Date: 13-March-2008, 16:59 Subj: So I decided.... Filter:    Public

Moving out.

http://biancalee.com

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Date: 10-March-2008, 07:49 Subj: Phasing; Patience Filter:    Public

In the spirit of paying closer attention to my spazzes and my lulls…

I have not done any puzzles in the past couple weeks.
I have stopped listening to sports radio.

I am on my 3rd and 4th book this month. I finished reading Kim Harrison's 2nd book and started the 3rd. I finished reading Next by Michael Crichton and started reading The Ruins by Carter Smith. Amusing. I looked up the author of the book and the first link was to IMDB. Turns out it's being made into a movie. I tried reading only one book, but I like keeping one book in my messenger bag and one book at home.

I still have 2 more books of Kim's to read, and then the… Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz to get back into. Then I can allow myself to buy the other two books on my to-read list.

So, definitely full swing into reading phase. Totally out of puzzle phase.

In other news, I named my guitar Patience.

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Date: 06-March-2008, 09:51 Subj: lol wut? Filter:    Public

I'm disappointed in Rachel. I guessed Trent was an elf in book 1.

Of course, seeing as I have 5 more books to read. Both of us could end up wrong.

I am so tempted to run a google search on him to see what he really is.

I won't. I think.

*goes back to reading*

[Kim Harrison mythos]

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Date: 05-March-2008, 13:35 Subj: Other Filter:    Public

I've started on two other ... endeavors.

1 - Instead of dancing I've decided to spend my kinetic time working through a book I've had for years. It's about Pilates and the cover of the book has a red background. Anyway, I liked it because I don't like working with "stuff" I have to buy or don't own. The second half of the book has all floor work. I gave up on it years ago. Figured I'd try again. It feels like guitar practice. I suck mightily, but I get a little better each day.

2 - I bought more books. I heard my co-workers talking about Next by Michael Crichton and got seriously intrigued. Oh, and Kim Harrison had a new book out. I bought them both. Problem? I already have 4 books on back log, and a couple others that are in my house that I haven't read.
Once upon a time, I had a rule that there was no book on my shelf that I had not finished reading. (Current, and "to do" books stayed on my desk or some such.) Well, I have at least... under 10 books that I have, and have not read, and some went to the bookshelf.
I'm going to read the books I've got. The books I've bought... and I have books on my wish list that I want to read next (The Road by McCormick(?) and something new by Stephen King).
Holy snapdragon, I've entered my book reading phase again.

All of that pretty much pushes gaming to the outer reaches of my evening time slot. I don't mind. I was looking for something different to get into.

Sushi was delicious today. I have had my spicy taste centers SPOILED. I can't make anything suitably spicy at home anymore. Every day that is not Wednesday I morn my inability to get foods spicy enough. I need to find out what that woman is using. I need a super sized bottle of it.

...that's what I forgot...
A co-worker said yesterday, "Guitar has a learning curve like an elbow. For a while you seem like you're not going anywhere and once you've got the principles down you shoot straight up." That's the gist anyway.
I liked that.

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Date: 04-March-2008, 16:13 Subj: A little help Filter:    Public

I bought an electric tuner. It sits on the end and has a read out that tells me when a string is vibrating correctly.

Oh did I ever need it.

Seriously!

But this way, I can still train my ear. I can judge whether I think it's high or low and refer to the tuner to be my teacher.

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Date: 27-February-2008, 20:45 Subj: I'm going to look back on this day and smile. Filter:    Public

You know what really, really, really frustrates me about tuning this fucking guitar?

So I spend the past 10 minutes tuning it and thinking I'm making progress.

I get to this one string that I'm getting more in tune with the sound I'm playing (playing E from another source). So I tweak it until I think it's perfect then I set to going to the other strings.

I found out, 3rd string down, which is way too high THAT I WAS NEVER TUNING THE E STRING. I was just convincing my dumb ass that it sounded different.

Tone deaf fucking bitch. This is fucking pitiful.

>_< *pout*

Okay. Fuck tuning. I'm just practicing with out of tune strings.

I can't wait to look back on this piece of shit that is today and say, "Aww. How cute."

Post pity party script:
Hey guyz. I think my guitar is in tune.
I tuned it while crying (I'm stubborn) to get it "good enough" and while playing chords I was like, "Um... this sounds pretty sweet."
Bittersweet practice session. I like ending on sweet.

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Date: 27-February-2008, 10:29 Subj: It's a trap Filter:    Public

As I said, I'm catching up on my reading in lieu of creating my own stories in my head.

My current selection is book 2 of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, "The Good, The Bad, and the Undead." Good shit. No lie.

Anyway, there's this steamy scene in it and I can't even enjoy it because I'm screaming, "Damn it, bitch, it's a fucking TRAP!!!" I'm having like this cold dreadful fear that the main character is fucking up hard core. Which sucks, because the scene was very well written, so well that I'm feeling more dread for her than happiness.

---

I was going to take my guitar into the shop to be tuned today, but I decided against. My Beloved shamed me out of it.

"I'm taking my guitar to be tuned tomorrow."
"You still can't do it yourself?"

It was an innocent question, but it pissed me off. I'm not trying hard enough.
Plus, I really think it needs to be restrung too, but I'll try tuning it first.

---

Sushi day today. Volcano rolls. Crab Nigiri. Rinse. Repeat.

---

I'm wearing my leather pants. Best thing about rare cold days, getting to break out the leather.

I need new clothes, but dread having to find them. When I grow up, I'm hiring a personal shopper to dress me. I love wearing nice clothes. I hate shopping. If I could just write down my measurements and fabric requirements, and colors... and just let someone go with it.
Yeah. Whatev.

Oh, that's my new favorite phrase: Whatev'
I'm wearing it out. I love it.

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Date: 26-February-2008, 07:52 Subj: Shoot & Run Filter:    Public Tags: dreams

Success in the dreaming world.

Yesterday: I'm following this guy in a car and he throws a gun out onto the road. I don't think that's a good sign and reach for 'my' 9mm (the one my Beloved bought me in waking life which I never actually plan to touch). We stop at the same place and he follows me. I turn and say to him, "You need to leave me alone." He doesn't listen. Second warning: "No. Seriously. You've picked the wrong target. Go away." He doesn't go away. I shoot him. I then run up a flight of stairs and call 911. "Listen. I shot this guy. I didn't kill him. I shot him because he tried to attack me first." Then... I have this thought... Why are you calling 911? This isn't really happening. In my dream I think I thought why are you calling about someone on the internet. I began trying to explain to the operator that it wasn't important.
My Beloved said, "What are you saying?"
Cue me realizing that I'm no longer dreaming and was speaking out loud.

Today: I dreamed that I was in the 1950s. I think I killed someone. I forget how now, but I wouldn't be surprised if I shot him. *laughs* I killed the person as he was trying to crawl for the telephone. I don't remember why. Knowing I'm a black woman that just killed someone in the "fucked up past," I set to running away. I get in this van and we're heading off. My sister and cousin are with me. I don't know who's driving.

While driving we discover we're lost. We figure, who cares, we'll just go to the wrong place. The driver stops to take a dump. Seriously. Because he (or she) asked us to hand him (or her) some toilet paper, which was in the van. While we're waiting my sister decides to turn the van around. She drives it into a ditch (a light inside the van blows) at which point I yell, "WHAT THE FUCK?!"

We get into another car. My sister is being a butt about coming along so we leave her.

I end up at this facility which is what I recognize as my college. I see the college president and I'm all like, "I know this place!" I show the driver all the stuff and talk about what it later becomes.

BTW - 1950s seems to be a futuristic 1890s. They had clear water aquariums as tall as modern ones. Pretty!

I'm going over all these history facts I know. I try to get the President to recognize me, but he's all like, "Okay crazy black girl, keep moving." And I'm confused because I remember my University accepted black people before it was even a law to do so. *shrugs*

There's this one point where I see the placing of a green chair that is some historical artifact. Not true in waking life.

I get back to "present time" and tell the people at the university everything I know, especially about the artifact. The Univ. President doesn't remember me, even though I looked striking. *laughs* I even recounted what kind of prize dogs his wife had and all the photos in his office.

End dream.

Dude, in waking life, I don't even know who the Univ. Prez is.

YAY for remembering my cracked out dreams again!!! *dances*

After thought: I think I dreamed about my university because I was staring at the homecoming notification I got in the mail while dancing yesterday. BURNED IN MA BRAIN.

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Date: 25-February-2008, 09:39 Subj: Running Fantasy Filter:    Public

I have a "fake" problem.

And by this point, it really is a problem, fake as it may be.

I like to create running fantasies. Maybe they last a few hours, maybe a few days. I even had one that had the staying power of a week.

Regardless, I have them, and they are my waking dreams.

If they are super nice, I write them down. I don't share them because for some reason fantasy seems to grow out of popular fiction... all of which is not interesting to me, but I get it. Seriously, and I wish I could play along, but my mind just doesn't work like that. I prefer to make up strangers in a strange world.

Regardless: Everything I've thought of lately has died on the vine.

Boring. Uninteresting. Dull. Blegh. Snorefest.

In my fucking brain! COME ON BIANCA!!

So, my fake problem is that I'm having a hard time turning myself on.
As fake problems go, this one is fairly sizeable.

My Love mentioned to me, "Stop messing with humans."
"Yeah, I need to get back to that."
"I never stopped."

Well, I went back, and you know what happened? Yawn fest. Oooh, dark scary demon from the nether world... *yawn / stretch*
Why would you even care? What are you getting out of this? How in the world would these two end up together anyway?

For a second I was thinking about this guy getting a little action from a male demon. That was pretty wild for all of 5 minutes. Then I was like, "Boo. That's going no where."

I'm going to start brainstorming for interesting stuff. There has to be a wire in here somewhere that still sets off a spark.

But for the record I've exhausted all the D/s relationships that don't bore me. Demons with their beautiful leathery wings are so far removed from reality that I don't see the point or the allure anymore. This pains me! It hurts my dark heart! I'm going to have my demonic slut card revoked! *where is it, anyway*

Um... what else did I like? Can't remember.

Maybe there's something in the way of the East. Machines, tentacles, and ... other completely off the wall shit.

*laughs*

Update: Current resolution includes giving it up. I'm going to spend my mental downtime catching up on my book reading.

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Date: 23-February-2008, 23:02 Subj: style Filter:    Public

Guitar

Another good thing about forcing myself to wait for a teacher is that I'll know what kind I actually want.

Today was a peaceful practice. Thank goodness.

Something I've discovered today is that I want to steer away from "rock" guitar lessons and toward "classical" guitar lessons. Classical methods are going to help me learn to play the way I want to. I've been looking up instructions on this vein and have been like, "OMG YES!"

I really hate strumming. I didn't get angsty until I started trying to do it. Probably because I suck so masterfully at it.

Plucking the strings is prettier and more complex.

I really need to get my guitar in tune tomorrow too. Part of the reason of why today might have been more peaceful is because I muted the strings to practice picking patterns and only played chords one string at a time. It's out of tune, and I probably need to change the strings.

Upside: I should be able to find a classical guitar teacher CRAZY easy here.

In the summer, though, in the summer.

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Date: 22-February-2008, 16:42 Subj: Dancer High Filter:    Public

Just finished dancing. I made some changes to my pandora station to include DJ Tiesto into my hardcore techno mix.

I'm drinking water out of a handblown glass given to me today. It's beautiful.

Yesterday's guitar practice was intensely frustrating. I want a teacher. I want a teacher. I kept whining. It was half an hour of bitching, but I didn't stop, and I won't stop today, and I'm not getting a teacher until summer.

I know me. It's a waste of money if I'm not still practicing everyday by summer.

I've been going to bed early all week. Sleeping to dream. I didn't wake up with much. I remembered a weird 80s hairstyle on one girl. Hardly a dream entry worth making. I miss remembering my dreams. They are so wild and colorful.

I remembered my mother's birthday at a timely hour and called her. She was so thrilled to hear from me. For the past few years I'd been remembering the day after to call her. +1 brownie point.

I'm in a great place right now. Probably the dancer high. :P

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Date: 20-February-2008, 20:30 Subj: Eclipse Filter:    Public

A former me would be laid out on the beach right now. Maybe alone, maybe with friends. I'd have a blanket, and I would be laying out staring at the sky. Hoping the clouds would get out of my way. I'd watch the Earth's shadow fall upon the moon, and then I'd watch it crawl away.

But I've done that before, plenty of times.

So it's not so bad that I'm watching this one "Live" via CNN's streaming video from Orlando.

I already know what it's like to be outside and on the beach.

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Date: 19-February-2008, 13:07 Subj: Practice Makes Permanent Filter:    Public

I'm proud to relate that I have been practicing with my guitar solidly every single day for at least 20-40 minutes a day.

What am I better at?

Can't really say. As it goes, I'm going to suck in general for the next 2 years. *smiles*

However, there are a few things that have shown grand improvement:

Chords - I'm remembering them, and have to refer to the chart less. In my memory bank are the following: C, G, D, A, Em, & F. Oh, and Barre E.
My F chord is painful, but I'm trying. G used to suck massively too.
I practice others, but I can call those chords to mind immediately.

I can work through the 1st scale (I). I do this thing with a barre E and the scale and closing with the E. It's fairly full of suck, but at least I can work through it.

My picking patterns have been getting a bit better. While going through one of them I sped it up for a bit and grinned a bit as I made it through maybe 4 times before buzzing a higher string with my nail. So, fewer fat finger movements when picking is an improvement.

I played through a song, with chords, which inspired me to concentrate a bit more on my strumming technique. (It sucks worse than my picking.)

I can tell when a string is out of tune and can bring it back "fairly well."

So there's my self assessment. I'm better than I was, considering how awful I am. ^_^

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Date: 16-February-2008, 15:27 Subj: food Filter:    Public

I mixed ketchup with Frank's hot sauce with Habanero tabasco. It made a great dipping sauce for my oven french fries (Belgium actually). Doesn't taste like much at first, but after a bit the burn starts.

I had soup with a 1/2 tablespoon of cayenne pepper for breakfast.

Just makes the lips tingle.

Only volcano rolls from my girl make eyes water.

Its Saturday. I could do that for dinner...

Nah.

Already planned lasagna.

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Date: 14-February-2008, 08:41 Subj: worries, music Filter:    Public

A voice in my head says: "Don't give up. You'll regret it."

Lame. I say in response to her.

Anyway.

My Love is having nightmare about my vacation in two months. He dreamed that he called me and heard a male's voice on the other line, booked a flight, and saw me and my Beloved in bed with two men.

Well. Yes. Were we single. It'd go just like that.

I told him he can stop waking up in a cold sweat. My Beloved is back with her Love and my girl doesn't fuck around. She might fuck a lot, but she has never fucked around.

We'll be two faithful, devoted, women having a lovely sun and fun vacation together.

He's going to have nightmares until I get back. It's his way. It can't be helped.

I have been listening to Sia and Basia Bulat lately. Recommended. They grow on you. A day later and I've gone from, "Why did I buy this?" to humming tunes randomly in my head.

I tried watching this series called Jericho. Plot seems solid. The background music makes me want to stab a baby. I hate it. Can't stand it. Five episodes later and I quit. Really hate that melodramatic stuff.

There? Happy Now?

Yes, and you will be too.

Pfft.

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Date: 14-February-2008, 08:06 Subj: ya know Filter:    Public

Forcing myself to do this is weak sauce with a dash of fail.

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Date: 08-February-2008, 20:40 Subj: (no subject) Filter:    Public

I was just practicing. Finger picking patterns today. I decided to hold some chords and change it up.

See, I'd been strumming chords like... once of twice and being good with that for the time being. With picking, I was actually having fun so...

I got what can best be described as an ANGRY tingle in the tip of my middle finger. *pout*

Think I might have pinched something. Whoops!

Try again tomorrow. XD

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Date: 07-February-2008, 10:19 Subj: ear training Filter:    Public Tags: music

I had taken a break on the ear training bit, but I kept thinking about it. What little I learned kept trying to come back to me. Plus, it's something I can do while I'm away from the guitar. So I've been doing a little of that today.

There was another site I found that helped me to locate notes on the guitar. I hope I bookmarked that. I want to look at that one again too.

Neat thing... the tips of my fingers hurt when I tap them against... anything other than a guitar string. I notice when I'm playing, it doesn't hurt at all. I can then put the tip of my finger against anything else and feel a definite tingling pain. Neat!

I went through the motion of the guitar tuning bit and noticed one of the strings had gone off, I fiddled with it just enough to get it back in line. I'm definitely not going to try purposely putting a string out of tune and trying to bring it back. Nah... that wasn't the right path.

All the same, I think I'll take the guitar in this weekend for a "sound check," just so that I don't drift too far from center.

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Date: 06-February-2008, 13:01 Subj: DFD Illustrated Filter:    Public

something new...

I did a level 0 Data Flow Diagram today with pictures, especially bunnies, a la Bleach's Ururu... as requested by my partner.

It's cute. I even threw in stick figures a la XKCD. I even used Black Hat Guy.

Oh, and special appearances by celestial bodies as data stores.

There. That's new.

Now, for the old.

Lineage II, Acoustic Guitar.
Sushi Day was delicious.

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Date: 05-February-2008, 07:06 Subj: L2; guitar Filter:    Public Tags: games, music

Oops. I forgot I was supposed to making my self post.
Why are you making yourself?
Because I like it rough.

Anyway...

L2 private server stuff... I have been given moderator privileges for the voice chat server and forums. Why? Because I didn't ask for it and I've never bitched anyone out.

Neat.

I'm having great fun with my letter writing campaign. I reached out and asked for addresses at a site I used to frequent and received a few responses. Some very good letter writers in the batch, stuff that I read and go, "Wow."

As for the guitar, I am showing constant improvement. I can play Ode to Joy with confidence and I'm learning the melody to Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down. Meanwhile, I'm doing fingering exercises and playing modal scales.

As for anything else, nothing comes to mind.

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Date: 01-February-2008, 09:54 Subj: Prone Filter:    Public Tags: musing

Nice, fun, random thing about me is that I always say what I mean at the moment, based on my current accumulation of knowledge, and I always gather more knowledge which causes me to change my current position.

Saying things to me like, "But you said..."
Well, sure. My mind, it changes. My positions, they shift.
Ten years ago I called myself a deist (I think).
Ten years before that I wore the whole armor of an Evangelical Christian.

Bringing up a person's past seems useless to me, that was a snap shot of a person when it currently does not matter. "Two years ago, you stated that you believed..."

*blank stare*

I guess in the context of trying to make someone a liar that could be valid, but something like belief and value? Those aren't fucking constant, and if they are, you're the one losing out.

Say you feel strongly about [environmental issue of choice] does the fact that you drove a [pollution causing automobile] five years ago make you a lying two-faced jackal? And you felt passionately about both?

News flash, that's humanity and changing currents.

And if you've done and felt the same way your whole life, in my book, that makes you boring and uninteresting. Someone else might favor you; I won't. People who never change their minds, hearts, or attitudes spark no flames in me. Something should change, for better or worse, for wiser or more foolish.

I take a person on their current value system. I keep checking their 'temperature,' to keep up with them. Today's asshole can be tomorrow's guru. Yesterday's libertarian is today's communist. Ideals are fluid and do not make the person. The person, at his or her core will be the same libertarian even when they are a communist. Your personality isn't rooted in your beliefs.

So what have I changed?

I don't think being so focused on music theory and ear training lessons is the way to go. I want a more loose practice structure. More "fucking around" on my guitar and less, "trying to get it right."

I think learning too much music theory will make me less creative (but I still plan to learn it later). I think too much 'getting it right' will make the same beast out of me. I want to just go to 5 year old with a pot and spoon mentality.

Also, I'm killing the metronome. I think it might make me sound like a robot. I'll pick it up later, when 50 bpm isn't a challenging pace.

Yeah, all that above BS because I went from, "I want to learn music theory," to "Fuck music theory. Lets jam."

Check with me next week. I might have something new.

Fuck, by March, I might not even be playing guitar.
know thyself

That's me, and I love this bitch.

"There are different "stages" or "states" of mania. For example, a minor state may involve increased creativity, wit, gregariousness, and ambition."

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Date: 31-January-2008, 08:06 Subj: Tuning Filter:    Public Tags: music

I loosened a couple of the strings on my guitar so that I could experience tuning it when I knew it was clearly out of tune.

... *sighs* ...

I couldn't tell.

I used my pitch pipe, I strummed, I tightened, but to be honest, I couldn't hear any change.
Oh my, do I ever have work to do.

The thing is, when I played a chord I could tell it was off but when I played the individual strings I couldn't identify the culprit. It all sounded 'about the same' to me.

So I'm going to take my guitar to the shop I bought it from and ask someone to tune it for me. It's not such a big deal right now, I'm practicing just getting my muscles to move right.

... goes to her local drunk librarian to look up ear training sources ...

edit: http://www.musictheory.net XD
also, the general wisdom seems to be, "you're going to suck for a while."
okay then. :P

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Date: 30-January-2008, 16:28 Subj: Informative, Drunk, and Plenty to Say Filter:    Public Tags: musing

I adore the internet like a best friend.
Once I used to spend my weekends in libraries, in the reference section, for hours, looking up random stuff. Reading up on things I'd never need to know. I once read an Encyclopedia of Torture. I knew what water boarding was before Bush Sr even took office.

So, I discover the internet and the power of the search engine. Information highway indeed.

That's what I like about the internet, the "librarian that won't shut up." That drunk bitch can talk me to sleep.

So, it's with that back ground in mind that I say a special thank you to a non-sentient entity.

Thank you, internet, for having all this great information for teaching myself how to play guitar.
Oh, and thank you for telling me all that other stuff, all the things I didn't know I didn't want to know, the images burned in my brain, the people I've encountered, even the psychotics.

Mwah.

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Date: 29-January-2008, 08:56 Subj: point by point Filter:    Public Tags: games, music, pets

This one is definitely feeling forced. I'm sitting here staring at the blank text box with the underlying thoughts, "there's nothing to say."

What about your guitar practice last night?

I learned the G scale. By the end of practice I could get through it at 60 bpm.
I began learning the melody to the Imperial March.
My fingers suck at reaching chords, worse than earlier this week, which actually makes me feel good. When doing something that requires muscle memory, you get worse before you get better. The process goes like:
1. "Okay. Like that. Sure. This is difficult."
2. "Mother Fucker I Can't Do This!!!"
3. "Oh. I got it now. Sweet. Kinda easy. What's next?"
It's important not be faked out by step 2.

What about the kittens?

Seven months old. :P oh, and I got scratched by CJ last night. Wow. How fascinating.

What about Lineage?

The clan took Aden castle. I have a bunch of characters. I like playing on L2TC still.

And?

My lunch options when it's not Wednesday suck.
Also, for Wednesday, I'm ready to eat something other than a volcano roll.
I'm tired of tasting garlic for the next 7 hours.
I'm thinking yellow tail or salmon nigiri and a spicy salmon roll.

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Date: 28-January-2008, 08:20 Subj: E A D G B E Filter:    Public Tags: music

I made up one of those... acronyms for remembering the notes of the strings on my guitar.

Even Apples Don't Get Baked Everyday

I'm quite tickled by it.

It wasn't my first thought, which was
Even apples dig green baked eggs.

Weird exudes from my pores.

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Date: 28-January-2008, 06:49 Subj: Wrong number dear Filter:    Public Tags: mundane

Nice start.

This morning I got into work and checked my phone messages.

Late Sunday night somebody, inebriated or otherwise, called my phone and sang mostly nonsense, but I did pick out the crooning of "where are yooooouuuu?"

I wonder if I'll get a call this morning.

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Date: 25-January-2008, 23:29 Subj: guitar: progress report Filter:    Public Tags: music

I can play Ode to Joy on my guitar. :P

Okay, so I sound like a 5 year old at the kindergarten recital, but HEY!
You can still make the song out!

^_^

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Date: 24-January-2008, 21:18 Subj: (no subject) Filter:    Public Tags: mundane

Oh. It hurt. The Dr. had to do a biopsy. Upside: it doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would. I slept away most of the pain.

Tips of my fingers are slightly swollen. I practice in 5 minute bits about three times a day. I'm just trying to reach chords anyway, and the breaks give my fingers time to rest up.

I'm brushing up my resume. Opportunity's knocking. Good thoughts.

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Date: 23-January-2008, 13:58 Subj: Everything! Filter:    Public Tags: games, mundane, music

Sushi today was tasty as ever. The crab nigiri was a little sweeter than usual, an improvement.

Guitar: First night of practice, woo hoo.

Game: My noblesse quest bugged, waiting on the awesome GMs to work it out. I think in the mean time I'll start a Kamael character.

Puzzles: Still up in sudoku.

Other: Pfft.

Oh, wait, I guess there's an other.
I have a colposcopy tomorrow. *waves invisible flag*

Kittens: Fine. Haven't caught them on the counter lately. Duck tape FTW. I have pictures of them I need to upload. *forgetful*

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Date: 22-January-2008, 15:33 Subj: I didn't make it. Filter:    Public Tags: music

I has an acoustic guitar.

\m/ ^_^ \m/

Fortuitous too, because the place I picked is moving, and was keen to get rid of stock, and slashed the price on a used guitar. He even threw in freebies and stuff (tuner, strings, picks), and I bought an adult book for beginners, and they offer classes in a month at their new location.

Kismet. Seriously.

*snickers*

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Date: 22-January-2008, 13:59 Subj: Highly Impulsive Behavior Filter:    Public Tags: music

I feel like I need to stop, but I can't come up with the desire to do so.
Fingerstyle has my heart.
I've already looked up a place in the area that sells used guitars.

I found some nice video tutorials for fingerstyle play.
And just by looking at the guy playing... hardcore practicing ahead.

But I ain't skeered. I went from playing Mary Had A Little Lamb to Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" 3rd movement (Presto agitato) in the span of .... *counts* ... seven years, and I wasn't even practicing every day.
And I have never owned a piano! (I practiced on a keyboard, shifting keys when I had to play 'full scale' songs.)
Oh. It's in me if I want to bring it out.
But seriously, a guitar? NOW?! Today?! *sighs*

I think my Beloved has a guitar too, but I don't think he'll let me play it. *shrugs* Best to have my own anyway.
Right now I'm just hoping to make it home.
I could at least ask if I could play his guitar first, right?

I had a teacher with piano though. I didn't teach myself. I'd go farther faster with a tutor.

OH! AND!
I'm left handed.
I don't even know which hand I would play with. ... *wiggles / bends hands in the air* ... I don't even know.
*whimpers*

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Date: 22-January-2008, 10:45 Subj: Guitar... hmmm Filter:    Public Tags: music

I have been in the midst of a lull. Puzzles and games. No projects, unless you count the Nysidra card revision, which is on hold. I'm pissy about it.

Anyway, while on a lull, I think of things, things I could do.

Currently, I'm thinking, "I'd really like to play an instrument that doesn't cost over 2k to own."

I played piano. While I could back into that... I'd like to try something else.

What about the guitar? I mean, I liked guitar hero. Guitars are a dime a dozen. My cousin even has one under his bed. I could find a tutor for one of those easy.

I know SHIT about guitars. Okay, some are acoustic, others are electronic. Lets say, I know very little for a person who is thinking about playing one.

So I fired up a website I use to preview music and have been listening to guitar styles. If I'm going to find a teacher, I should probably find one that specializes in a style I like. I won't enjoy learning if the music I'm playing sucks to me.

Classical sounds nice if it's right. I'm totally a Rodrigo y Gabriela fan. Some jazz is okay, but most of it grates my nerves. Some of the classical stuff tweaks me too.

I loaded this one album sample, "Art of Fingerstyle Guitar" the genre is Folk / Country. I've liked every 30 second sample that's played, and I'm grinning like, Seriously B? Folk country? Most of the samples have the guitar standing alone with maybe a bass. I have no friends playing instruments. Plus, it sounds fun, light, playful, and creative.

Oh hey, who do I know like that?

Maybe it was just the album. So I've loaded another guitar album from the same genre.

0.o I'm really liking this stuff. *listening to Pat Webb*

Okay, one more, to be sure.

Oh, and I am very sure I want to play acoustic guitar, not electric.

I'm sold. *listening to Mike Seeger*

Funny enough. Folk / Country is the first guitar style that I've heard that sounds more like getting me toward Rodrigo y Gabriela level of superiority.

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Date: 19-January-2008, 13:27 Subj: basketball, B? Srsly? Filter:    Public Tags: mundane

It took me years before reading gossip blogs got under my skin.

I've been listening to sports radio for a couple weeks and it's definitely under my skin.

Gossip: I started to recognize, names, faces, and knew histories.

Sports: I find myself looking at the time and date and thinking, "Team X is playing Team Y..."
Then! Then! I look up where I can find a radio broadcast (because fuck TV, to be honest, nothing can make me want to watch that).

Last weekend it was football. I didn't understand a damned thing, but... I listened, and heard the commentary at work later.

Right now, I found the local radio station for the game taking place in an hour an a half. Basketball. College.

I think I'm more embarrassed about that than being able to name the relatives and court dates for women barely out of their teens.

No... all of it makes me feel weird.

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Date: 18-January-2008, 07:27 Subj: When I am not gaming... Filter:    Public Tags: creativity

I am working on samurai sudoku puzzles. I have a bunch printed out and just work them out.

If I ever get stuck I fill in the grid at the sudoku solver and figure out what technique I may have missed. I really try to avoid that. I don't like being told something I missed. But... on occasion, when I'm given a hint, I can truly say, "Well fuck, there's no way I would have thought of that."

If I am at home, I grab a marker and continue expanding on the multi colored virus that is the artwork on my walls. I tried doing something a bit more "symmetrical" and I didn't like it. Squiggles will do. I even took to drawing a few stick figure people playing on my squiggles. I'll probably get more into that once I get the wall more filled up.

The "grid" I painted on one of my walls was a great idea. I've completely filled in the cell to the left. I have another wall I need to add a grid too, but I want something... different.

Speaking of which, I should take more in progress pictures. I'm going to regret not doing so in the future.

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Date: 17-January-2008, 12:43 Subj: L2; cats Filter:    Public Tags: games, pets

My character is all tagged up now. I reached max level some time last night and began working on this long quest. I helped my Love get situated when she joined the game as well. Fun.

I'm in my stiletto boots today. I have not worn these babes in years, and my feet can tell. It's only morning and I have a great idea of what my feet are going to feel like in the afternoon.

My cats can't find a whistle to save their lives. I made this high pitched whistle and they were running and looking everywhere but at me. It was so funny. CJ enjoyed trying to find the tone inside the mirror. I have no idea what that was about.

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Date: 16-January-2008, 15:44 Subj: L2; Sushi Filter:    Public Tags: games, mundane

Before I went to bed, I answered several questions from my Beloved as he tried to get back into playing L2.

I woke up this morning to see him wearing the clan crest for the clan I wanted to join. An officer of the clan told me last night that there was no room for new players. Of course, the leader already said I could join anyway. *shrugs*

Just interesting.

A little over one hour and sushis Wednesday will be in full affect. I can't think of anything I want other than a volcano roll for like... the 5th week in a row. It's pitiful. I think that woman puts crack in those rolls. They are just so fiery. She makes it special just for me and my Love. Last week we finished our meal in tears and tingling mouths.

Will I add crab nigiri? Most likely not. Just the roll should do today.

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Date: 15-January-2008, 18:59 Subj: Royal Tantrum Filter:    Public Tags: games

Day 2. I think, "Lets make this a habit. Dedicate to make the post, regardless of content."

Here we are.

I'm going to talk about the only interesting drama I have...

Two days ago, a half dressed dark elf walks up to my half dressed dark elf and poses the question, "Want to join our clan?"

I'm standing around in town, thinking about where to hunt next, and I glance over to the AIO (all in one) buffer with the same clan crest and a tag that reads: Clan / Ally Only.

I've only been on the server 48 hours. I don't know the politics, but the buffer...

"Sure." I say.

She invites me.

24 hours later, yesterday evening...

I'm pretty sure she's the same person that invited me, the clan leader. She is in a group with our allies and drama ensues.

She perceives an ally as healing an enemy. What really happened? Fuck if I care.
She threatens to 1) end the alliance 2) dissolve the guild.
Co-leader says: If you leave, I'm leaving.

I'm paying attention, seeing how this tantrum plays itself out.

6 people (3 people and their alts, I figure) leave the clan preemptively.

I have the clan window open, ready to click "Leave Clan" as soon as either 1) the clan leader leaves or 2) the AIO buffer leaves.

Neither do. The tantrum burned out as quickly as it flared and she's yelling, "Why are people leaving the clan?"

Really? This is a question?

I keep my head down.

Late than evening. I'm the only one in guild online, and I see the clan I really wanted to join saying that they are going after a castle. They are strong. Organized, and even without a buffer, I'd be better without a drama queen for leader.

I leave the clan and message the other clan's leader.

He was going to invite me on the spot, but I told him to wait 24 hrs. I wonder if that was smart, because he then asked me about the clan I left, which was an enemy clan.

Dude, I'm 72 hours old, I can't be held accountable for my mistakes, right?

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Date: 14-January-2008, 14:09 Subj: Current Phases Filter:    Public Tags: games, mundane

And now, for my semi forced update.

My current phases are:
Samurai Sudoku puzzles
Lineage II
Sports Radio

In some fashion or another, that's been the summation of my activity. Doing puzzles. Playing L2. Listening to fanatics discuss sports I don't follow.

All of it will pass, eventually. I'm working on daily print outs from November of 2006. Guessing my last Sudoku phase was in December '06. I had not touched one since, but I kept the print outs, just in case.

Lo and behold, one day, I said to myself, "I want to do a puzzle. Where'd I put those things?"

Years.

Years pass between the tens of side hobbies I have.

I was coloring before that, enjoying it too, until the puzzle bug bit me. And I was doing puzzles right on top of my coloring book. I finished a page, and keep meaning to scan it, but... *goes back to solving for missing numbers*

It's been like that.

The sports radio thing is background noise, something to grin at on occasion.

Oh, and I've been catching up on Paradise Lost albums. I forgot about them for a few years, but I DL'd some of their latest stuff, and I still love them. Bought their first album as a fluke 10 CDs for a penny, or what not. Loved it. There's only one album of theirs I don't like. It's the heavier sounding one. I'm glad they regulated that to one album. It wasn't for me.

I'm thinking I should find a book with logic puzzles in them. I thought about that a while ago. I'm fairly sure it's been a DECADE since I last did one of those. Logic puzzles are basically sudoku's with a story. Easy to make the jump.

OH.

So that I can keep somewhat of a narrative up.

"Perfect server" = NOT.
Server I had written off = Perfect.
I have officially found a new home, one that I won't be tempted to spend money on.

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Date: 10-January-2008, 13:42 Subj: Games Filter:    Public Tags: games

Hopeful, I tried the "perfect" Belgium located server again.
It was all a fluke. I had no lag fest and the server did not go down at night.

Now, I'm not sure how I feel about being buffless, but I could create a second account and level a buffer if it meant that much to me.

My Love has her computer all set up now so that when she's not busy, she can play with me.
(But when is she not busy these days?)

I know I want to start her on my primary server. More English speakers, more community minded.

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Date: 07-January-2008, 20:47 Subj: Ouch Damnit Filter:    Public Tags: mundane

I have deduced that I may have sprained my wrist
1) cleaning the bathroom (too much elbow grease!)
2) driving (maybe it got tangled in a turn?)

Either way. I can definitely see swelling now,
and I have slapped on the icy hot.

Phantom pains are so lame.
Why can't it just hurt immediately after injury?

Oh and
3) Hey, maybe I slept on it wrong.

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