Saturday, October 30, 2004

My Favorite Holiday

If you don't know by now, I'm kinda quirky. Some people love Christmas, some Valentine's Day or even their birthday's but my favorite day of the year is Halloween. Either it has something to do with that darker side of me or something but I really like scaring kids coming to the door in search of goodies. Last year went really well, here's a link to some pictures from 2003. This year, I think I'll be outside a bit with a little more hands-on approach. I'd actually rather play some Skinny Puppy music but I figure that they won't be there long enough for it to set in so best to go with the realistic howling, screaming, ripping, clashing and grunting sounds of a sound effects CD. I'm hoping to at least get someone to pee their pants this year. Last year I only heard a few "Mommy, I don't wanna go up there can we go next door?" Satisfying as that was, it was my first year so I hope to improve.

I hope each and every one of you have a safe and somewhat sane Halloween. Yes, probably the scariest thing about this holiday is that I'm still driving the rental Kia Rio. Take care.

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Selling For The Sake Of Selling

One thing that people may notice about 80's Music Central is that I have a fear of selling things. You won't see too many ads up and when there is one it is because of much negotiation with the vendor. I have always held onto the motto: You don't sell ping pong balls on a golfing Web site even if they are the same size. Pretty much what that means is that if our Web site is only dealing with 80's music, I don't want anything advertized there that doesn't relate to it or an artist. Sometimes it just works out well. The negotiations I mentioned can be rather tricky. One record label recently offered several box sets from a major 80's act but wanted us to send email off to all our subscribers about the set. I like all of you am pissed at all the spam I get and would hate to hear that the newsletter is winding up in your junk folder because we sent out a separate email. See what I mean by tricky. But things will work out because I'm a pessimistic optimist. I just believe it will take longer. B)

Monday, October 25, 2004

Ending The Weekend With A Bang

Had a great time in Glendale, California. Had a minor cultural awakening at the wedding which was held at an Armenian church. What many people don't know is that children usually aren't allowed to attend. I believe this to be because it is a long ceremony and the reception can go well into the next morning. I didn't even make it past 10pm and they hadn't even cut the cake yet.

The drive back to Las Vegas wasn't too bad. Left a little bit after 8am and got in at 1pm. Of course, 2 hours after being in town I get in a car accident. It's always funny how after something bad happens you start thinking, if only I had second guessed myself somewhere to either not be at that spot at the time or to have taken that nap that seemed so attractive. Oh well, call it fate or destiny but it seems like I was meant to talk to my insurance agent and see an auto shop. No injuries other than pride (I hadn't had an accident in the last 6 years or so.) Better get some sleep so I can drop the car off in the morning and pick up a snazzy rental.

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Off To Cali

Heading to Southern California for a wedding (yes, another one... week 2.) Hope to stop by and see my youngest brother's house tomorrow (haven't been down there since he moved there.) Should be fun. Now, I just need to figure out what CDs to take on the trip. Always the toughest decision because you are pretty much married to that music for the trip if you don't bring enough. I still remember listening to the Monkees Greatest Hits for the whole trip to San Diego and back to Vegas. I don't think I could handle that again. Be back soon!

Friday, October 22, 2004

One Step Beyond

Sometimes people ask me if I listen to anything other than 80's music. You do have to laugh a bit about that. I love all music with very little bias. Some of my favorite acts during the last 14 years or so have been Oasis, Coldplay, The Eels, Linkin Park and Foo Fighters. Odd bands like: Candyland, Candyflip, Tatu, Teenage Fanclub and Ned's Atomic Dustbin. I even have some J-Pop (or Japanese pop music)... I think there is a CD by Yoko Ishida that has been in my car for about 2 years now. I do tend to pick up some of the latest albums by my favorite 80's artists also but above all... I tend to like hunting down bands that I missed during the the 1980s because I know it broadens my horizons ever so slightly.

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Post-Wedding Blues

Ok, so everything seemed to be going great. Didn't trip following my brothers down the aisle (ok, it was actually a putting green but it wasn't good for the visuals) as we proceeded towards the minister. Coughed but not during the important parts of the ceremony. But... the speech came sooner than expected and I flubbed badly. I figure there is a reason that I should use cue-cards. Sometimes things sound so good in your head until you say them. Oh well, it's over and Matthew and Elizabeth are very happily wed. Just finished recording the Update for tomorrow. It just took a lot longer than I expected after getting back from the reception. Gotta find the directions to the post-wedding brunch that I was sent for tomorrow.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Purposeful Procrastination

I've always been the type of person that waits until the last moment to do anything. Shopping for presents, finishing projects and even writing. Some just naturally happens that way but most of this I do on purpose. When it comes to shopping, I usually take a lot of that time thinking about the person and what they might like before shopping. Working on the Web site is pretty much comes in bursts when I have the time to put into it. And I actually save up all the news I acquire during the week (to be honest, I try not to look at the news too early either) until Monday when I type up the newsletter. The good thing about this is that I don't repeat articles by accidentally writing them more than once but sadly it does add to a few spelling errors. I also figure that if I focus on the task all at once, it will be more complete than a bunch of separate writings that may have missed something. Why, is this on my mind? Well, I'm writing my speech for my brother's wedding... which is tomorrow. hahaha

Friday, October 15, 2004

Theraflu is my friend

Ok, looks like I'm one one of my binges. Essentially... when I feel I'm coming down with the flu or really bad allergies, I have a dose of Theraflu and hit the sack. When I gather my wits and wake back up, I take another dose and go back to sleep. I do this until I have to go to work or just can't sleep anymore. It does seem to work. So far, so good. Anyhow, I type this before I go to back to la la land. I'd like to send my congrats to www.80sairwaves.com for hitting the Top 15% of 7,400 full-time web radio broadcasters in less than a year. It's a great radio station and the first one to take a chance on my 80's Nuts Update radio segment (12 noon and midnight C.S.T.) I don't expect that 15% to last long as they keep adding new songs to the playlist.

Rant of the day: I don't think that people take pride in owning CDs anymore. I don't think it's because of all the tape and sticker crap they put on the packaging. I know that some people are paying for songs and full albums from iTunes and some other less savory sources but what happened to having the real thing in your hands? I do admit that I used Napster when it was still around. But then again, I only downloaded songs that were out of print and likely to never be heard again like the Passion Puppets' "Like Dust." (My way of saying "see... if only you'd put out this CD you'd have some of my money in your pocket.") Maybe, I'm anal-retentive or just a braggart but I like having the product the artist intended to get out than a copy. Then again, I also like to read the lyrics along to the songs the first time I hear the album. I'm just weird like that, I guess.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Introductions are in order

Ok, I'm just about to go to sleep when I think... hey lets start a project at say 11pm. I've always wanted to take my writing in a few different directions and this will let me stray away from just talking about 80's music. This isn't to say that I am bored with the topic but that I do need to let the other 90% of what I think out of my brain. That is why this is here and this is why this post is as lame as it can get because I am setting my goals low so I can better myself enough to attain them. Ok, off to sleep.