I started out playing a Hohner Melodica that my aunt gave me for my birthday when I was about 12 years old. I enjoyed playing it and my cat seemed to enjoy my playing it as well. I didn't stay with it for more than a couple of years. When I was in college I started to play the electric guitar, but sold it to pay rent. About the age of 41 I decided to buy an electric guitar and started to learn to play again. A year later my left hand was crushed. I could no longer work the fret board with my left hand. I traded my guitar in for a lefties guitar. I can strum with my left hand. At the same time I bought my 2nd guitar I start playing the hand drums. The drums took. 12 years later I'm still playing the hand drums.
About a year and a half ago I bought a PS3 and the little drum set with cymbals. 6 months after that I upgrade to a Yamaha DTX500K. I play almost daily, usually before I go to work and when I get home.
What brought me to the forums was the posting by eclein from a google search for PN and drums. I looked around, liked what I saw and joined.
I'm also a DJ, Sound Engineer, MCSE and a Novell CNE; I like to fly around in Falcon 4 flying a F-16 and a Boeing 737 in Flight Sim. I used to fix F-15's in the Air Force.
Currently I'm an underpaid dispatcher for a trucking company. With all that talent, I think I missed a turn. But I'm coming up on 10 years with the same employer, so that is something.
I was diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy a couple of years ago, in both feet. Last year I was diagnosed with Diabetics and last summer the Neuropathy hit both hands. I'm taking ibuprofen for the pain and I have percocet for the days it gets really bad.
Based on the posting from the thread by eclein, it looks I need to spend more time with the joysticks.
I can still get almost all of the notes. Occasionally, when I go to hit something the foot or the hand just doesn't make the connection.
I'm a litte worried about my future for drumming, but for today I play what I can. If I miss, I miss. When I can no longer play... I guess I can take up gardening, or something.
-JJ
