UKE! February 12, 2007

I got a ukulele!

    My orange Mahalo Ukulele (chihuahua for scale)

I am SO excited. I didn't even know I really wanted one. I mean, I saw Celia's bass uke, and thought it was the coolest, but didn't want to shell out the money for one right off the bat. I have a track record with instruments -- I can pick out melodies badly on the fiddle. I can read music slowly and badly on the piano. I have played the same six or seven chords on the guitar my whole life and have never improved.

But the ukulele! It's so not-intimidating! Only four strings, and it's just so nice to me. Even if you hit a wrong chord, it's pretty forgiving. I am having trouble with being able to play and sing at the same time, especially in a song with triplets like Crazy. The whole strumming thing is hard for me. But that will get better with practice, right?

I like how it just sits on my little desk next to my computer, so when the internets are being slow, I can just pick it up and play a little.

LOVING it.

In other news, I mopped. For some reason I always think the best time to do that is when it's raining, which it is, and then I wait for an hour for the floors to dry.

And we went to the beach (before the mopping, thankfully), and I brought home a Harriet and a Sand Monster.

Imagine. Her whole body. Every, single time. Thank god for the Dyson.

The cats are good, for those of you send nice emails about them -- Adah is still the neighborhood sweetheart, and Digit is still grumpy. He's been grumpy since birth. But they've both finally recovered from the move (a year ago this week! Can you IMAGINE?) and they ignore the dogs as much as possible. Digit still gets in bed and sucks on the sheets. My big, grumpy boycat. Cat of my heart. I should go see if he wants in from this rain.....

UKE! Whee!

Comments

[Erin]

Essential listening (and inspiration!) for lovers of the Uke: the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. (tried to paste in the link; failed -- but it's the first result on Google) Especially "The Meaning of Life."

[TracyKM]

In my area, the Catholic elementary schools taught ukulele, and public schools got the recorder. Us public kids always thought the uke was not a real instrument. But I just saw William Macy play it on Oprah!
And how's the knitting machine? :)

[Wendy]

Uau for ukeleles!

[Marcia]

I played the baritone uke in 6th grade, thru about middle school, I guess.

Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham was my first song. My sister taught me. I then went on to The Streets of Laredo and a couple Bob Dylan tunes.

My 4 ft 8inch grandmother, who wore size 4.5 shoes and a DD bra, played a 12 string guitar. I always felt so inadequate, in light.

[Katy]

Hey! I just got a ukulele too! Mine is a lime green Flea ukulele (as played by kid/family musician Dan Zanes)--pics are on my blog. My kids and I are loving it. Enjoy!

[Nadia Lewis]

That's one cute instrument!

[Katy]

p.s. after years of avoiding all songs that required me to attempt an F chord on the guitar, I am loving the Ukulele fingerings.
(Except for the D7 and the B--those are a PITA. ;) )

[Angela M]

Delurking here... :) I've been thinking about getting a ukulele too. Did you pick yours up at a local music store?

[frecklegirl jess]

I think ukulele is the new hit instrument. I have seen them on tv twice within the last week- okay, one was the national geographic channel but still. ;)

I love the chihuahua for scale- hehe. Or is it just a guitar and a really big chihuahua?

[frecklegirl jess]

I think ukulele is the new hit instrument. I have seen them on tv twice within the last week- okay, one was the national geographic channel but still. ;)

I love the chihuahua for scale- hehe. Or is it just a guitar and a really big chihuahua?

[Celia]

Aha! Uke! COOL!!!!!!

[Jackie]

You lucky duck, you! I've been dreaming of getting a banjo uke for ages!

[Jennifer]

Thank God for You Tube - we'll be waiting for the video of your debut Uke concert in a future post. The dogs look like they had a blast.

[Carrie]

Yay for the ukelele! How fun is spelling that word? And the schmoos. So cute.

[Carrie]

Except that I spelled it wrong.

hahahahahahahahahaha.

[denny Mcmillan]

tip toe through the two lips, la la la la la la
oh tip toe through the two lips with me,

well not me cause I going on hoilday with my family for 5 weeks in Australia.

So tip toe in the tuilps for me.

[Terry]

I love the doggie updates. Clara really is showing you the active side of Border Collies. She's so lucky to have you because you take her to fun places like the beach! Too cute!

[alison]

I can't believe it's been almost a year since you moved in! And yay for the uke! Boo to all that sand, though -- yikes.

[maggi]

Fun! The Wee C is still looking up and asking Santa for a guitar, despite having received a groovy concertina this year. Maybe a uke is more her speed . . . XXO

[Janice in GA]

Dude, we have a picture of our Sasha once when we were at the beach. She ran in the surf, and then came back out soaking wet and rolled in the dry sand! She was COVERED with sand. It's hilarious, so I know exactly what you mean.

My Jasper dog jumps on us if we say "Mahalo!" No idea why. :D Have fun with the uke!

[Irene Johnston]

Just stopping by to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your blog (from the beginning!). You sure can write, so keep up the good work and get those novels finished because if they are anything like your blogging they are sure to be bestsellers. I came to your blog because of the knitting but I stayed for the entertainment. You have a very colorful life and a wonderful attitude to boot! Irene in Winnipeg

[Briana]

NIIIICE! I just bought a mandolin, it arrived two days ago. I already broke a string.

If we get a jug and a washboard we would be UNFORGETABLE! ;-)

[Ellen Bloom]

I've been playing the uke for about a year now. I also knit and crochet. The uke is the most wonderful instrument! I love it.
I have a FLUKE and another uke that my brother handcrafted for me.
When I was a kid I played campfire guitar and banjo. The uke is waaaay more forgiving and waaaaay more fun. Enjoy it!

Ellen Bloom
Los Angeles

[Ellen Bloom]

Hey! Are you going to Stitches West next week? If you are going, will you bring your uke? I'll bring mine if you bring yours!!

Ellen Bloom
Los Angeles

[Amy Boogie]

The Ukulele is beautiful. Forgivable huh? I never quite got the hang of the guitar...

I love the sand monster face!

[Anne]

He sucks on the sheets! Oh, kitten... My boys are wool-suckers all the way.

[Amy]

A wheel, a wife, a superdog and now.. a ukelele?! Your life just keeps on improving dear Rach. You just keep on growing and learning, good for you!

[Amy]

A wheel, a wife, the house, a superdog and now.. a ukelele?! Your life just keeps on improving dear Rach. You just keep on growing and learning, good for you!

[kitkatknit]

me love sand monster

[bekka]

i love how the ukulele sounds. good luck with that! i too have a guitar that i've not done much with. and then there's the accordion. i started taking lessons in october and i've stuck with it so far.