Pounding the Pavement

My best friend, Lori, is a professional percussianist. She teaches at two private schools, plays for the church, is in an area musicianship group, and is under contract for the local opera and music theatre companies. Let me tell you, that girl is busy. She can play tympani like nobody's business.

She also knows her drums.

Since I'm planning to get my son into drum lessons this fall, I'll need to buy a drum set. His birthday is next month, so I figure I'll kill two birds with one stone and get him the drums as a birthday present.

Lori's agreed to take me around to the best stores and compare basic sets and prices. If anyone can get me a good set for a good deal, she can.

She's already warned me to stay away from pawn shops. Figured I might be able to get a good deal there, but she said many times they're even more expensive than buying something brand new. It's the sucker punch.

We've tentatively planned for this Saturday or the next. She's even offered to let me store it at her house until his birthday weekend. I want to at least TRY to keep it a surprise if at all possible. Then I can set it up in his man cave and make it off-limits for a day or two. Gee, the things I go through to try and keep secrets from the kid.

All I can say is, he'd better appreciate all I'm going to go through trying to get the crazy thing in the house and set up. My back hurts already.

And Lori lugs around tympani drums all by herself!