Old Friends

I've shifted my life around a few times. Sometimes purposefully, and other times seemingly via an uncontrollable sequence of events that may or may not have originated with sommat that I'd instigated. One thing that for certain has happened is that I've made new friends, alienated some others and mis-placed more than a few that I'd like to see.

In this big world getting smaller, the fucking internet is generally the way to find them. And I have located a few. Unfortunately, some of them participate in MySpace or some other "social networking" cult schema that I refuse to accomodate. Just send me a goddamn email, OK?

I still see most of my college buddies every now and again. We get together when my schedule doesn't interfere. One guy I do miss is Andy Bailey. Add Tom, Stephen and myself to the mix and you get the nightmare of any CS professor at Marshall University. Frontier software design at your service. Now, a couple of those guys just kept getting smarter while I veered away from systems and software engineering. My own choice, I assure you. I'm just tired of IT.

I'd like to arrange some kind of big reunion, but some of the away people have families and real lives. It's hard to plan something of that nature out. Ah, I can just remember, I suppose.

Be seeing you.

Fouled That Up

I was supposed to meet the girl so we could "hang out". I ran into a mate of mine and began drinking. I kept on drinking until she went to bed and was no longer interested in seeing me. I love to drink. If you've heard Gang Green's "Alcohol", then you know my weakness. I wish I wouldn't have messed this up, but it's what I've been doing to my life for as long as I can remember. Got to play with the hand I've been dealt.

"It's a fair cop, but society's to blame."

Be seeing you.

The Girl

Talked to the girl briefly last night via SMS. I'm supposed to call her tonight after work. I suppose I will.

New Signal very soon. As soon as I can motivate Ikteka to actually get his material to me work will begin on mixing the Smetnja/Ikteka/Signal split. I think our Ikteka postpones like I do, so I might have to travel to Cleveland and knock on his door!

Off to work with me.

I talked to the girl for 20 minutes on the phone tonight. That is a painfully long time to spend on the phone for me. I really start to get fidgety at about 4 minutes. Things seem OK. I'm supposed to call her after she gets finished with work to-morrow.

Be seeing you.

Unusual Beginning

Today I woke up very early because I went to bed very early. All of these things are unusual to me. I emailed some friends and played some old videogames via MAME. Now I notice the slight odour of old comic books in the air. I do love that smell, even though I don't read comics anymore. It has been a long while since I last posted and I'm coming off another overly-exciting weekend. I am definitely going to cut down on the exciting weekends.

Be seeing you.

Right Before Work

I usually do my posting after my day is over, but I just wanted to state that it is good to remember old music and how great it was. I must be on some kind of nostalgic kick, but I really like Leatherface and Mission Of Burma. It had been years since I'd listened to either and I'm glad I came back to them.

Sunny day here and I'm off to work in the building with no windows.

Be seeing you.

Another Drunken Weekend

I've been drinking heavily lately. I had cut down quite a bit because I do have ulcers and that sort of thing really gets 'em oozing, but I guess I just snapped. Friday night I don't even really remember that well. Just me and my mate Matthew swilling scotch and bullshitting. Saturday a bunch of the lads were around and I bought a bottle of rye. Watched Juno, which was better than I thought it was going to be. Sunday was my getting up on time, loading up the iPod with old Skrewdriver and going to eat lunch at my favourite Mexican place (irony?). On the way out I could not get past the bar without sitting for a few and a few turned into many and I spent all my money (and then some) on a hangover. I was two hours late for work today, but "You're So Dumb" and "Better Off Crazy" were a great soundtrack for it. Blackpool and White Noise era Skrewdriver always seems to make things feel OK to me, like when I was young and nothing meant shit to me. I never learn.

Most of today I was just tired and worn-down, but picked up a little later on. Ate terribly and drank some beers when I got home. I never learn.

Be seeing you.

New Gear!

Having lost the girl, I decided to sink some money into some new gear. Everything has finally arrived and here are some of my initial impressions.

First we have the original Ibanez Tube Screamer. Just one of the best boost/overdrives ever made. Given to me by a close friend who bought some kind of modelling multi-effect. I don't really have much to say about this that most everyone doesn't already know. Simple and great.

Next we have the passive feedback loop controller built by Daryl Groetsch of Pulse Emitter fame. Good to have one with both volume and feedback controls. Bypass and kill switches are nice additions, too. The plans are on the synthnoise.com website, but I was too lazy to build one. Otherwise, you know what this does. Build quality is great, too.

A Monotonic Labs Type U73 synthbox. I bought this barely used off eBay. It's in great shape and is a lot of fun, especially if the input jack is utilised. Build quality is stupendous and one can get quite a range of sounds out of it. I'm still experimenting.

A Trogotronic 655. This thing is just amazing. My one-word review is "DAMN". It makes the most gut-churning array of sickening sounds that I think I've ever heard. I bought this direct from Trogotronic. Build quality is amazing and the unit is even serialised to me (my name is on a little sticker on the inside of the box). I'm definitely going to be a repeat customer. The only other thing I own that can compare is Sirkut's Synth Noise Box. Really, get one of these.

Be seeing you.