I've done it again: let another two weeks lapse before posting anything. How will I maintain my readership and syndication revenues at this kind of pace?
During the absence I've been the same place I always am during these lulls, still sitting here behind the computer but using a different program. I've been piddling with Cakewalk Home Studio, endlessly trying to apply a professional sound to music no one will ever hear, and even if they did hear they wouldn't give a crap. Despite the fact this stuff isn't destined to titillate millions I, for some reason, can't let myself off the hook with a half-baked effort. I've discovered some great music-mixing sites like SoundOnSound.com and MixOnline.com and have begun trying to apply their tips.
Maiden Voyages
My other big hobby for 2006, aside from mixing music, has been compulsive CD shopping. There was some chit-chat about Iron Maiden on the ClassicVanHalen.com forum that piqued my interest and I downloaded some MP3's (don't call your lawyers just yet, Iron Maiden! Keep reading!). In middle school and high school their horror movie album covers (see pic above) and English redneck image repelled me, but tunes like "Flight of Icarus" and "Aces High" have drawn me in. At first I was going to just buy a compilation but I lost control and now have The Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son -- the classic Bruce Dickinson-era output. The only one I'm missing now is Live After Death. The plan is to spend a week with each of these in chronological order. Funny, I used to chuckle at Dickinson's opera vibrato, but now I think it's great. "Flyyyy on your wayyyy like an eeeaaagllle..."
About a month ago I also had the amazing fortune to find Metallica's Live Shit: Binge and Purge two-DVD and three-CD live set for just $16.99 at Disc-Go-Round (it sells for $35 at best on the Internet!) and have saved that one as a Christmas present to myself. Who ever knew I would love metal so much?
Breweriana Buys
At the Brandy House auction a year ago there was a Beefeater Gin mirror that I thought looked really slick, but as I had come only prepared to buy a coffee mug I decided to let it slide (though I did wind up with a hanging Tiffany lamp, four chairs and two less-sought mirrors). Two seconds after the close of the auction I regretted not being more free with my cash. After following E-Bay for a year I found another Beefeater mirror that I think is the same size (18"x21") and grabbed it. However, checking the UPS site, it says "rescheduled delivery" and it's made two pit stops in Ohio on it's way from Michigan to Georgia. Given my past experience with mailing bar mirrors, "rescheduled delivery" and a weird route may mean it's already gotten smashed to smithereens. I really, really hope not.
I just know I had some more "intellectual" things to say here but...I forgot them.
