...I couldn't catch my ass with both hands and Stickum.
It's been a long month. I'm at about 40,000 words so far in A Night Borrowed in JulNoWriMo. Which means, in the next three hours - if I was to make the 50,000 words for the month - I'd have to write another 10,000 words. Which, at this point, is probably not going to happen.
An acquaintance told me that my storm pictures of the "potential tornado" we had on Tuesday were used on KXLY News 4 - without attribution. Grr.
Better get to writing, I suppose.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Must Be Stupid
I am about 10,000 words behind to get to 50,000 words for JulNoWriMo, but I just signed up to do 65,000 words in AugNoWriMo (August Novel Writing Month) for the month of August. The goal is to finish Devil's Handiwork and A Night Borrowed by the end of August. Devil's Handiwork needs about another 25,000 words to be done, and A Night Borrowed will need about another 40,000 words... assuming that I actually hit 50,000 words in it for July. HAHAHA.
We Recorded
So, we recorded again yesterday. It went all right. Got to the studio right about 3 PM. We unloaded my amp and guitar and the bassist's guitars, and set those up. I went over the site with the recording guy, who wants some changes to the site.
The drummer arrived, unloaded his stuff, and set up his drums. That took about 15 minutes. Another half hour to set up microphones on the drums.
We started with "Strings." It took about 4 takes, but we got one that worked pretty quickly. Encouraged, we went into "The Night Let Me Down." It took us probably a dozen takes but we finally got a good take. Next, we did the drummer's song, "Dear Jane." That one took about a half dozen takes, mostly for false starts. The drummer was not happy with one of the spots on my guitar, so I will re-do it later. Next, we did "Rumors," and, even though that's a pretty difficult song to play, we only needed three takes to get it right.
Once we were done with those - which were the songs we had planned to get done yesterday all along - I went over the list of songs left to do. I had previously listened to the six songs we'd recorded the last time, and decided that we might want to re-do "The Cover" and "Even If It's Wrong," but that the second take of "You're The Reason" we could keep, along with the three I knew were good from the last session: "Moonshine Valentine," "If The Stars Align" and the third take of "Honor Among Thieves." So, after yesterday's session, we only had "Relax" left to do, and, possibly, re-doing "The Cover," as the band decided that they liked the take of "Even If It's Wrong."
I have a new-ish song called "Fine Fools," and I really like that song, so, I decided that we would record it, too, for this record. So, we took three takes to get "Fine Fools," and then two takes on "Relax." After listening back to them, I still think that we need to re-do "The Cover" with a metronome, and I also think that we should re-do "Relax" with a metronome. I am waiting to get copies of everything from the recording guy and then we'll make a decision on those two songs. I am pretty sure, though, that we will be re-doing those two with a metronome.
So, all in all, this is what is done for the record, as far as bass, drums, and rhythm guitar go:
Moonshine Valentine
If The Stars Align
Rumors
The Night Let Me Down
Fine Fools
Strings
Even If It's Wrong
You're The Reason
I will have to re-do or edit guitar tracks on:
Dear Jane (one damned note, but that's enough, I guess)
Honor Among Thieves (one damned note, too)
We'll probably be re-doing:
The Cover
Relax
And then I have one more song to add, but it is piano and vocals only:
You Suck More Than I Do
I should be writing today, but I am not. I am tired.
The drummer arrived, unloaded his stuff, and set up his drums. That took about 15 minutes. Another half hour to set up microphones on the drums.
We started with "Strings." It took about 4 takes, but we got one that worked pretty quickly. Encouraged, we went into "The Night Let Me Down." It took us probably a dozen takes but we finally got a good take. Next, we did the drummer's song, "Dear Jane." That one took about a half dozen takes, mostly for false starts. The drummer was not happy with one of the spots on my guitar, so I will re-do it later. Next, we did "Rumors," and, even though that's a pretty difficult song to play, we only needed three takes to get it right.
Once we were done with those - which were the songs we had planned to get done yesterday all along - I went over the list of songs left to do. I had previously listened to the six songs we'd recorded the last time, and decided that we might want to re-do "The Cover" and "Even If It's Wrong," but that the second take of "You're The Reason" we could keep, along with the three I knew were good from the last session: "Moonshine Valentine," "If The Stars Align" and the third take of "Honor Among Thieves." So, after yesterday's session, we only had "Relax" left to do, and, possibly, re-doing "The Cover," as the band decided that they liked the take of "Even If It's Wrong."
I have a new-ish song called "Fine Fools," and I really like that song, so, I decided that we would record it, too, for this record. So, we took three takes to get "Fine Fools," and then two takes on "Relax." After listening back to them, I still think that we need to re-do "The Cover" with a metronome, and I also think that we should re-do "Relax" with a metronome. I am waiting to get copies of everything from the recording guy and then we'll make a decision on those two songs. I am pretty sure, though, that we will be re-doing those two with a metronome.
So, all in all, this is what is done for the record, as far as bass, drums, and rhythm guitar go:
Moonshine Valentine
If The Stars Align
Rumors
The Night Let Me Down
Fine Fools
Strings
Even If It's Wrong
You're The Reason
I will have to re-do or edit guitar tracks on:
Dear Jane (one damned note, but that's enough, I guess)
Honor Among Thieves (one damned note, too)
We'll probably be re-doing:
The Cover
Relax
And then I have one more song to add, but it is piano and vocals only:
You Suck More Than I Do
I should be writing today, but I am not. I am tired.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Recording Stuff
I talked to my cousin, Angel (since she has played in a brass section), and asked about getting a brass section to play on "You're The Reason." I showed her the song and the parts as I have written them on the keyboard, and she said that real horns probably wouldn't come out a lot better than the way the keyboard sounds. She says that recordings are generally pretty harsh on horns. So, I will probably just play the keyboard for those parts. Saves me some money, too.
Monday, July 20, 2009
JulNoWriMo & Stuff
Didn't write at all yesterday, but we did have a short band practice. We practiced the four originals that we're going to record the bass, drums, and rhythm guitar for on the 25th, when we go back into the studio.
I have four new show recaps up: here, here, here, and here.
Today, I plan to write some more in A Night Borrowed. I am almost at 30,000 words for the month. :)
I have four new show recaps up: here, here, here, and here.
Today, I plan to write some more in A Night Borrowed. I am almost at 30,000 words for the month. :)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Coccygodynious* People
So, a few weeks ago, I responded to a Craigslist posting for a band for a wedding. I sent them a complete set list and links to cover song demos. They replied that they wanted to come hear us play live. I replied that the bars weren't paying that well, so we have been doing weddings, but that I couldn't just invite them to someone else's wedding reception. So, I told them they could come hear us at a practice. A week or so goes by, and I don't hear back from them. I figure that they weren't interested in coming over or something and wrote it off.
Then, on July 3rd, the lady writes back asking when we're practicing so she can come hear us play. I tell her that the drummer is out of the area for one weekend and we're playing another wedding the next, so the 19th (today) is the next practice. She writes back later that day that they are coming.
Over the course of the last two weeks, I have tried to confirm this with her. No replies. Yesterday, I wrote again to confirm. Finally got a reply at 1 PM today that they've hired another band.
My question is: WHEN did she hire another band? Because, unless it was at 12:30 PM TODAY, she should have called or e-mailed THAT DAY, not waited until two hours before they were supposed to show up!!! I mean, the fact that they hired another band is not the deal here: it's the lack of consideration for my time, but not e-mailing or calling me and letting me know they've hired someone else and are not coming.
* means pain in the ass
Then, on July 3rd, the lady writes back asking when we're practicing so she can come hear us play. I tell her that the drummer is out of the area for one weekend and we're playing another wedding the next, so the 19th (today) is the next practice. She writes back later that day that they are coming.
Over the course of the last two weeks, I have tried to confirm this with her. No replies. Yesterday, I wrote again to confirm. Finally got a reply at 1 PM today that they've hired another band.
My question is: WHEN did she hire another band? Because, unless it was at 12:30 PM TODAY, she should have called or e-mailed THAT DAY, not waited until two hours before they were supposed to show up!!! I mean, the fact that they hired another band is not the deal here: it's the lack of consideration for my time, but not e-mailing or calling me and letting me know they've hired someone else and are not coming.
* means pain in the ass
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Words and Stuff
I am almost to the halfway mark for JulNoWriMo. Tomorrow, I should crack 25,000 words (plus some, I hope). I need to get at least 50,000 words this month, or I'll never get the book done this year.
Kenny may have gotten me another web design job for a local flooring company, so that would be good.
As for the band, we're practicing on Sunday, and there is supposed to be a potential client coming over to hear us play. I doubt they'll actually make it over. But, just in case, I am cleaning the floors tomorrow... vacuuming the livingroom carpet and mopping the linoleum in the dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Also, clutter must be picked up. The house isn't in that bad of shape, considering... except for the kids' rooms. Arg.
Kenny may have gotten me another web design job for a local flooring company, so that would be good.
As for the band, we're practicing on Sunday, and there is supposed to be a potential client coming over to hear us play. I doubt they'll actually make it over. But, just in case, I am cleaning the floors tomorrow... vacuuming the livingroom carpet and mopping the linoleum in the dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Also, clutter must be picked up. The house isn't in that bad of shape, considering... except for the kids' rooms. Arg.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Show Went Well
I got up at 11AM yesterday (because I had been up until 4AM making preparations for the gig), made coffee, and started getting ready. We packed up and drove to Dover and got to the venue. We dragged all of our equipment up the stairs to a renovated hayloft in a barn. The floor was uneven, and all of our equipment was tippy. Oh, well.
We set up. I had major issues with the power source for my little 66-key keyboard. I have started using the little keyboard for the organ parts on the Bon Jovi songs we do, and I went and bought a second tier for my keyboard stand for that very purpose, so it looks like I have some real keyboard talent, what with the two keyboards stacked atop each other, the 88-key big one below and the little 66-key one above. LOL. Anyway, so once we got the power issues situated, we soundchecked.Soundcheck was a mess. We couldn't seem to get the levels right. We got them close, though, when we stole the drummer's vocal microphone and stuffed it in his kick drum. Once the kick drum was audible through the PA, things seemed a bit better, soundwise. Not perfect, but better.
After soundcheck, we went and got some hamburgers for lunch and then Kenny and I grabbed the big keyboard, my acoustic guitar, one half of Kenny's amp, and my little Abilene amp and we went to the wedding site. Once there, we found that the concrete pad we were to play on was in the full-on afternoon sun. And, we had only two outlets and we needed three. So, Kenny jetted back to the barn to go get a power strip. Once we were set up, to keep me from burning my hands on the keyboard (which was HOT thanks to being in the full-on rays of the sun), Kenny stood between me and the sun, shading my hands. He was dripping with sweat, and my legs, which were still in the sun and covered in black tights, felt like they might catch fire.
We did really well at the wedding, though the sun prevented me from doing as well as I wanted to while people were sitting down. The bride wanted us to play an instrumental acoustic version of the chorus from Tom Petty's "Here Comes My Girl." We did manage to pull that off without a hitch, so, that was good. After the wedding ceremony, I played Pachabel's "Canon in D" for the bride and groom to march back down the aisle, and then we packed up our shit and went back to the barn for the reception.
We got back to the reception and had some ice water, and then re-set up our stuff for the gig. The heat inside kept people outside; it was about 105 degrees inside that barn, and muggy as hell, but we persevered. We played really well, all in all. There weren't any glaring errors, and the band sounded awesome, and everyone was having a great time and dancing (outside where we couldn't see them, but Dad told me about it), and the bride and her mom told us repeatedly that we rocked and that they really enjoyed it.
We broke everything down and loaded it into the vehicles. We went to bed - with my cousin staying over (and I am really glad he came; we really needed his help and he was a HUGE help) - at about 2 AM, and I didn't get up until 1:30 this afternoon. So far, I haven't really done anything except make dinner for everyone. It's in the oven now.
So, all in all, it went well.
We set up. I had major issues with the power source for my little 66-key keyboard. I have started using the little keyboard for the organ parts on the Bon Jovi songs we do, and I went and bought a second tier for my keyboard stand for that very purpose, so it looks like I have some real keyboard talent, what with the two keyboards stacked atop each other, the 88-key big one below and the little 66-key one above. LOL. Anyway, so once we got the power issues situated, we soundchecked.Soundcheck was a mess. We couldn't seem to get the levels right. We got them close, though, when we stole the drummer's vocal microphone and stuffed it in his kick drum. Once the kick drum was audible through the PA, things seemed a bit better, soundwise. Not perfect, but better.
After soundcheck, we went and got some hamburgers for lunch and then Kenny and I grabbed the big keyboard, my acoustic guitar, one half of Kenny's amp, and my little Abilene amp and we went to the wedding site. Once there, we found that the concrete pad we were to play on was in the full-on afternoon sun. And, we had only two outlets and we needed three. So, Kenny jetted back to the barn to go get a power strip. Once we were set up, to keep me from burning my hands on the keyboard (which was HOT thanks to being in the full-on rays of the sun), Kenny stood between me and the sun, shading my hands. He was dripping with sweat, and my legs, which were still in the sun and covered in black tights, felt like they might catch fire.
We did really well at the wedding, though the sun prevented me from doing as well as I wanted to while people were sitting down. The bride wanted us to play an instrumental acoustic version of the chorus from Tom Petty's "Here Comes My Girl." We did manage to pull that off without a hitch, so, that was good. After the wedding ceremony, I played Pachabel's "Canon in D" for the bride and groom to march back down the aisle, and then we packed up our shit and went back to the barn for the reception.
We got back to the reception and had some ice water, and then re-set up our stuff for the gig. The heat inside kept people outside; it was about 105 degrees inside that barn, and muggy as hell, but we persevered. We played really well, all in all. There weren't any glaring errors, and the band sounded awesome, and everyone was having a great time and dancing (outside where we couldn't see them, but Dad told me about it), and the bride and her mom told us repeatedly that we rocked and that they really enjoyed it.
We broke everything down and loaded it into the vehicles. We went to bed - with my cousin staying over (and I am really glad he came; we really needed his help and he was a HUGE help) - at about 2 AM, and I didn't get up until 1:30 this afternoon. So far, I haven't really done anything except make dinner for everyone. It's in the oven now.
So, all in all, it went well.
Friday, July 10, 2009
More Words
I managed to write just over 1,000 words yesterday, bringing my total for JulNoWriMo to 14,973. It seems so slow going, but once I made a change in Chapter One, the rest seems to be going smoother. I was going to skip a bunch of stuff that was supposed to happen in the book and just summarize those events, but, I realized that much of the characterization happens during those seemingly boring parts to write, so I am writing them. Not that I really want to. I'd rather get on with what happens.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I'm Procrastinating Again
I have been doing everything BUT writing in A Night Borrowed. I don't like how it is turning out, and I fear that I will have to start over. It needs desperate re-working.
Today is really my last day to write until Sunday, so I should get to it. Tomorrow, I have to practice with Kenny and then break down all the equipment and get it ready to move to the venue. Saturday, we have to leave here by 1PM to get to the venue for set-up by 2PM. Also, since Kenny and I are playing guitar and piano AT the wedding itself, we have to set up part of the stuff at a different place and then move it to the venue when the reception starts. And then there's breaking down again and re-loading it up in the vehicles... and did I mention that the reception is taking place on the second floor, which means hauling everything up a flight of stairs?
Today is really my last day to write until Sunday, so I should get to it. Tomorrow, I have to practice with Kenny and then break down all the equipment and get it ready to move to the venue. Saturday, we have to leave here by 1PM to get to the venue for set-up by 2PM. Also, since Kenny and I are playing guitar and piano AT the wedding itself, we have to set up part of the stuff at a different place and then move it to the venue when the reception starts. And then there's breaking down again and re-loading it up in the vehicles... and did I mention that the reception is taking place on the second floor, which means hauling everything up a flight of stairs?
Monday, July 6, 2009
JulNoWriMo Word Count
So far, I have 7,218 words for JulNoWriMo. Once the synopsis was complete, things started to make more sense and writing was easier. I am going to have to go back and make some textual changes when I am finished with the first draft, but things should be good for A Night Borrowed to come out October 1st.
Other news: There is no one at the landscape yard today... except for customers, who seem to think that I - a mere neighbor of the place - know something about the operation of the landscape yard and equipment thereon. Case in point: a guy delivering slate to the yard today thought that I somehow knew how to operate the crane truck and/or get into the office so he could get the keys to run it. Wut?
Other news: There is no one at the landscape yard today... except for customers, who seem to think that I - a mere neighbor of the place - know something about the operation of the landscape yard and equipment thereon. Case in point: a guy delivering slate to the yard today thought that I somehow knew how to operate the crane truck and/or get into the office so he could get the keys to run it. Wut?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Busy Day Ahead
Today, I have to go into Spokane to meet with a client. That meeting is at 3PM, and I hope to be done by 4PM so that I can go over to Uncle Rick's and look at my car.
Finally, I made an appointment with the studio to pick up preliminary mixes of the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar tracks we did last week. That's at 6 or 6:30.
Not sure what's going on tonight, but I have almost finished the synopsis for A Night Borrowed, so I should be good to go on that and be able to write the darned book this month and next. Last year, when I did JulNoWriMo, I wrote the 50,000 words in the 31 days. The thing is, when I wrote Night Cries, it ended up being just over 135,000 words. I do hope that this book is shorter. With any luck, the book will end somewhere between 85,000 and 90,000 words.
Anyway, I need to get ready to go. More later.
Finally, I made an appointment with the studio to pick up preliminary mixes of the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar tracks we did last week. That's at 6 or 6:30.
Not sure what's going on tonight, but I have almost finished the synopsis for A Night Borrowed, so I should be good to go on that and be able to write the darned book this month and next. Last year, when I did JulNoWriMo, I wrote the 50,000 words in the 31 days. The thing is, when I wrote Night Cries, it ended up being just over 135,000 words. I do hope that this book is shorter. With any luck, the book will end somewhere between 85,000 and 90,000 words.
Anyway, I need to get ready to go. More later.
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