Decisions, made…

Mollenhauer Contrabassoons fo' me. Period.

I've owned two Heckel basoons. Biebrich.

I am now, thank God, the owneeer of a fantastic BMW R1150GS motorcycle. I could not be happier. Literally, even my beloved 26 week pregnant wife sees it. Since I've deleted my old posts you can't see it, but those that know me know that I've been riding since I was 11. I LOVE this thing.

I have been and now am playing on bassoon and contrabassoon reeds made in Europe (Italy and Holland and, mostly, Munich - wonder if the guy who makes my reeds also makes the fuel injectors on my motorcycle. Possible?). This is a huge deal. I own the very best bassoon reed making equipment in the known universe and that is _not_ a subjective statement. I have studied this art with the very best bassoonist in this country and I have made reeds for the principal bassoonist of a top five orchestra in the world. But, for my tonal concept and my bassoon I have found that my three suppliers regularly make reeds that I can do _anything_ on. I'm playing more, different, repertoire than I ever thought possible and I think this is due to the quality of these reeds.

I love my Pelikan pen.

My straight razor is made in Sollingen.

I think my Berkenstocks are coming out of the closet soon.

I love things from Germany. They just _work_.