Friday, February 27, 2004

New Greymatter Release

Just found out there's been a new Greymatter released. It includes a bunch of security fixes, as well as new music and mood postings, and allows emoticons. I installed it without only one hitch--cgi files needed to be uploaded in binary! Whoops, small scare that.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday 5

No Friday Five from the regs this week, so I've invented my own. Feel free to play along with:

"Bills Totally Unrelated Friday Five"

1. The Passion of the Christ--you gonna see it?
I thought I wanted to. Gina even gave me freee tickets. But Susan and I watched the "Making of" last night on PAX. Now, I'm not sure. I've got the Bible--I know what happened. I'm not sure that I can take all the violence though.

2. You're at a fast food restaurant to order breakfast. What do you get?
I really dig the burritos at Mickey D's. Whatever it is, you can bet it'll have bacon or sausage.

3. What operating system are you running right now? Do you like it?
I'm using XP. In all honesty, 98se is my favorite Windows platform. Mac OS-X is my all-time favorite.

4. Mittens or gloves?
Mittens. It's hard to find good mittens anymore. I'm using the hunters style fold back models so your fingertips can be exposed it you want. It works well but sometimes when shoveling, snow works its way in.

5. Coffee or tea?
Coffee please. But I do like tea as well. And, I like it in the same style: strong, full bodied, and black.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Thursday, February 26, 2004

Slabby thanks!

I've got some people to thank here. First, thanks J##### (not Jesus, in this instance--although I have much to thank him for too!) for the free thingys. She gave me two thingys to go see a certain thingy. Unfortunately, they're not allowing thingys. But I still got two thingys to go to the thingy.

Thanks to Gina, who gave me free passes to go see The Passion. Thank you Gina.

I heard a local music store took in a shipment of one Slabby Joe bass. I wonder who it's for?
:-)



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Reasons 4 Love #42

Reasons 4 Love #42

Every Wednesday those who are involved in a relationship with somebody share a few (simple but significant) reasons for their love. I love Susan because:

She picked up Julia's room, and cleaned the kitchen on Monday.
She bought me my favorite cookies at the grocery store.
She finally made a meatloaf firm enough to not fall apart.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Candy Land, Oyster Pink Pearl, and Valentines

As is my custom, I went home for lunch today. I had a meatloaf sandwich, some toast, and a hunk of cheddar. I was watching Susan's latest fad, the Family Feud game show. Julia was there, as was her friend Bella. The host asked the question...

"Name a popular game played in bars."

Bella answered "Candy Land!"

--

Shawn Colvin talks about her song "Polaroids."

"What was the writing of "Poloroids" like? Did you really dream the last verse?"

Yeah I did. I had this dream where this couple wasn't walking a plank off of a ship, but they were walking a plank over a huge excavated hole in the ground. And they were totally in love, it was the sweetest damn feeling, you know. And he walked out first and she took a poloroid, then she walked out and he took a poloroid as she held up this flash card type of thing that said "Valentine." The good will between these people must have been something that I was striving for because I had had relationships with a lot of ill-will, (laughs) which just seems so wrong, but it was in my life.

--

Bun E. Carlos, drummer for Cheap Trick, sells a rare Ludwig set in Citrus Mod. The more I see the color, the more I hate it. Psychedelic Red is ok, and I do like Mod Orange. But of all the weird Ludwig finishes, I like Oyster Pink Pearl the best. (Yes, that's Bun E with that kit, too. He's quite the collector.)




According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, February 23, 2004

"Good times are the best times, the bad times fade away."

Bad news: Carol Holman passed away. It was only about six months ago we found out she had cancer. She went so fast. It's reassuring to know she's in heaven, but still I feel bad for John. It's with a heavy heart that I move her off my prayer list, and instead move John on.

Better news: Dad found out today he's been accepeted into a trial for a new groundbreaking drug study for his cancer.
Slightly worse news: It's a double blind test, so we won't know if he's getting the standard treatment or the new treatment.

Good news: I downloaded the songs I recorded with Mac Economy at the House of David. It sounds pretty good, IMHO.
Slightly better news: I was listening to the demo of Three Button Deluxe when Susan walked in the room. She mistook us for an "actual" famous-type recorded on a label band. She thought it was a Brian Setzer outtake.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, February 20, 2004

Friday 5

When was the last time you...

1. ...went to the doctor?
It's been a long time. I was at Wal-Mart at the time, and covered by an HMO. It was the same year Julia was born, so it would be about 5 years ago. Luckily, I'm pretty healthy. I could loose some weight, but blood pressure and cholesterol are alright, and I don't smoke, so I just let it ride. My wife's and daughter's health come first.

2. ...went to the dentist?
I was just there. I had a root canal. (They're not as bad as everyone thinks.) I also get two cleanings a year.

3. ...filled your gas tank?
On the way to the gig at Bootleggers. So that was what, last Friday. I'm due again.

4. ...got enough sleep?
I always get enough sleep. Do I get as much as I want? No. I can't remember the last time I went to bed when I wanted and got up when I wanted.

5. ...backed up your computer?
I backed up my Mac at the office just 2-3 weeks ago. The hard drive started to whine, and I beat feet! I backed up the home machine maybe 6 months ago. But on the home machine, there's nothing of any real importance.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Reasons 4 Love #41

Reasons 4 Love #41

Every Wednesday those who are involved in a relationship with somebody share a few (simple but significant) reasons for their love. I love Susan because:

She made me her famous peanut butter cups for Valentines day.
We both agreed that Arlington Road had a sucky ending.
She's understanding when I have to work late, and volunteers to make supper--even though I know she doesn't feel up to it.
Just in general, she rocks Neddick.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Mac Economy

The world should know that Mac Economy is a cool guy.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Crazy Dreams Redux

Susan prompted me on the other weird dream I had the other night. I dreamt that Midcoast Internet stopped selling Internet. Instead, we bought the building that is now home to Rocky Bay Brewery, and turned it into a gas station. All the staff were the same, though, only we sold gas. So I’m there one afternoon, alone. It seems Jim went to help a customer, and wasn’t around. Ron left for lunch, and never came back. So there I am alone, and the phone is ringing off the hook, and people are honking for their gas. I’m yelling to general manager Mike that I could really use some help. So he comes and helps me man the gas pumps. He has no idea either where anyone is. Then, this really snooty couple pulls up in their Corvette.

“We’re here to pick up our car,” they say. “We left it here, and Barry’s been working on it.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, “but Barry’s not here. Which car is yours?”

It turns out their car is still in the bay, under some faded green canvas car cover. So I pull back the cover to reveal a 1963 Corvette Stingray convertible.

“Oh, you guys own two corvettes.”
“Oh yes,” the woman replies. “We have lots of money. And it’s very important we have this back this weekend.”
“I’m not sure it’s ready.” I say.
“We’ll, we need it. It’s very important. You see, we have a full size working snow-speeder, you know, like in The Empire Strikes Back? Anyway, we fly them on our own private course, and we have some friends bringing their ships over this weekend, and we need the Corvette to impress them.”

The end.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

More Crazy Dreams

Weird dreams? Me? Never! :-)

I dreamt two nights ago that I bought an early 80s Buick Roadmaster station wagon with third seat in the rear. It was grey and black, and really cool looking. And, it only had 55,000 miles.

Then last night, I had two weird ones. One, I was being used as shark bait. Really. Some evil scientist put people in life rings, and let their bottom halves be eaten by sharks. He would then bring in the life line, remove the top half of the victim, replace, and repeat. He also had this weird contraption that looked like an oil derrick. Two arms hung off a central post. A person was hung from either end. When one end was up, the other was down. You could then push yourself up, letting the other person swing down towards the water. (How you were able to push yourself up on water is a little beyond me.) Anyway, I was in one of these contraptions with Susan Lundquist--a girl I went to school with. She was on the downside, and exhausted. The shark was coming. I was yelling at her to push herself up, so I would be the one on the downside. But she was too weak, and couldn't do it.

I had another one, too. I can't remember it now, but I told Susan what it was when I woke up. Perhaps she can jog my memory.




According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, February 16, 2004

Jann Arden "It Looks Like Rain"

Jann Arden wrote a hit song several years ago called "Insensitive." It was featured in the movie Bed of Roses. Of course, Susan and I love that movie, and Susan liked the song, so she bought a Jann Arden album called Living Under June. And, just to keep my listening fresh, I grabbed it to play out in the truck. (I put 12 CDs in my carring case, and listen to all 12. Then I change them out with new ones.) Anyway, there's this great song in there called "It Looks Like Rain." It's a very haunting tune, much like Sting's "Moon Over Bourbon Street." I can't stop listening to it! If you want to see the lyrics, see the "Get More Here" section.




Set this day by the hand of Billy Rhythm [Link] [Get More Here]


Saturday, February 14, 2004

A Valentine's Villanelle

There are not enough weeks,
nor are there enough words
to list the reasons why I love you.

It would be interesting to see
how many reasons I fathom, but
there are not enough weeks.

I would love to be able to write
all my heart holds close, and
to list the reasons why I love you.

I would write of my passions, my
appreciations, my gratitudes, yet
there are not enough weeks

for me to get them all down--
it seems a chasing after the wind
to list the reasons why I love you.

I tried anyway,
and from it learned something:
there are not enough weeks
to list the reasons why I love you.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Happy Valentines Day

Happy valentines day all, especially my to my #1 valentine Susan, and my #2 valentine Julia Valentine.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, February 13, 2004

Venting

There are some days when I just want to chuck the whole thing.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday 5

1. Are you superstitious?
No.

2. What extremes have you heard of someone going to in the name of superstition?
Probably ball players doing something silly. I don't really know anyone personally very superstitious.

3. Believer or not, what's your favorite superstition?
Stevie Wonder's version, hands down. Love his Synclavier sound on that one. For me, I have two superstitions that mean nothing, but I still like to see if I can catch them. One, when a digital clock readout has the same hour and minute displayed (e.g. 5:55pm), you get a wish. I always wish for the same thing: That Susan will love me forever. Then, on the first day of the month, if your first word is "rabbit," you will have good luck all month. My sister taught me that one, and I think she heard it from a teacher in high school. I don't buy it, but it's fun to see if you remember to do it.

4. Do you believe in luck? If yes, do you have a lucky number/article of clothing/ritual?
I have some lucky silk boxer shorts, and whenever I put them on, then I know I'm going to... Oh wait! :-) No. No lucky clothing, no belief in luck.

5. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?
No. It's all just vague generalizations. "You're this kind of person because you were born in this year. You'll have money problems. You like love." Hogwash. What person couldn't you say those things about?



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Reasons 4 Love #40

Reasons 4 Love #40

Every Wednesday those who are involved in a relationship with somebody share a few (simple but significant) reasons for their love. I love Susan because:

She let me watch a instructional drum video in bed the other night.
She just called and asked me what I wanted for supper.
Even though she feels horrible, she cleaned the kitchen the other day.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Crows

While walking out of my Kiwanis lunch-time meeting yesterday, I saw a crow sitting low in a small tree, right along the path that led to the parking lot. I figured he would move as soon as I came near, but he didn't. He just sat there, almost watching me. He didn't make a sound, and as I walked by, I grew just a touch nervous. I had my sunglasses on, and it was bright out, and I know crows are attracted to shiny things. The thought of that crow leaving the tree and grabbing my glasses off my face came to mind. I watched him as I passed. Still silent, he turned his entire body so he was always facing directly at me. Odd.

Then this morning, while sitting at my desk, I heard a crow cawing outside my window. I couldn't see him, but he was right nearby judging from the volume. Two crows in one day. It makes one wonder.

I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow
Casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there
Counting crows
One for sorrow Two for joy
Three for girls and four for boys
Five for silver Six for gold and
Seven for a secret never to be told

A Murder of One
Counting Crows



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Dad got me money for his birthday

Happy birthday to my Dad. A better father you could not ask for. What I've learned from him as a human is invaluable.

I found yet another person linking back to me! Check out Isn't the Light OK?. Andrew is another Christian musician here in Maine. How he found me is unknown. Looks like another site I'll have to check out frequently.

Here's something "strange" that's happened to me over the last week. Two people who owed me money from DJ gigs paid up. One of them owed me the money for almost a year. Both of them I had pretty much written off. Then out of the blue, the pay up. Anyone been praying I might receive some extra cash?


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, February 9, 2004

Chick's drums

The oyster black pearl Ludwig set that Chick gave me is 75% done. I just have to dowel the holes in the bass, and get some hardware. But as you can see, it's set up in the rehearsal room. This will allow me to start work on the WFLs, and get them all spiffed up for working with Three Button DE-luxe.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]



I'm blue. As in depressed. No real reason. Just a funk. I have them. Occasionally. Maybe more than that. But not frequently. Something in between. More than occasionally, but not as much as frequently. It can usually be fixed with a little chocolate.

you are mediumauqamarine
#66CDAA

Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definately strive to be logical you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days.

Your saturation level is medium - You're not the most decisive go-getter, but you can get a job done when it's required of you. You probably don't think the world can change for you and don't want to spend too much effort trying to force it.

Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.
the spacefem.com html color quiz

What's up with the Tylenol #3 spam? I didn't touch the computer over the weekend, and I bet this morning I had 50 emails telling me how I could get cheap codeine. Crazy. Also, not touching the computer resulted in the lack of posts.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Friday, February 6, 2004

Friday 5

1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Hard to say. My guess would be jumping off the roof of Charlie Yates garage into his pool.

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of? Parachuting.

3. On a scale of 1-10, what's your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it's a lifestyle) About average, I would guess. Let's say 5.

4. What's the best thing that's ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky? I'm not sure. I can't think of anything really.

5. ... and what's the worst? I broke my ankle as a kid playing freeze football at Owls Head School. That's where you play football in the snow with no mittens or hat or coat. Jamie Lamb pulled me from out of the sky as I was jumping to catch a pass. Ouch. I had some major road rash from a speed wobble I got into on a skateboard on the hill by Jeff Waldron's house. I learned how to tighten the trucks from that experience.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Sidewalk Venting

We have these things here in this city. I bet you have them in your city/town/burg too. They're called streets. They're made for cars to drive on. Some of these "streets" get pretty busy. What I mean is, sometimes there are lots of cars driving on these streets. Some streets are so busy, it's hard for pedestrians to walk nearby. So someone somewhere along the line invented this cool thing. It's about 24"-36" wide, and 4"-8" high. They're usually made of pavement or concrete, but sometimes they're made from bricks. On the edge, there's usually a lip of concrete, or in some fancy places, they make a little edge out of granite. We call these things--at least around here--sidewalks. And, they're supposed to be used for pedestrians to walk. But NOT around here. Oh no, let's walk down the middle of the frickin' street instead of using a sidewalk. "Oh look, there's a sidewalk on that side of the road. Too bad there isn't one on this side, or I might be tempted to walk on it! Of course, I couldn't think of crossing the street. That's not my style."

[end vent]


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Reasons 4 Love #39

Reasons 4 Love #39

Every Wednesday those who are involved in a relationship with somebody share a few (simple but significant) reasons for their love. I love Susan because:

She doesn't get too mad when I have strange dreams about twin blond police officers.
She's working very hard to get the house in order for twins.
She helps me get things done when I don't have enough hours in a day.
She understands that I can't be at home as much as I would like.
She's thankful for my hard work and long hours.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Thanks!

Gotta deal some props here. First, to Harley Colwell of Harley's Classic Machine Works here in Rockland. I needed a stirpped drum part re-threaded, and he did it for me at no charge. (I gave him a little thank-you gift, but he didn't ask for anything.) Second, thanks to Mac Economy and his lovely wife Kathy. Kathy made a chicken soup Monday night, and swung some by our place. She knows Susan isn't feeling so hot with the pregnancy, and thought she could be down-right neighborly with some soup. Very nice! So thanks to these fine Christian families for their help.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Thinking of Warmer Days

I woke up this morning (buh ba-da ba-dum) around 3. It was raining out. Raining in February in Maine is odd. "Must be warm" I thought. Sure 'nuff, it was. I got thinking about warmer days, and how maybe I should make a little quiz so you all can think about warmer days too. You can take it here. Paddy called it "the wife quiz," as in answers only my wife will know. Not true! Jim's taken it already, and he got 8 right! So why don't you try it, and think about spring/summer for a while...




According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Tuesday, February 3, 2004

Post remider

Remind me to talk biscuits. If you'd like, you could review previous biscuit material.

Also I got a 7-in-1 digital card reader tonight. Of course, my camera takes an xD card, so I won't need the other six. Still, I got a good deal. Only $30, and it saves me from having to remember to unplug the USB cord for the camera. Now the cord can stay in the case, with the camera, so I can use it at work or someone else's house.


According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Drum Photos

If you care... :-)

Here's my green onyx Phattie cocktail drum.
Here's another picture of Big Pink, complete with Billy Rhythm logo head. The flash in this dark bar makes him look gingerale in color. He's really quite pink.



According to the prophecy of: Billy Rhythm [Link]

Monday, February 2, 2004

PG-13 post here, people. Proceed with caution!

The following is PG-13. See the "Get More Here" section for all the details...


Set this day by the hand of Billy Rhythm [Link] [Get More Here]


 
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