Finding Reason

Yep, this is a 3-post night. Finding Reason finally was able to get together today and have a fairly productive jam session. We went through the three songs in rotation, which we didn't butcher too badly, especially after probably more than a month of not jamming together. That not having a drummer thing is really getting old...I definitely use the drummer for some of my cues on Love-Hate. Much harder to play without a drummer. We also started playing through the other 3 songs waiting to be put into the rotation. I think i can get those down in the next few weeks, i hope.

There is some talk of playing a house party by the end of the year, but that would most likely involve us borrowing Ron from LTS again, which i don't mind, Ron is awesome.

There was also some talk of putting a demo CD together. Once we get those 6 songs recorded, we'll be in the business of putting out demos for future gigs...and for your listening pleasure. We also discussed some things which aren't ready for public release, but it got me excited for the future. Stay tuned...

From Sweden?

So, i've encountered a dimensional challenge with my studio. I am limited by the width of my door as to the size of my loveseat. All the ones that i've looked at online have been too large to fit through the door. Bummer. I did find a few that i liked from Ikea, however, the Houston Ikea does not have them in stock. So, i decided I'd see how much it was to order it online. Shipping and Handling costs were on the order of $365. Where is this shipping from, Sweden? In one instance the S&H was almost more than the item that i wanted to order. How crazy is that?

I did find another suitable loveseat that i could buy, where the S&H is respectable. I haven't made a decision yet. I may trek up to Ikea and see if they could get me that loveseat i want minus the $365 S&H charge.

Perhaps, i'll steal a page from Miss Reed's blog and put up the choices of loveseats that i'm looking at? I'm not in much of hurry, but i'd like to complete this project.

Career Comes to a Close

Craig Biggio closed out his 20 year career today with the Houston Astros. What a career it was too. There are too many accolades for me to list here, but you can see his career stats here. Craig Biggio will make it to Cooperstown. Craig will continue to make an impact to the Houston community. Biggio was the complete package. He played with heart, devotion, and energy. He always gave it his all, even when there was no chance of winning. If any kids out there are looking for a role model, Biggio is it.
I didn't get to see his last game today, but i did get to see him play in the Astrodome as a catcher. My parents once told me the Astrodome was like a big house, in which you could play baseball in. I think that's where i got the idea to play 'baseball' in our house as a kid. Yes, mom and dad, you planted that idea in my head...which inevitably led to the hole in the wall at 3rd base. hehe
Anyway, congratulations Craig on an awesome career! It doesn't get much better than that...

Horelica House of Music #20 -- Vacation Edition

Ok, so here is one of the posts that have been floating in my head. I call this one the Vacation Edition because all of the following were acquired during my little vacation. Here is a small sample of the music i've added to my collection.


Flogging Molly -- Drunken Lullabies

Ok, this is for all the Irish out there. Answer me this...what is it about Irish music that makes one want to drink? I was listening to this album and another album (Whiskey on a Sunday) while painting my studio. Part way through the album, i felt i could use a drink. I actually paused whilst i contemplated that question. Anyway, Flogging Molly is a good one to listen to...especially around March 17th. Rob, that was for you.


Miles Davis -- Kind of Blue

Again, while painting my studio, i listened to some Miles Davis. It's no secret that i'm a fan of blues and jazz. I remember back in the day when i worked in California, i'd go to a local hotel bar to kick back and relax to some jazz and blues. A coworker would bring his collection of records and play them for the crowd on Blues night...i think it was every other thursday night? or something like that.

I've heard jazz in a new way this time around though. It was my first time to listen to this album through my monitors. Wow!!! all i can say is it was a new experience. Everything was so clear and the music felt almost 3D. It was so clear, you could hear the wire brush swirling around the drumhead. Amazing. I have another use for my studio (once i get my love seat in there). I can tell the studio is going to be a place to relax and listen to jazz and blues...the way it was meant to be heard.


Buddy Holly -- The Best of Buddy Holly, Millennium Collection

Here's my salute to a fellow Texas boy. The Lubbock native rocked the country, sadly, for only a few years. His time with us was cut short by a plane crash. But the music he provided us will last forever. Good Stuff...check it out.


Korn -- Korn

Now, for a little edgier stuff. I introduce you to Korn. If you've heard any song by Korn, you've heard that unmistakable punchy bass and gritty vocals. A lot of their stuff does sound very similar, but if you are feeling a little angry, this should help you cope. I recently saw a Korn performance on Music HD the other day...i was pretty impressed with the guitarist...one guitarist was making a lot of loud noise...i was baffled at the amount of power coming out of one guitar. Pretty good...

Well, that covers this lengthy and long awaited edition of Horelica House of Music. Hope you enjoy...

Sneak Peek

Ok, i've got about 6 or so posts floating around in my head. I just need time to assemble them all. Don't expect them all just yet. But for the time being, here is a sneak peek.



Before...



After...

You didn't think i was going to show you the whole thing right away did you?
The studio has been painted. I have removed all the painter's tape. I will probably have to do some touch ups on it though, since there was some bleed through. Kind of annoying, but i'm a rocket scientist, not a painter. Wow, i haven't used that line in a while...probably should keep that to myself.

I have placed the monitors and the desk in their locations. I still have a a few items to move back into the studio...and i'm starting to think about my wall decorations now. And unfortunately, i haven't been able to do any practice...cause i'm somewhat lazy.

Stay tuned for more pictures...and the other posts that are floating in my head.

Quick Update

The knee is doing much better today. Thanks for asking. I nearly have full range of motion back. There is still some soreness and I still have a little limp. But the ace bandage is holding the knee together nicely.

Ran into a little snag with the studio project today. I ran out of primer and had to buy more...pretty easy right, just buy the same kind. Well, not so easy. I bought the same kind and when i got it home...not the same kind...even though the model numbers matched. Evidently the primer that i used on 3/4 of the room had a tint in it that i wasn't aware of. The can said grey...and it looked like a dark grey...with a brown tint. Didn't think anything of it until i got the new primer and it was light grey with no brown tint. Uggh...i guess HD decided to put a previously tinted primer back on the shelf. I had HD make the new primer a little darker so that the tone of the color would be near the same. Well, it was way too dark...it'll take me 30 coats to make it work...and even then i don't think i'd be satisfied. So, i'll have to go back to HD to have them try again at tinting the primer. Luckily 3/4 of the room is complete or nearly complete. I just lost a day of work ...

And speaking of work, I have to return to work tomorrow. Hence the early post...
Stay tuned for more updates...

Kneed Me?

I can be clever too. I'm taking a page from the "Are You Reeding This?" and "Write Under Your Knows" chronicles. And there in lies the title of this blog. Although this blog is quite literal...No 'needing' me. Tonight the MudDogs pushed to another victory. Near the end of the game, i was doing my best at preventing the defense from getting to my quarterback, when my knee was rudely introduced to the defense's knee. The good news is i think i'll be okay. I've got a serious limp and my knee is pretty stiff, but with proper care and the right treatment, i should be back to my old ways soon.

On another note, i had my eyes checked today. My vision has improved. Wait? How'd that happen? Yeah, i asked the same question. Turns out with nearsightedness, vision tends to improved later in life, generally. Usually nearsightedness worsens during the teens and 20s (which it did in my case.) Usually in the late 20s or early 30s the vision stabilizes...and then tends to get better. I never knew that. I'm still quite the blind one though. With the good news, i went out and bought me some new frames.

On to the studio...i ran out of paint today putting the second coat on the walls and ceiling. Wow...what a difference. I think the ceiling is done. I haven't seen any spots that need to be touched up with a third coat. I might put a third coat on the walls. Just depends how much paint i have left when i'm nearing the finish. Tomorrow i should finish the 3 walls. Then all i have to do is move the desk, computer, and monitors...and paint that wall. And apparently, i still don't do well with painting inside the lines. I got a little red on the white trim...oh well, that should be easily fixable. I guess i need to start looking for a nice comfy love seat to put in there.

I think i had more to say, but i can't remember it now.

The Red Coat

The first coat of paint went on 3 walls and the ceiling today. A second coat will be necessary. The first coat went on rather well...the primer is a big help. I hope the second coat will smooth out the blotchyness and make the color uniform. So far the white crown molding and baseboards are going to pop against that red. Throw in a black love seat and some other black accents and the room is going to be just as i pictured it in my head...and that's a rarity...not many things that occur in my head actually come to fruition. I should be done by the weekend. Then i'll post pictures, but i'm sure you'll have to see it in person to really appreciate it.

All Things Ending in -er

Primer: Today i spent most of the day putting primer on the walls...and ceiling. Uggh...what a pain painting the ceiling is! I unfortunately ran out of primer...but that's ok since the only wall that didn't get done was the one behind the computer. (i'll move the desk and computer and monitors after i finish everything else.) I may have to put a second coat of primer on some places, but for the most part it went on without issue.

Tomorrow i will probably start putting on the paint along the edges and corners...assuming there isn't much that needs to be done on the primer front.

Mower: I kinda forgot that i have backyard. When i looked out of the window, i was quickly reminded that i need to mow the backyard. So, when i got all the edges and corners done in the studio, i went outside to take care of the backyard.

Roller: After the backyard maintenance, i took a quick shower and started rolling the walls of the studio. And that's where i am at. I do have some pictures, but i'm too tired to download them...i'll post the whole project once it's all done.

I have some work related items to take care of tomorrow, so, i'll have a late start at the studio.

The Vacation

I thought I'd get a post in before i start my day. The vacation was a good one. I made a stop in EB to get some lunch prior to making the rest of the trip to San Antonio.

I met my brother at his store in the Rivercenter mall. He still had some work to do and i was there to buy some shoes anyway. So i shopped around and tried on quite a few shoes. All in all, i walked away with 5 pairs of shoes (1 of them was for my dad).







And here are the pair of shoes that my dad picked out.



After the shoe shopping (Thanks for the discounts, Brandon), we went to Brandon and Jessica's apartment to sort out the rest of the night. We decided to go to a pub to have a few drinks and shoot some pool. Well, it appeared to be a long wait for pool so we went back to the apartment to place some games.

One thing that Brandon i did as kids was play a lot of games ... on the Sega Genesis. My brother has an Xbox, so we played some Tiger Woods golf for most of the night. I remember back in the day when the controllers were much simplier--say a joystick with A button. Video games today have many different buttons and controllers to work through...definitely will help with hand eye coordination and memory. You have to remember what each button does functionally. Perhaps video games aren't so bad after all...despite the constant eating and no physical exercise...

The next day we did a little more shopping...making needed stops at Guitar Center, another mall, Game Stop, and Best Buy. We took a lunch break at Chipolte. Still doesn't beat Freebirds, Erin, but damn, it's awesome with the carnitas. I believe this past visit to Chipolte was the best i've ever had.

We went back to play the new game that Brandon bought, ESPN's NHL 07. Brandon and I used to play hockey on the Sega Genesis all the time. So we played some hockey for a few hours. Some things haven't changed, Brandon still beats me in hockey. We also played some football and ordered a pizza.

Ok, this is the part of the weekend, where i'll never look at Bob Saget the same way again. While we were eating, we flipped through the channels to find Bob Saget's That's Ain't Right standup. You remember Bob Saget as Danny Tanner on Full House and as the host of America's Funniest Videos. Wow, all i can say is that it was shocking. I almost think he was doing all that for shock value. It was friggin hilarious though.

Brandon and I did our usual music swap, and i was on my way back to EB for a quick visit before returning here.

I spent the rest of the evening preparing the studio for paint. Ok, i've spent a little too much time preparing this post, i must get some primer and paint now. Stay tuned for the next installment.

Much to Report...

I've got a lot to recap over the last few days. Unfortunately, i'm a bit tired to type everything up tonight. So for the time being, you'll get the cliff's notes version.
* The mini-vacation was great. I had a great time with my brother. Bought 4 pairs of shoes. Played some Xbox. Will never see Bob Saget the same way again. Bought some new music.

* Prepared the studio for painting. Cleared out the room, for the most part. Taped off all the crown molding and base-boards.

Well, each of these has much, much more detail...in fact will probably yield separate posts.

Hope you've been doing well?!

On a Break

Finally...the time has come...for me...to...take a break! It's not a long break, but a break nonetheless. I'm excited for i have been wanting to do this for some time now. I will do my best to not think about work. I have a few things on my 'to-do' list. I hope to get most of these things done...if not, i'll just take more time off.

Cranky!!

Cranky...that was my mood for most of the day. You see, all that stands between me and some well deserved time off is a flight specific simulation. I went to work this morning expecting to start working this long simulation. Well, when i got there the simulator wasn't working properly. After several attempts at trying to fix the problem it still wasn't working. There was some talk of canceling the sim. Well, when you get tempted with the possibility of starting a vacation early, you tend not to be too terribly excited when that possibility evaporates into thin air...Well, i was more or less cranky for the rest of the work day.

Oh well, just one more shift during the sim and i'm free for a few days. I'll do my best not to check my work email. I'm sure i'll have 100s of emails waiting for me when i get back, but that's okay...at least i'll be rested (hopefully!)

Make Your Own...

A short while back, Christine forwarded me a website: Guitar Picks. What an ingenious idea...why didn't i come up with it myself? Well, as i was cleaning out some junk mail today, i came across some guitar pick material. I thought i'd give it a try. Interestingly enough, the "credit card picks" work really well. One complaint that i do have is that the picks were a little too slick. A little gorilla snot would cure that. So, thanks to American Express, i know have 3 new guitar picks.
Now, if i could fashion some guitar strings out of something, i'd be set. Hmmm...cat gut? Didn't they use to make tennis racket strings out of cat gut? Yesterday while playing on the Strat i broke a string. I don't have any spares...so the Strat is temporarily out of commission.
What can you make out of your junk mail?

Laaaaaazzzzzzzyyyyyy

I did nothing today. I took time for myself...to do nothing. There was plenty for me to do, but i just felt like doing nothing. I did what any other male (and some females) do on a Sunday...watch football. It was a good day to stay indoors...away from the heat.

I'm less than an hour away from being off of the on-call duty. I can't wait. Luckily, i haven't been called in. I noticed a little earlier that i had a near dead cell phone--wonder how long that's been like that? Luckily, my pager had a fresh battery.

In between football games, i watched the Red Bull Air Races. All i can say is that i'm pretty impressed with those pilots, and the machinery that they fly. The responsiveness and maneuverability of those machines is awesome to watch. Anyone want to go to San Diego to watch the next race...in 12 days?

Well, 3 more days of work and i can take a small break.

Headache...

Those of you that know me well, know that i typically don't take any sort of medication for headaches. But i've got a winner of a headache right now. I haven't had a headache this bad in a while...so i broke down and took something. I left Seth and Tarik's house party early. Perhaps it was the pounding music? Mike Lopez-Alegria even made an appearance at the party. It was good to see him again...

Today was a fairly busy day. Started off with some Saturday morning football. But man, it was super hot...I don't see how we did not melt out there. We were all soaked from the sweat...The sun was merciless.

A little later in the day i got my mop trimmed up...ie, i got a haircut. Traffic was hideous today too...i almost didn't make it to my appointment on time.

Tried to take a nap today, but that didn't work very well. Watched the Aggies live true to their style of football--put up a huge lead, and then let the other team comeback...and nearly win it. The Aggies won in the 3rd overtime period.

Then it was time to head to the house party...

Well, i'm off to bed...my head doesn't hurt as much any more...

Can You See, Hear, and Breathe?

Today i had the first part of my biennial flight controller physical. With the clinic at work, you never know what you'll come back with. That stupid hearing booth...i hate that thing. I think it's more of a psychological booth...cause you think you hear things...then you start pushing that little button. The guy comes on over intercom and says, "Sir, the test hasn't started yet." I know you know what i'm talking about. Your mind starts to manufacture sounds...uggh. I did find out that you just can't push the button. If the program receives too many button pushes without putting out a tone, an error will occur and the program will have to be restarted. That guy had to restart the program several times. But, according the sound test, my hearing is normal.

My vision still sucks. I'll know later this month how much my vision has changed. I don't think it has changed that much. I did notice that i wasn't able to see the numbers in the color circle again...perhaps my color vision is getting worse. I hate that darn vision test. I think i did better on the depth perception test though...perhaps that is because of all the 'magic-eye 3D' puzzles i've been looking at?

Lung capacity test was normal. EKG was better than previous tests, although i'm not sure what that means. They did tell me they might do my blood pressure again. said it was a little high. That might have something to do with the fact that i just booked it in from the parking lot after a long lunch. It was so incredibly hot outside too.

I won't know the results of my blood/urine tests until later in the month...i'm sure my cholesterol is too high. Oh well...it's been that way for the last 7 years...

Well, somehow, i've ended up on call for the weekend. Hopefully, i won't have any more on-call stories to tell...

Console and Football!!

Nope...i'm not mixing the two. But i was on console again today!! How did that happen you ask? Well, schedule confusion and double bookings led to today's situation. I was supposed to be supporting a flight specific sim today, but when we saw there was no one supporting console, i bailed from the sim to cover console. Luckily i wasn't slummin' too bad...i was going to wear jeans today, but decided not to. Probably a wise choice.

Well, tonight is the opening game of the 2007 NFL season. Ahhh...HD is so grand. It's going to be a good season. Well, i'm getting poked and prodded tomorrow -- flight control physical. I hate those things...

What Luck?

Where has my good luck gone? Along with the horrible 'on-call' luck of last week, i had to reschedule a vacation that i was going to take next week. I have a flight specific simulation on the day i was going to leave. So, i'll get to spend less time with my brother than previously planned. And today i was supposed to have my peepers checked...but that had to be rescheduled due to the doctor's family emergency. I'm not going to even ask what's next...cause i'm sure i'll get the answer to that.

The past few days i haven't been sleeping well...or rather, i haven't been getting much sleep. I seem to toss and turn for a few hours before finally falling asleep. I think it may be just a little too warm in the house? Maybe i'll try to make it a little cooler in the house tonight?

Today i got a dose of reality. The reality of how quickly time escapes us. I was asked today how long i've been playing guitar. Eek...that's an embarrassing question. The real question is how long have i been consistently playing guitar? Well, that then led to the question of how long Finding Reason has been together. Erin has a better memory than i do. So here it is...the first meeting of musicans occured in November of 2003!!! Finding Reason name selected in April of 2004. First Finding Reason demo released in June of 2004. Uggh...so sad to see how much time has gone by...So...for an average 1 song per year, we should have a full album out by 2014. So, don't hold your breath...

Hopefully things will pick up here in the near future. A seven song set list has been developed...we just need to finish the other 4 songs. No additional information is available for Finding Reason at this time...but you'll be the first to know...