Birthday Beer

We went shopping for my presents tonight at Target.
Got some summer half-socks and a new garden hose.

I figured I needed to stock-up on beer for the long weekend's festivities, so we went down the drinky aisle.
A 12-pack of Miller HighLife bottles was $11.49, which is pretty normal.
Then I spotted a price label for a case of cans (24) at around $13.99 (a great price) but they were all out.

Then I found a single 30-pack (shown below) and lowered it gently into our cart.
I figured it was the right amount of beer, and the price had to be decent.

At the register, my beer wouldn't scan.
The little girl who had followed me around the store trying to help me shop (she wanted to kiss me--it was obvious) tried to help the cashier, but a more senior staff member whipped out a handheld UPC scanner that read my beer's price just fine.
$8.24 !!!
The 12 pack was $0.9575 per can.
The case was $0.5829 per can.
My birthday beer was $0.2747 a can.
Awesome!

I gotta say, when Target wants to get rid of old stock, they don't screw around.
I have found some incredible deals, usually 50-75% off. You just have to keep an eye on the endcaps that are against the walls.
Thank you for the lovely gift, Target.

They really fill up the bottom of our fridge.


On the bass front, this is the one I have decided to buy:
It's the 4-string brother of my 8-string, only a newer version with some upgrades.
I decided that having matched electronics, looks, and feel was important enough to go this route.
The price is right, so we'll be ordering it after I earn some money this weekend.
Then I get to spend next week tracking it, and scheduling my yard work and shower so that I can catch the UPS man on the porch to inspect the package and contents.
Normally our UPS guy rings the bell and takes off without a signature, but he'll not be getting away with such shenanigans on a purchase that's this important.

BLISS will be at ReBar on Broadway Friday to celebrate.
Saturday's show, I don't recommend.

Not Guilty!

I mean, I don't feel guilty about not updating this blog in over two weeks.
Life happens...and sometimes you don't get a picture or a story out of it.

Introducing the newest member of the family, Kristin Brown.
My new "niece" was born on Thursday July 15th.
Mom, Dad, and Baby are all doing fine.

As her "crazy uncle" I'll be introducing her to Nutella, guitars, cameras, Southern Comfort, and explosives.
I'm already trying to figure out a way we can all get rich off those long toes she's sporting.



In other news...
I have been saving my pennies to buy this bass, the 4-string version of my beloved 8-string monster.
I like the idea of using the same electronics and materials and shape and almost everything, so that when I get the sound dialed-in there isn't a drastic change when I switch instruments. As I soundman I battle this all the time, so I'm trying to make things easier for me and anyone who has to mix me.

But then...
We went looking for all of the little obscure guitar shops around town this past weekend, and this was the first bass I got my hands on.
Red strings notwithstanding, I thought it was kinda sexy.
But when I played it...how can I word this?...there was movement in my pants.

Now, I have mixed hundreds of electric basses over the years, and tried most of them for a few minutes.
Played a few hundred more in stores.
Owned my share, both new and vintage.
My first bass was a 1962 Fender Precision that I sold for a 500% profit 3 years later.
(Had I kept it until now it would have been a 5000% profit, but times were tough).
What I'm getting at is that I know when I'm holding an instrument that has magic.
My guitar had magic when I played it in the store, and I still feel blessed that it was under the Christmas tree that year.

Well, after three notes on the bass above and I just knew that the stars were aligned when 3 seeds sprouted on 3 different continents, and that the angels above guided the saw blades at the lumber yards.
Every monkey and bird that sat in those branches could suddenly talk, and they only said the nicest things.
I know for damn sure that it wasn't assembled on a Monday or Friday.
This bass sings.
Every note rings forever, with clear tones.
It's a dream to play, like my hands were measured before they designed it.

On the other hand, it's rather a lot more than I had planned on spending despite the fact that the shop only wants around 55% of MSRP.
So it's a steal, but if I'm going to go for it I need to put down a deposit ASAP before someone else with half a brain beats me to it.
Decisions...decisions...


Did I mention that my birthday is coming up soon?
More importantly, 2 days after that is my 30th Anniversary in the music business.
(Legally in the biz--my older friends would sneak me into clubs to play guitar long before I turned 18).

Even more importantly, although we don't remember the exact day to celebrate our first date, Sylvia and I have been together for 10 years.

A Triple Milestone Party?
Sounds Awesome!
Hope I get invited...

Independence Day 2010

Flags waving, patriotic music, burgers and dogs on the grill, and FINALLY there weren't any fireworks bans due to dry conditions.

HUGE grasshopper sat on Holly's deck for hours.
Didn't even move when I stuck a sparkler in her face.
(Yes, I can tell the gender of bugs sometimes).

Barbed Wire Sunset

Kat posing nice for me.
She won't eat unless you watch her, so in exchange for her modeling I took that duty.

Bottle rocket.

Missile Barrage™ is a favorite.

The big mortar with a dozen pro-type shells was a hit.