The Devil's Playthings

I've been trying to think of ways to occupy my time now that my spanish class is over. I am still at least a month or two away from going back to work and until now I've been content with my activities for the most part. It's only been recently that I've become somewhat bored. It is this lack of time-fillers that has led me to decide on a few things to keep things new.

One thing I've done is clean and revitalize my aquarium tank, prepping it for some Fire Bellied Toads. I've had one before that I inherited from Scott because he was moving to Portland but it died over a year ago. I let the tank sit empty up until recently but I managed to keep the water plant alive the entire time and I'm sure it's grateful in it's own plant way for the better light and the circulating fresh water. I am planning on having two or three toads this time so they can have some toad friends. These toads are social animals who will rest and cling to one another in and out of the water. I'm sure I'll have to make runs to the pet store to purchase crickets and mealworms on a regular basis to keep up with them. I'll entertain any name suggestions you may have.

Another way I've decided to stay busy is begin taking guitar or banjo lessons. I own one of each thanks to some family members who surprised me with the banjo a few Christmases ago. It remains one of the greatest presents I've ever received. When they gave it to me I wasn't quite sure what to say and I actually had to fight back a few tears. I don't know if they noticed that or not, but I was very touched.

While I've tooled around with both instruments, I've only recently taken them out of their cases full time and am using them in part as decoration. When I was in eighth grade I took a few weeks or so of banjo lessons from an extremely talented and well-respected banjo player named Jim Bowman. I enjoyed the lessons but decided to discontinue them because I didn't think the lessons were worth the ten-dollars-per-hour fee. Looking back, I wish I had stuck with it. As it turned out, Jim thought that I had more talent than he did at that age. I wish I had known that then or that my father had been more pushy. He contends that he never wanted to be one of the pushy parents -and he never was- but I wish he made that one exception. My feelers are out and I may go back to Jim for lessons again, assuming he still gives them and if the cost isn't too outrageous. If it's anywhere near the ten buck range I'd go five times a week!

I'm kicking around a few other ideas to stay busy. Some are artsy. Today I purchased a drawing pad and some charcoal sticks. I thought I'd try some charcoal drawing and see if I couldn't turn up something half respectable. I'm also brainstorming on a story for some animation I'm going to try and whip up. Who knows how successful that will be. My only fear is that I will try to do too many stimulating things at the same time and end up losing my motivation for all of them. I'll probably get into a groove just as I have to go back to work.

These are some of the things I'm working on to stave off boredom, all while following up with my spanish. I want to remain current and not forget what I've learned so far. I am still trying to work on the immersion trip to Costa Rica as well as a work-related trip to Eugene, Oregon.

I want to take a personal trip out to Portland, Oregon again this winter (whether I can snowboard or not) as well as another trip to New York City.

Keep checking back. I'll be sure to keep you up to date with where I don't end up going and which projects I abandon.