1) Got out of work yesterday, stopped home for a few, then headed over to the bike shop to pick up my bike & check out the indoor trainers. Even though I knew that the salesgirl was likely not single, I was hoping she'd be there - she called in sick with food poisoning though, so I just talked with the owner about them & tried a couple out. The least expensive (magnetic resistance style) ran around $190, and the entry-level fluid-friction style started around $340. I'd read that the fluid ones were a bit more realistic in their resistance, and I wanted to see if there was a big difference between the two, or at least enough difference to warrant that kind of added expense. As it turns out, I didn't notice that much between the two, so I bought the less expensive model. I need to pick up a yoga mat, or something similar, to help muffle the noise, and apparently to prevent big sweat puddles on the floor!? lol Anyway, I got them home last night but didn't set things up yet. Think I'll do that tonight, after work.
2) Finally made it out to the acoustic jam at the dog - was interesting; a lot of acoustic guitars, several mandolins, a couple harmonicas... one guy even brought a stand-up bass! They'd pick basic 3-5 chords songs, sing a verse or two, carry on with the chord structure & let people take solos if they wanted. I'd decided not to take my guitar, as I wasn't sure what to expect, but after sitting through 3-4 songs, I asked a buddy if I could play one of his guitars. He was cool with that, so I got it out & played along with maybe 10-12 more songs. One thing I learned is that it's hard to hear what you're playing when there are so many other people playing at the same time - I had to keep turning the guitar face upwards to hear it. It also didn't help that most of them would just call out the key of the song, not the chords. I struggled to remember the I-IV-V basics, and forget about throwing any ii's of vii's (etc.)in, because I have no idea what they would be. Over the last couplefew years though, I've gotten pretty good at figuring out what chords people are playing by watching their finger positions, so I would just focus on a couple people who looked like they knew what they were doing, and picked it up that way. Overall, it was a good time, and I'm glad I got to participate - I'm really looking forward to next month so I can bring my own guitar!
3) I stopped off to a fairly new open mic night at lou's after the jam and again ran into a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. This particular open mic night seems to draw really good local musicians looking to try out some of their new stuff - I mean, really good players, really good singers, tons of talent. I doubt I'll ever play this particular night (at least for several years until I get a bit more respectable!), but I dig seeing them all play! I actually kept my wits about me & headed home early (11:30pm, which is early for me!), played a little guitar when I got home, then went to bed. Another fun time!
4) Can't remember if I mentioned, I think I found a couch I dig for the living room. I'm going to stop back up this week & if it's still there, I'll probably pick it up. It's not a bad price either - around $650-700. It's all leather, which I wasn't crazy about, but it's really comfortable, and a lot more supportive than most every other one I've checked out.
5) Been telling a lot of people about my upcoming gig in February - my boss even told my coworkers in our weekly department meeting, so a few of them might be making it out! I really hope this comes through though, as last time, nothing was ever finalized & we didn't get the gig. I'm not counting on anyone showing up really (because last time, only three people I knew made it out & two of them I had to spot $20 for gas & beer money to get them to make it), but if even half of the people I've told about it show up, it should be a good turnout. I just hope that this time it actually happens - if for some reason we get dropped again, I'm going to seriously think about dropping out on these guys. I need something new, either to supplement what I'm doing with them, or to replace it. I want to be able to improv, to play other styles, to be able to audition without having to memorize songs, and I'm not gonna get that with the guys now.
6) The only really negative spot in all this is that, in the last couplefew weeks, I've been going out a lot; like, a minimum of 3-4 nights a week. a) that's not good for my health, as I have drinks every time I go, and also lose sleep, as I still have to get up for work in the morning, and b) it's not good for my bank account. Between having several drinks each night I go out, and then buying food/drinks for Viv the last week or two when we've hung out, I've probably dropped an easy $300 - $20-25 in drinks for me ($3-4 each, then adding in a tip) 4 nights a week = $100/wk x3 - $300, plus a few of Viv's drinks/food... actually, I think it's closer to $400. I don't have any big shows I can think of off-hand that I need to see, so I think I'm gonna stay in for a while, save up a little money. Maybe I'll let Viv take me out once or twice, but only if she's buying. I've got too much shit I need to buy for this place, and I'm not at a point where I can afford to just blow money on pointless things. Besides, if I could afford to "blow money", I'd be better served to save that bread & buy a plane ticket to Germany or The Isle...
p.s. Oh yeah - someone tell fairybones to stop posting pics of herself would you? Until I find one of my own around here, I don't need to be reminded that there are cool, well-adjusted, attractive women in parts of the world *other than* where I live! lol :-D (that is, unless, of course, she wants to post pics of herself with any of her attractive friends who might want to visit the US!) ^.^ (just giving you grief, Leigh!) ;-)
10:22 a.m. - 2012-01-31
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