GAS otherwise known as "Guitar acquisition Syndrome"

I never thought it would happen to us. The Saint and I are a fairly ordinary couple. Except that we get along well 95 % of the time, and don't have kids. (I won't talk about the weekly gift.)

But no, one day we are discussing the make and model of our middle-aged crises car, and next thing you know The Saint has gotten an electric guitar. An inexpensive Fender Squire, with my encouragement, might I add. When TS and I got together, he played the guitar. He was no Eddie VanHalen, but he was certainly fun to listen too. Cool, I thought. I love having music in the house. I have fond memories of my dad playing while my sister and I sang as kids.

Next thing you know, he wants an acoustic, something cheap to play around with. Dad's Southern Jumbo Gibson (which TS inherited as the only guitar player in the family) was a bit too "Jumbo". "Cool" I said but added, "No, don't get a really cheap one, get the one you want. Don't think about price. Well, okay, don't think about price a lot. But, get something good." So he got a Martin.

So then, I started playing around with the guitar myself, thinking, "Hmm, this is kind of fun. Maybe I could learn how to play." Actually, I really liked a certain guitar. It was pretty, verry pretty....

Next thing you know, I am the owner of a 3/4 sized Art & Lutherie guitar. Although initially I decided I should at least know 6 songs before I got my own guitar, TS convinced me it might be easier for me to learn on a smaller guitar than his Martin. And he trades his Fender Squire in for a Epiphone (a good decision actually). Now fast forward to a few weeks later....I can play one song, and am working on number two, and....

We are a couple with GAS.

I can play one song, and am working on the second. But I have my eye on a couple of sweet acoustic/electrics. Unfortunately the "really pretty" guitar I fell in love with got universally bad reviews from all our guitar gurus. And TS, well, he wants an acoustic electric too, but he wants a different one that I do...GAS, it's a terrible thing.

VGimlet
Art & Lutherie 3/4 size all cedar (currently on loan)
Samick "LaSalle" JZ-2
wanted:Martin 000-28EC; Luna Moth

The Saint
Epiphone SG-400
Martin OOOM (spruce and mahogany)
Peavey T60
wanted:Martin something

Both
1956 Gibson Southern Jumbo
Taylor T5 (Custom blue burst)

People Who Dump Garbage are Scum

Last Friday I was taking a walk around my neighborhood. It's a neighborhood in transition at the moment. On one side of us are a mix of homes, dating anywhere from 1890 to 1990, some (like ours) with acreage, and on the other lurks the alley behind the strip mall. On my walk, I saw that our neighbor has once again become the victim of illegal dumping. Since the mall was built ten years ago, garbage and illegal dumping have become one of the many problems in our neighborhood.

When someone dumps garbage, it is the responsibility of the property owner to clean it up. Because of both easy access, and a lack of sight lines, many people now use our neighbors property as a free garbage transfer station. In addition it seems the strip mall employees sometimes join in the fun. Currently there are about 15 shopping carts and other assorted discards from the mall. Even worse are the items the illegal garbage-dumping scum leave behind at night.

From what I saw during my casual stroll, our neighbors' pond is currently being polluted by a computer monitor, a stove, several bags of mixed garbage and a pile of what look like unwanted toys. Even the King of the Misfit toys won't be coming for them. It's appalling.

And who pays? Who has to clean up? Our neighbor, in his 80's and on a limited income. His son, who comes over to clean up when he can. Even The Saint and I, who also pick up some of the garbage and haul it away as well. It's disgusting.

The mall was contacted a few years ago about removing their part of the mess, and assured us, and the local press, that they would remove it as soon as possible. The carts are still there, rusting away, and the garbage keeps piling up. The cars keep pulling up in the middle of the night, throwing their unwanted crap over the side, and making it someone else's problem.

A nice walk spoiled. A peaceful neighborhood - trashed again by garbage-dumping slime.

It's New Years Eve, another year marches by.

I've made my Resolutions, as usual. They are not out of reach. I tried to make them possible this year - so often I think we set ourselves up for failure by resolving to do the impossible.

Then again, nothing is impossible, you just have to want it bad enough to really work at it.

My more public goals this year are;
Finish studying the Marseilles Tarot, which is possible since only 17 cards are left.
Learn 4 songs on the guitar.
Write in my journal every day, and at least 1 page a week.
Spring clean, de-junk and organize my house.

My personal goals include, as usual;
Eating a balanced diet, maybe even going low carb again
exercising 20 minutes a day minimum
Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. Water a day

Whenever I make resolutions, I always wonder why I bother - maybe because it seems like a good time to start something new, or make plans for the upcoming year.

I know this year I will;
Be playing a lot of World of Warcraft (Maille on Kilrogg server)
Be road-tripping to Alaska with The Saint, barring unforeseen circumstances
Be reading a lot of excellent new books
Not be worrying so much about the housework as I have in the past
Hopefully be seeing a lot of my sister and my niece Erin


Well, whatever your resolutions and plans for the New Year are, I hope you and yours have a safe, prosperous and happy 2006.

Vacation Planning

The Saint and I have opposing methods for getting ready for a vacation. I am a planner. I plan far ahead. I make lists. If I'm planning a big trip, or extremely far ahead (our potential drive to Alaska next year) I even have a list of my lists.

Alaska Lists
1. Barb's luggage
2. The tote bag (this bag carries the book I'm reading, Game Boy, the iPod, etc.)
3. The cooler list
4. The car list
5. The pre-trip countdown lists
a. Cleaning list
b. List of pet needs
c. Pre-packing list
d. Things we need to buy list
6. The other bag list (this bag carries the camera, computer, cell phone chargers, etc.)
7. Day before shopping list

I am sure there will be more lists.

If we are flying, my bag is packed a week before the plane takes off. I will have previously made a list of outfits I will wear each day, and made sure they are all packed. This will include accessories, and extras.

If we are not flying, I will still have a clothing list. Even if we are staying mostly around home, I will have a clothing list list. And of course, a to do list for the week before.

Also, the house must be cleaned, very well, before I leave. Almost Thanksgiving clean, but not quite. I usually try to clean the week before my vacation. This also entails a cleaning list.

The Saint takes a more zen-like approach. Throw some clothes in a bag the night before. Do whatever he must to keep me from freaking out the week before. If we are flying, make sure we have the tickets. If we are driving, take the car in for an oil change the day before we leave.

True, my way can make for a very stressful week prior to leaving. Of course, there is always something forgotten, no matter how many lists I make.

Luckily, we are both more spur-of-the moment people when it comes to the actual vacation.
We don't plan every day out, no matter if we drive, or fly, but take each day as it comes.

One year we were headed for the Oregon Coast and ended up visiting Disneyland. We had to stop and buy clothes along the way, as we had packed for rain and cold and not 80 degree California sun.

Another year we decided to drive to Reno, and took what we thought was a direct route, which took us miles out of the way. It was luck - we got to see beautiful country, and stopping the car while horse-back riding cowboys drove a herd of cattle across the road.

We have had some amazing vacations, and luckily, in spite of our disparate planning styles, we generally end up having a fabulous time. Now, where is my list of lists......

Hurricane Season

I can't believe another hurricane is heading for the coast. At least it's no longer a category 5, but three is bad enough. Hurricane season doesn't end until NOVEMBER.

I might whine about the never-ending grey in February, but I think I'm going to keep quiet this year. I will take that over 145 mile an hour winds, and flooding up to the roof.

Tonight I sit, toe in the air, chocolate in hand, and watch the hurricane. In case you were wondering, I had toe surgery today (nothing major, but I won't go into the gross and gory details) and unlike the last time I had this done, it hurts like crazy now the numbness has worn off. So, in addition to ibuprophen I have self-perscribed chocolate. I have been virtually chocolate free (except for the chocolate in my non-fat Mochas) for almost three weeks. But my toe was throbbing, and the hurricane is coming, and I am sorry (well, okay, not sorry) I needed it. Wanted it, needed it, same thing.

Since my toe is so bad, I think this is an ideal weekend to play World of Warcraft, and not clean the house. But, maybe tomorrow it will feel better.
Or not.

My toe and I are going to find more chocolate now.