When I was sixteen years old, I bought my first guitar. It was a 1982 Rickenbacker solidbody electric, and I got it for a steal of a price. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anyone to really teach me how to play it, and I was pretty useless at teaching myself. A couple of years later, in need of quick cash, I sold it to a friend right before I moved to Georgia.
I had always regretted this, and said one day I’m going to get another guitar and learn to play it. But I put it off, and I put it off, and I put it off some more. Sooner or later, I said, there will be time and money for it.
In 1998, a near-death experience reminded me that there won’t always be time to get around to things, and I might want to think about not putting off those things I really want to do with my life. So once I was adequately recovered, I went out and bought a new guitar, a Fender DG10/12 12-string acoustic. And I signed up for a group class at the nearby MARS music store, and learned to play it well enough, and set about learning to play songs I liked and actually performing at filks and filkcons. 13 years later, I’m an adequate if unexceptional accompanist.
(While I was there, I also test drove a much more expensive acoustic: a Taylor 8-string baritone. It took an immense amount of willpower and a reminder of what I’d already committed funds to over the next few months not to change my plans, because dear lord I sounded good playing it. But I digress…)
I’ve been playing around with it for the last 12 hours. First impressions: I love the sound of it. I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with it. Good grief, I don’t know how to play it. 🙂
It’s a whole new ride. Let’s make some noise.
As is my custom, I’ve collected all the con reports from OVFF that I can locate in my memories, for both my own benefit and for the community.
A couple of caveats, since this has come up in the past:
That aside, here’s the list so far. I’ll add to it as people point me to more or I see new ones posted.
Just a reminder that the online balloting for this year’s Pegasus awards ends Monday night. So if you haven’t yet cast your vote, you have just two days left to do so!
You will find the ballot at http://www.ovff.org/pegasus/2011finalballot.html
So, I solicited people to select some questions for me to answer, and I’ve (as usual) been procrastinating. But I do intend to answer them all, so here’s the first one, courtesy of tigerbright:
20. Five words/phrases that make me laugh.
These probably are funnier if you know what they’re from, but just for giggles, I’m not going to identify them. This is hardly an exhaustive list. It is merely a small sampling of phrases that are typical of the sort which are prone to make me laugh.
1. They say of the Acropolis, where the Parthenon is…
2. Look, it’s the four pillars of the male heterosexual psyche. We like: naked women, stockings, lesbians, and Sean Connery best as James Bond. Because that is what being a bloke is.
3. The huge yellow spaceships hung in the air in exactly the same way that bricks don’t.
4. If it can be conceived as music, it can be executed as music, and presented to an audience in such a way that they will perceive it as music: “Look at this. Ever seen one of these before? I built this for you. What do you mean, ‘What the fuck is it?’ It’s a goddam ETUDE, asshole.
5. Have fun being Under Construction. After sex and ripe French cheeses, it’s one of the best things life has to offer.
For a cloudy day with the first promise of autumn (via browngirl and tigerbright and bercilakslady)
Leave me a comment with the corresponding number(s) and (within
reason, and very briefly) I'll tell you:
1. Five ways to my heart.
2. Something I feel strongly about.
3. A book I love.
4. Things I want to say to an ex.
5. Five pet peeves.
6. What I ate today.
7. How important I think education is.
8. I'll put my music player on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play.
9. Five people whom I find attractive.
10. My opinion about my body and how comfortable I am with it.
11. What I wore today.
12. My zodiac/horoscope and if I think it fits my personality.
13. Something I always think "what if…" about.
14. Something that I'm proud of.
15. A problem I have had.
16. Five items I lust after.
17. My fears.
18. How I hope my future will be like.
19. Something that I miss.
20. Five words/phrases that make me laugh.
21. Something I'm currently worrying about.
22. Things I like and dislike about myself.
23. A quote I try to live by.
24. Somewhere I'd like to move to or visit.
25. Five weird things that I like.
26. One thing I'm excited for.
27. Responders choice. (i.e. something not already on this list.)
Well, the nominations have been counted, and the final ballot has been prepared. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2011 Pegasus Ballot awaits:
http://www.ovff.org/pegasus/2011finalballot.html
And my, what a ballot we have. Perhaps I’m a romantic, but this is one bad-ass ballot. I could not compose a better one, at least not one that would perform as well. Truly, this ballot represents the best filk has to offer, and is destined to be a classic.
All that is left, dear friends, is for you to go and vote. In order to make sure you can evaluate every single song, composer, and performer nominated, sound samples are available right there on the ballot page. So go, listen, and vote your favourites.
Feeling pretty good this morning. Got up by 8am to see kitanzi off to her new job, got 25m in on the treadmill (15m running), and still have two hours before I have to show up for work.
Spent the weekend being exceptionally lazy. Made a trip to Fry's to pick up a couple of things, watched a few episodes of "Stephen Fry In America", and poked around for a video game that might hold my interest for more than 15 minutes.
Short week this week, as we're getting a four-day weekend for Labour Day. No Dragon*con for me, though if there's an AIE and/or Tadpool meetup that's happening outside the badge perimeter, I might be willing to pop down for that.
Reposing from kitanzi. Feel free to RSVP here or there.
We still haven’t decided a date for movie night, but we are gonna do a Firefly marathon tomorrow for anyone interested. Not Serenity, Firefly – Wash Lives!
Show up around 11 and we’ll keep running them until everyone’s sick and tired of it! (One cat, no indoor smoking, bring snacks if you want but we will have food – no one’s going hungry in this house if I can help it! 🙂 )
[If you need directions, just drop a note here or email me at autographedcat at gmail dot com.]
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