i own an accordion

Ignore the unmade bed in the background and feast your eyes on this Chinese-made beauty.


Sure, the best-made accordions are manufactured in villages nestled along the rolling hills of Italia, but a girl swimming in student debt can barely justify purchasing this little 48-bass accordion. At least the Chinese manufacturer gave it a little Italian flare by prominently displaying that the instrument is to be called Stella.

I purchased this beauty from a Hans Braun, upon learning his name I knew this was legit. He had an accordion school in his past life, before he relocated to the suburban subdivisions of Spanish Fork. He tried to teach me the basics, and spoke of music theory stuff like the "circle of fifths" and I nodded to pretend I wasn't a music idiot. (However, I have this little theory that the more you nod the less you know. It's an over-compensation thing. I wonder if Hans Braun subscribes to a similar theory and saw right through my charade.) I took it home and just pushed all the buttons and pretended I had skillz. I just liked making all the noises.

But I have had Stella since Labor Day. I was pretty devoted in my online research about how to handle her for about a week. I almost mastered "Mary had a Little Lamb" and was simultaneously learning "When the Saints Come Marching In." But the novelty wore off and practice fell by the wayside. But I broke out the old girl tonight, and she smells so good. I think instruments just have this smell (I think it is the scent of wood, to be honest...the accordion makes the noise because you push air through wooden reeds). I love that smell. I want to collect instruments or become a luthier so I can be surrounded by that scent. Seriously, I love it so much.

But, if I don't become a luthier, I want to play my accordion at subway stations with a the case at my feet where those entertained by my musical stylings can drop some change.

I joke not; I would love to be a street musician. At least for a week of so. Or in my freetime. I probably wouldn't quit my day job. Probably.

oh, look. roni posted some nonsense

Leave me alone on the internet for too long and I will inevitably devise a new life plan for myself. I have applications pending with Americorps, the University of Louisville's Pre-Med Post-Bacc Certificate program, Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (I haven't completed that one, however, because of the hefty application fee), and most recently, nigh an hour ago to be imprecisely exact, I completed an application to be an Italian/English-speaking flight attendant with Delta Airlines.

I had left the blogging world because I was no longer strolling along the narrow sidewalks dodging the compact cars and scooters of Italy, and it didn't seem like the day-to-day routine of my more mundane life working as a waitress was as appealing to document. And as my life is devoid of children, or a romance worth publicly touting, and that for the most part, I am among those who would care to hear about my exploits, so they can be regaled by tales of my mishaps with with words flowing from my mouth, rather than strain their eyes trying to read those words so strongly backlit on their computer screens, I discontinued detailing my life in a public forum.

But I am back, baby.

Mainly, I think because I want to write. It is a good way to work through problems, and while blogs are basically the epitome of self-indulgence, I've had people's word give me entertainment, solace, or voice exactly some of the things I am feeling [little plug to Katie, who I haven't seen since high school, but whose recent blog posts just felt so beautiful, honest, and spot-on that I said, "Hey, maybe some of my thoughts and ideas are worth
blogging about also."].

So, back to my opening. I haven't felt this unsure about my future since...ever. I always knew where I was going in high school [college], but suddenly, I have no idea what I am doing or what I want. Today, I want to be a flight attendant. Probably not forever, but I could put a few good years in see the world, collect interesting experiences for a memoir, whatever. I could actually put some of my Italian language skills to use. They're just rusting here in Utah; although, I could be resourceful and look for some conversation partners.

But listing my pending applications makes me feel pretty flighty, so perhaps a career in aviation is for me!