Christmas isn’t just over, it’s dead. The tree is dead, at least. This is why you don’t put up your tree during Thanksgiving weekend.

Well folks, it’s 2018.  A New Year.  Time to break out all of those New Year traditions, like promising you’ll go to the gym and then never going to the gym, promising you’ll lose weight and then never going on a diet, promising you’ll practice your guitar more often and then…. you know.

It’s time to share those New Years Resolutions.  I only have one this year:

In 2018 I resolve to do what ever I can, no matter how little, to make sure that I do not have to apologize to any citizen of the world for the United States having nuked someone.

The 2018 elections might be democracy’s last stand.  Resist!  Impeach!

Hey 2017, go screw yourself!  You suck!

2018 can’t be any worse, can it?

Can it?

Damn, I hope not.

 

Politically speaking, 2017 was shit.  Utter garbage.  Personally speaking, it wasn’t the best year but it was still pretty good.  If not for the white supremacist asshole in the white house, I would be looking back on this year with a generally positive feeling.

Now let’s look back, photographically speaking, by going through my Flickr account and picking one photo per month.  I tried to keep it on the faux artsy side of things, but it didn’t always work out that way.

Happy New Year, everyone! Impeach Trump! Resist!

The Amazon Echo has an app (skill, technically) that plays ambient sounds.  Currently we have it playing the sound of the ocean.  It is very relaxing.  I might fall asleep.  Good thing I don’t have to go to the bathroom right now because that would be super stressful.

(Note: this not a comment on the home owner. The wind is brutal and the flag pole didn’t stand a chance. It’s more a comment on the symbolism and how it relates to our current fascist regime)

This post is just for me.  You can ignore it.  I just want a record of something that I’m working on.  Kind of a New Year’s resolution that I started a few weeks early.

I had a 20oz bottle of coke on the morning of 12/18.  After it was gone I decided to stop drinking coke.  The decision was made at about noon, maybe an hour before lunch.

I cheated a little on 12/30 by having a 12oz can of coke at a New Year’s party.  I wasn’t craving it or anything.  It was handed to me and I didn’t want to be a dick and turn it down so I kept it.  As soon as it was finished I was back on the wagon again.

I did not weigh myself on 12/18 or anything like that.  Think of it more as a lifestyle thing than a weight loss thing.

I marked both of these dates on my calendar too.  I just want to try and keep track of how well I keep up with the attempt this time.  Just a little self motivation tactic that probably won’t help at all.

I took a logic design class in college.  One of the projects was wiring together a circuit board.  I seem to remember getting a good grade.

Every once in a while I think to my dumb ass self, you did it before why not try it again?  There are web sites that sell build-your-own guitar pedal kits.  That would be cool.  I could build my own fuzz box!  This morning, while not being able to sleep, I went searching to see if there were similar build-your-own kits for tube amps.  There are!

One site had a video demoing the building of an 18 watt Marshall style combo amp.  Cool!

 

Now that I’ve watched the video all I can think is…

YEAH RIGHT, FAT BOY!  (insert the sound of gales of laughter here)

I’ve been watching The Punisher on Netflix.  It’s good but… wow.  Just… wow.

Earlier today I watched episode 12.  After the last few minutes I said to myself, “this is the most brutally violent thing I have ever watched on a television show.  This is more ferociously violent than most of the most violent movies I’ve ever seen.  This is painfully difficult to watch.”

Now I’m down to the last 10 minutes of the season finale, episode 13.  Episode 12 is like Candyland in comparison.  Episode 12 is like a sunny Summer Saturday afternoon on the beach compared to episode 13.

The show is really good.  It’s so well done… but I am never going to recommend either of my step kids ever watch it.  I love scary movies.  I love violent movies.  I love my share of gore… but I expect nightmares tonight.