Tuesday we were in the studio, and managed to capture drum tracks for five of the 11 songs. I had hoped to get more done, but, it is what it is. Looking back, things didn't go as badly as I perceived them as going while it was happening. I had to remind myself this morning that this is how recording sometimes goes; no band - professional, indie, major label or not - comes out with a finished CD in just 8 hours.
So, we're on the right track and will be back to recording next Thursday!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Your Media, Your Airwaves, Your Voice
You'll notice that, in the sidebar to the left, that I have put in a new widget. It is a poll to give our opinions about the most important aspects that need to be addressed by President Obama's FCC chairperson.
It iws important that you vote and let your voice be heard. If you're tired of the pro-corporate bias in the media that has nothing to do with your real concerns for this country and what matters to you... if you are tired of the spin and propaganda that make these things that are only good for big business look like the benefit you and your concerns... if you would like to keep the Internet free for all to use without preference to which corporation can pay the most ('Net Neutrality), then please, take this poll. The airwaves are yours. They do not belong to the government, any media owner, or any corporation. They belong to the American people. Let's take them back.
It iws important that you vote and let your voice be heard. If you're tired of the pro-corporate bias in the media that has nothing to do with your real concerns for this country and what matters to you... if you are tired of the spin and propaganda that make these things that are only good for big business look like the benefit you and your concerns... if you would like to keep the Internet free for all to use without preference to which corporation can pay the most ('Net Neutrality), then please, take this poll. The airwaves are yours. They do not belong to the government, any media owner, or any corporation. They belong to the American people. Let's take them back.
It Doesn't Rain...
...but it pours.
(Yes, I am re-using the title from my MySpace blog. Because I am being lazy.)
Anyway, so after the awful events of last week, one might think that nothing else really bad could happen here, but IT DID!
This morning, my cat, Cajun, demolished my brand new bag of bagels right in front of the bedroom door. Cajun had bounded through the bedroom, over the bed, and back out. Well, Cajun NEVER comes in the bedroom, so I should have found that odd.
Well, I got up, went to the bathroom, and then went into the kitchen to get the broom to clean up the bagel carnage off the dining room floor, where, apparently, the bagel destruction had started. I had just finished sweeping it up when I smelled heat and heard some crackling. My eyes were instantly drawn to the chimney, and, sure as shit, the wall around the chimney was on fire!
The fire started in the chimney, apparently from the bricks getting really hot and catching the drywall on fire. At one point, I guess, the stove was on the other side of the partition between the dining room and livingroom, but the chimney access was closed off by a metal (aluminum, maybe?) plate when they moved the stove to the livingroom side of the partition. Where the plate was in the wall was where the fire was burning.
Sprayed the fire with a spray bottle, putting it mostly out. I called out to the kids and got them to get dressed and go out to the car where they would be warm with the heater and all. Then, I called 911. For whatever reason, I got a hold of Pend Oreille County, and they had to re-route me to Bonner County. I reported the fire, told them that it was pretty much out but that we didn't know if it was in the walls or not. So, they were on there way. Then, I unloaded everything off my piano (my 121-year-old player piano... you know, the one my Dad bought me) and went outside myself to wave the firetrucks into the house. It was a good thing I did, because they were all over the place, completely lost. But they finally got here and looked at everything with a thermal camera to make sure that the fire was out. (Apparently, this thing is sensitive enough to see footprints on carpet when you're wearing shoes.) The fire was out, but they pried off the paneling and drywall where the fire had been.
While the firemen were here, I was in the car with the kids, getting worried and wondering how much damage there would be when I got back inside. Luckily, the firemen had moved my piano out of the way, so it only got some soot and a little water on it. Soon after, the firefighters left, and I got to clean everything up. Some of the family came over and helped move the piano back against the wall, but away from where the fire had been so that repairs could be made.
So, now, we have to wait for the chimney repair guy to come over and decide how much it'll be to repair it. We can't run the pellet stove until then, so it is pretty cold in here. Dad may come over later and take the kids to his place until we have the heat back on.
I had to cancel a meeting I had scheduled for a web site, and who knows how practice will go tomorrow without any heat. But Cajun was today's hero. If he hadn't eaten my bagels and acted like an idiot, the fire might have spread to the ceiling (the kids' rooms' floor) and we might all be dead. So, I gave Cajun a can of tuna. He earned it.
(Yes, I am re-using the title from my MySpace blog. Because I am being lazy.)
Anyway, so after the awful events of last week, one might think that nothing else really bad could happen here, but IT DID!
This morning, my cat, Cajun, demolished my brand new bag of bagels right in front of the bedroom door. Cajun had bounded through the bedroom, over the bed, and back out. Well, Cajun NEVER comes in the bedroom, so I should have found that odd.
Well, I got up, went to the bathroom, and then went into the kitchen to get the broom to clean up the bagel carnage off the dining room floor, where, apparently, the bagel destruction had started. I had just finished sweeping it up when I smelled heat and heard some crackling. My eyes were instantly drawn to the chimney, and, sure as shit, the wall around the chimney was on fire!
The fire started in the chimney, apparently from the bricks getting really hot and catching the drywall on fire. At one point, I guess, the stove was on the other side of the partition between the dining room and livingroom, but the chimney access was closed off by a metal (aluminum, maybe?) plate when they moved the stove to the livingroom side of the partition. Where the plate was in the wall was where the fire was burning.
Sprayed the fire with a spray bottle, putting it mostly out. I called out to the kids and got them to get dressed and go out to the car where they would be warm with the heater and all. Then, I called 911. For whatever reason, I got a hold of Pend Oreille County, and they had to re-route me to Bonner County. I reported the fire, told them that it was pretty much out but that we didn't know if it was in the walls or not. So, they were on there way. Then, I unloaded everything off my piano (my 121-year-old player piano... you know, the one my Dad bought me) and went outside myself to wave the firetrucks into the house. It was a good thing I did, because they were all over the place, completely lost. But they finally got here and looked at everything with a thermal camera to make sure that the fire was out. (Apparently, this thing is sensitive enough to see footprints on carpet when you're wearing shoes.) The fire was out, but they pried off the paneling and drywall where the fire had been.
While the firemen were here, I was in the car with the kids, getting worried and wondering how much damage there would be when I got back inside. Luckily, the firemen had moved my piano out of the way, so it only got some soot and a little water on it. Soon after, the firefighters left, and I got to clean everything up. Some of the family came over and helped move the piano back against the wall, but away from where the fire had been so that repairs could be made.
So, now, we have to wait for the chimney repair guy to come over and decide how much it'll be to repair it. We can't run the pellet stove until then, so it is pretty cold in here. Dad may come over later and take the kids to his place until we have the heat back on.
I had to cancel a meeting I had scheduled for a web site, and who knows how practice will go tomorrow without any heat. But Cajun was today's hero. If he hadn't eaten my bagels and acted like an idiot, the fire might have spread to the ceiling (the kids' rooms' floor) and we might all be dead. So, I gave Cajun a can of tuna. He earned it.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
LTD Damage
I am tired and I don't want to be doing anything...Monday afternoon, Kenny went to serve some papers up north of where Mom & Dad live... somewhere on Jackpine Flats or something. Anyway, so he serves the papers (and he had taken Dad with him), and he is heading back out when he comes to this hill on the one-lane road. Two cars are stopped in the middle of the road, so Kenny stops and waits for them, and then the cars leave. Kenny goes to go up this hill, and the road is icy. He can't get up it, so he starts to back down. The car slides sideways in the rear-end, and Kenny gets my LTD stuck. Yes, he is driving MY car.
So, they try to wiggle the car back and forth for a few minutes, and finally decide that it is well and truly stuck, so Dad goes walking to a nearby house to borrow a shovel. As Dad is walking away, Kenny keeps trying to get the car moving by going forward and then backward. While he is looking backward, a car comes over the top of the hill, starts slipping on the ice and hits my car head-on.
Now, nobody is hurt, I should say that now.
No BODY is hurt, except the body of my car.
The lady who hit the car was driving a two-day-old Suburban. You slide a lot faster than you roll, especially downhill, and, rather than take the ditch, she hit my car right on the passenger side front fender's corner. It DEMOLISHED the fender, the headline rim, the bumper, and all the chrome and lights around the fender - except the headlights... those still work. The impact crunched the fender over the hood, so the hood can't be opened, and jammed the fender back into the passenger door, so that can't be opened, either. Here are some pictures of the damage:
(click for larger views)
So, I am very upset. Kenny did not get the woman's temporary license number. He did not get her VIN number or her driver's license number. At least, with his P.I. business he could look some of that up, but he didn't even walk to a nearby house and ask to use the phone. He did walk to a nearby house and get them to pull the car out.
The only semi-bright side to this is that she REALLY damaged her Suburban by hitting my car. Apparently, it mashed the radiator into her engine and broke oil and fuel lines and it was not driveable.
Kenny talked to my Uncle Rick (who fixes car body damage), and he talked to our insurance company, and the woman's insurance company, and made a police report. We looked up the blue book value on the car - which, I figure, is somewhere between "average" and "excellent" condition - and my LTD is probably worth somewhere between $6,500 and $9,000 with the 429 in it. But I still figure that her insurance company will lowball it and total my car for what I paid for it: $1,400. I am GOING to get SCREWED on this; I know it.
So, that pretty much ruined my week.
So, they try to wiggle the car back and forth for a few minutes, and finally decide that it is well and truly stuck, so Dad goes walking to a nearby house to borrow a shovel. As Dad is walking away, Kenny keeps trying to get the car moving by going forward and then backward. While he is looking backward, a car comes over the top of the hill, starts slipping on the ice and hits my car head-on.
Now, nobody is hurt, I should say that now.
No BODY is hurt, except the body of my car.
The lady who hit the car was driving a two-day-old Suburban. You slide a lot faster than you roll, especially downhill, and, rather than take the ditch, she hit my car right on the passenger side front fender's corner. It DEMOLISHED the fender, the headline rim, the bumper, and all the chrome and lights around the fender - except the headlights... those still work. The impact crunched the fender over the hood, so the hood can't be opened, and jammed the fender back into the passenger door, so that can't be opened, either. Here are some pictures of the damage:
(click for larger views)
So, I am very upset. Kenny did not get the woman's temporary license number. He did not get her VIN number or her driver's license number. At least, with his P.I. business he could look some of that up, but he didn't even walk to a nearby house and ask to use the phone. He did walk to a nearby house and get them to pull the car out.
The only semi-bright side to this is that she REALLY damaged her Suburban by hitting my car. Apparently, it mashed the radiator into her engine and broke oil and fuel lines and it was not driveable.
Kenny talked to my Uncle Rick (who fixes car body damage), and he talked to our insurance company, and the woman's insurance company, and made a police report. We looked up the blue book value on the car - which, I figure, is somewhere between "average" and "excellent" condition - and my LTD is probably worth somewhere between $6,500 and $9,000 with the 429 in it. But I still figure that her insurance company will lowball it and total my car for what I paid for it: $1,400. I am GOING to get SCREWED on this; I know it.
So, that pretty much ruined my week.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Projects
Today, I finished a pain-in-the-keister project, got most of my school books for the "B" semester that starts in March, and bought some awesome chocolate scented body scrub and body wash. They are The. Awesomest.
I am so looking forward to recording and FINALLY working with TRUE professionals who know what they're doing and FINALLY capture MY awesomeness and my songs' awesomeness and my band's awesomeness.
Because we are AWESOME!
I am so looking forward to recording and FINALLY working with TRUE professionals who know what they're doing and FINALLY capture MY awesomeness and my songs' awesomeness and my band's awesomeness.
Because we are AWESOME!
Monday, February 2, 2009
STEELERS WIN!!!
HEY!!!! The Steelers won the Superbowl!!! I'm not going to Disney World, but I am happy!! The first team in NFL history to six Superbowl titles!!! Too awesome for words!!!
About half the people I invited ditched me at the last minute, but, oh, well. Life goes on. I have a ton of leftovers. Heh.
Anyways, not much going on other than that... now, I have to go do school work and some real work. Tomorrow, I start exercising again (oh, joy). Also tomorrow, I am getting my new desk, so, no more painful neck spasms and stuff. It should be awesome!
I sent the kids away to Mom's for the week so I could get all my school projects done and out of the way so I can focus on the recording. Should be a peaceful, if busy, week.
About half the people I invited ditched me at the last minute, but, oh, well. Life goes on. I have a ton of leftovers. Heh.
Anyways, not much going on other than that... now, I have to go do school work and some real work. Tomorrow, I start exercising again (oh, joy). Also tomorrow, I am getting my new desk, so, no more painful neck spasms and stuff. It should be awesome!
I sent the kids away to Mom's for the week so I could get all my school projects done and out of the way so I can focus on the recording. Should be a peaceful, if busy, week.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Today...
...I read Fahrenheit 451 for class (not bad, but leaves a weird taste, so to speak), had a business meeting, and registered some of my songs with the copyright office. I also practiced the keyboard parts for the songs that have piano for the album.
Right now, I should be sleeping, but I am debating staying up to get back on a day schedule.
Right now, I should be sleeping, but I am debating staying up to get back on a day schedule.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Not Much To Say
Been working, been doing some school stuff (did postings last night and have to watch a video and do more postings tonight), been working on the songs (changing a line here or there as I verify the songs' complete uniqueness by typing lyrical lines into Google with quotes to make sure nothing comes up), and I went and bought a new keyboard.
Not a typing keyboard, but an honest-to-goodness, 88-key, weighted hammer-like keys, digital piano keyboard. I found it on Craigslist for a steal, and went and got it from Post Falls today. I also went shopping for stuff for the SuperBowl party. But I have to do one more thing for that.
Anyway, that's about all that has been happening. Must go do school work now.
Not a typing keyboard, but an honest-to-goodness, 88-key, weighted hammer-like keys, digital piano keyboard. I found it on Craigslist for a steal, and went and got it from Post Falls today. I also went shopping for stuff for the SuperBowl party. But I have to do one more thing for that.
Anyway, that's about all that has been happening. Must go do school work now.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Despite There Being No Football On...
... I had a pretty good day. I didn't get to bed until about 6 this morning, and got back up at noon. Got my shit together, and made some soup for the band. We had band practice, and it went really well. We sounded almost perfect, to be honest with you. There are a few more things to tighten up, but I think we might be ready to record by the end of February! Yay!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I Am Tired
I am tired. I went to bed at about 4:30 AM, but couldn't sleep. I laid in bed, awake, until after 7 AM. Then, Dad came over and woke me up at 10:30AM. I don't really mind so much, but I am tired, and that makes me nauseous. I might go take a nap; I am supposed to have company tonight.
Yesterday, we pretty much got the book project wrapped up, and I talked to my lawyer client in LA about his site, which I am supposed to finish up by tomorrow.
I got my tax stuff put together, and I wrote a new song yesterday. It's actually pretty good, but I don't think that it will make the record. It's called "Discontent," and is a blues song that would - mostly - be a guitar instrumental. It plays off of Richard III's famous soliloquy by Shakespeare. If this gets recorded, it will probably be for the next record, along with "Fine Fools," "Troubles," and a few other new ones I have written here recently. Unfortunately, many of them sound the same, so I may have to re-work them and make one or two songs out of the lot.
Yesterday, we pretty much got the book project wrapped up, and I talked to my lawyer client in LA about his site, which I am supposed to finish up by tomorrow.
I got my tax stuff put together, and I wrote a new song yesterday. It's actually pretty good, but I don't think that it will make the record. It's called "Discontent," and is a blues song that would - mostly - be a guitar instrumental. It plays off of Richard III's famous soliloquy by Shakespeare. If this gets recorded, it will probably be for the next record, along with "Fine Fools," "Troubles," and a few other new ones I have written here recently. Unfortunately, many of them sound the same, so I may have to re-work them and make one or two songs out of the lot.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
I Had The Cops Called On Me...
I went out to pool leagues with The Usual Suspects on Wednesday. So, about three-quarters of the way through the pool league games, this Priest River cop comes in. I don't think anything of it. I even walk right past him to go get another drink. Eventually, the cop leaves.
At the end of the night, the bartender calls me over and asks me if I knew why the cop had come in. I said, "no." She proceeded to tell me that the cop came into the bar to throw me out because someone in the bar (a patron, most likely) had called the police complaining that I was "indecent." Apparently, this person reported me as not wearing anything under my shawl. Is that ridiculous or what?!?!?
Verifying photograph (sorry for crappy quality... cell phone picture):
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Fine Fools
I was writing again, and wrote a new song. I've titled it "Fine Fools." It's a funny story about the title: I was sitting the car outside a gas station, and looked to my right at a nearby bar. On the wall of the bar was this neon sign that was supposed to read "fine foods," but part of the "D" was out, so it read, "Fine Fools." I had to go with that.
The choruses - I think - are really catchy. Kenny hates it already. I showed it to him, and he said it was "too pop-py." I see it as a commentary on people knowing things are screwed up but don't do anything about it. Will show it to the band at the next practice.
The choruses - I think - are really catchy. Kenny hates it already. I showed it to him, and he said it was "too pop-py." I see it as a commentary on people knowing things are screwed up but don't do anything about it. Will show it to the band at the next practice.
Five Years
So, I guess I have been writing this blog for five years as of the 12th. Heh. Pretty cool.
I was beseiged by phone calls today, mostly work. Classes started again today. I began my fifth course in the master's program, but, at least, this class looks like it will be fun. We're going to watch James Burke, after all! That makes everything better.
I was beseiged by phone calls today, mostly work. Classes started again today. I began my fifth course in the master's program, but, at least, this class looks like it will be fun. We're going to watch James Burke, after all! That makes everything better.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Miscellaneous Detritus
Had band practice tonight, and things are really starting to come together. Just a few more weeks, and I think we can get this CD recorded and be on our way.
My neck goes through good hours and bad hours. It really fluctuates that much. Playing guitar tonight really hurt. My guitar weighs 14 pounds, so that stands to reason. When I wake up in the mornings, my neck is really stiff and hurts a lot. An ice pack on it for 15 minutes followed by a warm shower or a warm towel kinda works. Working makes the back of my neck all tingly. I am trying really hard to sit up straighter and not sit on my leg and not sleep on my stomach, but I tend to do it anyways. School starts on Tuesday. That should be fun. (Not.)
My neck goes through good hours and bad hours. It really fluctuates that much. Playing guitar tonight really hurt. My guitar weighs 14 pounds, so that stands to reason. When I wake up in the mornings, my neck is really stiff and hurts a lot. An ice pack on it for 15 minutes followed by a warm shower or a warm towel kinda works. Working makes the back of my neck all tingly. I am trying really hard to sit up straighter and not sit on my leg and not sleep on my stomach, but I tend to do it anyways. School starts on Tuesday. That should be fun. (Not.)
Friday, January 9, 2009
Arg
The pain in my neck is better (the ice helps), but working is still a pain, pun intended. I will be going to the chiropractor in a little over an hour. Hopefully, I will feel better afterward.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
I Went To The Chiropractor...
...and, as it turns out, my chosen profession is attributing to a case of torticollis. The muscles are huge surrounding the spot, and all this is most likely been brought on by using a mouse. Sheesh. Who knew web design could be debilitating?
Apparently, this all got started in 1996 when I was in two rear-end accidents in Spokane within the span of 5 months. The first one wasn't that big of a deal, but the second one was a pretty bad accident, as the car got pushed probably 25-30 feet into the intersection.
What's interesting, though, is that, according to that Wikipedia article up there, this kind of injury can be brought on by an ear infection. I had an ear infection not too long ago, but it was in my left ear, and this pain is on the right side of my neck. Anyway, working continues to hurt, and I have way too much to do for this crap to be going on. I am supposed to go back on Friday to see if he can put my vertabrae at the top of my spine in once the swelling goes down in the muscles around it.
Apparently, this all got started in 1996 when I was in two rear-end accidents in Spokane within the span of 5 months. The first one wasn't that big of a deal, but the second one was a pretty bad accident, as the car got pushed probably 25-30 feet into the intersection.
What's interesting, though, is that, according to that Wikipedia article up there, this kind of injury can be brought on by an ear infection. I had an ear infection not too long ago, but it was in my left ear, and this pain is on the right side of my neck. Anyway, working continues to hurt, and I have way too much to do for this crap to be going on. I am supposed to go back on Friday to see if he can put my vertabrae at the top of my spine in once the swelling goes down in the muscles around it.
Oh, For Criminey's Sake...
I couldn't get anything done today. I was fine when I woke up, but, within minutes of getting out of bed, I had a pain in my neck that would not quit. I thought I was going to throw up from the pain of it. I had a friend adjust me, but there is still a problem. And painkillers won't even touch it. I may have to go see a chiropractor, and soon.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Band Stuff
We had band practice tonight, and the band actually sounded really awesome. We are so close to being ready to go into the studio. I absolutely cannot WAIT for this record. It is going to be the best thing we've ever done. And the studio I've chosen is WAY AWESOME.
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