So, a couple of weeks ago, my bank sent me an email. As it happens, I signed up for their rewards points on my debit card a couple years ago, and completely forgot about it. Now, the rewards program kind of sucks, but since I had forgotten about it but kept using my debit card, I built up enough points for a $100 cash reward--which I cashed in.
I immediately used the money to buy an Irish flute. Now Irish flutes normally cost $1200 to $2000+. But a guy by the name of Doug Tipple has been making them out of PVC for well over a decade, and he sells them for...$100 (after shipping and stuff)! I've actually been trying to buy one of his flutes for years, but it seems like such a wasteful expense since I already play the whistle, so I always find other uses for my money. But not this time! As soon as the cash hit my account, I contacted Doug and got me a flute ordered before I could find other uses for the money.
So, it came in the mail today. It actually looks really sweet--he puts little strips of silver on them to look like the silver ferrules in traditional wooden Irish flutes. So it looks classy. And it sounds every bit as rich and has as good a tone as any 'real' Irish flute I've ever had my hands on.
I've been doing Facebook Live posts every Saturday (though I missed this Saturday due to dealing with my kids becoming homeless in the Baton Rouge flood). I'll be playing this flute a bit this coming Live event. I'm not an expert--compared to the whistle, I've barely got any time in at all on the flute. But I can make it make notes, so I'll play a tune or two.
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