Monday, April 25, 2011

I Write Like ... Who?

I took an online quiz a few moments ago by sending in a sample of my writing. From this blog, I might add, and not from the chart notes or the more official sounding letters I have to write at work. This was the result:






I write like
Cory Doctorow


I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!




So I looked up the dude on Amazon.com, and it turns out that Gasp! Shock! he's a blogger, among other things. He's also a sci-fi novelist, which doesn't suck, either. Wonder if the local library carries his stuff? Have to check on that. Here's some more information on him, if you're so inclined to look him up.

I'm going to put in a full post later, as soon as my brains stop hurting. I hate pollen season. I really, really do.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

At Least I'm Honest About It.


















It's been that kind of day. I can't talk about what happens at work, due to all kinds of rules, regulations, mores, ethics, details, forms in triplicate, standards, and people in suits who wear dark glasses (sometimes). But let's just say that lying usually factors into it one way or another. And that gets old really, really, fast. So the real struggle, lately, is finding ways to keep going even as the insanity of the workplace increases exponentially, sometimes to the point where I expect the laws of physics to break down and the game of "opposite day" that we played as children to become reality.

I guess the big question is: how crazy should one be in order to out crazy the crazies, and thus remain sane?

Or something like that. Life is a paradox, you know.

Anywho ...


Ugh ... my head hurts. Pollen has been off the charts here. In fact three of the top 5 "Worst places for pollen in the US" are in Tennessee. Which means I REALLY want to be somewhere else! One Ring and the Dude are both feeling low, and I suspect this is the reason.

The day is finally winding down now, and I'm taking a moment away from paperwork and client sessions to try and gather myself for what comes after work. Today that means picking up the Dude from day care and then going home and mowing the lawn. It's a beautiful day (aside from the pollen), so I really shouldn't complain about having to mow grass. Great way to practice mindfulness, walking meditation, etc., etc. Except that I HATE MOWING THE LAWN! One Ring won't let me pave it, though, and I suspect that the neighborhood association - miserable bunch of lubbers that they are - would protest as well. So there it is, all weeds. And here I am, going to mow it.

I keep telling One Ring that we need to follow John "Ol' Chumbucket" Bauer's lead and move to the Caribbean. She can write her dissertation on the beach, and I can - I don't know - open an expensive therapeutic retreat center for people who actually pay for their therapy! What's not to like about that? It's not like people won't want to visit us!

One day, lads. One day ...

Until then, it's guitar lessons and pedal building projects. My Brian May Treble Booster hit yet another snag the other day when I discovered that there was a missing capacitor that was on the diagram but not on the parts list. And since most of the Radio Shacks around us have died, I had to order the 35 cent part and have it shipped. Hopefully that will fix everything and the "Killer Queen," as I'm calling it, will work. If not, I may have to rethink this hobby. I still need to pull the Tube Screamer clone apart and rewire it. Not looking forward to that chore, but considering the money I've sunk into it, I really don't want to have to toss it or scrap it for parts.

Well, theh hour is moving on and the paperwork isn't getting any smaller. Hopefully I'll be able to write more tomorrow.

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The Best of Both (of my) Worlds!

I plan on blogging more this afternoon (assuming the work insanity dies down), but when I came across this at Pirate Mod's website, I had to post right away. I think it suits me just fine!


So if you happen to bump into One Ring, tell her that this would make a great gift. : )

More later ...

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Monday, April 11, 2011

Ho, Hum

Nothing much eventful of late, either pirate related or otherwise. Life has been encompassed by my new role as father. I’m only working a half-day today as I have to take the Dude in for his 4 month shots and examination. Not looking forward to that at all, but I am pleased to give One Ring a break from hearing him cry. She took it hard when he got his first round, and I really don’t want to see her suffer like that again. Fortunately, at this stage of life he really doesn’t have his long term memory developed, so he’ll forget it once the pain dies away. I’ll just hang at the house and console him until One Ring gets home from work.

In other news, Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (“On Stranger Tides”) is coming out soon. Disney World is adding a woman pirate to the mix (played in the movie by Penelope Cruz), over by the ride and The Pirates League, where they dress children (and adults) up as pirates. I’ve already promised the Dude that when he’s old enough, we’re both going to get dressed up. Of course, he’s four months old, so this won’t happen for quite a while!

I’m actually looking forward to the movie for a couple of reasons. One, because I’ve read the book and found it to be an entertaining, although not realistic at all, read. And two, I’m psyched because Blackbeard is a main character. He’s played by Ian Mcshane, and from the trailers it appears that he’s doing a pretty good rendition of the historical pirate. You might recall that I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, not far from where Blackbeard was captured in North Carolina, and even closer from where the British force that did the deed was sent (Norfolk, VA). Every year in Hampton, VA there’s the Blackbeard Festival. I’d love to be able to get home again to see it, but unfortunately we have too much on our plate this year.

In terms of Sea related news in me life, the only major thing is that I’m still working with sea glass and polymer clay. I am trying to create realistic looking driftwood beads out of clay and stringing them with wire wrapped sea glass to create chokers. I’ve got one done so far, but the beads came out more tan than gray. They look fine – more like sand than driftwood – so the effect is still “beach-y.” But I still want driftwood, so it’s back to the drawing board. One Ring, Dude, and I are heading back to VB around the fourth, so hopefully I’ll have a couple done by then to give as gifts to my family.

Music news is still not really exciting, either. I’m getting more and more into the Blues, and have upgraded the pickups in my Laguna with Bill Lawrence single coils and a humbucker to get that bluesy sound. I had to tear apart my Tubescreamer clone build and someday I hope to be able to de-solder and redo the wiring so I can prevent the shorting and other issues that rendered it inoperative after a few weeks of use. I’ve started the Brian May Treble Booster project, which I’m calling the “Killer Queen.” I still have to solder the components, but it’s a much simpler build than the TS, so it should be done shortly. Aside from the cosmetic touches, that is. I need to print out decals, paint the enclosure red, and possibly do some other things to make it look good. Even more important, I have to make sure it WORKS. Which, in my experience with DIY guitar pedal building, is easier said than done.

Okay, that’s enough for now. I need to clean up a few things here at the office and then get the Dude to the doctor. Poor guy. I know it’s for all the right reasons and necessary, but I hate to see him hurt.

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