Do you have a bucket list? I do, I call it "the list". One of the things that has been on it since day one is to:

- Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

I've never learned how to play anything. I was driving in the car the other day and I was listening to Hawaiian music (like I love to listen to) and all the sudden it hit me.

I want to learn how to play the ukulele.

So I emailed Troy:

All I want for Christmas is a Ukulele. I'm serious.

He had to call to verify. "Is this a joke?"

"Umm, no, not in the slightest, I want a ukulele"

Troy: "Where am I going to get a ukulele 3 days before Christmas"

Sonja: "I don't know, ask Santa maybe"

Troy's entire family is "musical". His aunt is an opera singer, his mom is a music teacher, and all of Troy's family plays instruments. Troy plays the trombone, but not really any more. Oddly there is never music playing in his parents house when I am over there.

So Troy enlisted the help of his mom and low and behold, waiting for me under the tree this Christmas was:

Oh dear, now what do I do with it? I really liked just strumming it and I would have been content to just walk around strumming for a couple weeks. It really puts you in the island mood. But low and behold, as luck would have it, they got me "Ukulele Book #1" as well, so I immediately delved into it.

Annie is opening presents in the background and what am I doing? I'M LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE UKULELE. Bad mom!

So ever since Saturday, whenever I am practicing the ukulele, I look confused, like this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

If I start looking too confused, then Troy comes over and tries to teach me things. I'm thinking of getting him his own guitar or ukulele but I secretly think that he tries to help just so he can get his hands on my ukulele. There may or may not have been a few squirmishes the past few days over the ukulele.

We've had to set some ground rules. Troy can not just pick my my ukulele and start playing better than me. Troy can not try to teach me music stuff unless I am ready and willing to learn it. And lastly, Troy must help me when it's out of tune and I can't get it back in tune.

Once we laid those out, it's been smooth sailing.

Except my fingers. Ohhhh, my fingers. This is seriously why I haven't blogged. My fingers hurt so bad from playing. I practice until I can't play the F chord anymore and then I know it's time for bed.

I love my ukulele, even though it's really hard to play and I am totally, 100% out of my element. I've set some goals and I'm content to work diligently in the direction of them. I think it will be a nice relaxing distraction during training season. A way to engage the brain....and the fingers.

I'm sure you wanted me to end this post with a nice little video but if you thought that would happen then you are sorely mistaken.

Here's to learning new things, and getting in the island mood every evening.