Learning Piano...

Back in September, my fiancee's mother (my future mamma-in-law) gave us her piano. She lives right across the street so it wasn't too bad of move, with the help of several friends. In the past couple of months, I've been doinking around on it, trying to learn how to read/play sheet music. I'm kinda understanding some of the basic concepts but it's seems really tough. I am SO slow. I know It'll take tons of practice before I even come close to being able to play decent. But "my G" just came along and taught me a little warm up drill before playing. She taught me the whole-whole-half-whole pattern of the chords to practice on both hands. I just got finished practicing for about 1/2 hour and my fingers are SO warmed up. In fact, I turned on the computer to check some stuff out on the Internet and I just can't believe how fast and accurately I'm typing right now. It's incredible how those exercises are making me type like I've never typed before. Before I ever have to type a paper, I'm going to hop on the piano to get my fingers all ready...

Five things you REALLY wouldn't have known 'bout me...

After looking at what I posted for "Five Things You Might Not Know About Me", I was thinking, "Hmmm... that didn't really say much 'bout me." Here are some more personal tidbits about me:

1. (after reading Bossch's) After three months of stealing from various stores during my senior year in high school, I finally got caught at Rite Aid - stealing a radar detector. My life of crime started when a friend dared me to get something for him. It continued with me getting away with various items: CDs, food, clothes, shoes, and even a bike. And it was always for other people. I never kept any of the things I took. My parents grounded me for the remaining six months of senior year. Those "friends" who got me into it stopped hanging with me... which, in hindsight, was a blessing in disguise. Those guys got into tons of trouble...

2. Up until I was in kindergarten (or even first grade), I would pee in bed a lot. For fun. Okay, that's not true. There's nothing more irritating to the skin than dried urine. Looking back at that time, I must have had serious psychological issues. Because of my problem, my mom inserted a plastic covering under the regular sheets in my bed. I was SO embarrassed back then. But now? Yeah... still embarrassing.

3. The worst job I ever had was a telemarketing job in downtown Seattle. I used to make cold calls for the American Lung Society and, oddly enough, I was great at it. I used to rake in tons of donations, working along side the ex-psycho....errr... girlfriend. She used to get SO mad at me 'cause of my high numbers. I got promoted to informing Group Health customers about their insurance coverage in Eastern Washington. I left the job when the ex- was let go and didn't want me working there anymore 'cause of how they treated her. Yes, she had serious issues. But, hey, that's why she's the ex-.

4. I have aspirations of being a stand-up comedian. My realistic goal is to perform one time, just once, at an Amateur Night type show. I've been to one of those at Giggles - it looks REALLY tough. Personally, I'd consider myself to be only "somewhat" funny... and only in conversational situations... and only when I laugh in that way that forces others to laugh along... I'm not one of those people who thinks, "I could do that!" It's more like, "That looks like a lot of fun... I wish I could be funny like that." I'm going to make sure to invite all my friends to my amateur debut... (As a side note, I'd also love to be a professional dancer... hip-hop... but, I've let that dream go...)

5. At age thirteen, I was babysitting my little sister (who was four at the time) and I was bored out of mind. Seeing her LONG straight hair (to her back), I asked her, "Do you want me to curl your hair for you?" (uhhh...yeahhhh... please, don't ask) She said, "Sure..." so I took the curling iron (ol' school spikey kind) and practiced first without plugging it in. I quickly rolled a huge chunk of hair quickly from the bottom of her back up to her shoulder. I suddenly had problems unraveling it. Like, SERIOUS problems trying to remove the curling iron. OH SH*T! IT'S STUCK! I wanted to cry and was in full panic mode. My strict parents would be home any minute and their little darling daughter's beautiful locks were wrapped tightly around the curling iron. It was just dangling out of her head. Thankfully, my little sister, only four years old, felt my anguish and accepted my pleas for help. She ended up telling my parents that SHE (not ME) tried curling her hair and was unable to remove the tangled curling iron. They were so pissed but, feeling the loss of her hair was enough, never ended up punishing her. It took some time before her bob grew back out to its long length. My sister was SO loyal to me that she didn't end up telling my parents the truth until she was eighteen. I ended up being grounded for two weeks... at age twenty-seven. Sad... but true.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Me

So I've decided to accept Rebecca's challenge and post "Five Things You Might Not Know About Me." Or, as the Canadians would say, "Five Things You Might Not Know Uh-Boat Me." For those who DO know me, this is a little tough 'cause I'm pretty much an open book who talks about all my interests and aspect of my life (maybe, sometimes, a bit too much.) But let's give it a try:

1. I love tearjerker romance movies. Onscreen love is a beautiful way of reminding us never to take our special someone for granted. Same with love songs. Sure, it can be viewed as sappy & cheesy - but, to me, there's nothing wrong with getting into the moment and feeding off of that kind of energy. I consider it a turbo boost of romance in my own life. One of my favorite movies is "The Notebook." Wasn't it beautiful? [insert tears here]

2. My favorite athlete of all time is John Elway. In another lifetime, I was a HUGE Denver fan who LOVED the Broncos, especially Mr. Elway (as I addressed him in all my fanmail.) I started seriously watching the NFL in 1985 at age eleven while living in Colorado Springs where my dad was stationed. The team everyone watched in the area was the Broncos, led by the legendary quarterback. He was the master of the fourth quarter comeback and known for his arm strength. I watched a local story on him which showed his wide receivers, shirtless, with crosses imprinted on their chests (formed from the tip of the football.) Now that's power! But since he's retired, I've been a huge Seahawk fan!

3. The reality show I enjoy the most is "American Idol." I still consider it a fun show and I'm looking forward to next week's premiere. I enjoy the competition part more than the horrible auditions, unlike most of my friends who watch it more for the bad performances. After seeing only a huge handful of the first season's episodes, I've since watched every single episode. But, sadly, my favorite singers from each season have never won. Last year, I was hoping Katharine or Elliott would win. Instead, pepper-haired Taylor won. A better example would be my favorite from Season 3... it was Jennifer Hudson and she lost early on. But, hey, isn't she now the REAL winner of that season? Fantasia who?

4. My current top five celebrity crushes are (in no particular order):

--Jessica Alba (Invisible Girl? C'mon... Why would they do such a thing?)
--Leeann Tweeden (model, commentator on FOX Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period")
--Kristen Bell (the mystery solving "Veronica Mars")
--Moon Bloodgood (part Korean, Irish, Dutch actress from "Daybreak," a show that I loved but has been pulled by ABC...grrrr)
--Maggie Gyllenhaal ("Stranger Than Fiction")

Honorably mentions: Katherine Heigl (from "Roswell" to "Grey's Anatomy"), Rachel McAdams ("Mean Girls" and "The Notebook"), Maggie Grace (no longer lost on "Lost"), Sarah Shahi (1st season of "Alias" and "Wedding Crashers")

Would I ever leave my fiancee for any of these women? Like, if they just threw themselves at me and said they wanted to be with me forever? If in the heat of passion, we found ourselves... errrr... What was the question? Ummm... OF COURSE NOT! But they're all personalities who, on & off screen, come off as real, normal people...

5. When I graduated from high school in 1992, I was given an award recognizing me as the top math student out of our class of five hundred students. What did I do two years later? I dropped out of the University of Washington while pursuing a Civil Engineering degree. Heh heh heh... I have since triumphantly returned with a career in numbers, currently working towards a degree in Accounting. I just gotta live up to that award!

Now, I tippity tap tap Erwin and Bossch.

Bold Prediction...

I just posted a comment on someone else's blog... so I'll repeat it in here: I highly recommend seeing "Dream Girls." Oh my. What a movie! Loved it so much that I have to correct myself: I LOVED IT! Sure, I'm creating high expectations but I can't help it. I'm so hooked on every single song on the soundtrack. The actors were amazing...both the big ones and the newcomers. I saw the stage performance when it came to Seattle... French Davis played the part of Effie and her rendition of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" had me in tears. But... wow. In the movie, Jennifer Hudson was, as Simon Cowell has been quoted saying, "extraordinary." I was quite emotional for a few songs in the movie.

So, my bold prediction is... without seeing any other movie... Dream Girls for Best Picture for both Golden Globes and the Oscars. Yes, loved it that much!