Didn't you know? I'm a freakin' rock star.

So my birthday came around just over a month ago. Due to my less than subtle hinting, Audi managed to figure out that I wanted a guitar for the anniversary of my springing into this world from my mother's womb. Well, she got it for me! What a gal! It's a beaut and for the first time in my life, I'm practicing something (other than religion) without being forced to do so.  My first attempt reminded me how much it hurts to push down metal strings without callouses on your finger tips.  I spent the ensuing two weeks at work, while in class, pushing down on anything with an edge to beat the crap out of my fingers so that I don't want to cry like a little kid every time I push down the high E string (I still kinda want to cry when I push it down with my pinkie... baby steps). 

So here she is.  I haven't given her a name yet, though I am fully aware of the great importance of doing so.  I'm considering Betty or Doris, both in memory of skateboards I owned in Hawaii.  Betty was stolen by a heartless punk kid from Kahuku while I was in the library (I never found out who it was, but I saw his blurry picture on the security camera in the campus security guard's office.  Wherever you are kid, you'll get your comeuppance one day!)

I'm intent on learning without a teacher or book at this point.  I'm practicing a ton of chords and bits of songs I see online and I'm content to continue that way.  I don't mind being a little unpolished and saving a few bucks because I like to be able to say I'm self-taught.  Anywho, some day I'll include a recording on here.  My current endeavor is Free Fallin'. 

Belated Peru Pictures

We saw this double rainbow on the way back from Machu Picchu.  The squeals from the other tourists on the bus was one of the most amusing things that day.

Our day at Machu Picchu was the only good weather day on our whole trip.

Locals get about 30 cents for a photo op.  60 cents if they have a lamb.

We climbed that peak in the background.  Surprisingly, it only took an extra hour each way.

The locals were very friendly.

This was at the top of a bunch of amazing meso-American village ruins.  The buildings are behind me.

That's my girl.

We didn't make it in, but the view was amazing from outside.

Audi likes door pictures.  I like her.

Seemed like the right thing to do.