This is my first post in a while, so I’ll try to update you, gentle readers, on everything of note that’s taken place lately. It’s still uncommonly snowy and (worse) icy here in Fayetteville, but I’m finally getting used to it. Our trip to Dallas to visit Vicki was snowed out as a result of it. But Vicki is going to try to visit us on the 26th for the Nancy show (our first headliner).
Christmas was very good to me this year. Two tech-presents of note are the Palm IIIxe (thanks Vicki) and the Midiman Audio Buddy (thanks Gina). The Palm is an electronic organizer (you knew that). So far I’m using it for my calendar and todo list, though I’d like to find an etext reader for it so I’m never without a book. The Audio Buddy is a two-channel preamp for use with digital audio. I’m going to use it mainly to get music I play on my bass into my laptop (and into Acid Pro) without having to mic a cab. This means I don’t need a decent mic and I can record in the middle of the night w/o offending anyone. There was lots of other cool stuff under the tree, but I’ve tested your patience already.
I visited my father over the holidays and he seems less and less able to function. Just following (even in the most abstract way) a conversation is getting to be very difficult for him. I fear that he won’t be able to live on his own, even with assistance, much longer. On the good side, when he was tuned in to his surroundings, he seemed in uncommonly good spirits and even cracked one of his corny jokes. :)
My first show with Nancy went very well. Many people commented that it was good to see me back on stage, and I enjoyed being there. We’re in the process of getting some files into mp3 format for the web page, so you’ll be able to hear them soon. I’m also working on converting some samples of work I’ve done with other bands to mp3 (which, in most cases, requires lifting it from cassette). That’s non-priority, but I’ll do it eventually.
Our server problems at work are over for the moment and things are much faster as a result of the server rebuild and the new Samba setup. Now I can start working on PHP again, I hope, but now w/o getting a new backup system going first (…pausing to add this to my todo list). I’m going to get the tape backup to do automated backups of the most important files and try using weekly (or daily) CD-ROM backups for the rest. We don’t have that much stuff on our server, so this should work. But, since I’m on holiday, I’m trying to keep my mind off work. So that’s all I’ll say about it.