New Years Eve

Hello and welcome to New Years Eve! 2025, the year that will see the end of US democracy as we know it, is just hours away! I’m working from home today, which is nice. No commutes for me. Just a desk full of fidgety stocking stuffers that Santa Claus brought me this year.

Any plans for first night? Boston throws quite the shindig. Unfortunately for everyone, I am very old now. Well… I’m old but not that old. I could go… I just would rather stay home and veg with my family and then go to sleep at 12:01am.

Here’s to a nice quiet day at work. Fingers crossed.

Happy New Year.

Flashback

I watched a video on youtube tonight of a band playing in a bar in DC back in the late 90’s. I saw the band play in a bar in Cambridge at around the same time… maybe about a year earlier. Whatever. That’s not the point of the post.

The point of the post was that I had what seemed like almost a full sensory flashback. I could smell the cigarette smoke, I could feel my ears ringing from the volume, I could feel the heat of the room and the crush of the people packed into the tiny space… it was weird and also kinda wonderful. The video was 26 years old and I almost felt like I was there.

How weird was that?

Seriously, underground bands playing live in the 90’s was the absolute best musical thing ever. EVER.

In an unrelated note, I have three guitar pedals in my amazon cart right now. If I pull the trigger on it, I hope I’ll have a band to use them with. We’re looking at trying to start up again next month, and next month is the day after tomorrow. Cross those fingers, kids.

Amp Sim

The RPM Challenge opened for sign ups for 2025 today. That seems a smidge early, but who cares. I haven’t signed up yet but I will. Soon. I am starting to feel the pull. I am starting to feel the anticipation. I am starting to look at my pedal board and recording setup at home and think about things I might want to change for this February’s challenge.

Last year I went entirely direct input into my USB audio interface. I have two amps with cab sim line outs and I used them both. Over the course of the last year or so there have been a ton of very good amp simulation pedals released into the world. Most are grossly expensive. TC Electronics has a series that is reasonably priced. Do I want to try one? They have one the sims a Fender Deluxe Reverb. I went looking for one on amazon the other day and they appeared to be out of stock. I checked again today at a couple of music vendor sites and they are definitely available. I must have misread the amazonian’s site somehow.

I would only ever want to use a device like this for home recording when there are people in the house. Otherwise I am playing through a real amp and just try to stop me. The demos for these pedals make it seem like they sound pretty good. Should I try one out? Should I take the amp sim plunge?

Or should I just splurge on an expensive new guitar? Or, should I splurge on an expensive new guitar?

Another Rainy Drive

It is pouring rain out this morning so I must have needed to drive to the office. Yesterday I drove to my in-laws and back in the thickest fog ever. I could barely see the road. Today I drove to the office in a huge downpour and could barely see the road.

Coincidence?

Yes, of course it is.

121/365

Stop Light Theater

I put new memory cards into my camera today. Up from two 32gig cards to two 128 gig cards. Oh so many pictures! When I went out into the foggy morning to run some pre-christmas eve party errands I took the camera with me to test drive the new cards with some Stop Light Theater. Enjoy!

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Told ya it was foggy. Here’s a bonus stopped-at-a-gas-station theater pic to close things off. It’s also today’s photo a day pic.

120/365