Thursday, August 26, 2010

Burning the Midnight Oil HNT

I've written a lot over the past couple of weeks about how busy August has been. I'm just not sure how I underestimated exactly how busy it would be. I am SO burned out on writing music... I never thought I'd ever say that. Maybe it's the combination of that and the rehearsals we're having to have. I don't mean to say that they're bad--I love working with these guys. I've worked with almost all of them in the past. But it's not the old band. The band over there in the sidebar (towards the bottom). We put in over 11 years together, and after that amount of time, we instinctively knew what each other would do, how we would play, and how we'd communicate with each other while we were playing. Knowing what a simple eyebrow lift or specific jumble of words meant. Things that only come from spending so much time together.

But this band is different. I find that we have to work harder to make things work smoothly. It shouldn't have to be this hard. It's not that we don't have the players/singers. It's that we don't have that same unspoken communication with each other. It's coming slowly, but it's frustrating at times.

When I signed on to play in this band, I assumed I'd have to write some horn arrangements. I didn't anticipate necessarily needing to make them so concise that silent communication wouldn't be necessary. Whereas the trumpet player and I played together for so long, the sax player (who normally is the only horn player in any group he's been in) just isn't used to having to sound like a section player. He's getting there, and I think he's working harder than he thought he'd have to, but it's a learning process. But by God...give him a solo, and he's great!

So my past few weeks have been spent in front of my computer putting music together. Then over the weekend, my software went wonky on me. Short story, as you might have read earlier this week, is that I had to resort to writing by hand. Eek! Need to get someone in here to rub my hands after a session of that! Fortunately, I have a six-year old version of the software on my laptop (which means re-learning all sorts of things about the program). But I can't really do all this while sitting in my recliner, so I've moved to the space in front of the desktop computer, pushing it back and out of the way. I've even moved my mouse over to the laptop, just to make things easier. Perhaps the desktop will see how it's supposed to be done. This is the view it has, watching me work with the older, more mature version. Hopefully it learns something!


"...For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils."

"Daffodils"
~ William Wordsworth

This pensive flower will be revealed late Thursday afternoon. Be sure to come back to see who it is!
This week's MG is Dafs, from over at Night Moves! She's fairly new to HNT, but eager! She generally posts hers on Thursday nights, so don't be alarmed if you don't see a new HNT. Feel free to go back a few posts!
Lots of people over at "...the Other HNT" this week! Definitely NSFW, if you care about that sort of thing...
Perhaps the desktop is plotting its revenge on me. I emptied the trash on the laptop's desk the other day. I'm not sure how I did it, but I suddenly gained over 6GB of room on my hard drive! And then I found out why. I emptied my entire iTunes library! The good news--I still had my iPod synched with it, so I didn't panic. Though I didn't have the absurdly large amount of Christmas music on it. I'm not so concerned about that. I did an iPod-to-iTunes sync last night. (side note--it's not a cut and dried process! always read up on how to do it, or you'll lose everything!). So now I've got my music, but I don't think they're in the right place on my drive. It all plays, but something's still not right. And I don't have the time to fool with it now. I totally blame the desktop...
And for something totally different...you may have seen this on the news. For those who remember, it's sort of like an old Spike Jones bit!

48 comments:

SapioSlut said...

I'm up and spreadeagled...

Happy HNT!

Jobthingy said...

make sure you get your rest mister!

i would rub your hands if we were closer.

I'm UP!

HHNT

xo

Resident Ranter said...

first timer!

i'm up :)

HHNT

Anonymous said...

Yeah. Y'all dont freak out. Im up. Now Im goin to bed. LOL

Elle said...

Eek! Computers can make our lives so much easier... AND so much harder ;)

I'm up!

Emmy said...

I'm up!
Sorry to hear about all of your woes. Soon it will be done. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. :)
Happy HNT!
~Emmy

Sadie said...

Sounds like your computer's out to get ya :)

I'm up!
Xo-Sadie

Vixen said...

Doh! I emptied my cache the other night to try to resolve a problem I had and it's been a *nightmare* since (and it didn't solve the problem) and that is MINOR compared to your issue!

I'm up!

xo

Anonymous said...

Computers can be quite evil!

I'm up again after another one of those one-week hiatuses. Hopefully I won't make a habit of that.

HNT 12: Four words

Chapter Two said...

I am up - looking somewhat super hero like. No fear, didn't jump since I know I can't really fly, but lately I feel like I could

(computers suck!)

Sugarmag said...

I hope life slows down for you soon!

I am up...HHNT

Autumn said...

holy hell you've been busy! it's so cool that you are working it all out to make it sound so good. totally sucks about the wonky PC. don't even get me started on that...

your MG? HAWT. totally. i'd like to vacation there. :)

yes OS, I'm on my way to bed right after this...My post is up and YOU ROCK! just sayin

xoxo
loves autumn

JM said...

Take a load off Os and don't sweat the small stuff. It'll all come together in the end. Life isnt always easy, but sometimes hard work makes the end result so much sweeter!

I'm up for my first ever HNT! Be nice please peeps ;)

Anonymous said...

I can really undertsand how playing with different people in the band would change how you relate. A lot of the communication you have is without words..
Which is sort of what my HNT is about this week.
So take a peek and be sure to leave
a comment!

I'm up

xx

Anonymous said...

Oh! And the MG is looking super relaxed there :)

Anonymous said...

Mg is damn delightful.

Mines up!

BTExpress said...

My old external hard drive crashed, so got a new one and have been backing three old computers, plus two new ones, which is going soooooo sloooooowwww.

I'm up with a back to school HNT.

RHYME AND RETRO said...

I'm up with a waterfall Os shirt HNT.

Another Suburban Mom said...

I am up and the mystery guest is delightful,

Ms Scarlett said...

I'm up!

Your laptop looks just like mine!! :-) Your desktop is just jealous of all that sleek Appleness....

MG is glorious....

XO

Shhh.... said...

I hope things slow down for you soon. *hugs*

And I'm up, with my peeps. :)

Cheeky Minx said...

Technology: can't live with ya, can't live with ya. Hang about, there's a fatal error in there somewhere...

I hope you get a chance to rest in between all that sweet music making.

Speaking of sweet, your MG is luscious...

I’m up!
xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Os,
Happy HNT! We are up with a beach summer HNT picture this week. Check it out! :D

http://darkside-journey.blogspot.com/

Hugs,
padme

~m said...

Hey! That's my local track - literally 20 mins from my castle, Os! I spend lots of time there (though not that day) and often win a few bucks. :)

Anyhow, I'm up and in the tub again.

I'm slowly getting around to last week's HNTers and will get around to this week. As you know, stuff on the MIL front is touch and go.

Get some rest, my dear.

P.S. Love the MG. (Though that makes me giggle every week as those are my initials - well, my maiden name at least. I'm still MG to everyone who's known me since childhood.)

Maggie said...

Busy, I get. Crazy busy. :-) Hope you get a break soon.

I'm up.

MinorityReport said...

Sorry to hear about all of those computer issues. Hopefully September is a much better month for you!

I'm up. :)

HyperSexualGirl said...

Unfortunately, unlike homework, I guess you can't just copy music out of the encyclopedia.

I'm up!

Joanna Cake said...

Im late to tell you but I am up. I too had some issues with my own hardware that needed resolving after a virus... but I think it's now sorted - thanks to the innate communication that Ruf and I have developed over the last few years :)

Playing at anything with someone else takes time and exposure - be it music, sex or any performance art. There will be frustrations and times when component parts pull against the traces but working together is the key to success.

I hope you've set aside some time in September to relax!

Robyn said...

I'm up I'm up =)

Topaz said...

Can't check out your hot MG b/c I'm at work and need to not be on 'our' kinda sites, but I forgot to hit 'publish' until this morning! That being said, I'm up :-)

Black Matrixx said...

Up with some changes to the design and a 365 days photo project.

BM

Mr. Smith said...

Were up! Gotta love technology.

Cande said...

wow what a great click thru!! HAPPY HNT I'm up!

viemoira said...

I sure hope when I TOOT I am blowing a trumpet and not passing gas...
In any event...I am up and hope your computer problems are remedied soon!
~viemoira :)

Tom Allen said...

Ah yes - the iTunes panic attack is a frequent occurrence with many of my friends. That's why I don't have an account.

But I do have a sunburn from a trip to the beach.

JackBader said...

Well first post ever.. not too revealing on this one,

but I am up.

Anonymous said...

Hola chicas! Come and ask me questions. Ask me ANYTHING!

I'm up!

XXX

heelsnstocking said...

Im up, been so busy and not near my desk I couldnt shout!

did you press the button though??

Anonymous said...

hilarious vid!

i'm up with some jesus...

R. said...

I'm up @ Lustolicious :)

Trixie Fontaine said...

Man, itunes drives me MAD so I feel your pain.

Here's my contribution which includes a hairy muff closeup.

Get8More said...

That is a Great Computer - and even better HNT! Wow that is some clit --- err I meant click...

mina said...

A little late in the game, but I'm up!

Jim said...

I'm up at http://cockandcunt.blogspot.com/2010/08/half-nekkid-thursday.html

Chris said...

Very late, but up...and now a little tired...sympathetic weariness, perhaps?
Happy HNT!

Kyle said...

Well, I'm glad that even though you're working your ass off, you're doing something you love to do...

Here's my HNT, a glimpse of me on vacation: http://www.butchtastic.net/?p=4183

Dafs said...

Baby I'm IN!! First MG, and I am so pleased. Hehehe : )

http://daisies-nightmoves.blogspot.com/2010/08/daffodils.html

Bad Bad Girl said...

It's never too late to get Half Nekkid. That MG is hot hot HOT!!!