Monday, September 22, 2008

Learning and Re-learning


Dear faithful blog readers this blog is brought to you by Epid 554. While I enjoy this class it does not require a lot of brain power. We are watching a very powerful video right now that I will post another time. This entry though will be dedicated to my reminiscing about new hobbies and old hobbies, that are a bit rusty. 

New hobbies:

Banjo- A few weeks I was walking to the school of social work when I came upon a young lad playing his banjo-I should mention that I have been looking for a new banjo teacher since mine graduated last year. Initially, I walked on by but then I realized that it is not everyday that I come across a banjo player, so I went back and asked him if he would teach me to play the banjo. It turns out that he is a new freshman and would be more than happy to be my banjo teacher. Last Friday I had my first lesson. It went really well and I learned that chords for CCR's Bad Moon Rising and Bob Dylans's Mr Tambourine man. I can play the chords and the strumming patterns but the songs are a still a little hard to distinguish. James was lucky enough to get a free concert via Skype. 

Swimming: I am putting this in the new hobby category because although I can get from one side of the pool to the other my doggy paddle is hardly
 majestic. Fortunately my friend Lisa (pictured, but not to be confused with the sexy Michael Phelps pic) was a swimmer throughout undergrad and has volunteered to teach me how to swim. I have been twice and I still can't 
breathe but I have killer backstroke, mainly because it doesn't require putting my face in the water. 

Hobbies Take-2: 

Ceramics- Last winter my tall blond twin moved to Ann Arbor. You may be wondering how a short brunette with really great hair can have tall blond twin (she does have great hair too). Stephanie and I found out that we both went to Snow college, took the same intro to social work class- although we didn't know each other- both went on missions and then ended up at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work. One other commonality we share is we both took Intro to Ceramics at Snow. This week I am going with her to rediscover my lost ceramic love and talent. Although there are no surviving remnants of my first go at ceramics and I got a B in that class- worst grad of my undergrad!-please be assured that I was GOOD! If things go well all of my friends can expect post modern ceramic pieces for Christmas and Birthday presents. Yeah!

Violin-I would also like to take up the violin again. Right now my violin sits underneath my bed but I hope it will see the light sometime soon. I am a bit hesitant though because two of my room mates are master students in the school of music. Hence I will have to find practice times when they are not home so as no to offend their musical sensibilities. 

I encourage anyone who has a lost talent/hobby or would like to develop a new one to go for it. Here is a hobby suggestions for Kirsten: picking up Scottish Laddies or picking up Scottish Laddies for younger, soon to be even more talented, younger sister. 

4 comments:

Stephanie said...

If you heard me play violin, you would have absolutely no concern for my musical sensibilities. If I can handle Mags practicing, I'm sure I can handle you. :)

Kirsten Treff said...

Scottish laddies?...oh, the OTHER Kirsten!
Glad to hear you're keeping yourself busy at school...and that's good advice - I bought a sewing machine with the intent to sew, that's at least a start, right?

mike and chenoa said...

The pic of the squirrel playing the banjo looks just like you! j/k. So do you ever see MP walking on campus?

Elizabeth said...

wow - I am so impressed! I had a banjo for 10 years and never learned how to play it - then I sold it because I felt guilty for never learning. Now I wish I would have found a freshman to teach me. Also, I cant breath under water. I would say we have a lot in common except that a B was your lowest grade. BOOOO :)