Josh Zuckerman ~~~The Awesomest!

Guitar Mama?

Our house has lots of instruments. Piano, French Horn, Trumpet, Sax, Violin, Banjo, two electric Guitars, one Classical and three other Guitars (but I'm not sure what they're called.)
I can't play any of them. However, I suddenly have the urge to learn.
My daughter is teaching me the basics but the one thing I'm not liking is the fact that I have to generate callouses on my finger tips. Can anyone tell me why they haven't invented something to put on your finger tips so you can play without pain???
That's the hardest part. And you have to cut your nails.
I don't want to do that but ... I will. I keep looking at them, thinking how nice they look, even, long enough, and I have to chop them off. :(
I also keep looking at the Guitars scattered around the family room. The one I play is on the coffee table. It's black and shiny. I love picking it up and running through the few cords I've been shown. (My nails still get in the way but ... soon...)
Anyone out there starting an instrument? How's it going?
Do you think there's hope at my age?
Also any help with the callous issue would be appreciated.

She wanted a ukulele for Christmas?

My dd wanted a Ukulele for Christmas. And not just any ukulele, a professional one. My reply? "They have professional ukuleles???" I thought they were more or less a joke. A plastic thing you bought at the gift shop in Hawaii, but evidently there's more to the Uku than meets the eye. Check out this guy:

The talent out there in the world amazes me.
I'm not a city person but the one thing I do love in NYC are the street musicians. (Okay, the pocketbook guys are a real close second-you can never have too many purses!) Musicians give the day a flavor unlike any other. I always dig in my pocket to tip these guys because I want them to keep coming back.
Do you think we writers could get anything for standing on street corners reading our stories? I mean, how about if we put a typewriter case on the ground, drop a few coins in it and just start reading, would they tip us too? What if we did it outside of an agent's office? Or publisher?
Okay, okay, it was just a thought...
So I bought her a Uku, now I'm waiting for my concert.