ukulele!

It's just fun to say, and even more fun to attempt to play something that sounds somewhat recognizable on my new ukulele.  I'm getting there.  It's quite the learning curve cause I've never played a stringed instrument.  But, it's on "the list."  You know, the list of goals that I made 5ish years ago.  I've been a bit behind on "the list" but better late than never!  Other good things?  The ukulele fits in my car.  This is a requisite of the things that I acquire in my life.  If it doesn't fit, I don't get it.  A good strategy for a minimalist lifestyle.

This was not the case this past summer when I inherited my grandparent's player piano unexpectedly.  Awhile ago (high school times?) I think that I mentioned to my grandpa that I would eventually like to have it.  High school Katie had no idea that 30 year old Katie would move around so much, it sounded like a good plan at the time.  Well, my grandpa never forgot.  So when South Dakota opened the levies which caused flooding of my grandparent's house/farmland/community/roads; the piano, which sat in their basement, made a move to my parent's house.  I love that piano.  I'm so glad that I "have" it (especially since my grandfather passed away not long after he gave it to me) but it's not easily moved to say the least.  So, there's my rule broken about possessions and acquisitions.  But it's okay.  I've got my ukulele until I have space and the means to have the piano.  It's all working out.

I've found that Ukulele Hunt is a great website for not only beginners, but to inspire you to play some new (and a lot harder) stuff.  The first song I learned?  Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones.  It's not pretty, and I can't play it quite as fast as those guys do, but it's easy.  I'm toughening up my fingers, and you don't really have to be a great singer for this one.  I'm also challenging myself to learn a sweet song by Eddie Vedder from his album aptly named Ukulele Songs.  It's so, so good!  It's going to take some practice though.  I promise to invite you all lakeside by a bonfire to premiere this one.  I feel that's the only way to go about it.