Mando Obssesed?

[John Bertotti]

Ok, I need to know how far gone I am. My playing stinks but I keep going. I get bored with sleep so I wake in the middle of the night and play. Scales, chords, or just doodle a bit, then back to bed. I woke this morning thinking about chord theory and made eggs, scrambled with a hot dog cut up in it, a little tabasco sauce, some nacho cheese, a little ketchup, and tater tots. I have a short scale Om project I am constantly experimenting with, and enough wood seasoned to build five or six more mandolins. Backs glued, tops waiting to be jointed. I've have so much literature I won't get through all of it for several years and I drag something dealing with mandolins with me every time I head out over night.
Ok now tell me, am I lost?
Anyone else caught in a trap such as this?
Share your weird tale or just let me know I'm a normal kind of tweaked. Thanks John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[bdisp]

I can help you. Call 1.800.mandoanon.......... If you get a recording, leave a message http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[gnelson651]

John,

I can't believe that I do the same thing. I wake up at night and can't sleep so I go into the TV room to noodle on my mandolin for awhile. Sometimes I quit work early so I can get back home to work on a tune that I picked for the week. When I go to bed I read "MUSIC THEORY FOR MODERN MANDOLIN" by Thomas P Ohmsen.

I have so many instructional books, videos and DVD's I could open my own bookstore. I think I've spent more money on these items then I have on the two mandolins I own (Morgan Monroe MMA-1 and Eastman 805).

So I guess I am as hopelessly lost as you in mandoland.

Glenn Nelson
Las Vegas, NV

[fatt-dad]

John,

Your fine. Don't worry.

fatt-dad

[John Bertotti]

bdisp I tried the # and was told I was lost!! Can you believe it!

Glenn, the Ohmsen book is fascinating I've been taking it everywhere.

fatt-dad thanks, but I'm not sure you aren't in the same boat as the rest of us! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #Just kidding of course.

Back to my books and strings. John your fellow nutcase.

I won't even get into how I check the cafe every time I walk past a computer or wake up in the wee hours. That topic is for the other thread.

[bdisp]

John,
I just called mandoanon. I was told you have several copies of Mr. Ohmsen's book and I could borrow a copy from ya'.

[John Bertotti]

Ha, I'm not that bad off yet. Just one, but hey that is a good idea. I could keep one in the car for travels, and maybe one in the most acoustic room in the house, you know which one I mean, the thinking room. John

[John Flynn]

When I travel, I have a travel mando in my suitcase and I play it in the hotel room every night. When I am not traveling, I stuff that travel mando full of socks (clean) to muffle the sound so I can play late at night and early in the morning and not wake everyone in the house. I play my main mando every Sunday in a church group, every Tuesday in an Old-Time Ensemble and have a lesson every week. I try to learn at least one new tune a week, as well as doing preparation for those three events. I have had a pace like this for over 2 years. I have a second main mando, an Old Wave oval, arriving this week.

My playing no longer stinks. Gone are the days when I had to struggle to be just mediocre. Now I can be mediocre with hardly any effort at all! Bottom line is, I got it bad too. Welcome to the club.

[TeleMark]

I woke this morning thinking about chord theory and made eggs, scrambled with a hot dog cut up in it, a little tabasco sauce, some nacho cheese, a little ketchup, and tater tots.
Maybe it's your diet?

[Arto]

TeleMark, I just love your signature! It matches so well with one of my favourite aphorisms (by Robert Henlein): "Never underestimate the human stupidity."

Arto, the closet cynicist #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

- oops, maybe I should have written something more idealistic for my 300th post... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Aint no cure with being obsessed with the mandolin my friend. Its addictive. Isnt there a little saying that goes along with that.

Something about an acholic cant go without his booze?

[TeleMark]

TeleMark, I just love your signature! It matches so well with one of my favourite aphorisms (by Robert Henlein): "Never underestimate the human stupidity."

Arto, the closet cynicist http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

- oops, maybe I should have written something more idealistic for my 300th post... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Well, I've seen it listed as "Hanlon's Razor," but I think it is a translation of the Heinlein quote. It was appropriated by some in the computer industry, and the origin seems to be a bit muddled.

And,I usually go to bed thinking about mandolin, and frequently dream about it as well. I haven't been driven to putting hot dogs in my scrambled eggs, tho...

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[JEStanek]

My name is Jamie, and I'm an addict. # The jokes could be endless...
They gave me an oversized pick embossed with the circle of fifths!
I'm in a 12 fret program...
I'ld sell my (insert possesion) for spirit... varnish...

My problem is the inability (only at the moment I hope) to connect all this theory I'm learning with ten stubborn fingers and two wrists!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Jamie

[mpeknox]

I have so many instructional books, videos and DVD's I could open my own bookstore. I think I've spent more money on these items then I have on the two mandolins I own (Morgan Monroe MMA-1 and Eastman 805).
I also suffer from MIMAS(Mandolin Instructional Material Aquisition Syndrome)...i really think it IS a disorder. I have books/tab/videos I haven't even looked at!

[JEStanek]

I've even gone to the point of making my own materials. #I made this little guy to help me write my own scales and plot my own chord inversions to try and help me learn the neck (I'm only up to 7 on my 12 fret program). #The front page gives the neck, circle of notes, and the steps for a major and minor scale. #The tab section lets me write out a scale below the staff. #The 1o, 2o, 3o and 4o are where the open string for GDA and E are respectively (I'm such a dweeb). #The back page is all for alternate chord inversions/substitutions M7, D7 etc...

Would this be of any help to anyone other than me?

Jamie

[Jim Rowland]

Et up. That covers it all. Just plain,flat,et up with the mandolin. I know the feeling well. But it's all good. Fifty or so years ago I had all the same feelings about Faye Anne
Gooch,who sat across from me in study hall. I never got nothing but heart..I say pitiful heartbreak out of that..
Jim

[fatt-dad]

In the duffle bag surrounded by socks. I'm going to Panama next week and I'll be bringing a mandolin. What the heck else am I supposed to do?

f-d

[AeroJoe]

Like fatt-dad said...you're fine...

I'll worry if you start camping out for the latest and last "Star Wars" movie, "Revenge of the Sith"...it does not open until mid-MAY, and there's people already putting up their tents...

You do that, I'll think you might have a loose screw somewhere...and promptly pull my lightsaber, and use the Force on you...

[Rick Schmidlin]

I am also an addict! I just sold a guitar to buty another mando.Heck I never play guitar too much anymore, it's become a bore. I go outside with my Prucha F and play a set for a rabbit that lives next door. Then I play for all my plants. Then I play for my cat, then I play on the roof of a garage so it echos all through the canyon, then I play for myself and my lady in the house. Then I do some work and start all over again.

[grandmainger]

Well yeah... It's a disease... But like being in love, it's a good disease!

[Deathbound]

I'm always thinking of playing, whether I'm sleeping or awake. Can't wait to play. I've even found myself sleeping with my mando, lol. Just too tired to carry on. I do hope that I can learn the darn thing, though.

[stevenmando]

I hade it for a long time, got books anything that deals with mandolin even correlies madolin the book. I try to get every mandolin CD even though I have a way to go ,when I go somewhere I take my music dictionary ,when I listen to music on the radio I think that would sound get with the mandolin when I get home I take out my mandoin and play it :cool:

[mandodebbie]

My name is Debbie (HI, DEBBIE!) and I am a (gasp, sniff, choke) mandolin addict. I have loads of mandolin tabs taken off the Web, so much i save cerial boxes to make little holders for them. I watch the Gaithier Gospel Hour and other Oldtime music shows on the Country Music TV Channel only for the mando. Everytime a song on the radio comes on, I listen for a potential mandolin and cheer when I hear one. I practice two hours a day, 6-7 days a week after supper (often it's soup, no time for spagetti). I joined the local Bluegrass club and jam with them at the Legion every Tuesday (Hey, that's tonight! wish me luck!) even though I am very much a beginner (only a year of teaching myself how to play). I hum oldtime and classical mandolin tunes at work. My self esteem rises and dips with each progress or fustration I encounter with my mando playing abilities. When my old cheapie mando "died" I actually went into a depression for few days, followed by shock when I actually forked out $760.00 Can without really "shopping around" for a better mando. (Many members said my new Samick was potential c*ap, others were more encouraging.) Hey,I was desperate! I haven't dated since my man dumped me last June, and I don't care! My mando-time fills my evenings. I bring it to my families' places for Sunday dinner. You get the picure. That's my story. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mando_pete]

I took a nap this afternoon and had a dream that the finish on my new mando was ruined. I woke with a start, and ran across the house in my boxer shorts with no tee shirt on to check on it. Ran right into my son's baby sitter who is 20 years old, and she freaked out !! I'm an ugly 40 now.

I hope she recovers and can have a normal relationship with a man after that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

-- pete

[aries753]

Yep me too, get a tune stuck in my head (ouch!) and keep wondering how it would sound on a mando.
And on Sunday I think "gee that hymn sounded kinda OK on our pipe organ...but I bet it would sound really COOL on a mando". Then I go home and try it just to be sure.
BTW anyone have an idea where I could find music for the theme to "Charlotte's Web?" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[John Bertotti]

I've been thinking about So In To You all day. I bet it would sound good on a mando. John

[adgefan]

You think you're obsessed? Well, tonight I was riding my bike home from work as usual, when my back brakes failed. I hit the front brakes, the bike jacknifed and threw me over the handlebars. I landed heavily on my left hand and knee.

The first thoughts that ran through my mind (other than 2 I cannot mention here!) were not, "Is my arm broken?" or "Is my leg bleeding?" or "Is my bike ok?" or "How will I get home?", but "I won't be able to play my mando when I get home"!

Then when I got home and checked over my wounds and saw dirt embedded into my palm I thought, "better not play mandolin with that there, it might scratch the finish".

I need help.

[fatt-dad]

I need to know how far gone I am.
Have you tried "Hai Karate Poetry" (a.k.a., mandolin haiku) yet?

[Moose]

ALL you guys are really SICK!! - But, I must confess...; I just happened to "surf" Charles Johnson's website.., by accident, mind ya'..., and welllll, one o' them little devils just jumped right out at me!!## - almost looked like the headstock inlay read...."MOOSE"!! - Upon a closer look it didn't... ; funny, I just can't get THAT mando outa' my head. I think I'm head'n for a "relapse"!!??### - I'll keep comin' back!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[mikeyes]

Yes John, you are very sick.

So, I am here to help. All you people just need to send you all of those mandolins (you can keep one apiece) and especially all the books, DVDs, and aids just in case I don't have them already. This is to help you save the rest of your pathetic lives from MAS and mandoaddicition. I will be like the legendary sin-eater who consumes sins so the victim can go to heaven. The sin-eater suffers in the fires of hell for it but is eventually redeemed for such a good deed.

I know, I know you will hate me at first when you have to give it all up but you will thank me in the end http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif


And you think you have problems.

[John Bertotti]

mikeyes, good try but I'm not that far gone.
Fatt-Dad, nope haven't tried that yet. Can't remember to build one.
John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif