Derek Sivers recommends everyone have a now page, and since he’s a smart guy, I’m going to do it. Here it is. If you make it to this page and find that I haven’t updated it in awhile, send me a message and remind me!
Now
~~ Feb 17, 2023
The last few months unfortunately kicked my ass. We had pipes (septic-related) burst over Christmas and spent my wife’s 2 weeks of Christmas vacation away from work also away from our home, with our daughter not being able to really even play with her new toys or enjoy the season. Then a bit of a personal tragedy happened at the end of January. So in general, at a time when my wife and I tend to really reinvigorate ourselves each year, instead we were thrown into chaos and everything was put on hold until really just the last couple weeks. Many of the things in my last “Now” are still applicable as I just haven’t made much forward progress. Here we are anyway.
Reading
I’m working my way through three books right now. For Bookclubs #1 & #2, we are reading The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester and To Green Angel Tower by Tad Williams, respectively. Stars is a fine pulpy sci-fi/cyberpunk novel that has been a quick read – a simple revenge story set on the backdrop of a 24th/25th century future. It’s fine. I’ll do a full review later. Green Angel Tower is of course the conclusion to Williams’s “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn” series, which I have read multiple times in my life. I’m enjoying it as much as I ever enjoy this series – it’s my favorite, and will remain so for all time (I imagine).
The third book is Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing the American landscape. I became a bit fascinated of Olmsted (the primary designer of Biltmore’s gardens, Central Park, and many other beautiful national landscapes) during my read of The Devil in the White City – he was the primary designer of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. His journal entries and thoughts on how to create “moments of enlightenment” and movement through his gardens are very detailed and based on his personal philosophies, so I feel like I’m truly seeing into the mind of an artist. It’s a slightly dry read, but still enjoyable.
Music
I’m enjoying a prog-ish band called Aviations quite a bit lately. They don’t provide the epic-ness of some of my favorite prog-ish bands that I tend to relish, but they’re very emotional and have lots of fun movement. A friend of mine has recently introduced me to an older punk band which, somehow back in the 90’s when I listened to punk nonstop, I never heard – The Dickies. They’re fun in the way of similar Fat Wreck Chords bands, and don’t take themselves too seriously, but have some really nice sounds (especially their bridge transitions).
For my personal music, it’s been on hold. The plumbing complications, combined with the fact that my producer friend kind of disappeared near the end of November (and I didn’t hear from him until last week) just made movement on my album slam to a stop. However I am happy to say, I have moved some of my studio gear around downstairs and am working on songs again.
I’m enjoying teaching again – I have two classes where I am teaching math-based logic puzzles (sudoku, LITS, nurikabe, norinori, even some chess), and also have private piano and drum lessons. I intend to teach a beginner’s woodworking class in the fall.
That’s all for now.
Previously
~~ November 13, 2022
It’s been awhile.
I’m currently reading The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, which is about the 1893 Chicago World Fair and several prominent players in Chicago at that time (including infamous serial killer H. H. Holmes). I’m really enjoying it, and I’m intentionally taking my time with it, so that I don’t rush it. Larson has a nice way with words, and the story reads in a prose/narrative fashion that makes you feel like you’re not reading history.
For book club #1, we’re reading Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I read a few books in Tchaikovsky’s Shadow of the Apt fantasy series and enjoyed him, and while I like this book, it’s not really exciting me. When I pick it up, I end up reading for awhile and enjoying myself, but I’ve not particularly drawn to it.
For book club #2, in which we are reading Tad Williams’s Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, we’ve started book two, Stone of Farewell. For those of you who don’t know, this is my favorite fantasy series of all time, and up until my daughter was born eight years ago, I re-read the series every other year or so. This is my first time going back through the series again since her birth, and man, is it like seeing best friends for the first time in a decade.
Back in September, I began looking into cryptocurrency for my first foray into expanding my knowledge and joy by learning about something I hate (or at least, have never had desire to know anything about). I spent a few days finding every “cryptocurrency for dummies” article I could find and reading through it, then turned my focus more toward the blockchain. I wrote a very basic blockchain to wrap my head around it more. It was fun. I get how the system works now. That being said, I still have no interest in getting into it on anything more than an academic level.
I’ve decided my next “Learn Something New” adventure was going to be about combustion engines. I have a 1999 4Runner I’m going to be tinkering with over the next few years, and I feel like at least knowing what makes a (somewhat) modern gas engine work would be useful.
And finally, I have a teaching gig starting in 2023 for Tinyhart’s homeschool coop. I have at least one new piano student, one drum student, and I’m teaching a class of 8-to-12 year-olds about math-based logic puzzles and sudoku!
That’s it for now.
~~ September 4, 2022
Several more books in the bag. For book club currently, we’re reading this little-known indie novel called Dracula (ever heard of it?), and then Stephen King’s new novel, Fairy Tale. I’m finding Dracula to be a surprisingly easy read – in the past, I have tended to not do well with writings from this era (Victorian?) – and am greatly enjoying it. I remember trying it once as a much younger person – around 8 years old I imagine, the perfect time to be into vampires as a little boy, but a terrible time to read a classic piece of literature – and not being able to get into it, and for some reason, I never got back to it.
My album recording is progressing slowly, but some important decisions have been made, and some important questions and issues have been resolved (Read more about my recording progress here). I hope to release some samples of the first track soon (TM).
Derek Sivers has a great podcast episode about expanding your knowledge and joy by learning about something you hate (or at least, have never had desire to know anything about). That’s what I’m doing. For the month of September, I’m taking a somewhat deep dive into cryptocurrency which is both of those things (something I’ve gut-reacted-hated since I first heard about it, and something I’ve never had any desire to learn anything more about).
We have for the first time taken our daughter to a homeschool co-op class setting… thingy. I’m calling that the official definition. Basically, once a week, a bunch of homeschool kids in the local community get together and have a day of specificalized classes in various subjects. Art, music, math, science, foreign languages, etc. Anything a parent doesn’t feel qualified to teach, they have some sort of offering here. It’s a nice experience, and Tinyhart is already making friends.
~~ July 25, 2022
Reading
I have finished Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons and cannot recommend it enough. I have just started the next book for book club, Neuromancer by William Gibson, and so far, it’s a tough read for me. I’m getting about 3 pages a day, and not enjoying the pages I make it through. Hopefully it picks up.
Also read lately, Into the Narrowdark by Tad Williams, book 3 in his latest “Last King of Osten Ard” series (sequel to the best series ever written, “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn”). Very good, solid read. It was hard to believe, 7-ish years ago, when Tad Williams announced he was writing a sequel series to the beloved MS&T, that it could ever come close to the original series. Now, 3 books into his 4-book trilogy, I can happily say, it’s amazing. Definitely recommend (after reading the previous books, of course).
Listening
I’ve recently discovered Arkentype, a Norwegian progressive metal band, and have been enjoying them. They definitely have heavier tendencies than I usually go for, but their more melodic music is very good, with some amazing drumming by Simen Sandnes. On the side, the family has been listening to The Bob’s Burgers Movie soundtrack, which is a lot of fun – quirky in all the ways BB music usually is, but longer to fit the musical nature of the movie.
Music Recording Progress Check-in
I had to do some major rearranging of the studio space for getting better room sounds. Also bought an XY stereo bar for my drum overheads to try some different sounds. The first song is going to be fully recorded (for drums and piano) within the next week or so (hopefully), and then a good friend will be supplying some basslines. Afterward, have to figure out whether I’ll be adding in some lead synths like I was planning, or sticking to the basic trio lineup.
~~ June 7, 2022
Reading
Currently for book club, reading Out of Silent Planet, by C.S. Lewis, and Carrion Comfort, by Dan Simmons. Both of these have conveniently been on my “to read” list for years now, so that’s fortuitous I guess.
For my personal reading, I’m reading Steven Wilson’s autobiography, A Limited Edition of One. I’m a latecomer to the prog genre, and have really enjoyed Steven’s albums, especially his approach to evolving music, so have been looking forward to this book.
Listening
Not much new here – I’ve got Leprous’ latest album (Aphelion) on permanent repeat right now. Starting soon, I play to begin digging a bit deeper into some of the more classic prog rock, trying to find the roots of the music I’m loving so much right now. On my list to check out are Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Foxtrot, Yes’ Close to the Edge and Fragile, and some more ELP (I’m already familiar with Tarkus and Trilogy, so want to look at their other stuff).
Music Recording Progress Check-in
Most of my work for the last month has been tinkering with my drum recording setup. My good friend Harold is going to be mixing and editing my album after I’ve recorded it, so I’m trying to make his job easier by getting rid of some problem areas in my recording setup that I hadn’t even noticed. So a lot of my work has been moving the mics around, recording for 5 minutes, listening back, then trying to trace down and eradicate issues like excessive reflections, weird trashy hat sounds, too much kick in my snare mic, etc, etc. Not going for anything close to perfection, just trying to make it so Harold doesn’t have to fight these issues when he’s working on it later.
Other
We’re on a bit of summer chillout with homeschool. While we do year-round school, during the summer we only do every other day or so (unless there’s a specific project we’re working on which requires more dedicated time) – this allows us to have more outside time without any structure.
We’re also still trying to buy a house. The market sucks. That is all.
I’m about ready to gather up some players for my new D&D campaign so I may provide recaps here, though D&D recaps tend to be pretty boring to read. I’ll think about it.
My health/wellness progress is not amazing right now – I’ve definitely been eating too much junk food over the summer so far and been slack on exercising. I’m just allowing a bit of grace and forgiveness to myself and will pick back up shortly.
~~ May 2022
I’m currently re-reading “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn” by Tad Williams – my absolute favorite fantasy (or any) series. Known nowadays for inspiring G.R.R.M to write ASoIaF.
I’m also reading “The Dragon Waiting” by John Ford for book club. It’s an okay read – not my favorite, but not terrible.
I’m working on an original progressive rock album. It’s been on hold since the pandemic started and I lost access to some of my musicians, but over the last two years, I’ve been working on being able to record the entire thing myself. I’m working with a good buddy of mine to help with the mixing/producing side, and everything is going great. I hope to release the first song as a single in July, with a full album release by the end of the year.
We’re wrapping up our second year of homeschooling the kiddo, and are having to figure out the first standardized test – North Carolina requires it of seven-year-olds. One of the primary reasons we decided to homeschool was so that we wouldn’t have to “Teach Toward the Test,” and could have a more holistic approach to her education. The standardized test sucks, but it’s just part of the process that we’re learning to deal with.
And I’ve started a two-person writing club with another good friend of mine, and some of that writing may show up here. We’re starting by just doing weekly prompts with each other, and hope to get a few more friends included before too long.
That’s it for now.