The One Year Thread Redux

[Nitro]

ed, you shoulda been at my jam session tonight... Having listened to it today whist cooking spagetti, it was firmly embedded in my braincase, and I'd been dropping random lines from the Man trilogy all night, when our one-legged lead guitarist finally bit the hook and asked what the hell was this "Man" stuff I kept talking about?

 

Well, our drummer and bassist had both heard the cd before, so I told Bruce (our drummer) to start up a riff in A minor, and Matt (the bassist) started into some randomesque while I did the same on the guitar, and we re-created the Man trilogy from memory, with some rather excellent improvised improvisation of lyrics in the foggy parts I couldn't recall at the moment.

 

As soon as I started with the bunny voice, our monopedal guitarist lost his balance and began rolling on the floor in laughter (bastard knocked over my drink though).

 

It's times like that I wish our shop had some kind of recording device... Even a crappy old boombox with a built-in mic, cause we have a tendancy to pull random stuff like that out of our asses... Tonight's big winner was my "U-Boat Captain Blues". Our bassist just started playing some G blues while our one-legged guitarist hobbled outside to take a piss, and I was suddenly inspired, so I grabbed the mic and started into this Throrogood-esque song about a down-on-his-luck U-Boat captain that hadn't sank a single ship in 4 patrols.

[edlib]

Cool!

 

Yeah, I seem to be at my best when making stuff up spur of the moment. That "stream-of-conciousness-free-association" type of improv is when the magic seems to happen with me.

When I overthink and try to work too much out and play the same thing twice is when it falls apart.

 

Come to think about it: I've been playing that way since I first started. I have much older tapes that were made in the same way as those tapes with much the same results: bizarre but funny improvs. My friends quickly learned to have a tape deck running pretty much the whole time when we got together.

 

I should dig through a few of those ancient tapes and digitize them and clean them up, which they will desperately need: They were all recorded on exactly the "crappy old boombox with a built-in mic" that you spoke about.

 

If I ever do I'll let you know... while older and with different players they still retain much the same character and spirit. And they're all goofy as hell!

 

I could use a new project... when I get some time off again.

 

Seems to me you guys need to get a cheapo cassette deck or CD burner at the least... or maybe a second-hand mini-disk recorder to capture those moments. Even a laptop with a mic in and some free recording/ editing software (Audacity is a good one.)

 

I'd like to hear some of them.

[Nute Gunray]

Now, I know I'm not the most attractive human in the universe, but I felt like...I dunno Brad Pitt at a leper colony while I was at Wal-Mart last night. My shirt has no stains on it, for example, and was recently washed. Alas, good looks aside, I returned home empty handed. Yesterday had not been my day for a variety of reasons including a failed attempt to order a pizza from Pizza Hut. Somehow calling my local pizza hut was connecting me to one in SCOTTSDALE AZ. I live a considerable distance from Scottsdale. In Pennsylvania. But I digress.

 

I journeyed to the nearer Wal-Mart which was, for reasons I can't fathom, closed despite the blue and gray edifice clearly marked Open 24 Hours. Being jobless, every drop of precious gasoline must be carefully used. I decide that if I cut overland I could avoid the stoplights in town and hopefully maximize fuel burn. To the other Wal-Mart I went.

 

In the half hour that passed between midnight and my arrival, the vultures had set upon the delicious prey. I cited one gentleman of considerable girth carting off, by my calculation, several hundred dollars worth of figures. I do not judge him for this; I would have done the same, probably, had I been in the position to do so. I was able to acquire none of the five figures I decided I would purchase. I kept my promise to myself and didn't buy anything just to buy it. It was interesting, however, to see what figures people were not interested in. By my estimate, buy the Obi-Wan figure because in 25 years you'll be the only person that actually bought one.

 

I fear Aayla Secura may become a repeat of the Destroyer Droid incident. I wanted a Destroyer Droid very badly. In my life, I saw exactly one in a store ever. I bought it. In 2002. I worry I will never find her, except at a flea market in 2042, with one of her lekku broken off.

[Rogue15]

i have a bunch of TPM characters...i bought them during the craze after TPM came to dvd...i've got the destroyer droid too. XD Also got OOM-9, Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, Darth Maul, Panaka, they're all stored in their original boxes-never opened, in their original cases. I haven't collected any AOTC figures. =\

 

Today...

 

got my taxes done....yeah i get $200 back. guess i don't get as much since my parents claimed me as their dependen?

 

 

went to cabellas (sp?) sportmen store in hamburg, pa..spent most of the day there since it was RAINING (go figure) got a phonecall, didn't pick it up cause I get paranoid with my parents around me when i'm trying to talk to someone else on the phone, so i waited til the ringing stopped, then listened to the voice messege...tomorrow is cancelled. not going to the drill cause there isn't one tomorrow, and next drill is his weapons qualification...he said he'd get back in touch with me when he finds out when I can go to there.

 

So now i don't know what i'm going to do tomorrow. It's probably going to be raining again, so i'll just stay inside.

 

 

Also my parents tell me not to use my car since it's not registered. (need to register the ****ing piece of ****ing **** every ****ing year i guess?! ****ing bull****!!!!!)

 

So looks like I've got to use my ****ing tax return for the MOTHER****ING CAR!!!!! YAY!!!!!! *goes forth to set ablaze the "historical" streets of Lititz, PA*

 

now i sit in my room, thinking of what kind of job i want to look for. I'm thinking of going to burger king. I would go back to pizza hut, but the RGM there is a stupid bitch that uses her weight as an excuse to treat her employees like garbage. I might do some under-the-table work for this guy that paints houses if i can't get anything within a month or so.

[edlib]

Missed a day...

 

4/1/05 & 4/2/05

 

2 of the craziest days at work that I can remember.

 

Friday night was a giant show, with 4 acts that each used every inch of stage space but didn't otherwise have ANYTHING in common, except the guy who was leading the whole thing.

First was a West African drum and dance type thing, where there were about 20 percussionists lined up along the back of the stage with these huge drums, and another 20 or so dancers at the front of the stage, that needed every inch of room we could give them, which wasn't much.

 

Then we had an all electronic ensemble, with digital drums and horns feeding this live screen-art rig (think of the visualizations that come on your media players, only much more involved) that sat on a table about the size of a conference table in the middle of the stage and that couldn't be moved or disconnected once set up, which is why the dancers fron the first act had so little room. The whole thing had to get wired into our projector, which is like 100 feet away at the very top of the balcony. Also, the guy who came to set it up didn't know how to run the projector, so I was left standing there digging through the manual to figure out how to run the thing when I was supposed to be behind the mixing board doing soundcheck. We figured it out eventually,.. but it was additional stress that I really didn't need at that point in the night.

 

Then we had a pop-vocal band, with regular drumkit, bass. guitar, keys, percussion, and 6 vocalists.

 

Then we had a 'Tower of Power' cover band, with all of the above, only now with 6 horn players and Hammond B3.

 

The show, surprisingly, went fairly smoothly. But it was more work than we normally do for 3 shows. I think I aged a couple of years during that setup and soundcheck.

 

Saturday we had an afternoon drumset clinic where the drummer played with a trio. Pretty much a piece of cake.

 

The nighttime show was a different story. There was a full big-band, and 2 small bands. Each drummer had to use thier own kits, so in addition to the 14 horn players, piano, bass, guitar, and vibes we had to have 3 full drumsets on stage the whole time. Again, another spacial nightmare.

 

The show went fairly smoothly as well, with one glaring exception: the show was supposed to run 90 minutes; it ran over 2 and a half hours.

Unfortunately, these were all big-name guys brought in by college big-wigs for a special concert, so I really don't have the authority to yank them off the stage. So I sat there gritting my teeth, shaking my head, watching the night slip by.

 

Arrrgh.

 

Working again today. Another long shift. Oh joy. Hopefully this one will be a walk in the park compaired to what I've been through this weekend already.

 

Now I can't even take Monday off like I had hoped since my boss wants me to come in and help him re-set up his computer since he screwed something up royally the other day, but he claims that our IT department won't support about half the software he needs. That doesn't seem right to me, but whatever...

[Nitro]

***PAINTBALL MARKER FOR SALE***

 

Haven't had any luck anywhere else, so I figured I'd try here...

 

 

http://www.ariakon.com/sim4.asp

 

I bought this marker about a year ago, but never used it in an actual game, only on my range tweaking it. Works great, it's been cleaned and oiled after every time I used it, and I run about 50 rounds through it every month to keep it shootin' smooth. I'm selling it 'cause I don't have a use for it since I started playing speedball hardcore when I got my Impulse about a week after I got this... I was keeping it as a backup, but I'm building a second Imp out of spare parts, and I need the $$$ right now to buy a video camera.

 

Upgrades & Extras:

Air America Black Ice Reg (high pressure)

Bottom Line

Remote Air (with slide check)

Tactical Sling

M16/M4 Scope Mount (standard dovetail rail, so just about anything from a gun shop'll fit)

Carrying Case

 

Bascially, I'm selling everything but the HPA tank itself... The marker and reg both run fine on HPA *and* CO2, so if an HPA tank is out of your price range, CO2 tanks are pretty cheap, and will still work fine!

 

Everything's practically new since I've only shot it enough to get it dialed in and keep everything well-oiled and properly maintained. I paid close to $1200 CAN for it all, asking $550 CAN shipped w/in Canada or $450 US shipped to the States.

 

[Rogue15]

@nitro: OMGIWANT!@!!! no moneys though =(

 

3 April 2005....

 

I woke up. At 3:30 pm. I blame daylight savings crap. I went to bed at a decent 3:30 am. i thought the clock was lying to me when i checked the computer. it's crappy outside today anyways so i don't care. I dunno why i slept that long. laziness maybe?

[Jem]

April 4, 2005

 

Had an excellent weekend. Left for Montreal on Friday to see Steve Vai's concert. Also got to see Eric Sardinas, he's touring with Mister Vai so it was fantastic. Two favourite Vai songs of mine were played: "The Audience Is Listening" and a part of the "Fire Garden Suite". It was excellent.

 

Came back to Ottawa on Sunday (couple of hours ago) to catch another concert. This time it was the King himself: BB King. Such a fabulous man. Great entertainer.

 

So yeah, incredible weekend. I'm sure edlib will agree.

 

Speaking of which, edlib, did you get to see Steve Vai? He was at Boston right before he went to Montreal.

[edlib]

Nope.

 

I've been too busy working the last couple of weeks to do much of anything else. When I do get a day off I tend to spend it doing such enjoyable activities as laundry, grocery shopping, house cleaning, and (the one that I do actually enjoy) sleeping.

 

Besides, it's very rare for me to go to a concert that I'm not working, and I honestly can't remember the last time I went to a show where I actually had to pay for tickets. Some time in the early 90's I think...

 

For me going to a concert when I'm not working it these days is kind of like a taxi driver spending his day off driving people around town... just like being back at work. It's not something I would really look forward to, no matter how good the act might be.

 

4/3/05

 

Well, my prediction that the show would be a 'walk in the park' didn't quite pan out. The band seemed cool, (if a little picky,) but the day was spoiled by the pinhead stage-manger/ sound-engineer they brought along. What an asshole. Mr. Passive/ Agressive. Spoke to us all in the most condesending manner I think I have ever heard in real life, then snapped at us if you tried to question him on anything. He seemed really put upon that he had to work in such primative conditions.

 

The students who work for us didn't take to him at all, and started loudly mocking him at every chance they got. I normally try to step in and get them to cool it if that happens, (to keep the image of professionalism,) but for some reason I wasn't really inclined to bother to intervene in this case.

 

All-in-all, I've had a really ****ty weekend.

 

 

EDIT:

 

The auto censor caught "****ty", but missed the word "asshole" completely. Very interesting...

[Wildstar]

edlib

 

Most auto-censor scripts are based on George Carlin's famous "Seven Words".

[Rogue15]

meh...

 

4 april 2005

 

not much happened today.....

 

got a call from temp agency to go to an interview at this job that needed someone to help inventory or something, got there, then during the interview i felt like crap cause i knew i didn't know how to do that job. i told the guy my past work experience, etc. left. got home and played galaxies the rest of the day. (3:30-12)

 

payed for my car registration.....so i can drive my car..prolly go check out a few places tomorrow for applications, i saw a few ads from hotels that need front desk people. hmm...that might not be too bad...getting to meet people that don't live around this crap state.

[Keyan Farlander]

How is Galaxies these days, anyway? I heard it pretty much sucked when it came out and I never really followed up on it.

[edlib]

I hear it's getting better. I haven't heard anything about the flight sim space combat expansion pack yet, though. Which is the one thing about it I'd be really interested in, if it weren't for the monthly fee... I don't have time to play a game I have to keep paying for every month.

 

4/4/05

 

Got up early to do trash, and dragged myself to work to put in a short day (hopefully. Didn't pan out...)

My boss really wanted me to help him get some software that had crashed on his computer working. He also bought a new hard drive, since he was sure the hard drive in his PC was on it's way out.

 

Long story short: No matter what we tried we couldn't get the software working (which came out back in the Windows 95-era.) The company that made it doesn't support it anymore.

 

So then he wanted me to install '98 on the new hard drive in a second PC that he brought from home. That went quick, except about half the hardware failed to be recognized (and just try finding drivers for an ancient Voodoo card these days.) And the software still wouldn't install.

 

So then he gave up on using the old software. He started surfing the web looking for something new that does the same thing. Problem is: they all require XP now.

 

So then he asked me to put XP on the drive, but back in the old office PC. So we moved the drive over to the other machine, and when it booted up it failed to find most of the hardware there too, including the CDRW drive... making it difficult at best to install anything at this point.

 

I told him to put the original hard drive back in and call IT and tell them it's really thier problem now. Give them the new hard drive maybe and tell them you want it in,.. but I really don't have the time to troubleshoot this stuff and still do my regular job.

 

 

Then I went home and slept pretty much around the clock. I was tired. Still am.

 

 

Edit:

 

UPDATE: I just talked to him... the old hard drive is failing to boot in the old computer... so now he's really screwed.

 

I told him just to hand the whole kit and kaboodle over to somebody from IT and tell them EXACTLY what he needs to do his job, and don't tell them what we have been doing to all this hardware. It's thier problem now.

[Rogue15]

I got a call from the temp agency today..for a custodial/janitorial job, so i went in filled out some criminal background check paperwork, and went to the place.....it's pretty damn far away. I got there on time though, early actually..so i waited in the car 15 minutes before going in 15 minutes early. I got in, asked for the guy i was told to meet, he wasn't in, so i was told to sit down and wait. I waited for 45 minutes. Finally I start working! it's at a middle school too. the place is pretty big, lots of classrooms. It reminded me of cleaning the barracks. just without the buffing the floors and washing the walls.

 

We finally get done a little after 10pm, so I get in my car, and leave...hoping to get home by 11. I didn't. I went the wrong way due to it being nighttime, i can't really get a decent sense of direction.....took me like an hour to drive to a spot i recognized, so i could waste 30 more minutes getting home.

 

fun. I get into lititz and my mom decides to call my cell phone....most annoying thing ever when u are driving at night is the ****ing cell phone going off, esp with a worried mom. Anyways, i get home and my parents start bitching to me about how i'm going to be wasting gas money, etc. It's not like i can just go into a place closeby and get hired for more than $8 an hour.

 

I guess I'll have to spend my time before work filling out applications to places i don't really want to work at. =\

[edlib]

4/5/05

 

Getting farther and farther behind in these posts it seems...

 

Another HUGE setup and late night at work. It was a soundcheck and rehearsal for tonight's performance. Fortunately, I don't actually have to mix the show tonight. I left a bunch of notes, and the other engineer will have to come in and try to make sense of what I did. Good luck to him.

 

It feels kinda weird setting everything up only to walk away and know someone else is going to come in and work with what I left. We've done this before, but I've always been on the other end of it: I mix the show with his settings.

 

Oh well...

 

Not going into work today, but I'm not sure if I'm going to bother calling it a day off... ever since I got up I've been answering e-mails, voice messages, and writing reports... all work related. It's almost 3:00pm now and I've been going since 9:00... I'd say that was a full pretty day at work.

 

I doubt I'd get away with it though...

[Rogue15]

well looks like i'll be working at the place for a while. it's only 15 miles away. (seemed longer cause i got lost the first night driving home)

 

anyways....yesterday i woke up, ran to blockbuster, decided to pick up chronicles of riddick and they finally have finding neverland, so i got that too. Then came home, took my dog for a walk since it was really nice out, 70-80 degrees. nice weather. too bad it's cloudy/rainy today. anyways, made myself lunch...tuna fish sandwhich, then went to the grocery store and picked up a pack of gatorade and headed to work. it was much easier this time around, cept had to wait for the bell to ring so i could start, so 15 minutes of waiting around. meh. then i cleaned the place. i clean 2 floors, time goes by really fast.

 

when i got home, i watched Chronicles of Riddick. I was pretty impressed, as i didn't really see any trailers or anything. Now i have to go rent pitch black so i can understand it more. i watched the 'convert' version so i might watch the 'fight' version tonight after work.

 

Today....

 

woke up, showered, threw clothes in washer, cleaned up trash and recycles and put them out for the trucks to get them tomorrow, swept the livingroom floor, took the dog's bed outside and shook it free of dog hair. ate cereal, put clothes in dryer, took dog for mile walk, made tuna fish sandwhich for lunch, got online.

 

got a phone call from my mom...she told me to check out http://www.peacecorps.com it looks promising, might send in an application, cause that looks like something that i'd want to do for a year or two, get me some of those experience points.

 

in the time i started typing this up, the temp went from 68°-73° sweet. i want to go to the ocean.

[Keyan Farlander]

On a related note, I would just like to announce that I hate summer and warm weather.

[edlib]

It's been raining a lot here lately... as long as it isn't snow it can do anything it damn well pleases!

 

However, I'm sure I'll be changing my tune when the super-sticky heat and humidity that is summer in New England sets in, though...

 

4/6/05

 

Missed this one completely.

 

Spent the day at home, taking it easy. I did write a bunch of reports for work (which were actually a bit of a success,) got rid of the storm windows and put all the screens in so I can get some fresh air, did a little laundry, and slept. Nothing exciting.

 

4/7/05

 

Set up and sound-checked for tonight's show (a rather involved one involving the music of The Yellowjackets, with a couple members of the band sitting in with the students.) I'm not getting off as easy as I did the other day... I actually have to mix this one tonight. Oh well... the difficult part is over.

Plus: If I had tonight off, it would mean that I'd have to work this weekend... and I feel like I really need the time off now.

[Nitro]

I'm still trying to sell that M4A1 lookalike paintball marker... $450 USD takes it, shipping included.

[edlib]

4/8/05

 

Looong show! (About 2 hours and 15 minutes.) Then we had to tear down from that show and set up for the one going on today (it is an enormous setup, and they wanted to start at like 10 am, and nobody wanted to get there at like 7am to set it up, so we got stuck doing it last night.) Didn't get home until almost 1am.

 

I've got 2 days off in a row! Whoo-Hoo! Don't know what I'm going to do with all this time...

 

4/9/05

 

Day 1 of my 2 days off, and I squandered it to the hilt!

 

Finally watched the Blues concert DVD I bought a few weeks back (it's called "Lightning in a Bottle" for those of you keeping score at home.) Some good performances... especially Buddy Guy playing Hendrix's "Red House" (which was Jimi playing Buddy Guy licks for the most part... so it all comes full circle.)

 

Played some Halo, Unreal Tornament, and Tron 2.0... spending most of the time on Halo. I'm in a gaming mood lately it seems.

Took a short nap in the afternoon. Practiced guitar and sketched a little bit, just to shake off some of the rust on those skills that seems to build up when I get busy at work like I have been.

[GUNNER]

1st day back to work so this post covers from March 28th till today. In-laws don't have a PC....

 

Spent close to 11 days in phoenix, did lots of swimming and going to the park with the kids and just plain goofing off.

Went to a spring training Mariners game. Drove around in an H2 for a few days. saw Napoleon Dynamite , that was a funny movie...My folks and sisters flew down and we all made a side trip to Yuma to see my Aunt and Uncle.

 

got back on friday the 8th. Watched Spanglish, worked on my car. Sunday the 10th was my son's Bday and he is now 6 and we had a great party. Then it was off to bed to get a few winks before work....

 

BTW, helo every one.

[edlib]

Welcome back!

 

4/11/05

 

Took my mom out to dinner. Went to Bugaboo Creek (great steaks... although I wish they'd tone it down on the decor.)

 

Did some shopping (cat food, drinks, etc...) Bought the next Stephen King book in the Dark Tower series (Song of Susanna) and a DVD: "Finding Neverland"

 

The movie was pretty good... Johnny Depp is really a much better actor than I ever would have given him credit for (only seeing him in somewhat goofy roles in the past) and was an excellent job of casting in this case. I can see the filmmakers casting someone else in that role (say, a Robin Williams) and having it totally fall apart.

 

However: It occured to me about halfway through that I have pretty much forgotten the story of Peter Pan. I don't know the last time I saw a version of it, but I had to be when I was very, very young. I had forgotten a lot of details (the crocodile, and the dog for instance...) which made the story a bit distracting for me at times as I thought to myself: "I don't remember that! Have I ever seen Peter Pan?"

 

The connection between Neverland, speculations about the author's relationship with the boys, and Michael Jackson kept creeping in as well.

 

I should see a version of the P.P. again, then re-watch this film. I might enjoy it a bit more then...

 

Did some reading, some drawing, a little guitar, then went to bed.

[Rogue15]

haha i just saw Finding Neverland on saturday. it was pretty good.

 

Friday...went and got some dog food and i picked up General Grievous sneak preview action figure. XD wish i would've collected some of the aotc figures....especially since i own most of the TPM ones. I'm thinking of getting some of the bigger figures, i do have 1 aotc one, the super battle droid, which i picked off walmart for $8. also have Dengar.

 

This weekend rented Unbreakable, which was also a very good movie and considering it's a true story...kinda creepy!

 

And we rented School Ties. good movie as well.

 

 

Got to check out that Buffalo Chicken Pizza that i missed when i was at basic (apparantly they introduced and discontinued it while i was there) it's pretty good!

 

Got Master Marksman in Galaxies yesterday. Combat is MUCH more fun now. at least PVE. i've yet to try any PVP.

 

uhm....today....

listening to the Collateral Soundtrack right now, i turned in my time sheet to temp agency. Saw a few chicks running outside on my way back. XD i think they're highschoolers tho. =\

 

 

The person I'm replacing at the school died. I'm hoping they don't try to hire me permanent, cause i do not want to be there more than 4 months.

 

Tax Return still hasn't arrived yet. Tomorrow I'll pick up what i earned from working last week...gotta pay my part of the fuel bill and my cell phone bill, and get oil changed in my car so it doesn't break down.

[Nitro]

I bought Bourne Legacy today with a gift certificate I found, so edlib, I'll let you know whether or not it's worth picking up.

 

It could be a while before I get to it, though... I'm currently reading Life of Pi, I've got a new Tom Clancy book to read (Teeth of the Tiger), and finishing up with W.E.B. Griffin's latest addition to "The Corps" series, Retreat, Hell! before I get to Bourne Legacy... I snagged a hardcover copy of Mike Durant's In The Company of Heroes. He's one of the Black Hawk pilots that was shot down over Mogadishu, and later captured (as seen in Black Hawk Down). Should be interesting...

 

Finally, I came across something interesting on one of the paintball forums I get around on... I dunno how it works, but apparently you can get paid to make google searches.

 

I haven't signed up yet, but I'm tempted... There doesn't seem to be any spyware involved, and I can't see any obligations... Here's the link the guy posted if you wanna check it out yourself: http://netbux.org/?r=1072

 

Looks like a pyramid scheme, but without any risk. Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Keyan Farlander]

Eh, I don't you could ever make enough to make it worth your time.