True Friends

I love my friends...all of them...but inevitably they leave, get married, get new jobs, start families...and life moves in different directions...so it's absolutely amazing and fantastic, when you get to touch base with one such friend, and find that you pick up where you had left off! I think that dynamic is part of the definition for a "True Friend".

What brought this on, you might ask. A family friend, Chris Ziehm. He was up here in the Navy. Laurie and I got to know him through YSA. He was Charlie's friend first, but then Laurie and I adopted him as our own. ;) He's been gone for 2-ish years, and came up to visit. It's like NOTHING has changed, and I love it! He's the handsome boy in the picture, by the way. :)

Guitars

So...I have started teaching myself how to play...I really enjoy music, and learning how to play has been rewarding! I bought an Epiphone Les Paul 100 last May, I think...and I think it was a good guitar to start learning on, but I think it's too small for me...It plays really nice, the fret board is nice and smooth...and I am constantly surprised how well it stays in tune...even with new strings. Here's a picture of it...



So back to the too small thing...I would like a guitar with a longer body...My grandpa had a Guild guitar that I know of...but had Gretsch drums...so we like Gretsch. Below is the guitar that I have my eye on.

It's a bit more expensive than the Epipone I bought, but it's a better quality guitar. I did a little more research and found out there's a dealer down in Langley. So...I'll probably sell the Epiphone...my first baby...but it'll be ok. Change is good. :)

Something that made me laugh tonight...

I'm sitting here finishing up some things for my Seminary lesson tomorrow...looking for some pictures to share with the kids, and I came across the coolest picture EVER!


I'm sure it's totally appropriate...if nothing...it'll get a laugh out of them at 6:10 in the morning. ;)

Sewing machine

We're out of staples...


So...my sister just used her sewing machine to bind some papers together...


Another amazing thing you can do with a sewing machine!

Guitarin'

So...
I have had my guitar for a little bit now. I go in spurts where I play a lot, and then I don't. Right now, I'm playing a lot...every night for an hour at least. My fingers are gettin' used to it and are all calloused pretty good. :)

I can now play a variety of songs...here's my list:

Island in the Sun - Weezer
Dreamin' - Weezer
I'm gone, I'm going - Lesley Roy (I found this song on Rock Band 2)
I don't care - Fall out Boy
Decode - Paramore
I caught myself - Paramore
Here we go again - Paramore
I'm yours - Jason Mraz (for Laurie)
Linger - The Cranberries
About a Girl - The Academy Is...
Phrase that pays - The Academy Is...

Seems like a bigger list than I thought it would. I really enjoy playing, and now that I'm getting the hang of things, I look forward to learning more songs, and more stuff! I'm truly grateful for music in my life, and I feel like I've accomplished something I should have done a long time ago. I'm my own Rhythm section - Drums, Bass (i got one), guitar!

Jingle Bells

She's cute...'nuff said... :)

Message in a Bottle

Have you heard this song by The Police? The Police are one of my ALL-TIME favorite bands! I have probably listened to that song a bazillion times...

Last night, over at Tara's, we played Message in a Bottle..I didn't realize what we were playing, and picked "EXPERT" on drums.

I have to say, that I was impressed I didn't die at all...the problem I find with Rock Band and drums is that I can play a lot of those songs for reals...you know on a real drumset. But when I get in Rock Band and try to play, they just mess it all up...plus I don't have cymbals (What I wouldn't give for cymbals!).

I might be bragging a little bit...but it was fun! I might be a little more adventurous when it comes to drum parts on Rock Band now. I had a lot of fun with Tara, John, Charlie, Erin & Brea (sp?)...They are a RIOT!

Paramore and Torrie

So tonight, Laurie and I went to my parents house for some pre-thanksgiving Mexican food, and I think the idea was to help bake. Whatever... :) I decided to bring my guitar and amp with me. I've been trying to learn the 2 paramore songs from the Twilight soundtrack.

let me start a little further back...

A couple weekends ago, Laurie and I got to spend the day with our niece, Torrie. She'll be 4 in March. She's hysterical! On the way to Burlington to go shopping, we were listening to some Paramore. And, one of the songs from the Twilight soundtrack came on, and she was singing it in the back seat! It was awesome!

So, that's why I decided to try and learn the songs. So, tonight, I took my guitar and little amp to my parents house. Torrie asked all sorts of questions about why I had brought this stuff over. And, I told her I was gonna play her a song.

So, after dinner, I broke out my guitar, Drop D tuned it, and started to play "Decode" by Paramore. (My amp has audio outlets so that I can plug my ipod into it, and play along with a song...it's sweet!) She was singing to it, and it's a relatively easy song to play, so I was singing along. The looks she gave me as we played and sang together were absolutely priceless...hopefully tomorrow I can get a video of it...it was awesome!