A couple months ago I drew a cool picture of this guitar and mentioned that I miss drawing, though I don't consider myself an artist. Well, I liked the way that came out and I've had the drawing itch ever since. So I finally started drawing again and I decided the SG models were a pretty much endless supply of reference models. Here's a few- I started with Kokeshi, then a couple days later drew Pennelope and Liu. So far, the pic of Liu is my favorite and I'm going to try to do at least a couple of these per week.
wish me luck, I need the Practice. These aren't perfect, but I'm proud of them.

I got a little irritated at the general anti-pop postings here so I've been away for a while. But Vanessa's video blogs and general cuteness made me miss the site. Miss seeing cool people and communicating with similar interests. Even if I don't agree with their point of view. It kinda reminds me of . . .

I used to work with a guy (actually, he worked for me) -he was brilliant, I never tried to act smarter than him, because I wasn't.But I was the boss, and had my (company's) agenda to manage. I let him comment and/or disagree with me for a while, and took his suggestions with merit. -for a while. Eventually, I realized this guy and I just wouldn't ever agree on anything. I realized (almost too late) that his suggestions were good, but didn't align with mine. And arguing and debating issues with him would be a waste of time. I didn't ignore his comments, I just gave them less merit. Less weight, less respect. He's disagreeing because he has to. It's in his nature. He had expressed his opinion so much (and not even in any rude manner) that he had watered down his own worth.

Well, I don't think it's SG as a site that has this problem. (An inherent need to disagree, argue, debate, hate, attack, bully, etc.) It's just human nature. Coupled with Mob mentality and a group that is -by design- anti-establishment.

So I rejoin the living, active again for whatever it's worth, among fellow SG'ers with similar interests and differing points of view.

At least I'll be commenting on my girlfriends page again. Oh, and the comics forum. I miss that a lot too. -Oh, and the naked chicks.

I wrote a giant blog about how I'm not really in the mood to write anything. ranted stream of consciousness for a while, read it over, then deleted it. I don't think I'm really angry or irritated or depressed about anything enough to commit it to [digital] paper and post it. And I'm not really in the mood to go on and on about the things that make me happy. It loses my interest in other people's blogs and I don't even think I'd read my own blog about all the (2.5) things great with my life. I will say though, before I deleted it, I typed the first line with a great typo. Here it is for you .
"It's been a while since my last blo, so I thought I'd post a little something."
where do you go from there? I guess I post my number and make plans to meet in a bathroom stall at 2AM somewhere. Do people still do that? I just read a great book "Survivor" -Chuck Pulaniak where the main character meat his clairvoyant non-girlfriend in a bathroom stall every once in a while to get her info on her visions for his miracle prediction of the week.

On an(other) unrelated note, when I was in the eighth grade, my left nipple was grossly larger than my right. I was always embarrassed in the locker room during gym and football. I seriously thought I was going to have surgery (though I never did -it eventually got better) Also, I developed chest hair quicker than most of the others and quicker in the middle of my chest than anywhere else, so that was good for a laugh as well.

-guess I had something to write about after all.

I got my first tattoo today. Yay! I'm finally edgy and cool. I was a total puss on the table. My back was in shock from the feeling and it took a while to get relaxed. After I finally got myself under control a little, there were still the frequent uncomfortable moments. I wouldn't say I liked it. But I'm glad I got it done. I'm very happy with the results and it's in a great spot to expand on if I can talk myself into it.




Marcy and I are planning a Bejeweled tattoo later this month. With three jewels on my foot and the matching three jewels on her foot. Should be pretty sweet. -getting a bro tat with my girlfriend.

I had a nice weekend. I didn't do anything spectacular. I played with Marcy all weekend. Spent a great deal of time being a bit of a jerk, but overall, we had a great time. She forced me into helping her with her hair. -I'll not be talking about that. I watched a bunch of movies. played on the computer. Went with Marcy to Ocala Tattoo - she got her tats Check em out on her blog. They're awesomer. That's one of my new favorite words. I'll be going back Wed night to get my fire guitar. I'm looking forward to seeing what Pat comes up with. It'll be on my right shoulder blade area on my back.

I watched an Adam Sandler movie I was given for Christmas and haven't watched yet. Click. Comedy movies aren't my favorite, but I thought this weekend would be a good time to check it out. This movie seemed to me to be written by two different people that had no idea what the other was up to.
Writer 1: "I'll write the movie up to the scene where character A realizes character B is actually Character F. You write the movie from that scene to the end. When we're done, we'll meet back up and fix our parts to make it look like we wrote it together. OK?"
Writer 2 "Ok, sounds great."

Click was a cute little comedy that had me rolling my eyes at the ridiculous setups and typical expositions, and laughing at the appropriate gags and occasional joke. Halfway through the movie it became something totally different and I couldn't tell if was going to be a modern "It's a Wonderful Life" or another "Meet Joe Black" Marcy and I were suddenly interested in the movie at this point and actually paid attention. It was pretty entertaining although not that good even by my standards.

We also watched (again) :
V for Vendetta
The Prestige
The Big Lebowski (My favorite comedy, and no, I don't smoke anything)
and I tried again to get Marcy to watch Serenity. Now I know how she felt when we watched Jesus Christ Superstar. -we fought over how much I was paying attention. I'm gonna pull a Clockwork Orange on her next time I watch Serenity with her.

I also read a few of DCs "52" series. I'm a little into it, I got a few early issues for a buck apiece at Junkman's Daughter a few months ago. I'm so unimpressed with the few DC comics I've read. Marvel kicks their butt pretty hard core. I like the Image comics I've seen also.
I hate posting a blog with no pics. Who would want to read all this without some visual gratification.
catch ya next time.

I haven't blogged about anything lately. Too much TV, I blame. So I'm recycling a blog from last year that made me laugh when I re-read it.

I haven't commented on anything lately. Bummer, I miss chatting and commenting with this community.

I haven't looked at naked girls (much) lately. I look at the occasional set, but not with much attention. I like naked girls, but I prefer sets to be less obvious about anatomy. Coy, clever, artsy, and still sexy. More on this later. It isn't my main point.

I haven't attended any events lately. I was really enjoying the company of the ATL group, but moved away. The FL group seemed promising, but apparently there's too much drama there for me to seek out their friendship. At least as a group, anyway.

I haven't posted topics in the few groups to which I subscribe lately. I have seen lots of cool topics around, but I'm not one to dip my toes in the water. Typically, it's all or nothing. So I'll get my involvement straightened out around the site at the same time.

I haven't drawn anything lately. But I intend to take it up again. I've been more inspired to have creative outlet more lately. I'm not an artist, but it's a great creative relief. Even if it is just a still life around the office or house.

I haven't played guitar lately. I just don't feel I'm that good anymore; which sucks, cause

I used to think I was great. Maybe I never was.I'd say I'll fix this by jamming with some locals or !shriek! starting a little band. But that's a little too ambitious for me right now, and every time I say it, it fizzles out r never gets off the ground. Time will tell on this.

I haven't ridden my bike lately. I went out once and realized how out of shape I am. I'll try a few more times before I decide to sell the bike or something.

I haven't played tennis lately. I may be fixing that in the next few days. I just don't know anybody in Ocala to play with. -Yet. I'm heading to the tennis shop to find a game or something.

I haven't taken pictures lately. I recently bought a cool camera that really makes me want to take cool pics again. Once I fix some of these hobbies, I should have plenty of pics filling my hard drive again. -and plenty more to blog about.



Here's the recycled (MySpace) blog from when I thought I was cleverer.
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Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Commercials for "The Departed"
I'm SOOO sick of commercials for the Departed. I'd be into any movie starring this cast, but I give a DAMN about this movie just from the commercial overload. I don't mind movie hype, I actually like it. Build me up, show me more every week, make me want to see your movie. But these ads started like a month ago or something like that maybe MTV awards show. I dunno or care anymore. I'll see this one on DVD out of spite.

Okay, while I'm on the subject of commercials, The new GAP commercial came on. I hate it. The beatnic chick (henceforth known as Audrey Hepburn) dancing to Back in Black. I hate Beatnicks. It's why I dont like bands like Cake. -That and the fact that they play sloppy horns off pitch on purpose. Whatever. They're irrelevant.

Okay, a commercial I DO like. Shatner on the bridge of U.S.S. Enterprise for Direct TV talking about how nice the picture is on the Enterprise. Love it. Nimoy and Takei are all on there too.

I also like the commercial where the guy invents wings and jumps off the river bridge. All the people are like "he can fly! He can fly!" and one dude's like "But he can't swim..." It's real good.

I found this commercial for my first computer. -speaking of Shatner :-)

When I created an account on Wikipedia, it allows you to test edit a random page. This is what it took me to. . .
This is NOT my writing, so stay away from my bum.

----wikipedia---
To many people, the Sexual act of Tromoboning is very much an "untapped source" Some of you may have read about it in certain literal masterpieces, such as "Razzle", "Men Only" or "Sexual Instrumentals"

These Pornographic Magazines - or Grot Rags - will have you believe that Tromboning is a bit of a nerve wracking experience, possibly even a Faux pas in the world of weird sex acts.

Don't believe these jaded views. These are the views of people who quite frankly haven't enjoyed the arousing sensation of a young woman jerking on the old hampton, whilst checking your ricker for fall out.

For those of you that are new to Tromboning, Please, allow me to enlighten you.......

You and your lovely lady (or somebody elses young lady for that matter) return home after a night on the tiles. You're both a little tipsy and the last thing she's got on her mind is a cup of Horlicks and an early night. That's right my friend she's in that Tromboning sort of mood.

So what next?

Good question, tell your girl to drop to her knees like the old days, and whip out your johnson.

Now, while she's going to town on mini-me, it's a good time to give your 'arris a quick once over. So reach round there discreet like and check if there's any "hangers on" from the days exploits!

If it's clean as a whistle, then now's the time.....Turn around slowly, bend over and offer up the starfish.

Cheese... I like cheese

She'll soon catch on and start giving you the best clean up south side you've ever experienced.

As she's orbiting the tongue rocket around Uranus, take one of her hands and delicately, slowly place it on your old chap.

Before she's even realised she's been ten seconds in to a Tromboning session and she's loving it.

If you're still a little confused please see the following Artists Impression. This should clear up any misunderstandings.

(the guy did not upload a picture or it was already deleted. I grabbed this cute P.D.Q. Bach pic from Google which is not really related)



Happy Tromboning guys, What a future.

I've missed being on the site and I haven't read anything that's been going on. I've been dealing with all of these changes and just haven't spent any time on the internet this month except to pay the occasional bill. I've also re-installed all my old games on my computer. So I'm spending a bunch of time playing Starcraft, Doom 3, Half Life, Black and White, Bejeweled 2, (I suck at that game) and my new favorite, Tradewinds 3. I've also been playing Frets on Fire which is a kickass Guitar Hero clone for PC. I've caught the occasional set here and seen some good ones and a bunch of uninteresting ones. But I haven't even read so much as an article lately (except for one by Will Wheaton.) Maybe now that I'm a little more grounded, I'll be around a little more. I wrote all this at work one day this week after a major melt down. I'm feeling much better now. . .



Life 2.0

Well, we all have a second life after stage one is complete. For some college is the divider, a death, birth of a child, a marriage, a divorce. Life changes come and go and you probably look back on these changes as sections of your life. Your time on Earth; broken up into chunks for easy reference and memory. Works for me. And now I've started a new chapter. If I were to make sections of my life based on the preceding examples, I'd be into life 6.0 by now. My most recent change is pretty extreme, so I'll call all that happened before this month "Life 1.0" and say that I'm beginning "Life 2.0" now.

I've moved a long way from all that has been home to me for over 30 years. As soon as I made the plans to move to Florida to start a future with Marcy, The closer it got, the more I was looking forward to it. I'm not just changing location. I'm changing careers at the same time. PLUS I have 2 kids in Atlanta that I must take special care to make myself available for. So all this has transpired and I'm working on getting settled into my new job, new apartment, and new day to day life with my girlfriend. It's more than rocked my world; it's rocked my psyche as well.

There's a lot of adjusting taking place and more to come, hopefully I'll settle down in the next few weeks. It's just a matter of finding my place in the new space. I'm not myself yet, but I'm getting closer to who I am. It's easy to say, "Just be yourself!" but in my opinion, being yourself requires a comfort level that's different for everyone. For me, I've started going back to some of the hobbies and pastimes that make up my personality. I refuse to rely on my girlfriend's lifestyle to dictate my own, even though the temptation is strong. Sometimes I must pull myself away from her and her family to re-center myself and remember what makes me me.

I haven't been in a comic shop in a month. I dropped by one in Atlanta to pick up the recent Cable and Deadpool and the most recent Fell. I don't have a shop on my side of town, and haven't had the time to seek one out yet anyway. Soon, I'll find a place to take all my money and I'll be complaining about it in no time, all the while planning my next visit. -That's me.
I finally put my (mountain) bike back together and took a ride. Apparently, there's a great trail network here in town that I'm looking forward to checking out. Plus a couple greenways (paved trails) for leisure riding, that will allow me to re-acclimate myself to pedaling for two or three hours straight. My hot legs and manly stamina will be in top form in no time. -That's me.
I tuned up a couple guitars that have been stored for months. Played a little guitar. I've been neglecting my uber-chops for over a year. It's going to take some time to get back into shape. God! I used to be such a good guitarist. Now, I'm happy if I can make it through a song. I blame the lack of interesting music for my regression. If I can just avoid joining a classic rock band, I'll be a good guitarist again. -That's me.
Aside from the occasional movie Marcy and I get out to see, I don't actually see many movies anymore. I used to see one or two movies a week and rent about as many. I also used to be into horror movies big time, always looking for the biggest scare I could find and always in search of the movie I just can't watch alone it's so friggin scary! But movies in general have taken a back seat to more easily accessed (free) forms of entertainment (internet porn and video games.) Fortunately, with the summer movies approaching, I'll have plenty to see, and I'll say that they're all great, no matter how bad they are. -That's me.
And the job. I like to work. I like to do well. For many years I feel like I've been getting worse and worse at doing whatever I'm being paid to do. (With the exception of the occasional computer work I get called for.) The problem has been, I have hated my job(s) since I left Wolf Camera. That company set a standard in my eyes that's been tough for any other employer to live up to. I'm glad to say I'm in my new job here in Ocala with Marcy and I'm really excited to enjoy my job again. I get to work with my girlfriend, manage my projects, manage my time, and use my brain. -That's me.

So what does it all mean? That I've found myself in Ocala, FL? Maybe. We're not engaged, and though we both see that as likely, we simply refer to it as a "potential white dress event". That way we don't get in the habit of talking about marriage and weddings before it's time. Mostly it just means this has all been on my mind a while and a little self-therapy is probably prudent at this stage.

I drew a picture today. I'm not an artist, but I like to draw and used to be fairly decent. Artists blow m away, the way they can connect a drawing from two ends of a page, keeping proportions intact, perspective accurate. I miss drawing. I was never a good painter, and I suspect I would've been ok at sculpting with a little teaching. But I'm not really a left brained person. Things have to "add up" or be overly technical in all my creative endeavors. I'm not a very creative person, but I do have creative impulses.



Drew that at work today. It's my last week, what are they gonna do? Fire me? Now my work has backed up a little and I better get back to it.

I went to a funeral yesterday, my Grandma. I loved her (as all grandchildren should.) She was a happy person. I'll miss her. It was a bittersweet passing as she suffered with Alzheimer's and a host of medical problems that come from old age and frequent trips to the hospitals.
I looked like a mobster in black shirt and slacks with a dark red tie.
I'll upload a pic later when I can get it off the phone.

I've had a great weekend. I shared a party with a friend's birthday for my going away event. We had hibachi and sushi for dinner, and Karaoke for hours on end. It was a blast and I sang great.



I'm a really bad singer, I mean. . . I am a musician, I do love to sing, I just can't. My throat and lungs do not work well together. BUT. Friday night, I can say I had 2 of the best performances of the night. "Let's Dance" -Bowie, and "Rock n Roll" -Zeppelin. I kicked Robert Plant's ass and David Bowie couldn't sound as good unless he'd actually been there. Anyone paying attention agreed, I was doing great. And that's an awesome feeling. One I've experienced only one other time when I fronted a band for a few songs. I get it all the time on guitar. Most of the folks I hang with aren't used to someone REALLY knowing their way around the neck. But I usually avoid vocals and don't generate much praise when I do sing.



So anyway, I know it's only Karaoke, but who cares? It is always fun even when it's bad, and it's even more fun when you sing in tune.
Know your song, and don't hold back. Sing as loud as you need to and control where you hold the mic. I'm sure REAL vocalists would agree. Though they may or may not agree that I was stellar Friday night. I was, after all... REALLY drunk!







Adding to the awesomeness of the weekend - a couple friends that we NEVER get to hang out with were there. (I'm really good at the guilt trip! Thanks, Mom.) I had a ton of great food this weekend and further developed my taste for sushi, (I'm now a fan) picked up a couple checks for some light computer work, and while shopping at Fry's (love that store) the girl ringing me up was falling over herself in love with me. She wasn't hiding it well. -If at all.

Sunday I spent pretty much the whole day getting to know iTunes. I'm a WinAmp user from way back and though I've used iTunes from time to time, I like the freedom and sensibility of WinAmp. Then after reading Will Wheaton's iTunes article I decided to delve deeper. I'm digging it mostly for the album flow alone. If only there was an XML media library. . .

But I'm really liking the AlbumFlow. note that if you have a big music library it WILL take you a long time to update your tags and get iTunes to grab the appropriate album artwork. here's a sample or 2.