The saddest ukulele

In July 2010, I bought myself something I had been lusting over for months.

The prettiest ukulele there ever was. 

 I had big plans for this ukulele.  We were going to go on adventures together. I was going to learn to play the Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl,”, and entertain my friends at our regular picnics in the park, as we frolicked in the open grasslands amongst the royal deer.

(At that time, picnics and parks were actually a regular part of my life.  So were royal deer. And public consumption of wine and strawberries)

Alas, my dreams were not meant to be. I learned to play maybe 3 chords with the help of Ukulele Mike and this guy, and then that whole “graduate school” and “30,000+ word dissertation deadline” became a little more important, and the ukulele was set aside. 

Where’s the prettiest ukulele now? It’s in its canvas bag in my front closet, silently weeping and collecting dust.   

So friends, I have a favor to ask. Please help me fulfill my daydreams of playing my ukulele for you.  I don’t need royal deer to do this, but I do need encouragement. And wine.  But mostly encouragement and some lessons. 

If anyone knows how to play the ukulele and wants to volunteer to teach me, I promise I will dedicate a song or two to you at my first public performance of “Surfer Girl.”  Hopefully that takes place in a park under a tree somewhere in the sunshine.

Plans in the making

Planning things makes me happy. I like looking at my ever-present calendar and seeing exactly what I’m doing for the next 4 weekends. And when I don’t have plans for a particular weekend, I smile and become excited about all the things I can do in all that free time.  And then I make plans. 

For me, making plans far in advance keeps me level-headed, yet wildly excited.  So, here is a list of some fun/exciting/routine things I have planned for in the next few months. This list can also be named “Extremely Random Things I’m Excited About.”

- Sara comes to visit this weekend! Years of living just a couple hours apart, and finally she is making the journey. I think she’ll like Philly- I know I do. I already told her she WILL be running up the Rocky steps for my amusement, and she WILL jump up and down at the top, and she WILL share many cheesesteaks with me.          

- Snow tubing in the Poconos.  There is nothing better than flying face first on a rubber tube down a slick snowy hill for hours.  In freezing temperatures.  And then going back to a cozy cabin and having a pajama party with your favorite friends.         

- Volunteering at Philly Craft Beer Fest.  4 hours of being an expert on whatever beer I happen to be serving at that moment, and then getting to drink whatever beer I want for free and without having to wait in line.  And I get a free t-shirt and a hot dog.         

- Getting my hair trimmed and highlighted in March. Right now my hair is looking pretty….awesome. Actually, no, just the opposite. It’s in that weird, in-between stage that loves to flip out a la Carol Brady. Luckily, its able to fit back in the tiniest little ponytail, so when it starts flipping out (literally and figuratively), I can punish it by pulling it back. 

       
- Trips! So many trips to take. Not sure if you can tell, but Rhett and I like to travel. Within one month of dating, we went on our first trip to Austin, TX. Since then we have been to about 10 different countries together, and I don’t know how many states. Over the next several months, we plan on going to Boston to visit Jackie, John, and Baby Benjamin, NYC and/or D.C, Colorado over Memorial Day weekend, and then finally, our big summer Europe trip- 2 weeks in England, France, and Spain. A return to our favorite old stomping grounds, with plenty of friends to visit along the way. :)        

- Meeting new babies.  That’s a weird thing to plan for, but I am so excited to meet Baby Benjamin, Baby Jen/Kevin (not sure of name or sex of baby yet), and reunite with Baby Ryan. Until I meet these babies, I get to play with Baby Dominick, my favorite Philly baby. 

Question: What are you looking forward to?

Yada, yada, yada

It’s January 17.

I haven’t made an official New Years Resolution.

January is more than half over.  

Yikes.

Luckily, I take New Years Resolutions fairly lightly. I’m not one to allow time to dictate when I make one or how long I have to fulfill it…or not fulfill it.  Last year, for example, I made a New Years resolution in January, and didn’t start “resolving” it until July.

While I haven’t been resolving, I have been working. And smiling because I like my new job so much. 

And going to the movies. 

And sitting on my futon watching movies, comedians and hilarious new-to-me shows. 

Speaking of comedians, I’ve also been  seeing Jerry Seinfeld performing live at the Academy of Music last Saturday (brilliant, as always).

Thanks to my lovely friend Danielle, I’ve also been taking pictures on my fancy camera….ON MANUAL SETTING.  That’s right.  Danielle is taking a digital photography course since she got a new Canon Rebel, and being the free-loading friend I am, I coerced her into showing me some settings on her camera.  Since my brain shuts down at the sign of numerals (and manual setting involve plenty of those), it takes simple instruction to guide me in the right direction, which is exactly what she did.  Thanks Danielle! 

The first half of the first month of the new year has been wonderful. I’ve relaxed, I’ve worked out, I’ve used my brain at the office.  Let's keep up the trend, shall we?

Happy birthday, Will!

On January 7, 2009, my nephew Will was born.

I love everything about this little guy. I love his cheeks, I love his personality...

...and I love the sweet little boy he is today.

Happy 3rd birthday, Will! Lots of birthday hugs and kisses. xoxoxo  Love Auntie Meagan