coda update

I'm already contemplating a redesign for coda, and this one is only a few weeks old! The fact is, I've been sitting on a personal domain for a few years now and am finally (possibly) getting the courage to use it to showcase my work. An online resume, so to speak. Since I'm in the process of typing every poem and lyric I've ever written (30+ so far and I've still got a stack of papers left!), I will likely put the "best" on my new site to showcase. Once we're done filming Legion I'll likely put a link to that as well as any future movies Craig and I do. Speaking of future movies, I'm considering turning one of my short stories into a screenplay for a short film. Hopefully if I can write it convincing enough, Craig will want to film it.

As for this blog, I've deleted all of my gaming-related entries. Gaming has kind of taken a backseat to my 'life' (or lack thereof) lately and I can't really say I'm disappointed. Right now, I really don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I kinda saw this coming, so it really wasn't that big of a shock. I feel I'm at a time in my life where I need to make a change. I'm tired of working a 9-5 job and never envisioned that for myself. I think if I don't get out of this rut I'll go crazy. Getting back in touch with my creative side and learning piano are nice first steps.

Once I get my site built, I am considering keeping this blog and incorporating it into my overall site. If for nothing else than to use it as a place to get feedback on my work and to give small tidbits of info (info too small for an announcement on my homepage) of what I've been up to.

Gaming Blues

I walked into a game store today to kill a few minutes before our movie started (we went to see "Vacancy" starring my girl crush, Kate Beckinsale) and I have never been more uninterested in being in a game store than I was at that moment. I know it's because all I've thought about lately is music and my writing and because I haven't had the desire to touch a game in weeks, but it was still a very odd moment.

Dog Bite = No Piano

Last Saturday I was trying to get something away from my 4 month old Lab puppy and unintentionally, he chewed into my left index finger like a piece of meat. Ouch. It was a gusher, too. On Monday I went to get a Tetanus shot and boy was that a ride. In a nutshell, the shot made me sick for the next two days: fever, body aches, headache, and vomiting. The shot, which was supposed to be a precaution from any infection a bite from a dog might incur was 10x worse than the actual bite. But I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. Ryker, the aforementioned puppy here, puts everything in hs mouth. Just last week I caught him with a dead mouse. Sure, the shot was justified. I'm just ticked that it's interfering with my piano practicing. Heck, even typing is a chore with only 9 fingers. But that's life. And I still love my Ryker.

Purely Logic

So, Craig is working on the pre-production of his short film, Legion, and I'm helping with what I can. I'm co-writing the script (mainly the dialog); I have a small part in the film; during shooting, my roll will become Script Supervisor (basically, the person in charge of continuity and following the script); and I'm also planning on composing the musical score for the film.

It's that last part that has me terrified. Yet excited. I bought a really awesome professional program called Logic Express 7 that I'll use to compose the score - on, get this, my Mac Powerbook. Yes, I can mix music on my personal notebook computer as if I were in a professional recording studio. Technology has really pushed the boundaries of music production. And things couldn't be easier with a Macintosh.

The only limitations I've encountered thus far are screen real estate, harddrive space, and now RAM. I've loved my 12" PowerBook for the 1 1/2 years I've had it and it's been more machine than I could ever take advantage of. But now that I'm getting into more intensive work with song mixing (video editors can relate), I need a wider, bigger, and faster machine. So, I'm looking at the 15" MacBook Pro's. These babies are sahweet.

Two Tempos

I accomplished my first major feat in my piano playing last night - keeping two different tempos, one with each hand.

Sunday when I first turned to this lesson in my book and attempted it, I was freaked. It wasn't clicking. And it sort of scared me to the point that I wondered if I could continue. Thankfully, when I tried again last night, I nailed it. I took one note at a time, playing very slowly, until I felt confident enough to speed it up a little. This is huge for me. It's like breathing for the first time. It feels so rewarding to conquer such an important part of what it means to play an instrument. I've still got a long way to go, but I once again have the confidence to do it.

 Time for a 'cool change'. This blog started out as a way for me to express myself regarding my main hobby of gaming, but I found I really didn't use it the way I had imagined. Rather than totally do away with it, I opted for a facelift. I'm giving "unreal mentality" a polite sendoff and "coda" a friendly nod hello as of this entry.

I like the name. I always tend to make things my own by some sort of customization, so not only does it fit my current musical mood but it also sums me up quite nicely. coda is about my passion for music and writing with a splash of other hobbies mixed in, too. Those other hobbies often include gaming and motorcycling, but entries won't be limited to only those topics. And I'm not totally abandoning gaming; I've added links to all of my reviews in the left column and my "Because I Game" section is still around, too.

Speaking of music, I promised I'd make more frequent updates on my piano playing progress, so here goes. After a little over a month of playing (off and on, I don't play every day) I have learned three chords: C Major, G7, and F Major. It may not seem like much to a seasoned veteran, but it's a huge feat for me. I can't believe how soothing it is to play. And I never would have imagined it would come so naturally. I guess I get it honestly, as my Grandmother is a terrific pianist.

coda-ized

Time for a 'cool change'. This blog started out as a way for me to express myself regarding my main hobby of gaming, but I found I really didn't use it the way I had imagined. Rather than totally do away with it, I opted for a facelift. I'm giving "unreal mentality" a polite sendoff and "coda" a friendly nod hello as of this entry.

I like the name. I always tend to make things my own by some sort of customization, so not only does it fit my current musical mood but it also sums me up quite nicely. coda is about my passion for music and writing with a splash of other hobbies mixed in, too. Those other hobbies often include gaming and motorcycling, but entries won't be limited to only those topics. And I'm not totally abandoning gaming; I've added links to all of my reviews in the left column and my "Because I Game" section is still around, too.

Speaking of music, I promised I'd make more frequent updates on my piano playing progress, so here goes. After a little over a month of playing (off and on, I don't play every day) I have learned three chords: C Major, G7, and F Major. It may not seem like much to a seasoned veteran, but it's a huge feat for me. I can't believe how soothing it is to play. And I never would have imagined it would come so naturally. I guess I get it honestly, as my Grandmother is a terrific pianist.