Value Scale Practice

I was recently glared at by a teacher when asked if I draw regularly.  I never draw anymore.  I was also told to do a 9 step value scale at least once a day.  That's not going to happen, so I'm going with reproducing fashion magazine photos in pencil.  Much more fun.  I haven't done this in a while.  Looking at it, I do have a lot to work on, my drawings are as bad as my photo printing! Gray, gray, gray.  I have an amazingly talented 15 year old cousin who could school me in pencil drawing.  I recently looked at one of his drawings he had thrown out and I wanted to cry.   Ugh, why did I stop drawing?  Fool!