Vanity Page to the Nth Degree
Jul. 6th, 2009
02:12 pm - The Floorth of July
I've been a busy little worker bee the last few days. As soon as I got home from work on Thursday night I started prepping the floor for the flooring project of my life.
Friday morning I woke up and tore out some carpet and started laying boards. ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
itsjames2u came over and helped with that plus did an amazingly good job with the bathroom tile. I worked until my hands would work no more and then went to Kaboomtown to hang with the Gen-X Ms and longhorngrl.
Saturday was much the same. I woke up and floored from 8-4. lamerrill came by about 20 minutes after I finished and we went north to criscoon's cookout, that had a lot of the same crowd as was at Kaboomtown.
Sunday was church in the AM and more floor from 1-10.
I'm now about 75% done. jeffreytaco says he'd like to come help do some of the flooring cuts tonight, but won't get there early. itsjames2u will be my hero again, coming by to help me move the pieces of furniture that I can't move myself (the entertainment center and TV both need 2 people) and then I can hopefully finish tonight.
So that's how I spent my independence day weekend. On the floor. Or rather, on the subfloor, trying to have a floor that I could be on. Pictures are over on my facebook page.
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tiredJul. 1st, 2009
11:49 am - Long Live the 90s
I got a note from Very Short list just before the game night party about a 90s "greatest hits" party mix. I downloaded it and it seemed to be a big hit at the game night with people's ears perking up over and over again.
I actually downloaded both mixes. If you listened to the radio at all in the 90s, you'll find some stuff you like.
Hour 1 here (the mix from 2008)
Hour 2 here (the mix from 2009)
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entertainedJun. 30th, 2009
09:22 am - Feeling Handy?
I went and got 16 boxes, or about 600 sqft, of hardwood flooring yesterday, plus 30 sqft of bathroom flooring. I was told to keep the wood inside for about 2 days before installing it so that it would be at roughly the same temperature and less likely to warp or crack after installation, which sometimes happen if you install it directly from 100F heat into an air-conditioned house.
I'll start the project on Thursday after work, starting with tearing out all of the carpet and probably taking out the bathroom sink and toilet to lay that floor first, and put in time on the hardwoods Friday and Saturday mornings through the early afternoon. If we can do both sets of floor at the same time, that's better. But if it's just me, or me and itsjames2u, then it'll be 1 room at a time. Hopefully everything will be done by lunchtime Saturday. If not, I'll just keep at it as long as it takes in whatever time I can find.
But many hands make light work. If anyone feels handy, please let me know if you can help me out. I know it's a holiday weekend. This isn't heavy lifting work, and a lot of people actually seem to enjoy this kind of handyman stuff. I don't mind it myself, though it isn't a particularly favorite activity. I'll be excited to get everything installed and having help will make it more fun.
So if you're free at any point this weekend, let me know.
excitedJun. 29th, 2009
11:19 am - Working from Home tonight
I just got off the phone with Lumber Liquidators. I have to pick up the floor before 6. That means that I'll have to leave work by 3:30 or 4. I will not be done with everything that I want to do today by then. Luckily I can work from almost anywhere right now, and nobody here cares if I take off early so long as I'm prepped for my meetings tomorrow.
So I guess I'll take a flooring break, then get my dad, then go back to work this evening.
If you spot me online tonight, don't let me be playing online... I'll have stuff to do.
09:38 am - The Sounds of the Weekend
The entire weekend seemed to revolve around music in one way or another. Not that that's a bad thing.
Friday night I played another American Legion gig. I damaged my trombone at it enough to now need to take it into a shop. That sucks. Plus that was the 1st gig of 3 last weekend and I really wanted to use that horn, not the backup horn. So I fought through with a really bad slide for the rest of the weekend.
But Saturday morning mensakelli was in town from San Antonio, and I met her and maestrokevin for brunch at Breadwinners. She had about 100 vintage jazz LPs that needed a new home. He has a vintage album collection and had recently decided to expand his jazz collection. They're both fun people who like a lot of the same stuff. Introduction made. Transaction completed. Everyone walked away happy.
I then took her book and CD shopping, then went with aeghead to get his washer and dryer. He hit me in the face with the washing machine, which is a pretty manly thing to do. And after that it was giggin' time again. Dyer Street Bar is a cool venue. And animal and I even went out after the show for more music... got to see a band called Funk Dirty at the Green Elephant.
Now I haven't been to the Elephant since it moved. The new space is pretty cool. The crowd there was REALLY young. I think I was the 2nd oldest guy there, and most of the people there couldn't have been more than 22. I didn't feel out of place, but I think animal did.
Anyway, Sunday was church music, house work (still trying to get some A/C and plumbing issues worked out), and a LLJB "Patriotic Pie Auction" gig where we play cheesy "hooray USA" charts and the crowd loves it. We always get a lot of kudos for playing really bad arrangements of hackneyed music. I wish the general public would get better taste in music. Honsetly, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" is the most trite piece of aural Velveeta I can name, and we had to add a big band arrangment and choral accompaniment to schmaltz it up even more.
I did like the arrangement we played of "America, the Beautiful" though, based on the Ray Charles recording. So it's not like I'm hating on patriotic pieces. Just the trite ones.
Finally, after that, I got to go home and work on some hardware issues my music server is having. And watch Tropic Thunder. So I guess that was only 50% musical.
And then the weekend pretty much ended. So there's how the last 3 days, played out...
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okayJun. 26th, 2009
09:47 am - Come Out and Play
I've got two gigs this weekend.
The first one is tonight (June 26) at the American Legion in Plano. It's technically a private club, but if you know anyone in the band you can come. The beers are $2 for drafts (including Guiness and Shiner) and there's no cover.
We play from 8-12.
American Legion Post 321
1234 Ave J, Plano 75074, TX
The 2nd one is Saturday, June 27, at Dyer Street Bar on Dyer Street in Dallas. It's near SMU, on the Mockingbird Station side of 75.
We play from 8-12.
5529 Dyer Street, Dallas, TX
We're not listed on their events calendar because of the event we're playing. The bar has 2 halves and the pool hall side is hosting a birthday party, which hired us. But the bar side is open for regular customers, and that's where we'll actually set up and play. So if you want to venture south of 635, or if you are already there then hopefully you can drop by for a bit.
goodJun. 23rd, 2009
02:16 pm - Rough Itenerary
Flights are booked for my Euro-excursion. I'm with xkookykrys from August 14-15. Then with mensacarla for August 16-21 I'll be following roughly this route:
View Larger Map
Then I need to figure out how to get to Copenhagen and meet up with plastictom. I fly out of Copenhagen on August 23 to return to Dallas.
Can't wait.
excited09:09 am - Ok, It's Kind of Crazy...
Written for the occasion of kacih's return, but I didn't get it finished until last night due to some really awful sounding equipment before the studio pre-amp helped with recording guitars and vocals. So here it is.
Kind of Crazy
Let me know what you think.
Jun. 22nd, 2009
04:22 pm - Summer Days Make Me Feel Fine.
So last weekend was all about Saturday. Friday night I went home and cleaned. Then I went into the kitchen and saw that my ceiling was falling in, literally. So I immediately ran out to Home Depot and bought some stuff to patch it temporarily. I still need to get the Homeowner's Insurance to help me out, but so far no dice.
Grr.
Saturday I woke up and finished food prep for the party, then drove to Sneaky Pete's in Lewisville to play out by the pool. The guys in the band bitched a lot. We were right beside the pool and there was no shade. But I personally enjoyed it. No cougars. I can handle the heat just fine, thanks. The view of the lake was cool. The view of the beach volleyball players and bikini-clad swimmers was better. I had a good time. I'll play there any time they want...
Immediately following the 4 hours of playing in the heat though I jumped in the car and shot back home to take a quick shower, change clothes, and pull out food for my guests (and myself). About 5 minutes after I got done with that, my first guest arrived.
We had a good game night that lasted until about 2.
Sunday I cleaned up after the party, went to church, took a nap, and went to dinner with supergreeter and her boyfriend. Fun stuff.
And last night I was so tired from Saturday that I watched another Bond film and went to bed at 10.
So the whole weekend was basically a 5 hour game in the sun and a 5 hour board-game night. But there are WAY worse ways to spend a weekend. I had a good one.
goodJun. 20th, 2009
08:19 am - Character
I'm awake fairly early today. I spent last night cleaning, repairing, and setting up the place for my game night tonight.
So it's a bit disappointing that I didn't really go out, but I think the time was well spent. Now I have a gig at Sneaky Pete's from 2-6 and then I get to haul back here for my guests to arrive. It'll be tight, but good.
Then last night I had a couple of dreams where a new character appeared in my subconscious. A short woman with salt and pepper hair and a huge smile, probably in her late 50s, with vaguely Asian features. I would have guessed she was Hawaiian if she were a real person. She seemed in my 2 different dreams to be both mentor and instigator, kind of like Merrill in real life.
She went by Grammy Mehana.
I know that in one dream she was pushing me to do something romantic... roses and music and such... but I don't remember who was the object of the affection in the dream. In the other there was something going on with a helicopter and skydiving, because I was writing a book and for some reason the jump was necessary. I don't know where Grammy Mehana came from, but she seems fun in my dreams so far.
Jun. 19th, 2009
11:09 am - Bruno's All Better
The guy from safelite glass repair just left. I'm thrilled. For < $300 I have a brand new windshield and new windshield wipers. I didn't have to leave my desk, though I did so I could see how he was able to handle everything so fast. It took him less than 30 minutes from the time I met him until the new windshield was in place, with the mirror, inspection sticker, registration sticker, and toll tag fixative all in place on the new glass. He was friendly and professional. And the payment was handled from his van, so as soon as he handed me my keys and I signed the receipt it was all done.
He even threw in a mustang sticker for the glass that matches the rest of the sun shielding. It looks better than it did new.
So if you need a new windshield, I've got the recommendation. www.safelite.com or 800-800-2727.
pleasedJun. 18th, 2009
02:35 pm - Congratulations Are In Order
You know what's funny? I've never given my brother a nickname for this blog. I will do so now. Until he starts reading the blog and complains, he's now aeghead.
That may seem to be random, but it is necessary. He just made a big announcement via facebook. So it's officially official, and all that.
Congratulations to aeghead and his new fiance!!!
That's right. In just a few short months, I will be the last bastion of single-dom in the clan.
I probably need to figure out a name for her too...
congratulatory09:57 am - Another Good One
Yesterday was another solid day... I now have a time scheduled to get my windshield replaced. It will happen tomorrow morning, before noon. I got a call from Lumber Liqudiators telling me that the flooring would likely be here on June 29. So I can spend some of the long weekend around the 4th installing my new floor, which is exciting. I got to see supersonia for the first time in months. She really needs to get into the group. She's a dancer, skater, game-player, and an artist.
I think I've figured out how to temporarily patch my ceiling in my kitchen. I started the cleanup for the game night this weekend. I made it to church choir. It seems like a solid evening.
Jun. 17th, 2009
12:12 pm - Parties and Progress
Yesterday was a pretty decent day, all told. I had planned to do a drop-in on Pechtacular, Pechtacular to help celebrate the first 31 years of jennyp5309's life. But as I got ready to go I found out that itsjames2u was really quite ill. Then he asked if I could possibly stand in for him at dinner... so I did. So, while he stayed at home and nursed himself toward health, I took his girls out to Picasso's to celebrate.
I'm sure that it would have been more fun with him, but the entire little clan of Pechts is fun. I enjoyed myself, and it seemed that the party was good for everyone. Even juliebug liked her food enough to wear a lot of it, and that's a solid seal of approval.
After that I went out with kruckegirl and 2 of her friends to do the game night at the Belmont Hotel lounge. I had a really good time with that.
And in other stuff, I found a way to pay for my new floor. Lumber Liquidators has what I'm looking for, on clearance, for $2.12/square foot including tax and a 12 months same-as-cash deal. So I bought it. It should get here on June 29 or so and I can install it shortly thereafter. Also I just got a quote on my damaged windshield and that should be fixed soon. Possibly as soon as Friday. I can take care of the insurance claim tonight.
And I've even found time to work on some recording and on the website, adding a couple of new hobbies sections. So the new old habits are starting to reassert themselves. We'll see if I can make myself stay focused, but for the moment I feel like I'm back to myself, at least in terms of energy.
So progress... it's been a while since I've had that in the house, but it's happening. Good times.
Jun. 16th, 2009
12:10 pm - Is this productive?
After payroll got their stuff together and got us our paychecks (happened yesterday around 4pm) then I went home and started to figure out how to pay for the flooring that I want to buy, the ceiling that I'm going to have to fix in the kitchen, and the trip to Europe. After I put a plan together for that, I talked to a couple of wedding DJs for my brother's wedding. Immediately following that I recorded until about 10 and then, since I hadn't been able to sleep for days, I found my way to bed before midnight.
Apparently mindless TV is good for something. The Food Network had me napping in about 20 minutes. I have no idea what I was watching... someone making appetizers, I think... but I was asleep until midnight when I woke up, moved to bed, and went back to sleep.
I guess that's productive. I feel good today and, even though I haven't actually pulled off the next steps of anything, I do have plans made. I should have a song finished this week. I should have flooring ordered this week. I hope to have my tickets to Europe booked this week. It feels like it's progress...
11:39 am - Birthday Goodness
You're a true friend and a blessing in my life. Here's wishing you at least twice as many birthdays in front of you as behind you.
congratulatoryJun. 10th, 2009
03:31 pm - Yummmm...
So last night I may have invented chipotle venison fajita nachos. I've never had them before. I was casting around for something that seemed good. I had venison. I had onions and peppers. I had avocado. I had a grill. I made dinner, and it was good.
Today I'm craving something different.
Memphis Soul Stew
You know, start with a teacup of funky southern bass and add about a pound of fatback drums and 4 ladels of slow hand guitar. Then you throw in a pinch of hammond B3 and a pint of Memphis horns. Add a dash of Mississippi conguito and let it simmer until it cooks.
I want to do some recording before church choir tonight I think...
Jun. 9th, 2009
11:28 am - Wasted Weekend
Last weekend was probably not wasted, but it felt like it was.
Friday I went out with kruckegirl and the Filipino crew for Quick's Big Thing and then to see Fracas. I saw missscarlet briefly and got invited to try out for the bass player slot in Fracas while there. Good times.
Saturday though I finally collapsed. Too many days on almost no sleep caught up with me. I slept off and on for about 16 hours, felt sick and queasy all day, and mostly just laid in front of the TV. Sunday I felt weak, but better. I went to church and then back home again. When I got there I did some light cleaning and started measuring my house for flooring updates, but by four or so I was ready for another nap. Then I watched a couple of movies and went to sleep.
So the last 2 days I've felt fine, but I feel like I lost a lot of weekend.
The plane tickets and new floor are both big purchases, and a new windshield is a smaller one that I'll also have to do. Same with the ceiling damage in the kitchen caused by the A/C leak. That's a lot of outgoing money in a short time. But I'm not willing to delay any of it, so I probably need to look for ways to pick up some extra cash. Thus the overload on the DTM gigs is suddenly a lot more welcome.
That's all I have time to write right now...
okayJun. 5th, 2009
10:29 am - No More Martini Ranch...
but that's actually ok. kingwamba and I went out for dinner and an after-dinner martini to just talk about life and stuff last night and we discovered that Martini Ranch in the Quadrangle is now Margarita Ranch. But they still have the old martinis on the menu. They also told us that on Monday nights that all martinis are $3, including the top-shelf ones. So a Grey Goose martini, straight up, with a twist? $3 on Monday. A Milky Way Martini? $3 on Monday. A Hendricks martini with blue-cheese olives? $3 on Monday. You get the idea.
Just thought I'd let you know...
Jun. 1st, 2009
11:33 am - Another New One
I'm not sure what the title to this song is, so the tentative title is the overly-obvious "If I Could Be Me". If you have a better title for the song, please let me know what you think it should be called.
If I Could Be Me
Let me know what you think.
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