Deaf Peds

I was going through some music files and found this gem:

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Then I found this:

Quiet

It's quiet on a Sunday AM @ 8:59. I am starting my contract work right.... now....

Serial Commas Rock

When you are writing a list of things and it is not apporpriate to use a numbered list like this:

1. blah

2. blah

3. blah

You probably would use a sentence structure like this:

I like Metallica, Five Finger Death Punch, and Godsmack.

Notice in the second example, I inserted a comma (,) between "Punch" and "and". This is called the serial comma. I think the serial comma rocks. I think that the following example is the perfect reason to always use a serial comma. Period.

"... those interviewed were his two ex-wives, Kris Kris... and Robert Duvall." The two ex-wives is an item in the list, Kris Kris..., is an item in the list, and Robert Duvall is the third item in the list.

If you were to put these into a numbered list, you'd really have this:

1. two ex-wives

2. Kris Kris...

3. Robert Duvall

Do you see this difference? I hope so. It is the last time I want to explain to you that the serial comma rocks.

UNDEFEATED!

No, not talking about OSU men's basketball. I'm talking about Alex's basketball team. They won last week so they are UNDEFEATED! How fantastically awesome to start the season off with a BIG W! It has increased the confidence level of the players. They expect to win tonight in our 7:30 contest. They expect to do well. They know that to do well, they must play good defense. DEFENSE! for the UNDEFEATED!

The Numbers Game

I dealt blackjack from ~7:00 to 10:00 last night. It was fun. I had a good table. My right shoulder hurts. I hope we get to do it next year. It's challenging for me to do it because I am not a numbers person. I really am not. And I don't know the rules of Blackjack to the mastery level that I should. If I would have had done a terrible job, then I don't think the people that stayed at my table and played, literally, every hand I dealt would have stayed at my table. There were 4 people like that. They helped me when I had to give them their winnings and doing double down and how to do all that. Like I said, if I would have sucked, they would have gotten up and left.

This morning, I am contemplating the definition of frustration. The definition of frustration is totally just watching money evaporate. I should be working my contract work on a PC in CR - I remotely connect through logmein.com - but for whatever reason, there's an issue with my PC in CR. I have been downstairs, in the den, since 8:00 AM and just watching my hourly rate disappear into thin air. I was expecting to put in hours today and tomorrow AM, but if I cannot connect to the PC, I cannot do any work. In one sense, I guess, it's okay because now I won't be tempted to do more work when I should be enjoying the weekend and actually relaxing a bit.

My schedule is hectic, as I have written about previously. I am typically up working until midnight and then turn around and get up @ 6 AM. Today was a luxury - I slept until 7. I like the paycheck that comes a couple of times a month and that's fantastic. I like the actual work I'm doing - always have - so that's okay. I sit in the den and listen to good music so I like that. But sometimes I question whether it is really worth it. I also question how long it can continue (the contract work) and how long I can continue (the less than 8 hours/sleep nightly) before something gives like my healthy disposition.

It's not possible to really think or consider it all today since it is now 8:48 AM, Alex didn't clear the couch of clean laundry, Megan comes home from a sleepover ~10 and Karen's folks arrive ~11-ish (that's a guess).

The rest of the day is a planned trip to CR. My plan is to meet @ Mark, Jonathan, and Tyler @ Westdale Bowling. I will drive up with Lou, Alex, and Megan. My plan would be for Susie to drive from CR to NL, which from Westdale Bowling, even a blonde cannot mess up.

We are going to 5:15 Mass and the talk has been to not play drums this week. Keith and Rhonda are not going to be there and guitarist Jim is having eye surgery. The set list is actually pretty good so I may end up playing, but we'll have to see. Maybe Susie will sing with us like she did last time. Who knows? Otherwise, I may just actually sit in the congregation.

I pulled out Pantera's "The Great Southern Trendkill" and wow. That is an aggressive piece of work. Lots of cussing and powerful music. I like it.

It's now 8:54. I can hear Karen in the shower so I'd better get out of here and get moving.

Extraneous Lyrics

Back to Busy, but not even Busiest

This is not complaining about my life. It is very full and exciting. There is always something that needs to be done. For example, schedule for today through next Sunday is as follows:
Sunday...

• Going to CR to see Unstoppable at the Collins Road Theater
• Visiting my mother
• Home by 4:30 so Alex can get to 5:00 basketball practice and I can get to my meeting in Riverside by 6
• Home by 8 for new Desparate Housewives
• Contract work to end the evening

Monday

• Work 8 hours
• Sax/Drum lessons
• Contract work to end the evening

Tuesday

• Work 8 hours
• NOTHING @ Night
• Contract work to end the evening

Wednesday

• Work 8 hours
• NOTHING @ Night
• Contract work to end the evening

Thursday

• Work 8 hours
• Alex's basketball game is @ 8:30
• Contract work to end the evening

Friday

• Work 8 hours
• Help at a casino night holiday party

Saturday

• Celebrate Mother-in-Law's birthday with family

Sunday

• Celebrate Mother-in-Law's birthday with family
• Alex is going snowboarding on a bus trip

Then it starts all over again, but add in Megan's Religious Education class on Wednesday.

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I lean Republican. I cannot stand watching MSNBC for extended periods of time. Keith O is not someone I subscribe to as having a lot of credit in how I view the world. Listen to as much of the following as you can. He talks about how Republicans need to eliminate anyone that presents the idea that violence of any kind is okay, how Democrats need to eliminate anyone that presents the idea that violence of any kind is okay and with those ideas, "eliminate" means to remove them from political events for their party. He points to Sarah Palin having bullseyes on specific people on her website. He says that if she doesn't remove that from her website, then she needs to be removed from her party's politics. I have to agree with him, to that extent. I think that violence is not acceptable. I could tell you stories about fights I was in during elementary, junior high and high school. It sucks. I hated it. I digress. Violence is not something anyone should have to go through and Keith O makes that point.

Cuteness

I saw this on the Culture Loves Us blog:

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And in other news, Unstoppable is @ the Collins Road Five theater. It is the movie about Denzel Washington and another guy stopping a runaway train.

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THE WORST TOUR EVER!!

If you've paid attention, I've griped about bands that play KC, then the Twin Cities, then Milwaukee, then Chicago, then St. Louis and then head east or bands that are coming from the east that follow the reverse course and do St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, and KC. Those bands skip Iowa, where I live. I know Iowa does not have a huge share of CD sales, but we are music fans. Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo is going on a solo tour. These are a few of his dates:

1/7 Dayton, OH @ McGuffy’s House Of Rock
1/8 Sandusky, OH @ The Underground
1/9 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
1/11 Warren, MI @ The Ritz
1/12 Rockford, IL @ Bar 3
1/13 Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
1/14 Peoria, IL @ The Brass Rail <==
1/15 West Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room <==
1/18 Lincoln, NE @ Knickerbockers <==

Look at these last three dates. Granted, yes, there are 3 days between West Hollywood, CA and Lincoln, NE, but still! That's an AWFUL tour schedule, unless the gig at the Viper Room is opening for a secret Metallica gig or something like that. Otherwise, what the hell was the tour manager thinking when they agreed to this ridiculous route?!?

Three Things Tonight...

1. Lorenzo is a band I saw at Waterstock in Des Moines a few years ago. Their CD is really good - recently spent some time getting reacquainted with it. The lead singer was also in a band called Echo Park and I spent some time with that band as well. I like Lorenzo better. If Lorenzo was a natural progression of Echo Park, then whatever Lorenzo becomes will be sensational.
2. I stumbled upon Angry Metal Guy and while he thinks the f-bomb is a necessity in his writing in the same vein that Eddie Murphy did during the "Delirious" concert, I still found his opinions to be interesting. I also find it interesting that a lot of the bands written about are ones I've never heard of. I considered myself 'with it' as far as bands go, but this 'angry metal guy' made me feel like I hadn't listened to metal for as long as I have.
3. Finally, came across a website where you can download entire albums of heavy metal bands at Free Metal Albums. I downloaded ArtCell - Aniket Prantor (No Man's Land) and wow... it's sung in a language called Bangla. I have no idea what they're singing about. The first couple of tracks didn't trip my trigger, but I resolve to spend more time with them as I sit at my PC in the den.

In other news, work is going good. I feel more at home, which is refreshing. Things are turning into a reasonable pattern. On top of that, I am doing contract work for my previous employer so I am quite busy. It is only going to get busier as next week Alex's final basketball season begins. I hope we do well in our final session.

How to Give Up Pop

I drink Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Live Wire (the orange) and I drink them daily. Giving them up is one of those things that I know I should do, but it never gets done. This video is a clear-cut solution, but life is rarely clear-cut. I know my friend Brad dropped drinking a lot of pop.

The Start Begins

It's a new era in my life. The sun is shining, Spitalfield is playing, and frankly, I feel great. I didn't cut loose last night. I don't plan to do so in 2011, a New Year's resolution, if you believe in them. I don't think I do. I'm more of a 'change the lifestyle because the old lifestyle isn't helpful to me' type of person. I don't need "1/1/11" to decide, "I'm going to do more of X, I'm going to eat less of Y." or declarations like that. No one keeps their New Year's resolutions. No one remembers what they swore so emphatically today in six months. Why bother?

Instead, I'll go on record and say I am going to have a much better 2011 than 2010. Period. I am going to take the necessary steps to ensure my life is the way I want to live it. I will do so by making small steps in the direction I want to go. I understand fully that some of the decisions I make have an impact on others. Fine. I also understand that I only have one life. This is it. This is the only life I get to live. If I want to live it the way I want, I no longer consider it selfish or self-centered. You, reading this, have that power. Perhaps you consider it too difficult to make a change in your life, that you are firmly entrenched in the patterns and routines that have defined your life. I would rather define my life first, then come up with the patterns and routines that help me carry out how I have defined my life. I see a subtle difference in the way I phrase that concept.

Welcome to 2011. Without a doubt, I feel the most empowered by my disposition and attitude. I am hopeful that the start begins today and carries through for longer than 1 month or 2 months or 3 months. I want it to last so that when I sit in front of this PC on 1/1/2012, I can reread this and think back to what I feel right now and feel comforted by the fact that I did what I said I was going to do in 2011.

This is Kick Ass and a great way to end 2010... See you Next YEAR!

Noah as 2010 Winds Down to 24 hours...

In the year 2010, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, "You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.

"Noah!" God roared. "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"
"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark 's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go! When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord. 'The government beat me to it.

He Found Something He Likes Better than Football

Iowa Hawkeye running back Adam Robinson was arrested for marijuana possession. He was already suspended from playing in tonight's Insight Bowl. The discussion in the Hawkeye Nation is whether he will return to play for the team. Some people say no. Adam Coker is playing tonight in AZ and doing a fine job. There are at least 2 other recruits that will fill in as Iowa has lost several running backs this year. It's possible they may even recruit yet another running back. Some will say that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and should be forgiven.

My take?

If I were having my college education paid for and if I was suspended from the team, after working my arse off in spring training, pre-season, and during the season - sweating, bleeding, fighting through my own self-imposed limitations that would prevent me from obtaining my peak performance level - only to be told, "No, your choices are not the right ones and you need to think about the consequences of your actions" I sure as hell would not be in anyone's car that has marijuana in it. I sure as hell would walk away and not associate with any friend that smoked pot.

That said...

In 1992, I was in a band. Originally, there were 4 of us. The other 3 smoked pot during rehearsal and at other times when I was around them. At some point, we had another member join the band and this newest member? He smoked pot too. That means 4/5ths of the band smoked pot in the room I was in. If the police had come, perhaps responding to a noise complaint, and discovered that there was pot smoking going on and that I was in the room with them, who knows what would have happened? I don't know the law enough to adequately state I would have been in trouble or if the 4 others would have vouched for me and said, "No, he wasn't involved in this."

I understand where it must be hard, in some sense, for Adam Robinson. I do not know if he was actually smoking pot, if it is popular among Iowa Hawkeye football players or what the heck is going on.

I do know this. Life is about choices. There are definitely consequences for choices that are made. I hope that Adam Robinson is aware of his consequences and that his career as a college football player may be over.

Chances are that he will transfer to another school that needs a running back. He will sit out a year and then return and, with the way things usually go for athletes that leave Iowa for another school, win the Heisman Trophy or something like that. And if that would happen, I would be happy for Adam Robinson but sad for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Merry Christmas

It is 12/25/2010. I am sitting in the living room of my in-law's house, using my sister-in-law's Dell PC to share my musings about the world. So many years ago, Christ was born. He was born to sacrifice himself for my sins and the sins of the world. I find it fascinating that Christ gave himself for me and my family and the people I know and the people I do not know. During the Easter season, we will hear him say (paraphrased) 'Let it be your will that is done, not mine, but if you can spare me, spare me.' Christ was human. He bled, taking the worst beating ever recorded in a couple of lines within the Bible. The dramatization of the beating in "The Last Temptation of Christ" was graphic and it made me walk out of the movie theater. It was too much. My history is that blood and guts in the movies do not agree with me. "Pet Sematary," "Braveheart," and even "Doc Hollywood" did not agree with me. There was a movie about firefighters and I almost puked after hearing my wife say, "Oh, his eye is full of blood - he's going to die." It was an amazing sight and it made me nearly sick. I felt a wave of coolness sweep over me. I digress. Christ endured all of that for me. Christ died for us all and today, his birthday, is the day on which we should all rejoice that the Savior is born for us.

Happy Birthday

My brother and family welcomed the newest addition to the clan! Congratulations!

JP . . . Ending the Reign

Just read that Judas Priest has announced a farewell tour. So far, the only dates they have announced are in Europe at some multi-day festivals. You can read the Farewell Tour Announcement on their website. My only hope is that when they say "farewell", it means they play in Moline (IL) or Des Moines (IA) or some places that have always supported them. I have never seen the band in person, own few of their releases (Painkiller ranks up there as one of my all-time favorite metal releases) so I would want to see them on this farewell jaunt. I am not going to be able to travel to Europe to see them so I do sincerely hope they play around here.

I Will Not Bow / No Giving Up

I heard this song on the radio on the way home and I really have to say, I like this band. The vocals out of this guy's throat are awesome.

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I also like Crossfade's "No Giving Up."

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Better Man

While it seems really hard to believe it is coming up on the 4 year anniversary since I went to Memphis in May, it is equally hard to believe that Pam and Terry, the musicians below in this video, are not known outside of Memphis. They are outstanding. There is nothing, really, like sitting outside on a bar's patio, sipping a beer, and listening to this band. This song "Better Man" is my favorite b/c it captures the essence of this duo: honest lyrics and thoughtful guitar work. The harmonica part is killer as well.

Argument I'm Close to...

"So you don't feel the same way anymore?"
"No, I don't."
"Why don't you go back to the way it was?"
"I don't want to be a failure at what I chose."
"Is it what you wanted?"
"At the time, yes. But I don't feel the same anymore."
"Do you miss the old way of it?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"Why don't you just do what makes you happy?"
"Is it that easy? Really?"
"I think so. You won't know unless you try to recapture."
"But what if I'm rejected. I hurt."
"Time is a grand healer. You didn't hurt that deeply."
"I wish I had the answer."
"You do. It will just take time to figure out if you are smart enough to listen to it."

Couldn't Get to Sleep

Alex had gone to bed @ 10:30 and came back down about 11:30, complaining he couldn't fall asleep. I went upstairs and laid with him. I ended up falling asleep before him and that didn't make him any happier. Finally, we both slept. I woke up @ 7 and am down here, doing my contract technical writing. I'm hoping to put in at least 5 hours (7-12).

11/27/2007

Wow. 3 years ago I started this blog and just reached my 600th post. That's about a 200 post / year clip, ~4 posts a week. I certainly didn't know when I started this what to expect. The fact that I waited between 11/27/2007 and 3/18/2008 before I made my second post is just fascinating, at least to me.

I don't think anyone else really gives a rat's ass...

Turkey Thoughts

In Balltown, there were a lot of euchre games played. I did okay in some and not as okay in others. A lot of laughter. In general, though, I did not feel the best. My head has had an ache (translation: headache) for the majority of my time in Balltown. Ibuprofen and Aleve have helped but have not eliminated the feeling in my brain. It is 11 PM on a Saturday and if I were to be in bed by 11:01, I would be happy with that.

In other news, the Hawkeyes finished the season 7-5 with a loss in the Twin Cities. Their losses were to Arizona, Wisconsin, Indiana (right?!?), Northwestern, and Minnesota.

In yet other news, my brother-in-law showed me the following Brad Paisley video:


and I tried to show him the Texas Hippie Coalition:

There's also been this video that captured my undivided attention.

Slayer and Christmas... who knew?

Weeks ahead Look Promising

There are many exciting things in the weeks ahead, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Alex's basketball team plays their final regular game on 12/2/10 and plays the fall session finale on Monday, 12/6/10 @ 6:30
2. There are band and choir concerts the week of 12/5.
3. I turn 41 on 12/4
4. First Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and the hoopla that goes with that...
5. Installing new windows in the kids' rooms before the end of the year.
6. Alex's drum lessons and Megan's sax lessons on Monday nights = more drumming on the Yamaha DTX @ West Music.

Anything else that life throws at me.

(Relatively New) Since October

I like this song by Since October.

Twofer

Alex's drum teacher asked if Alex could come back tonight for a second lesson this week so I got to play the electronic set again tonight. I wailed on one of the songs. I really wish there was a 'business' reason to pull that set home, but I'm not actively playing in a band, not actually looking into playing in a band, and don't really forsee myself being able to justify the added monthly payment such an investment would require. I'll keep my mind open to new opportunities and perhaps a zillion and one dollars will land in my lap. Until that day, I'll keep playing that set at West Music and enjoying the 1/2 hour I get to be with it. It felt really good tonight. I felt like I began to stretch beyond what I would normally play because I allowed the pre-programmed drum part to be played and I played along with that, mimicing it at times and just doing my own thing during other parts. I really wish I could get rid of this terrible habit of playing RLRR LRLL with my feet. I know I practiced paradiddles with my feet, tough to do by the way, but now when I want rumbling RLRL RLRL RLRL RLRL under a bar of 4/4, I end up with RLRR LRLL. It sounds weird. Maybe that's what I'll be known for someday.

Prior to Moving On, A thought...

I really *really* like taking Alex to drum lessons @ West Music. I really *really* like walking in, going into their drum room, reaching into their bucket of sticks and picking two, exiting the drum room, walking to an electronic drumset, putting on headphones, picking a drum set from the multiple options that are pre-programmed, and then playing drums during Alex's lesson. For the last two weeks, I had the best of it all because Alex's drum lesson was from 6:30-7 and then Megan's sax lesson was from 7-730. That meant, literally, playing drums for 1 hour. My shoulders and arms were tired the last two Monday nights. Tonight, it was an intense 6:30-7. I dabbled in rock, country, blues, 6/8 pop, metal, and some tracks where there was just a tambourine or just an agogo rhythm. It was a lot of fun. The set I play lists for $4399. I don't know if that includes all equipment to make it go through a speaker or not. There is a $300 rebate from now until the end of the year. If only...

Birthdays

November 14 is a special day for two reasons. First, in order of age, Grandma Simons would have been 102. Second, my brother in the Twin Cities is 38. We are going to CR to Grandma's grave, then to see Mom, then to Wal-Mart to find boots for Alex, then home until 4:30 when Alex and I will leave for basketball practice. Busy day!