Dazed

Well Pat did a nightshift last night and I barely slept (again). Not entirely sure what's doing it or why I'm getting dry skin around my mouth. I suppose stress is a possibility although I don't feel stressed, I'm not sure what I do feel though.

I got a text first thing telling me Phil has gone. I told Tony later in the day once he'd got home from his hols.

Nick R came round and we had a very pleasant lunch and chat, been too long we both agreed.

I mostly got the studio back together, it looks fine anyway but I haven't powered up yet. I seem to have retrieved about 20 unused MIDI cables and goodness knows how many audio leads.

OK, I took a quick couple of photos of the affected areas. I'll do better ones but not today. Pat just rang to say she wasn't feeling well so went to pick her up, gonna go cook tea now, once she's recovered a bit. Worrying.

Studio rejig

I didn't sleep a wink last night, couldn't seem to shut off. Stupid tune going round my head like a worm eating the grey soggy tissue. Pat the same. She's volunteered to do a nightshift tonight too, hope she makes it through!

I finally decided to tackle the studio move around I've been half-contemplating for a while. No response to my new tracks so guessing they don't like 'em, and instead of being in limbo decided to occupy myself this afternoon after coming back from a pleasant lunch with Pat. 

So it started innocently enough. I moved the modular and the large Behringer submixer. And its box. Having cleared that corner, next came the next box with all my Moogerfoogers, Biscuit, Restyler, ER1, MIDI patch bay. It was starting to look messy but the space looked promising - the Yamaha SK20 should fit at last. I was thinking the modular will go on the wall, once I found the two shelf brackets I knew were around somewhere. Next I swapped the two Behringer submixers around, putting the large one in the place where the Perfourmer 2 was. Yes, I was now taking everything out of that vertical rack, pulling cables like a maniac and dearly regretting starting. And yet, I really do like reorganising the studio, I admit it. It's like therapy or something but at the end there's something tangible, like getting new gear because it's in new places. 

There's a large pile of rack kit floating around now, I'm gonna trip over something, especially as I've started on the red wine. I get the main rack reassembled and a fair proportion of gear plugged into the large Behringer. Briefly contemplate robbing the Spirit mixer all Tim's gear is connected to but that's a step too far - for today anyway. Plus all its connections are at the top, which would be awkward in the sloping rack. Out comes the drill and the modular is on the wall, the SK20 under it and a box next to it for all my little pedals (and later the MS20 mini I suspect, if it ever comes). At this point I give up for the day. Oh yes, I moved the Freebass to make space for the Repeater in the sequencer box. I'll take photos, but tomorrow. Gonna listen to the proms recording, which is Mahler's second symphony I think. Caught some of it on the radio as I worked. 

Lack of sleep starting to catch up on me. Had shower cos I stink, Nick R dropping by tomorrow on his way south, been a long time so will be good to catch up. Incredibly talented guy, gonna enjoy hearing what he's up to. 

This is a picture of Bob the bunny when he was stuck on the front of his cage. You can't see the long tooth on the top as it was curled right round, poor sod. He's getting quite tame now, came when I called today. Gonna miss him when he goes back. 

Right, bed calling... night night campers!

 

Downer Day

Well, looks like the time has passed for conversation, my dear old pal is on what's known as the Liverpool Care Path and waking up is now unlikely. From the start of this it's a matter of days, I believe. I've held off telling Bammy cos there's nothing he could do anyway and he won't be back until Saturday. Maybe we'll go together then.

It's left me a bit lost and directionless. I've achieved nothing today except tidying a few clumsy parts of the current review but my heart isn't in it and it's best I don't write a lot in case my mood filters through. Instead I've been listening through old JIC recordings, including one when Bammy came and played with us. I know I should do something with the best material but have no idea what.

Pat's working and I'm catching up on my Proms recordings. Prokofiev's second violin concerto is up next and it's not a work I'm familiar with. Have broken my fast with a bit of rice left over from last night's takeaway. The pie from Garstang had grown white fur and I decided it was best left to its own devices.

Jasper's ear is, finally, starting to look like parts of it are healing. He was stressed beyond belief (soft bugger, had eyes like saucers) when we fitted the funnel collar and he kept deliberately walking into things to demonstrate how upset he was. I'm getting fed up of finding bits of black dog around the house though but he has not scratched so much today after we constantly told him off. Bob the rabbit actually came when I called this afternoon, which was nice. He seems so lonely though, can't be right keeping a rabbit by itself.

Today I played with drum machines and silently wished Colin would pull his finger out and get his drum thing done. Again, not really able to concentrate on what I was doing so quickly gave up. It's started raining.

Slow healing

Well, made slow because poor Jasper can't stop scratching the scabs off. We're going to have to take some action or it'll be permanently manky!

Wondering if I'll get a bug-free version of the cool thing I'm reviewing (and seriously considering buying)? Annoyingly, OS fixes are return to bass which is really old school! Both reviews coming on well, can afford to take afternoon to work in the garden as it's going crazy. Also need to find a builder as the roof is still leaking slightly at the far end and it won't get better by itself.

This morning I uploaded two of the new tracks, the two that are closest to the brief. Neither are totally close but I have to start somewhere and if they hate them then I'll try something totally different. Finding it increasingly hard to relate to Logic X and its many annoyances. Think I'll be going back to LP9. Wish I could downgrade the OS too. Can't get Mail to work on Mountain Lion even though I didn't change anything.

Would love some time for me, just to potter in the studio on my own stuff with real hardware. Or work on my novel, heck it's been too long... moan moan, I know. Hey, writing this is supposed to be catharsis innit?

Hospice busy, hopefully ringing back. Want to see the man when he's awake, which seems quite difficult.

Hoofing it down

Rained very heavily overnight and continues this morning. Looks like the action taken plugging that leak may have helped as the end of our avenue (touch wood) isn't showing signs of flooding. I really must find out about the responsibilities of Utd Utils when it comes to providing adequate drainage. I bet there will be some rule or other than frees them of all responsibility somehow. Have to keep those shareholders happy.

Bob the rabbit booked into the vet for this evening. Hopefully only a small interruption to work schedule as tonight is my long night where I typically get my greatest throughput (Pat works until midnight).

Reviews progressing well, both shaping up and fleshing out with detail. Korg guy seems to be getting fed  up with me keep asking stuff but since he's steered me wrong in the past in terms of accuracy I don't want to miss owt. Starting to wonder if I'll ever see my MS20 mini, or indeed whether the man in France really has sent my theremin back as it's been weeks since he said it was en route. Must be something about me, too bloody easy-going.

The "Prodigy" tracks progressing OK I think, I have a few of them now in various stages of construction and this morning will be perfect to nail a few final mixes I think. Still weird having Mondays free, feels like I can actually hit the week running. Let's hope we don't peter out like last week though (I blame Tim of course and his wonderful smokes :)).

I deliberately didn't drink any beer last night even though the studio was warm. My gut has lost its "fasting taughtness" and has resumed its "wibbly wobbly" shape and I'm pretty sure beer has played a major role.

I should really release The Last Day before I forget it and lose interest altogether. I know it seems pointless but so is sitting on it and letting it fade away. Can I even be arsed getting the cover done properly and it mastered? Does anyone care or even notice? Oops, miserable weather getting to me already, time to brave the elements and take Jasper for a quick poo. Then work!

http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/i-say

Shit day yesterday

Bad news about the brain tumour, it's back and with others. Rapid deterioration. Going to hospice this evening. Not something I can try to put in words here.

People... words fail me. The rabbit we're looking after got his face stuck on his cage today. Now at least I know why he's not been eating too much - he can't! His bottom teeth are long, but one of his top teeth has turned on itself forming  a circle! I'm bloody furious - how the hell could you not know the basics about the pets you imprison? I cut the cage to free it (let them dare complain) and will take him to vet to get his teeth sorted. In the meantime he's drunk a load of water (we went to Garstang show, goodness knows how long he was stuck) and is munching dandelion leaves which, unlike the food they supplied us with, he can eat.

Needless to say I've not been productive today and doubt I will be this evening. Jasper has been scratching his ear and it looks terrible.

Painting done

A bit of a change this week, I finally completed the painting I'd promised to do. Came out OK, would have been better if I'd been able to use my original drawing but for some reason could not make any indentation on the wall. In the end did it freehand. 

Week started well, a bunch of tracks for the new brief started  but didn't get chance to progress. Began latest review, cracked on well with that and had some email exchanges trying to find out details that don't seem reachable from here. Gonna take day off with Pat tomorrow, do something together. May go look at the mixed martial arts club I noticed is just round the corner, will see how they are and what my chances of getting injured are. Don't wanna get into that again but do need to get fitter. I think I've said this before. 

No time for novel, no time for garden but must make some as the rain has made it go mad. We're minding someone's bunny for two weeks and Pat's smitten already, bless.

Jasper's ear still looking ugly but the honey is helping a lot. He's been bugged by flies though, probably after the honey. He has started scratching it though and giving me pathetic looks. Tim dropped by and we chilled for a while, very pleasant. Would've been great to have more time and do music as I really feel in the mood to do something that isn't Prodigy ripoffs (mind you they're starting to become Chilled Prodigy now, which is an unexpected turn of events).

If I write must work harder a hundred times, will I do it?

Pat's discovered Gladiators on some digital channel. A lot of them are quite freaky, is my observation so far. 

This ends my thoughts for this evening. They ain't great but then I can never write stuff about review gear and there ain't much else to say. Oh, I put the extra RAM into the Mac and it seems to be behaving, no crackles etc. That's it maxed out until I start chucking RAM away and replacing with larger. Getting fed up waiting for my MS20 mini. Fancy a trip to Amsterdam but dunno who else would fancy going...