Just been busy. Nothing really blowing my mind lately except I was thinking of picking up the new Finger 11 DVD. I had some birthday money to spend so I got 2 seasons of the simpsons (the 2 i didn't have yet), and I got another $40 that says a music DVD or two is in order.
I was watching a bunch of live performances online yesterday from so many different bands and it dawned on me that so many musicians are losers. Pretty much anyone looks cool wearing pretty much anything with a cool light show happening. But show the band in the light of day at an outdoor festival and man, there are some pretty dorky looking rock stars out there.
Showing posts with label Random Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Thoughts. Show all posts
12.10.2007
12.05.2007
Done the latest project...
Beware world, an all girl band named Jezibelle just finished recording 4 songs at Powersound Studios and the songs are smokin'.
I spent yesterday finishing the mixes up and I'm disappointed I don't have any more songs to record with them - it was a very fun and relaxed environment in the studio.
And I have to give props to Phil Anderson at Powersound Studios for having such a kick ass studio. As a home studio guy I haven't always been able to justify the expense of "studio" recording vs "home" recording. For the most part if I'm recording my own stuff, home is sufficient. Especially if I'm using drum samples and loops, then I don't need the studio.
But I was very impressed with 3 things that I just can't do at home that I gotta share. (Some of it is sound geek speak).
1. The drum room. Sooooooo sweet. If I record drums in my basement, I have to work quite a bit in post to get a fake room sound that is pleasing and not too boxy. At Powersound, it's just a nice hardwood floor with dampeners and bafflers in strategic places, and it feel like all you have to do is point the mics and go. Not that I haven't had success at home, but Powersound is just so much easier it's not even funny. One of the best drum rooms I've heard.
2. The work flow/tracking ability. I simply can't track drums, bass, and guitar simultaneously with enough amp separation and the members being able to all see eachother at home. Well, now that I think about it, I could, but it's not as easy as the way Powersound has it set up. The workflow was just so easy it's not even funny. We tracked 4 songs in 3 days and never had any hiccups or "Oh we can't do that" moments.
3. Monitoring/mixing. At home, I can't EQ going to tape. Meaning, when I record the drums, they are too loud and not isolated enough for me to actually hear them coming from my speakers enough to add bass or treble or make any EQ decisions. I can record for a bit, then EQ a bit on the mixer/preamps, then record after tweaking, but it's a long process so I just record everything flat and EQ when I mix. At Powersound, the control room is isolated from the drum room very well, so I can EQ my drum sounds as needed, or any loud sound for that matter, before recording. So when everything is tracked, it's already that much closer to being a finished mix. As for mixing, Powersound has the V8's. And a sub. When you mix, you get to crank it loud. I can't really do that at home quite yet.
What I can do at home though is spend hours writing and recording without it costing me a dime. The songs I've recorded at home are getting on the radio quite easily, so there isn't the great home vs studio divide there used to be.
The thing I would recommend to anyone who wants better results is to track drums in a proper drum room first, then export it to your home setup and track the rest there. Then at least your base is solid and everything you add you only need one mic/good preamp for anyway so why not make it where you are most comfortable.
The other thing I'll add is I know there are good sounding drum rooms that aren't in studios - a person should spend the time finding either a larger room in your house (not a room with a low ceiling), or use churches, halls, or other environments that can add personality to their recordings. If you are lucky enough to have a good drum room in your house, I'm jealous!
I spent yesterday finishing the mixes up and I'm disappointed I don't have any more songs to record with them - it was a very fun and relaxed environment in the studio.
And I have to give props to Phil Anderson at Powersound Studios for having such a kick ass studio. As a home studio guy I haven't always been able to justify the expense of "studio" recording vs "home" recording. For the most part if I'm recording my own stuff, home is sufficient. Especially if I'm using drum samples and loops, then I don't need the studio.
But I was very impressed with 3 things that I just can't do at home that I gotta share. (Some of it is sound geek speak).
1. The drum room. Sooooooo sweet. If I record drums in my basement, I have to work quite a bit in post to get a fake room sound that is pleasing and not too boxy. At Powersound, it's just a nice hardwood floor with dampeners and bafflers in strategic places, and it feel like all you have to do is point the mics and go. Not that I haven't had success at home, but Powersound is just so much easier it's not even funny. One of the best drum rooms I've heard.
2. The work flow/tracking ability. I simply can't track drums, bass, and guitar simultaneously with enough amp separation and the members being able to all see eachother at home. Well, now that I think about it, I could, but it's not as easy as the way Powersound has it set up. The workflow was just so easy it's not even funny. We tracked 4 songs in 3 days and never had any hiccups or "Oh we can't do that" moments.
3. Monitoring/mixing. At home, I can't EQ going to tape. Meaning, when I record the drums, they are too loud and not isolated enough for me to actually hear them coming from my speakers enough to add bass or treble or make any EQ decisions. I can record for a bit, then EQ a bit on the mixer/preamps, then record after tweaking, but it's a long process so I just record everything flat and EQ when I mix. At Powersound, the control room is isolated from the drum room very well, so I can EQ my drum sounds as needed, or any loud sound for that matter, before recording. So when everything is tracked, it's already that much closer to being a finished mix. As for mixing, Powersound has the V8's. And a sub. When you mix, you get to crank it loud. I can't really do that at home quite yet.
What I can do at home though is spend hours writing and recording without it costing me a dime. The songs I've recorded at home are getting on the radio quite easily, so there isn't the great home vs studio divide there used to be.
The thing I would recommend to anyone who wants better results is to track drums in a proper drum room first, then export it to your home setup and track the rest there. Then at least your base is solid and everything you add you only need one mic/good preamp for anyway so why not make it where you are most comfortable.
The other thing I'll add is I know there are good sounding drum rooms that aren't in studios - a person should spend the time finding either a larger room in your house (not a room with a low ceiling), or use churches, halls, or other environments that can add personality to their recordings. If you are lucky enough to have a good drum room in your house, I'm jealous!
11.24.2007
My take on the Terrible Twos...
Alright, well my daughter is just turning two now, but for about 4-6 months or so she's been exhibiting behaviours that I can see as being what some call the terrible twos.
I think if you don't try to empathize with them, you'll have a tough time.
The main things to understand as far as I can tell is that they are "terrible" because #1 - they are frustrated.
They have a vocabulary that would surprise you, but they can't SAY what they THINK. If you put yourself in that position I think you'd be frustrated... which leads to the whining and crying.
#2 - They can't control their emotions. Since there is a big linguistic barrier, they revert to what they do know... crying for food. Crying for attention. Whining when you don't understand. Screaming when you say no... which leads to...
#3 - They are constantly testing boundaries. They don't know the rules. They don't understand the rules they do know. If they want something and you say no, their wiring doesn't accept it. This leads to more of #2.
I know that my daughter actually understands most of what people say. Her linguistic skills can't keep up with what she understands and wants to say herself. This has been the biggest source of her frustration.
She hates to say sorry, but we know she understands what sorry is because she has such a hard time saying it when every other 2 syllable word comes easily...
Lately if she's trying to say something and I don't understand, I've been asking her if she can try to use a different word to say what she wants... that has actually helped her frustration levels most of the time and usually me or her mom get what she's saying pretty quick. But if we're just not getting it, lookout!
That's where I think I'm the most masterful... the biggest "trick" parents need to understand with kids is the Art of Distraction. If the child is focused on one thing... frustrated, cranky, etc... usually there is something else you can train their minds on fairly quickly. Like if your child wants to put their hands in the boiling water, get them to help you stir something or make them feel useful; it tends to distract them from dangerous things if they know they're being helpful.
Just some little observations so far... not any kind of hard and fast rule, but things I think can help explain for the parent that simply sees the kids as actually Terrible...
I think if you don't try to empathize with them, you'll have a tough time.
The main things to understand as far as I can tell is that they are "terrible" because #1 - they are frustrated.
They have a vocabulary that would surprise you, but they can't SAY what they THINK. If you put yourself in that position I think you'd be frustrated... which leads to the whining and crying.
#2 - They can't control their emotions. Since there is a big linguistic barrier, they revert to what they do know... crying for food. Crying for attention. Whining when you don't understand. Screaming when you say no... which leads to...
#3 - They are constantly testing boundaries. They don't know the rules. They don't understand the rules they do know. If they want something and you say no, their wiring doesn't accept it. This leads to more of #2.
I know that my daughter actually understands most of what people say. Her linguistic skills can't keep up with what she understands and wants to say herself. This has been the biggest source of her frustration.
She hates to say sorry, but we know she understands what sorry is because she has such a hard time saying it when every other 2 syllable word comes easily...
Lately if she's trying to say something and I don't understand, I've been asking her if she can try to use a different word to say what she wants... that has actually helped her frustration levels most of the time and usually me or her mom get what she's saying pretty quick. But if we're just not getting it, lookout!
That's where I think I'm the most masterful... the biggest "trick" parents need to understand with kids is the Art of Distraction. If the child is focused on one thing... frustrated, cranky, etc... usually there is something else you can train their minds on fairly quickly. Like if your child wants to put their hands in the boiling water, get them to help you stir something or make them feel useful; it tends to distract them from dangerous things if they know they're being helpful.
Just some little observations so far... not any kind of hard and fast rule, but things I think can help explain for the parent that simply sees the kids as actually Terrible...
11.22.2007
Daughter turns 2 today!
On November 22nd, 2005, it was 19 degrees Celsius!
***
As a nice coincidence today, Maeve's dayhome lady wasn't able to watch her so she's home on her birthday with her daddy. We're gonna go to an indoor park and visit her auntie this morning.
After I get my coffee... :)
2 years of seeing the world through new eyes has been healthy for me. It has helped me prioritize. Funnily enough, the silly "dream" of wanting to be a full-time professional musician & producer only became more cemented in me as something to pursue even more seriously. I'd like my children to know that even if I never "succeed", that I never gave up.
***
She got her first present this morning while her mom was still at home. We've been playing with it ever since. That, and she's been playing the piano for me and singing Gingle Gells, Gingle Gells... (that's with a hard 'G')... cute.
***
As a nice coincidence today, Maeve's dayhome lady wasn't able to watch her so she's home on her birthday with her daddy. We're gonna go to an indoor park and visit her auntie this morning.
After I get my coffee... :)
2 years of seeing the world through new eyes has been healthy for me. It has helped me prioritize. Funnily enough, the silly "dream" of wanting to be a full-time professional musician & producer only became more cemented in me as something to pursue even more seriously. I'd like my children to know that even if I never "succeed", that I never gave up.
***
She got her first present this morning while her mom was still at home. We've been playing with it ever since. That, and she's been playing the piano for me and singing Gingle Gells, Gingle Gells... (that's with a hard 'G')... cute.
11.20.2007
Contemplating 30. My longest post ever?
Well it's here today.
The big three oh.
I had a great weekend with some friends and will be sharing some photos when I get a chance.
I share today's birthday with my sister-in-law, so just I wanna say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEENA!"
Next weekend we're having a party for my daughter who's turning two.
I got my first royalty check as a songwriter yesterday. It was for a small amount, but it has been accumulating since I registered with SOCAN about 4-5 years ago. I thought the timing was appropriate. I spent my entire 20's aspiring to be a successful songwriter and a lot of the work felt like it was going unnoticed and unrewarded, and the day before my 30th birthday, I get this tiny token for my efforts. It sort of served as a reminder of the fact that most of the work I've done didn't have immediate benefits (other than the fact I enjoy it tremendously), and that I should be grateful I had the opportunity to do it in the first place.
I think you sacrifice a lot in the drive toward success in any industry. I'm thankful I never stopped trying and I don't see a stop anytime soon. I think this whole musician thing has cost me over $150,000 - $300,000 in lost income though had I decided to pursue a more traditional occupation. Being self-employed, I've also turned down certain jobs because I wanted to spend the time recording and songwriting rather than working, with the end result meaning less cash-flow in general.
BUT, I don't regret any of it and I feel it all is leading to something great; even if it means never really "making it" in other people's eyes, but simply being at ease with what I can bring to the world in my own little way, and hopefully being remunerated appropriately.
I've had a good run so far, but I have to admit, even the moderate success I've enjoyed this year with some good shows and an album in stores across Canada seems like it could've easily happened a decade ago. I felt ready back then. Now 10 years later, I'm actually glad I never "got signed" or anything when I was that young because I know how gullible I would've been and I think I'd have even less to show for it all than I do now! I still listen to the songs I've written since I was 14 and see a lot of merit in a lot of them. To think I've been performing on stage since I was 14... that's 16 years now. Am I any better than I used to be? Well, I would hope so, but you never know I guess!
Anyway, I'm writing this next part to myself as a 14 year old. That young kid would literally shit his pants if he thought any one of these things would happen to him, let alone all in one year. I just think it could've happened a little sooner, that's all...
********************
February: Gallien-Krueger Endorsement. Gallien-Krueger is the bass amp Flea plays. Nuff said. Oh, and the guys from Tool and Velvet Revolver use 'em too.
Finished recording new songs that would ultimately get released on the album Nucularboy later in the year.
Signed distribution deal for the band with D2/Fontana North/Universal for the album Nucularboy.
February/March: Won 1st place regionally in the Canadian Radiostar Songwriting Contest (flown to Toronto for a showcase at Canadian Music Week).
Played in Toronto.
Met superstar producer Steve Thompson (KORN, Guns and Roses, Tesla, Madonna, Tears for Fears... he recorded Shout, my all time fave Tears for Fears song)
March/April: Won the Kokanee Freeride Contest. Got to play Marmot Basin (outdoor concert in Jasper, Alberta).
April: Opened for Social Code.
July/August: Our CD Nucularboy hit stores across Canada. I was able to personally verify the CDs were on the shelves in Halifax and Toronto. My mom also bought some copies while she was visiting Montreal. Got to play in the West Edmonton Mall HMV.
Licensed song for use in MFC (Maximum Fighting Championship) video.
CD gets a 4 star review (out of five) in The Edmonton Journal. The band was featured twice in the journal in 2 weeks.
September: Opened for Ten Second Epic.
Produced band in my home studio.
October: Our video was played on MuchMusic/MuchLoud. 1st time I've ever appeared on national TV.
Opened for Danko Jones (in front of about 400 people or so).
Played our 3rd SONIC FM 'Band of the Month' show in 2 years.
November: The band hit the the top 20 Modern Rock chart on Garageband.com.
I received my 1st royalty cheque ever!
Producing a band at Powersound Studios.
December: Has yet to be seen....
Keep in mind, all the while the band has been featured constantly on Canadian radio, most notably charting in Winnipeg in the Top 30, and being featured from Victoria, BC to Moncton, NB. The band was also in regular rotation on XM Satellite station The Verge for 7 months.
Also did voice-over work for the MFC throughout the year.
Also featured in several newspapers, did several television appearances, played some shows out of town (Calgary, Grande Prairie, Toronto, Red Deer, Jasper), and did several radio interviews.
****************************
I think the 14 year old me would be giddy. The "now" me sees it all as fun opportunities and great experiences, but only a small portion on the work he wished he could've done in that same span of time, had it not been for the dayjob factor!
I guess I'm thankful to even write anything on that list. Some people would look at that list and laugh I guess, and some would look and be envious. Looking at it in one place like this makes me thankful, but I know how much work needs to get done and I feel like I've just scratched the surface of what needs to happen.
I do feel good knowing that at least something it happening. It's not happening at fast as I'd like, but it's forward momentum.
And I really shouldn't complain.
I also need to add that all this stuff happened because of support from family and friends not just this year, but over the course of my whole adult life.
Some people to deserve special shout-outs to include:
Shanda Holden, my mom, and all my immediate and extended family, including my dad Reg who taught me quite a bit despite our brief time spent together over the years
Eugenio Pacileo
Kevin Kossowan (we honed our songwriting skills together over more than a decade)
Phil Anderson (Owns Powersound Studios)
Eric Anderson (manager/advisor over the years)
Paul Irvine (Entertainment paralegal)
Dulce Barbosa & staff at dB Publicity and Promotions
Randy Wells (Shoreline)
Gene and staff at Gallien-Krueger Bass Amps in California
Every member of every band I've been in, including The Everett LaRoi Band, Turbinado, Cousin Henry, Highway Jones, the cover band with Tavis (who's now in Thornley), Nectar, Spring Heeled Jack, Tribute Penny, and Jamie Kossowan (one of the 1st guys in MSO)
Some Edmonton music industry peeps:
Brent Oliver
Steve Derpack
Tim and staff at the Urban Lounge (sound tech Kevin always does such a great job)
Peter at Windsor Bar and Grill
Mike Diltz
Al at Pawn Shop
Graham Cadell
Park Warden and staff at The Bear
Jason Manning, Al Ford, and all staff at Sonic FM.
CJSR
Leake at XM Satellite
THE FREQ (Winnipeg)
KICK KM (Winnipeg)
Ex-Bear FM DJ Brandon Manitoba (featured the HELL out of Cousin Henry back in the day)
Sandra Sperounes
Amanda Ash
Tom Murray
Any/all music staff at SEE, VUE, The Edmonton Sun, The Edmonton Journal, Avenue Magazine, and all the weeklies that report on music. Oh and the U of A paper The Gateway.
MSO Street Team Members!!
Other bands we've shared the stage with over the years... we've become good friends with Portal and Murder City Sparrows, but every band gets kudos for keeping the music scene alive.
I'll add Social Code, Ten Second Epic, and Tupelo Honey to the list because these guys are all cool and helping Edmonton get noticed by the industry much more than ever before.
Bekki at CityTV
Gord Sheppard (did the very 1st MSO video back in the day)
You have to include the parents of all the band members too I guess - lots of free food over the years.
Can't forget all the friends that have come to all the gigs over the years. GMCC, U of A, and work friends.
I guess that's only a minor list when you think of the 16 years of thanks that need to be given... if you read this and feel you should be added, let me know, I just thought of doing this on a whim so it's all people off the top of my head right now. Just know that if I know you, I'm thanking you for your impact on my life. If I don't know you yet, well let's change that and you'll get on the next list around my 40th or so...
Well - there's my big 30 year old rant.
Hopefully I can add some more stuff to the accomplishments list before the year is through. Oh, is getting my wife pregnant again worth mentioning? That's the little reward for those that read this far... yup, baby #2 is due in June 2008.
Peace!
The big three oh.
I had a great weekend with some friends and will be sharing some photos when I get a chance.
I share today's birthday with my sister-in-law, so just I wanna say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEENA!"
Next weekend we're having a party for my daughter who's turning two.
I got my first royalty check as a songwriter yesterday. It was for a small amount, but it has been accumulating since I registered with SOCAN about 4-5 years ago. I thought the timing was appropriate. I spent my entire 20's aspiring to be a successful songwriter and a lot of the work felt like it was going unnoticed and unrewarded, and the day before my 30th birthday, I get this tiny token for my efforts. It sort of served as a reminder of the fact that most of the work I've done didn't have immediate benefits (other than the fact I enjoy it tremendously), and that I should be grateful I had the opportunity to do it in the first place.
I think you sacrifice a lot in the drive toward success in any industry. I'm thankful I never stopped trying and I don't see a stop anytime soon. I think this whole musician thing has cost me over $150,000 - $300,000 in lost income though had I decided to pursue a more traditional occupation. Being self-employed, I've also turned down certain jobs because I wanted to spend the time recording and songwriting rather than working, with the end result meaning less cash-flow in general.
BUT, I don't regret any of it and I feel it all is leading to something great; even if it means never really "making it" in other people's eyes, but simply being at ease with what I can bring to the world in my own little way, and hopefully being remunerated appropriately.
I've had a good run so far, but I have to admit, even the moderate success I've enjoyed this year with some good shows and an album in stores across Canada seems like it could've easily happened a decade ago. I felt ready back then. Now 10 years later, I'm actually glad I never "got signed" or anything when I was that young because I know how gullible I would've been and I think I'd have even less to show for it all than I do now! I still listen to the songs I've written since I was 14 and see a lot of merit in a lot of them. To think I've been performing on stage since I was 14... that's 16 years now. Am I any better than I used to be? Well, I would hope so, but you never know I guess!
Anyway, I'm writing this next part to myself as a 14 year old. That young kid would literally shit his pants if he thought any one of these things would happen to him, let alone all in one year. I just think it could've happened a little sooner, that's all...
********************
February: Gallien-Krueger Endorsement. Gallien-Krueger is the bass amp Flea plays. Nuff said. Oh, and the guys from Tool and Velvet Revolver use 'em too.
Finished recording new songs that would ultimately get released on the album Nucularboy later in the year.
Signed distribution deal for the band with D2/Fontana North/Universal for the album Nucularboy.
February/March: Won 1st place regionally in the Canadian Radiostar Songwriting Contest (flown to Toronto for a showcase at Canadian Music Week).
Played in Toronto.
Met superstar producer Steve Thompson (KORN, Guns and Roses, Tesla, Madonna, Tears for Fears... he recorded Shout, my all time fave Tears for Fears song)
March/April: Won the Kokanee Freeride Contest. Got to play Marmot Basin (outdoor concert in Jasper, Alberta).
April: Opened for Social Code.
July/August: Our CD Nucularboy hit stores across Canada. I was able to personally verify the CDs were on the shelves in Halifax and Toronto. My mom also bought some copies while she was visiting Montreal. Got to play in the West Edmonton Mall HMV.
Licensed song for use in MFC (Maximum Fighting Championship) video.
CD gets a 4 star review (out of five) in The Edmonton Journal. The band was featured twice in the journal in 2 weeks.
September: Opened for Ten Second Epic.
Produced band in my home studio.
October: Our video was played on MuchMusic/MuchLoud. 1st time I've ever appeared on national TV.
Opened for Danko Jones (in front of about 400 people or so).
Played our 3rd SONIC FM 'Band of the Month' show in 2 years.
November: The band hit the the top 20 Modern Rock chart on Garageband.com.
I received my 1st royalty cheque ever!
Producing a band at Powersound Studios.
December: Has yet to be seen....
Keep in mind, all the while the band has been featured constantly on Canadian radio, most notably charting in Winnipeg in the Top 30, and being featured from Victoria, BC to Moncton, NB. The band was also in regular rotation on XM Satellite station The Verge for 7 months.
Also did voice-over work for the MFC throughout the year.
Also featured in several newspapers, did several television appearances, played some shows out of town (Calgary, Grande Prairie, Toronto, Red Deer, Jasper), and did several radio interviews.
****************************
I think the 14 year old me would be giddy. The "now" me sees it all as fun opportunities and great experiences, but only a small portion on the work he wished he could've done in that same span of time, had it not been for the dayjob factor!
I guess I'm thankful to even write anything on that list. Some people would look at that list and laugh I guess, and some would look and be envious. Looking at it in one place like this makes me thankful, but I know how much work needs to get done and I feel like I've just scratched the surface of what needs to happen.
I do feel good knowing that at least something it happening. It's not happening at fast as I'd like, but it's forward momentum.
And I really shouldn't complain.
I also need to add that all this stuff happened because of support from family and friends not just this year, but over the course of my whole adult life.
Some people to deserve special shout-outs to include:
Shanda Holden, my mom, and all my immediate and extended family, including my dad Reg who taught me quite a bit despite our brief time spent together over the years
Eugenio Pacileo
Kevin Kossowan (we honed our songwriting skills together over more than a decade)
Phil Anderson (Owns Powersound Studios)
Eric Anderson (manager/advisor over the years)
Paul Irvine (Entertainment paralegal)
Dulce Barbosa & staff at dB Publicity and Promotions
Randy Wells (Shoreline)
Gene and staff at Gallien-Krueger Bass Amps in California
Every member of every band I've been in, including The Everett LaRoi Band, Turbinado, Cousin Henry, Highway Jones, the cover band with Tavis (who's now in Thornley), Nectar, Spring Heeled Jack, Tribute Penny, and Jamie Kossowan (one of the 1st guys in MSO)
Some Edmonton music industry peeps:
Brent Oliver
Steve Derpack
Tim and staff at the Urban Lounge (sound tech Kevin always does such a great job)
Peter at Windsor Bar and Grill
Mike Diltz
Al at Pawn Shop
Graham Cadell
Park Warden and staff at The Bear
Jason Manning, Al Ford, and all staff at Sonic FM.
CJSR
Leake at XM Satellite
THE FREQ (Winnipeg)
KICK KM (Winnipeg)
Ex-Bear FM DJ Brandon Manitoba (featured the HELL out of Cousin Henry back in the day)
Sandra Sperounes
Amanda Ash
Tom Murray
Any/all music staff at SEE, VUE, The Edmonton Sun, The Edmonton Journal, Avenue Magazine, and all the weeklies that report on music. Oh and the U of A paper The Gateway.
MSO Street Team Members!!
Other bands we've shared the stage with over the years... we've become good friends with Portal and Murder City Sparrows, but every band gets kudos for keeping the music scene alive.
I'll add Social Code, Ten Second Epic, and Tupelo Honey to the list because these guys are all cool and helping Edmonton get noticed by the industry much more than ever before.
Bekki at CityTV
Gord Sheppard (did the very 1st MSO video back in the day)
You have to include the parents of all the band members too I guess - lots of free food over the years.
Can't forget all the friends that have come to all the gigs over the years. GMCC, U of A, and work friends.
I guess that's only a minor list when you think of the 16 years of thanks that need to be given... if you read this and feel you should be added, let me know, I just thought of doing this on a whim so it's all people off the top of my head right now. Just know that if I know you, I'm thanking you for your impact on my life. If I don't know you yet, well let's change that and you'll get on the next list around my 40th or so...
Well - there's my big 30 year old rant.
Hopefully I can add some more stuff to the accomplishments list before the year is through. Oh, is getting my wife pregnant again worth mentioning? That's the little reward for those that read this far... yup, baby #2 is due in June 2008.
Peace!
11.16.2007
Pulp Fiction Special Features
I've had the Pulp Fiction DVD for a while now, and that movie has been in my Top 5 of all time for a while now...
But I never watched the special features before.
2 things...
1. I think Quentin Tarantino remnds me of myself.
2. I don't know if that's a good thing.
He's pretty dorky!
When he says to Sam Jackson and John Travolta's characters that they look like a couple of dorks, and they're wearing his clothes, I think it's apt. He's calling himself a dork, and he is one.
I was watching some very old footage of myself and my friends and back then I thought I looked like the dorkiest one, and looking back, I KNOW I was the dorkiest one. Pretty funny because I never felt dorky, but I know I was dorky. But my friends were cool in my opinion so I guess being around them made me cool by default. Or maybe it made them look COOLER by comparison.
Anyway, I think Quentin Tarantino acts dorky and is quite dorky, but he's a genius in my opinion.
But to my main point...
you should check out the deleted scenes on the special features disc... very cool deleted scenes and Quentin explains each one. It's cool.
But I never watched the special features before.
2 things...
1. I think Quentin Tarantino remnds me of myself.
2. I don't know if that's a good thing.
He's pretty dorky!
When he says to Sam Jackson and John Travolta's characters that they look like a couple of dorks, and they're wearing his clothes, I think it's apt. He's calling himself a dork, and he is one.
I was watching some very old footage of myself and my friends and back then I thought I looked like the dorkiest one, and looking back, I KNOW I was the dorkiest one. Pretty funny because I never felt dorky, but I know I was dorky. But my friends were cool in my opinion so I guess being around them made me cool by default. Or maybe it made them look COOLER by comparison.
Anyway, I think Quentin Tarantino acts dorky and is quite dorky, but he's a genius in my opinion.
But to my main point...
you should check out the deleted scenes on the special features disc... very cool deleted scenes and Quentin explains each one. It's cool.
11.15.2007
Drained!
I worked out of the house from 9am until 2pm... normally that's a walk in the park.
Today I found myself very short of breath going up some stairs, and just slightly out of breath all day.
It's been 2 weeks since my gallbladder surgery and I'm obviously not as 100% as I thought I was. As far as stuff around the house, editing and such, I'm okay. But being on my feet and having to actually think made me pretty tired pretty fast.
I was told up to about a month for "full" recovery and now I get it. Even though I don't really have "pain", I'm still not functioning at full capacity. It's weird because my mind says I'm great, but my body is saying "SLOW DOWN."
Thankfully I don't have to do another "outside of the house" day of work until the end of the month. I can sit on my ass all day until then.
I'm shaving my beard today - I don't normally have a beard but I grew one so I could shave it into a handlebar moustache!! Sweeeet. I didn't just grow out a handlebar moustache beacuse I still needed to be presentable for some clients (today) and now that that's done... welcome to the 70's! There's a 70's theme party happening this weekend. I'm stoked!
Today I found myself very short of breath going up some stairs, and just slightly out of breath all day.
It's been 2 weeks since my gallbladder surgery and I'm obviously not as 100% as I thought I was. As far as stuff around the house, editing and such, I'm okay. But being on my feet and having to actually think made me pretty tired pretty fast.
I was told up to about a month for "full" recovery and now I get it. Even though I don't really have "pain", I'm still not functioning at full capacity. It's weird because my mind says I'm great, but my body is saying "SLOW DOWN."
Thankfully I don't have to do another "outside of the house" day of work until the end of the month. I can sit on my ass all day until then.
I'm shaving my beard today - I don't normally have a beard but I grew one so I could shave it into a handlebar moustache!! Sweeeet. I didn't just grow out a handlebar moustache beacuse I still needed to be presentable for some clients (today) and now that that's done... welcome to the 70's! There's a 70's theme party happening this weekend. I'm stoked!
11.14.2007
I'm turning 30 in a week.
According to some conception calendars, if you conceive on Valentine's Day, your due date would be November 20th.
That happens to be the most popular birthday in my family - I share the date with my sister-in-law, an uncle, a cousin. I also have lots of friends who have birthdays the day before or after...
My daughter's birthday is around that time as well.
Now, I actually know I wasn't conceived on the 14th of February. My mom knows it was the 17th. Because she says, and I quote, "I was 15, I didn't do it that often back then."
lol
Anyway, to all you Scorpios, rock on. It's tough being the best Astrological sign isn't it? :)
So I have a milestone birthday coming up. I guess milestone birthdays make you step back and think about where you're at...
Am I where I hoped I would be by 30? Not by a long shot!
Am I disappointed? Thankfully no.
My life has been consistently good because of my family and friends. Sure, there are goals and dreams I have, but I'm still working on them. I haven't given up and I know that the "compromising" I've done over the years all stems from the fact that I WANT to spend more time with my loved ones, and sometimes it's at the expense of my career. But I'll take family and friends over more money any day. And I have that, so what's to be disappointed about?
I guess I've also been blessed with optimism.
Thankfully I never really put any time deadlines on my dreams... otherwise I could see how I would be disappointed if I hadn't achieved certain things by a certain point.
I did have this "notion" that I'd be famous by 30. But I re-evaluated what I wanted and it's not to be famous. It's to be successful doing something I enjoy. Thankfully in some ways I'm there already (my definition of success may vary immensely from yours by the way). Now, being a musician can mean in order to be successful, you need to be famous. Well, thanks to globalization, you can sell enough songs to build yourself a mansion and still be a relative unknown. And thankfully I'd be happy without a mansion. Not that I wouldn't buy one - but my main point is....
I am happy. Any extra STUFF is just STUFF. I can see stuff contributing to me being more at ease but not making me happier than I am already on a consistent basis. All that said - I do really want a lot of new stuff.
So I guess I'll say, "Hey 30. I'm a little surprised you got here so quickly... whassup?"
That happens to be the most popular birthday in my family - I share the date with my sister-in-law, an uncle, a cousin. I also have lots of friends who have birthdays the day before or after...
My daughter's birthday is around that time as well.
Now, I actually know I wasn't conceived on the 14th of February. My mom knows it was the 17th. Because she says, and I quote, "I was 15, I didn't do it that often back then."
lol
Anyway, to all you Scorpios, rock on. It's tough being the best Astrological sign isn't it? :)
So I have a milestone birthday coming up. I guess milestone birthdays make you step back and think about where you're at...
Am I where I hoped I would be by 30? Not by a long shot!
Am I disappointed? Thankfully no.
My life has been consistently good because of my family and friends. Sure, there are goals and dreams I have, but I'm still working on them. I haven't given up and I know that the "compromising" I've done over the years all stems from the fact that I WANT to spend more time with my loved ones, and sometimes it's at the expense of my career. But I'll take family and friends over more money any day. And I have that, so what's to be disappointed about?
I guess I've also been blessed with optimism.
Thankfully I never really put any time deadlines on my dreams... otherwise I could see how I would be disappointed if I hadn't achieved certain things by a certain point.
I did have this "notion" that I'd be famous by 30. But I re-evaluated what I wanted and it's not to be famous. It's to be successful doing something I enjoy. Thankfully in some ways I'm there already (my definition of success may vary immensely from yours by the way). Now, being a musician can mean in order to be successful, you need to be famous. Well, thanks to globalization, you can sell enough songs to build yourself a mansion and still be a relative unknown. And thankfully I'd be happy without a mansion. Not that I wouldn't buy one - but my main point is....
I am happy. Any extra STUFF is just STUFF. I can see stuff contributing to me being more at ease but not making me happier than I am already on a consistent basis. All that said - I do really want a lot of new stuff.
So I guess I'll say, "Hey 30. I'm a little surprised you got here so quickly... whassup?"
What's your take on the Edmonton Real Estate market?
It boomed.
Now is it busting?
Is this just a temporary lull?
I personally think it's good it's slowed down because things were getting ridiculous for a while there. But I think it's only a temporary lull. Come February, it'll be smokin again, and everyone will be saying "Why didnt we buy during the lull?!?"
Discuss!
Now is it busting?
Is this just a temporary lull?
I personally think it's good it's slowed down because things were getting ridiculous for a while there. But I think it's only a temporary lull. Come February, it'll be smokin again, and everyone will be saying "Why didnt we buy during the lull?!?"
Discuss!
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