Life Notes

My son turned six! Wow, time flies when you are making a boy into a little man. Just kidding, no helicopter mom here… well, maybe a little bit.

I learned to play Happy Birthday for him on my guitar. He thought it was neat then went to play Ninjago.  I even turned it up and kicked on the reverb. Next time I’ll have to do it with chords instead of just beginner picking.

Things seem to be looking up around here, things could always be better, but life seems to be in motion again after being stagnant for so long. (Notice how this is tied to the economy? Hmmm… rethinking priorities.)

I am still working on getting students for my creative writing classes, http://www.itswrite4u.com but am making strides in the marketing department. I just applied for a great online copywriting opportunity, so that would be lovely, too!

So back to Grace, the guitar that is. Because I am who I am, I purchased a cheapy pedal to get more distortion so maybe I would start sounding so distorted I would sound good. BUT, I thought I had another cord, and didn’t, so I haven’t used it yet. When I do, my neighbors will be the first to know.

Poll: What do YOU think of the new (old) Van Halen. I hate to say it, as much as I love Eddie and 1984, I prefer Van Hagar. Sorry!!!

Thanks for the read. Next time if you are lucky, I’ll post another song!

First off, let me thank God for this beautiful day! It’s 62, sunny and windy in the south. Last year I was stuck inside for what seemed like a month in 8 feet of snow. Ugh!

I’ve put off writing as I keep hoping I will have news to report that I am now a virtuoso or at least notably improved, but I just keep plucking away. It’s funny-not ha ha funny but interesting funny-that learning guitar is just like writing. You must write to get better, but as you keep writing you don’t actually notice you are getting better, it just happens gradually, then at one time someone will comment,”Wow! You’ve totally improved overnight!” Which is never the case. There is no such thing as an overnight success. (Unless of course you’ve made a pact at Mr. Crowley’s or been down at the Crossroads, and I’m not too keen on that. If you don’t understand this, Google it, learn some evil rock and blues guitar lore.)

This conclusion today reminded me of something a friend of mine posted a while back. (Thanks, Lisa!) So I am posting it here. I feel it is appropriate timing as it is also geared to spur on those that are waning in their resolutions or desires.

Ira Glass: “What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”   (These comments were for people creating video, but it seems to apply to all creative endeavors.)   See the video here.

What does this mean? It means I have REALLY, really excellent taste. And maybe that’s why I don’t proceed on projects as I should.

And now for something fun (you thought I’d say completely different, huh?) I walked into the music store a few weeks ago, I found something I would love to get my son someday   A Peavey Marvel Guitar! But why no Ms. Marvel? However, I’d really like him to learn piano first. It seems the most accomplished have had at least some piano. Anyone have an opinion on whether to start on piano or guitar? I’d also like to add he is interested in both, I’m not ‘making’ him do either. I’m good like that.

Keep plucking away.

First, I am sorry I have not been writing on my blog. Bad blogger, bad! Second, even worse, I haven’t played in a while. (gasp! shame!) It’s true. I did play yesterday and will get back in my every day habit, I PROMISE!

My guitar named herself the other day. I was talking to a friend and I said ‘it’s been my saving grace.” And there it is, Grace. So many meanings, all appropriate. What is grace? It is defined here.

What a wonderful word. My guitar even looks graceful; cream, black and subtle curves.

Grace is also the meaning of my name. Nancy means grace, a gift from God. (Thanks God, I appreciate the vote of confidence.) Grace is also one of my many, many nicknames from high school. You see, I fall down… A LOT! And always in some really weird way, in doorways, in big huge mud puddles, at WalGreen’s, going up stairs, going down stairs. I wish I could say I have outgrown this, but no. I can say that in about 40 years I will own stock in LifeAlert.

Grace is also something I lost for a while, that grace under pressure way. I have gotten some of that back. I am again slowly but surely turning back into my self-rescuing princess mode that I pride myself on. I won’t however try to do it all any more. Grace is also about asking for help if you need it.

My hubby and I also like Burns and Allen. Just think, when I put her up at night I can say Goodnight Gracie.

On a completely unrelated subject, have you ever noticed how many songs have Suzie in the title or in the lyrics? Geesh. Can you name some? I can, but I’ll let you comment.

On a related note to the completely unrelated subject, I got spammed, man. The UGG boot people are working the blogs. I guess those boots are really ‘so yesterday.’ If you commented and it never appeared I am sorry. I had to mark them all as spam. Again, I am sorry, but will try to do better on all fronts.

That’s all we can really try to do.

Merry and Happy! Thank you, thank you!

Something clicked, and I don’t mean my ankle, but that clicks, too. I picked up my guitar and it felt natural-ish. Now, I’m still no Chris Thompson, or Steve George w/ Feedback (shout out!) but I do feel like I may actually be making some progress. I am so glad I recorded myself when I first began so I have a measuring point. It was brutally honest, but glad I did it.

Here’s what else clicked, if you ask someone a stupid question, don’t be surprised when they make you feel twice as stupid for asking. Sometimes you just have to ask though, especially when you don’t know something about your guitar’s workings. From this I learned the old saying ‘no one can make you feel bad without your permission’ or the proper quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” I let this person change my evening by putting all those inferior feelings on me for about an hour, that’s when I remembered that quote and also remembered that I’m 40 and not letting it happen. Voila! Good mood back.

Dare I say – knock on heavy, solid, wood, I’m feeling pretty happy these days. I’m writing, still interning and feeling more ‘writer’ than ‘jobless’. I have loads of potential in my business plan I’ve devised. The future is good. My kids are the best in the world, and I know you think yours are, but I must disagree. Sometimes, just sometimes, through adversity comes victory. I believe it is on its way, fully. (Come on, Lotto!)

I went to my favorite place in the world today, the bookstore. First, a flip through the Steve Jobs biography (I’ll take this for Xmas if a family member is reading) where I saw the exact part I needed. The day he died “they” posted the ad about crazy people/genius that never aired. I loved it. I teared up. Now THAT is a great ad.

Then, I went to look at the comic books, well because I can say it was for my boy-child, but I wanted to see, then I looked at the calendars because I need a good one. Then went to the biography section because I love a good bio. When I was little I read the Maria Tallchief bio over and over and over and… Anywho, I picked up Brad Paisley’s – don’t know why, maybe a cover with a good looking man and a guitar will sell more books than a good title.  I flipped to a page that talked about him learning to play. He pointed out Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour policy (that’s how many hours it takes to do something). Brad, stated this and sited that if you can get through the first 100 hours of this you may well be on your way.

So thanks Steve, Brad, Malcolm for giving me words I needed today. And thanks Maria, too, you are one of the reasons I still have fabulous turnout.

Or not. But things have been going okay, knock on alder wood.

Last post I said I wasn’t coming back until I had something good for you (i.e. adult equivilent of a tantrum). I don’t know that I would say it’s good, but it is progressing. I do still have quite a few issues with changing chords in time. A teacher once told me not to worry about the fingering just keep it in time if the chord isn’t there it’s okay, it will happen, but I have a really hard time doing that. I also need to tune my guitar so I apologize for the sound of it, but here’s a very ROUGH rendition of Knockin on Heaven’s Door (Well a little bit of it anyway). It came up in Win Media Player for me, give  a moment or two, please.

Knockin on Heaven’s Door 10 11

I also mentioned last time I (by I, I mean me and boychild) was about to do the first kindergarten assignment which was making apple creatures. He picked a superhero. Little girlchild made crazy-eye apple.

Now, on a different note, I sent a book off to the world of publishing, cross your fingers. I also decided what I want to do for a living as proofreading is just not viable in Arkansas without any publishers around, especially since I haven’t been previously employed by one. However, I like my new direction, and I am making a business plan to see if it is a viable option. It may be a try it and see what happens kind of dealio, which truth be told scares the bejeezus out of me, but in this economy what doesn’t scare us?

Last week I sat my broke self on the floor in a bookstore and looked at several guitar books, apparently, I am on the right track. I did locate a list of several songs that can be played with three chords or less like Johnny B Goode, Whole Lotta Love, Folsom Prison, Pride and Joy and several others that I was surprised to see. I do want to learn notes, I like the lead parts, but I can’t go there until I get my fingers to cooperate with me more. Merrily I will continue practicing Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and add another little ditty to the mix.

Thanks SO MUCH for the readership and the comments! I really appreciate it.

I’m blogging to say that I am not blogging today. I am so irritated at my lack of progress I refuse to comment more on it until I have somethng that resembles music! So there!

No, I’m not a perfectionist or down on myself about this at all.

I am officially discouraged about my progress. After beating myself up a bit (’cause that’s what I do) I decided the only way to get better is to practice more/longer. (There’s a concept.)  I’m really, really tired of trying to play “beginner songs.” There’s nothing worse for your self-esteem than NOT being able to play Ol’ Red River Valley or whatever it is.

I climbed online and found some easy TAB songs. I am learning to play the chord parts to “Knocking On Heaven’s Door.” A) Because it’s supposed to be super-easy and B) I know this song. I’ll say I am playing the GnR version just to make me feel special.

It is G D Am and G D C, G D Am and G D C, over and over and over and over… There, you try too!

The repetition is helpful and the chords are nice together. It gives my fingers a work-out and I feel like I might have a fighting chance at learning and switching on time with it. I’ll try to record it if I learn it so you can hear my awesomeness. (I’m working on the beginner self-esteem thing here, just act like you think I mean that.)

This is my weekend homework. I also have to make a creature out of an apple for my son’s school homework. I’ll show pictures of that one. I am so NOT crafty.

On a different note, I DVR’d the 10 Years Later Concert for New York and have been watching it in small doses. I couldn’t/didn’t watch the first time. I cry watching now. However, I started thinking what are the biggest names? How would you fill an arena with the ultimate concert? So far on it I’ve seen Mick & Keith, Bon Jovi, The Who, Elton, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney’s just starting… are there any others that you would automatically put in? Not just your favorites but the big concert-filler-headliners. Just food for thought. Comment and add your opinion.

Thanks for the read and comments!! BTW if your comment doesn’t appear asap bear with me, I’m preparing for a neighborhood garage sale. I’m tempted to put a sign out front that says “Writer’s Home - if you need to buy anyone’s stuff, it is mine.”

P.S. I found Twitter. I’m only tweeting celebs. Not in a stalker-y way. Just because I think it’s funny.

P.P.S. Yes, 40-year-old-English-major-geek-alert, I put a P.S. on my blog.

“Music is all around, you just have to listen.”

Okay, all I can say is life got in the way of my playing. My boy-child started kindergarten and I was like a lost puppy without my boy buddy. I’m better now. God help me when they actually go to college or get married. Of course, as my boy pointed out to me this weekend I would be 80 when he was 40. Thanks kid.

So… here’s the random thoughts that have been circling in my head and through my fingertips this past 2 weeks. (That was not meant to sound dirty.)

Joan Jett: So awesome and such an underrated guitar player. She was however, the only female to be ranked in the Rolling Stone list. She made her own career because *gasp* she’s a female. Give her props. Give her a spot in the R&R Hall of Fame for goodness sakes. I caught a rerun of an Oprah episode where she was playing/singing with Miley Cyrus. She plays even better now and sounds (and looks!) the same. Miley was okay, she has that raspy voice too, but I did the think apocalypse was coming when I saw Oprah singing “Cherry Bomb” in the audience. I remember buying the 45 to I Love Rock ‘N Roll. Ahhh, the good old days. I’ll be hitting 80 soon, I’ve mentioned the good ol’ days. Sorry I digress… Give Joan some love and another listen this week. There’s no pretense, just great rock.

What I’m Working On: I’m going back and forth on my chords, trying to get some kind of speed or at least ease of transition when playing. I’m also still working on notes on the first four strings. I did think I’d be a bit better than I am now, but I’m still playing and I’m still trying. I’m not giving up and I’m not letting it get me down. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Joe Satriani.

Life Lessons: When my kids get frustrated trying to learn to read, write or spell. I whip out the out the old guitar and say I don’t know how to play, it takes practice, I haven’t given up and you can’t either. I feel like it might be nice to know parents aren’t perfect or know it all.

War Wounds: I hurt my thumb and couldn’t play for a bit. I used Bio-Freeze. Awesome stuff for sore spots.

Thanks for the reads and comments everyone!