Preparations.
I dragged out the Axe (the one Rob picked out for me and played over the phone) on Sunday to make sure I remembere how to play it.
So, now here I am reading blogs (and now writing this drivel) when I promised myself I would put new strings on Mr. Guitar tonight so they can get all that stretching out of their systems before I get to Austin on Friday. New strings sound great, but they are a pain in the ass until they get themselves comfortable.
I’m also supposed to be gathering up the duds I want to bring along. Problem is that neither I nor my “wardrobe” is prepared at this time for “seriously farookin’ hot”.  Shoe suggested that we all bring a lid and some sunscreen. I have a bunch of lids, which I wear (one at a time, of course) when I go walking in the mornings, which is always followed by a shower, and who cares about hathead in the shower. I’ll bring one along anyway, potential hathead notwithstanding. It is, however, a damned shame to cover this great farookin’ hair with a lid.
Speaking of hats, I’m hoping I get to see some folks wearing cowboy hats. We don’t see much of that in Jersey, and when we do, it just looks dumb. In Jersey, if you plan on strutting your shit in a cowboy hat, you’d better know how to fight. Imagine one of Tony Soprano’s crew, say Paulie Walnuts, showing up in the Bada-Bing sporting a cowboy hat?
Truth is, I’d love to wear a cowboy hat, but every time I try one on I look like a Jewish dentist named “Mel” trying pitifully to look like a cowboy. Besides, I’m a negotiator, not a fighter.
I’m looking forward to seeing some of the reprobates fine peeps I have met at previous blogmeets and with whom I have become friends over the past couple years. I am also stoked about meeting some bloggers whose stuff I have been reading for some time, but whom have not yet met. Finally there will be bloggers there whose sites I have only recently discovered, and I’m looking forward to meeting them too. Bloggers are real easy to like.
I’ve been to a few of these events now, and one thing is for shit sure. There are never, ever, ever any awkward moments of silence. In fact, there is never ANY silence. Bloggers are, by their nature, blabbermouths.
I had better get busy with those strings**.Â
Later.
** For those of you who care about such things, they are Martin Extended Life SP+ Light Gauge, Bronze. I’ve always used plain old Martin light gauge strings, but Willy (from whom I bought the guitar) recommended these, so I figure they gotta be good.
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“seriously farookin’ hotâ€.
HOT? You ain’t even comin’ near HOT. The weather forecast for Austin this weekend has highs in the 80’s, lows in the 60’s, which is positively balmy for this part of the country. HOT doesn’t show up for another month or so, when it’s near 100 every day, and near 90 all night, and the franken sun shines right through you. But do wear that hat–for whatever reason, the sunshine STICKS here.
Comment by Mike Anderson — April 27, 2006 @ 7:53 am
“Speaking of hats, I’m hoping I get to see some folks wearing cowboy hats. We don’t see much of that in Jersey, and when we do, it just looks dumb. In Jersey, if you plan on strutting your shit in a cowboy hat, you’d better know how to fight.”
Wow, I’m really shocked by this statement. I live in Jersey and I see at least one person in a cowboy hat per day-probably more, I’ve never counted. Oh and none of these people look dumb. Just so you know, the entire state is not like a Soprano’s episode. When I wear one of my cowboy hats, I do not have to fight nor do I look stupid.
Comment by wonderingnj — April 27, 2006 @ 1:13 pm
That’s funny, I live in Texas (very near San Antonio), rarely see anyone in a cowboy hat and when I do, they generally look funny…
Just sayin’.
; )
Comment by Chrissy — April 27, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
… I can bring that viking helmet hat-thinggy if you want, Jimbo…
Comment by Eric — April 27, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
WonderingNJ,
No offense intended. I’m sure you look very nice in your cowboy lid. I guess I don’t get to the part of the state were you live (wherever that may be) often enough. The wearing of a cowboy hat in the part of the state where I live (which is rather like a Sopranos episode) would look decidedly out of place.
Comment by Jim — April 27, 2006 @ 3:33 pm
Zarqawi: ‘What Is Coming Is Even Worse’
I guess this is why we fight…
Comment by fer — April 27, 2006 @ 4:26 pm
I think 80 degrees is perfect for sombrero wearing
Comment by armywifetoddlermom — April 27, 2006 @ 4:53 pm
Enjoy the trip!
Comment by Lisa W. — April 27, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
Jim –
When I tech, I find that you can significantly cut back on string problems, even changing on the fly, by stretching the strings several times when you put them on.
1. Put the new string on.
2. Tune
3. Stretch the string manually at several frets along the neck.
4. Re-tune.
5. Repeat 3 and 4 until the string stays in tune after being stretched.
A little something I learned in a guitar shop one day.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Comment by RightWingRocker — April 27, 2006 @ 5:28 pm
Jim,
There’s (or was)a little place in the Manville area where you’d look pretty stupid without a cowboy hat.
Also down around Woodstown, where rodeo is actually still popular, you’re pretty likely to see a lot of them.
RWR
Comment by RightWingRocker — April 27, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
No offense taken Jim, just wanted to point out that those areas do still exist here. RWR has it right, I live fairly near enough to Woodstown. I hope my original post didn’t come off too cranky.
Comment by wonderingnj — April 27, 2006 @ 10:08 pm
Jim, I live where you live. If I see a cowboy hat here in RB, I think I have a brain tumor.
Hope you have a good time and are able to add to your list of “Bloggers Met” – the longest
such list I have ever seen. What’s up with the comment box here, by the way? I’m typing off
to the right and it just keeps disappearing . . .
Comment by Shamrock — April 27, 2006 @ 10:11 pm