Go for the Gold Record Clock

I took up my very first instrument in elementary school, at the beginning of third grade. I chose the cello because, as eight and nine year olds with developing lungs, the school district wouldn't allow us to toot our own horns, and also because it didn't seem as wimpy as the violin nor as bulky as the bass. I took cello lessons for a year and then abadoned it like an old toy on Christmas day when, the next year, the school district deemed our fourth grade lungs to be of suitable strength... More

I took up my very first instrument in elementary school, at the beginning of third grade. I chose the cello because, as eight and nine year olds with developing lungs, the school district wouldn't allow us to toot our own horns, and also because it didn't seem as wimpy as the violin nor as bulky as the bass. I took cello lessons for a year and then abadoned it like an old toy on Christmas day when, the next year, the school district deemed our fourth grade lungs to be of suitable strength for blowing into brass tubing. My second instrument then, was the sleek, sinuous, and stylish alto saxophone, which I still own to this day. Jamming on this jazzy instrument, I reckoned, would make me look as cool as the dark shades-wearing California Raisins figurine that took the stage of my bedroom bookshelf with his tenor sax. So, I played my alto in school bands for the next five years - even making it into the honors bands - until I judged that being a part of any organized scholastic activity indubitably made one a dork. Although I abandoned music as an academic activity long ago, it continues to be a source of inspiration and expression for me to this day. In college, I bought a guitar and taught myself to play, and I even picked up a little piano and harmonica somewhere along the way. For the past decade I've been writing songs and forming bands. I have always dreamed of a day when I'd really make it as a musician - nay, a cult status level indie rock star - but have yet to succeed in that endeavor. Hanging this gilded vinyl record clock on my wall though, gives me something to aim for. And, if that is no longer to necessarily sell hundreds of thousands of records, then it's to never give up engaging in music, my primary passion and one of life's truly great gifts. -Richard, Fashion Writer

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