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July 23 LebanonI've just got back from the shisha place, my usual haunt late at night. Its odd to find a place usually so rowdy, to be so quiet. The reason? Lebanon. As much as I have had to witness over the years, with seeing friends, and coworkers lives destroyed by the problems of war, the news of late has been particularly ominous.
Cnn, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, all seem to be garnering to show the most gruesome, most horrifying pictures of the conflict. It is both good, and bad. For those of us who havent lost a loved one to this war yet, think yourselves lucky. You can look at the pictures dispassionately, and maybe just come out with the conclusion that you would never wish that on your worst enemy. For those who have lost friends, wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. I feel for you. I also wish for you not to give in to the path of hate, though I hold out little hope that you can, as I dont think I could.
For myself, it brings back different memories, from when I have seen wars here before, both from just behind the front lines, and also at home, waiting for the bombs to fall, and rain their death indiscriminately on the population below. I hoped to never relive those again, but they come seemingly vivid in my dreams teh past few nights, denying me any rest, and plunging me back into the state of mind I was back then. It can be very hard to carry on with your daily life, having fun, working at mundane things, or just being at home, late at night by yourself, with it hanging over your head.
I was sat talking to some pilots earlier, talking about how emotional it was getting for them, trying to fly refugees out of the war zone, and back home. Most of them were military pilots tehmselves when they were younger, and as such, the feeling of being helpless to do anything other than to evacuate the people thay can is almost unbearable.
I hope it all stops soon, and we can concentrate on the survivors, and rebuilding their lives. In reality though, I feel it is about to escalate. Forgive me people, if when it does, I turn back to drink. July 15 New studioFinally! Have been trying to get back into teh blog for months now, ever since I had to patch a couple of security holes in my pc at home. But no luck. Have finally relented, and converted an old laptop so that I can leave said holes open, so I can access the thing, and update it. *Way to go Microsoft... not*
Anyhoo, things have been moving along quite a little in my tiny world. Have moved the studio... Twice, but now we are cosily into a new home, and after having spent a reasonable wedge retrofitting it, I am actually quite pleased. I dont dread being here at night now. (Not with the satellite Tv, broadband internet, the sofas, and music to keep me company... hehehe) Will upload some pics as soon as I have cleaned up, as I am still in the stage of removing things from teh boxes that they were in for two months... Yes, two months since I lost the first studio...
Begin flashback
It all started after I had spent a night awake at work, adn tehn had to go in teh next morning to try to repair the damage that one of our erstwhile 'managers' had done, by being a lazy bastard, and sitting on his arse when he should have been working. Basically,because he had screwed up, 6 months worth of projects wazs being held up, and the customer was justifiably pissed. Anyway, I walk in, straight into an argument that the two companies I work for are having. I can honestly say that the manager who caused the problem, was the same lazy bastard, and is still causing problems today. Probably why I am writing my resignation on teh other computer right now.
Anyhoo, before he caused a riot, and one was about to start, I solved the problem, by nobly giving up the space of my studio. No thanks, no appreciation, I was just told that it was a great idea that the manager had had. Asshole.
Same day, I rented the flat for the second studio, but it was temporary, for several reasons. 1, it was in the same building as the wankers I work for, and therefore, I had a feeling that they would call me into work when I was in leisure time, which happened once because they couldnt be arsed to lay a cable themselves, before I told them to fuck off, and left my phone with them, refusing to be on call ever again. Plus, the studio was on teh second floor, with no lift. Which I will tell you, is not where you want to haul gear up and down twice a week, espescially when the gear fills a van. Our band gear actually stayed in my van for the duration of studio 2, breaking the suspension at the back, but hey. company car, so dont care :P.
Enter studio 3, took more time finding this one. It has its own entrance, and space to store gear on teh ground floor, the studio being on the top floor. I finally have enough space for two sound areas, one sound booth, and one full recording studio, plus space to put the pc's that drive it all, my repair workshop, and even a space for a desk, and seating area for artistes... ?Yes, they like to sit and chill most the time, outside the recording booth. It also gives me an area so that I can screen to them footage that we have in progress.
All in all, very cool.
We're close to finalizing governmetn paperwork, so we should be finally good to go, before the end of the year. My dreams so close to being realized, I can taste it.
On other points, social life has dropped to zero, as all the time has been spent fixing studio, and other problems here, there, and everywhere. I managed to takt this past weekend off. Wow. two whole days in like months. But it felt good. I just need a beach, a beer, and a woman, adn I can really relax. Well, I guess two out of three wouldnt be bad.
If problems persist in adding stuff to this log, then am going to just move the site. will post here the new address if I do.
L8r...
Oh, btw. The Dixielanders are now three years old, have done over 100 gigs, have helped raise over 100,000 dinars for charity, and have played for thousands of people. For everyone out there who has stuck by our little idea, born on a beer mat, whilst very drunk. I thank you all.
For those of you who havent hired us yet. :P
March 25 Angry? I'm far beyond angryAbdul Rahman. Its a name that should ring a bell to all people across the world right now. A Man, who after 16 years in exile because of the soviets, and the Taliban, returned home, to find that he is condemned to die. Did he kill anyone? is he a serial rapist? No. It is because he decided to convert from Islam to Christianity.
And they are calling for his death. Even if released by the authorities, the muslim people have vowed to kill him. What a bigoted hated way to look at things. What should Christians do therefore when someone converts to Islam and is welcomed with open arms by these people. Should we kill them too? Or what about Burglary. Death. Crossing the road against the light. Death. Changing your political Beliefs. Death.
When I think of the number of times that I have defended these people from words, and other, more serious things, I wonder now if that was for nothing. I feel ashamed, stabbed in the back by the people I was trying to tell the world were not all bad people. And I'm angry.
I'm not religious. Yes, on paper I am a Christian, but I am not sure what I believe in my heart. It is a question I have never really examined. I am not angry because I am a Christian, and a fellow Christian is being persecuted for his beliefs. Abdul Rahman could be Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Pagan, or even worship false gods, and idols. But I wouldnt condemn him to death for it. If someone believes something deep in their heart, you will never change it with threats.
I believe now, that there is a war coming, and this time, it will be a holy war. Christian against muslim, and blood will be shed on every street, in every town in the world. Perhaps this is the beginning of the apocalypse. After all, a war like this will surely turn nuclear, as there are at least two nations in teh world in posession of those weapons, who have opposing beliefs.
Abdul Rahman will be the first casualty of many. So remember his name. Remember his face. Look at it. Study it, and then tell me that he should die. March 12 Light reliefOk, so I avent posted in a while. its getting to be more than a while, but hey. I am actually blogging sort of, I bought a voice recorder, and am talking to it at night. But until I find an audio blog thingy, it aint being posted up.
Newsfront wise. The Charity concert I was involved in, which you wont know about, because I was asked in the first week of January, wound up raising 65,000 BD for the Hope institute for the blind. Well, that was the figure at the start of the concert. No idea what it is right now. That buys them their new building and some other things as well, so it was a success. W00t!
Till then, thought would amuse with some jokes about my life for the past 3 months.
10 ways to realize you are working too hard.
1. You now have a TV, a computer, and a wardrobe in your car, to save those annoying trips home for changing clothes etc. You dont even know if the TV works.
2. Your landlord lives next door to you, but you havent paid your rent in three months.
3. Or your electricity, your telephone, your internet connection, and any of your loans.
4. You now have 4 important packages waiting for you, which you havent had the time to pick up. The place is open 14 hours a day.
5. You have stopped wearing a watch, because you are coming to the conclusion that time is a reality caused by a lack of work. Or is it sleep...
6. You have decided that buying new clothes is easier than cleaning your old ones. You still havent thrown your old ones out, and the pile is now four feet high, and is currently working on its secondary school entrance exams.
7. You hired someone to clean your house, and take care of 6, but they cant start till you make them a set of keys. That place is open 12 hours a day.
8. You seem to have entered a dimension where every day is a Monday.
9. You have driven to the wrong house 3 times because you forgot that you moved.
10. If they dont deliver, you dont eat.
11. Caffeine has now officially been classed as a food group
12. You are up to four packs of ciggarettes a day. Only problem is, you havent smoked in 6 years, and still cant remember. They are piling up next to the clothes.
13. You are convinced that there is an I in team... There is also an X, a Q, a Z and the number 7
14. You can no longer count to ten without the aid of a computer, or your fingers
15. Lists of ten things seem to be getting longer and longer.
16. You have eaten a years supply of aspirin in a month, and are working on a bulk buy discount.
17. You know where to find food, parts, and shisha at any time of day or night.
18 you keep writing things down to remember them, then forget where the pad is
19. You have booked your car for its last three services, but havent taken it in once. They are threatening to reposess it by force if it stays still long enough for them to locate it.
and for now, 20. You get 2 days off, so you can go watch a grand prix, and wind up working more, because you are unable to sleep unless its on a keyboard.
Enjoy joy.
February 11 Coming SoonWell, looks like I havent written for a while, which is pretty much true. Not really motivated to. Got whisked off after my Dubai trip to Japan, and things have been crazy since that. Am still sorting out my pics from there. Have never been to a place where I have wanted to see so much, and do so much, and accomplished so little. heh heh heh. Nevermind, am definitely going back. Basically, 2006 rocks thusfar. Am working with a couple of friends of mine to raise enough money through a charity concert to build a new wing for the Hope institute, so am pretty busy.
So, the Japan update, and Dubai Update will be here as soon as I can find the time to type em all in. photies n all. This one is just a post to the man upstairs mainly, thanking him for sparing a friend of mine. So Thanks. It means a lot to me. Am kinda running out of friends, and am too lazy to make new ones. December 30 Drive by postAh... Havent posted for a few days, mainly because every time i want to, I think that i should work instead on a review of 2005. Problem 1, Most of it occured in an alcoholic haze, so cant remember enough to fill one sentence. hehehe. just kidding.
Actually, there is too much to write about. Might get a chance to over the next few days. Was reading Rosies post, or whatever, questionaire thingie about the previous year. That might actually help I think, at least to find some starting points. Problem is, now, I gotta find it again *sighs*
Spent most of yesterday curled up on my sofa. Yeeees. My wonderfully fluffy, comfy sofa. New years resolution is to get the missing cushions replaced. I still would love to know how I have managed to lose cushions from my sofa. Its not like they are that small. But hey. I will find a way. And I need to re-cover it. find the same material, coz its about twenty years old now, and its now more of a yelow than a beige, which is what it started out as. Those, and of course, must continue working on music this year. Onward n upward.
So expect by January 6, to have broken some, if not all of these. Note to self, have already been doing nothing with music for a week, so think that ones already broke.
On a more wierd note, am going to be in Dubai for new years, V popped up yesterday, and invited me to go see her, so I figured, what the heck. Christmas was such a blow out that I might as well get blottoed in style somewhere else. But I have solved Christmas. hehehe. Went out today to get my present from me, to me, lots of love me. A PSP. okokok. I know, everyone is thinking geeeeeekville, but hey. its the first time i have bought a console that is new. I mean, not new, but one that is state of the art. And its my present, so go away, and leave me in my geeky paradise.
Speaking of which, am off to play it now.
M December 25 Aha! the blogs back upSomehow things werent working last night or this morning. Needless to say. wasnt in much of a state to type anything anyways.
The gig went well, suprisingly enough, even with a dodgy clarinet, and my forgetting the words to practically everything that I had to sing. The place was packed out, and stayed that way till just after we finished. So pretty good morning. Needless to say, went back to play with Max, Jojo, adn Ali later on for an evening session, which was pretty hot as well, and much better for me, as teh pressure was off me to have to perform as the sole front liner, so to speak.
Spoke to Dave earlier on today, and he says is having his pace maker fitted tomorrow AM. Perhaps it will improve his tempo keeping. hehehe. What a christmas present eh?
Anyhoo. its late, and I still have work to do, getting stuff ready for Max before he goes tonight.
For those of you who celebrate it, Melly Melly Clistmas.
And for those who dont. Have a great day being a humbug like me.
Speaking of crimbo, went out earlier to try to find self a christmas present, even though this is perhaps one of my least favourite times of the year, and yes, thst is because I'm single. Though come to think of it, wasnt particularly partial to it when I wasnt either. Guess it just doesnt mean much to me, and all the nauseating present giving, surface only niceness really grates on my nerves, with of course the obligatory ho ho ho. Anyhoo, back to the point, I came back with bupkiss. Absolutely nothing interested me enough to get. So guess I'm a cheap date this year.
Will upload some photos from the gig, adn mayeb, if I find something I like, some audio/video too. |
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