Rock Band and Drums

Last night, my good friend, Charlie, helped me do some seminary stuff...and then came over and we played a little Rock Band2. I was playin' drums, and the chair I was in was too close to the floor, and my shin was KILLING me. So, I got my really real drum stool to use.

The next song set we did included "Troublemaker" by Weezer...I decided to play it on Expert...

I GOT THE ACHIEVEMENT FOR 100% on Expert! :D :D

Those of you who have been following my Rock band career will know how frustrating I find the drums on Rock Band because I play the drums in real life, and I used to die frequently in Rock Band...

Just had to share this one with you!

I'm not feelin' it...

Do you ever just have those moments when you just aren't feelin' it? I feel very blah. And, like I'd rather be golfing...even tho' I don't golf...you get the picture. ;)

Thanks for the chit-chat this mornin', Tara...hope you enjoy the CD!

Stray Cats

I'm going to forewarn you...this is gross...

So, I live in this little bunch of 4 cottages (small houses)...and there is a plethora of extra cats around. They're annoying...no one owns them...well maybe one or two of them have owners...but they're outdoor cats. So what if you put food down...stupid.

I digress...

Last night, I went to put my dog out to do her business...and when I went to open the door back up...there was this splotch of wetness on my door...I get close to it, sure enough it's cat pee. One of those damn strays sprayed my front porch.

Laurie called Animal control, and they said that they can't do anything and for us to call WAIF. UGH! So, she calls WAIF...and they tell her that there's a waiting list, and that all they do is Spay/neuter the cat and release them back where they came from. Now does that sound at all helpful to any of you? The problem isn't that they're pro-creating...it's that my front porch smells like cat urine! IT'S DISGUSTING! Plus they can some how get under our house, so our bathroom stinks too!

So...what do you do now? I'm just fine with "taking care" of the problem. But, I'm pretty sure that's illegal. So, do I go get cat traps (On my own at my own expense) and then drive them to Deception Pass at night and toss them over...ok...that was a joke! ;)

So, today when I got home this cat, that I don't recognize, climbs out from under my porch...*STEAMING HOT NOW*. So...I let Finley chase the stupid animal...and proceeded to take the little boulders from our Rock Garden, and tried to close up any possible way they could get under the porch. It actually kinda looks cool...but that's not the point, is it?

I hope I'm able to find some cat traps...then I'll go release them off in Skagit County somewhere. LOL! I'll keep catching them until someone complains, or until they're all gone. Is that mean? I dunno...I feel like my health is at risk here.

True Friends

I love my friends...all of them...but inevitably they leave, get married, get new jobs, start families...and life moves in different directions...so it's absolutely amazing and fantastic, when you get to touch base with one such friend, and find that you pick up where you had left off! I think that dynamic is part of the definition for a "True Friend".

What brought this on, you might ask. A family friend, Chris Ziehm. He was up here in the Navy. Laurie and I got to know him through YSA. He was Charlie's friend first, but then Laurie and I adopted him as our own. ;) He's been gone for 2-ish years, and came up to visit. It's like NOTHING has changed, and I love it! He's the handsome boy in the picture, by the way. :)

Guitars

So...I have started teaching myself how to play...I really enjoy music, and learning how to play has been rewarding! I bought an Epiphone Les Paul 100 last May, I think...and I think it was a good guitar to start learning on, but I think it's too small for me...It plays really nice, the fret board is nice and smooth...and I am constantly surprised how well it stays in tune...even with new strings. Here's a picture of it...



So back to the too small thing...I would like a guitar with a longer body...My grandpa had a Guild guitar that I know of...but had Gretsch drums...so we like Gretsch. Below is the guitar that I have my eye on.

It's a bit more expensive than the Epipone I bought, but it's a better quality guitar. I did a little more research and found out there's a dealer down in Langley. So...I'll probably sell the Epiphone...my first baby...but it'll be ok. Change is good. :)

Something that made me laugh tonight...

I'm sitting here finishing up some things for my Seminary lesson tomorrow...looking for some pictures to share with the kids, and I came across the coolest picture EVER!


I'm sure it's totally appropriate...if nothing...it'll get a laugh out of them at 6:10 in the morning. ;)

Sewing machine

We're out of staples...


So...my sister just used her sewing machine to bind some papers together...


Another amazing thing you can do with a sewing machine!

Guitarin'

So...
I have had my guitar for a little bit now. I go in spurts where I play a lot, and then I don't. Right now, I'm playing a lot...every night for an hour at least. My fingers are gettin' used to it and are all calloused pretty good. :)

I can now play a variety of songs...here's my list:

Island in the Sun - Weezer
Dreamin' - Weezer
I'm gone, I'm going - Lesley Roy (I found this song on Rock Band 2)
I don't care - Fall out Boy
Decode - Paramore
I caught myself - Paramore
Here we go again - Paramore
I'm yours - Jason Mraz (for Laurie)
Linger - The Cranberries
About a Girl - The Academy Is...
Phrase that pays - The Academy Is...

Seems like a bigger list than I thought it would. I really enjoy playing, and now that I'm getting the hang of things, I look forward to learning more songs, and more stuff! I'm truly grateful for music in my life, and I feel like I've accomplished something I should have done a long time ago. I'm my own Rhythm section - Drums, Bass (i got one), guitar!