i'll be back.. mhmm..
it's just that we're moving to the city on sunday, and i gots to get things in order.
kar's in bed right now.. man, life has been frigged up lately.. but in a good way. just crazy stuff. she's been studying like a champ. just going at the books with both barrels, and i've been doing my darndest to get this new job off and running while still getting home to make dinner (heat up frozen stuff) and do dishes (rinse everything and leave on drying rack), while at the same time pulling together a few random tasks every night/morning in an attempt to widdle down my big list (get boxes for moving, get demos to jimmy, get van for moving, get parking permit for toronto, get bills paid, get sleep..) The new job has me starting at usual time (6:30am) but finishing around 6:00pm, so including drive time, i've been finding me out of the house from about 5:00am till 8:00pm.
like i said though.. good. the job is good, the move is good.. all good.
i'll get back eventually, but for now, gotta do some stuff.
will get to the record again in time, but currently, jimmy's music is in position A. followed by a few life things...
that said, moving to Toronto should make it easier to get in and finish up vocals and other things in the evenings without dealing with the devil drive afterwards.
also, I'm taking kar to banff. cause i think she's great!
J
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
You Bett-man!
There are so many reasons why NHL hockey is incredible right now, and why these playoffs have me locked in:
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
These guys are just plain fun to watch. A team full of kids with unbelievable amounts of skill, and a harder work ethic than you'll find on any other team. Seriously, in game 1 against the Sens, it looked like the Sens were absolutely shocked at the speed of play. I can't count how many times a Sens D-man would start skating up through centre looking to create a play only to be picked from behind by Staal, or Malkin, or Crosby, or Kennedy, or even Gary Roberts. Their goals are pretty, their power-play is devastating, and the simple level of star-power harkens back to the days before I was watching hockey, when Gretzky and Messier and Kurri and Coffee were suiting it up for the same team every night.
2. Dion Phaneuf
This guy is Scott Stevens but with a bigger shot and a more style. He lays guys out in every corner of the rink, and even better in open ice. Plus, than he scores while you're lying on the ice like a tool, just to add to the insult.
3. Ovechkin
I can't believe this guy. I've never seen anybody so excited to play. It's one thing that he's such a monster with the puck, but the fact that he does it with a huge smile on is face... he's like a big kid. If we end up with a Pens/Caps series in one of the next rounds I'm gonna take the week off work. That would probably be one of the best ever.
4. The fact that we once again have legitimate superstars in the NHL means that we once again have legitimate enforcers. As soon as Chris Neil gets a hand up on Crosby, he's immediately mugged by at least 3 guys. I swear, it's like these kids have just busted open the trap, cause they're too fast to be defended by it, and the result is just this whole new level of intensity.
5. The Bell Centre
Do yourself a favor and watch a montreal game. They have the best crowd in all of hockey, bar none. 5 minutes into the game and they're all on their feet, singing 'olay!' and going crazy every time somebody gets drilled. After so many years of watching New Jersey win games in front of a crowd of 3000 strong, it feels like Canadian hockey is alive again. If/when these guys go deep (Conference finals) the roof is gonna blow off. Seriously, picture a Pens/Canadians Eastern Conference Final!!! How intense would that be?? Two arenas full of utterly crazy fans, massive parties, lots of star-power and goal-scoring, two hot goalies... man.. I'm holding out hope.
Granted, if it ends up being Dallas vs. Minnesota for the prize, than this entire blog goes to crap.
J
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
These guys are just plain fun to watch. A team full of kids with unbelievable amounts of skill, and a harder work ethic than you'll find on any other team. Seriously, in game 1 against the Sens, it looked like the Sens were absolutely shocked at the speed of play. I can't count how many times a Sens D-man would start skating up through centre looking to create a play only to be picked from behind by Staal, or Malkin, or Crosby, or Kennedy, or even Gary Roberts. Their goals are pretty, their power-play is devastating, and the simple level of star-power harkens back to the days before I was watching hockey, when Gretzky and Messier and Kurri and Coffee were suiting it up for the same team every night.
2. Dion Phaneuf
This guy is Scott Stevens but with a bigger shot and a more style. He lays guys out in every corner of the rink, and even better in open ice. Plus, than he scores while you're lying on the ice like a tool, just to add to the insult.
3. Ovechkin
I can't believe this guy. I've never seen anybody so excited to play. It's one thing that he's such a monster with the puck, but the fact that he does it with a huge smile on is face... he's like a big kid. If we end up with a Pens/Caps series in one of the next rounds I'm gonna take the week off work. That would probably be one of the best ever.
4. The fact that we once again have legitimate superstars in the NHL means that we once again have legitimate enforcers. As soon as Chris Neil gets a hand up on Crosby, he's immediately mugged by at least 3 guys. I swear, it's like these kids have just busted open the trap, cause they're too fast to be defended by it, and the result is just this whole new level of intensity.
5. The Bell Centre
Do yourself a favor and watch a montreal game. They have the best crowd in all of hockey, bar none. 5 minutes into the game and they're all on their feet, singing 'olay!' and going crazy every time somebody gets drilled. After so many years of watching New Jersey win games in front of a crowd of 3000 strong, it feels like Canadian hockey is alive again. If/when these guys go deep (Conference finals) the roof is gonna blow off. Seriously, picture a Pens/Canadians Eastern Conference Final!!! How intense would that be?? Two arenas full of utterly crazy fans, massive parties, lots of star-power and goal-scoring, two hot goalies... man.. I'm holding out hope.
Granted, if it ends up being Dallas vs. Minnesota for the prize, than this entire blog goes to crap.
J
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ed
I just walked by Ed from 'Barnaked Ladies' in the hall at work. Isn't that veird?
I wanted to make some sort of song reference, but then the only one i could think of on the spot was 'hey ed, what would you do if you had a million dollars..' and that just seemed lame and un-imaginitive. So, i just said hi.
J
I wanted to make some sort of song reference, but then the only one i could think of on the spot was 'hey ed, what would you do if you had a million dollars..' and that just seemed lame and un-imaginitive. So, i just said hi.
J
Friday, April 4, 2008
Hey, watch this!!! I'm going to empty my brain onto this blank page!!...
FRIDAY BABY YAAHHH!!
I'm glad to be headed into a weekend that holds little for me other than some playing around with music in an unfocused and undirected manner whilst drinking several coffees.
My excited mind is clogged with thoughts on uniqueness. Various sources with which I've recently been in contact (Jimmy, John Mayer... 's blog, Ronstock, etc.) have brought this idea/word to my conscious mind. I suppose I can't worry much that this record sound 'unique'. Cause it won't. Let's get back to the point of the whole thing... international magical cooperation... no. Sorry. Harry Potter joke. Kar? No Time... But it was.. NO TIME!! Jimmy?
Who's reading this?
Back at it. Seriously, this record is about having fun, and trying to explain myself in some form or another. Or at least exposing my thoughts in a semi-vulnerable manner. Why am I saying this? Because for the past 2 months, I have listened to nothing but snare drums. Exclusively. It doesn't matter what track is playing, cause all I'm hearing is snare drums. What a lame thing. Who cares about the snare drum anyway? It's gonna be what it's gonna be. It's gonna be what I decide I want it to be, and that's it. And the decision is gonna be based on the fact that it makes me feel good to hear it that way. And not what's supposed to be done, or what somebody else did, or is doing. And not what I suspect will garner the most accolades.
And then at the end of it all, I'm going to hold close a season's worth of work, and something that I'm proud of, and it's going to be my 'chase this light' in physical form.
L'Engle talks about how art is a calling. I think in 'Walking On Water.' How any true artist is answering that call... they're people who have put in the time, and have maintained that sense of ever-readyness. Ever waiting, hoping for that extra push, that extra wind in the sales, that infusion of reality thru which good art becomes meaningful art. The moment where 'I am going to push myself to learn, to improve..' meets 'I was created to do this..'
So am I a true artist? Ya. I think I am, and today, probably for the first time, I'm not bothered by the sound of discussing that. Because I'm thinking outside of 'artist' in the pop-culture sense. I'm thinking outside of snare drums. I'm thinking outside of verses and choruses and middle 8s, and I'm realizing that, when this is done, it will be all of me. My fullest effort, the great push, where I reached down, and scraped out the very sides, and left nothing behind for the sake of somebody elses version of me.
Can I chalk that up as uniqueness?
Hey, do yourselves a favor and keep one watchful eye on Jimmy's www.myspace.com/thisiswhatlovesoundslike He doesn't have new tunes up right now.. well, unless you haven't heard the ones he has up right now. But we're working on some new ones, and I'm sure they'll surface in the coming months. He's got heavy skills friends. Boy knows the meaning of melody.
Alright, everybody don't forget to look under your seats and take all of your personal belongings. Watch your step on the way out, and we'll see you again soon.
J
I'm glad to be headed into a weekend that holds little for me other than some playing around with music in an unfocused and undirected manner whilst drinking several coffees.
My excited mind is clogged with thoughts on uniqueness. Various sources with which I've recently been in contact (Jimmy, John Mayer... 's blog, Ronstock, etc.) have brought this idea/word to my conscious mind. I suppose I can't worry much that this record sound 'unique'. Cause it won't. Let's get back to the point of the whole thing... international magical cooperation... no. Sorry. Harry Potter joke. Kar? No Time... But it was.. NO TIME!! Jimmy?
Who's reading this?
Back at it. Seriously, this record is about having fun, and trying to explain myself in some form or another. Or at least exposing my thoughts in a semi-vulnerable manner. Why am I saying this? Because for the past 2 months, I have listened to nothing but snare drums. Exclusively. It doesn't matter what track is playing, cause all I'm hearing is snare drums. What a lame thing. Who cares about the snare drum anyway? It's gonna be what it's gonna be. It's gonna be what I decide I want it to be, and that's it. And the decision is gonna be based on the fact that it makes me feel good to hear it that way. And not what's supposed to be done, or what somebody else did, or is doing. And not what I suspect will garner the most accolades.
And then at the end of it all, I'm going to hold close a season's worth of work, and something that I'm proud of, and it's going to be my 'chase this light' in physical form.
L'Engle talks about how art is a calling. I think in 'Walking On Water.' How any true artist is answering that call... they're people who have put in the time, and have maintained that sense of ever-readyness. Ever waiting, hoping for that extra push, that extra wind in the sales, that infusion of reality thru which good art becomes meaningful art. The moment where 'I am going to push myself to learn, to improve..' meets 'I was created to do this..'
So am I a true artist? Ya. I think I am, and today, probably for the first time, I'm not bothered by the sound of discussing that. Because I'm thinking outside of 'artist' in the pop-culture sense. I'm thinking outside of snare drums. I'm thinking outside of verses and choruses and middle 8s, and I'm realizing that, when this is done, it will be all of me. My fullest effort, the great push, where I reached down, and scraped out the very sides, and left nothing behind for the sake of somebody elses version of me.
Can I chalk that up as uniqueness?
Hey, do yourselves a favor and keep one watchful eye on Jimmy's www.myspace.com/thisiswhatlovesoundslike He doesn't have new tunes up right now.. well, unless you haven't heard the ones he has up right now. But we're working on some new ones, and I'm sure they'll surface in the coming months. He's got heavy skills friends. Boy knows the meaning of melody.
Alright, everybody don't forget to look under your seats and take all of your personal belongings. Watch your step on the way out, and we'll see you again soon.
J
Friday, March 28, 2008
Morning Brew
So at about 10am this morning you could find me sitting at my desk knocking back a Starbucks black with a shot of baileys. And my friends, that's why we get so much done in the TV business!! somebody decided that it was pertinent to have a small social get together with starbucks and liquor in the EPI office as a celebration of the fact that... well... it is Friday.
Anyway, you won't find me complaining.
Though you might find me sleeping.. at my desk.
Good ol' discovery channel. If there's one thing I'll miss, it's the fact that they have office parties for almost everything.
Corporate Email: 'Hey everybody, we just finished Forensic Factor Season 4, so everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Corporate Email: 'Hey everybody, we just finished the second episode of the 4th season of Forensic Factor so everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Corporate Email: 'Hey everybody. Melissa, who has been media logging for us for the past 3 weeks, is leaving because we don't really pay her much. We know you don't know her... we don't either. We think she's the little blonde haired girl who sits behind all those boxes in the production office logging footage we aren't going to use, day after day. Anyway, she's not coming, because she doesn't know any of us, and she lives in Barrie, but regardless, everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Corporate Email: Hey everybody. I just won Solitaire. Took me all morning too, but I finally got it where all the cards zoom across the screen until the whole thing is covered. I didn't play with the timer on, or with points, cause that always makes me a little nervous. Oh, and I also changed the settings so that it would only flip one card at a time. Makes it a little easier. So anyway, everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Oh, and so I spose I do have some exciting news. When I say 'that's one thing I'll miss', I say it in truth, as I will be making my graceful exit from Discovery Channel by the end of April (probably the third week in April actually). I'm moving over to CTV to work full-time for the audio team. It will be much like what I do when I work in audio right now, but every day. It's an exciting move for me, as I'll be doing what I love, and back in a position to grow and learn, and be around the people who speak my language. As opposed to being around tapes. All the time.
So anyway, I'm in the process of wrapping up my projects here, and tying up all the loose ends. Sooner than later I'll be training whoever they bring in to fill my position.
And then it'll be 'goodbye' to the library and the spreadsheets, and 'hello' to ProTools and microphones.
:)
J
Anyway, you won't find me complaining.
Though you might find me sleeping.. at my desk.
Good ol' discovery channel. If there's one thing I'll miss, it's the fact that they have office parties for almost everything.
Corporate Email: 'Hey everybody, we just finished Forensic Factor Season 4, so everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Corporate Email: 'Hey everybody, we just finished the second episode of the 4th season of Forensic Factor so everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Corporate Email: 'Hey everybody. Melissa, who has been media logging for us for the past 3 weeks, is leaving because we don't really pay her much. We know you don't know her... we don't either. We think she's the little blonde haired girl who sits behind all those boxes in the production office logging footage we aren't going to use, day after day. Anyway, she's not coming, because she doesn't know any of us, and she lives in Barrie, but regardless, everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Corporate Email: Hey everybody. I just won Solitaire. Took me all morning too, but I finally got it where all the cards zoom across the screen until the whole thing is covered. I didn't play with the timer on, or with points, cause that always makes me a little nervous. Oh, and I also changed the settings so that it would only flip one card at a time. Makes it a little easier. So anyway, everyone come out and meet us all at the Keg for a Lunch on the company dime, this Friday!'
Oh, and so I spose I do have some exciting news. When I say 'that's one thing I'll miss', I say it in truth, as I will be making my graceful exit from Discovery Channel by the end of April (probably the third week in April actually). I'm moving over to CTV to work full-time for the audio team. It will be much like what I do when I work in audio right now, but every day. It's an exciting move for me, as I'll be doing what I love, and back in a position to grow and learn, and be around the people who speak my language. As opposed to being around tapes. All the time.
So anyway, I'm in the process of wrapping up my projects here, and tying up all the loose ends. Sooner than later I'll be training whoever they bring in to fill my position.
And then it'll be 'goodbye' to the library and the spreadsheets, and 'hello' to ProTools and microphones.
:)
J
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Update
As an update to my previous blog:
Wally, ya, well I don't know that we'll have an SVT. What we WILL have is Jimmy's 5-string Stingray, which is gold, and the amp that he uses at church. And I have no idea what that sucker is, but it has great tone. It's one of the 1x15 type of deals with a really tight sound that'll work great for tracking. Sometimes it's nice to avoid big fridges when it comes to tracking.. too much to deal with... especially with the sound we'll be looking for.
Also, an addendum to my offer on Australia. Bail. I can only get it on BetaSX, and assuming you don't have one of those VTRs lying around in the apartment...
Good things on the horizon.
Later,
J
Wally, ya, well I don't know that we'll have an SVT. What we WILL have is Jimmy's 5-string Stingray, which is gold, and the amp that he uses at church. And I have no idea what that sucker is, but it has great tone. It's one of the 1x15 type of deals with a really tight sound that'll work great for tracking. Sometimes it's nice to avoid big fridges when it comes to tracking.. too much to deal with... especially with the sound we'll be looking for.
Also, an addendum to my offer on Australia. Bail. I can only get it on BetaSX, and assuming you don't have one of those VTRs lying around in the apartment...
Good things on the horizon.
Later,
J
Monday, March 17, 2008
Re-Centering
It's good to be back after a fantastic weekend. I had a lot of time to think this weekend, and I managed to arrive at clarity on a lot of things that have been on my mind lately.
The guitar recording was a total success. Unmitigated. :) I'm wholey sold out on Vox amps, for the record, following a full day of getting to know one. I really haven't ever found an amp that I truly loved. It always seems like they're good at one thing, but not another. A fender something or other does such a great job on those warm clean tones, but anything over-driven sounds choppy and unpolished, which I don't like. And then some big monster of a JCM or something is incredible for that massive drive, but if I'm working on something more toned down, I have no real options. Enter the AC30. It was a lot of fun just playing around with it. I managed to arrive at all kinds of different tones and sounds just within the amp itself.
It was also great to have several guitars. Thanks to matty, glease-bag, and chuck for lending me their beauties. When you're looking to track guitars, and you're staring down at a Les Paul, a Fender Tornado (ya.. you try and find one! I'd never heard of them, but it's a great guitar! sortof like a Tele, but darker at the top end, and a little less open), and an American Tele, you're doing pretty good!
I started at around 8:30am on Saturday, and tracked straight through till about 6:00. Sunday gave me time for a few touch ups and re-records. I managed to plow through all 13 songs, and it's looking as though I've got everything I need!! It's incredible to hear the songs taking on their actual form now. While I know that bass and backing vocals will make it clearer, I'm starting to have a pretty clear picture of where each song is going, and what the energy points are. It's such a cool experience to have that unfolding as it is.
As well, Jimmy and I have chatted, and he'll be playing bass on the record. In fact, it's altogether likely that he's currently holed up in his room practicing to temp mixes on a peavey t max as we speak! (http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/114539/MAX(R)%20126.cfm) a true warhorse...
Anyway, it's a good thing, too, cause it'll be nice to have some extra input on each song, and have a nother set of ears helping to decide what sounds best.
The balance of the weekend was spent chilling. Church on Sunday morning was so great! Leah reall worked it in the music.. the guys did a new song that I've never heard, and it was huge. And then Greg just took the whole thing and made it all relevant and applicable.
The overriding idea behind the whole service was that regardless of your circumstance or situation, God's not finished working with and on you. Greg was really trying to help us to see that we cannot see the end of the road. It was so great to hear that, and be reminded of that. That today's circumstance is part of a greater plan, and the greater plan involves God fulfilling in you that for which you were created.
That changes the outlook on the coming week and months, and it has me looking towards Easter with anticipation, right and proper.
Talk soon. I have to go downstairs and harass the TSN archives guys about getting me a DVD copy of that F1 season opener. I'm selling copies for $8.00.... any takers?
J
The guitar recording was a total success. Unmitigated. :) I'm wholey sold out on Vox amps, for the record, following a full day of getting to know one. I really haven't ever found an amp that I truly loved. It always seems like they're good at one thing, but not another. A fender something or other does such a great job on those warm clean tones, but anything over-driven sounds choppy and unpolished, which I don't like. And then some big monster of a JCM or something is incredible for that massive drive, but if I'm working on something more toned down, I have no real options. Enter the AC30. It was a lot of fun just playing around with it. I managed to arrive at all kinds of different tones and sounds just within the amp itself.
It was also great to have several guitars. Thanks to matty, glease-bag, and chuck for lending me their beauties. When you're looking to track guitars, and you're staring down at a Les Paul, a Fender Tornado (ya.. you try and find one! I'd never heard of them, but it's a great guitar! sortof like a Tele, but darker at the top end, and a little less open), and an American Tele, you're doing pretty good!
I started at around 8:30am on Saturday, and tracked straight through till about 6:00. Sunday gave me time for a few touch ups and re-records. I managed to plow through all 13 songs, and it's looking as though I've got everything I need!! It's incredible to hear the songs taking on their actual form now. While I know that bass and backing vocals will make it clearer, I'm starting to have a pretty clear picture of where each song is going, and what the energy points are. It's such a cool experience to have that unfolding as it is.
As well, Jimmy and I have chatted, and he'll be playing bass on the record. In fact, it's altogether likely that he's currently holed up in his room practicing to temp mixes on a peavey t max as we speak! (http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/114539/MAX(R)%20126.cfm) a true warhorse...
Anyway, it's a good thing, too, cause it'll be nice to have some extra input on each song, and have a nother set of ears helping to decide what sounds best.
The balance of the weekend was spent chilling. Church on Sunday morning was so great! Leah reall worked it in the music.. the guys did a new song that I've never heard, and it was huge. And then Greg just took the whole thing and made it all relevant and applicable.
The overriding idea behind the whole service was that regardless of your circumstance or situation, God's not finished working with and on you. Greg was really trying to help us to see that we cannot see the end of the road. It was so great to hear that, and be reminded of that. That today's circumstance is part of a greater plan, and the greater plan involves God fulfilling in you that for which you were created.
That changes the outlook on the coming week and months, and it has me looking towards Easter with anticipation, right and proper.
Talk soon. I have to go downstairs and harass the TSN archives guys about getting me a DVD copy of that F1 season opener. I'm selling copies for $8.00.... any takers?
J
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)