Things I Have Been Paying Attention to Instead of This

I admit it--I am a person given to enthusiasms. When something grabs my fancy, I tend to throw myself into the subject until I reach a certain level of proficiency or understanding, only then to move onto the next hobby. I like to think of my interests as a line of spinning plates--I take the time to get one really going, then move onto the next one. Occasionally, I get distracted, and some of my hobbyplates stop spinning and crash to the ground. As has happened with this interweb online journal space you are reading right now.

So, you know. Oops. Time to sweep up the shards, pull a new plate out of the bubble wrap, and get 'er moving again.

I haven't exactly been idle since last posting. Here are some examples of the demands upon my time:

BABYMANIA!!
Since I last wrote in this space, no less than 5 couples really close to my heart (including two in my immediate family circle) have become preggers. Some have delivered, some are ready to pop, and one has just recently gotten on the pregnancy highway. So, between baby showers, shopping for baby toys, and trying to keep tabs on the baby bjorn vs.ERGO baby debate, I have been distracted, to say the least. In a really wonderful way.

MUSIC!! (BRASS DIVISION)
I have recently been playing alot of trombone. Talk about a hobbyplate that had stopped spinning--Before this year, it had been, oh, I dunno, 10 years since I picked up the olde sackbut. So long, in fact, that the Velogirl had never seen me play it. A situation that is eerily reminiscent of that passage in "To Kill A Mockingbird" where Scout learns that Atticus is handy with a rifle. Although, full disclosure: I have never destroyed a rabies infected animal with my trombone. Year ain't over, though.

MUSIC!! (GUITAR DIVISION)
Two Developments: The first is that I have thrown away all of my guitar picks. I just like the sound of a bare right hand on the strings--sounds warmer and more personal. I ain't a shredder anyways. A real come to Jesus year in that regard.

The second development is that I have decided that I should write more music with the guitar, and record myself for my own personal satisfaction. Since I am not a talented songwriter, every note and phrase comes very slowly. Like, at a song every six months type of pace. Here's a recent example of my efforts, all instrumental like, recorded on my phone in one take on a sunny afternoon. Remember: Judge not, lest ye be an asshole (if link don't work, and you're interested, just cut and paste):

http://www.tunescoop.com/play/313234323530/the-gman-mp3

GOLF!!
The golf bug has bitten, and it has bitten hard. In the past year, I have had a "Music Man" moment with the game, in that I employed the "think method" in regards to my swing (mostly to do with my tempo). Once I picked up a club this spring for the first time in about 7 years, I had discovered that I can hit the ball farther and straighter and more consistently then I ever did before. I guess I just needed time to unlearn all the glitches in my swing. Take that Hank Haney.