A Summary of Events SO FAR

Wow, this spring was a humdinger, characterized by a broken engagement, severe situational depression, and several moves.  I totally got off-track with my thousand-hour goal, and stopped logging piano hours altogether for several months.  That's OK though!  I'm happier and healthier than I've perhaps ever been -- now that the infection has been cut out, the bad limb severed, the baggage cut loose ;)   I've learned a ton about myself over this incredibly trying year -- about both my limits and attributes -- and I've come out better for it.  I have a clearer idea of what to steer clear from now, and what it is I really want.

I'm not plagued by unnecessary about "the future" anymore.  I had a conversation with other artistic 20-somethings last night that led to futuristic, career-talk and caused me to realize how happily free I am of career-related angst these days. ;)  I'm more concerned with everyday habits and goals.  I've been eating right, exercising, taking joy in the outdoors, and in general feeling in-control, self-assured, and more "grown-up" than ever. :D

In general I've been doing a lot more creative things lately, including writing and drawing.  The biggest plus though, is that I've formed a band that plays my music (!).

We've played 2 shows since forming in March, and have another coming up on August 1st.  We've also begun recording a demo album.  I get such a high from playing and recording -- it really lifts my spirits like nothing else can, and my band-mates are incredibly talented, amiable, and driven folks.  This whole year I've been surrounded by incredible dysfunctionality (as an English major I reserve the right to make up words when necessary) and it's a relief to be around basically contented people whose lives hum along without too much drama and discord. :)

I've no idea how many hours of piano I've played this spring and summer -- I'll log some of those, but I won't be able to count most of them towards my 1000 - hour goal :(  That's okay!  I'll know (if I reach my three-year goal) that I played more hours in reality - BONUS!

I'm feeling good; my musical wheels are spinning -- my life is my own again.
               
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The Nitty-Gritty
Right now I'm working on expanding my knowledge of the scales -- I say the numbers of flats/sharps when I play them -- I have been looking for relationships between keys, etc.

Wednesday, Friday, and today I played an hour; I played two hours on Thursday.

I'm looking for a cool log widget online so I can have a nice visual  'X' for each day played, but instead I might take a weekly picture of the "analog" log I have going to chart my progress -- I looove seeing x's of progress :)