So I hauled out the bass guitar from its case that it's been in for probably a year, and proceeded to try and learn this tune last night. Today, my right index and middle finger are a little numb (from not using a pick).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HLOS2fi2Vo
Well, I don't smoke, but its coming up to the weekend where I always have the urge to let loose down at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland. Let's see how many nasty habits I get into this weekend. Will I exercise? I'll try. Will I drink too much beer and eat too much barbecue and/or junk food? Probably. Will I wish I could spend the whole weekend down there, instead of the few hours I'll probably get? You bet. I usually also get inspired and try to practice more guitar.
I think three or four years back, I saw the Tommy Castro band at the blues fest. I was standing where I normally do for shows where the guitar is featured prominently, which is down toward the water, as close to the stage as I can get without feeling crowded by lots of people. Through the show, I felt like Tommy was looking at me the whole time with too much eye contact, it was actually quite uncomfortable. It turns out that I was standing directly behind his son. Tommy proceeded to announce to the audience that he had a "son he never knew" in Portland and it was his first weekend meeting him. I was somewhat relieved that I wasn't being picked out of the crowd somehow. I kept wondering during the show, "why is he looking this way". Tommy puts on a great show, and his old bass player Randy was a hoot to watch on stage, playing a coral pink (probably 60's) Fender Precision bass, making faces to the audience, and dancing around.
Let's see what Nasty Habits I develop over this 4th of July. Maybe snoring in a tent or something.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Two wheeled death sentence
I think my odds for dying on two wheels is > 50%.
I've always had a fascination with 2 wheels.
I counted down from 3 wheels. When I was the same age, I rode my tricycle down a stair case at our apartment. I ended up having a gash and stitches on the underside of my chin.
I don't know why, but bicycles and motorcycles really speak to me. I remember the feeling of riding my past bikes, and each one has led to several adventures.
When I was 5 yrs old, my parents bought me my first real bike at a store called L&M Supply, which was a very large warehouse/hardware type store on the north side of Virginia, MN. My parents really splurged on this particular gift... I think I got it for my birthday. This bike was black and had a black banana seat with silver diamond pattern on it, similar to the floor of an Elvis cafe. It had a fake plastic gas tank with red "custom" flames on it, AND it had a squarish profile rear tire. This bike had a twist throttle that made a noise like a motorcycle.
Anyway, I'd like to write more about my past bicycles, but the original intent of this post was to talk about my probabilities. I like to bike, and I like to ride a motorcycle. For some reason, motorcycles are deemed more dangerous by everyone (what?!? your wife let you.., and you have kids...? aren't you worried?), yet something inside me makes me do it anyway. Personally, I think bicycles are more dangerous in this day and age, because you can't get away from the crazy drivers who are texting or eating their Big Macs behind the wheel, where on a motorcycle, if you are vigilant you can twist the throttle to avoid such catastrophes. I should bike to keep in shape, so I don't die of a heart attack, but if I bike, I have to avoid the "cagers", which is tough to do if you ride at 1/5th of their speed. If I ride the motorcycle, I'm likely to get in an accident, the question is not if, but when (so experienced motorcyclists say), but I'll also have the threat of not getting my exercise. I'm screwed in these circular references no matter how I look at it. Also there is the environmental aspects of riding a motorcycle. They aren't exactly emission friendly.. in fact, the bike I have wasn't even able to be sold in California in 2008 due to their emission standards.
So, I'm going to take my chances and try to ride (on bicycle) the Seattle to Portland this year. I sent in the registration money. Now if my ass can sit on a seat for 16 hours... .
I've always had a fascination with 2 wheels.
I counted down from 3 wheels. When I was the same age, I rode my tricycle down a stair case at our apartment. I ended up having a gash and stitches on the underside of my chin.
I don't know why, but bicycles and motorcycles really speak to me. I remember the feeling of riding my past bikes, and each one has led to several adventures.
When I was 5 yrs old, my parents bought me my first real bike at a store called L&M Supply, which was a very large warehouse/hardware type store on the north side of Virginia, MN. My parents really splurged on this particular gift... I think I got it for my birthday. This bike was black and had a black banana seat with silver diamond pattern on it, similar to the floor of an Elvis cafe. It had a fake plastic gas tank with red "custom" flames on it, AND it had a squarish profile rear tire. This bike had a twist throttle that made a noise like a motorcycle.
Anyway, I'd like to write more about my past bicycles, but the original intent of this post was to talk about my probabilities. I like to bike, and I like to ride a motorcycle. For some reason, motorcycles are deemed more dangerous by everyone (what?!? your wife let you.., and you have kids...? aren't you worried?), yet something inside me makes me do it anyway. Personally, I think bicycles are more dangerous in this day and age, because you can't get away from the crazy drivers who are texting or eating their Big Macs behind the wheel, where on a motorcycle, if you are vigilant you can twist the throttle to avoid such catastrophes. I should bike to keep in shape, so I don't die of a heart attack, but if I bike, I have to avoid the "cagers", which is tough to do if you ride at 1/5th of their speed. If I ride the motorcycle, I'm likely to get in an accident, the question is not if, but when (so experienced motorcyclists say), but I'll also have the threat of not getting my exercise. I'm screwed in these circular references no matter how I look at it. Also there is the environmental aspects of riding a motorcycle. They aren't exactly emission friendly.. in fact, the bike I have wasn't even able to be sold in California in 2008 due to their emission standards.
So, I'm going to take my chances and try to ride (on bicycle) the Seattle to Portland this year. I sent in the registration money. Now if my ass can sit on a seat for 16 hours... .
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Pickin that big round hole guitar
Today's Smorgasbord
I overheard somebody say in the hallway "you can't just add another cheerleader, you've got to kill the ax-murderer first". Maybe this is a reference to that ax-murderer movie, maybe not, but just hearing this out of context in passing is weird.
The Buckaroos' Round Hole Guitar was playing in my head while I ate lunch. I love Don Rich's accent, and when the vocal harmonies kick in. http://www.amazon.com/Round-Hole-Guitar/dp/B000S43UM8
Its still mind boggling that my son is deathly afraid of spiders. I don't like them either, but I've never said anything or done anything to discriminate against spiders in front of my son. He won't sleep in his room as he is afraid of the spiders.
Some ingredient in my lunch decided it wanted to attack me.
Some guy at work was 30 minutes late to my document review yesterday, thus not understanding the background, and continued to crater the rest of the meeting with his ignorance. Today I scheduled a special session to explain it again, and he did not show up after 20 minutes. My blood pressure is brimming over. I need a big round hole guitar to play right now. He will continue to be an obstacle to my project until I can pin the tail on this donkey. Today's chops is my mind... I'm losin it baby! (to quote Mr. Castanza)
I overheard somebody say in the hallway "you can't just add another cheerleader, you've got to kill the ax-murderer first". Maybe this is a reference to that ax-murderer movie, maybe not, but just hearing this out of context in passing is weird.
The Buckaroos' Round Hole Guitar was playing in my head while I ate lunch. I love Don Rich's accent, and when the vocal harmonies kick in. http://www.amazon.com/Round-Hole-Guitar/dp/B000S43UM8
Its still mind boggling that my son is deathly afraid of spiders. I don't like them either, but I've never said anything or done anything to discriminate against spiders in front of my son. He won't sleep in his room as he is afraid of the spiders.
Some ingredient in my lunch decided it wanted to attack me.
Some guy at work was 30 minutes late to my document review yesterday, thus not understanding the background, and continued to crater the rest of the meeting with his ignorance. Today I scheduled a special session to explain it again, and he did not show up after 20 minutes. My blood pressure is brimming over. I need a big round hole guitar to play right now. He will continue to be an obstacle to my project until I can pin the tail on this donkey. Today's chops is my mind... I'm losin it baby! (to quote Mr. Castanza)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Why write?
OK. Blogging is difficult for me. How much do you say, how do you say it, and how does a person interpret the writing?
Recently, thinking about my son going to kindergarten, I started looking at school rankings. This is another topic that I could go on about, but I'll try to condense it here. How are the schools ranked in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area? For elementary, there are quite a few schools ranked as outstanding, for middle schools...less, and high schools, only 1 school is outstanding. Sunset High School, who is ranked as "Outstanding" for achievement, is on the federal "troubled list". ZERO Beaverton Public High Schools are NOT on the troubled list. ZERO Hillsboro Public High Schools are not on the federal troubled list.
How do I understand the difference between OUTSTANDING achievement and ALSO being on the troubled list?!?
It sucks being a parent who worries. For now, I've come to the conclusion that my child's education is not up to the school system, but will be all effort from the parents. I work for a living, so I can't participate in home schooling, but apparently the feds say that as my child grows older, their education will suffer. So what do I do??? For now, I noticed that writing seems to get lower scores than math, science, or reading... so I'm practicing now, on this blog, that maybe I can make a difference in my son's life by example. Maybe I can stop losing my writing "chops" that I had in high school AP English and college 'A' grades for composition.I need to practice, so I can be a good mentor as my son grows older. Maybe one of these blogs, I'll break out a "theme" and try to write like I was "learned"....
Recently, thinking about my son going to kindergarten, I started looking at school rankings. This is another topic that I could go on about, but I'll try to condense it here. How are the schools ranked in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area? For elementary, there are quite a few schools ranked as outstanding, for middle schools...less, and high schools, only 1 school is outstanding. Sunset High School, who is ranked as "Outstanding" for achievement, is on the federal "troubled list". ZERO Beaverton Public High Schools are NOT on the troubled list. ZERO Hillsboro Public High Schools are not on the federal troubled list.
How do I understand the difference between OUTSTANDING achievement and ALSO being on the troubled list?!?
It sucks being a parent who worries. For now, I've come to the conclusion that my child's education is not up to the school system, but will be all effort from the parents. I work for a living, so I can't participate in home schooling, but apparently the feds say that as my child grows older, their education will suffer. So what do I do??? For now, I noticed that writing seems to get lower scores than math, science, or reading... so I'm practicing now, on this blog, that maybe I can make a difference in my son's life by example. Maybe I can stop losing my writing "chops" that I had in high school AP English and college 'A' grades for composition.I need to practice, so I can be a good mentor as my son grows older. Maybe one of these blogs, I'll break out a "theme" and try to write like I was "learned"....
Starbucks coffee cups
The current Starbucks cup design drives me a little crazy. It reads.
"YOU. HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOR 10 YEARS".
The text goes on to say nothing about trees/paper/pulp, but talks about making things better for farmers?!? I don't get the connection of how focusing on climate change with farmers will encourage people not to waste cups, or how that will save a rain forest, or trees.
This is such a ridiculous marketing scheme. As someone who is at least aware of conservation, I would paraphrase this as saying, "LAZY. You are too lazy to bring in your cup, so you are getting a paper one. Its OK, because we know that cups are wasteful to the environment, but we don't want you not to spend money because you forgot your cup. Go ahead and feel good about your coffee because we say that we try to balance your use of cups by working with the farmers to reduce CO2 in other ways, although we are not going to tell you how."
Yeah, I should not use paper cups. Don't make me try to believe its a good thing. Just let it nag on my mind, so maybe I'll actually NOT use paper cups.
"YOU. HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOR 10 YEARS".
The text goes on to say nothing about trees/paper/pulp, but talks about making things better for farmers?!? I don't get the connection of how focusing on climate change with farmers will encourage people not to waste cups, or how that will save a rain forest, or trees.
This is such a ridiculous marketing scheme. As someone who is at least aware of conservation, I would paraphrase this as saying, "LAZY. You are too lazy to bring in your cup, so you are getting a paper one. Its OK, because we know that cups are wasteful to the environment, but we don't want you not to spend money because you forgot your cup. Go ahead and feel good about your coffee because we say that we try to balance your use of cups by working with the farmers to reduce CO2 in other ways, although we are not going to tell you how."
Yeah, I should not use paper cups. Don't make me try to believe its a good thing. Just let it nag on my mind, so maybe I'll actually NOT use paper cups.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Losing My Chops?!?
If anyone is reading, you might ask "what are chops?" Any of the definitions not relating to hair or drugs at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chops might apply, although I didn't bother to scrutinize them all.
I used to play the trumpet, and I was fairly good at it. In high school, my talent on the horn was my main reputation. I did other things, but was mainly known as "that trumpet player" who played at high school sporting events. Never mind the hours of practice at home for the concerts that we played 2 or 3 times a year. In college, I played my horn approximately 40-50 hours per week, and studied for my engineering degree for about 12 hour a week, it was a huge part of my life. I burned out my senior year of college on the horn, and then stopped playing. Since then, my love for the instrument prompted a couple of comebacks over the years, where I regained my skills quickly, but life, other interests, and lack of time won out against the horn to squash my dream.
The trumpet is a hard instrument to play, especially if your intention is to have any sort of success or mastery of the high register. Anyway, I don't really play the trumpet that much anymore... I only own a cornet, and have very little endurance and chops. Mainly I play it now to remind me not to have dreams of being a virtuoso.
I constantly feel like I'm losing my chops for other things. For example.. I worked out extremely hard last year on the p90x program. Well, that program takes 1 to 1.5 hours per day, 6 days a week. I no longer can afford that time, and hence, I'm losing my chops there too (read: gained some weight and flabbiness back). In fact, my skills and body seem in constant deterioration due to lack of practicing my existing skills and interests.
I used to play the trumpet, and I was fairly good at it. In high school, my talent on the horn was my main reputation. I did other things, but was mainly known as "that trumpet player" who played at high school sporting events. Never mind the hours of practice at home for the concerts that we played 2 or 3 times a year. In college, I played my horn approximately 40-50 hours per week, and studied for my engineering degree for about 12 hour a week, it was a huge part of my life. I burned out my senior year of college on the horn, and then stopped playing. Since then, my love for the instrument prompted a couple of comebacks over the years, where I regained my skills quickly, but life, other interests, and lack of time won out against the horn to squash my dream.
The trumpet is a hard instrument to play, especially if your intention is to have any sort of success or mastery of the high register. Anyway, I don't really play the trumpet that much anymore... I only own a cornet, and have very little endurance and chops. Mainly I play it now to remind me not to have dreams of being a virtuoso.
I constantly feel like I'm losing my chops for other things. For example.. I worked out extremely hard last year on the p90x program. Well, that program takes 1 to 1.5 hours per day, 6 days a week. I no longer can afford that time, and hence, I'm losing my chops there too (read: gained some weight and flabbiness back). In fact, my skills and body seem in constant deterioration due to lack of practicing my existing skills and interests.
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