My dog has fleas

On the first day of every new year, I write out a list of goals on the front page of my journal. I always attempt to hit a multitude of topics and try to not make the goal too general, like “be happy” or “cook more.”

In 2011, I decided I needed to learn a craft and chose to be a balloon artist. You can read all about that adventure HERE and HERE.

This year, I felt the need to learn a musical instrument. I think this comes from my desire to both be cool and look talented. Let the record show that I am, nor have I ever been, anywhere near musically inclined. I’ve never advanced beyond the elementary school recorder.

The sole requirement I had for choosing a musical instrument was that it had to be mobile. The field was quickly narrowed down to harmonica and ukelele. When I ran the option by my Mama, she reminded me that she used to play the ukulele back in the ’60s and could probably find her old “uke” (as the regulars call them) up in the attic.

Vintage is definitely cool. Plus, I like free things.

“HERE IT IS!” she said as she came bustling down the stairs.
Me: “Do you know any songs?”
Mama: “I only know House of the Rising Sun.”

Due to a weird string and some tuning issues, we weren’t able to truly appreciate the magnitude and the emotion of the song as she strummed.

For a mere $20, Guitar Center re-strung and cleaned up Mama’s ukulele. When I picked it up from the kid sporting a mohawk and nose ring, he told me my “uke” was “totally dope” and a collectors item.

See? I felt cooler just carrying it out of the store!

I know what you’re thinking right now, and the answer is yes. This WILL BE the first song I learn on my new uke:

Move over Don. There’s a new Ho in town!

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Sandy
Sandy
July 14, 2012 8:27 pm

ha ha…love those last two lines!

Jenny
July 14, 2012 8:43 pm

Awesome! House of the Rising Sun is the one and only song I can play on guitar too…must be an easy but cool beginner song. Props to your mom (and you) for giving it a go.

baseballmama
baseballmama
July 14, 2012 8:45 pm

i was all set to tell you what to do for fleas. haha

Jillian
Jillian
July 14, 2012 11:43 pm

LOL That was hysterical. I can’t wait to hear how this turns out. Maybe you can learn a love song to strum to Roberto?
If it helps, I had the same goal. My ex gave me a guitar for my bday one year and my goal was to teach myself “So Small” by Carrie Underwood…what really happened was me making up a song called E Minor/G Minor…I’ll let you guess what cords were involved in that song. The guitar has since lived the past 3 years in a box in the closet 🙂
Best of luck to you and the dope uke! I know you’ll make your mama proud! 🙂

Bri
Bri
July 15, 2012 12:18 am

Hey Lincee,

As soon as I saw the title, I was hoping your post was about a ukelele! But I was sooo hoping you’d post a clip of yourself playing “My dog has fleas”! (with vocal accompaniment, of course!)

Now I have the silly song going through my head…
(Google it people – it’s awesome! 🙂 )

heidi
heidi
July 15, 2012 11:57 am

Lincee, you win at life!

AnnaC
AnnaC
July 15, 2012 3:57 pm

Oh man, the print on Lisa’s shorts is so unfortunate. Have fun with the uke! “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a popular song for ukelele-ists to play. 🙂

AmyA
July 16, 2012 8:34 am

There is SO MUCH to love about this post. That clip is one of my favorite scenes from D.D. It’s like a wreck, you can’t help but rubberneck/stare!

Have fun with the Uke! (have you given it a name?? is that something people do the way they name their cars?)

Lass
Lass
July 16, 2012 10:06 am

And I thought you bought a dog! Love the last line. LASS

Kim
Kim
July 16, 2012 10:08 am

I wish you all the best…I can not play anything musically…and I think I sing better than I really do.

Reece
Reece
July 16, 2012 3:18 pm

I love the idea of learning something new every year, that’s awesome! Maybe you can join Eddie Vedder on his next ukele tour? (I think he recently recorded a uke album?).

Cassie
Cassie
July 17, 2012 10:05 am

I still have my ukulele that I learned to play as a kid in the late 70s. I play it from time-to-time (mostly when the noisy dishwasher is on so the neighbours can’t hear). A few basic chords play just about anything. Have fun!

(ahem, ukUlele)

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