Hitting the Right Notes

We have a lot of musically inclined people in my neighborhood. There are singing groups, bands, guitar enthusiasts, the Driveway Drinkers (who prove that you can do two things at once) and the Porch Pickers.The last group is comprised of people who are newer to playing the guitar. The guy who started the group is a friend of mine, and he's been trying to talk me into joining. But I hadn't picked up my guitar in over 45 years, and some of the Porch Pickers play in the large band here, so it was too intimidating for me.

My friend and another of the Porch Pickers decided to offer free guitar lessons. So I had my guitar restrung, and joined the ten others who wanted to give it a try. I had forgotten how long and painful it is to toughen up your fingertips, and I play a classical guitar which has nylon stings instead of metal. I began in May, and stuck with it, practicing every day. (Even though some guitarists from the band still came to the "beginner" sessions. What the heck?) But despite all my efforts, I just could not make a few of the chords work. I don't remember having that issue when I was in my 20s, but maybe I just forgot. At any rate, I was getting frustrated with myself. 

I tried Jim's guitar, which is acoustic and has a little smaller neck. And then I tried a smaller guitar that someone in the neighborhood let me borrow. I wasn't happy with those options. So I decided to try the ukulele! It is, of course, MUCH smaller, and only has four strings instead of six. The strings are nylon as well, and easier on the fingers. I just picked it up on Saturday, and on Sunday I purchased an online program to follow.

The instructor coincidentally was beginning a fingerpicking challenge this week, so I joined in on that as well. I might have bitten off more than I can chew with the challenge, but so far I am really enjoying my experience with the ukulele. I miss hanging out with the other guitarists here, but I hope that I can find someone else who plays the ukulele so that we can practice together. If not, maybe I can find someone online through the Facebook groups. Come tiptoe through the tulips with me!

Yard Critters

The summer has been extremely busy (and hot!), and my area of the country is in a severe drought. We are thankfully getting some rain right now, but they said we would need over 19 inches of rain in a month to get caught up with where we should be. We are under Stage 2 Mandatory Water Restrictions, and are to conserve at home and only water outside on Thursdays and Sundays. We don't have an irrigation system, so that isn't a problem for us, but I do miss being able to wash the car.

A couple of guys in the neighborhood are offering free guitar lessons, so I had my Yamaha classical guitar restrung and have been attending the classes, which are held every other Monday. I practice every day and have built up calluses on my fingertips, but I just can't seem to get the stretch in my fingers to make certain chords. I used to play a bit 40 some years ago, and I don't remember that being a problem in the past. I am getting a little frustrated with it. A friend has a smaller guitar, so I'm going to try it to see if that makes a difference. Another friend has a ukulele, and I messed around with that a bit. I am kind of interested in trying a uke if the smaller guitar doesn't pan out.

We have had a lot of creature activity in both the front and back yards recently. It is so fun to see all the birds, butterflies and lizards around. But recently we were visited by a toad, which was cool. We also had six deer grazing out back, which is highly unusual. Fortunately they were not picking on my plants, but were instead eating the scrub stuff that grows on the hillside. All this action is one of the reasons we wanted to live here, particularly with the lot we were able to get.

yard critters

Yet Another Basal Cell

June 10th was my usual six month checkup with my dermatologist. As usual she found several spots that are precancerous that she zapped with liquid nitrogen. Unfortunately she also found a spot on my left shoulder that she felt warranted a biopsy. Even worse, she told me that she is leaving the dermatology practice where I have been going since my move to Charlotte nearly seven years ago. She will still be practicing in Charlotte, but her new location is further away for me, and also does not have a Moh's specialist on its staff. With my history, I am guaranteed to need that again in the future. So I'll have to decide if I want to leave with her or not. My current practice will not have any female dermatologists at the location I go to once Dr. Seminar leaves. So that might influence my decision as well.

To no one's surprise, my biopsy came back positive for a basal cell carcinoma. I wanted Dr. Seminara to do the ED&C I knew would be required, so I quickly called to see if I could get in before her last day. For the first time, my call was handled by AI. The voice was so good it sounded like a human. It was only when the AI butchered saying Dr. Seminara's name that I realized it was not a real person on the phone. The AI said I couldn't see Seminara since she was leaving soon, and then told me I was being transferred to the Moh's surgery desk to schedule surgery. Fortunately I know enough with my history to understand I did not require Moh's, only an ED&C. But what if I didn't know that? Anyway, I insisted on talking to a real person, and I was able to get my appointment with Dr. Seminar, albeit at a different location than I normally go.

The ED&C went well, and I have now healed from the procedure. I just need to decide which direction I want to go so that I can get a six month appointment scheduled.

basal cell