Sound Foam

 

This is what I did today. I hung sound foam. And it was awesome. That sounds really lame, but when something goes from 45 dB to like 30 dB (about halving the sound in the room, because of the way the scale works) and it's because of you, it makes you feel good (at least, it makes me feel good as a musician). That's all.

Work

Hey guys! I've been reading and playing video games the past few days, so forgive me for not posting. Splinter Cell: Conviction is a great game, and I got books 2, 3, and 4 from the Jill Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. Good stuff. Anywho, my day at work today was NUTS. I was sitting with my friend Chris trying to figure out what to do when a guy comes in to test a fire suppression system for DuPont FM-200, less commonly known as 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane. Anywho, to shorten up the story, all of a sudden power to our computer goes out. And to the server room. Which powers the internet, phones, and door locks for about 6 schools. Yeah. Not good. So, we spend a good amount of time getting that worked out. And then you know what happens? About ten minutes after that's all worked out, it happens again. Thanks a lot fire suppression guy, you made some tens of thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment very, VERY angry. You better hope we didn't lose data. Well, that was my day. Maybe I'll have a sketch or something for you tomorrow.

Eyes

Edit: My friend Lexa  is leaving on a trip tomorrow, and I'd like to wish her a safe trip and a fun time.

Not much going on here. Been busy writing a new song, but carved out some time to sketch these two sets of eyes. I don't think they'll work for my character though. Not cartoony enough. What do you think?

This set is bumpy because I drew it on a bumpy table. My bad.

Character Sketch

Hey guys! I've been working on an expression sheet for this character, but for now this is all I have to show you. Gotta do something artsy when I'm not playing guitar and writing, right?

Plus a bg I've whipped up for my other blog, which I will start working on again. Maybe.:

 

This is what I think is a cool guitar progression that goes C G Am F, and probably should be played on an acoustic, but this is through my electric. Enjoy.
Edit: I can't get the stupid media player to work, so just use the link:

Riffing In C

Cornerstone 2010 - Final

Edit: typed up the writing that hasn't already been posted.

So, here are the scans and pictures from cornerstone 2010:

Day 1: 4:50 AM
Leaving Chicago for Bushnell. Gonna stop in Princeton to meet up with Fred, a guy we camp with, and grab some breakfast food. Forecast for today is around the 80's, nice and sunny. I'll write you more when I get there.

7:18 AM
Just left Princeton, IL, our standard stop for gas and (for me at least) juice. Two hours in to the drive, three hours to go.

4:57 PM
We just fired up the grill, it'll take a while for it to get heated. We did finish -for the most part- setting up camp. Gonna go see Glenn tonight. Should be a good show.

7:28 PM
Campfire started. Cornerstone officially kicked off.

8:12 PM
No running water.

9:38 PM
Basically, I found a seat in a packed tent. That's really what it boils down to.

12:29 AM
And so ends my first day at Cornerstone. I lay down to feedback, laughter, crickets, stars, and my wonders. I'll try and give those up for tomorrow. Goodnignt.

Already posted.

 

9:00 PM

About to see Maron, but there's something even more exciting. What's that? Running Water! Yay!

And for Cornerstone pictures, go here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052985&id=1140450369&l=03be26680e

Wayside

Hey guys! All of my pictures and writings from Cornerstone will be put up in the morning (I don't feel like firing up my scanner right now), which will be my last post on Cornerstone for this year. That got me thinking, and I realized there was that project that I let fall by the wayside, which I plan to revive. You can find the project here. After that, I thought of another project I let fall, which is my Summer Checklist. About the only things on there that I've worked on are my book and the mile run. And so, today I went for a run, and did a ton of stretching, preparing myself for those tricks I wanna be able to pull off. After that? I played Lego Harry Potter. I was pretty tired. Anyways, that's all for now. See you in the morning! 

"All But"

That little phrase really annoys me. In the English language, the phrase "all but" is commonly used to say something is "almost". Example: something that is "all but impossible" is interpreted as "near impossible", or "practically impossible". This annoys me. Why? Because when you say all, you mean everything. When you say but, you mean contrary, except, that, than, or only. So really, what this should come out to is everything but, or everything except. Substituting, "all but impossible" becomes "everything except impossible". See what happened there? Using substitution -and not invalid substitution- we have changed the meaning of "all but impossible" from "near impossible" to "everything except impossible", which is to say, not impossible, or possible. And this really throws my brain for a loop, because I know that both interpretations are right, but no-one will interpret "all but impossible" as "possible", simply because it is not commonly used that way. And that makes me angry, because I'd like to use it to mean "something isn't", as opposed to "something is". Would you agree?

Freedom

Second Edit: She did.
Edit: I think she just said yes.

I've just done one of the most idiotic, 6th-grader-ish things I've ever done. I asked someone out it what is probably the lamest (and slightly ambiguous) way possible. And you know what? Before I did it, it was one of the biggest things ever. Now that it's done? I could care less. I don't mean that in a bad way. Not at all. I'd be rather happy if she felt the same way. But if she didn't? I'd be perfectly fine with a flat no. I have no illusions to be broken, and no fear of rejection. I don't know when or how those things happened, but it's so freeing. The best way that I know how to describe it is this: have you ever gone climbing? Either on a rock wall or technical? If not technical, have you ever just gone on a hike in the woods? You start off, and if you're anything like me, you think through almost every possible scenario. Up until you set out there's an electricity that flows, at once scary and amazing. And then, you start. And once you start, you don't really care where the road leads. All that matters is that you started, and where you are. The road (or wall) will end where it ends, and if you have to take some breaks to get there, that's just fine. You're content with where you've gone, and you're ok with leaving with your experience, because you can always climb or hike again. Maybe in a different place, with different terrain, or shelf, or grade, but the journey still holds the same adventure, the same electricity. And there's peace in that. That peace is what I'm feeling. And so now that that first move has been made, whether it turns into something or not, I'm happy.

Post #101

I am currently having issues figuring out a good way to host the puzzles I have, as hosting them on blogger would make things way too easy. I'm shooting for an ouverture-facile type puzzle, just not in such a grand scale. So, while I figure that out, I've pointed some people over to my blog (mostly those that I know will at least read it this once) to read this post. Now, because those puzzles are going to take time, and those people (alongside you, my dedicated regulars) need something to commemorate this 101st post, I'm going to do something that I've done a number of times before, and point you to my formspring box on the side, where you can ask me any question your heart desires, and I will answer it truthfully. What? That's not special? Ok, if you insist, you can also send a more private (read: one that you wouldn't want others to know you're asking) question to my email address. This can be a direct email, and I'd kind of prefer it that way, but if you must remain anonymous, you can send me an email through http://www.sendanonymousemail.net/, just know that I'll have no way of sending you an answer, so I'll have to post it here. Then, at your request (through another anon email of course) I can/will remove my answer from the blog. I'll even answer you more than one question if you'd like. And, you can milk the system by asking two q's on formspring (1 anon 1 not), a direct email, and an anon email. Sound good? Great. If not, ask me that burning question you have anyways (or one not so burning, if you don't have any burning questions for me), and then sit around for those puzzles. They'll be coming soon.

Chaos

Chaos, Ordered? Can it be? A storm, tornado, hurricane, beautiful in its destruction.

So, now that my daily word is done with, welcome to my 100th post! Alright! Now, I've got some puzzles for you in celebration, but those'll come in post #101. Ok, that's all. I promise post 101 will be a bit more epic.

Would you rather date a lot of different people, or be in a committed relationship?

Committed, most definitely.

I'll answer any question

What's your earliest memory?

Eating cereal at two years old.

I'll answer any question

Wondering why I combined the two? After this my next post is post #100. I should do something special. But what?

Week End & Relational Musings

So, when all is said and done, I heard a lot of great music, met many great bands, and got three t-shirts, a guitar strap, and a good cd out of the week. A twloha write shirt, and alive shirt by the same, and the Cornerstone 2010 microphone shirt. You'll probably -if you know me in person that is- see me wearing them at some point.

Now, I don't know if this is only me, so any male readers I may have please speak up on this: why is it that between the time you decide to ask someone out and the time that you actually do so you begin to over-analyze? It's like we're looking for excuses to not follow through. The slightest inflection change starts to provoke thought. Well, not really, but you get my point, right? It's stupid! And yet we do it anyways. Wouldn't it be so much easier if you just knew? And not in the the girl drops hints so subtle you'd need an accelerometer to pick up on them (which isn't to say that girls don't believe they're being clear. We just don't understand most of those "hints") kind of way. I mean in the put-up-a-billboard-declaring-interest kind of way. Yeah, so the girl runs the risk of appearing a bit outgoing. That's not really a bad thing. On the flip side is that the girl may think that making us play the game is really fun, and if we won't play we're not worth their time. And that can be true sometimes. But better hints would be nice. At the very least.

Home

There's something about home that makes me feel good. On another note, it's raining. There's something about rain that makes me think power, peace, and relationships. Maybe I'll flesh this out a little bit later, but right now I just wanted to post off my trusty laptop. It feels good.

departure

we are leaving!!! two hours till princeton, then lunch, then two hours till chicago!!! i cant wait. need some friend and laptop time, pronto. yay home!

day 6 - end

just a few hours before i wake up and then head home. i cant wait. feel free to call or text it. its always welcome. even if i was sleeping. im always good to talk. well, sweet dreams my readers. see you in the morning.

comment on recent post under "humanity" for outbursts

seeing as theres no longer a comment feature, ill post it here. also, seeing as i lack the patience to type a long response on a tiny phone digital keyboard, ill just say this: good stuff.

day 6 - evening

sitting around, music filtering through. weve got a lot of camp taken down already, now its just some small stuff to put away in the morning. and then ill be on my way back home. just twelve, thirteen more hours to go. then a five hour drive after that.

on another note, xkcd.com/759 is hilarious, and 761 is amusing.

day 6 - post dinner

not much going on here. i just really wanna get home.

day 6 - afternoon

quick thought for my friend chris, who had acl surgery yesterday. supposedly, the anestesiologist gave him a bit too much, so now if he takes his pain meds the combined dosage prevents him from using the bathroom. so hes not taking his meds. thats gotta be rough.

well, not much going on here. just a lot of laying around thinking of what i could be doing if i was in chicago. such is life.

day 6 - morning

final official day here at cornerstone. tomorrow is just tear down and drive back. i kinda wish i was in chicago today, actually. theres nothing for me to do today. no bands to see or anything. in chicago i couldve hung out with some friends at least. ive got all i want from the merch tents (mostly. theres a ring i want but its cheaper online), and thats about all that i wouldve had left today anyways. oh well. ill be back tomorrow. thats enough i guess.

day 5 - end

I fielded 3 computer issues today. Not bad for a guy on vacation, right? Anywho, the crowder concert was good, and after that i sat around the fire thinking for a while. it was a good night. well, sweet dreams my readers. oh, and share the less-than-three. =)

day 5 - night

stars and fire. and daydreams. are they still daydreams if you have them at night but are still awake? idk. ill tell you this though: theyre still just as awesome, and filled with as many of your dreams and wishes as you can cram into them. did you wish upon that star yet? go for it. trust me. its nice.

day 5 - pre crowder

gonna be on my merry way to the concert soon. just thought id let you know that, if youd like to join me, i wished upon a star tonight. wherever you are, wish upon the first star you see. i had forgotten how freeing it can be to voice your wish to something. its a great feeling. join me in it.

day 5 - post dinner

not much going on here. even though i like it here, i kinda wanna be back in chicago with my friends. and have a guitar to play, i didnt bring mine. welp, imma do me some daydreaming here. check back soon!

day 5 - afternoon

not much going on today. sketched, merched, and got crowder later. gonna be good stuff.

day 5 - morning

no dream. oh well. it doesnt really matter. anywho, thanks for reading you guys. this blog is nothing without you.

day 4 - end

laying in my tent, looking at the stars. its awesome. i hope i remember my dream tonight. i hope its what i want it to be about. i wonder what other people dream about. wonder if anyone dreams about me. do people secretly wish other people sweet dreams? tonight is just full of thinking and wondering. goodnight readers. sweet dreams.

day 4 - fireside

i get a lot of good thinking done here. when i get married to my future wife (whoever that may be) let it be known to her that today, the first of july in 2010, i declare that wherever we live, i will have a place to watch my fire. if youve never done it before, next time theres a real wood fire, in a pit or surrounded by rocks, sit down and gaze into the depths. get some thinking done. work out some internal conflicts. if youre single, decide what you want in a partner. taken? think of something nice to do fot that special someone. whatever you do, make it some good thinking. it works out well. anywho, the skillet concert was awesome, as always. got crowder tomorrow. for right now though, its me, the fire, and my private thoughts. heres hoping one day theyre not only thoughts, yeah? =)

day 4 - post dinner

just had dinner. waiting around for skillet. not much else to do. still have no short story ideas. if you feel up to it, text it. stories, general conversation, all that stuff is fine by me.

day 4 - afternoon

sketching again. just a note to a comment: i should have said i /almost/ never dream. its a very special set of circumstances for me to have dreams i can remember. most of the time its that one dream a year where absolutely nothing makes sense. the dreams ive had letely have made sense, and were pretty dang awesome. go my subconscious. anywho, i was mistaken, skillet is at ten today. still gonna be an awesome show. well, gonna sketch some more now. tty soon!

day 4 - morning

no dreams today. that might be because i have had so many good ones lately, as well as a ton of awesome day dreams. gonna see skillet btw. today at 7 or 8. thatll be fun. well, enjoy your day readers. ill be keeping you in mind.

day 3 - sleep

hey. im gonna head off to bed, its been a long night. but also a fun one. i hope you had a great night too. whether you did or not, lets hear about it. well, sweet dreams readers.