I played the North Carolina State University Bell Tower “Chimes” during my Junior and Senior years. That fact caused Ralph Daniel to send me an email several months ago. It turns out that he had played the bell tower “chimes” at while in school until he graduated in the early 60’s. He had written an article about his experience. It is very thorough. I commented that I had some information and would get it together. It is still on the “to do” list.
While at the last football game this season, I overheard the people behind me talking about the bell tower chimes not being played. Since I played the “chimes” from the fall of 1974 through the spring of 1976, I had to ask about it. That is when I heard about the campaign for the bells. I made a note when I got home but got busy getting ready for the holidays.
Last week I finally had time to read the autumn issue of the alumni magazine. It had an article about the bell tower and the campaign to raise money for the bells. I went to the website ncsubells.com and contacted them. I obtained permission to send Ralph’s write-up and did. I also plan to get more involved.
What Ralph, I and others played was a carillon and we were known as carillonneurs. I even have a plaque in my study that has the NC State University name, the emblem with the Bell Tower on it, and the writing of “University Carilloneur 1974-1976”. What we played was a keyboard located in the basement of Holliday Hall (under the Chancellor’s office). This keyboard was connected to steel rods that made the chime sounds. When we turned the dial to send out, the amplifier and the speakers in the tower sent the music out of the tower. If we left the dial to inside, we could practice.
In the first year, I played Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the school term at 5 PM. In my second year 2 others joined me so we played each weekday and I played 2 days instead of 3. The music was to last about 10 minutes and end with the alma mater.
Sometime after I left the carillon finally broke and was not replaced. Now money is being raised to finish the tower by obtaining the bells that were supposed to be in it.
Somewhere I have a cartoon from The Technician about the crazy bell player. Apparently people used to stand around the door waiting for me and others to come out of the tower. Also I have a note from a professor that was sent to the Music Department to go to whoever played because he heard a song from his childhood and ancestral country that I played. Now I need to go find the information and put it together.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Ready to Enjoy the Holidays
The tasks that needed to be accomplished this week have been completed. I wrapped the presents on Tuesday night.
Yesterday I finished cleaning the natural areas. There are 19 bags of leaves ready for pickup at my mailbox. Yes there are still leaves in the natural areas, but the piles are gone. I have noticed that the leaves have mold under them and are wetter underneath than normally. That is probably all of this rain we have had. Plus I still have ice in a few places in the yard from last Friday’s weather event. (For anyone keeping track I have now bagged 107 bags this season and run the lawnmower over the yard a number of times mulching up the ones on the grass). I also put the yard waste container out with the sticks in it when I finished.
I gathered the trash this morning and put it out before I left for errands. If the trucks run through today I will go ahead and get the trash picked up. If not, it can wait out by the curb until Saturday or whenever.
This morning I treated myself to breakfast out. It was nice. There were just a few people in the restaurant at 8 AM. I finished there shortly after 8:30 and went to the grocery store. I got through just before the crowds started. Traffic in the store was starting to pick up as I was finishing. The traffic outside had also picked up a little after 9.
I have some things that I would like to get accomplished this week but I have today, tomorrow morning, and Saturday to do them. They will not take long and I will get them done sometime. Also, I may just watch “White Christmas” on TV. I saw where one station is running it all day today.
Now to enjoying the holiday weekend.
Yesterday I finished cleaning the natural areas. There are 19 bags of leaves ready for pickup at my mailbox. Yes there are still leaves in the natural areas, but the piles are gone. I have noticed that the leaves have mold under them and are wetter underneath than normally. That is probably all of this rain we have had. Plus I still have ice in a few places in the yard from last Friday’s weather event. (For anyone keeping track I have now bagged 107 bags this season and run the lawnmower over the yard a number of times mulching up the ones on the grass). I also put the yard waste container out with the sticks in it when I finished.
I gathered the trash this morning and put it out before I left for errands. If the trucks run through today I will go ahead and get the trash picked up. If not, it can wait out by the curb until Saturday or whenever.
This morning I treated myself to breakfast out. It was nice. There were just a few people in the restaurant at 8 AM. I finished there shortly after 8:30 and went to the grocery store. I got through just before the crowds started. Traffic in the store was starting to pick up as I was finishing. The traffic outside had also picked up a little after 9.
I have some things that I would like to get accomplished this week but I have today, tomorrow morning, and Saturday to do them. They will not take long and I will get them done sometime. Also, I may just watch “White Christmas” on TV. I saw where one station is running it all day today.
Now to enjoying the holiday weekend.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Trees are Down - Fence is Next
Today I got the trees cut that I decided were in the way of the fence. I have determined that I am going to make the backyard more of a courtyard area. That means the fence will be in at least 10 feet from the line all of the way around. This will give me full control of my yard and fence after the fence is up. No one will be able to hook on.
I determined that all but one little dogwood needed to come down in the back. While I was at it I decided to have some other work done. While I was cleaning up the leaves in the yard the past few days (I am still not done with the natural areas), I looked at the other trees in the front. I decided to get rid of one scrawny dogwood. Also I wanted the one shaped up at the front door.
I also checked the limbs that needed to be cut off of a neighbor’s tree. I have a right to cut what is over the property line and these were getting too close to the house. The squirrels could jump over and chew into my attic. A couple of months ago I asked the neighbor about the limbs and he had only cut a few. Then he said that he could not reach the higher ones so I said that I would handle it when I had some other work done. I did today.
I have used Puckett’s Tree Service for some years (bought this lot 22 years ago and at one time had over 40 trees on this ½ acre). He came on Monday afternoon and gave the estimate. They showed up this morning and got the job done. They were out before 9:30.
I got a present. I now have my view back out of my kitchen window. I can view over to several rooftops and I love it. I just have to make sure that the fence will not block it.
I have some items to finish for business and Christmas and then it is on to fence items and the final decision.
I determined that all but one little dogwood needed to come down in the back. While I was at it I decided to have some other work done. While I was cleaning up the leaves in the yard the past few days (I am still not done with the natural areas), I looked at the other trees in the front. I decided to get rid of one scrawny dogwood. Also I wanted the one shaped up at the front door.
I also checked the limbs that needed to be cut off of a neighbor’s tree. I have a right to cut what is over the property line and these were getting too close to the house. The squirrels could jump over and chew into my attic. A couple of months ago I asked the neighbor about the limbs and he had only cut a few. Then he said that he could not reach the higher ones so I said that I would handle it when I had some other work done. I did today.
I have used Puckett’s Tree Service for some years (bought this lot 22 years ago and at one time had over 40 trees on this ½ acre). He came on Monday afternoon and gave the estimate. They showed up this morning and got the job done. They were out before 9:30.
I got a present. I now have my view back out of my kitchen window. I can view over to several rooftops and I love it. I just have to make sure that the fence will not block it.
I have some items to finish for business and Christmas and then it is on to fence items and the final decision.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What A Difference A Month Makes?
Today it is cold. The winds blew yesterday and now I have leaves from mine and neighboring yards piled up around my house. I will try to get out later today and bag as many as possible since pickup is Friday. What makes it bearable is remembering where I was last month this time.
I was in the back of an SUV again. The group was heading to Monterrey, Big Sur and Half Moon Bay. Pep Cearnal of Allegro Private Tours & Convention Resources was our tour guide. I enjoyed the ride to Monterrey since I was able to view the businesses and sites on both sides of the road.
In Monterrey she rode us through the older area first. Then she let us out at the aquarium. We had 1 hour to tour this facility. I can still since that little sea otter that was floating on the water, appeared to be asleep and holding her toy (a little ball with holes in it). I got to see penguins and an octopus in another area. The jellies fascinated me. I had never seen so many different types. The ones that I normally see are lying on a beach. I met up with Gloria and we asked and followed signs to the seahorse exhibit.
Pep then drove us by some of the military area and then on to Big Sur. We had lunch at a hotel/restaurant that was on a cliff and overlooked the water. We then had time to go to Point Lobos State Reserve and take in the views from the Cannery Point. I took some great pictures that are still in the camera (I plan to download them later today).
Then Pep drove us through Carmel-By-The-Sea. It is GORGEOUS! I want to go back sometime and have time to walk around and shop. They appear to have a number of nice shops, restaurants, and places to stay. I was disappointed that I did not get to see Clint Eastwood and I think Doris Day lives there.
We then made our way up the coast and took in the sunset overlooking a beach. A number of surfers were coming back to their cars when we stopped. I think we almost got some other views as they had to change from wetsuits back to street clothes.
We finished the tour at Miramar Beach Restaurant in Half Moon Bay. I am the one that checks the entire menu and found the write-up on the back. Naturally I read it. The restaurant was a speakeasy during prohibition. They ran rum down the coast to this restaurant and had fake cabinets in the kitchen. Since the food is good I suggest that you go to read the history and see the area.
We were tired when we got back to San Francisco. At that time I had been out 2 days seeing all new sites and I was ready to begin sitting in a conference.
I was in the back of an SUV again. The group was heading to Monterrey, Big Sur and Half Moon Bay. Pep Cearnal of Allegro Private Tours & Convention Resources was our tour guide. I enjoyed the ride to Monterrey since I was able to view the businesses and sites on both sides of the road.
In Monterrey she rode us through the older area first. Then she let us out at the aquarium. We had 1 hour to tour this facility. I can still since that little sea otter that was floating on the water, appeared to be asleep and holding her toy (a little ball with holes in it). I got to see penguins and an octopus in another area. The jellies fascinated me. I had never seen so many different types. The ones that I normally see are lying on a beach. I met up with Gloria and we asked and followed signs to the seahorse exhibit.
Pep then drove us by some of the military area and then on to Big Sur. We had lunch at a hotel/restaurant that was on a cliff and overlooked the water. We then had time to go to Point Lobos State Reserve and take in the views from the Cannery Point. I took some great pictures that are still in the camera (I plan to download them later today).
Then Pep drove us through Carmel-By-The-Sea. It is GORGEOUS! I want to go back sometime and have time to walk around and shop. They appear to have a number of nice shops, restaurants, and places to stay. I was disappointed that I did not get to see Clint Eastwood and I think Doris Day lives there.
We then made our way up the coast and took in the sunset overlooking a beach. A number of surfers were coming back to their cars when we stopped. I think we almost got some other views as they had to change from wetsuits back to street clothes.
We finished the tour at Miramar Beach Restaurant in Half Moon Bay. I am the one that checks the entire menu and found the write-up on the back. Naturally I read it. The restaurant was a speakeasy during prohibition. They ran rum down the coast to this restaurant and had fake cabinets in the kitchen. Since the food is good I suggest that you go to read the history and see the area.
We were tired when we got back to San Francisco. At that time I had been out 2 days seeing all new sites and I was ready to begin sitting in a conference.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Front Yards and San Francisco
We had another frost last night so I think that it is now “safe” to begin cleaning the leaves out of the natural areas later today. I will be careful because I do not want to get snake bit. The thought of cleaning the yard brought back the images from the touring of San Fran on November 16 and the thought that a number of homes do not have yards.
The ICCA had a tour on Saturday night the 14th of San Fran. We stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf for supper and touring, the City Hall, Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge for pictures. The City Hall looked more like a state capitol building. We also rode through several other areas.
Four of us had a tour of San Fran planned for Monday. After the ICCA tour we knew some items that we wanted to include. By the third tour I was getting good at getting in and out of the back seat of the SUV. Our tour guide was Rick Spear with Blue Heron Tours. He looked over our list and made a plan on how to get everything in. Three of us walked down Lombard Street. There are sidewalks and steps on the sides and we stopped to take pictures of the curves and landscapes as we made our way down to the vehicle.
We also took in the Beatnik museum. I kept thinking of the character Maynard from the “Dobie Gillis Show” the entire time. I enjoyed learning about these authors, the time period and how the term “beatnik” was created.
We also toured Coit Tower. The views from the top are great! Walking around it outside we got to see the green birds that inhabit the area.
We stopped for lunch at Pier 39 and got to see the sea lions in the daylight.
Then it was on to the Golden Gate Park. In riding through we saw the statue of “The Thinker” and we commented that there was that “Dobie Gillis” theme again (for those too young the show opened with Dobie sitting at a statue like this and thinking). We had time to tour the Japanese Tea House and Garden. They were lovely. There were several paths to follow and they were easy to walk. I did not try the special bridge that one can climb. I thought that getting up would be great but getting down might not be so easy.
We also went back to Twin Peaks. It was interesting to see it in the daytime. Last night I was watching part of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” I was trying to figure out where the patio scenes were filmed. I will have to view that movie some more. Oh we also got to see the house for “Mrs. Doubtfire” and the Haight-Asbury area.
Thinking back on it is nice. Now I better get the inside work done so that I can get the outside work done.
The ICCA had a tour on Saturday night the 14th of San Fran. We stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf for supper and touring, the City Hall, Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge for pictures. The City Hall looked more like a state capitol building. We also rode through several other areas.
Four of us had a tour of San Fran planned for Monday. After the ICCA tour we knew some items that we wanted to include. By the third tour I was getting good at getting in and out of the back seat of the SUV. Our tour guide was Rick Spear with Blue Heron Tours. He looked over our list and made a plan on how to get everything in. Three of us walked down Lombard Street. There are sidewalks and steps on the sides and we stopped to take pictures of the curves and landscapes as we made our way down to the vehicle.
We also took in the Beatnik museum. I kept thinking of the character Maynard from the “Dobie Gillis Show” the entire time. I enjoyed learning about these authors, the time period and how the term “beatnik” was created.
We also toured Coit Tower. The views from the top are great! Walking around it outside we got to see the green birds that inhabit the area.
We stopped for lunch at Pier 39 and got to see the sea lions in the daylight.
Then it was on to the Golden Gate Park. In riding through we saw the statue of “The Thinker” and we commented that there was that “Dobie Gillis” theme again (for those too young the show opened with Dobie sitting at a statue like this and thinking). We had time to tour the Japanese Tea House and Garden. They were lovely. There were several paths to follow and they were easy to walk. I did not try the special bridge that one can climb. I thought that getting up would be great but getting down might not be so easy.
We also went back to Twin Peaks. It was interesting to see it in the daytime. Last night I was watching part of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” I was trying to figure out where the patio scenes were filmed. I will have to view that movie some more. Oh we also got to see the house for “Mrs. Doubtfire” and the Haight-Asbury area.
Thinking back on it is nice. Now I better get the inside work done so that I can get the outside work done.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cable Cars and Chocolate
I am still catching up from attending the ICCA conference in San Fran November 13-15 and the touring that I did before and after. I also am trying to keep the yard cleaned up. I have the Christmas decorations up.
It is getting cold and cloudy and thoughts of hot chocolate have come to mind. That reminded me of the 13th in San Fran. We had interesting vendor sessions that morning and early afternoon. By mid-afternoon I needed a break. Gloria Metrick joined me in the escape.
Our conference was at the Stanford Court hotel that is located at the corner of California and Powell. It is easy to get a transportation map at the hotel and catch the cable cars. We got a full day pass and off we went.
We first rode the California car down the hill and then back up the hill and then back to the hotel. My main thought was this hill would be great with snow on it. One could start at the top and go KER-SPLASH right into the bay at the bottom.
We then rode the Powell and Hyde line. We got to watch them turn the cars around on the roundtable. We waited in line a while on Hyde. These hills were steeper and this was more like a roller coaster ride.
I also liked how they changed crews. The car stops in the middle of the intersection because that is where it is flat. Then the current crew gets off and the new crew gets on and prepares the equipment to go. I was sitting in the middle of the intersection staring at cars for several minutes. It was an interesting experience!
We rode the Powell line all the way back to Market. Then we decided to ride where we could catch a bus and go to a chocolate place that Gloria and her husband had visited on a previous trip. We got to Bittersweet – a chocolate café - and had delicious hot chocolate. Gloria then bought some chocolate to take home to her husband. I hope he liked it. I did not buy any because I did not want to pack it and risk it melting on anything in the suitcase. However, I have the website and plan to check out ordering.
I think I will have some hot chocolate with lunch in just a bit.
It is getting cold and cloudy and thoughts of hot chocolate have come to mind. That reminded me of the 13th in San Fran. We had interesting vendor sessions that morning and early afternoon. By mid-afternoon I needed a break. Gloria Metrick joined me in the escape.
Our conference was at the Stanford Court hotel that is located at the corner of California and Powell. It is easy to get a transportation map at the hotel and catch the cable cars. We got a full day pass and off we went.
We first rode the California car down the hill and then back up the hill and then back to the hotel. My main thought was this hill would be great with snow on it. One could start at the top and go KER-SPLASH right into the bay at the bottom.
We then rode the Powell and Hyde line. We got to watch them turn the cars around on the roundtable. We waited in line a while on Hyde. These hills were steeper and this was more like a roller coaster ride.
I also liked how they changed crews. The car stops in the middle of the intersection because that is where it is flat. Then the current crew gets off and the new crew gets on and prepares the equipment to go. I was sitting in the middle of the intersection staring at cars for several minutes. It was an interesting experience!
We rode the Powell line all the way back to Market. Then we decided to ride where we could catch a bus and go to a chocolate place that Gloria and her husband had visited on a previous trip. We got to Bittersweet – a chocolate café - and had delicious hot chocolate. Gloria then bought some chocolate to take home to her husband. I hope he liked it. I did not buy any because I did not want to pack it and risk it melting on anything in the suitcase. However, I have the website and plan to check out ordering.
I think I will have some hot chocolate with lunch in just a bit.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Muir Woods, Point Reyes, Marin Headlands
When the ICCA announced that the annual conference would be in San Francisco in November of 2009, I decided to take some extra days to tour the area. My parents had always said that I went when I was 2 but I did not recall that trip.
Fortunately for me some other ICCA members also decided to do some touring before and after the conference. I am very glad that Jim and Arlene Watkins were among those because Jim arranged the tours for Wednesday, Thursday and Monday. All that I had to do was pay and get in the back seat of the SUV (you will hear more about this later and in later blogs).
Two weeks makes a big difference. Today it is raining here and I am leaving in a little while for an afternoon meeting in Raleigh. Last week was a funeral in the morning and an errand in the afternoon before holiday traffic got bad. Two weeks ago was a nice day to go see some sites.
Colin Sloan of Custom Nature Tours was our naturalist for the day. We started out riding through the Presidio area. My thought went back to the military housing that I saw in Panama and I then thought that the US Army had some great places to be posted (maybe I should have thought about ROTC in college and traveled some courtesy of the government).
We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. I learned why it is called the Golden Gate. It has nothing to do with the bridge. I also learned how the mountains to the east impact the weather and make San Fran feel so cold.
Colin took us to Muir Woods. He found Bay leaves for us to smell. He pointed out numerous items that we would have missed. He also told us things to look for and one person spotted one of the diseases on the trees. I was thinking how much I was learning that I would not have learned had I just been walking on my own. I then bought a jigsaw puzzle of a redwood to work after the holidays.
We went up the road and had lunch at a deli. We got to sit outside and eat. That was different than most tours and nice. It also gave the 5 of us from the conference a chance to learn to know each other better.
We then went to Point Reyes. The most memorable item there was walking the earthquake trail and seeing the fence that split during the 1906 earthquake. There is a space where one can walk up and see where the rails stop on one side and then start on the other. I think there are 16 feet between and it sits on the San Andreas Fault. We also took in the exhibits. Colin asked them to run a special video for us. We then headed to the beach area.
During all of these times of climbing in and out of the back of the SUV I learned an important lesson about getting in. I learned to stay up until completely in and backed up to the seat. One time I was not completely in and slid right into the floor. I just started laughing. I think Jim was trying to look concerned but I think that he was laughing too. It was funny and I was not hurt. I am laughing telling about it.
We ended the day at Marin Headlands. We got to tour the hospital for the animals. Then we got to sit outside, watch the sunset and enjoy cheese and crackers. Thank you Gloria Metrick for buying those at the lunch deli and sharing them with the group.
Then it was back to the hotel to get ready for another day of touring.
Fortunately for me some other ICCA members also decided to do some touring before and after the conference. I am very glad that Jim and Arlene Watkins were among those because Jim arranged the tours for Wednesday, Thursday and Monday. All that I had to do was pay and get in the back seat of the SUV (you will hear more about this later and in later blogs).
Two weeks makes a big difference. Today it is raining here and I am leaving in a little while for an afternoon meeting in Raleigh. Last week was a funeral in the morning and an errand in the afternoon before holiday traffic got bad. Two weeks ago was a nice day to go see some sites.
Colin Sloan of Custom Nature Tours was our naturalist for the day. We started out riding through the Presidio area. My thought went back to the military housing that I saw in Panama and I then thought that the US Army had some great places to be posted (maybe I should have thought about ROTC in college and traveled some courtesy of the government).
We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. I learned why it is called the Golden Gate. It has nothing to do with the bridge. I also learned how the mountains to the east impact the weather and make San Fran feel so cold.
Colin took us to Muir Woods. He found Bay leaves for us to smell. He pointed out numerous items that we would have missed. He also told us things to look for and one person spotted one of the diseases on the trees. I was thinking how much I was learning that I would not have learned had I just been walking on my own. I then bought a jigsaw puzzle of a redwood to work after the holidays.
We went up the road and had lunch at a deli. We got to sit outside and eat. That was different than most tours and nice. It also gave the 5 of us from the conference a chance to learn to know each other better.
We then went to Point Reyes. The most memorable item there was walking the earthquake trail and seeing the fence that split during the 1906 earthquake. There is a space where one can walk up and see where the rails stop on one side and then start on the other. I think there are 16 feet between and it sits on the San Andreas Fault. We also took in the exhibits. Colin asked them to run a special video for us. We then headed to the beach area.
During all of these times of climbing in and out of the back of the SUV I learned an important lesson about getting in. I learned to stay up until completely in and backed up to the seat. One time I was not completely in and slid right into the floor. I just started laughing. I think Jim was trying to look concerned but I think that he was laughing too. It was funny and I was not hurt. I am laughing telling about it.
We ended the day at Marin Headlands. We got to tour the hospital for the animals. Then we got to sit outside, watch the sunset and enjoy cheese and crackers. Thank you Gloria Metrick for buying those at the lunch deli and sharing them with the group.
Then it was back to the hotel to get ready for another day of touring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
