A Morning From Hell

   It's really amazing how we've come to rely on that little coaxial cable. You know, the one that connects us to the world? And it's really amazing just how much we rely on it when it's used heavily at work. In fact, in my business, not much can be done without that connection, since our company email and our newsroom software program is tied to the internet.
   So imagine my surprise when I got in at my usual time of 04:00 to be greeted by our overnight announcer, who told me all our internet based stuff was dead. No internet=no email and/or newsroom. So, I called our tech guru at 04:30, but since he lives out of town, it takes him half an hour to get in.
   What to do? I called our sister station in Regina (the one I used to be news director at) to see if they could send me an old-fashioned fax. They couldn't, because the fax machine that used to be in the newsroom was removed.
   Fortunately, I have maintained a very good relationship with a radio station in Saskatoon, and asked them if they could fax some stuff to us. Which (thankfully) they did. Fortunately as well, I'm from the "old school", and can "rip 'n read" news, which I did at 06:00.
   Meantime, our tech guru was working his magic, and managed to have our entire system restored before 6:30, aside from one or 2 minor glitches, and things were as close to normal as makes no difference.
   But it shows how we really rely on that little coaxial cable, and how much we miss it when somehow the cord is cut.
   At least it's not Monday!

TTFN

Happy Robbie Burns Day

   Even though I'm not Scots, I donned the kilt yet again for Robbie Burns Day (I did it 2 years ago as well). The story behind the putter (at least the one I'm telling today) is I used to golf quite a bit "back in the day" (true), and I'm disgusted by these so-called "professional" golfers bragging about shooting a 66 over 18 holes. I used to shoot 66 all the time, and it only took me 7 or 8 holes!
   I even brought ion a snack for the gang at the station to try out :

   Yes, those are real potato chips (crisps they call them there), and yes, they supposedly taste like a prawn cocktail. I could have (but didn't) get haggis flavoured ones, and I also passed on the Roast Ham flavoured crisps as well. I will say the caramelized Red Onion ones weren't too bad.
   Scottish or not, wherevere you are, Happy Robbie Burns Day!

TTFN

*****UPDATE: The Prawn Cocktail crisps were really not that bad! Maybe not worth buying again, but not bad at all.*****

It's Done

   It took a month to get done, but I can finally reveal "what's in the box":

   I ordered this on E-Bay in December, and it arrived well before Christmas. However, I couldn't start work on it until the 26th, since it was my gift from my wife.
   I also must thank her for her patience, since I took over the island in our kitchen for the build (I don't have much space in my "man room").

   I did encounter more than a few 'issues' along the way, not the least of which was finishing the guitar. It was supposed to have come with a flame maple veneer top. It was a maple veneer, but it sure as hell wasn't flame top.
   After trying to dye/stain it (I was going for a "sunburst" effect) unsuccessfully, I decided simply to "paint it black"

   Which was a lot of fun itself. I also had problems fitting the neck (which I resolved), and installing the electronics (which I partially resolved, although I may have to have our in-houe tech guru fix some minor problems).
   But I got finished, and here's the end result, along with my 45 year old flat-top.

   I will admit I'm a little more than a lot rusty, since I haven't played a whole bunch in 30 years or more, but I've been back at it for a couple of months now. I'll also admit there's no chance I'll ever be even 1/50th as good as guys like Page, Clapton, Van Halen or Slash, but hey! All one can do is try.
   The question now is: Would I ever build another kit guitar? No. After making the purchase of the kit, all the ancillary stuff I needed to go with it, the trials and tribulations building it and the time it took, it's not a project I'm willing to try again. In fact, my total cost is running almost the same as buying a factory built Les Paul copy would have been.
   Still, it's done, and sounds pretty darn good too!

Rock On

R.I.P Glenn (And "Buffin")

   The losses continue to mount in the entertainment world, with the death yesterday of one of the founding members of the Eagles, Glenn Frey, at age 67. He suffered from multiple health problems, and passed away in New York.
   Formed in the early 1970's, the band was probably best known for "Hotel California", "Take It Easy", "Life In The Fastlane", and one of my all-time favourites, "Take It To The Limit". There's just something about their music that reverberates with this classic rocker right down to this day.
   I never got to see them live, but I did get a chance to hear one of their concerts. I can't remember what year it was, but it had to be the late 70's when the Eagles landed in my former hometown of Calgary, Alberta and played at McMahon Stadium. We lived less than 2 miles away from the venue, and I clearly remember being in the shower when the music started.
   My best friend (who passed away last April) called me up and asked if I was hearing the music. I said "yeah", and he invited me to his place where we sat on the roof of his house, drinking beer and listening to the concert.
   R.I.P Glenn Frey. Thanks for the memories. You will be missed.

TTFN

**PS: Also being called to the "Great Gig in the Sky" (to quote Pink Floyd) is former 70's Glam band Mott the Hoople drummer Dale Griffin. He was 67, and died Sunday from Alzheimer's.

R.I.P Snape

   Another loss in the entertainment world. Alan Rickman has died at age 69. Probably best known for his role as Snape in the Harry Potter series, he was also a noted actor in the Royal Shakespeare company, and also acted in several other movies.
   Although probably best known for his role as Severus Snape, the role I always remember him in was as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" movie back in the 90's.
   RIP Mr. Rickman.

TTFN

R.I.P Ziggy

   Rock music icon David Bowie has died, just days after his 69th birthday, which was coincidentally the release of his final album. If you want the full run-down on David Jones, google it or go to wikipedia. I'll just give a few points.
   He changed his name to David Bowie after Davy Jones with the Monkees got famous with that group. I was never a huge fan of Bowie's music, but I did like a few numbers. But regardless of my personal taste in music, I can't deny he made a huge, lasting impact on music and entertainment in the 5 decades he performed.
   He was in a very large part responsible for the "glam rock" movement in music with his Ziggy Stardust character, and his later work spanned everything from hard rock to a duet with legendary crooner Bing Crosby in 1977. Just the volume of his work alone will stand the test of time, with tunes like "under pressure", and his critically acclaimed performance in the Broadway adaptation of "Elephant Man".
   Bowie had been battling cancer for the past 18 months, and his publicist says he died peacefully, surrounded by family.
   Rest In Peace.

TTFN

Back At It

   After having last week off, I am in fact back at my desk today. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas, and will have a happy 2016.
   I must admit it was a little difficult getting up to head into the office this morning, since I'm used to sleeping in until 6:00 a.m. But things will get back to what passes for "normal" very quickly.
   I'm left wondering (rhetorically) why it is the day or 2 before you go on a break seem to drag on incessantly, while the time you have off goes by in a blink. Oh, well. A week off is a week of. Especially when it doesn't count against my regular vacation time later on this year. I am grateful for that.
   During my time off, I started a project I never thought I'd undertake. I purchased this 'project' back in December, and started it Christmas Day:

   I'm not going to let slip any clues about it, but suffice it to say it's taking longer than I anticipated. Which shouldn't come as a surprise, since I don't have the skill set needed to end up with something that looks even remotely professional. Not that I care too much if it does or not. It's never going to end up in the hands of a professional, and while looks do matter, it's how the thing performs when I get it done that counts.
   I'm about 1/3rd of the way completed on it, and have run into some problems, as you might expect. I also face a big issue in that one component does not fit into another within the tolerances I need it to, so I'll have to figure out some way of dealing with that. But otherwise, I'm fairly happy with it so far.
   And yes, I will blog about it (with updated pictures) when I get it done. Which better be soon, since my wife would like to get back the part of the kitchen I've taken over for the build. And no, that's not a clue, either.

TTFN