SuperSatellite ||

Music has become something of a focus for me lately for a number of reasons.  First, Josh and I re-established the connection between our servers, forging and rebuilding an empire of music that most radio stations would be envious of.  A nexus of musical accomplishments from all eras.  Originally my MP3 collection breached the 10,000 files mark.  A couple crashes took care of that, but so far I’m back up over 8500 and climbing rapidly.  Besides getting back old stuff I used to have from Josh, I found a nifty little site called AllofMP3.  It’s Russian (don’t worry, it’s in English), and of questionably legality, but it’s far more inexpensive than iTunes.  Look at it this way, it’s not like buying burnt CD’s out of the back of a white van in a dark alley, more like buying drugs from a pharmacist.  You assume he has all the needed licenses and such, and you don’t really check, you just buy your stuff and be glad it’s there.

Second, I just got a new acoustic modeler pedal for my guitar.  It was cheap, but it’s not half bad after I played with the settings on it for a bit.  It sounds as good as my Telocoustic, which I’ll be selling in favor of a full size acoustic.  I practice daily now, and have been keeping up with it quite effectively.  The best part, it’s showing.

Third, I learned Passion by The Nixons tonight.  Damn easy song.  It inspired me to record a cover of it though.  A recording that not only will never see the light of day, but has already been resolved to the island of lost bits on my computer.  The guitar came out all sorts of alright really, but my god I never knew I could sing so badly.  And not like “ew I can’t stand my voice” bad, but like “that guy from American Idol would piss on me, kick me, insult me, and remove my testicles and in the end I’d be better than when I started” bad.  I couldn’t hold a tune to save my life.  Fucking vocal cords and their utter uselessness.  How do people do it?  I think an angel lost it’s wings because of my attempt.  Well, I never could play and sing at the same time, now I have an excuse to never learn how.

I have learned something.  I used to complain about getting gray hair already.  In reality, I guess that’s not so bad.  Kind of distinguished, you know?  And if I’m going gray in my early 20’s, that means I’ll never lose my hair.  At least that’s what I’ll tell myself.  But you know what I have decided is a bigger bitch about growing old?  Shaving.

When I was a freshman in highschool, facial hair was awesome.  I was one of two guys that was able to grow honest, real hair that wasn’t just peachfuzz.  Granted, it took a couple weeks to fill in, and even then, I looked like a 14 year old that was growing in what facial hair he could to be cool (ironic, since that’s what I was, sadly, and I don’t think I ever really succeeded).  But that’s the thing, it was a slow process.  These days I can’t even go two days without shaving.  It’s just a constant, unceasing responsibility now.  As I sit here, I look scruffy because I haven’t shaved since Friday.  I should have this morning, but I was lazy.  But by tonight, if I have any regard for how I look in public, I’ll be shaving.  It’s silly, I know, but it occured to me when I was watching The Patriot, and I noticed how baby’s ass smooth Heath Ledger’s face was, and I found it completely unrealistic.  I couldn’t stay that clean shaven on a day to day basis unless I carried an electric razor with me and used it regularly.  I’ll just start growing a wild, Mel Gibson beard, since I’m just as crazy as him.  I think I could get away with it, what do you think?

Well, I have finally, officially, sold my old car.  I have cash in hand, and title signed over.  A relief, to be sure.  I hated having that thing hanging around.  Never even had to list it in the paper.  Basically the first guy that looked at it bought it.  I have really good luck selling vehicles out of that yard.

I need caffeine.

I cleaned the piss out of my shower yesterday.  No, no, not literally, I mean I scrubbed the hell out of it, also not literally.  My drains are slow because I keep forgeting to call Roto-Rooter to clean all of the disgusting Pittsburg essence out of the pipes, which caused my drains to move so slow, that like sediment built up in my tub.  It was not a pretty sight.  Anyway, it was a pain in the butt, but I got on that sumuhnabitch with a scrubby…thing…and some Scrubbing Bubbles, and now it’s sparkly clean again.  And by god I will call Roto-Rooter today.  The worst part is that I can’t just let my washer drain normally.  If I do, it will back up on to the floor.  I have to stand there on the drain cycles and let it drain, open the top, let it drain, open the top, and I do that for like 5 minutes so that I can get the water out safely.  Yarrr.

Yeah, I need caffeine.

So I have an issue I would love someone to explain to me.  Last night I went to bed a little early, in hopes of regaining some much used up energy from tennis.  Prior to going to bed, I made sure my sheet was wrapped well around all the corners of my mattress.  “Why would you do this?” you might be asking.  Well, I have a curious habit of sometimes pulling a corner or side free, and such was the case the night before last.  So I went to sleep, had not unpleasant dreams that I don’t actually remember, and woke up.  When I woke up, not only had I pulled the sheet loose, but I had removed it from the bed altogether.  Yet the blanket remained on the bed.  I just don’t get this.  I’ve never had this kind of problem with any other bed I have owned, yet somehow I always manage to do it to this one.  Anyone care to take a stab at what’s going on?

I started work on a database application for a company’s website the other day.  Some potentially awesome money to be made from it.  The catch is…I don’t know anything about database app programming.  Let’s just say I’m…winging it.  Luckily I have an intuitive knack for all things computer, so I’m moving along with it.  Learn as you go sort of thing.  Damn I’m clever.

I bought tennis balls at Wal-Mart yesterday but forgot laundry detergent, how dumb was that?

My buddy Jeff is getting married on the 15th next month.  How crazy is that?  I need a new suit.  So, all my Indy friends, I’ll be down for that.  Might stay through Sunday in case anyone wants to kick my ass, lick my feet, or otherwise enjoy my company and council.

Why does MySpace have a “Friends” category, but not one for family?  Doesn’t it just seem intuitive that if you have one, you’d have the other?  Oh well, just an observation.  You are listening, right, Tom?  Add it or I’ll type something really mean about your mother.

So, a while back I discussed when I feel most uncomfortable.  I think I have found place number two.  Family reunions.  I just can’t seem to find a redeeming quality about them, really.  I think I get it from my Mom’s side of the family, who’s idea of a family reunion is to get in touch with each other to set a date when everyone can be as far away from each other as possible.  Much like high school, the people I care to keep in touch with, I do.  It isn’t that I’m an ass, I just don’t see any reason to pretend to be interested in people I wouldn’t even recognize if I passed them on the street.  Besides, it’s not like you can hit on the cute girls either.  It’s just a waste all the way around.  Heh.  But really, I love my immediate family (even the Republicans) and like seeing them, but outside that the interest drops quite rapidly.  The only thing worse than being in a room full of people you don’t know, is being in a room full of people that you’re made to feel you should know, and should care about.

Needless to say, I made an appearance to satisfy those that would care if I wasn’t there, and snuck away later (after food, naturally).  I had made plans to have a barbeque here with some friends before I knew about the reunion, and I didn’t want to break plans.  I think I managed to balance it all quite well.  Now I’m just sleepy.  It’s been a long few days with lots of driving…

Well, I made it to KC and back without incident.  I’m starting to remember the way to the airport finally.  I did forget to plan for rush hour, but we got there at 9:00, well in time for their 9:15 arrival.  I find I’ve lost some of my big city driving edge that I used to have in Atlanta.  All told, in one day yesterday, I managed to double the number of miles I have put on my new car since I bought it.  Crazy huh?  At this rate I’ll only put maybe 2000-3000 miles on it a year.  I like the way that sounds.

My parents are doing well.  My dad sounds like he’s taking the red eye to emphysema, and my mom is awfully forgetful lately.  Both prospects are somewhat worrisome.  But they have a nice new house I got to see some pictures of.  I’ll have to go down some time next year to help wire up their home theater.  Like big screen projector and all.  Not as big as my aunt and uncle’s, but still.  They’re also taking care of a guinnea pig from one of their classes for the summer.  The damn thing doesn’t even look real.  It looks like one of those concrete lawn ornaments.  I got to hear all the latest stories from their classes down there.  We mostly sat around watching movies yesterday afternoon and then grilled and went to 311 last night.  We should be going to lunch later.

A couple days ago I was cleaning up house for their arrival.   I was paying Rachel to do my dishes, and I was picking stuff up.  I found the following glass left over from a party a while back that I had used to hold some Boston Baked Beans.  When I went to dump them out, they sort of…stayed.  I took a picture for perspective.  It was awesome.  I almost felt bad breaking them loose.

And today I get to catch up on work, and then head to Independence for the family reunion.  Woo…hoo….