Foggy Mountain Banjo

I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how to spend my gift card I got from some of my students as a congratulations present for my fifth degree. I thought of several things then decided to get myself a banjo... Yes, a banjo!

I've played the guitar for years and a few weeks back I stopped by the small local music store on Main St. They had a six string banjo for sale that was tuned just like a guitar. Sweet, I thought and picked it up to play. It had this kinda fake banjo sound but was easy to play. Then I picked up a open G tuned 5 string banjo and even though I couldn't play any chords yet, it sounded like a real banjo. You know that great sound that just ups the internal happiness quotient.

Went back on Saturday and bought it along with an instructional DVD. Learned to play "Boil Them Cabbage Down" and fell in love. I went back the next day and traded up for a better model as I know that I'll be playing banjo for years to come. I figured why live with the cheap beginner model only to have to trade up in the next year.

I've also started picking out the classic "Dueling Banjos."

Yee Haw!

New Blogger and This and That

I was probably the last amoung us who had not switched to the new blogger or left for greener pastures. I tried to log in under the old blogger then was told that I needed to switch. Then they just switched me. There was not turning back. I hope this works out.

The tax thing turned out OK. I'm getting a refund. YAY! My tax guy said I needed better bookkeeping. "That's what corporations do." Ha! So throwing all my reciepts in my expandable file each month and not looking at them till tax time isn't good enough? Sigh...

In other news, there's an influx of new students at my Martial Arts school right now. There's a cool energy to the place. I told my kids that when we reach a certain goal of paying students, I'd take them to Disney World next October. Looks like I better start planning for this.

I had laryngitis this week. It's hard for me not to be able to speak/yell loudly especially since I had to run belt test on Wednesday. My daughter tested for her Red/Black Belt; the last one before Black. This was pretty significant for her as she's been at her last belt rank for well over a year. She was looking pretty fierce out there. Her Dad drove for over two hours to watch her test. Em, Eduardo, and their kids came to support her also. My son helped with the test and got to be one of her "attackers."

All eight of us went out afterwards to get dinner/desert to celebrate. This was a first. My ex-husband, my kids and my new extended family all sitting, eating, smiling and laughing together. It felt very nice.

Not MIA

Things have been a bit hectic lately. I'm short instructors this week so I've been on the floor teaching 20 classes in 5 days. I really love it but it's very tiring.

I have not forgetten your meme Anne. I will have that list.

I have a tax appointment on Monday. I hate getting ready to do my taxes and it's more complicated this year because I'm now a corporation and I've got to do extra paperwork for retail sales. I've already warned my kids to be on high alert for frustrated, bitchy-mom status.

OHHHHH, poor me! But really, life is good. Fucking taxes! Ha ha ha ha... I'm crazed.