"Tap, tap, tap... is this thing on?" My Recording DIY Plans for 2012

Not my studio, but not want I want it to look like either!

SO... here I go trying to figure out how to better do this at home. I'm very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with a relatively cheap (free with my iMac) application (Garageband) for the past year. But, unfortunately, I don't like it.

I'm also very fortunate to have a well built, fast Apple iMac 27" i5 processor with 12gb of ram and 1tb of drive, so plenty of room for full screen apps.

My problem with garageband isn't the application itself it's with me. Not to be confused with the cliché'd breakup line: "Oh, no, it's not you, it's me!" I started my recording education at a professional recording studio back in 1994 at Trimble Production Studios. Built in 1976 with a state of the art MCI 24 track console, MCI 2" 16 track recorder and a full compliment of some of the best racks, mics and headphones money could buy (at that time). And all day to learn how to use it in a pro-built floating floor studio space the size of most peoples' first homes!

G.A.S. Report — ACQUIRED: Roland Juno-Gi

Well, I sold the Juno-G due to it being really really complicated to use and my fear that the LCD screen would die and it would be expensive to replace. The Gi was a good solution for me. Is it the best? Well...No, but it's faithfully reproducing roland and other sounds that I like. The onboard 8track recorder is nice and the drum patterns work pretty good too. It's a far cry better for me than the G. The only thing that keeps me from having buyers remorse is that I got it in new condition for exactly HALF PRICE!! Thanks to buying it used from someone on Ebay! :)

Hibernia Irish Tavern

An extremely well done place that I finally made my way into a week ago or so. Gerry Lambert, barman and co-owner, is a great guy ready with a suggestion for drink or dinner and a generally all around great guy!

The food is authentic and tasty. I always try the fish and chips first at any Irish or English restaurant I visit. Theirs is lightly beer battered, seasoned cod. Not over fried either. The chips were a surprise! Round cut and fried dark, lightly salted. The tartar tasted homemade. Combined with a guinness, heaven on earth!

They have traditional Irish curry and, of course, black and white pudding!! I'm looking forward to sampling their menu more in the future!

I can't wait to come up and play guitar or piano. Maybe some Van Morrison!

http://www.hiberniairishtavern.com/
You can also find them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/gerryathibernia

Gerry pulls a Guinness Stout for a customer.

They are located off Rodney Parham in West Little Rock

9700 N. Rodney Parham

"Life’s a journey, not a destination" or Practice, practice, practice

It works great when you do it, even though at the time it usually seems painful and futile. Unfortunately, I have not been doing very well at making the time for practice. By the time the evening is done, dinner is made, eaten and dishes are washed, kids to bed and settled in, there is little left of me to practice.

I think about it all the time. Every song I hear I mentally pick apart. But by the time I get down to play, it's gone, whatever inspiration I thought I had that would ignite my playing again, that impetus to start practicing more and more, AND more effectively. Promises, promises... all broken.

Without practicing there will be no way I can move this love of music and playing to the next level by playing with others. In my head I hear a symphony, or a great old song at the very least. But out of my mouth and hands comes hesitation and, frankly, drivel.

Okay, I'll admit it...I love GLEE!

I was hesitant at first to accept it, but it's really hit my inner "showtune loving" self right where it hurts...sentimentality!

I was fortunate enough when I was in high school to get into trouble, so much so in the 11th grade they asked if I could go to another school. I hated Bryant High School with the only exception being that I met and dated my future wife there, it was oppressive. Fairly standard mentality of rednecks: homophobe, xenophobe, ignorance, racism, etc. No one cared if you were bullied, or talked to/treated harshly by admins if you were outside the norm, even slightly. It was conform or go home.

My one and only rule...well, Barney's, not mine

My one and only rule

From the Barney Stinson Blog:

My one and only rule

Written on February 28, 2011 by Barney Stinson in My blog

I am, if nothing else, a man of integrity. I choose to live a life governed by strict morals that are often difficult to remember. That’s why I’ve simplified everything into one simple, easy-to-understand rule:
Never date a girl with a hook for a hand.
For me, it’s just that simple. Whenever I encounter an ethically gray situation, that one rule almost always guides me in the proper direction.
After you’ve discovered your own “one rule,” you’ll need to commit it to memory. I find it helps to take out a piece of paper and simply write your rule over and over, like this:

We love HIMYM!