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Sunday, October 31, 2010
That didn't work
So much for that. The last four days have been crazy busy. Scratch the whole 600 posts by 11/1 thing as it is 10/31 and I don't have 15 interesting things to say.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
2 of 16
I went to the eye doctor today. I was only going to pick out frames but since my eye glasses are nearly 2 years old, I am returning, tomorrow @ 8 AM, for an eye exam. I have the frames picked out. I don't really care what my glasses look like as all they do is help me see. I am wearing them now. I wear them all the time. The only time I wish I didn't wear them is when I was watching Alex's basketball team come unglued in front of my eyes. It was an awful game. The team did not play good defense and if they are not mad at themselves, they should not play the game. Losing by 40 points is awful.
But back to my story about the eye doctor. I have my appt tomorrow AM and then I'll drive to work.
I like my drive to and from work. The people are friendly. I've eaten twice at the Kalona Family Restaurant and it was very good. I took my truck for an oil change on Monday and Jerry, the owner of the place, was nice. My co-workers are all nice. The work I have to do is challenging, as I learn InDesign and purge myself of the MS Word workflow. It's been a good move.
But back to my story about the eye doctor. I have my appt tomorrow AM and then I'll drive to work.
I like my drive to and from work. The people are friendly. I've eaten twice at the Kalona Family Restaurant and it was very good. I took my truck for an oil change on Monday and Jerry, the owner of the place, was nice. My co-workers are all nice. The work I have to do is challenging, as I learn InDesign and purge myself of the MS Word workflow. It's been a good move.
1 of 16
I vaguely remember this sort of challenge back when I wrote songs. Yes, I was a songwriter. I had visions of being in an all original music band, preferably hard rock or heavy metal, and playing songs that I wrote. I had visions of one of my best friends being my drum roadie, my band headlining the Cedar Rapids, IA, concert hall (US Cellular Center), and 'making it' in the music industry. Teaching high school English was going to be my fallback in the bizarre case that being a rock and roll drummer somehow, inconceivably, didn't work out. I was going to play drums, I was going to have Ludwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, Pro Mark drumsticks, and Remo drum heads. At the time, no one was making clear shell drums, like mine are, and so Ludwig was going to start up production again, just for me, just for my band, and I was going to have a huge double bass set, even though I can not, to this day, really play double bass. That was the plan. That is why I filled 18 spiral notebooks, of various sizes but a few were 200 pages, with songs. I feverishly wrote songs on place mats when I worked at a restaurant. I wrote so many songs that I can only vaguely remember writing some of them - the rest don't seem to have made an impression. I was going to write my heart out and leave it all on the pages. I was going to make my dream of being the next Billy Joel or Sting come through. I was going to write the equivalent of "Operation: Mindcrime" - the great concept album by Queensryche. I was going to write lyrics that would make Rush's Neil Peart think, "Wow! Great lyrics and he plays drums too!" I was going to earn the respect of all these musicians I admired - Lars Ulrich, Tommy Aldridge, Alex Van Halen. And then, I was going to meet the ultimate musician - Eddie Van Halen. He was going to invite me to an audition because Alex was unable to tour due some mysterious ailment. We were going to play arenas around the world - Michael Anthony on bass, Eddie on guitar, me on drums, and David Lee Roth on vocals. That was the plan.
Funny how plans change.
Nearly every thing I wrote about in the first paragraph did not happen. I never will play the US Cellular Center. If anything my friend will be the one in the band and I would be the one setting up his drums. I will never meet any of the musicians I mentioned above. The only thing that is really relevant is a dim memory that I used to write a lot of lyrics.
And, one time, I challenged myself to write a lot of songs in 16 days. That's the whole point.
Bet you thought I didn't have a point...
Funny how plans change.
Nearly every thing I wrote about in the first paragraph did not happen. I never will play the US Cellular Center. If anything my friend will be the one in the band and I would be the one setting up his drums. I will never meet any of the musicians I mentioned above. The only thing that is really relevant is a dim memory that I used to write a lot of lyrics.
And, one time, I challenged myself to write a lot of songs in 16 days. That's the whole point.
Bet you thought I didn't have a point...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Challenge
Here's a challenge. I am at 583 posts in this blog. Either I will meet the challenge of posting 4 meaningful posts a day for the next four days, resulting in 600 posts as of Monday, 11/1/2010, or I will not. And if I do not, I will certainly hit 600 posts by 1/1/2011.
But this is the last filler post. The real content starts tomorrow night. Four posts Thur, four on Fri (challenging!), four on Sat (especially since the CEW meeting is requiring me to leave early Sat AM) and four on Sun (possibly the easiest, though Hallow's Eve twists it a bit).
But this is the last filler post. The real content starts tomorrow night. Four posts Thur, four on Fri (challenging!), four on Sat (especially since the CEW meeting is requiring me to leave early Sat AM) and four on Sun (possibly the easiest, though Hallow's Eve twists it a bit).
Checking In
Nothing is better than sitting @ the PC and listening to some classics:
- Dynamite Boy - Somewhere in America
- Bigwig - An Invitation to Tragedy & Reclamation
- Metallica - Master of Puppets
- Rush - Moving Pictures
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Schedule Update
What a week behind us and what a week ahead...
- Sunday
- 11 AM Mass
- Nap?!?
- Alex Basketball practice from 7-8
- Desparate Housewives
- Monday
- Megan has a choir concert @ West - I am taking her
- Alex drum lessons - Karen is taking him
- WWE
- Tuesday
- Refinancing closing @ 5
- Teen Mom
- Wednesday
- Megan has a band concert @ West
- Cutthroat
- Thursday
- I have a dentist appt @ 8 AM
- Alex has a basketball game @ 6:30
- Grey's Anatomy / Private Practice
- Friday
- NOTHING!
- Saturday
- I have a CEW Leadership meeting in Waterloo. I will leave NL ~7
- The football game is Iowa hosting MSU
- I think Alex or Megan serve @ 5:15 Mass
So that's my schedule. If I look ahead:
- Sunday (10/31)
- Trick or Treat
- No Basketball practice
- Desparate Housewives
- Monday (11/1)
- Alex drum lessons
- WWE
- Tuesday (11/2)
- Teen Mom
- Wednesday (11/3)
- Megan has RE
- I have four (free) tickets to the U of I Band Extravaganza at Carver
- Cutthroat
- Thursday (11/4)
- Alex has a basketball game @ 6:30
- Grey's Anatomy / Private Practice
- Friday (11/5)
- Megan has a dance and is having a friend sleepover
- Saturday (11/6)
- The football game is Iowa at Indiana
- 5:15 Mass
- After Mass, bassist Keith and guitarist Jim are coming over
- Sunday (11/7)
- Alex basketball practice 5-6 @ Regina
Somewhere in there I need to write some music reviews!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Iowa Loses to WI
Time is running out, Stanzi completes a pass in-bounds, they have spent their last time out and time runs out on them. They lose to WI 31-30. They showed a lot of disbelief in the stands - one girl in particular looked like she was in tears.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Really?
Alex's team did better than I expected. After being down 24-12, we stormed back and lost by 6. Alex scored two baskets (a jumpshot and a free throw) so he pumped his fist in the air after each. I felt proud of him.
Today is his 12th birthday. We went to Planet X in CR and then to Happy Joe's for supper. They came over to sing to him and the girl says, "I hear you have a birthday."
Alex replies, "Sure!"
"And you're turning 12?"
"Sure!"
Was the girl cute? Apparently to him!
And life goes on...
Today is his 12th birthday. We went to Planet X in CR and then to Happy Joe's for supper. They came over to sing to him and the girl says, "I hear you have a birthday."
Alex replies, "Sure!"
"And you're turning 12?"
"Sure!"
Was the girl cute? Apparently to him!
And life goes on...
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Progress Expected
I hope to make progress within the next 24 hours on a couple of projects. The first is ultra-personal and will not be disclosed while the second is not as personal. The second deals with Alex's basketball game tonight. My hope is that the team plays together well and that we enter the game with the right mentality - that it is possible to win. Any other attitude - "we'll do okay" - is not all right with me.
Work is going well. I am learning InDesign, which is basically a page layout app. It is challenging to think in a different paradigm than what I thought in using MS Word. Time will tell which is the better tool. I would convert to MS Word but I know the next project I work on is going to be a 160+ page manual that is in InDesign. I'd like to think that tackling a 10 page project will make the 160 page project easier to deal with.
Work is going well. I am learning InDesign, which is basically a page layout app. It is challenging to think in a different paradigm than what I thought in using MS Word. Time will tell which is the better tool. I would convert to MS Word but I know the next project I work on is going to be a 160+ page manual that is in InDesign. I'd like to think that tackling a 10 page project will make the 160 page project easier to deal with.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
New Job
I accepted a new job, with a different company, on Monday, 9/27/2010, and submitted my two week notice on Monday, 10/4/2010. My last day was Friday, 10/15/2010. I start at my new job tomorrow (!!) Monday, 10/18/2010. I am very excited to be starting a new chapter in my career. I worked at my previous employer for 12 years. I definitely nested and have the challenge in front of me to meet new co-workers, learn new systems, and make a difference. I think it is going to rock. I am anxious for a Monday, which is kind of weird to say. My commute is going to be 10 minutes more to the new place v. the previous place. I need to update my resume with an end date for the previous place. I need to embrace change and learn as much as I can as quickly as I can. It is going to be a busy week with the kids' activities but I will hopefully have more to say some night this week.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Procedure Done...
An Iowa Hawkeye fan is drinking (imagine that) in a New York bar when, he gets a call on his cell phone. He hangs up, grinning from ear to ear, and orders a round of drinks for everybody in the bar announcing his wife has produced a typical Hawkeye baby boy weighing 25 pounds. Nobody can believe that any new baby can weigh in at 25 pounds, but the Iowa fan just shrugs, "That's about average back home, folks, like I said, my boy's a typical Iowa Hawkeye baby boy'. Congratulations showered him from all around, amid many exclamations of "WOW!".
One woman actually fainted due to sympathy pains.
Two weeks later, he returns to the bar. The bartender says, "Say, you're the father of that typical Iowa Hawkeye baby that weighed 25 pounds at birth. Everybody's been making bets about how big he'd be in two weeks. So how much does he weigh now?"
The proud father answers, "Seventeen pounds." The bartender is puzzled, concerned, and a little suspicious. "What happened? He already weighed 25 pounds the day he was born!"
The Iowa father takes a slow swig from his beer, wipes his lips on his shirt sleeve, leans into the bartender "Had him circumcised."
One woman actually fainted due to sympathy pains.
Two weeks later, he returns to the bar. The bartender says, "Say, you're the father of that typical Iowa Hawkeye baby that weighed 25 pounds at birth. Everybody's been making bets about how big he'd be in two weeks. So how much does he weigh now?"
The proud father answers, "Seventeen pounds." The bartender is puzzled, concerned, and a little suspicious. "What happened? He already weighed 25 pounds the day he was born!"
The Iowa father takes a slow swig from his beer, wipes his lips on his shirt sleeve, leans into the bartender "Had him circumcised."
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Better, Best!
1) DVD of the Big Four (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax)
2) Metallica new release from their secret warm-up gig before Bonerroo(sic) a few years back.
3) Twisted Sister live DVD featuring "Burn in Hell"!!!
How sweet is life!
2) Metallica new release from their secret warm-up gig before Bonerroo(sic) a few years back.
3) Twisted Sister live DVD featuring "Burn in Hell"!!!
How sweet is life!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Uncle Sam
I do not like this Uncle Sam,
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan ,
I do not like this 'YES, WE CAN'.
I do not like this spending spree---
I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!
The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump died and went to Heaven. He was at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates were closed, and Forrest approached the gatekeeper.
St. Peter said, 'Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.'
Forrest responded, 'It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.'
St. Peter continued, 'Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First:
What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second:
How many seconds are there in a year?
Third:
What is God's first name?'
Forrest left to think the questions over. He returned the next day and saw St. Peter, who waved him up, and said, 'Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.'
Forrest replied, 'Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'? Shucks, that one is easy . . . That would be Today and Tomorrow.'
The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, 'Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer.
'How about the next one?' asked St. Peter.
'How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest, 'but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'
Astounded, St. Peter said, 'Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?'
Forrest replied, 'Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd .. . .'
'Hold it,' interrupts St. Peter. 'I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind . . . but I will have to give you credit for that one, too. Let's go on with the third and final question.
'Can you tell me God's first name'?
'Sure,' Forrest replied,'it's Andy.'
'Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. 'Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?'
'Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,' Forrest replied. 'I learnt it from the song, ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'
St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: 'Run, Forrest, Run.'
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan ,
I do not like this 'YES, WE CAN'.
I do not like this spending spree---
I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!
The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump died and went to Heaven. He was at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates were closed, and Forrest approached the gatekeeper.
St. Peter said, 'Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.'
Forrest responded, 'It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.'
St. Peter continued, 'Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First:
What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second:
How many seconds are there in a year?
Third:
What is God's first name?'
Forrest left to think the questions over. He returned the next day and saw St. Peter, who waved him up, and said, 'Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.'
Forrest replied, 'Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'? Shucks, that one is easy . . . That would be Today and Tomorrow.'
The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, 'Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer.
'How about the next one?' asked St. Peter.
'How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest, 'but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'
Astounded, St. Peter said, 'Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?'
Forrest replied, 'Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd .. . .'
'Hold it,' interrupts St. Peter. 'I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind . . . but I will have to give you credit for that one, too. Let's go on with the third and final question.
'Can you tell me God's first name'?
'Sure,' Forrest replied,'it's Andy.'
'Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. 'Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?'
'Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,' Forrest replied. 'I learnt it from the song, ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'
St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: 'Run, Forrest, Run.'
I Know I'm Tired of This, but...
What a week behind and weeks coming up!
This last week's schedule:
This last week's schedule:
- Mon - Alex drum lessons @ 6:30
- Tue - Alex football skills camp @ 5:30
- Wed - Took the kids to the Riverside Casino hotel so they could go swimming with Grandma and Grandpa.
- Thu - Went to Texas Roadhouse with Karen's folks for their 49th wedding anniversary, then to the Riverside Casino. Started with $20. Put $5 in the slot machine. It spit out $30. Put the remaining $15 in, lost that, so I walked out with being $10 ahead.
- Fri - Went to the Regina v. Camanche game. Regina won, 42-0.
- Sat - Picking up the camper in Davenport, then up to the place we store it for the winter. Coming home in time for 5:15 Mass, then to Dave and Cindy's to watch the IA v. PSU game.
- Sun - Going up to see my mom at the nursing home. Get the house picked up. Alex has basketball practice from 7-8.
- Mon - Going to Megan's game at Regis in CR; Alex drum lessons @ 6:30
- Tue - Alex football skills camp @ 5:30
- Wed - Coaches meeting for Alex's basketball team; Megan RE
- Thu - Alex basketball practice
- Fri - If we've managed to get the house in order, Kennedy plays West @ West; otherwise, get the house in shape for the party.
- Sat - Hosting Debbie's 50th birthday party.
- Sun - Going up to see my mom at the nursing home.
- Mon - Alex drum lessons @ 6:30
- Tue - Alex football skills camp @ 5:30
- Wed - Megan RE
- Thu - Alex basketball practice (probably)
- Fri - Get the house in shape for the party.
- Sat - Hosting Karen's jewelry party. I think the men are going to Gus'.
- Sun - Going up to see my mom at the nursing home.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Return of Chaos
As the month winds down, it feels like change is in the air.
For one thing, Alex's basketball season is starting to ramp up. Weekly practices have begun on most Sundays and Thursdays. Drum lessons were tonight at West Music. Football starts tomorrow night. Megan began religious education classes last Wednesday. The new season of "Survivor" began two weeks ago. The new seasons of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" began last Thursday. This Thursday, we are going to Texas Roadhouse with Karen's parents for their 49th wedding anniversary. We're taking the camper to storage Saturday AM and roundtripping from NL to Davenport (to pick up the camper), to Zhwingle (where we store it) and then back home in time for 5:15 Mass, then home to watch the Iowa v. PSU game that starts at 7. Sunday is going up to see my mother in the nursing home (I hope) and basketball practice.
Then it starts all over again. A new season of the "Road Rules/Real World" challenges begins next week.
Nine words women use
(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').
(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying FOOL YOU!
(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.
For one thing, Alex's basketball season is starting to ramp up. Weekly practices have begun on most Sundays and Thursdays. Drum lessons were tonight at West Music. Football starts tomorrow night. Megan began religious education classes last Wednesday. The new season of "Survivor" began two weeks ago. The new seasons of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" began last Thursday. This Thursday, we are going to Texas Roadhouse with Karen's parents for their 49th wedding anniversary. We're taking the camper to storage Saturday AM and roundtripping from NL to Davenport (to pick up the camper), to Zhwingle (where we store it) and then back home in time for 5:15 Mass, then home to watch the Iowa v. PSU game that starts at 7. Sunday is going up to see my mother in the nursing home (I hope) and basketball practice.
Then it starts all over again. A new season of the "Road Rules/Real World" challenges begins next week.
Nine words women use
(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').
(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying FOOL YOU!
(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Pretty Punny
A man calls 911:
Man: "Help! My wife's gone into labor!"
911 Operator: "Is this her firstborn?"
Man: "No, you idiot, this is her husband."
A guy inherits a farm from his uncle. It's a beautiful place - lots of acreage, a pond ... and a big barn. He goes to look at the barn and inside he sees a bunch of penguins waddling around. He figures the place is worth a ton of money, but he has to get rid of the penguins, so he waves down a hippie driving by in his VW microbus and asks him to take the penguins to the zoo. With the penguins gone, he calls a realtor and sells the place that afternoon for a million dollars. Then he gets a call from the hippie: "I took the penguins to the zoo, and then we took in a movie ... what time do you want them back home?"
Man: "Help! My wife's gone into labor!"
911 Operator: "Is this her firstborn?"
Man: "No, you idiot, this is her husband."
A guy inherits a farm from his uncle. It's a beautiful place - lots of acreage, a pond ... and a big barn. He goes to look at the barn and inside he sees a bunch of penguins waddling around. He figures the place is worth a ton of money, but he has to get rid of the penguins, so he waves down a hippie driving by in his VW microbus and asks him to take the penguins to the zoo. With the penguins gone, he calls a realtor and sells the place that afternoon for a million dollars. Then he gets a call from the hippie: "I took the penguins to the zoo, and then we took in a movie ... what time do you want them back home?"
Monday, September 6, 2010
Frayed Ends of Sanity
I think hands down, this is my favorite Metallica song. It wasn't surpassed with "All Nightmare Long" on Death Magnetic.
But this is not Metallica. This is Six Feet Under. Enjoy.
But this is not Metallica. This is Six Feet Under. Enjoy.
Crappy Tour Schedule, Drummers, and Master
So I'm reading this over on Blistering.com....
Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR will embark on a 32-date North American tour in November/December. Support on the trek will come from countrymen ENSLAVED and BLOOD RED THRONE, plus DAWN OF ASHES from Los Angeles.
Confirmed tour dates are as follows:
Nov. 05 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Nov. 06 - Northern Lights - Albany, NY
Nov. 07 - Recher Theater - Towson, MD
So far, so good.
Nov. 08 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
Nov. 10 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Wait. What. You're going from NY to GA? Wow. Must be going to stay in the south.
Nov. 12 - Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
Wait, what. Now you're going all the way back up to the northeastern part of the country?
Nov. 13 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
Okay, Pittsburgh to Detroit - that's easier than NY to GA.
Nov. 14 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Nov. 15 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 16 - Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
That's fairly typical - hit the big cities around Iowa.
Nov. 18 - MacEwan Ballroom - Calgary, AB - CANADA
Then the tour goes across Canada to the northwestern part of the country before going south through CA, once again, totally skipping Iowa.
Apocalyptica had these dates earlier this year:
April 22 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
April 23 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club
April 24 – St. Louis, IL @ Pop’s
April 26 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café
April 27 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
And what the hell is this?!?!?
Jordison Named Top Drummer
Slipknot star Joey Jordison has been voted the best drummer of the past 25 years in a new magazine poll.
The musician came top in the survey by Rhythm - and he's stunned by the result of the rundown, saying, "This is beyond unbelievable. Something like this reminds me every day why I continue to do this."
Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater claimed second place, while the third spot went to Gavin Harrison of British rockers Porcupine Tree.
Rush's Neil Peart came fourth in the vote with Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl rounding out the top five.
I think Chris Adler is a helluva lot better than Dave Grohl.
I like these kids playing "Master of Puppets."
Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR will embark on a 32-date North American tour in November/December. Support on the trek will come from countrymen ENSLAVED and BLOOD RED THRONE, plus DAWN OF ASHES from Los Angeles.
Confirmed tour dates are as follows:
Nov. 05 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Nov. 06 - Northern Lights - Albany, NY
Nov. 07 - Recher Theater - Towson, MD
So far, so good.
Nov. 08 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
Nov. 10 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Wait. What. You're going from NY to GA? Wow. Must be going to stay in the south.
Nov. 12 - Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
Wait, what. Now you're going all the way back up to the northeastern part of the country?
Nov. 13 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
Okay, Pittsburgh to Detroit - that's easier than NY to GA.
Nov. 14 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Nov. 15 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 16 - Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
That's fairly typical - hit the big cities around Iowa.
Nov. 18 - MacEwan Ballroom - Calgary, AB - CANADA
Then the tour goes across Canada to the northwestern part of the country before going south through CA, once again, totally skipping Iowa.
Apocalyptica had these dates earlier this year:
April 22 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
April 23 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club
April 24 – St. Louis, IL @ Pop’s
April 26 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café
April 27 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
And what the hell is this?!?!?
Jordison Named Top Drummer
Slipknot star Joey Jordison has been voted the best drummer of the past 25 years in a new magazine poll.
The musician came top in the survey by Rhythm - and he's stunned by the result of the rundown, saying, "This is beyond unbelievable. Something like this reminds me every day why I continue to do this."
Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater claimed second place, while the third spot went to Gavin Harrison of British rockers Porcupine Tree.
Rush's Neil Peart came fourth in the vote with Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl rounding out the top five.
I think Chris Adler is a helluva lot better than Dave Grohl.
I like these kids playing "Master of Puppets."
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Xanadu
We were on the way to 5:15 Mass yesterday and I had the "oldies" station on. This song came on. My wife says, "What is this music??!?"
Rush!
Rush!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Waiting
I'm at a point in life where it seems like I know how to juggle and throw several things up in the air. I have irons in multiple fires, like I wrote about last time, that I am still partially waiting for a result.There are also things that I have going on that I do not want to write about. Let's just say that I want my actions to prove myself, not words.
We went to the Regina Fall Fun Fest last night and worked in the garage sale. I found a bunch of MAD Magazines . . . and purchased 3 for $1.50. I bought them because I owned them way back when. I do not really remember what prompted me to throw them out. I wish I never would have done that. We also picked up a bike for Alex for his birthday present. It was marked as $100 and we got it for $50. It's a Giant brand and, per one of our RAGBRAI riding friends, a very good bike.
After that, we got home and started watching "Titanic." That movie... I don't care how awful some people think it is, but the sheer special effects of all the people drowning, the boat cracking, the steam pipe thing falling on people, the boat tipping back... good job James Cameron for having the vision to create that movie. Now, I know that me saying "good job" is never going to ring in Cameron's ears... but I'll say it anyway.
Today is the first Iowa game. That is from 11-2. We are going to 5:15 Mass and I will play drums. Tomorrow, we need to clear out the camper because on Monday, we are taking the camper to Davenport for some warranty work. Then, on 10/2, the PSU v. IA game, we are picking it up in Davenport and taking it to storage up by Dubuque.
Before picking it up, I think every weekend is full. We have the Brewers v. Cubs game in Milwaukee, WI, we have a CEW Leadership conference, a walk in Dubuque, a tailgate party at church... I don't have my calendar handy but I know there's a lot going on.
October is just as busy, with the aforementioned camper pick up and PSU game. The following weekend is a party here for our friend Debbie; the following weekend is Karen's jewelry party (and hopefully hanging cabinets in the storage room with my bro-in-law and fath-in-law; the following weekend is Alex's birthday; then it's Halloween.
And on and on.
Life is good. Throw in a few other things that I haven't mentioned and wow... we are going to be busy.
We went to the Regina Fall Fun Fest last night and worked in the garage sale. I found a bunch of MAD Magazines . . . and purchased 3 for $1.50. I bought them because I owned them way back when. I do not really remember what prompted me to throw them out. I wish I never would have done that. We also picked up a bike for Alex for his birthday present. It was marked as $100 and we got it for $50. It's a Giant brand and, per one of our RAGBRAI riding friends, a very good bike.
After that, we got home and started watching "Titanic." That movie... I don't care how awful some people think it is, but the sheer special effects of all the people drowning, the boat cracking, the steam pipe thing falling on people, the boat tipping back... good job James Cameron for having the vision to create that movie. Now, I know that me saying "good job" is never going to ring in Cameron's ears... but I'll say it anyway.
Today is the first Iowa game. That is from 11-2. We are going to 5:15 Mass and I will play drums. Tomorrow, we need to clear out the camper because on Monday, we are taking the camper to Davenport for some warranty work. Then, on 10/2, the PSU v. IA game, we are picking it up in Davenport and taking it to storage up by Dubuque.
Before picking it up, I think every weekend is full. We have the Brewers v. Cubs game in Milwaukee, WI, we have a CEW Leadership conference, a walk in Dubuque, a tailgate party at church... I don't have my calendar handy but I know there's a lot going on.
October is just as busy, with the aforementioned camper pick up and PSU game. The following weekend is a party here for our friend Debbie; the following weekend is Karen's jewelry party (and hopefully hanging cabinets in the storage room with my bro-in-law and fath-in-law; the following weekend is Alex's birthday; then it's Halloween.
And on and on.
Life is good. Throw in a few other things that I haven't mentioned and wow... we are going to be busy.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Brain Teasers
I am not a fan of brain teasers.
What comes next in this sequence:
E H L Q
Your choices are K Z U or W
The answer is W because from E to H is 3, H to L is 4, L to Q is 5 so Q +6 = W.
Like that one? I don't. I like the reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise with Bruce Willis as the voice of the Thing. That would be okay with me.
What comes next in this sequence:
E H L Q
Your choices are K Z U or W
The answer is W because from E to H is 3, H to L is 4, L to Q is 5 so Q +6 = W.
Like that one? I don't. I like the reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise with Bruce Willis as the voice of the Thing. That would be okay with me.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
A new Look
There are so many things happening in life right now, it's hard to capture them in words.
- The camping season is over so we are actively seeking winter storage. We are hoping the finalize where we will store the camper within the next week.
- There were repairs that needed to be made to the camper. We are also actively seeking to have those resolved prior to taking the camper to storage.
- Alex's basketball season will kick off next week, the Thursday after Labor Day. We will have fewer kids than last year so each player will be expected to contribute.
- Work is insanely busy as I push to get my work done that must be completed prior to the update being released to clients. After a co-worker finishes a task, I will have (roughly) 3 days of work. That was my guess. I hope it goes a lot quicker (like 1 morning :>)) but I don't want to jinx myself.
- We added a third driver last week (actually, the license arrived this week) so I will be starting driver's ed (go to an empty parking lot before getting into traffic) soon.
- Played drums @ Mass on Sunday @ 11 and it was fantastic! There were 14 high schoolers singing their guts out and two guitarists along with piano and clarinet. It sounded great. I'd really like to start recording the way we sounded!
- We go to the Brewers/Cubs game on 9/12 but are leaving 9/11, the day of the Iowa/ISU game. Tentatively, we will go to the Miller Brewery tour on Saturday. The assembly line fascinates me.
- My father-in-law, Karen, our neighbor Mike, and I hung cabinets in the laundry room. We have more to hang in our storage room, but it's probably going to be a month before I think about it. Seriously.
- The CDs to review keep roaring in. Wrote a review of Emily Shirley's 5 song EP. Liked it. I have a "Classic Albums" DVD of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and I hope to get Avenge Sevenfold's new one along with the "Big Four" DVD (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth) soon. I have a large backlog. I'd like to say I'm going to write a review a day for the month of September, but I'm not sure if that's possible.
- I have been dabbling into songwriting again, something I kind of gave up in 1995 when it just didn't seem like I could write anything else. I've put together nearly 30 songs with some ideas for music on a yellow legal tablet. Some of them were written just to write them, but a couple of them have potential. Some of the titles are "Your Moment to be Dead", "No Rhythm", and "When You Say Die," and "No Return to Sender". I don't have my notebook next to me to even say if these are all ones I would consider having potential. I know "Your Moment to be Dead" and "When You Say Die" have some musical ideas written down on the rough draft of the sheet of paper. I am transcribing them into a single notebook and, actually, have written a couple of others. I'm not taking it too seriously but I would like to think that if a guitarist called me up and said, "Hey, let's do original music" that maybe some of the ideas I've written down in July/August might be interesting to try out.
- I'm working on a couple of personal projects involving efforts to improve myself. I have lost 20 pounds (going from 244 to 224) and I would like to lose another 20. I'm trying to make smart choices regarding food and drink less Pepsi, though some days, that is really hard. I am also trying to pray more and to thank God daily for his blessings on my life and family. There are also prayers for my wife as she deals with me
, my daughter who is dealing with being a teenager, and for my son who is dealing with his sister being a teenager. I also have added prayers for my mother in the nursing home with AD, for my father who is dealing with a wife of nearly 50 years deteriorate in front of him, for my brother and sister-in-law who are expecting a baby girl in December. I also have been saying prayers for my co-worker's daughter who was found dead in February, for my co-worker who was struck on her bike by a truck, and for my manager's mother who was buried earlier this month. - On a lighter note, I got to sit at the electronic drum set at West Music on Monday night during Alex's lesson. It felt so good to play drums! It was so awesome! It really, truly, is a highlight of my week. I put on headphones, press a button to take out the prerecorded drum part, and pick a genre like "LA Metal" or "Rock and Roll" or even "Country" and just jam out. No one can hear me except for the tap tap tap of the pads. It is so much fun.
And with that, good night. I hope to have more posts in the month of September than I did in August. What's the point of a blog if it's never updated? Exactly! I think maybe tomorrow night I will purge my inbox, like I wrote about last time.
Or not.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Hard Luck Woman, Please... LEAVE ME!
Ever since Alex "discovered" KISS and persuaded me to put "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock and Roll All Night", I have frequently listened to "Double Platinum" while sitting ever so briefly at this PC. Of all the songs on this release, I keep coming back to:
And this one:
And this one:
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