Ok first of all there’s not a lot to update you on because I got COVID not long after Missy Elliot, and then was just home recovering for a week. Today I finally started testing negative, but I don’t entirely believe it so I’m still masking in case my germs are going places I don’t want them to go. So that’s what is up. BUT since I got paid AND was testing negative, I went to Long & McQuade with a mask on and bought a Martin D10e. I finally have a guitar! I did a Youtube tutorial and learned chords E and A. I’m having trouble with the chord changes between those, so I need to practice more. Also my finger tips are like, baby skin, so I need to build callouses. My poor fingers! I know I wanted steel strings because I like the sound better, but it is harder. BUT ALSO sounds so good.

I have wanted this guitar for so long and now it’s here. It’s exciting. I have guitar picks, a wall mount, and a strap is coming in the mail. I’m stoked! Todd likes it, he sits next to me when I am playing it. He’s liked string instruments since he was a little baby boy, so I was curious how he would respond to an actual instrument in his space. So far he likes it, he’s not afraid of it which is good. He did try to eat a guitar pick so now I have to keep those out of his bad baby boy mouth. Posey doesn’t give a damn, not much scares her really. And of course she’s too grown up to try eating a guitar pick.

I am glad I am mostly over COVID. I still feel I have some stuff going on though, not 100% yet. I get a cough sometimes still etc. And my sense of smell is still pretty bad. But today was the first time I was able to do some major chores since I got sick. My laundry got washed which is a major improvement in my life all by itself. I’m planning to do the dishes tonight, still pacing myself because I don’t want to overdo it too soon. I finished my course outline today, I was working on it the last couple of days but kept having to stop when my brain didn’t seem to be working properly. But today was fine, and now it’s done.

I’m going to try and get individual guitar lessons, so hopefully I can work on learning with someone. I’m not sure who my teacher should be yet though. Someone close to Downtown Toronto though, ideally.

It’s kind of funny to be learning something I don’t want to do professionally. Like literally my only ambition is to be able to play some covers at home. But you know, I might change my mind about that. But also I just really love music and if there was some power outage or something, it would be nice to be able to make music for the huddled masses around the fire pit or something, you know? Entertain the neighbours in my co-op. There’s someone down the alley who has a piano, and I know because sometimes in the afternoon these tinkling piano notes fall out of the window. They sound so pretty.

I want to learn Wish you Were Here by Pink Floyd, and Help I’m Alive by Metric, and Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer. And probably other tunes. But right now I’m starting with super basic Youtube tutorials and trying to learn the basics. Like how to hold it and how to press the strings down properly etc. It’s fun! I’m going to try and play it a little bit everyday that I am at home. I’m going away two days of the week (leaving Sunday and coming home Monday nights most weeks) so I will only be able to play five days a week. I also have to move my shot day to Tuesday, it used to be Mondays but Monday mornings I am going to be in London Ontario, so not a great place to try and maintain my schedule. Bringing hormones back and forth just seems like more room taken up in my bag. And I’m already taking such a small bag with me. Tuesday is fine then, I will just have to switch blood test day to Friday.

I’m not a good singer, so it remains to be seen if I will even sing along with the covers I play. Ideally I would like to, but that might require voice lessons. My voice wasn’t great to begin with, and since transition has changed to a more deep baritone voice. I was probably an alto before. I am estimating ha ha but I do remember a voice app said I was a baritone. That was a while ago but I think my voice hasn’t really changed a lot since then.

Sometimes I still surprise myself when I open my mouth and speak. It’s such a big boomy voice now. ALSO because most of the time when I use it at home I am talking to the dogs, so to me it still sounds high pitched because of that. But it’s not. I can’t go WOOOOOO at concerts anymore, now I have to go YEAAAAAH!

Anyway I start teaching soon! I’m pretty excited, I think it’s going to be fun. And challenging, but challenging things are fun for me. I’ve got dog sitting lined up for this whole month, so it’s not until October that I have to start worrying about getting some sitters in because two sitters aren’t available for this one date. And after that is November! And after that is December! The year is starting to wrap up already.

I also have to get some applications in some places. There’s a Telefilm application we have to do, and a Fellowship application, and Toronto Art Council, and I am torn about Canada Council because I need to do more research into when I should apply and if it’s a good idea or not. I’m also part of a SSHRC application, but luckily not involved in most of the writing for it because there’s a lot of people on that application. Good because the SSHRC portal already gave me a headache when I registered my profile.