Sukiyaki... a little of this & a little of that

Recently, I had the privilege of being in Charlotte, NC for my nephew's hockey tournament.  I know... right?... Who would have thought Hockey in Charlotte!!  Anyways, while in between games, my brother and I decided to leave his 13 year old hockey star with his hockey team representing the state of Washington,  to seek out "Chinatown".  I love how we just assume every city has a Chinatown.... hmm, well, Charlotte does not - so to speak.  They have a few Asian type of restaurants, including this one....

After our meal of Sukiyaki... and I call it Sukiyaki, because  what we ordered was a mis-mash of things - some tasty, some not... our waiter brought us the traditional Asian dessert,  fortune cookies.  As a matter of fact, I'm probably going to offend somebody when I say, I'm not even sure what Sukiyaki is... LOL, it's not Chinese, I know.  To me, the word itself implies a mis-mash of Asian things put together....

So speaking of Sukiyaki.... here's mine:

• Hiroko is Japanese, I am not...
• She can hit the high D note, where I struggle with Do-Re-Me's...
• I wanted to play the melody but she made me sing it...
• She likes to sing, but I made her pick the melody...
• Hiroko likes the open chords, I like playing closed chords up the neck...
• Hiroko thinks mistakes are cute, I crave & want "Perfection"...

After 4 takes, I felt this video was not any where near perfect... I wanted to re-record it again and again but I think my friend wanted to  hit me, so I let her have her cute stuff in our contest video!!  It's funny how things work out... we won our division, "Group Cover Song" even with those "cute" moments unedited!

Sometimes "perfection" isn't always needed and

Sometimes a mis-mash of Sukiyaki is a great thing...

Kinda like ice hockey and North Carolina...
Did you know in 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes won the ultimate championship in hockey... the NHL's Stanley Cup!! That is something to brag about for sure!!!

Sad to say, Seattle, WA did not win the National Bantam Tier II title but I'm sure proud of them for being State champs but happily to report I had a lot of fun in N.Carolina with my brother & nephew...

Carrie.... 

 Sukiyaki Ukulele chords:  http://www.scorpexuke.com/song-display.html?song=Sukiyaki.pdf&id=425



Ukulele Lady

I wonder if Gus Kahn and Richard Whiting, were thinking of me when they co-wrote a song in 1925 and titled it.... "Ukulele Lady"

I bet your life they weren't! 

But I guarantee you, I am.... a Ukulele Lady!

Here, I'm about to go on stage with my precious Uke with my cool Uke strap I made and meet my Ukulele band, The Ukesters, for a 20 maybe 25 minute set of songs from the 1960's!!  I'm quite proud of my groovy color scheme for the night... especially my crocheted vest somebody's grandmother made that I happened to have found the day before my gig at a vintage clothing shop here in Vancouver.  $15 - perfect!!  Everybody loved it...  everybody asked if my grandmother made it!

On this night, we had a set list that went like this:

Runaway

Walk Don't Run

My Girl / My Guy

Samba PaTi

Oye Como Va

Low Rider

Wipe Out

Tequilla

It was a quite a set... challenging and fun and I was thrilled with my performance.  I memorized most of the repertoire and the parts I forgot, I managed to fool everyone with my effective and awesome tricki wicki wacki woo "X" strum.  I was on a high all night... danced the night away in my hot pink UGG knockoffs.  Hah.. went for comfort instead of the sleek look and uncomfortableness of white vinyl boots.  During the evening, I was offered Tequilla shots and pizza and on all occasions, I said "oh Yes, PLEASE and THANK YOU very much".

So you see... I am a Ukulele Lady!!

If you're a ukulele player, lady or gentleman, then you probably have heard of Ukulele Mike... He hails from Seattle, WA and is one heck of a Ukulele Teacher and promoter of all things uke!  Check out his YouTube tutorial of Ukulele Lady:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLY5arJ61m4&feature=related

Or if you prefer something a little lighter.... we all love Miss Piggy of Kermie! 

LOL, I'm pretty sure Kahn & Whiting were not thinking this either for their song....

                     

Until my groovy Uke strings meet yours.... Happy Strumming

 perhaps even under the moonlight of Honolulu Bay!

Carrie.

The Monster Mash...

Lee always picked the biggest & happiest pumpkins!!

My nephew loved Hallowe'en time... even maybe more than Christmas?!!  I don't think it was ever about the candy... more to do with dressing up as monsters and scaring the wits out of people!

Today, October 16th is a sad day for me...

4 years ago today, he lay in a hospital bed... his body broken and sad.  I said good-bye to my sweet nephew of 24 years. 

Many people have asked me how long I've been playing the ukulele and what made me decide to take it up.  Lee is the reason why.  I was a little bit of a lost soul when he passed away... and for whatever reason, I found myself wandering through the local music store on my lunch hour a few days after and there it was!  A dozen ukuleles behind a locked glass-enclosed display.  It was funny in more ways than one.

I stood there for a second and started laughing... I couldn't understand why such an instrument was under great protection.  And then I heard my nephew laughing with me....  OK Lee, can you see me playing one?

I ran back to the office and Googled "Ukulele Teachers" and that was it... 

Now I'm a little more happy... and I know whenever I play my ukulele, it's for my nephew!  I think he would like that I can play a little Santana.... a little Tin Pan Alley.... and he would like that when I first started to learn I could scare people with it too... but now... well, it's all good now.

Hey Lee... it is still pretty funny... miss you always & forever

Love, Auntie xoxox

Chords for Monster Mash:

http://www.ukulelesongs.com/uke/ukulele_chords/music/tabs/Bobby_Boris_Pickett/Monster_Mash.php

Take Me out to the Ball Game

Play Ball, Mr. October... I'm watching as you travel the road to the World Series and I can't wait to see you get there!!!





Living in Vancouver all my life, there isn't much opportunity to get to any Major League Baseball games as my city doesn't have a team... but my country does - The Toronto Blue Jays.  As a Canadian, you would think I would be a Toronto fan... uhmm, not so much... for these reasons:  Toronto is on the other side of the country and then there's THE big rivarly between the two cities in my sport of sports, Hockey!  I just couldn't be a Toronto fan of any of their teams... hockey, football, basketball or baseball!

  The closest team for me to be a fan of, would be the Seattle Mariners team.  First of all, Seattle is just a couple hours drive south and second, it's where some of family lives.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are of when my mom used to take my siblings and I to Seattle to visit with my grandparents - obviously I love this city...  and I'll always think of Seattle as my second home.

Seattle has these professional sports teams - MLB (Mariners), and NFL (Seahawks).  LOVE them!!

I'm a 100% Seattle Mariners fan and well... they haven't done too well lately so they're not in the running for the 2012 World Series.  The Mariners did a really cool thing this year... they let go of their star player, Ichiro.  LOL, he's the only player I know that gets his first name only on the back of his #51 Jersey that he wore for Seattle.  He's that special!  He's been a Mariner for 12 seasons and he has alot of fans, including me!  With all those years under his belt, and well you know, he's not getting any younger.... I personally think that he wanted out not just so Seattle could focus on training younger players but to also have a shot at having World Series Champion status and Seattle, graciously let him go to a team who could possibly give that to him.  Enter the New York Yankees!!  I'm not a big Yankee fan.... they're one of those teams that you love or hate!  I am a huge Ichiro fan though, so I will cheer for the Yankees this year... because I would love to see Ichiro get that title of World Series Champ!!  In my book, you will always be Mr. October...Go Ichiro!!!

Hello NYY!

I recently took in a San Francisco Giants game with my mom, aunt & uncle and had a great time... and for that reason only, I will cheer for SF to meet NY in the finals.  But you gotta know, I really really want Ichiro to win it this year, 2012!

Here's to buying some peanuts and kracker jacks...

Carrie.

Chords to Take Me Out to the Ball Game:

 http://www.doctoruke.com/takemeouttotheballgame.pdf



Sentimental Journey

Meet Maggie...  she's a gal I met at Ukulele school a few years ago.  Her and I belong to a GREAT group of 13 Uke players called, The Ukesters (whom you'll meet in a later post).  She's a confident, witty, professional person who lights up a room when she enters...  she's got this fabulous demeanor about herself and a hearty wholesome laugh.  Some people are just like that... you can't help but smile at her and want to be her friend!! 

Maggie is taking a wee leave of absence from her life here in Vancouver...

<waahh, waahhh..sniff... sniff> pass the tissue, please....

No, no... all is good... of course, I'll miss her but I think she's following her heart and is off on a sentimental journey that'll take her places and will fill her life full of unforgettable & wonderful experiences... she'll develop new friendships and meet interesting people... she'll listen to and learn awesome music... she'll savor yummie foods... the list as you know could go on and on when you're exploring the world!!  And I couldn't be anything but happy for her!!

 I only wish her the best and I know that, like in the photos above, she'll have her Ukulele with her... either in her backpack as she travels abroad or in her hand strumming & singing some Irish tunes to the patrons in an over-crowded Irish pub... perhaps, she'll even teach a few chords to those she meets on the way and create a little Ukester cheer as she heads towards a once in a lifetime opportunity!!

Cheers my friend... safe travels... and Uke it like you can!!!

Carrie.

Chords for Sentimental Journey:   http://www.doctoruke.com/sentimentaljourney.pdf

You Are The Sunshine of My Life...

You are the apple of my eye....

My daughter, Crystal and her newborn son, Hunter

YESSSS!!!  That makes me a Grandma!!!!

My grandson was born August 14, 2012...  10 days overdue.... a very happy & alert 8 lb bundle of joy, with perfect everythings!  I think the best part of being a parent... is when your baby has a baby!  I remember the day my daughter was born.. 15 days late... instant LOVE!  I thought I couldn't be happier!  I was right - that is... until the day my grandson was born!

Carrie

I hope to play this song one day for my daughter and her son...

Chords & Tab for Sunshine of My Life - compliments of Live Ukulele

http://liveukulele.com/wp-content/uploads/Sunshine-of-my-Life.pdf

Oh Stevie Wonder... you are one fabulous songwriter & perfomer!

Thank you for this beautiful song!

Hotel California... oooh, I mean Transylvania

I just fell in love with a man with a uke... singing to his daughter...

Wouldn't you?

 Well, I knew Tiny Tim was a Uke player... then I found out Neil Armstrong (RIP) was a Ukulele player... now... Dracula!!?  SWEET...

So, the Movie is Hotel Transylvania starring Adam Sandler & Selena Gomez...  I'm going to have to see it!  I'm not much of a movie goer... I think it takes up too much time and $$'s but this one looks kinda cute, so why not take my niece, Jesse (she's 10... she might like it) and go eat popcorn and drink pop for a couple of hours?!!

I'm pretty sure it ain't nothing like Hotel Califonia or hey, maybe it is?!
  Such a lovely place.... such a lovely place...

Chords for Hotel California:  http://www.alligatorboogaloo.com/uke/tabs/060622.html

Carrie

If you haven't seen it yet, watch the whole Hotel Transylvania trailer here.

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