Tone Parsons

When I decided that I wanted to learn the guitar, I knew I would be a learning experience. I went in with realistic expectations that I wouldn’t be good at it any time soon. I wasn’t, however, expecting to totally suck at it.

Holy crap… it’s hard!

Getting my fingers to move in unnatural ways while trying to pick the right string is far more difficult than I thought. If I watch my fingers, I miss the strings. If I watch the strings I’m picking, my fingers go all over the damn place.

Of course, I’ve only had one lesson, and that was only a few days ago.

I have noticed that it is getting ever so slightly easier though. I’ve been practicing for 15 – 20 minutes a couple times per day (that’s about all the frustration I can take in a sitting). Hopefully by the time my next lesson comes around (that’s in 3 days), I’ll be somewhat better and will be able to learn something new.

Well… I can dream, can’t I?

Oh yes… I’m a posting fool this morning!

To say that today is a little brisk is an understatement.

When I left the house today, it was 1° (-17° c). After running for 5 minutes, my wife’s jeep still hadn’t defrosted the ice from the windshield. I am, however, totally thankful that we opted for the heated leather seats!

It had warmed up to a tropical 2° (-16.6° c) by the time we got downtown. With a light breeze, it felt much colder. Now that I’m at work (in Liberty Lake, a town just east of Spokane), the temprature is -3.3° (-19.6° c).

For those of you who have never experienced temperatures like this, let me explain the sensation: Everything in your nose immediately freezes, you face becomes hard to move, and if you’re male… well, lets just say “shrinkage” and leave it at that.

There is relief in site, though… we’re expecting to have a high today of 15° (-9° c). I’ll be getting out of my sweater and into my shorts and t-shirt for sure!

Finally… if you happen to live in the area and are crazy enough to go outside, please keep an eye out for my left testicle. I’m pretty sure it fell off.

Oh… and in case you’re wondering what weather like that does to a pond with flowing water, I present to you a photo (taken with my phone… so it’s not great).

There are fish in there, and they’re just fine.  It’s hard to see, but in the middle of the photo is a small waterfall… it’s completely frozen.

It’s day two of the week, but it’s monday all over again.

I’m still beating my head against the screen trying to finish up the Flex2 application I’ve been tasked to write (it’s pretty, it has potential, it doesn’t work).  If I had a book on the language, that might help A FRIGGIN’ TON, but I don’t…. so I’m winging it.

Google searches aren’t helping much (and I’m the king of the google search!), and I’m getting more disinformation than useful information.

Fun!

But… as always… I’ll figure it out, make it work, and deliver the damn thing on time.

On a totally unrelated note… I smell a lawsuit! (though I doubt it’s intentional)