But as a group, I find that they tend to be over-impressed with themselves and their musical accomplishments, and they get very competitive about who's better, and who's been playing longer, blah blah blah.

Oh yes. I took so much crap from people when they found out I was in the orchestra and receiving a small scholarship for it and yet (gasp) not a music major.

And actually, the violas get picked on a lot for being the "easy" intruments, which is why I used to get so defensive about playing it, especially since I had switched from violin.

"Oh, couldn't hack it as a violinist so you took up viola, huh?" (snide grin)

"No, asshat, I switched to viola because university orchestas always need them and I could get a scholarship."

thwap

"Climax" and "Pigs" should not be in the same sentence.

"The emotional climax of Babe had Farmer Hoggett turn and say, 'That'll do, pig.'"

Looks like you just haven't been exposed to the world of fritters.

And for this I am grateful. I don't even think I know what hush puppies look like. And corn dogs? Let us just say I have a friend from the upper Midwest whose penchant for food-on-sticks we mock mercilessly.

Now Redbones, I can get behind. Even if they no longer serve their drinks in jelly glasses.

Apple fritters are up there with blueberry muffins for breakfast treats. Popovers (which I first encountered at Jordan Pond in Bar Harbor, ME) are great for Sunday brunches (as are Swedish pancakes) and afternoon tea.

Also, I think people who play harmony are infinitely better at counting, because they kind of have to be, whereas playing the melody gave me all kinds of horrible habits when it comes to rhythm.

Well, you certainly can't rely on instinct. ("Okay, now you have twelve beats of rest, an eighth note, and then two measures later a couple of completely random quarter notes. Go!")

Though that means it feels really good once the weirdo rhythm finally does make sense. God, I haven't played in an orchestra... it's been a long time. I miss it. Mind you, I suspect I don't even remember how to read music at this point.

Oh, god, I have such a craving for hush puppies now. Except I have moral objections to the only place in town that I know has good hush puppies.

Apple fritters? Yummier.

Much better than cherry fritters. t shudder

My poor little violin and viola sit sadly in my closet and make whimpering noises now and then. I neglect them horribly, but seven years of not playing regularly after fifteen years of playing constantly...well, basically, I can't handle how badly I suck.

And for this I am grateful

My life would be a poorer place without apple and saltfish fritters. So I'm on board with diversity being a good enough thing for me to avoid the corn ones on hearsay.

Hushpuppies are deep fried cornbread that they usually have worked scallions into. They get served at Redbones with a vinegar dipping sauce (very savory, unlike the corn fritters that get served with maple syrup).

I love popovers too. You never seem to get them anywhere anymore, though.