Pictures of Me.

I very seldom like pictures of myself. I think most people are that way. But these are a handful of images that seem to capture what I think are fairly common "me" moments. I can read my mind in each instance and recognize what sort of mood I'm in almost right away. It's kind of uncanny. Check out that last one! I was 18. Insanity.

OK, so I've been a slacker...

I finally posted on OPP again. So Colleen, you can go read your poem. And everyone else can get to guessin' on the new one.

Watching soooo much Buffy...

Can't stop. DVD Seasons are evil...like Vampires.

Wedding in Arizona

Only in Arizona can you go show up for a wedding in the middle of January with the kind of glorious weather we had on Tuesday... well, usually. I mean, of course, when Massachusetts isn't so unusually nice. Anyhow, the wedding was excellent. Gary and Holly are obviously very happy. I didn't catch the garter, but hey... neither did Mark, so I call it a win. All in all, the visit was far too short and back I go to work tomorrow.

Drum Rewrapping 101.

Which is a clever name for this post because apparently this is my 101st blog post. Hurray! So I got this great little Rogers drum set off a guy on Craigslist for $100. 60's era Rogers drums like these are some of the best ever made. They're lovely, but they're the most boring color ever... plain white. I pulled all the harware off this week and started polishing the chrome. Next week in Arizona I'm gonna obtain some blue sparkle drum wrap. So hopefully soon my drums will look more like this. Oh and I bought a rug for it too which is too cool for pictures, you'll just have to see it in real life.

Christmas in Beantown.

Many have asked what the Hell I was going to do with my Christmas while in Boston with nearly all of my Boston friends away to their homes. Well, Christmas is now over, so here's what I did...

I woke up at noon. This is because I stayed up till 4am finishing season 6 of the West Wing (last season at last...Josh and Donna had better hook up or objects will fly).

I showered.

I called home, and sent my Christmas text message.

I went to dinner at the Inoye's and enjoyed good food and the company of the other four people from our ward who stayed. Dinner conversation revolved mostly around the eating of pets, which made their dog uncomfortable I'm sure.

My friend Blair and I watched the last season of 24. Not because I'm a 24 nut, but because we were both bored and had spare time.

So, far from traditional, but you know... I'll live.

Tomorrow, back to work and soon... to Arizona to see my friend Gary wed.

Reminder: Other People's Poetry.

My first entry is up on the O.P.P. blog... check it.

"You down with O.P.P.?"

I have a new blog project. I know, look... I'm one of those two blog people now. Anyway, I won't bother to explain it here, since I explain it there and if you're really interested, you'll go there to look at it.

http://www.otherpeoplespoetry.blogspot.com

I know, I know... It ain't a bowl of cheerios.

I've been becoming increasingly aware lately that life isn't that easy for most of us at the moment. And I kinda think I prefer it on the tough side actually. Even when it's really bad. Hear me out... I don't like to see my friends unhappy or uncomfortable, in fact I am sometimes accused of too quickly losing my temper and tongue when people hurt my friends.

But as for myself, I have to say I work better with stress and challenges. I'm suddenly double employed, with a chaotic schedule, very little sleep, intermittent girl drama, and the whole not having anywhere to go for Christmas thing... Yet, I feel like I can take a couple more punches (I know I'm just inviting it). Difficulty in life ministers to our education; and if we so treat it, to our eventual exaltation. Plus, just think how boring life would be if you never had any problems.

In short, I love you guys. You'll get through it, so will I. And we'll all be better for it. Merry Christmas wherever you will each be, I'll miss you and rock on.

If I could transcribe for this blog title, the big drum fill in Dire Straits' Money For Nothing just before the main riff comes in, I would.

I got a new drumset. I'm gonna rock! (...after a few months of practice)

This song will make you dance on a table...

Seriously. Well, at least Jason.

I'm not sure if anyone I know is really an ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) fan, but if you are, this song by L.E.O. will make you smile. ELO founder Jeff Lynne was a completely one of a kind songwriter and producer who made such retroactive music in such a progressive way that no generation has really ever grasped it. But certain random people have always completely adored it... which explains why ELO has always had a fanbase, defying all reasonable expectaions. It's possibly some of the most annoying music ever recorded.

So last year some time a bunch of studio dogs teamed with industry no-names like Bleu and Used-To-Be's like Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish and the boys (or was it girls) from Hanson to make an ELO tribute album. Basically, this is as dorky and as awesome as music gets.

L.E.O. is an ELO tribute band. But their tribute is not covers of ELO songs, but originals inspired by the group's unique brand of pop. And at last I give you...

Ya Had Me Goin'

So, there's this girl I think is really cute...

I want to have kids as cute as my sister's little kids someday.

I think my new T.A. might like me...

...and I might be ok with that. I might follow this up later in the week. No promises.

It comes out tomorrow.

The brand new Brand New album. (Yeah, heard the joke like 50 times by now) Buy it. Like the guitars? That was all me, baby.

"Luca" is pretty much the coolest thing I've ever had my hands in.

My Christmas Present to Myself.

I am saving money like a madman, cause come December 25th, I want to own this bad-boy.

For those who care (namely Jason)... it's the new Toft Audio Designs Trident Series ATB-24 Recording/Mixing Console, designed by designer of the good-sounding Trident boards from the 60's, 70's and 80's, Mr. Malcom Toft. The board features pretty standard class A mic pre's (nothing special) but boasts 24 channels of the same parametric eq module found on the famed Trident 80B console. And the i/o on this sucker is through the ceiling. 24 channels of mic, line, monitor/tape return inputs and trs channel interts. The monitor returns and the 8 monitor returns on the 8 busses can be utilized as well too... meaning the console can effectively sum 72 inputs to the stereo bus. Also includes peak and VU metering, monitor selction and dimming, 8 auxes, talkback and all the rest of the jazz you get on a big, expensive console.

Except they assemble them in China so they're cheap enough to buy. Hurray for Capitalism!

Ok, so I'm not going to Virginia this weekend.

Be bitter with me.

Or call me so we can hang out.

I might drive to Virginia this weekend...

...to play with my nieces



...and nephews.



Be jealous.

It's hard to say what it is I see in you...

So randomly tonight, I went to a Sister Hazel concert. You remember the band? From the mid-90's... big radio singles "All For You" and "Happy". They're older now and way less cool in the big scheme of things, but dang if everybody in the bar didn't just have a good old time rocking out with Sister Hazel. I know I did. I know Kristy did. And I'm quite certain the heavily inebriated fellow in front of us did.

Dearest Friends Marie and Julie...

You May Tell 12 People Whatever You Want...

No names. Just say how you feel...

1. You are seriously the coolest person I know. No joke. I know I award that to different people nearly all the time, but I mean it. You. Are. So. Effing. Cool.

2. Puh-leeze. Over it. So over it. Eat chowdah you poohead.

3. Get off my back. Seriously. It's my problem, not yours and I really don't want to hear any more about how the Lord doesn't want me unless I'm attached to a member of the opposite gender (and I claim points for rhyming like that). I love the gospel, and I'm doing my best.

4. If I could just strangle my debt collector lifeless (and stuff his body in a refrigerator at the dump) and make my troubles disappear like the good old days, you my friend, would not be sending me this monthly statement. And you'd be in a refrigerator.

5. Maybe this is none of my business, but you should really think about being better to your friends. They love you. Hell, at times they near worship you. Everybody likes to think they're the person who doesn't short change all their friends when they hook up with someone. And some of us aren't. But some of us are and just don't like to admit it. They'd do anything for you. Do something for them.

6. Learn to drive you octogenetarian plague. I swear if I get stuck behind another one of you brake-happy, indiscriminate lane-swerving village idiots I'm gonna rip the bones out your fingers and slowly lodge them behind your eyelids one by one till you pass out from the pain and trauma. Then I will cut all the corners off your license like a totin chit card and leave it on your frail, sweat-drenched unconscious body.

7. I miss you.

8. Geez, you're so cute. When your face makes this one certain look I want to grab you by where your hair meets your neck and kiss your face off for like 20 minutes. I feel I have exercised considerable restraint thus far to keep from doing it already.

9. I'm really sorry for all the bonerish things I've done. I can be a real jerk even to people I really care about it. I'm happy we're friends again. There was a while I couldn't be far enough away from you. Now I'm far enough away from you, only I sorta wish I wasn't. Funny how that works huh?

10. Everyday I look at you I'm happy. You make me glad I came here. You're so much better than that last river I lived next to... even if it means I'm gonna freeze my yoo-hoos off this Winter, and you're gonna be all icified for months. You still make my day just about every day.

11. Seriously? I'm a good employee. I make sacrifices, I prepare my lessons (when you bother to tell me what subject I'm teaching), I try to connect with my students and help them wherever I can. Don't ask me to change plans I've had for nigh a month so I can do review and rehash with 4 kids who have heard this all twice already and are really good at it by now on my Saturday while they and I have things we'd rather be doing. Good thing they like me so much.

12. I don't say this often enough but I'm really grateful. You do a lot for me, and I really want you to know I'm thanking you like times infinity.