grim_guitarist

its been too long!

2009-11-12T01:31:37Z

I thought i would write in here briefly.
Not much has really changed in the last few weeks.
Work, work, and yes you guessed it folks, more work. i'm really beginning to stress out now which is never a good sign.
Played guitar at a brest cancer charity event on saturday, and it was nice. For those who don't know, my gf is a singer and her grandma asked her to sing and i got asked to play so yeah. Was a bit nervus about meeting her grand parents, but they are pretty cool. its nice to be treated like a part of the family. Feels kinda special you know?
Just been reading and practicing and the usual other stuff.
Oh, and played a concert with the bigband last thursday as well. I really did enjoy it! The guitars had a raw deal as we didn't get a chance to tune up with the rest of the band, so had to basically tune at the same time as trying to play. That was shal we say, INTERESTING.
Apart from that it was amaising!
Tomorrow i'm heading to edinburgh to see the family for a few days. it gives me an excuse to use my big tv and maybe throw in some dvds or gaming into the picture. i know its probably going to be something i'll regret lter, but oh well. I'll just have to live with it. I am human after all.
There's so much actually to say that i'll do another entry later. Some current affares with political issues i want to go on about but i'll do that later. i'll catch up with you all soon. its been too long since i spoke to you all.
Take care!

hear i am!

2009-09-19T14:38:47Z

Hi everyone.
Ive been very busy and there isn't really much to update on.
ive been just spending time with family, and ofcourse, my gf.
As to that, its going very well. i couldn't ask for better if I tried.
Ive now moved in to my new plce properly, and i'm loving it!
its going to be a very busy year, so I won't be writing in here much unless there is anything worth writing about. Otherwise i'm not going to waste my time by writing and I won't therefore, waste your valuable time ither.
Oh, and ofcourse there is skype and facebook and things to see how i m also. Anyway, i'm going to go practice and send some important emails and do computer clean ups and the like.

quick update and news soon to follow

2009-07-29T13:41:25Z

Hey guys.
Just checking in to say that i am alright.
Been practicing the instruments, catching up with friends, and ofcourse, listening to black clouds and silver linings. For those of you who don't know, its the greatest dream theater album ive ever heard!
i am extremely happy right now and more than ive ever been!
You'll all find out soon why but until then, wait and enjoy the cliff hanger.
Anyway best go just now.
Take care.

Hello

2009-07-11T00:22:33Z

I'm finally back online. i'm really sorry guys that I haven't been arround recently. As i sai in the last entry, i had a mild case of mumps. It wasn't funny but thankfuly it wasn't serious. i know that serious cases of mumps can leave you sterile and unable to have children naturally, but not to panic as this wasn't anywhere near that serious.
it was painful, and i felt a little tired and shaky, but for the most part I was up and arround most of the time.
Thats why i wasn't always arround on skype as I was just too tired to talk at night and I was sometimes in a lot of pain. Well, ive been worse. Lets be honest. So don't any of you panic or anything. I'm fine, and i hve been for over a week. i'm just bored as hell right now. Not to mention too hot.
What has been keeping me going is the new dream theater album. I do think its one of their best and one of the best albums of this year. Well the best one i bought from this year anyway.
When ive been down or whatever, its gone on and i can only say it makes me happy. It realy does. i've had some small problems with the department in the uni, but its all sorted now. Nothing life threatening ther ither. Anyway i'm going to go right now. Speak soon.

I'm gona mump ya! Like an infectious disease. Would mump ya.

2009-07-07T16:35:19Z

Hello eveiobody. I'm sorry i haven't been able to get online. I haven't been well for the past 2 weeks because i've had a mild case of mumps. I'm ok now and it wasn't anything serius. I will update soon, just as soon as i can get back to my computer again. Hope everyone is ok.

Well here it is

2009-06-13T06:17:18Z

The end of my first year here. Its gone farely well, with some things here and there, but its all sorted now.
Life hasn't been very interesting really. i won't have much online access for a few weeks at the most, but i will have skype.
Actually, i'm going to be blunt with you all here.
i'am doing a music degree, which takes up most of my time with music anyway, and so i'm not going to be on lj as much.
i just don't have the time to come on and read and post every day. Music takes up so much time, and with the things that are in motion right now this isn't as constructive.
i'll still be arround, but i won't be posting as much, and I won't be reading on here every day ither. Don't take it personally, but music is more important than lj. I'll still check facebook, and i'll have skype and msn and things, and when i get time which will be probably once or twice during the week, i will come on here.
Other than that, nothing much else happening. Just been catching up and getting to know a person who i haven't spoken to in four years. Things are working well so far, and i hope it continues firther. i might be meeting up tomorrow with her actually. Ok, need to finish packing, and I might have to sleep before my parents get here to collect me and my things.
Don't be scared to skype me. or call or text me for those that have that option and know my number and things. It at the moment will make life a little bit easier. As i have 3 or 4 computers to configure for wireless internet sometime this week and i'm not looking forward to doing it, but i'm the only one that can.
Well, must dash.
Take care.

grim_guitarist @ 2009-05-26T11:20:00

2009-05-26T10:26:44Z

i just want to let everyone know that i have my performing exam this afternoon at 2.25 pm
I'm really nervus but i should be fine. Having some issues of getting print coppies of the music to give to the examiners, but i will get round that somehow.
I have to go just now but i will be arround later on.

MY HACKLES ARE WELL AND TRULY RAISED!

2009-05-24T03:04:18Z

its not very often that this will be said, but ENOUGH IS WELL AND TRULY ENOUGH! i know recently i have been on edge which if anyone has been bothered I apologise.
However what has happened tonight is the last straw!
i go out with my friends, and thats fine. Until someone crosses the line!
There are some things i can't have or rather that i won't touch. Basically i was given a drink which i for personal reasons do, not, touch. Those who know me well enough know what this is and the reasons for it. it doesn't go well with me anyway.
Anyway aside from the fact i was given this without being told. This loud mouthed idiot proceeded to try and drag me through the dirt infront of others as well, andi have to put a stop to this.
i feel insulted in the extreme and i will NOT, tolerate it! Having a laugh is one thing, but being nasty and after being aware of discomfort to keep going in this case is really pissing me off.
its happened before, but i refuse to put up with some guy who is stupid and who thinks he is big, and clever because he is soooooooo confident!
Well, as far as i'm concerned, this ends now!
i can assure everyone, thati won't take this lightly anymore.
i know people sometimes don't think exams important and love drinking all the time, but also being made out a fool?! NOT, ME! That is going too far.
i need to deal with this but i'm not sure how.
Anyway, i'll update again when exams are over but you guys can contact whenever you like if i'm arround.
Don't be strangers

I have returned

2009-05-15T00:14:36Z

This is going to be as quick as possible although there are a lot of things to tell. I'll probably do more than one entry about that but anyway.

Ive been really busy with studying and what not. Unfortunately ive been messed arround a little with deeadlines but ive sorted that out.
in between sorting wok and stuff out ive been able to help someone who is really needing support right now. Well two people but thats a long story.
i got my results for my last composition back and i got the equivilant of 75% which i am really happy about. As well as tht ive finished my next one and recorded it today and will be handing it in tomorrow.
i have exams in two weeks and i am trying not to let the strain get to me. i also have to go see the phd student on tuseday for conducting technique coaching. As well as doing a presentation tomorrow and playing a charity concert.
i have also been back intouch with someone who for four years I haven't spoken to due to a major misunderstanding which caused a lot of pain, and i am glad to say its all sorted now, and i am able to develop a friendship again. This makes me happy. On another note of being back in contact with people, another very old friend has recently spoken to me again and i am now intouch with two other people i knew years ago. This is good news.
There are other things, but i think is enough to be going on with. I just can't wait for the exams to be over and then the fun starts. heehe

grim_guitarist @ 2009-05-05T00:19:00

2009-05-04T23:25:51Z

This song i'm listening to makes me cry. Its so beutiful, and i love it.
The group whent well tonight, apart from the guys who give me a lift being late, unreliable and ive came to the decision to make my own way there as i will get there ontime. Then i don't have to worry about turning up late or anything. A fely good and strange day and i hope it continues.

Its so good to be back here again

2009-05-04T00:49:59Z

i tell you, sometimes my family amaise me. My brother needs to grow up fast, and stop all this crap he seems to be doing. Got back a few hours ago, and trying to get more of this composition done. i thik its a little unfortunate that I have a slight case of writers block. Thankfully not a huge case and once i have myself together I can finish this thing.
A few people I haven't spoken to in 4 years have got back intouch very unexpectedly. i have to say I think its a good thing, and i hope i can catch up with them all soon. i had a nice time out with Alan yesterday, and a nice walk and meal. Oh and ofcourse, I have brought the new guitar up with me so I can play it here and that makes me happy.

grim_guitarist @ 2009-05-01T13:42:00

2009-05-01T12:48:01Z

ime going down to my mum's til sunday. So i won't have anything apart from skype and my phone til i get back. i just have a couple of things to do down there and bring the new guitar back as well ofcourse. Check out my facebook for photoes. anyway i best go. i'll update again when i get back or will tell if I talk to any of you whilst i'm away.
Til i return

grim_guitarist @ 2009-04-28T00:54:00

2009-04-27T23:59:55Z

i never thought DT would sound so good this time of the night.
i hope June comes soon so i can buy the new album. Then go see them live again.
These guys rule. Mike, and all the rest of the guys know how to play their instruments.

Well life seems good today.

2009-04-26T22:28:00Z

i never thought going back home would be gret, but it was.
i managed to accoire my new guitar. This thing is so amaaaaiiising! its like playing on air man. i mean realy if this was a human, you would date it if I can be honest with you. i haven't ever played many like this, and it is making me very happy.
I am going to upload pics of me with it later on facebook, because its amaising. So basically i found an ideal guitar. What the heck, ime going into technicle details, and if you don't want to read then skipe this because i don't know how t do a cut and its my lj so i can post this anyway.

it was hand built in france, and is constructed of solid would. The neck has something called the 1090 system, which basically is 10% carbon, and 90% hard maipal which after naturally weathering is allowed to dry naturally for 3 weeks minimum. i think its a rose fingerboard, but it could be ebeny. i need to check that. The body is 2 joined pieces of naturally dried solid would, which has also naturally aged. With a mat varnish finish, and the color is ameythist purple. over sized locking machine heads, with high quality floting bridge very much like the locking system but in some bways better as the metal is higher quality and like the original locking system, uses very even tention on the springs, allowing it to pivit and float both ways without losing it's tunig. The pickups are in the bridge position, tone zone, middle and nec I think are paf pros. All made by demarzio. Might change the bridge pickup but not sure. Volume control and tone and a 5 way pickup selecter. position 1 is pickup at neck, 2 is neck and middle picup, at position 3 is midle. In 4 is the single coil split of the bridge humbucker with middle single coil, and the 5t position is humbucker at bridge. The tone zone. Anyone who is interested, Paul gilbert who is amaising! Uses one of these, and so does Eddy Vanhalen. ive said all that needs said about this thing.
Might make a few changes to pickups later if I feel the need, but i love this thing!

i do realise ive just given a huge technical spiel which I enjoyed, but i know ive probably just confused all of you.
i can't pretend that i don't wonder the looks of puzzlement will be like, but i can explain more if needed heehe.

So a good time.

Time for some more updating

2009-04-22T23:16:27Z

So it seems i was worrying about nothing on Sunday. Basically someone who I didn't expect got intouch wanting to meet up with me. i won't go into the details of why i wasn't intouch for four years, but I didn't think it was going to be pretty. How wrong I was. Finally got to clear the air and that huge misunderstanding was finally laid to rest.
infact it was one of the best days ive had in a while up here outside of studying.
its just a shame i have to do this reallly boring essay.
i love essays, but this is boring and i know i shouldn't say it, but its boring me majorly. On the positive side, i only have to edit and add a little more to it, i stayed up all last night, well most of it actually starting it and finishing. As i only got told on monday that it was due in on Thursday. Lots of DT and cafine not that the stuff effects me, but those things have been keeping me going.
Fyi, lots of intense prog rock like dt works when your doing boring essays like this one.
I really haven't done one more minotonis than this one ever. Still it has to be done and then i will be happy.
Ok, now i also have to find the text im going to use for the next composition. im actually getting to perform it infront of the man himself, so this needs to be good. Have some ideas going for things to use, but do any of you guys have any suggestions? This will make me very happy.
Anyway back to torturing myself with this horrible writing thing, which i will be glad to finish.

Ime back

2009-04-19T14:02:57Z

i just thought i would let you know i got back here safely. i was thinking of taking some time out of online after my last entry but well.
i wish I could say things are better but looks like one of the things from highschool has come back to bite me bigtime, and it is something i could at this moment do without. Oh well i will go for just now but I will maybe be around later on.

Ive had it!

2009-04-16T03:11:50Z

Well, you know what? i can honestly say that i have pretty much had it!

im beginning to really hate my family now. Me, who is doing my best and more and studying hard, has to help them out because they spend all of their money on alcohol and things, or giving handouts to my brother. Now im sort of geting on alright with him right now, but this is totally unacceptable! i constantly get used and i can't speak up about it because im the one who is made out to be the bad guy in everything.
If they just were more responsible they could then make it easier for me to get things done. as it stands its not the case. i get put down for learning things and trying to discuss them. They don't seem to care and again i am made out to be the full.
i basically have to bale out these idiots because I don't want everyone to suffer ither, but this has to stop and they don't even appreciate it!
Also im pretty much fed up with being messed arround. Incase people didn't realise i hav feelings to. i mean i think sometimes, Oh, hopefully its all ended and then it all starts again. Is it to much to ask that others once in a while considdered my feelings? i do with everyone else. I mean most of my family and people ive known have thought it alright to be like this, and it has to stop now! i hate what has become of this place. People are actually stupid enough to think that the government here are trying and not in any way responsible for the problems being worse than they are. Well, its because of you that I struggle and others struggle. So its great that you can sleep at night with phrases like "power t the people!" indeed it is. To the distruction of success and potential. Basically morals and everything else have gone down the pan.
i can't and won't take this anymore. Basically this is how it is no. Those who care and who don't mess me about and use ad hurt me are fine. Those who aren't can just go! Im no longer prepared to put up with crap. Don't expect me to be nice about this. i do what i can to be a good person because you know, I chose to be. i dn't take advantage of my family or anyone else, and i try my best and more. ive sat on the fence for too long now and i won't anymore. i know there are good people out there, and i know there are people i know who aren't doing any of these things i have mentioned. However im posting this and im leaving it up to everyone else to decide.
Something else to considder.
All i have ever wanted to do so far in my life i have already ither got or am working towards, and do you know why? Because I want it, and so i go out and fight for it and get it. I work and don't give up. Even though to most people it is completely unrealistic or impractical. i only think about that when i am in a position to after finding ways to get and work for the things i decide i want to have. Its not that i get handouts and I don't give up or believe in limitations very often. if there are obsticles in any situation, then it means there must be something worth working for. Apart from driving although i want to try it for the results which would be devistating and very satisfying.
i have had challenges all my life and ive been working to beat them all and challenges are good.
So the next challenge here is to find a way to get away and im counting the days until that happens.
i man it now seems that my brain and everything that goes with it aren't enough. Well, that's why il get there. Because i seem to be single minded and I don't care anymore.
Even in political terms, im very much a conservative. Economically i am very hardcore and glad to be so. Still ive said all I really need to say here.
i have tried to be as best i can, but at the end of the day, im not superman. I am human and i have immotions and feelings.

Il be so glad when this week of hell is over.

2009-03-25T16:11:51Z

im not kidding. i have 2 pieces of work due in today, and at the last minute possible, my printer dies on me. i now know its because of ink, but its nice that I got some kind of warning. Well too late ofcourse but there you go.
The really frustrating thing is, that I have all the work there but as i can't submit it electronically theres not much it seems I can do. Also the person who was maybe going to record this assignment, is nowhere to be seen. i basically was up most of the night trying to fix this, and ive not stoped forthe last few days, and now that everything was actually finished before, it seems that technology has its own ideas. i can't say im happy about it ither. The most frustrating thing is that i know for a fact that I can do the work, I know in nearly all cases ive really put an effort and more into the work, and i understand what I have to do and il push myself to all sorts of limits to do it, but these things outside my control sometimes will insist on trying to make it difficult.
This is why ive not been updating for a while as ive been editing things. its looking very much like i'll have to hand this in tomorrow and that makes me feel even worse, because there isn't or doesn't right now seem like i can do much about it, although goodness knows im still trying.
There's other things to update on but they'll have to wait.

Ive just about had it up to here

2009-03-10T00:17:08Z

ive just had a weekend that I would rather not have agan in a hurry. Friday I came down to get the new pickups fitted on my shechter guitar and the guitr tech very kindly stayed back to fit them so I would have them as he usually finishes early on a friday but he fitted these for me before leaving. Im extremely greatful to him for doing this.
i had to go to work with my mum for a while after not stopping all day and spending ages on a train and then in a car for ages.
Anyway that said I tried the seymour duncan black outs pickups which are an active 9 volt picup set which are near enough the best pickups ive ever played. There is a reason that mick Thomson uses them and other people as well. i would say they are pretty much the most versitile active pickup ive used and that is saying something.
Saturday i just couldn't function, to the point where even after I got up i had no energy and well you get the idea.
i was supposed to come back here yesterday but ofcourse with these people nothing seems to go according to plan. The short of it is that i had to yetagain bale my parents out yetagain. i am not going to go into it as it will take ages and ive written lots here already, but i ended up missing my train back here and so I missed a piano recital which i wanted and in some ways needed to go and see. So i had to get the 5.30 am train this morning in order to get back here to be able to make my classes and I did it. With only 3 hours sleep i might add and it hasn't helped much. i mean my parents just don't seem to appreciate me sometimes, but im sorry im going on like this.
im just sick of being the one in that family who has any idea of respnsibilities and stuff. They go on about what they dn't have and yet they can afford to by things like alcohol and other things.
i understand i have a choice in some ways, but i don't want my dad not to be able to use the phone and the internet for example, but it would be nice to be part of something which actually appreciates me. To make things annoying, i don't seem to be able to get energy at the moment ither, and this isn't good.
It must be great how some people don't really need to care about responsibilities and therefore giving them the chance to get all upset when it is placed upon them. Mind you this might be why im so ambitious. Because i want to change and get out of this. i dn't even need to talk aboutwhat i do and hope to do all the time, because im trying to do it and have no need to advertise myself as someone who needs all the attention. I just don't think il bother with them next time. Anyway, I best go and eat some dinner and stuff.

This is the worst economics reporter ever

2009-03-01T20:29:56Z

Seriously, this cracks me up. Would you ever want this guy to report todays ecomomic crisis?

This is going to make you end up in histerics

2009-03-01T19:35:01Z

i hope this works as this is just plain histericle!!
i love this kind of humor and no wonder im as bad as I am. Heehee

This weekend

2009-02-28T23:12:23Z

Ok, i have alan down as you know. He's going away tomorrow and its been pretty fun for th most part. i think he's going to get me back for the thing about the political compass test thing last weekend. Oh well, i take very little of what he does and says seriously because I can give it back harder and I will win if i have to. Its as simple as that, but im happy. Course work is going well, and I got to tlk to 2 lecturers yesterday and both meetings whent extremely well. So right now im feeling refreshed and i know that what I want at the mionute if I want to succeed I will becase im putting my mind to it. Its no more complecated than that.
I think i ate too much tonight but il be alright soon.
Anyway im going to go as uni related stuff is the same, and other stuff everyone knows already.

This has been a great day

2009-02-21T23:41:50Z

Im actually very happy right now. Having Alan over last night was amaising, and nice to know he is a fello comrad in arms. i shold explain this.
We both did the political compass test. baring in mind that 10 being hard right and -10 being hard left. Can you guess what my results where? i think i have to rethink some of the social aspects but economically im officially off the scale as a righ wing nutjob. Being 8.88 on the right. Alan well i thought we agreed on so much.
He took the test and came -10.00 economically and about 6 libertarian. Welcom your fello comrad all socialists. Im so disappointed in him. There was me thinking he was a good influence, and how wrong i was. Although he did insist that he was 17 when he had those views. However if I was like that at 17, then i would be ashamed of those views, and the answers came a little too easily for someone openly revoking such acusations.
Actually to be fare in some way we don't actually disagree all that much politically in some ways. i did enjoy that a little too much and i don't care. It was fun and he would have done it to me if I was the person in question, and ofcouse, we have this tradition of openly insulting each other and mocking each other to see how far we can take it. Which is pretty far lets face it.
Anyway he's now away back to edinburgh and i really enjoyed myself. You guys should jin the fun sometime. Lets say it was interesting?
i think he is coming up again soon and that will rule. So its back to my usual day to day things.

Enter the wonderful world of progrossive reck

2009-02-21T00:17:03Z

Hello everyone. As you might have guessed, Alan is here and its ruling majorly! Lets start from the beginning.
i whent and got him from the station. Then came back, but any sensible people here will realise that of I whent and got him that i would have to come back again. So no explanation needed there.
Then we listened to some good old fassioned and impractical and illogical protentious self indulgent prog rock. For example snowgoos by Kamel, and the flying teepot by Gong, which in my oppinion is one of the most outragious and amaising albums ive ever heard, and will clear out a room within ten seconds of it starting. Sounds like a good idea at a disco or high school ball or something no? Actually if i really want if for example you were at a very special event and you didn't like someone, then play this album and you'll wind them up no end and you won't have said anything. Then they have to take responsability for their own actions for making theselvs look stupid infront of all the other guests, and yes, its my idea of fun sometimes. i do get a kick out of immagineing that one bt i never said i was a nice person so get used it or stop existing while i pump the gong album into your brain and watch you squirm like a fly in a spider trap.
Mind you we also whent through 3 quarters of the largest pizza ive ever seen. Its over 20 inches, infact more like 30 and we ate that much of it in one go. We will eat the rest within the next 2 hours and we did some weight training with my heavy guitar case, including shoulder press which i did 21 reps of ad ala did 20. As well as other exercises. it was great and il do moe later because I can and I feel like it. Anyone wat to join me?
Anyway il be on skype and will probably end up drinking more bite the wax tadpole. if you want to know what that is then ask me.
This is the best day ever, and since im giving up my time to post this, why not make a healthy contribution to society and make a difference by taking the time to read over this and contribute a comment if you can. Because after all. Time is precious and if you don't contribut your time now, my tim might run out tomorrow and you won't be able to contribute to suh a good cause anymore. So donate now and see the difference it will make to your life!

After the pizza im going to make toasted sandwiches and eat oranges and do more weight trining with the guitar case, nd whatever else i decide to do.
if you guys want to talk then catch me on skype as thats the only way you'll get a hold of me.

grim_guitarist @ 2009-02-20T23:39:00

2009-02-20T23:53:21Z

BBite the wax tadpole