Sunday morning check-in!

[gibsonjunkie]

Good morning - my turn. Considering I didn't even remember this thread last week until Wednesday, and then decided to wait...

The Mrs. is finally on the mend. They did the vein version of angioplasty on her legs - blood clots formed due to COVID had her in a lot of pain. The clots in the lungs are going away through the meds. She's finally feeling better. Had three deaths this week. The spouse of my first executive director had his funeral on Saturday. I also found out my first girlfriend (back in college) died a few months ago. The relationship didn't last too long, but she did lend me her guitar for a while and taught me some rudimentary chords and started me on a lifelong passion.

The third death was the weird one. About five years ago I found my birth mother through Ancestry DNA and she told me the name of my father. He was alive and lived about 20 minutes away. I reached out to him but he did not respond. Well, fast forward to this weekend, my brother catches his obituary in the local paper. Obviously, I was conflicted - how did I feel about this guy, who took off after giving my mother an envelope with a couple hundred bucks in it, and giving her no option but to give me up for adoption. On the other hand, my adoptive father was a wonderful man who was a great provider and incredible role model. I decided to go to the funeral, and even had a thought to spitting in the coffin when I went past it. That, or going back and pissing on his grave.

In the end, I did none of those things and walked out at the end of the service totally free of any emotion about the guy. I got to wipe thee ledger clean. It was one of the weirdest moments in my life.

Hey - have a great week!!!

[OldStrummer]

Good morning GJ, and the rest of this small but tightly knit community. Thanks for starting the thread!

We've had a couple of inconsequential snows this past week, but since we've had so little over the past three years it was kind of neat. I did have to use the shovel (technically, I didn't have to use it, but as a community courtesy I cleaned off sidewalks ahead of the sun) which gave me a small feeling of accomplishment.

A new experience for me this week: On Wednesday, I went to Costco to buy some vitamins and four hours and one hot dog later, walked out having had an eye exam and ordering two pair of eyeglasses. For years I've gone to an ophthalmologist, but he has retired and is a bit of a distance away, so I decided on the recommendation of others to try Costco. They were right. A terrific optometrist (independent but located in the building) and friendly, knowledgable optical staff. The prices weren't horrible, either. Now that I'm retired, that's a consideration...

A day full of handegg playoffs ahead. Since my team is in, I'll be watching (not expecting much, but still I'll be watching). I'm on a bit of a creative trend on guitar these days, chasing chord tones and voicings that work well together, using passing tones (sus and add) and trying to stay away from the standard I-IV-V and the like. Fun!

So, clear skies, but colder temps today, meaning I'll shorten my walk a bit (maybe0 and spend a lot of time in front of the TV with a guitar in my lap. Heaven!

Be well, my friends.

[blackonblack]

Well I didn't respond last week as we had some significant weather for our area. 8 inches of snow then 3 inches of ice. Took half a day to chip my 4x4 from it. The driveway is a mess. Then got another 3 inches of snow. Can't get out unless you have 4x4.
Getting that all resolved today as I have a guy with a Bobcat coming in 30 minutes as the wife is getting cabin fever.
Tried clearing it myself, but no go for this FL Cracker. Have a bass gig later today. Been watching college and pro hand egg and enjoying it (though not the outcomes). One of my wife's teams is still in it and plays at 1 today.
Got my vacation payout this week. It is basically all spent to put a new top on the Mini convertible. The rear window de-laminated from the top. Tried fixing it, but that didn't work. Once it warms up some, I am selling it to pay down some bills. I don't want to, but I need to.

[Telenator]

I guess I have "arrived" in my new location, for the time, Otis MA.
I went to a couple open mics and suddenly found myself invited to an "invitation only" blues jam today. LOL.
Should be fun.

You guys have all been very busy lately. Good stuff.

I walk at least 2 miles every day and it has been so cold this past week, the reservoir has frozen. Needless to say, I was island hopping yesterday on the ice! Big fun.

Big jam today, open mic/jam tomorrow at Moe's Tavern in Lee, and two other jam gatherings this coming week.

Weeeeee doggy! Feels good to play with others for change!

[DanTheBluesMan]

we finally got some snow yesterday, 10 days into the new year. about 3" and it was not white lead for a change. Fortunately I didn't have to shovel it because my brother was home to do it. My back is better for not having done that. I still took a pass on jamming today because I didn't want to have a set back (no pun intended) trying to carry amp and guitar to car, then to house, and the same going home. Unfortunately my jamming buddy will be away next weekend so it's going to be at least 2 weeks before we can play together.

Construction of the music room began anew this week, big progress. >90% of the sheetrock is up on the walls. HVAC guy came in and re-routed duct work and strapped up flex line. The weather looks amenable to installing the outdoor unit this coming week, it's conceivable there could be heat down there next week. The doors and ceiling are next.



I'm expecting a mid-February to mid-March (something always happens) completion date. But I'm getting antsy to play. I dug out my music computer and stacked it on my main computer in the office. All I need to do is switch the HDMI cable and the wired mouse and I'm good to go. Today I'm going to get the audio interface under my monitor. This HP I'm using is vastly superior to the Apple Cinema Display that I got with my G5 tower over 20 years ago. I'm so ready to retire that heavy dim piece of crap. Not one of Apple's best ideas. Real estate on the office desk will not accommodate any monitor speakers so it will be headphones for tracking (plus consideration of other people in the house).

[blackonblack]

Why not mount the monitors to the wall? Also Adams Audio makes a GREAT computer speaker system.

Got to demo it on a visit to Sweetwater early Dec. absolutely floored with how good it sounds. Also it can get loud. Like 98db loud. Footprint is typical computer speaker size. I?m ordering a set for my work office.

Oh you can get it with a sub as well.

Adams Audio DV3

[Offshore Angler]

Why not mount the monitors to the wall? Also Adams Audio makes a GREAT computer speaker system.

Got to demo it on a visit to Sweetwater early Dec. absolutely floored with how good it sounds. Also it can get loud. Like 98db loud. Footprint is typical computer speaker size. I?m ordering a set for my work office.

Oh you can get it with a sub as well.

Adams Audio DV3

And mixing in headphones doesn't usually end well!

Chuck

[blackonblack]

And mixing in headphones doesn't usually end well!

Chuck

Correct! A headphone mixed item ONLY sounds good in headphones.

[DanTheBluesMan]

And mixing in headphones doesn't usually end well!

Chuck

and sometimes it's the only way, at least for the next few months until the room is built. Nobody wants to hear the same tracks over and over and over again while I critique and tweak it. And record a new track to go with it, rinse and repeat.

Back when my brother used to fall asleep early in the evening, sometimes as soon as 830 PM, I could get away with it. Since he's had his neck surgery a year ago, he's like 20 years old again staying awake to 11 PM or later. Meanwhile, I'm dealing with aftermath of my own health issues. I need sleep to heal, and can't do that if I stay up super late so we're pretty much on the same schedule. He works from home (always has, he's in sales). I'm getting virtually no time to play and use amps or monitor speakers so headphones it is.