Gregula's Blather

k so I've been busy.

2008-06-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

Twins will do that to you.
A lot has happened since february 2007, most of it is written in my wife's great blog about our children. See the links for where to go or: http://katandbrody.blogspot.com/.
What have I been up to? Besides being a daddy? Not much. Still playing guitar, that's about it.
band site: http://www.myspace.com/plasticflappybats
my site: http://www.myspace.com/countgregulamonsterboy
my alter ego : http://www.myspace.com/monsterboyflappybat

more updates to come I swear.

TWINS ARE HERE!

2007-02-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

Brody Strummer Polling 6lbs
Katarina Lynn Polling 3.5 lbs
It is a blessing.
They spent 21 days in the nicu, jut for growth and eating issues with the boy.
Now they are home.
And life will never be the same.
After all we went through, the power of prayer and a testament to faith, this is.
K, that sounds like Yoda.
So now we just go day to day, and hope this gets easier.
It's day 3 and I wanna fast forward 6 mos.. ;)

been a while..again

2006-12-26T19:59:00.000-08:00

so it's day after Christmas and all I can think is how grateful I am our twins are still in utero and not delivered prematurely. At 25 weeks we learned that the girl had a umbilical cord issue where she had absent flow. Basically not getting as much nutrients, etc, blood flow.
So the Dr. had us all worried we were going to deliver at 27 weeks. If not earlier.
Well by the grace of God we are at 30 weeks tomorrow and we hope she defies the critics and we can go 32 or more. It is a nerve wracking mess. Every 4 days they check, and it is a heart attack each time, but lessening a little now that we are at least past 27 weeks. She needs to grow better however. Joanna is huge, which is fine, she goes to a jacuzzi 2 times a day to help with the blood flow issues. So we are grateful this Christmas to still have em cooking.My friend Barry married his fiance' Ce'cile this last friday, I couldn't go but I hope they are very happy together. And my friend Carlos and his lovely wife gave birth to a son. To think we are actually going to have to be responsible now is strange. Carlos and I have never been the type, but now we have to. It will be an experience.
The Bats are kind of on hiatus for now until this baby thing gets better. We will probably play after March or so.
I am a stressed out mess, but it will all be worth it.
Still miss the cats, it's weird without them.

an ode to nance, our last cat for a while

2006-10-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well Another bad weekend.
Actually it was okay except for Friday, we had to put down our last furry friend.
Nance (Ann’s sister) was 18, she had been getting a litttle deranged since piewacket died, and she got really sick Wednesday on. She had the same signs that wacket had only she kept throwing up. Friday morning when I saw her laying in her litter box I knew it was time.
I feel somewhat numbed, because I just had to do this 3 mos. ago with Wacket.
Another teary trip to the vet, another sedation, then she was gone. Only she twitched a little afterwards, reflexes, or she was putting up a fight. Our house seems real empty now, soon it will have a couple babies, but it’s real quiet.
Friday night was cool, the Plastic Flappybats played artwalk again, and we did pretty good. It got my mind off of things for sure.
Saturday was no fun though, I tossed the litterbox, food bowls, away.
We will get another cat someday, but not right now.
I miss her, as well as Ann, and the Wack.
They were my kids for 18 years, a symbol of my independence, a responsibility I carried through on for a long time. I remember the day I got Ann and Nancy. Two little black and white kittens sitting in a pet store, scared to death. I knew I couldn’t take just one.
Nance, I love u sweety. We miss u.
I’ll remember
How skittish you were.
How you finally grew to accept wacket as yer brother,
and how u two would lay next to each other
Belly Rubs.
How u’d kiss me with yer stinky breath.
The Whisker tickles
Yer success in not going to the vet for 18 years.
Naps with you on the guest bed.
How u always would make us nap when we were in the bedroom.
How you’d meow when looking at lizards out the window.
The first kiss u gave Mom.
I miss u. It’s lonely without u guys.

k i hate mtv and the vma's

2006-09-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I continue to watch awards shows. I like the oscars, but always end up watching grammys, emmys, and the mtv vma's.
Why?
I just get enraged during music award shows. 3/4 of the winners/ performers don't even play an instrument. As for hip hop, while there are a few artists I can tolerate, enough already. Why do these rap guys have to go out on stage with another rapper, are they scared to do it alone? It's just plain awful. Bring back Run DMC. Yet these guys make tons of money. Why? Because naive kids buy this crap. Now maybe I'm an old guy now, but when I was young I was introduced to bands, playing music. You know, guitars, drums, a bass, vocals... Lou Reed was right on this particular show when he said 'I'd like to see more Rock and Roll". Me too.
And every band on this show was an "Emo" band. I'm fairly sure you won't see "Panic at the Disco" releasing a double album in the next 2 years. These awards are for what's hot at the moment for 13 year olds. Ridiculous. And why do the Killers want to look like a bunch of porn actors now? I mean the seventies look is in but come on.
What a monumental waste of 3 hours, again. And Jack Black, you aren't funny. Give up.
While I'm at it you didn't do Carl Denham in King Kong well either. I do give u some props for hi fidelity (sp) and School of Rock.
Anyhoo. I hate MTV. And when's the last time you saw them actually play, I don't know, say, a music video?
And yet next year I'll watch them again.
In other news, Our twin pregnancy is such an emotional roller coaster, I don't know how people do this multiple times. With God's grace, things are going good, with a few scares that we hope go away. We are at 13 weeks. I will be in an asylum by March. I do my best to take care of Joanna because she is going through a lot.
September 11th is coming up. I'm a 9-11 junkie. I don't know why. Tragedy fascinates me. I need to know every detail. I have probably 35 different views of the plane hits/ collapse of the World Trade Center that I keep watching. I guess I keep rehashing it every year because I can't imagine myself being in the planes or the towers when they went down, but I try to. Weird I know. I just so remember that day, almost every detail. Once again I will get up early on Sept 11 and watch the names being read, I always do.

k stuck watchin dbacks game

2006-08-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

so i'm about ready to turn in when i say to myself, gee how are the dbacks doin?
I'm not the #1 fan or anything, but I'm behind them. I was at game 7 when they won the world series, and to be at at a game 7, and win, that's a moment few have.
Anyway, they are playin the dodgers and in the top of the 14th tied 7-7.
so now i have to watch. I always get stuck watchin the late games.
argh.

may update who won, may not.

stuff that bugs me

2006-08-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

people not paying attention driving w/ cell phones
movie theaters-kicked chairs, yapping, crinkly wrappers, cell phones
church- yapping, talking during communion, recently-kicked chair
guys whizzing past you, only to end up at the same stoplight you reach 3 mins later.
traffic, especially back ups for a change of tire viewing.
people who don't say thx for holding a door open
guys waiting in the ER for their friend, throwing fbombs every other word.
slow walkers i get stuck behind.
giant peple with no apparent handicaps, in motorized shopping carts, filling the cart with cheetos and soda.
walmart customers after 6am
dogs next door barking all night
girls who really don't have the belly shirt look but wear them anyway.
Etiquette ignorance (sp?)
more to come.

found a bunch of calendars 88-94

2006-08-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Apparently at work back in the day I kept a record of what I was doing from 1988 - 1994
Weird. Weird to see how life changes. This will bore most people but I want a personal record.
I will list by category. The first, Concerts I went to from 88-94.
Wow. Did I go to a lot of shows.
1988
2/7 Aerosmith, Dokken -Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
2/12 Guns N Roses- Celebrity Theater
2/14 Guns N Roses- Celbrity Theater-This one they cancelled, A BIG RIOT. I had 2nd row..
3/22 L.A. Guns - Studio West ?
4/6 Whitesnake, Great White -Compton Terrace
6/9 Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction- Mason Jar
7/9 Guns N Roses-somewhere
7/10 Guns N Roses- same place
7/15 Smashed Gladys
9/1 Smashed Gladys-again?
9/12 Aerosmith, Guns N Roses -Compton Terrace
10/6 Judas Priest- Compton Terrace
10/15 Precious Metal - Mason Jar- We were underage, still got in, met band, have pics, who cares
10/22 Cheap Trick at the fair
12/4 Metallica -Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
1989
5/23 Precious Metal (all girl band, met them, very cool)
9/10 Metallica- Compton Terrace
9/29 Faster Pussycat, Dangerous Toys - Big Surf, Yep Big Surf.
10/5 L7 -Sun Club (Never got to see them, i was 21, this was my bday. Spent night throwing up in Batman taco bell cup. gr8)
12/3 George Thorogood- Symphony Hall
1990
1/9 The Cult - ASU Activity Center
2/8 Faster Pussycat- Celebrity Theater
3/29 Caterwaul- The Asylum
4/6 Wild Child (Doors Tribute) - Rockers
6/27 Gordon Lightfoot- Gammage
8/3 Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads- Escape from NY tour- Irvine Meadows
11/6 Janes Addiction- Rockers
1991
3/9 Red Kross- Asylum
1992
1/31 Guns N Roses - Compton Terrace
6/7 Dickies-Mason Jar
6/10 Metallica- Somewhere
6/19 The Cure
8/13 Faster Pussycat - After the Gold Rush
10/18 Ramones- somewhere
94
3/10 Red Kross
3/15 Ramones
4/6 Dramarama
4/15 The Pretenders
7/27 Metallica
8/24 Lollapalooza
10/30 The Dickies
11/1 Green Day-Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
11/2 L7
11/13- Gwar/The Dickies
next up other stuff u don't care about.

geez louise

2006-08-07T00:23:00.000-07:00

So I'm doin fine, it's a sunday night, and I'm tryin to sleep and all of a sudden I start thinking about Piewacket. It's been a month, and tonight it hit me hard.
I guess i've been so stressed about our twin pregnancy so much I haven't had the time to grieve. Well tonight I obviously did. It's all a culmination (is that a word?) of everything I guess.
I miss him so much. I forget all the little things, then they come back to me in waves.
I wanna see him snugglin again with mom, I guess I miss that the most.
Things are good though, I'm hoping every week with the grace of God things are ok.
Funny how you can miss a cat, but come on now, I've had him 17 years.
I love the nance, she's 18, startin to get a little senile, started when wacket was gone.
Maybe he's possessed her? ;)
I keep feelin guilty about it, when I put hm to sleep, like maybe I didn't give him more of a chance. Then I realize it would have just been a matter of time.
It still hurts though.
I miss u buddy. We did hear ya the other day though, feel free to come on and make your presence known again.
gahh, life is good, but sad, and worried, but glad.
Big smooch to you wacket on this August 6th night.

here's hoping August is a good month

2006-07-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

July has reeked. I mean it had it's most wonderful moment, us pregnant with twins, but also had ugly, depressing moments. Piewacket having to be put down, a miscarriage scare, constant worry and stress. We hope August is better. We'll just give August up to God and let him handle it.
Feeling some sorrow, guilt, over piewacket. It's been 3 weeks and tonight I got hit. Looking at pictures of your pet you put down three weeks ago will stir that up. Note to self.
I just wonder what might have been if we had resorted to giving him daily fluid injections. I mean, he could be right now going to the vet and having the same thing I did to him 3 weeks ago but we would have had him for another few weeks. But, then again, how would his life been? That's the agonizing part of this. What if??
Still I know he's pain free and hangin with Ann up there somewhere, beggin for food.
Miss the booger. A lot.

remembering the good old days

2006-07-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

For some reason today I am thinking about my old band, and the kinda music scene that was going on here in the early 90’s. I don’t know how it’s done today, but our band, The Customers, used to just go to these small dives and get gigs. No auditions, nothing. I remember playing some place in downtown phoenix, 3 flights up from the downtown deli, to a bunch of wanna be skinheads. We used to play with
an all girl band, The Sugarbabies. We’d draw about 12-15 people when we were “touring” together ;)
The best times were playing at the Sun Club in Tempe, and The Silver Dollar Club in Downtown Phoenix. These places are long gone, but It was fun while it lasted. Heck we even finally played the Mason Jar in another band I was in. You knew you hit it big when you got a Monday night gig at the Mason Jar;)
Hollywood Alley is still around, although Our current band will never play there, unless they want to clear out the place.
Last I heard from our singer in the Customers, was that he was in a band called Death takes a Holiday. Haven’t heard or seen em since.
I have no point to this, I’m just reminiscing.
In other news I still miss my cat and we are almost 8 weeks preggers with twins and I’m trying not to worry so much.

An open letter to my furry friend

2006-07-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

On a hot monday in July, The 10th to be exact, I had a decision to make regarding u, Piewacket.
You were up the previous morning at 3:30 am, looking lost, searching for water, restless, and blankly looking at me.
Usually i can take care of your needs when you are howling, be it food, water, a snack, whatever.
I knew Monday morning what I had to do. I would be taking you to the vet for the last time.
You probably were wondering why Mom was crying as she said strange words you've never heard before. Goodbye.
You hate going to the vet, and once I had to pick you up from the bed, where you actually looked comfortable, and put you
in the crate you probably figured you were going for another check up.
As you rode to the vet, i tried to console you, but that never works. It was the longest ride too.
When we got to the vet, some little kids were asking questions, why is he doing that (your normal yowling)
I said you didn't like going to the vet. when they started mimicking you, i ignored them, hoping the parents would intervene.
When we were in the exam room, the assistant was very nice, and she did the thermometer (whicch you hate) and Then we waited for Dr. Horvath. Dr. Horvath liked you a lot, I could tell, and she saw that my decision was going to be the end.
I had to sign some papers, I was strong then for you buddy, I needed to be. Another assistant gave you a sedative in the neck, you were gradually
getting sleepy, you cried out once while it was working. I hope it wasn't because you were in pain, or it wasn't because you were asking me why was I doing this. You started slumping in my arms, yer paws crossed out in front, then I held you
like a baby so I could look into your eyes. I remember telling you it was going to be ok, and that you were such a good boy. A few minutes went by, you were getting sleepier and sleepier, I held you again with your paws crossed over.
Dr. Horvath came in, we laid you on a blanket on the table, you didn't fidget too much. As they were injecting you, I was right in your face, telling you it was ok, we love you, go to sleep baby. And within minutes, you did. The dr said she was sorry, and she let me spend some time with you.
Your eyes, pikey I will never forget your eyes. I just kept talking to you, petting you, telling you I love you and it was ok.
I remember moving yer paw, and it just fell back down. I wanted to be sure.
I couldn't quite leave you yet, lying all alone on the blanket. I will always remember that pike.
I finally grabbed the carrier and gave you one last kiss, turned around, but I still couldn't leave you.
I talked to you one last time, then left.
On the way out, I lost it. Deep brutal sobbing. I couldn't believe what I had just done, I felt so guilty.
On the way home I called V, she was sad, said we'd done the right thing.
I know I did, it hurts me buddy, it really does.
I came home, and cried hard on and off during the day.
Your sister wasn't sure what was happening.
Your mom came home and we cried and cried, we miss u so much. We love you so much.
You were the best cat in the world, even though the last 2 years you drove me nuts I still cherished you.
I'll always remember
When u were a kitten, getting stuck in wendy's dashboard.
How Ann and Nancy hated you at first.
How you loved Barney, and velvet.
How u used to poop in tubs (guess you preferred porcelain)
How u used to sleep, just the cutest positions.
How u used to sleep and snuggle with mom (she misses this the most)
how u would yowl for your way, you would YOWL.
You kissing nance
You "walking the walk" on the sink
How u loved your nose rubbed.
How you would sleep in my lap when we had you shaved.
How I would spend a lot of time with you and your various trips to water (which isn't the happiest memory)
How u loved to go outside, how u'd bounce around in the backyard.
How you'd hawk up grass
How you loved catnip
Yer naps with nance on the bed.
You're tuna juice drinking, how u'd get cream all over your chin,
having to go get rotissiere chicken for you.
How you'd lick our plates like a dog.
How you'd go out front and walk around with mom.
How you'd stretch yer paws out, voguing.
I miss you, I love you, and you will always be in my heart.
This really hurts buddy.
I know you are playin with ann and barney, at peace, no pain, and crying for 9 lives beef and chicken.
Your mom and I love ya buddy.

good news/bad news

2006-07-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well, been a long time.
We are in the new house, still have a lot of stuff to do..
We are almost 6 weeks pregnant with twins! We feel so blessed, it is such a miracle!
I still have not comprehended this, but I will!
I hope it's a boy and a girl, that would rule. We are now just praying for a long
and healthy pregnancy.
On a sad note, I had to put our cat that I got 17 years ago, to sleep. He had been teetering on and off with renal failure (kidneys) and the last couple of days, I knew it was time. We could have tried shooting him up with fluids, but what kind of life is that. I wanted him to go with dignity. And he did.
Piewacket Polling 1989-2006. I was there as they did the deed, and I was glad I was. I wanted him to know I was there, I didn't want the last person he saw to be a stranger.
I was fine throughout the whole thing, he seemed so peaceful, just calm, no pain, and bam.
That was it. This is the hardest thing I've had to do, but I was strong. Until I got out of the vet's office. Strangely some friends of mine had to put their cat Erlikk to sleep just last wednesday.
So I've had enough with euthanasia week.
We loved Piewacket, and he loved us.He WAS, and i know everybody thinks theirs is, the best cat in the world. I already miss him.

a long time no post

2006-05-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Okay we are in the new house! Now we have so much work ahead of us.. doh! We still have our apt downtown for a mo, which i hope to use as a practice place. Moving sucks, but not having the house set up to put stuff away also stinks. In time.
K Suns are in the western conference finals again! Funny thing is the beginning of the season everyone wrote the suns off, I thought we would still be good. And we are. What an amazing feat, playing without Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas, and on our way to Dallas. I love this team, always have, always will. U have to stick with them and believe. I'm always the eternal optimist I guess.
Saw Heart on May 14th, Nancy threw me a pic, I threw her one of mine. They were so good, always wish I could recapture the feeling when I'm there. She is such a good guitar player, it makes me sick.
It's getting hot out. I hate summer.

apparently moving soon

2006-04-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

which is gr8, yet i do kinda like this walking to work at 8:55 to be there at nine thing. ah well
Living here at the met just makes me appreciate living in a house even more, maybe this was a test. Definitely humbles you.
Going to Heart on May 14th- front row , thanks to a friend I know- it should be awesome.
I need to get a guitar and an amp fixed here while I am still downtown.
Don't get me wrong, I am anxious to move, yet if it took a while longer I wouldn't be sad.
Although we do miss the King Bed.
I really don't know how people sleep on a queen..
summer's on it's way, I'm already hot. I hate it when it gets above 80.
Why do I live here again?
Easter is Sunday, Good Friday tomorrow- Might watch The Passion of the Christ again as a reminder of what Jesus did for us.
Anyhoo signing off
GO SUNS~~~!!!!!

mon march 20, 4:40 AM

2006-03-20T03:41:00.000-08:00

I can't sleep. It usually happens on Sundays because my mind just keeps racing with what to do in the coming week. Plus the felines like to get up early. Brats. We both kinda like living downtown, it'd be cool to have the house, then a loft downtown for like weekends. I'm looking forward to the house, it'll be fun, but I must admit I hope it's delayed a little longer.
Working on some new rockabilly songs, this stuff is hard. All of my guitars except 2 have been set up properly and I still need to get my huge amp fixed.
Boy am I eating bad. I need to eat healthier, I am actually growing to like asparagus. Took me a year.
Heart is coming May 14th.. I'm psyched.
K- back to attempt sleep.
I hate Mondays.

We are downtown now for a bit

2006-03-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

Moving sucks. But we are out of our house and into an apt for a bit. For me it's gr8 because I can literally walk to work. Joanna's drive isn't too horrid because she is against traffic either way.
It's an adjustment, but it will be ok.
It's sad leaving the first house we bought, It's a dang nice house, that's for sure. Our new house will be cool though. We finally dove into the 20th century and got cell phones. That's weird.
Our tortoise is stayin with my sister in Chandler until we are in the new place.
Well, time for some guitar..

moving

2006-02-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

so we have to be outta our house by march 8th. It is now Feb 26th. We don't have a place lined up. We still have to pack most of the house. This Sat we have to have a yard sale. But I am not
stressing....

The Olympics are over and have been fun to watch. I still love watching women's figure skating the most, but the speed skating (men's) was fun too. Only problem is some sites on the web give u the results before u can watch em on tv that night. Stupid.
This week 2 of my fav bands came and went and I didn't go. Ah well, catch em next time.
Guitar will be taking a slight backseat until we are settled somewhere. I think for the 2 months we are in some apartment or house, I will just play every night, no movies, games, etc.., and Joanna will be working on our giant floor mosaic which is turning out really cool.

So till next time, when- I don't know, signing off for now.

waking up at 3:15 AM

2006-02-21T22:07:00.000-08:00

So I'm kinda having insomnia now again, but I can sleep from about 11-4am or so. This morning I wake up at 3:15 on the dot to see my wife leaving the bedroom for the kitchen. Now my wife never wakes up in the middle of the night, she could sleep through godzilla bursting out of out backyard from a long hibernation. So she happens to awake at 3:15 am.
3:15

If u knew the significance, u'd be quite unimpressed.
3:15 am is reportedly when Ronald Defeo shot his whole family back in the seventies at a certain address of 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville Ny.
Amityville.
3:15 is also the time Geoge Lutz claimed to wake up every morning when he took the house over, all of which refers to the very popular creepy as heck book I read as a kid
The AMITYVILLE HORROR by Jay ANSON.
So you see, 3:15 means something creepy. And a time where I always get creeped out, as with
the approximate times the planes hit the WTC. 8:45ish and 9:03 ish
What is the point you ask?
Well Obviously if this is the crap I think about, it's no wonder I have insomnia.

never take zinc on an empty stomach

2006-02-06T21:39:00.000-08:00

K so I had this surprise Bday party to go to, I hadn't eaten breakfast because I rarely do, and I figured, well I better take my vitamins ( C and Zinc). Well I had never had a problem with vit. C on an empty stomach, but Zinc??
We drove about a half hour, I felt fine, but the walk from the car to the house I felt like Ebola had come upon me. For the next half hr I thought I would heave, and other unpleasantries. Needless to say I had to go home, climb into bed, and hope I felt better for Super Bowl. (I hate football but it's fun to hang and watch the commercials)
So lesson learned about Zinc.
In other news my Piewacket , cat of 16+yrs, is deteriorating mentally even more than usual.
This sucks. Hope he can make it to the new house.

YAY sold House, Probably

2006-02-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

k So we have an offer on our house, and are just waiting for it all to happen. Yesterday, wouldn't ya know it, our heat pump goes out an hr before a home inspector comes over.
Gah!
In other news- The Plastic Flappybats are goin rockabilly and playin friday feb 17th....at the usual wretched hive of scum and villainy.
This bat is currently learning a buncha rockabilly riffs on guitar, and it is a lot more difficult than it sounds. I Have HUGE respect for Brian Setzer now, the guy is an extremely gifted guitar player and I think I'll add him to my top 5, so here's my new fav guitarists list cuz I like to make lists:
1. Nancy Wilson (Heart)
2. Jimmy Page
3. Johnny Ramone
4. Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
5. Brian Setzer
I think that pushed Paul Westerberg out, but it's ok Paul, you're 1st in my fave songwriter's list.
Today is Super Bowl Sunday, I don't really care except it's a golden opportunity to bring my cholesterol levels up.

of selling houses to get into new ones.

2006-01-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

Well this is nuts, u think the market's cool and you're going to sell in no time so u can get a new house. WRONG. we missed the boat by about 3 months, but it looks like we do have an offer...
maybe..
This is all a chess match. It sucks. In other news, learnin some rockabilly, it's freakin hard.
But I'm learnin, it's cool, hard, but cool.
so anyhoo, stressed, but god will handle it, turn it over to him..
He handles it.

of guitars and well, I dunno

2006-01-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Ok so my replacement guitar for the one I got that was broken arrived Monday and I admit I was terrified to open the box... But it was fine. Only now it buzzes. So I take it into basically my guitar tech, Tony, from Mojo Music (www.mojomusicaz.com), and he sets it up and no buzz. I get it home it buzzes, yet a cool buzz, like bad distortion. So I adjust the bridge a little and the buzz eases up but I am totally expecting it to come back.
What does all this mean? I am keeping the guitar, It took me long enough to get a replacement, so sending it back is out of the question, and by golly, I think with enough perserverance I can fix the thing.
So I was going to practice tonight but instead watched "Freeway" again, with Reese Witherspoon. She is starting to grow on me as an actress. I loved her in Walk the Line, which by the way, go see. I also shamefully admit I loved her in that movie last year where she played a ghost.
Ok so I can like chick flicks, so what. So what if Hugh Grant plays the same role everytime, it's funny Dammit!
well, onto other things like sleep.

new year, and I'm already sick

2006-01-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

ill that is, I've been trying really hard to keep myself from getting sick, then whammo, it hit me like a truck. Luckily I had the brains to go home from work and sleep it off, instead of staying there watching my computer go to screen saver mode. I wanted to get better for wednesday for our "pretend Band" practice. Which went well, although I think I was still feeling the effects of my ebola and didn't get into it. Plus I've had a real bad guitar week. My Jay Turser Les Paul copy, something isn't working right with the treble pickup switch, that's been at the shop for more than a week, and a guitar I got for Christmas from my "I don't know how she does it when she says I have too many guitars and yet still buys me one cause she knows it's all I want now" wife was broken and had to be sent back. Still waiting on that one.
We are putting our house up on the market this week, so we can have enough $ to put down on our new house which should be ready in March. I hope we can sell it for what we need to, we're really not being over greedy, so hopefully it will sell.
My wife just had an operation that could increase our chances for having a baby, so that's a good thing, she's on vicodin right now and probably asleep.
I'm really getting into guitar a lot, but I have noticed that if you don't challenge yourself and try something new, whether it be a song, a riff, new scale, or whatever, you keep playing the same things and it gets old. Currently I'm trying to master the blues scale, then some chuck berry licks, and yet more Zeppelin. There are so many new chords you can learn by playing any Zeppelin acoustic songs it's crazy.
Saw King Kong, I loved it, but alas, still not as good as my favorite movie of all time, the 1933 version. And yes I wept... I always do at the original.
No real big movies I'm looking forward to, everything now seems to be a remake. I have a script I'm finally dabbling in, if I can rip myself away from music for a moment I may get a page or two written...
Is it me or is it way sexy when Meg White of the White Stripes Drums??
Things I will buy this year:
A new Vox amplifier, or get my Carvin 2X12 fixed
A Epiphone Les Paul Ultra (if Nancy Wilson endorsed it I'd buy poop flavored gum)
Eraserhead on dvd (to finally see what the fuss was)
hmmm, I'm not being that greedy. Well It will take a while to save up for the Les Paul, so..
One thing I noticed today while waiting in the outpatient surgery waiting room, if u look like you're not really concerned, and just casually read a book like you're waiting for a plane, I think it eases others minds. I did that today, and it seemed that worried kin kind of relaxed after they saw me.. Or maybe That's what I'd like to think, at least.

bats playing this friday

2005-12-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

yes, once again our "pretend band, not a REAL band" will be performing at our usual place. the pit, this friday dec 16th...

the following artists need new albums

2005-11-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

yes, I say albums. I'm old now, remember...
the following artists need new albums...
Rancid
Heart
Paul Westerberg
The Distillers
Anna Nalick
Wilco
The Donnas
Butterfly Boucher
If you haven't yet, check out Nancy Wilson's acoustic score for Elizabethtown, It's freaking amazing. I hope it's nominated for best score for a motion picture. It is truly special.
Did I mention I hate cell phones?
I don't own one, but I hate them. I will go off on them in another post, soon.

yep, Still 37....

2005-11-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

Not much happening right now. The holidays and the stress are upon us. Our new house may be ready in March, we're hoping and praying that our current house will sell. I think she'll go on the market Jan 1st.
KING KONG (1933) finally arrives on dvd Tuesday and I can't wait. This is my all time favorite movie.
Been working on guitar every day, trying to learn a mix of chords, songs, and scales. My favorite guitarists would have to be:
Nancy Wilson (heart)
Jimmy Page
Johnny Ramone
Allison Robertson (the Donnas)
Paul Westerberg

well i am now 37

2005-10-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Doh! But I still act like I'm 12 so it really doesn't matter. I got the coolest epiphone tee shirt from my wife, who also blessed me with a digitech RP80 guitar processor, a what's her name de laurentis natalie portman lookalike on food network Giada? cookbook, Napolean Dynamite on dvd, and a pair of regular black converse hi tops. She's too good to me.
My friends went completely insane and all chipped in on a gibson les paul copy guitar. This thing is awesome. I can't believe they all did this for me. They are the best, most generous group of friends I know. Also included was a coffin case, and Betty, our bartender at the place we call home, gave me an original Gene Simmons guitar strap he used in the late seventies/ eighties.
Wow. Will never sell, but it's cool to have.
There's nothing like playing guitar with my friends, and even if we suck we have the best time. I lireally could do it all day. I helped a friend move today, and am now in total agony. Tomorrow morning I'm attempting to run a 5k for the race for the cure. I do it every year.
Can't wait to hop on my new guitar..

yes, been a while again.

2005-09-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

Let's see, anything new...?
I Saw Just Like Heaven- going into it I thought it was going to be crap, but I liked the two leads so I figured why not. As predictable as it was, I really loved this film. Just a feel good movie.
Over the Edge finally came out on DVD. This was one of my all time favorites. If you grew up watching cable in the eighties, chances are you've seen this a few times. Some people list the Breakfast Club as their teen movie, Or maybe Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Mine were Over the Edge and The Last American Virgin.
Currently we're having a new house built, should be ready next year. It's exciting, yet scary at the same time. We're just hoping we don't have to sell until the new one is almost ready. Who wants to move twice?? Not us.
Made a homemade wheat pizza crust for the first time. It actually worked, though it's a little messy.
Elizabethtown is coming out soon, I'm a huge Cameron Crowe fan, and even a bigger fan of Nancy Wilson, Crowe's wife and my long time crush. ;) She's doing the music score which comes out October 11th.
On a final note I am 37 October 3rd. DOH!!! I still look forward to acting like a 10 year old.

Nyquil

2005-08-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ok so I felt this cold coming on over the weekend and monday night I couldn't breathe or sleep so Tuesday night I decided to take some Nyquil. That stuff should be illegal. I remember being in bed watching the news, and all of a sudden it's 5am and I can not recall dreaming or anything. Terrorists could have broken in I wouldn't have heard a thing. It does wonders for sleep but now as I sit at work I am in a Nyquil daze, sort of a drunk feeling but not really. Hopefully by noon I can function.

Anna Nalick

2005-07-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Every once in a rare while u buy something u've never heard and it turns out to be a gem. I picked up Anna Nalick's
Wreck of the Day CD, and was surprised by her songwriting, and her voice. Keep an eye on her,she's going to be big. And the song "Breathe 2am," although seemingly a little gloomy, is one of the most relaxing songs I've heard in a while.

In other news, I got another guitar. I always wanted something that sounded fenderish, without buying a real Strat, so I picked up a Squire Bullet, and am very happy with it.

Yeah it's been a while again.

2005-07-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

Not much happening in my world.
Saw War of the Worlds, Surprisingly good. Batman Begins was good too.
I'm starting to really improve in my lead guitar playing, I can't put the thing down.
We're currently in the process of trying to get a new house , where you have to do a lottery type drawing to see if you get the lot. It's not stressful or anything. Gone are the days where you go in, pick your lot, and move on.
So we hope this saturday we get picked, or we get to just choose one. Or we'll both be institutionalized.
Things learned recently:

1. Don't use goofoff on yer guitar to remove autographs. It kind of ruins the finish.
2. Fixing a toilet sucks.
3. Cheesewursts cook pretty fast, so watch em.
4. One of my cats suddenly doesn't like beef and liver. Soon he will stop liking ocean whitefish, and the whole process will go back and forth.

I'm pet sitting for Dale and Rhonda while they go to 72 degree San Diego. It's 115 here.

ARGH, Suns lose..

2005-06-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Ahh well it was a great season and it only makes me look forward to next season.
Saw Episode 3 again, I think 4 times is enough until it comes out on DVD. Going to Chicago next week, and most importantly I'm off for a whole week. Our Hootenanny is June 17th, it should be chaos.
Oh by the way, I did end up getting that SG.... Can't wait..
Watched Treasure of the Sierra Madre, a Bogart flick I've been putting off watching for about a year now, and what do you know, it's a great movie. It seems everytime I watch a classic film I've never seen I find myself asking "Why didn't I watch this earlier?"

GO SUNS!!

2005-06-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

okay tonight is game 5 here in Phoenix of the Western Conference Championship, no team has ever come back from 0-3 to win but as a die hard fan I have to believe they can do it.. Commence nail biting now, 4 hrs till gametime.
As for Episode 3, it was great. A lot better than episodes 1 and 2, i'd place it 3rd out of the 6.

I sense a new musical instrument coming , musician's friend has a SG (epiphone) for only 119 bucks... so why not.
I like cheap musical instruments.
It will help in my guilt of selling this great 1970 Gibson SG with tailpiece that I foolishly sold years ago.

1 week till episode 3

2005-05-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

I can't wait. This will be the completion of my childhood... Ahhh I remember fondly seeing star wars at the cine capri when I was 9. When the Imperial star destroyer rumbled overhead I knew at that moment movies would never be the same. Now it's 2005 and next wednesdayat midnight concludes the saga. Yes I plan on watching episodes 1 & 2 beforehand, then 4 5 and 6 after..
I'm also off on the 19th and 20th to catch it a few more times...
I think it will be better than episodes 1 and 2, and the reviews so far are positive.
Yes I'm a geek.

Suns and Dallas

2005-05-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Game 1 is ours.. A fun game last night as the Suns beat the Mavericks. Stoudemire was unstoppable, while quiet Joe Johnson had 25..
It was a great game if you are a suns fan, makes me a little nervous about game 2 but I'm optimistic. I'd love a sweep but that would be hard to do.
Goin to the dbacks game tonight, mainly to get a bratwurst.
I seriously need to start eating better after this week.

mandolins, flappybat nite, and music

2005-05-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Well I got a mandolin, I figured why not, if I can halfway play guitar I can play a mandolin.
1. They're hard to keep in tune.
2. The fretboard is tiny.
So far I've learned a few chords and "Gary Owen". Kinda.
Plastic Flappybats play Friday night, I'm looking forward to it but not stressed out about it since it's all for fun.
I'm currently working on learning the pentatonic scales for guitar so I can build up my lead skills. We'll see how long that lasts.
My favorite guitarists?
Nancy Wilson of Heart
Johnny Ramone (RIP)
Jimmy Page
Slash
Paul Westerberg

re:Elektra the movie

2005-04-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Okay I finally watched Elektra. They took a great marvel character, (best are the Frank Miller penned comic run 168-191)and made a horrendously stupid movie with shapeshifting, exploding ninjas (barely any ninjas mind you) and fight scenes that could have ruled if they were choreographed by Woo Ping Yuen, but noooooooo.....
The only thing worthwhile is Jennifer Garner, who is much better in Alias anyway...
Other news, my Phoenix Suns are 2-0 and heading to Memphis, I hope they sweep! GO SUNS!!!

random stuff.

2005-04-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Soon, Episode 3 will be here... I already have my midnight screening ticket.
Recently got into Johnny Thunders, at first listen I was not impressed, but his early stuff starts to grow on you. Too bad he was such a drunken junkie, he had a lot of guitar talent.
I always wonder why they can't find the Andrea Gail....
Watched "Traffic" finally, good movie, good inspiration to not get hooked on drugs.
Currently watching Stephen King's Storm of the Century....long....long.....movie (well it was a miniseries)

britney spears pregnant.

2005-04-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Yeah, i read about this in "Who Cares" magazine.
Seriously, now we're going to have be saturated with britney's baby crap for 9 months...
Is anyone else sick of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Jen and Brad, etc....
Why must their so called "new"s dominate the entertainment industry??
I'd rather see the following on Us weekly and People covers: Stories about
Paul Westerberg
Cameron Crowe
Nancy Wilson of Heart
Bigfoot
Star Wars coverage
But then no one would buy the rags...
Argh.
I hate everything.

Watched a great movie yesterday- Freeway

2005-03-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

I picked it up in the walmart $5.50 bin a while ago and finally watched it. What a great dark comedy! Reese Witherspoon's in it, and man is she wickedly foul in it! Great acting and some dark funny moments. I would give the plot away, but I don't want to...

Things I'm looking forward to:

April 1st - My band, the Plastic Flappybats play downtown
April 4th - Opening day for the diamondbacks!
May 19th -STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH!!!
June -My wife and I go to chicago, and a cubs game at wrigley....
July - Wifey's 30th bday and we later in the month we may go see Heart in San Diego.
Aug-Oct- I hope to go on a shark cage dive
December -KING KONG!!!

ok so it's been a while....

2005-03-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

What's been happening? Well, back in february I got to go see one of my favorite musicians, Paul Westerberg, formerly of the replacements. I hadn't seen him since 1993, the last time he played anywhere in Arizona, and it was a great show at the Marquee in Tempe. Afterwards, myself and a bunch of friends all got autographs and got to meet him. The next day we did a road trip to Anaheim to see him play at the House of Blues, and again got to meet him. Both shows were great but I think I liked the Marquee better. We were all in the front row, and him and his band sounded great. Here are some pics from after the tempe show
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51687571@N00/
He probably will never tour again so it was great to see him twice...

hi joanna

2005-02-28T13:06:00.000-08:00

updates to come

Of Tina Fey and The Flappybats

2004-11-30T13:52:00.000-08:00

Tina Fey needs more airtime on SNL. Weekend Update is my favorite part of the show, but Tina needs to be in more skits. Does anyone but myself, my wife, and my friends Dale and Rhonda watch SNL anymore?
I look forward to it every Saturday.

We are playing the pit this friday dec 3rd.. the final flappybat show of the year, and we've now been doing it for a year! It's nice to live out your rock star dreams once a month..

of week past Social Distortion shows

2004-11-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

Okay so a week ago I once again saw Social Distortion. I always say, "nah, don't have to go again.." but I always end up going and having a great time. I imagine I look the fool, playing air guitar during every song and bouncing up and down like a giddy teenager, but they are spectacular live, and that's why I keep going.

I am 3/4 the way through Halo 2... now if the stupid dirty disk messages would go away I'd be happy.

Halo 2

2004-11-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

Ok so this little video game came out 3 years ago on xbox and completely floored me so I had to buy the sequel right away. So there I was at Walmart at 11:45 for the midnight sale with a bunch of toothless, hygiene challenged, dorks waiting to get my mitts on the most anticpated game in history. Okay, I'm a 36 year old nine year old, what can I say.
I rushed home at 12:30 am, laughing as I drove by the Gamestop by my house where there were literally 400 people in line still waiting. I popped the disc into my xbox, contemplated how long I would sit there, knowing I had to go to work in the morning, and had about 1/2 hr of video game bliss.
Well, afterward, I couldn't sleep, thoughts of aliens buzzing around my head, wondering if I should just get up early and play or wait. I waited all day, played an hr and a half last night and completely forgot to save my progress.
This morning I got in about 20 minutes, tonight I'm sure an hour, but this weekend I have to go to Vegas until Sunday. Argh. Curse you Richaaaards!!!
What's the point? Well, I'm a loser.

watching Star Wars Episode 1

2004-11-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

for the 15th or so time, and Jake Lloyd is the single most horrid child actor in the history of film. This film is so bad, yet I am compelled to watch because it's Star Wars. And don't get me started on Jar Jar. Ugh..
Episode 3 better make up for this crap. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to this drivel.

Episode 3 trailer

2004-11-04T21:09:00.000-08:00

Well... 9 years pass and I still get completely insane over a 1 minute teaser with new Star Wars footage. Nothing has changed since I was 9 years old I suppose.
The new teaser rules, I've seen it 25 times, and will watch it 25 more times, until the trailer comes out, which I will get psyched about all over again only this time I really, really, really hope that the movie will live up to the hype I've created.
It's funny with Star Wars, you absorb every bit of footage until the film is released, and your hopes for the movie build and build, and alas, what can I say, Episode 1 was only good with Darth Maul and Qui Gonn... Episode 2 was a tad better, the only highlight being Natalie Portman's midriff.
Let's hope Episode 3 will be the definitive new generation Star Wars film, and give us geeks what we want to see.

In other news, SNL has a best of Tom Hanks on Sat night which we'll be watching...
Can't wait until the 20th when they obviously will make fun of the election...
Which by the way... my guy won ;)

Episode 3 teaser tonight

2004-11-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

ahh yes..... another ad wait.

2004-11-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

where oh where is Legends Cadillac....? it's 5pm. Here I sit