Winter Updates

Greetings!

I decided this blog will transition to a quarterly update, sorry for being so lame about keeping up with it.
I do have a new little project going with my friend Sarah who lives nearby and with whom I share passions for cooking, sewing, crafts, and fart jokes.
Check it out! Warning: there are some cuss words and quasi offensive material in here...so read at your own risk!
www.ginraisins@blogspot.com

Well, I made it through the first half of winter. Solstice is always a speaical time for Alaskans where we can breathe a sigh of releif that the days will get longer and within a few months the light will return to our afternoons again!

I had a pretty busy but wonderful December. I bought my first guitar. It's a gorgeously made Martin 00-15 all mahogany small body. It's a very nice instrument which I got for a huge discount. I know that it might not have been worth eating lentils and rice for that month, but it's something I can learn on, write songs on, and cherish forever! I play it everyday for at least 1-2 hours before work, after work...and sometimes I run home on my lunch break to work on a song that's been stuck in my head.
I never thought I could love something as much as my autoharp, but I'm REALLY enjoying learning this new intrument.

The holidays rounded out nicely too. Thanksiving was nice and low key spent with friends in town. I was lucky enough to go home for Christmas to see the family...a VERY long overdue trip. I wished I could have stayed for another week or more, but alas I had to get back to work.
New Years Eve this year was the best ever. I was asked to play bass with an old time band "Elbow Grease" for a square dance held at a local church hall. It was great to get more bass practice and learn some catchy old time tunes with very talented musicians. Playing music for people is something I really love, and something I want to do ALOT more of it in the future.

I'm looking forward to 2011, and sending my strongest hopes and wishes of good health and recovery to loved ones who are struggling. Everyday I wish I could be there with Jamie, who is so strong and inspriring right now through her struggle with Leukemia. I'm so glad I got to spend Christmas with her, even though it was brief. But knowing my parents and how amazing they are, I know she's in good hands. Another person that has been in my thoughts is the "father of Alaska Bluegrass" Carl Hoffman from Fairbanks who suffered a head injury this fall and who still is recovering from his fall. Hearing other freinds and peers dealing with health issues it makes me so thankful that I am healthy and doing ok up here on my own.

Let's hope 2011 is a year of rapid recovery and astounding comebacks. Miss you all, love you dearly, and I hope to see you soon.

Best,

Amanda