Thanks so much for sharing! Sounds like between us, we might be able to put together a halfway-decent sounding little band! ;-) I looked into marimba lessons, but there were presently none being offered for adults. So then I happened upon a performance by a local drum group and fell in love. I'm now taking djembe (African hand drum) lessons and having an absolute blast! I'm learning in a small group of other adults and we actually sit around and jam and sound pretty darn good! It's not as easy as it looks and I've got much to learn ... still need to buy my own djembe (have been using one of the instructor's), and after my first lesson, my hands felt positively arthritic. Anyway, if anyone is interested, here's a clip of an absolutely amazing djembe player, doin' his thing. If you watch it all the way through, you'll see what I mean. Here is a link that might be useful: Ibrahim Camara

Lukki, Almost 3 years ago, my husband was diagnosed with Leukemia so I think I can understand some of what you're experiencing. The shock, the fear, the sometimes surprising support from people you'd never expect it from, and the slightly new look at life. My advice to you is to BE SURE to take care of yourself. Exercise, eat healthy, do whatever it is that brings your mind peace and rest, whether that is reading or knitting or skydiving. Of course you'll do whatever it takes for him, but DO NOT neglect yourself. You will not be as effective a caregiver if spend all your physical, psychic, and spiritual energy on others. Thankfully, my husband is disease free and healthier than ever. The whole experience deepened our bond and even brought us closer to some friends, who were such a wonderful source of support for both of us. A friend & cancer survivor recommended we save the cards he received (and it was over 100!)and re-read them on the anniversary of the diagnosis. It was great to see them again a year later. We also saved a big banner his co-workers made and unfurl that yearly to read the very funny messages. (They had a blood drive at his office. One female wrote - "I had to eat carbs. That should tell you how much you mean to me". That still makes me laugh.) Feel free to email me if you want to chat, one caregiver to another. Good luck. Stay strong.

To me this whole thing about Spitzer is the proverbial much ado about nothing. Put it in simple terms: The guy went to a hooker a few times a year. Big deal. They can certainly afford it, they're not spending the infant's formula money on cigarettes and lottery tickets and as said, she gets her relaxation in other ways. She probably knew all about it anyway. This idea he had these massive amounts put aside to support a concubine is laughable. And seeing the reports of him being involved in a prostitution ring were made solely to imply he was a pimp. He wasn't. Each couples financial situation is different and to try to pidgeonhole all into the same one doesn't work for me. I know people where one handles everything; some where they do it together totally, others that have financial managers and some that are a combination. Seldom have I seen that each spouse doesn't have some money "of their own" so to speak to use in their own way, whether it's to buy stuff for themself, gifts for the spouse or whatever. There is an interesting question here though. If I knew someone was funneling money away from their spouse, I'd be hardpressed to not say something unless I really disliked the spouse tremendously. What would you do?

When a cousin gave us an upright piano when I was 4-years old, I taught myself how to play using ancient sheet music and old grade school music books left in the piano bench. I could read music before I could read books. Then I had piano lessons once a week in music class in grade school for several years. That was the beginning..... When I was 13 I borrowed a guitar, restrung it, bought a Chet Atkins cord book from the store where I purchased the strings and taught myself how to play cords on the guitar. I already knew cords on the piano so it was a good transition. I could transpose music to a different key from what I knew from playing the piano. I remember those raw finger tips until I learned the G, C, D7 cords so I could play a song - in fact, a lot of songs with those three cords. Now I have a uke my daughter brought back from Hawaii and it's been fun learning the cords for it. And thanks to the magic of the internet, I also found lessons on-line for both guitar and uke I found helpful. I still like the guitar more, especially a 12-string (which gives me the illusion I'm better than I think I am (LOL). I'm with Snidely on this one, I don't particularly care for the sound of a ukulele. I play it for my own amusement. I played the guitar at school functions with friends as a teen, church, and other functions over the years. Senior Citizen groups love me when I bring a group of children to sing - especially Christmas songs. I'm more of a sing-a-long player. I brought a dulcimer home from Nashville on a visit several years ago, and it was easy to learn. The man who was selling them gave me a few pointers and I had it mastered on the 12-hour trip back to Kansas. Ironically, the dulcimer purchased in Tennessee was made here in Kansas, not far from where I live. I tried a friend's 4-string guitar once. He liked it because he has small hands. I found it "odd" to use since I learned on a 6-string, but was able to play it after a few minutes. Not as rich a sound as a 6- or 12-string. A 4-string guitar may be another choice if you are already acquainted with a 6-string. I would go to a music shop with instruments and give different things a try before buying. -Grainlady