we did cool stuff.. Perhaps I will write about it in another post, but right now I am afraid that it is time for me to sleep..