Hai! I Haz Ukulele

Be afraid. Be very afraid...

Yes! I know this is NOT the proper grip

Yes, I haz a ukulele. I've never, at any time in my life, and I suspect in any prior lives, ever attempted to play a musical instrument of any form.

So why on earth did I buy one? Well, I have several reasons.

It's on my bucket list

I don't really have a bucket list, but if I did, I imagine playing a musical instrument would be on it.

It's far less annoying than the accordion

I believe there is a special place in hell for squeezeboxes and those who play them. I'm also not of French decent. I'm mostly English, Scottish, and German. Yes, I think bagpipes are cool, and no they're nothing like accordions. Not even close.

It was inexpensive

I could have purchased on as cheap as $20 but it would have been little more than a toy. From what I've read they are really difficult to fret properly and sound like a toy. I'd love to drop a couple of hundred on a good one, but thought it would be prudent to go with a $40 Kala Makala MK-SD/GN Dolphin Bridge Soprano Ukulele. I can always blow money on a better one someday.

I can carry it around easily

The thing is only 21 inches long. Can't carry it around in my back pocket like a harmonica, but then I don't really want to play the harmonica.

My kids play instruments

Lydia plays the flute and Sean is into his first year of trombone. They get free instruction from school, have youthful reflexes, and plastic brains. Sean gets free private lessons from a dear friend of ours who has been playing for a gazillion years. I'm immensely jealous. I have no idea why I didn't want to do this when I was a kid. My sister played clarinette in school for a short time but the thought never crossed my mind. Been kicking myself since they started.

John Scalzi pays one

Not really a reason other than to say he has no shame and neither do I. :-)

Meet the Ukulele

John Scalzi and His Fabulous Ukulele Play The Radiohead Hit "Creep."

John Scalzi plays "Redshirt" on the ukelele

It's supposed to be easy to learn

Not sure if this is true or not. At least for me. There are plenty of beginner lessons on YouTube and a couple of web sites with tutorials. Meh, we'll see.

Online Ukulele Tuner
How to Tune a Ukulele
Play Hundreds of Songs With Just Three Chords!

I can learn to play the intro to Stairway To Heaven on it

As anyone from my generation (and most likely everyone since) knows, it is the obligatory main riff you must learn when playing a stringed instrument. How can you resist it?

Google Search: Ukulele Stairway To Heaven Tutorial

John Scalzi, Redshirts, and frosting

I found out late yesterday that my favorite author, John Scalzi, was signing books at Schuler's Books in Lansing, MI. last night. I didn't really have time to drive out to see him on such short notice but knowing just how geeked I am about science fiction she just said "go." I love my wife.

I started reading Scalzi after "Old Man's War" came out. I'm a big fan of Heinlein, and had heard the style of "Old Man's War" was much like his. Awesome series!

John Scalzi at Schuler's Books

Scalzi's latest book, "Redshirts", is a humorous parody of the tendency for red shirted Ensign's to die on  Star Trek away missions (e.g. Ensign Ricky.) I haven't had a chance to read it yet so a review will have to wait, but from what I've heard it's really funny.

Redshirts
They were expendable...
Until they started comparing notes.

It just so happened that I was fortunate enough to win a free copy of "Redshirts" from Julia Sherred's blog, "Geeky Pleasures." And, the book arrived in the mail the same day as the signing event. And, the event did not require you to purchase a copy of the book to get it signed! Doesn't get much better than that. 


John proceeded to read several selections from his writing and to answer several questions before signing books.


A recent post on John's blog, Whatever, included various statements concerning yummy cake frosting including "NO I AM NOT ADDICTED TO FROSTING I CAN STOP AT ANYTIME STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT" (emphasis is John's, not mine.) He also asked us to please not bring any tasty frosting to the event. So, of course, I did. With sprinkles.

Cake Frosting Bliss

Yours in frosting!

Thank you Mr. Scalzi and Schuler's Books for a memorable event!