I tried to take lessons, then interest dropped off rapidly when school went back into session.

Not to any competent level. I was on the golf team in high school once and I never got past being on the practice squad.

the ｃｈｉｃｋｅｎ　ｋａｔｓｕ　ｃｕｒｒｙ　ｒｉｃｅ　ｌｉｆｅ

It depends. If it's like, say, meeting up with me to buy or sell something, then at least things got done. But if it's, say, being late to a class and you arrive like 75% of the way into class time, you may as well skip.

Santa Clara's city council has a veritable creepy asshole of a teacher as one of its members.