All the Cookies in a Nutshell
So since my last post not much has changed in the way of career. I'm still working at the same place, but only 5 hours a day. for the record; Assuming I was working 40 hours a week, making 7.50 an hour, I'd be making more than what i'm making now. At this rate I'll be doing good to pay the bills, but they will get paid.
ssoooooo.... on to the rest of the nutshell
Kate and I went to the state fair. Had a ton of fun. It was her first time, so she endulged in all the sinfull treates to be had from fried okra (which she'd never had), to a fried taco-wrapped cheesecake compilation called a cosmopolitin. Sin on a stick. So we shopped the crafts and picked up some christmas presents for various people.
This last weekend she introduced me to something I'd never done before. Camping at TRF (Texas Ren Fair). Yes it's true I've never actually camped at a Ren Fair, though I've been to TRF and Scarby several times. We witnessed live fire dancers (a first for me), had a few beers, got remotivated to pick up the canter again, and now I want a Drum and some fire sticks so I can learn fire breathing and possibly twirling... (though I think I'll start with glowsticks on a rope for the twirling, and I got a few pointers from the breathers on practice before I go spend a bunch of money on the equipment.) So the whole experience was truly BAD ASS!!! thank you baby!!! We picked up a few CD's, some wooden wind chimes (which her cat Bell is absolutly terrified of), and she bought a beautiful Naginata.
Today went okay. The Boss is still unsure about my pace at work, but I'm afraid that if I pick up the pace and work too fast they'll cut my hours again. so who know's what to do. All in all it went okay.
I came home and picked up the canter (a practice tool for Bagpipes that looks like a glorified recorder or flute... just a stick with holes in it and a reed housing.) and hashed through about an hour and a half worth of starter lessons including embesure (sp?), breathing techniques, fingerings, scales, note names, and playing a few scalistic excercises. Since I've got a background in Music Theory I just browsed those chapters to freshen up and note any differences (very few) that may apply to the pipes. Did you know that ALL bagpipe music is composed within 9 notes? One octive, ... that's amazing to me. So tomorrow it's on to book 2. One down 11 more to go. I won't actually get a bag (called a goose.. bag+canter no pipes (called drones)) until Book 4 and Won't get the full Bag Pipes until book 6. Then it'll be 6 more books before the technical lessons are over, and I have to find another source and rely on my own practices and what i've learned from the books to advance. My goal is to learn through book 3 by Deciember and ask for the Goose and the rest of the lessons for Christmas and the Pipes for my Birthday in February. If I keep to the schedule I should be finished with lessons by June or so and be playing the GHB (Great Highland Bagpipes) by July.
Wish me luck
I feel like I've been a hermit recently. Just don't feel like I've been spending as much time with friends as I used to.
Work still sucks. Allan is leaving me alone more, but I'm still not getting more than 5 hours a day, which barely covers my bills. *shrugs* life goes on.
To make up for the lack of cash I've started assembeling vending machines. More specifically, the little turn table ones that despense candy for a quarter. It pays $2 a machine, and you can usually do about 5 in an hour. so $10 an hour to put these things together and eat candy. *shrug* not the best job, but it'll get me a little extra cash. In the mean time, I need to find the motivation to get my lazy ass out of bed and look for a more prosperous job.
I got off work today and got about half way to Coffee Haus, then decided that I didn't feel like going and turned around. Besides, it's halloween night and I'd be a fool to think anyone whould actually be there. I can't afford the gas anyway.
I used to look forward to halloween, but the last few years it's been kinda a bust. No parties (at least none i'm invited to), no costumes, no trick - or - treats, just another night.
On the up side, regardless of the facts, I'm happy. I've at least got enough money to pay the bills. I've got a beautiful girl to come home to every night, and wake up to every morning. I've got games to keep me busy on the weekends (for the most part.).
ssoooooo.... on to the rest of the nutshell
Kate and I went to the state fair. Had a ton of fun. It was her first time, so she endulged in all the sinfull treates to be had from fried okra (which she'd never had), to a fried taco-wrapped cheesecake compilation called a cosmopolitin. Sin on a stick. So we shopped the crafts and picked up some christmas presents for various people.
This last weekend she introduced me to something I'd never done before. Camping at TRF (Texas Ren Fair). Yes it's true I've never actually camped at a Ren Fair, though I've been to TRF and Scarby several times. We witnessed live fire dancers (a first for me), had a few beers, got remotivated to pick up the canter again, and now I want a Drum and some fire sticks so I can learn fire breathing and possibly twirling... (though I think I'll start with glowsticks on a rope for the twirling, and I got a few pointers from the breathers on practice before I go spend a bunch of money on the equipment.) So the whole experience was truly BAD ASS!!! thank you baby!!! We picked up a few CD's, some wooden wind chimes (which her cat Bell is absolutly terrified of), and she bought a beautiful Naginata.
Today went okay. The Boss is still unsure about my pace at work, but I'm afraid that if I pick up the pace and work too fast they'll cut my hours again. so who know's what to do. All in all it went okay.
I came home and picked up the canter (a practice tool for Bagpipes that looks like a glorified recorder or flute... just a stick with holes in it and a reed housing.) and hashed through about an hour and a half worth of starter lessons including embesure (sp?), breathing techniques, fingerings, scales, note names, and playing a few scalistic excercises. Since I've got a background in Music Theory I just browsed those chapters to freshen up and note any differences (very few) that may apply to the pipes. Did you know that ALL bagpipe music is composed within 9 notes? One octive, ... that's amazing to me. So tomorrow it's on to book 2. One down 11 more to go. I won't actually get a bag (called a goose.. bag+canter no pipes (called drones)) until Book 4 and Won't get the full Bag Pipes until book 6. Then it'll be 6 more books before the technical lessons are over, and I have to find another source and rely on my own practices and what i've learned from the books to advance. My goal is to learn through book 3 by Deciember and ask for the Goose and the rest of the lessons for Christmas and the Pipes for my Birthday in February. If I keep to the schedule I should be finished with lessons by June or so and be playing the GHB (Great Highland Bagpipes) by July.
Wish me luck
I feel like I've been a hermit recently. Just don't feel like I've been spending as much time with friends as I used to.
Work still sucks. Allan is leaving me alone more, but I'm still not getting more than 5 hours a day, which barely covers my bills. *shrugs* life goes on.
To make up for the lack of cash I've started assembeling vending machines. More specifically, the little turn table ones that despense candy for a quarter. It pays $2 a machine, and you can usually do about 5 in an hour. so $10 an hour to put these things together and eat candy. *shrug* not the best job, but it'll get me a little extra cash. In the mean time, I need to find the motivation to get my lazy ass out of bed and look for a more prosperous job.
I got off work today and got about half way to Coffee Haus, then decided that I didn't feel like going and turned around. Besides, it's halloween night and I'd be a fool to think anyone whould actually be there. I can't afford the gas anyway.
I used to look forward to halloween, but the last few years it's been kinda a bust. No parties (at least none i'm invited to), no costumes, no trick - or - treats, just another night.
On the up side, regardless of the facts, I'm happy. I've at least got enough money to pay the bills. I've got a beautiful girl to come home to every night, and wake up to every morning. I've got games to keep me busy on the weekends (for the most part.).