CLOSED
Happy Holidays
/T
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Deja...deja day deja day...Vu
Happy Halloween!
The spooky part is, I could repeat the last post as a current status update. Funny, right? I wish it was.
October 31 finds us awaiting yet another decision from an appraisal board. This is our third contracting, and our fourth selling jeopardy. It shouldn't be this hard, but that's the state of home selling these days. People are buried in regulation and distracted by communication overload. Our house has been packed up since the first and we've been in limbo since the start of June. So, here we are once again wondering if we will be (finally) moving, and that decision can occur at any moment. Writing on hold, music on hold, life...well, you read this earlier. Our fingers remain crossed.
The spooky part is, I could repeat the last post as a current status update. Funny, right? I wish it was.
October 31 finds us awaiting yet another decision from an appraisal board. This is our third contracting, and our fourth selling jeopardy. It shouldn't be this hard, but that's the state of home selling these days. People are buried in regulation and distracted by communication overload. Our house has been packed up since the first and we've been in limbo since the start of June. So, here we are once again wondering if we will be (finally) moving, and that decision can occur at any moment. Writing on hold, music on hold, life...well, you read this earlier. Our fingers remain crossed.
Monday, August 10, 2015
How Many Months?
Here we are in August: The house is on its second
contract after listing some 14 months ago, and, before anyone asks, no, nothing
wrong with it, we’re just not keen on giving it away. I am currently waiting
for an appraiser to come through the door and decide our fate. That’s
what happened to the last deal: crushed by incompetence and other
shenanigans. A total crapfest. Not to go on about real estate misgivings,
though. There are easy sales and the tough ones. This is one of the tough ones—a
Grand Distracter. Learning to deal with those processes is just another
adventure. That's what the PC fuddies say anyway. (Anyone seen my placekicking tee?)
Music?
Okay, I have been keeping one eye squinted waiting
for the magical original music project to come along. Fairy dust? Hmmm... Onward. I have managed to reboot
the writing, looking for surprises either during the holidays or soon after.
All in good, and it works for the current situation. I can live with that...for now.
Okay, that’s it, really…nothing else significant
to report. Wait. There is a word buzzing about. Vegas. Might have to check into that.
Say it with me, David—MORE SOON!
/T
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Clever Use of Who in Title
Probably 35 years later than I should've, I finally caught The Who in concert last night. Joan Jett too! You know how it is -- time, money, interest, availability. The planets never aligned 'til this tour. I was quickly reminded why I don't splurge for arena shows anymore: $60 seats weren't bad, mind you. I thought they would have been thrice that for the nosebleeds, which ours weren't exactly, but we were up there. Thing is, $20 parking, $40 T-shirt pricing (no, we didn't), $25 programs (again, no!), $13.50 cup 'o beer, $11 pork nachos, and then came the biggest insult: Thirsty for just a sip 'o water? No 3rd level fountain means paying $4.25 for a bottle of chilled Dasani, and then they won't allow you to keep the bottle. Instead they dump it in a plain, huge plastic cup with no ice. Sheesh! I guess it really has been a while.
But that wasn't enough discouragement, evidently.
Sadly, the show wasn't sold out -- not even close. They closed down a large section towards the back and moved everyone including us off to the sides. Never mind my spending considerable time with a ticket agent downtown to get behind the mixing console for a straight-on view; I can see the speaker arrays perfectly silhouetted by the massive projector screen that I can't see now. Thanks Amalie Arena. Hours afterward, the Tampa Bay Times called it a "packed" show. I supposed they mean packed to the sides after hoisting a giant curtain over several sections of empty seats?
"Come on, man!"
That's simply why I don't often (gotta stress *often*) support the large tours. For me, and with very few exceptions, the best concerts have always taken place in the smaller venues for a reasonable ticket price. I get the economics; it's just not for me.
Okay, got the whining out of the way.
How was the show? Hmmm... there's that technical side of me that rarely sees absolute perfection. The executions weren't perfect. FOH engineer struggled with vocals all night, missing Joan's mix entirely for the first three songs. Got it by mid-set, however. Joan's performance on the other hand was flawless. Love her and her show - great opening gig! To comment on Thommy Price's drumming -- SOLID. You gotta love those aging journeyman unsung pro types touring around with these medium-interest '80s acts. They still got it, and it never sounded better. Same goes for Joan. Timeless!
Then came The Half Who.
I know, I shouldn't chide them for missing the others. Actually, they were more than a Double Who. No less than three keyboardists, an auxiliary guitarist (Pete's younger brother), and another bloke hidden just behind the stage doing..what? The drum monitor mix? Hard to tell upstairs, mind you. I accounted for the loss of lows (kick drum and bass), but the dynamics (compression) was just WAY off on Roger's vocals most of the night. Tour's first night blip? Likely. I've heard much worse, however. They messed up Roger's harmonica mic, too. He dropped it on the stage and took care of business using his main vocal mic. No worries. If that's the only sound complaints, that ain't bad. Performance-wise, nearly flawless although there was a blown break on "My Generation." Couldn't point a finger at anyone in particular - Roger? Zak? Nobody noticed, and doubtful anyone cared. Roger laughed it off and kept going. So did I.
Now the other side that enjoys the art of a good show.
Honestly, I watched a couple Who shows on YouTube in the weeks prior. I'll stop doing that. It heightens one's expectations. Those are perfect, edited presentations. Get real! Of course, the kids are aging and well past performance prime. How good could it be? How about, incredible? Yeah, that's a close enough adjective. You know, that's what it comes down to for me - the takeaway. You can be over 70 and still rock. Not just rock, either -- KILL it! Some bullets? (just off the top of my head...)
More Soon,
/T
But that wasn't enough discouragement, evidently.
Sadly, the show wasn't sold out -- not even close. They closed down a large section towards the back and moved everyone including us off to the sides. Never mind my spending considerable time with a ticket agent downtown to get behind the mixing console for a straight-on view; I can see the speaker arrays perfectly silhouetted by the massive projector screen that I can't see now. Thanks Amalie Arena. Hours afterward, the Tampa Bay Times called it a "packed" show. I supposed they mean packed to the sides after hoisting a giant curtain over several sections of empty seats?
"Come on, man!"
That's simply why I don't often (gotta stress *often*) support the large tours. For me, and with very few exceptions, the best concerts have always taken place in the smaller venues for a reasonable ticket price. I get the economics; it's just not for me.
Okay, got the whining out of the way.
How was the show? Hmmm... there's that technical side of me that rarely sees absolute perfection. The executions weren't perfect. FOH engineer struggled with vocals all night, missing Joan's mix entirely for the first three songs. Got it by mid-set, however. Joan's performance on the other hand was flawless. Love her and her show - great opening gig! To comment on Thommy Price's drumming -- SOLID. You gotta love those aging journeyman unsung pro types touring around with these medium-interest '80s acts. They still got it, and it never sounded better. Same goes for Joan. Timeless!
Then came The Half Who.
I know, I shouldn't chide them for missing the others. Actually, they were more than a Double Who. No less than three keyboardists, an auxiliary guitarist (Pete's younger brother), and another bloke hidden just behind the stage doing..what? The drum monitor mix? Hard to tell upstairs, mind you. I accounted for the loss of lows (kick drum and bass), but the dynamics (compression) was just WAY off on Roger's vocals most of the night. Tour's first night blip? Likely. I've heard much worse, however. They messed up Roger's harmonica mic, too. He dropped it on the stage and took care of business using his main vocal mic. No worries. If that's the only sound complaints, that ain't bad. Performance-wise, nearly flawless although there was a blown break on "My Generation." Couldn't point a finger at anyone in particular - Roger? Zak? Nobody noticed, and doubtful anyone cared. Roger laughed it off and kept going. So did I.
Now the other side that enjoys the art of a good show.
Honestly, I watched a couple Who shows on YouTube in the weeks prior. I'll stop doing that. It heightens one's expectations. Those are perfect, edited presentations. Get real! Of course, the kids are aging and well past performance prime. How good could it be? How about, incredible? Yeah, that's a close enough adjective. You know, that's what it comes down to for me - the takeaway. You can be over 70 and still rock. Not just rock, either -- KILL it! Some bullets? (just off the top of my head...)
- Over two hours of straight show had plenty for everyone.
- Surprise songs where "Magic Bus" "Slip Kid" and "A Quick One"
- Sorely missed where "Bargain", "Squeeze Box" and "5:15"
- Nice surprise presentations and productions for "Quadrophenia" and "Magic Bus", and "Join Together"
- Zak Starkey IS the drummer for The Who. I can't picture anyone else after the last 20 years. The fit is too perfect. One gripe though: didn't care for the subtly-alternate groove he plays on "Eminence Front". Otherwise, he's the man.
- No Encore? Yeah, no encore. The show ended with two of their best-known hits. That's it - no mas! (a tad dissapointing, but really, what else could they have played after Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled?) We weren't complaining.
- Vocal harmonies were delicious. Having extra available singers made for max production. Suspect there might have been a little prerecorded filler shenanigans on a couple songs. For The Who, it's allowed, right?
More Soon,
/T
Friday, April 10, 2015
Spring not Sprain
Thought I'd stop by and see how things were going >>>
Decently, I suppose. The wrist appears to be in the final stages of healing. I've not pressed it with barbell lifting or heavy motor work, nor sadly any real drum practice. It still feels weakish in some circumstances, so I'm not going to push it. Yet. I am dying to get behind the kit soon, however. I've visited the practice pad a couple short moments just to see. Hmmm... no pain. Don't push it!
Some golf would be nice too. Of course, I'm saying this while the Masters is on - are on...those guys. Somehow that always motivates me to at least visit the range and think about that next round. But, we're still in that home-selling limbo thing as the market flattens.
I've got to say, it's no fun being mostly packed up with your more nifty belongings in storage. It makes you appreciate "home" when it's not just a space to lay your head. It's your comfort zone and identity - a place to entertain friends and family. Right now, we could just as well be some transient types -- ghosts for all intents.
There is a silver lining, though. I am finally back to writing full-time, and Book #3 is well under way. Barring some major interruption, like selling our house, I'm hoping to complete it before the end of the year. Yay!
Back to work, me...I mean, the Masters.
/T
Decently, I suppose. The wrist appears to be in the final stages of healing. I've not pressed it with barbell lifting or heavy motor work, nor sadly any real drum practice. It still feels weakish in some circumstances, so I'm not going to push it. Yet. I am dying to get behind the kit soon, however. I've visited the practice pad a couple short moments just to see. Hmmm... no pain. Don't push it!
Some golf would be nice too. Of course, I'm saying this while the Masters is on - are on...those guys. Somehow that always motivates me to at least visit the range and think about that next round. But, we're still in that home-selling limbo thing as the market flattens.
I've got to say, it's no fun being mostly packed up with your more nifty belongings in storage. It makes you appreciate "home" when it's not just a space to lay your head. It's your comfort zone and identity - a place to entertain friends and family. Right now, we could just as well be some transient types -- ghosts for all intents.
There is a silver lining, though. I am finally back to writing full-time, and Book #3 is well under way. Barring some major interruption, like selling our house, I'm hoping to complete it before the end of the year. Yay!
Back to work, me...I mean, the Masters.
/T
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Happy New Year!
'Tis a mere update on me status, mates...
The post from 5/2014 still applies, with a heavy dose of home-selling limbo. Writing was on hold for a few months during refurbishing, and there was a nasty right wrist sprain (still on disabled list - grr!) from "way too much, way too quick" pad exercise combined with (yeah, I fool around with this, actually), er, a rigorous car repair. That's what I'm going with, anyway! Drumming on hold, writing on hold, life - it seems - on hold. Mind ye, I am making all efforts to change this status as soon as possible.
Writing? Returning to the desk as soon as practically possible, and that desk may be traded for a super-clandestine out-of-town locale.
Drumming? As soon as my wrist heals completely, a slow return to pad then kit, then that search for an original project.
House flipping? Now, please!
More as it happens...
/T
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