Still The Beat Goes On
crossposted from Lee Edward McIlmoyle's blog
So it’s me and a coffee and Thomas Dolby’s Map of the Floating City this morning. Soon it will probably be How To Destroy Angels. I’m thinking about maybe spending the next few days writing and recording an EP of solo keyboard music. I’ve never really done that before. It’s too late for Christmas, but hey, I usually am.
Just thinking I’d like to record some music before the surgery on my arm, just in case I don’t get it back. Could spell the end of my musical career before it ever really started. Maudlin thought for the holidays, but it’s been bothering me quite a bit in the last week, though I’ve been trying not to let on. My left hand aches off and on, and the ulnar nerve in my left elbow has been making all kinds of strange little perambulations that aren’t right. If the surgery works, it’ll be a few months before I can play music again. If not… my left hand slowly turns into a withered claw and I probably spend what remains of my musical career playing keys and programming mostly with my right hand. No tour. The end of a dream. I can’t accurately convey how depressing that thought is.
I’m going to turn 44 on Boxing Day. A lot of old plans and schemes, not quite broken dreams, a lot has happened to keep them from happening on time, but I still hold out hope. So losing the ability to practically deliver on those dreams is not an easy pill to swallow. I’m just beginning to really come to grips with the instruments for perhaps the first time in decades. Almost as good as when we were a band, and also better in many ways. It’s almost time. And Yet it may already be too late.
The hand thing will also affect my painting and writing. I touch type with both hands, a skill not a lot of writers actually possess. I also paint very kinetically, using both hands, so that could also suck.
Basically, the next few months are going to be hellish for me.
And I’m going to be doing PBW2 stuff during all of this. I haven’t really told my team mates what’s coming. This is probably going to be a miserable winter, whether I recover or not.
I think I may have to stop typing. My pinky is starting to ache a bit. I was going to do some writing… maybe I’ll get some work done. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, I’m practicing making a video game with a new program called BuildBox. Using their art assets for now. Here’s where I’m at:
The game is called ‘Stevie Is A Menace’.
The barely-started song lyric in the text window behind WinAmp is called ‘How to Build Your Audience (From Common Household Items)’
Today is my hero Anthony Phillips’ birthday. I haven’t chosen which piece to post on the FB fan page yet. Probably another collected suite. Just gotta decide which one.
I’m selling a calendar I made and posted on RedBubble.
I’m also selling WINTERLUDE, the short story I released from THE BACK ROADS OF LIMBO, because almost no one bought or read it.
There’s also NEVER APOLOGIZE, which is also a seasonal tale.
I want an iRig Keys Pro and a five string bass for Christmas. Not gonna happen. Totes. Just saying.
My best abstract paintings are still selling for half what they’re worth. No buyers. It’s been a rough year.
Baba O’Riley is playing in the headphones. Time to get back to writing that song. You folks have a great day, and if I miss you before then, Merry Christmas. Thanks for reading.
Lee.
So it’s me and a coffee and Thomas Dolby’s Map of the Floating City this morning. Soon it will probably be How To Destroy Angels. I’m thinking about maybe spending the next few days writing and recording an EP of solo keyboard music. I’ve never really done that before. It’s too late for Christmas, but hey, I usually am.
Just thinking I’d like to record some music before the surgery on my arm, just in case I don’t get it back. Could spell the end of my musical career before it ever really started. Maudlin thought for the holidays, but it’s been bothering me quite a bit in the last week, though I’ve been trying not to let on. My left hand aches off and on, and the ulnar nerve in my left elbow has been making all kinds of strange little perambulations that aren’t right. If the surgery works, it’ll be a few months before I can play music again. If not… my left hand slowly turns into a withered claw and I probably spend what remains of my musical career playing keys and programming mostly with my right hand. No tour. The end of a dream. I can’t accurately convey how depressing that thought is.
I’m going to turn 44 on Boxing Day. A lot of old plans and schemes, not quite broken dreams, a lot has happened to keep them from happening on time, but I still hold out hope. So losing the ability to practically deliver on those dreams is not an easy pill to swallow. I’m just beginning to really come to grips with the instruments for perhaps the first time in decades. Almost as good as when we were a band, and also better in many ways. It’s almost time. And Yet it may already be too late.
The hand thing will also affect my painting and writing. I touch type with both hands, a skill not a lot of writers actually possess. I also paint very kinetically, using both hands, so that could also suck.
Basically, the next few months are going to be hellish for me.
And I’m going to be doing PBW2 stuff during all of this. I haven’t really told my team mates what’s coming. This is probably going to be a miserable winter, whether I recover or not.
I think I may have to stop typing. My pinky is starting to ache a bit. I was going to do some writing… maybe I’ll get some work done. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, I’m practicing making a video game with a new program called BuildBox. Using their art assets for now. Here’s where I’m at:
The game is called ‘Stevie Is A Menace’.
The barely-started song lyric in the text window behind WinAmp is called ‘How to Build Your Audience (From Common Household Items)’
Today is my hero Anthony Phillips’ birthday. I haven’t chosen which piece to post on the FB fan page yet. Probably another collected suite. Just gotta decide which one.
I’m selling a calendar I made and posted on RedBubble.
I’m also selling WINTERLUDE, the short story I released from THE BACK ROADS OF LIMBO, because almost no one bought or read it.
There’s also NEVER APOLOGIZE, which is also a seasonal tale.
I want an iRig Keys Pro and a five string bass for Christmas. Not gonna happen. Totes. Just saying.
My best abstract paintings are still selling for half what they’re worth. No buyers. It’s been a rough year.
Baba O’Riley is playing in the headphones. Time to get back to writing that song. You folks have a great day, and if I miss you before then, Merry Christmas. Thanks for reading.
Lee.