hullabelew

No idea.

Really, I won it in a raffle..... Why yes....again. For the third time..... Guess I'm just lucky.

We can always hope.....

I've posted this before. My wife was raised Catholic. She was divorced when we met and they had convinced her that she needed to have her previous marriage annulled. So she started jumping through their hoops. At the time, she was a single mother, deaf, working two jobs to stay afloat. The Catholic church said she could have her annulment if she paid some preposterous amount. I think this was about $3000 (about 25% of her salary in the early 90s). I called the archdiocese asked what was the fee was actually for. I was told, "It is to cover administrative costs." I asked how that amount was actually determined. I was told, "It is based on income." I said, "Administrative cost is the same whether she makes $10,000 a year or $100,000 a year." Was told those are the rules. I asked how they could justify charging a deaf, single mother, who was working 2 jobs, that amount of money. No response. At that point, my cool, calm demeaning rapidly went away and I asked how much they charged to rape young boys. Additionally, she was wanting to get married in the Catholic Church. I think that was the reason they were holding the 'fine' over her head. But they also required me to 'convert'. I asked the priest, "How can I convert to your religion if you tell people that communion is only open to Catholics?" I told him it seemed to me is was God's table, not man's. He told me, "That is a rule someone came up with and it is driving people away, but I didn't say that." Now this was a married priest who the Catholic Church hired away from some other religion at some point when they were running low on priests. I think he was Episcopalian. I told him, "So, when your church needs something, it is OK to break the rules, but when it comes to showing simply human kindness, you stand your ground." No thanks. Bunch of fucking hypocrites. I know a man who advises churches of all religions. In one of his books, he wrote, "Nothing has destroyed spirituality more than organized religion." Another one if this sayings is, "Religion is a man sitting in church, thinking about fishing. Spirituality is a man fishing, thinking about God."

The day I went to treatment, I looked into the bathroom mirror at home and thought to myself, "This is hopefully the last time you will see yourself in this mirror like this." On my last day at treatment, on of the guys in my cabin walked by as I was shaving. He said, "This is the last time you will see yourself in that mirror." Something about the change I had been through in those 28 days and thinking about his comment really hit me. I told him about my comment 28 days before and we talked a long time about it. I saw him last night in a weekly Zoom aftercare meeting the treatment center runs. I talk to him every week....but this was the first time I had seen him in over 2 years. Took me immediately back to that day and I shared with the group about what that comment meant to me. Up until that point, I was having a shitty day but seeing him and talking about it, and again thanking him, really turned my day around.

IN on the SurlyCaster. LOVE that Transparent Sunset as well. And whether we go the classic look or a mix, I'm a follower, not a leader. I've always wanted another Tele to leave in in open tuning for Stones stuff.....or something with really hot, growly pickups.

Let it be said. Let it be done.

@tbone_ Are you using a QSC board as well? Also, really dig that case your mixer is in.

Thanks for that link. Going to have to pick that book up. Templeton has always intrigued me.

Where TF is our new guitar?

The tiles really tie the site together.

I agree with distortion pedal. Boss DS-1. Under $60 new, built like a tank.

Sumbitch. I was looking forward to our new guitar.

I love the way those mahogany guitars show wear. Great find!

Ain't that the truth. I never know what I'm looking at and their numbering system just pisses me off/confuses me. But I dig the look of that baby. That thing has been getting decent reviews. My try to go find one to test drive this weekend.

That first Del Amitri album is pop greatness.

Damn @Carl Spackler This could easily be my list. Hoodoo Gurus, Smithereens, Plimsouls, Los Lobos, REM, Crenshaw, Zevon, 'Mats are all favorites. Funny to me, Tom Petty is probably my all-time favorite artist, but I can never find room for any of his records on my lists. And I love and own them all.

He tries to have himself killed and they give a PR bond? What is the O/U on how much longer he is going to be alive. Maybe that is why the judge let him out.

Just look at his left hand in this little clip. THAT is a man who was completely dedicated.

It really hit me when different friends, from a few different friend groups, told me they were honestly worried about me. It was over a few months, but at some point it really started to hit me. Going to jail, waking up strange places, a couple of ER visits, not going home for days at a time, doctors' warnings.....none meant a fucking thing to me. But when a couple of coworkers mentioned it, then a couple of day drinking buddies, then even a couple of bartenders start telling you they are worried about it....it starts to make a dent. About a month ago, I stopped in to an old day drinking spot and told one of the bartenders THANKS for looking out for me. She had cut me off one time....just said, "I don't think that's a good idea". At the time, I remember thinking, "I must be really fucking up if she doesn't want to sell me and my new buddies here a few more cocktails". She kind of laughed at first, then started tearing up. She didn't remember it but told me it meant a lot to her that I told her about it.

I was hoping for so much more from that.

I must have been under the influence of something since I had two of the exact same guitars sitting in my living room.

She has nothing else going on. I imagine other folks have other gigs. But she is staying busy running around though.

Damn...when did she grow the Karl Malden nose?

Also, how weird that his name was pronounced EL-ick...not Alex, the way it is spell. Pretentious fucks.