Scruggs Roll

I really shouldn't be blogging right now. I should be practicing.

As most of you know by now, Ken is a man with a flair for big, dramatic gestures. He never gets me just one bouquet of flowers, let alone a single red rose. (In fact, he feels that far from being romantic, buying a woman a single red rose is an unparalleled way to demonstrate that you're a cheapskate.) He brings home armloads of flowers. And when he buys me a gift, it's got to be something special. Nothing but the best will do, and more is better.

There has been more than one occasion where he has elicited gasps from onlookers at Soma by approaching the display case holding all the types of truffles and bon bons and asking for one of everything. He doesn't call it decadence. He says it's the least he can do for me.

Ken's generosity is only limited by the number of bills in his wallet. And since he recently got paid for a big project, some pretty fantastic gifts have come my way.

For starters we were browsing in a music store that was having a special sale/music festival. Ken picked out some recording equipment that he needed, and then asked me if I wanted anything. I said No, I'm fine. He said Come on, nothing? Nothing here appeals to you?

Well, I said, those guys over there sure seem to be having a lot of fun with their electric guitars.

Next thing you know we're browsing the electric guitars. It seemed a harmless enough diversion. I picked out my favourite based on looks. Predictably, it was red and sparkly. OK, not red so much as this beautiful dark shade like rootbeer, or cherry cola. Kind of like this one in terms of shape, but swap the white parts for black and you've got it.

Long story short, we drove away from the store with that guitar, in a case, in the backseat of the car. And this wicked lightening bolt shoulder strap. I wish that there was some way to wear the shoulder strap without the guitar, as a fashion accessory unto itself.

Ken promised that he will teach me how to play it. He took lessons for years when he was a lad. Have I played it yet? Nope, haven't found the time. Although so far I get quite a lot of happiness just from owning such a beautiful object. But as if that wasn't enough...

Anytime we've gone into a music store, I've always lingered by the banjos and plucked wistfully at their strings. I don't know what it is about banjos. I just like'em. I have unjustifiable banjophilia.

You can see where this is going.

One day last week I came home grouchy after a tough day at work. When I got home, Ken said to me "There's something wrong with the bed." WTF? I asked myself. What the hell did he do, jump on it or something? Annoyed, I went to see for myself.

There was a very odd-shaped cardboard box on the bed. I was clueless. Of course you already know. I opened up that box, and there was a banjo! Fantastic!

I am very keen on learning to play the banjo. I found some free online lessons and dug out my pitch pipe for tuning. On the weekend I got myself an instructional book and some fingerpicks. I can already do a pretty good Scruggs Roll. I just need someone to play the whiskey jug and someone else on washboard and we're good to go.

I did tell Ken that we shouldn't bring any more new instruments into the house until I get a chance to learn these two. I feel that instruments are meant to be played, not just to sit around and gather dust.

One day I might even go back to my electric violin. We'll see. I gave up on it last year partially due to time constraints, and partially because it's a really tough instrument to play well. Fretted instruments are easier; you don't have to be quite so precise to play in tune. The violin requires posture that's physically demanding (you try turning your left elbow under like that for an hour a day) and tons of practice. Banjo and guitar are more forgiving.

So there you go! Now I can rock out or go bluegrass style. Yeehaw!