8 Years ago

I can’t believe it’s been 8 years since the 9-11 attacks. I remember exactly where I was when it all went down. I was in my morning history class with Mr. Cook. We were all kind of freaked out by this…being young kids the tender age of 15 or so, but everyone else was too. Sometimes I’m still cynical as to how something like that could have ever happened…how did those guys just….hijack a plane? It seems so improbable. There are some little tid-bits about 9-11 that I’m curious about, but you’re not allowed to subscribe to conspiracy theories otherwise you’re not a true patriot. (insert sarcasm to the previous phrase)

Anyway…just remembering the lives lost. It was a sad/scary day. It was definitely the Pearl Harbor of my generation, and hopefully we won’t have to see anything like it again.

September Edition of things that annoy me

Alright let’s get started…all of these things have been discussed with friends of mine who are nearly on the same wavelength as me. So these are all universal, concrete things that everyone is probably annoyed…except the doinks who commit these crimes.

Scenario 1) You’re on the highway, and the construction workers have one lane closed down. Everybody is merging into traffic at an appropriate time; a good 100-200 yards before the yellow flashing arrow sign. Then an idiot drives in front of everybody down to where the flashing arrow is and tries to merge in front of everyone else. This detests me more than many other things idiot drivers can do.

Scenario 2) When you’re going at least 10 over in the fast lane, and there’s a prick riding your tail. That REALLY hacks me off, and really almost ties with number one. I had a hard time decided which one I hated more.

Scenario 3) It’s winter time and chicks start wearing these horrendous things.
Scenario 4) Okay…I know these shoes go toward a good cause…but they look ridiculous to me.                 Scenario 5) No ball cap should be worn with the bill like that…or with the sticker left on it.

Scenario 6) Okay, we’re established the fact that I don’t like skinny jeans. But it’s even worse when fat guys wear them. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a picture.

Scenario 7) You’re on facebook…and some chick has a profile picture of herself taking the picture in the mirror…all the while puckering her lips and throwing a peace sign. I think maybe every girl I know has done this. QUIT!

there will be more to follow…

Swamped…

I kind of feel swamped already, and school just started wednesday. I look ahead into my schedule, see all the projects I have to complete, and I almost want to vomit. I’m excited about my studio class, but I’m going to basically have to let all my other projects revolve around that class b/c I can’t just do a studio project at the library anytime I want…I can only do it during a certain time. Needless to say, prayers would help b/c I really don’t want to be pulling my hair out this semester.

Sometimes things aren’t convenient. That’s what I’ve learned…and some people won’t do something b/c it is inconvenient, and sometimes you have to do things that aren’t convenient. Sometimes you have to do something that is inconvenient b/c you see that long-term it will be worthwhile. Some people don’t think something is worthwhile enough to inconvenience themselves. I’m such a deep thinker. *insert sarcastic tone of voice* Some people get a job because it’s convenient, some people go eat fast food because it’s convenient, and some people fall in love and get married because the other person is convenient. Sometimes I think the right answers to big decisions are mostly inconvenient.

-Tyler

My trusty martin box

This is my trusty 2001 Martin HD-28V. And before I say anything else…I just cleaned up that mess you see behind the chair. I’m sure my mom will have something to say about it.

I got this guitar about 3 or 4 years ago I guess. I was kind of shopping the market…looking at Bourgeois, Collings…etc. I found this used at good ole Springfield Music…and I was enamored with it. When it comes to acoustics I really mostly dig Pre-war martin designed guitars. So I played this and I was surprised that it didn’t sound like there was a pillow in it. It was a great sounding guitar…just goes to show that guitars are individuals and you can’t base an entire brand based on what one particular guitar sounds like…except ovations…and taylors. (I know I’m treading on some pretty shaky ground…all the worship leaders will hate me for dissing taylors…what can I say? I like guitars to have some guts.)

So this guitar is great…I’ve played several high end models from other companies. And they sound great don’t get me wrong. I love merrills…collings…bourgeois…but I still just love my Martin. So there’s my story about my Martin box.

I do NOT use an acoustic pickup. I’ve never heard one that sounds good…ever. They all sound just awful. The best sound is just to have a mic on the sound hole…period. When I play my guitar…I want people to hear the sound that is projected from the sound hole…not the sound bouncing around inside the box of the guitar…or from a transducer under the saddle. I want them to hear MY guitar. Anyway…that’s all I have to say about that.

I’m back

I’m back in nashville. Had a super duper summer back in Springfield. Made a new wonderful friend, painted with grandpa a lot, got to be a groomsman in two weddings, went to denver, hung out with good friends.

So I guess this is my first blog post in a while.

So anyway…started running a lot with a lady named Jenn. Cool chick…laughs at my pitiful attempts to bring laughter out of a person. Which automatically means I want to be friends…I only surround myself with people who laugh with me…or at me..or both. Gonna miss her…hopefully she’ll visit.

I also painted with grandpa quite a bit. We would bring the radio…turn on the old time country music station, and he would know EVERY song that came on. He also liked to make up his own baritone lines for each song. Another thing he likes to do is make puns..lots of them.  Once you’ve been around my mom’s parents…you know where I get my sense of humor.

Went to Denver with some friends to play some music. It was a good time. We went into the mts. and went off the trail. My best friend and his wife are quite fun to be around. I like being the 3rd wheel on their adventures because really they’re both my best friends. All three of us share our deepest darkest secrets…well not all of them because they’re married…I’m just saying.

I’ll miss mother’s food, and our green egg grill. But since mom and I are having a weight loss contest…this will be good because now I won’t be tempted by her food, and it’s easier for me to eat better when I’m not tempted by succulent pork chops.

Well crap…I’ve gotta go brown some hamburger…I’ll post another one later.

What’s been happenin’

            Well folks, things are pretty slow. Fortunately, there are plenty of things to keep me busy around my parent’s place…

 keeping the yard nice

watering the cattle

cutting tree limbs

 

I also do other miscellaneous activities that dad needs done around the homestead. For instance, the other day after a grueling morning back workout, I got home only to be commanded by the old man to dig 5 post-holes in what has to be the rockiest soil the world has ever known. My back is pretty sore. Thankfully my hands are still calloused enough to endure the punishment I delivered to the rocks with the crowbar. I’m also thankful to the Frye boot company for making quality durable products. 

        Now on my property we keep about four cows, and we, therefore, have barbed wire fence. We also have a white vinyl fence. Needless to say, I’ve dug a lot of the holes for the corner posts. When I was digging the post-holes the other day, it took me 20-ish minutes to dig one stinking hole. There was a rock that had the roots of a 100 year-old oak. When your crow bar looks like this you know you have rocky soil. 

 

            Doing work like that makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something though. Whether it be finishing the yard, digging post-holes, or running down the driveway after a loose horse with a feed bucket because my sister isn’t competent enough to tie a good knot around the fence post. 

This place has been my sanctuary lately.

Whenever there’s a still night, I light up the fire pit, light up my pipe, sip decaf, and contemplate things. Every now and then a friend or the old man joins me, and we discuss random thoughts, and share old war stories.

 One of my best friends got married last weekend. 

There he is attempting to get through the song he wrote for her. He dated her for 6 or 7 years or something crazy. It’s pretty cool really. I’ve always had this theory that if you have a significant other and your friends enjoy his/her company…he/she is probably worth keeping around. Make sense? I think so. So my friend really scored with this chick…no pun intended. She’s great and I love her! He’ll probably read this at some point. Here’s what I’ve learned watching their relationship over the years…I should’ve found some 8^th grader to date when I was a sophomore in high school. Turns out it can be a pretty good investment.

 

So I found this under a rock the other day. Cool huh? Yeah…that’s right…I’m not afraid. 

ehllo mate

This fall…

6 Integrated Accounting – which is accounting 1 & 2 mashed into 1 semester.

3 Principles of Marketing

3 Audio Engineering 1 – finally!

3 Some religion course

1 Guitar lessons

1 Guitar mechanics

17 hours…woo hoo! It’s all over the place, and I basically had no other choice but to have classes in the afternoon…which I’m not too fond of.

An analysis of myself…

Coffee keeps me as regular as a swiss commute train.

I’m a procrastinator. What if I get all my work done early so I can have fun later only to die right after I’ve finished my work? I would never to enjoy what it was I wanted to do afterwards.

I probably won’t get to make a decent living doing music for awhile after college…I mean I may get lucky, but let’s be realistic. I’m totally cool with that too…I’d rather do what I love than be stuck or forced to do something else.

I’m more determined since I moved to Nashville. You can either let the town motivate you to be better, or you can let it chew you up and spit you out.

If I were a doctor, I would be strikingly similar to House…minus being an athiest. 

Guys that try to be sensitive make me nauseous…I roll my eyes at them. It’s the ridiculous expectations from females (not all females, some females) that came from watching chick flicks that have eroded masculinity to what it has become today. 

I like hanging with people who know what they want in life, and don’t need a constant reassuring presence. I mean…all people need encouragement, but needy people are just annoying sometimes ya know? Am I a bad person? I’m going to take into account that since you’re reading this you know me, you know what I’m talking about, and you probably agree.

I think I have some sort of A.D.D….why mother never had me tested…I don’t know. Like I said…I procrastinate

Personalized license plates…yuck.

I think I’m better with my bluntness than I used to be…I hope.

I don’t like it when people that try to censor me…I find it very annoying.

Alright folks…I have a paper to do…see ya! ( Will I immediately start working on it after this? probably not )

Every now and then…

Sometimes I think about my future. My career path isn’t one where I can merely fill out a resume, tell them I have a college degree, and get a job. I do my best to live for today, but I just can’t help but wonder. Mainly because I don’t want to be stuck the rest of my life doing something that I hate. That fear is what drives me to do a lot of the things I do; namely, moving to Nashville. Under that fear is the fear of not being good enough, or knowing the right people…etc. It gets to me every now and then. 

Then I think about whether or not I should’ve moved out here. Maybe I could’ve played it safe, got a business degree from wherever, and got a job and done music on the side. All that said, Nashville just feels like home now…it felt like home maybe a month after I moved. Sometime just feels right to me about cruising down 24 into Nashville. It’s good to know you’re in the right place, and even though I doubt every now and then, I know that I’m where I’m supposed to be. I can’t imagine being anywhere else…and the thought of being anywhere else is depressing to think about.

-Tyler Jewell