Rest for the soul

I've found out something I rather like. When I don't publicly write here about where I am, where I'm going, things about jobs, music or whatever - no one knows a damn thing. Some people think I'm really predictable. Not really. Not at all, actually. No, I'm not some kind of unpredictable loon, but it's kind of funny how some think (incorrectly) that I can be plotted so easily.

So anyway, here's the news.

First,

I'm taking a break. Some who know me would say "Well, haven't you been taking a break since July?" Not really. I've actually been working my tail off trying to find work and start my life over. That in itself is a job all its own, albeit one that doesn't pay. After getting kicked around thru Maine and Indiana I'm just going to take it easy for a little while. I've been able to get my finances to the point where I can hold out for a little while longer and that's what I'm a-gonna do.

Second,

...is music related. For new readers to this site, I've been playing guitar and keys for a long time, and I've been trying off and on to "go pro" with rock/metal music. I'm come to a realization. I don't like playing metal any longer. It's become stale and boring. This is not a decision I made overnight. I just find no joy in it any longer.

Fans of my rock/metal guitar work cringe at what I just said.

"DUDE! Don't DO that! I mean, you're like... a GOD on guitar."

(Many people have called me "god" on guitar. For real. No I'm not a god. Some think I am.)

Everyone else leaps for joy, because they didn't like it at all.

"We were all wondering when you'd stop playing that crap."

Crapola is officially over, not to worry.

The primary reason I'm not "into" metal any longer is because I don't ever listen to it. I haven't done so in... years? Not regularly anyway. A few years back there was some cool stuff on the radio and I used to know all the bands and artists. Then the music changed and I just stopped listening to it. If it comes on the radio I may give a listen to the newer stuff sometimes, but otherwise it's never in my car's CD player and I never listen to it on my computer, (this is where the realization came in) so I'm thinking...

Left side of brain: If I don't even listen to it, why do I play it?

Right side of brain: Good point. Try playing your other stuff like blues and synth stuff.

Left: Not a bad idea.

Right: You should listen to me more often.

Left: Not all the time, you also thought Indiana was a good idea.

Right: Let's not talk about that.

Left: Let's not.

Left and right side shake hands, well... you get the idea.

Third,

...is about writing. I have had my finished treatment for my screenplay collecting dust on my USB stick and haven't touched it for some time. Why I don't know. Laziness probably. I'm writing yet another reminder to myself to finish the damn thing. Ugh.

051123

It's 2 a.m.

It's two o'clock in the morn' and I'm having a bit of an insomniac attack. I'm surprisingly in a good mood (I really shouldn't be at the moment, but hey, I won't knock it).

Maybe it's because I've been watching The Greenfields.

My fave episodes (they're really short) are two, four, five and ten.

Fave episode not Greenfields related (but by Joe): SuperFly 2.

If viewing this from work the site where the toons are is most likely blocked and you'll prob'ly have to view it from home.

051122

Keyboardom

I made a few comments here recently so I thought I'd write my own little thing on computer keyboards.

In my day I've gone through my fair share of computer keyboards. I think the highest price I ever paid for one was $35 - and that was a really long time ago at a computer shop (a real computer shop back when such things existed).

At present I'm using laptop keyboards almost exclusively. They keys are short (as in not tall) and I really don't miss the number pad at all. They keep their spring by method of "scissor" style. You can type lightning fast on them and it saves wear on your hands and fingers.

If I'm to use a traditional keyboard I am very picky about it.

The Ins/Home/PgUp keys must be in a row side by side and the Del/End/PgDn keys must also be side by side directly under it, 3x3 style. The backspace key must be wide and rectangular. The pipe/backslash key must be directly under that. The Enter key must be directly under that, wide and be rectangular (not "reverse L" shaped) also. Arrow keys must be in tradition "inverted T" style. Bottom left-to-right goes something like Ctrl, Win-key, Alt, Spacebar, Alt, Ctrl. Shift keys are above that line, not on it.

Most stock-issue Dell keyboards are of this type, as are HP's, IBM's and so on, but when your keyboard breaks, most of us go to the store to buy another 'board.

You have to watch yourself else you'll end up with something completely foreign to you that'll take weeks to get used to - and you're more or less stuck with it.

In the past I didn't have to worry about this. When I went to buy a keyboard they all had the same key configuration. Now I literally have to look at the keys on the box before I buy it just to make sure everything is in the right spot. It's annoying.

The cream o' the crop concerning computer keyboards is IBM without a doubt. Their older keyboards command high price tags, and for good reason - they were built right the first time. Large, heavy, LOUD (very clicky) and rock-solid reliable. I mean heck, IBM boards in good condition over twenty years old still sell(!) They're that good.

051117