Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

The nightmare that is......me

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • The nightmare that is......me

    I figured I’d tell you a little about me, if you’re interested in the person behind the words & photos.

    A little over 6 decades ago (62 yrs last November), I was unleashed upon the world. Born in Hawthorne, California (suburb of Los Angeles). We lived in Redondo Beach (another ‘burb) until I finished elementary school (1972), then we moved to Fontana (about 55 miles east of L.A.); living there while I was in Junior High. In 1975, we then relocated to Central Texas, where Dad had some aunts & uncles & such. Small town called Lometa, with a population of about 650 people on a good day. That was where I graduated High School. Mom & Dad split up in 1978, my graduating year; he moved up to the Dallas/Fort Worth area & I stayed in Lometa with Mom.

    After finishing high school, I was going to go to Texas State Technical Institute (aka TSTI), on a full free ride from the state. But, after attending for 3 days, I realized that the instructors didn’t seem to care…something just didn’t feel right about it. A disturbance in the Force, perhaps. So I left, and embarked on a fairly long “career” of construction work. I’ve worked for the US Government (Young Adult Conservation Corps or YACC)…built custom homes with a crew in the Central TX area…commercial construction in the Austin area (pouring more concrete than I care to remember)…commercial drywall & acoustic ceilings…worked at Fort Hood for a while in the mid-80s, where I got to see the first 5 Apache helicopters in the air (we built the motorpool buildings for the Apache support crews)…worked for a while at a computer company (CompuAdd) in their retail support department…along with a few other “temp” jobs until moving in 1989 here to Des Moines, Iowa.

    Married twice. First time, no kids, lasted 2 years. Second time, from about 1987 until 1993, two kids…daughter (30); son (29). Daughter's a Rural Carrier (Postal job), and the son works for a major mechanical contractor. I guess technically I’ve been married 3 times; I’ve been with the current one since 1993, so we’re common-law. She’s got 2 grown sons.

    In 1989, when the ex & I moved here from Texas, I went to work for a company called Stone Container. At the time, it was a pretty big company that made all sorts of paper & corrugated fiberboard (aka “cardboard”) products; I worked at the “box plant”, making the previously mentioned cardboard stuff. In 1993, I went to work for the US Postal Service. I worked in a facility called a Bulk Mail Center (now called Network Distribution Centers). More of a factory-like setting, taking mail off of trucks & processing it, then loading onto other trucks. I was what they call a Mailhandler, and for 20 years I was a Mailhandler Equipment Operator (fancy name for a forklift driver). I retired in 2018, taking what’s called an “early out”….retiring at 25 years with a full 30-year benefits package.

    In 2010, I was diagnosed with cancer, and I spent about half of that year in and out of the hospital. It hasn’t come back, but now (since 2019) I’m dealing with kidney issues. Yay Me.

    My music tastes run anywhere from Metal to Bluegrass, veering off into a little Classical at times. No Rap, please.

    The only way to have iced tea is sweet tea. No exceptions. No lemon, ever (if I wanted lemonade, I’d have ordered lemonade!).

    I like to read, as does the wife. I think between us we have a collection of over 2000 books (I’ve got 223 Star Wars novels alone, in timeline order). I also collect knives, swords, and other pointy throwy stabby things….I’m well-prepped for the Zombie Apocalypse, not to mention the firearms.

    So, there you have it. Me. Nobody special, even though according to one of my late aunts (genealogy buff), I’m the 15th direct male descendant of Charlemagne. Yay Me again.

    This thread is where I may let my mind loose to play. I've found that a little "free time" keeps it from going too far off the deep end.


    JS20s bass (black)
    JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
    RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

    ......and a lot more.

    Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
    Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

  • #2
    Enjoyed the read.
    I live in Iowa too but I’m native. At first I thought you were the Iowa guy that ordered my USA CS Charvel “Dweezil” small batch back in 05 or 06. I ended up buying his order when he had to back out. I was going to thank you again for the best guitar in the world. I looked at your join date and realized you were someone else from DM.

    We all have unique stories of how ended up where we are today. I was just telling the guys in my band that I almost joined the Marines in 93’ out of college. There were no good jobs, I was newly married, and we had a baby. I decided at the last minute to not sign and boy were those recruiters MAD! They called me every name from Full Metal Jacket and told me I was going to be a loser. Well, I think if my choice would have led me to 29 Palms, Guam, and beyond, I would have surely been divorced, drunk/partying all the time, sleeping around, paying child support, and possibly dead (from lifestyle - not combat). Pretty much the life of a real LOSER.

    Instead, I have been married 31 years, our daughter is 30, raised in the home by both of her natural parents. She is married and we have been blessed with a 2-year old grandson. We adopted three more children and raised them since birth. My loser career? I’m an elementary art teacher. Best job ever! Kids love coming to art where we listen to cool music, I play guitar for them, and they get to be creative. It is not the highest paying career but it is rewarding in so many other ways that you cannot put a dollar value on.

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by catzodellamarina View Post
      Enjoyed the read.
      I live in Iowa too but I’m native. At first I thought you were the Iowa guy that ordered my USA CS Charvel “Dweezil” small batch back in 05 or 06. I ended up buying his order when he had to back out. I was going to thank you again for the best guitar in the world. I looked at your join date and realized you were someone else from DM.

      We all have unique stories of how ended up where we are today. I was just telling the guys in my band that I almost joined the Marines in 93’ out of college. There were no good jobs, I was newly married, and we had a baby. I decided at the last minute to not sign and boy were those recruiters MAD! They called me every name from Full Metal Jacket and told me I was going to be a loser. Well, I think if my choice would have led me to 29 Palms, Guam, and beyond, I would have surely been divorced, drunk/partying all the time, sleeping around, paying child support, and possibly dead (from lifestyle - not combat). Pretty much the life of a real LOSER.

      Instead, I have been married 31 years, our daughter is 30, raised in the home by both of her natural parents. She is married and we have been blessed with a 2-year old grandson. We adopted three more children and raised them since birth. My loser career? I’m an elementary art teacher. Best job ever! Kids love coming to art where we listen to cool music, I play guitar for them, and they get to be creative. It is not the highest paying career but it is rewarding in so many other ways that you cannot put a dollar value on.
      Glad you enjoyed it. The ex's family is / was from around here, which is the main reason for the move in '89. The construction jobs had died off quite a bit in Austin, so I figured "what the heck". Lived in Urbandale for a year, then moved here to the Oak Park area. Teachers don't get paid enough, in my opinion.

      I worked my way through all of the pages in this section, and saw a couple of other members from Iowa. CliffClaven sticks in my mind, but I don't remember who the other one was. Which guitar shops do you prefer? I've been in the Guitar Center about 3 times, many years ago when it first opened. Not impressed. I used to go to Rieman's once in a while, but haven't been in untold years. My personal favorite is Professional Music Center, on 86th. I have several instruments in my collection from there, and I gave the owner one of the custom builds (black Hello Kitty) a few years ago. Odd hours, but nice people to deal with. I need to get back over there again.
      JS20s bass (black)
      JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
      RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

      ......and a lot more.

      Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
      Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

      Comment


      • #4
        Long ago, around 2010 or so (maybe?), there was a website called "Radioactive" run by a guy in New Zealand that dealt with a lot of trivia / info / whatever about Gene Simmons. Mick (site owner) had a lot of info about the instruments Gene either used live or in the studio, or in music videos. And since I own an original 1980 Kramer Axe (guitar version, not a bass), I got in touch with him to help with some research on the Axes of various brands. It's the same thing I do for a seller on eBay who has a Kramer Axe bass listed - give them the actual production quantities from 1980 that I have directly from Kramer shortly after I got my Axe (back in the day when one had to actually write & send letters!), which was in about 1983 or so (I'm the second owner). Even though the original ad for the Axe made mention of the "First 1,000 instruments, etc", they never reached those numbers. According to the two letters I have from Kramer, they built 25 guitars and "about 175" basses.

        But as far as the Jackson version, it made its debut in '83. Gene made the swap to Jackson-built Axes mainly because the Kramers are very neck-heavy. Even my guitar version, with the shorter neck, has a tendency to dive due to the aluminum neck & headstock. (If you ever chance to see any footage from the "Creatures of the Night" concert in Brazil, there's one spot where Gene hops down from the drum riser onto the stage, and the Kramer Axe just wants to point straight down.)

        Over the years, he's used Epiphone, Fender, and a custom Charles Lobue....Gibson Grabber & Ripper....Spectors....Pedullas of many finishes....a couple of Stacattos....BCR Warlocks....Punishers.....an Aria acoustic for the KISS Konventions....on MTV Unplugged he used a Kramer/Ferrington acoustic...with the Melbourne Orchestra it was a Samick acoustic.

        Various versions of the Axe have been sold through several stores & shops. I know that Mr. Roman had (has?) the OK to reproduce pretty much all of the KISS-related instruments, which pissed me off at first, but then I remembered that I have an original, with documentation. At other times, I had a Punisher (Spencer Gifts) & a Ferrington acoustic, but those are gone now. I think I traded the Ferrington for.........something...., and the Punisher was part of my KISS collection "sell off" back in 2018.

        I've got the PDF "pages" from the "Radioactive" website, that lists all the instruments he's used. A couple of the photos are of my own Axe, along with "research credit mentions" from Mick.

        An original Kramer Axe bass is one of my "Holy Grail" instruments....
        JS20s bass (black)
        JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
        RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

        ......and a lot more.

        Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
        Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

        Comment


        • #5
          I don’t live in DM area. I’m QC (border of Iowa/Illinois). I stop into GC in Davenport for strings but rarely a major purchase. I did buy a brand new PRS SE Tremonti from them. I really wanted to bond with that guitar but it wasn’t meant to be. I got a full refund from GC so no loss to me. Most of my shopping (very little) is Reverb now days.

          Speaking of rare Kramers - I used to play a late 80’s? USA Black Kramer Baretta with Kline “Lips” graphic. It was actually my late singer’s guitar but he only bought it because it was cool and reminded him of Rocky Horror. Since he did not play guitar it was mine to do with as I pleased. One day we agreed to sell it to a collector to help pay for a brand new and expensive Bose PAS system when they first came out. I believe that collector still has it listed on his site with my pic of the guitar I sent him. BTW - Kline passed about a year ago.
          http://www.vintagekramer.com/serial/e8907.jpg

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by catzodellamarina View Post
            I don’t live in DM area.
            Ah, ok. I misunderstood when you said I was "someone else from DM"; I thought you meant you were from here as well. But yeah, I know where the Quad Cities area is. I think the wife & I went to Davenport long long ago to attend her cousin's daughter's wedding.

            That guitar looks great. I like simple graphics like that. But I need to learn the process of the crackle finish, like my RR24 has. I know the basics; just need to practice it a bit.

            I gave up on GC here when the "help" there just didn't seem like much help at all. Plus, it's twice as far from my house as the shop I prefer to visit. I don't think I ever made a "special trip" to go to GC; I think the only times I went was with my kids when they were younger and they decided that HuHot was that night's food venue (GC is right next door in the strip mall).
            JS20s bass (black)
            JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
            RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

            ......and a lot more.

            Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
            Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

            Comment


            • #7
              There are some commercials on TV that need bigger and/or better budgets for their "writers". Several companies have made my list of "I will never buy from in any way, shape or form".

              Liberty Mutual. The commercials that are along the "waterfront" are bad enough, but when they threw that idiot and his emu into the mix....ugh. The one commercial that is a prime example (to me) of how little the "writers" know about basically anything is the one where the two are in the helicopter and he pops off with "bogeys on your six". Number one, the "bogey" was below them, not behind. Number two, they could clearly see it was an automobile; a "bogey" is an unknown. I think the emu is the brains of that bunch.

              (Here's a few that are no longer on the air (thankfully..), but just seemed to apply physics in any way they saw fit.)

              Perrier water. The commercial in question showed everything melting. Everything. But if it's that hot, why wasn't the water in the swimming pool boiling when the young lady got into it?
              ****

              Fiat 500. Cute little deathtraps...er, cars. Kinda like an Italian "Smart Car".
              The commercial showed several of the cars diving into the ocean, heading to America from Italy. Not too bad of an ad, except for a couple of interesting
              things......

              -Cars won't run underwater, unless they have access to both combustion
              air (intake snorkel) and a similar exhaust set-up. You'd be surprised
              at how quickly water can run back up the exhaust system into the
              cylinders if it "hiccups" just one time. It causes a condition called
              "hydro-lock". Not good, since fluids aren't compressible. Tends to
              make a mess of an engine's innards really fast.

              -Love the disclaimer when the one drives over the cliff. "Professional
              Driver on a Closed Course - Do Not Attempt". I've seen amateur drivers
              accomplish that same maneuver...........drove right off the cliff. And
              since when is "mid-air" considered a "Closed Course?
              ****

              From an old Diet Mountain Dew commercial, where Dale Jr is out on the road.

              1. Why is Junior out on the streets in his race car?
              2. Why does he have to go get his own drink?
              3. Why does he have to take a cab....where's the car that the other guy drove?
              ****

              And then there was an old Mobil 1 commercial......."The official motor oil of NASCAR". Well....I think that Pennzoil and Quaker State might have an issue with that statement......
              ****

              From an old Viagra commercial....

              This was the one where the guy's out in the middle of the ranch, driving a Dodge pickup......pulling a horse-trailer.

              I had some issues with that one.

              First off.........he drove through that same puddle on the way out just fine. Someone come along and made it deeper while you were out riding the range??

              Second, and most glaring issue.....that pickup he's driving is a Power Wagon. That means it's four wheel drive!!!!! Just reach over, grab that little lever on the floor..........yeah that one, the transfer case lever.........and drive right through.

              (If you look very closely at the front axle of this truck when he's driving across the cattle-guard, you can see the front differential on the axle. Plus, there's another version that has a view from alongside the horse, looking back at the truck....even clearer view there.)

              No wonder he needs help in "that department".
              ****

              While on the subject of TV commercials....the ones that concern medications for this, that, and everything else....they scare me. When they get around to listing the "possible side-effects" of whatever they're trying to get a person to use....I think it would be better just to battle the current problem, without worrying about something new cropping up that the treatment has caused, especially that "death" part.
              JS20s bass (black)
              JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
              RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

              ......and a lot more.

              Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
              Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

              Comment


              • #8
                Click image for larger version

Name:	Guitar Picks.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	61.4 KB
ID:	2551053


                Usually, vitamins and other similar things come in bottles that describe the contents. I'll pass on this, thanks.

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Ewwww.jpg
Views:	137
Size:	61.2 KB
ID:	2551054

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Goodyears.jpg
Views:	138
Size:	79.2 KB
ID:	2551055

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Idiot Offspring.jpg
Views:	129
Size:	90.8 KB
ID:	2551056

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Alexa.jpg
Views:	129
Size:	70.7 KB
ID:	2551057

                This one is from real life. On the package it clearly states "Great For Any Occasion". But, just in case someone misunderstands what "Any Occasion" might mean, they give you some examples.....

                Click image for larger version

Name:	GV Tuna.jpg
Views:	130
Size:	88.0 KB
ID:	2551058
                Another one that I find interesting is this item. At the bottom of the package, it clearly says "Hands Free", yet in the photo there's a hand placing the opener onto the top of the can. The other big "selling point" of this thing is that it does away with the sharp lid. Of course it does....now you have a can with a sharp rim all the way around it. The wife has had two of these, with sub-par results.

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Hands Free Opener.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	73.3 KB
ID:	2551059


                Click image for larger version

Name:	Bareback.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	74.1 KB
ID:	2551060

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Fight.jpg
Views:	122
Size:	92.8 KB
ID:	2551061

                Click image for larger version

Name:	Harley Bridge.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	82.5 KB
ID:	2551062
                JS20s bass (black)
                JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
                RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

                ......and a lot more.

                Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
                Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

                Comment


                • #9
                  CONPLAN 8888. Check it out.

                  May be real, may be not real. It does exist, but I think it's for "training purposes"....but if it's not real, why train for it? Makes one wonder....

                  I'm ready. Bring them on. Big ones, line up...Little ones, bunch up. Time to nut up or shut up, as Mr. Harrelson said.

                  Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 01.jpg
Views:	119
Size:	64.3 KB
ID:	2551096 Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 02.jpg
Views:	119
Size:	66.2 KB
ID:	2551097
                  Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 03.jpg
Views:	122
Size:	67.8 KB
ID:	2551098 Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 04.jpg
Views:	119
Size:	64.4 KB
ID:	2551099
                  Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 05.jpg
Views:	128
Size:	65.5 KB
ID:	2551100 Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 06.jpg
Views:	116
Size:	59.1 KB
ID:	2551101
                  Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 07.jpg
Views:	118
Size:	60.2 KB
ID:	2551102 Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 08.jpg
Views:	115
Size:	61.8 KB
ID:	2551103
                  Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 09.jpg
Views:	117
Size:	67.3 KB
ID:	2551104 Click image for larger version

Name:	Blades 10.jpg
Views:	117
Size:	76.3 KB
ID:	2551105

                  And this is just the sharp stuff....

                  (....if the Confederate Flag rubs anyone the wrong way, my apologies. Heritage, not hate. )
                  JS20s bass (black)
                  JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
                  RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

                  ......and a lot more.

                  Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
                  Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Consider the common mirror, if you will........

                    ....think of it in this way....

                    A mirror is a viewing tool for another dimension, which only exists behind you. You can only see behind you if you use a mirror. If you turn around to see what is seen in the mirror, then you are looking directly into that dimension........and the one you were previously viewing is now unseen, behind you......viewable only with the mirror again. There are times that one can see part-way into hidden dimensions, to the sides......what's called "peripheral vision".....but some are better at this than others. Again, it takes a turn of the head to see clearly even into these dimensions to the sides....or above/below, as the case may be.

                    Proof of this theory would be the fact that you cannot see things behind you, therefore they may not exist in the dimension you're currently viewing....the one you're facing. Granted, the things were there when you last viewed behind you, but until you look again, you cannot guarantee they're still there......unless you use a mirror. You might say "But I can reach behind me and touch what I know is there".....but that's another sense......touch....not sight.

                    Other reflective surfaces may show distorted or shadowy views of the rearward dimension (RD), but the clarity isn't there. Windows, such as those in a store-front, may show ghostly images of the RD. It takes a true mirror for true clarity of viewing the RD.

                    *******

                    HOW TO EXPLAIN BASEBALL TO A NOVICE

                    OK, you've got nine guys in, and nine guys out. The nine guys out try to get the nine guys in out three times. The nine guys in send guys up to get on so that they can get in, all while trying to keep from getting out.

                    Once the nine guys out get the nine guys in out three times, the nine guys out come in, and the nine guys in go out to get the nine guys in, who were out, out three times.

                    The nine guys in, who were out, also send guys up to try to get on so that they can get in, also trying to keep from getting out.

                    After the nine guys out and the nine guys in go in and out nine times, the guys with the most guys in after getting on are the winners.

                    *******

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	Jellyfish Launcher.jpg
Views:	107
Size:	91.0 KB
ID:	2551128


                    Click image for larger version

Name:	Storytime.jpg
Views:	109
Size:	71.1 KB
ID:	2551129



                    Long, long ago....in 1970....there was an invention. This invention was unique, in that it would allow kids to play ball indoors and (hopefully) not break anything.

                    The Nerf Ball.....

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	Nerf Ball.jpeg
Views:	115
Size:	67.6 KB
ID:	2551130
                    Fast-forward about half a century.....what started out as a relatively safe and "sane" plaything has become......this.

                    The Nerf Sniper Rifle. Sure, why not? And look...they even feel the need to list the muzzle velocity (90fps) on the box.

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	Nerf Rifle.jpg
Views:	112
Size:	69.3 KB
ID:	2551131

                    Ah, the joys of "progress".....

                    *******

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	Karma.jpg
Views:	117
Size:	62.8 KB
ID:	2551132
                    JS20s bass (black)
                    JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
                    RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

                    ......and a lot more.

                    Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
                    Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

                    Comment


                    • #11

                      One of my favorite........"comfort".......foods is the rotisserie
                      chicken that you get at WalMart. Traditional flavor; none of that
                      lemon-pepper-whatever crap. While reading the label one time, this statement caused me to think…

                      "Fully-cooked chicken net weight 29 ounces"

                      Now.......my mind being what it is, my first thought was "Now how the heck do they know that every single chicken that they cook is exactly 29 ounces?" followed by "Wonder what they do with the ones that aren't that exact weight?"

                      Letting the mental gears grind a bit, I realized that the larger ones
                      probably end up at Sam's Club. They do tend to be bigger birds. But
                      the smaller ones.....cut up for nuggets, or what? Hmmm.......

                      Next part I read was the "Nutritional Information". (It's meat. All I
                      really need to know. I'm pretty sure it's edible.) This is what is
                      printed there: "Serving size - 3 ounces" followed by "Servings per
                      container - about 6".

                      Math time.......simple enough.........or so I thought.

                      3 x 6.......carry the 38.........divide by 82......is.......um............18. Yeah, 18 ounces of chicken per container. Huh? Hold on a minnit....the other label said there was 29 ounces.........where's the other 11 ounces??? OK, bones. Gotta be it, the bones.

                      But I tell you, there sure don't seem to be 11 ounces of bones left when
                      I'm done. (....whaddya mean, chicken's not supposed to be that
                      crunchy........oh, man.........)

                      Still seems stupid to pay for 11 ounces of bones.....or anything.....that
                      I can't eat. What I should do is figure out how much each ounce of
                      edible chicken costs, and tell WalMart that I'm only going to pay for that part.
                      The foundation for my dispute will be the following: "I did not plan
                      the packaging of said chicken. I did not choose to have inedible
                      portions (bones) running willy-nilly through my food."

                      Why should I pay for something that the critters under the deck will end up with?


                      JS20s bass (black)
                      JS30RR guitar (metallic blue)
                      RR24 guitar (Maul Red Crackle)

                      ......and a lot more.

                      Guitar amp - Crate G-60 "mini-stack" with 2 12" Celestions
                      Bass amp - Ashdown Engineering "Perfect 10" mini rig

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X