Friday, March 30, 2007
Last night we went to the studio; left at quarter to three, got back at quarter to 11 or so. We couldn't bring the bass in the car so we brought my electric bass and Nathan was going to play that for the guide track, then come in later with the upright bass and put his track down over it. All was well, after a few mistakes that caused us to have to restart the recording, until the string on the bass popped! I've never broken a string on it and I've never changed them. They must have been 7-10 years old, so I'm not really that surprised. So we did the rest of the guide track without the bass and Nathan will still have to come in later and record his bass part.
For those of you who may be wondering what a guide track is: We go into the studio with all of our instruments that we'll be using and all of the vocals. Then, playing into one or two mics we play through the entire song at the speed we're going to record at with any cues counted out loud or clapped. Then we go back into the studio one at a time, generally beginning with the rhythm or bass, and record each instrument separately while listening in the headphones to the guide track. Then each individual track is put together and mixed down.
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I found a bodyfat calculator online. I don't think it can be as accurate as calipers, but seeing as I don't have any calipers I think it might be an acceptable substitute - at least to record changes overall. I won't tell you where I came in ;)
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Six Hairific Months Without Shampoo (their title, not mine). Basically a woman stopped overwashing her hair :P Really, I think a lot of people over wash. Six months might be a little long, but seriously I know people who wash once a week or so and have beautiful hair. Think of how the body reacts to being dried out. It, being the well designed body it is, tries to compensate for that by producing more oils (unless you have a deficiency). So if you're washing your hair with shampoos (that all pretty much have two cleansers in them, a derivative of lauryl sulfate. Check out the cheap and expensive shampoos, almost every one is based on that) every day, you're going to dry out your scalp which in turn is going to produce more oil to replace what you've been stripping off your hair. I've gone through periods where I washed my hair with conditioner only every 3-4 days and my hair was just fine. Now I'm using shampoo because of the lack of an abundance of water on the bus and I really feel like I have to wash every other day. Ok ok! No more hair talk. For today :D
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And today I have two recipes and two pictures!
Whole Wheat Bread
4 - 4 1/3 C whole wheat flour
2 packages yeast (I used 3 teaspoons)
1 3/4 C milk (I used water)
1/3 C brown sugar (I used 3 tablespoons)
2 T. butter
2 tsp salt
Now for this variation I made, I soaked about 1/2 cup of wheat grains overnight in hot water (just pour hot water over them and cover overnight). Then after I kneaded the bread I kneaded in the seeds.
Mix together 2 cups flour with the yeast in a big bowl. Mix together milk (or water), brown sugar, salt, and butter together and heat till just warm. Then mix this mixture in with the flour and yeast, beat for about a minute, then add enough flour by hand to make a moderately stiff dough (not too stiff). If it's sticky add a little flour while you're kneading. Knead it for 10-15 minutes, or until it stretches fairly thin when stretched between your thumbs and index fingers. Let rise until doubled (about an hour and a half). Punch down, let rest 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 375. Form into loaf and place in pan. Bake 30-35 minutes (I tried 32 minutes and it got a little browner than I wanted it.) Remove from pan a cool a little before slicing.
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Muffins! I made up the dry ingredients the night before and then mixed the wet ingredients in the next morning. This recipe makes 24. Don't think I'm stating the obvious, but if you cut it in half it makes 12 :D
Chocolate Chip Muffins
2 C white flour
1 C whole wheat flour (or you can use 100% white flour, or more whole wheat.)
1 C sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
Mix together dry ingredients and if you want to make this up ahead of time, put in a bag or a container and put a piece of paper in with the following ingredients to add:
2 eggs
2 cups water (or milk)
1 stick butter, melted
1 - 1 1/2 C chocolate chips (I didn't measure, I just chopped up a few leftover bars of dark chocolate and mixed them in, more or less to your taste)
Mix together until just mixed. Spoon into greased muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes (I didn't time them, the book I got the recipe from that I altered said 20-25 minutes but I don't want you to burn them either.) Immediately remove from muffin tins and try to eat warm (they're always better warm!).
For those of you who may be wondering what a guide track is: We go into the studio with all of our instruments that we'll be using and all of the vocals. Then, playing into one or two mics we play through the entire song at the speed we're going to record at with any cues counted out loud or clapped. Then we go back into the studio one at a time, generally beginning with the rhythm or bass, and record each instrument separately while listening in the headphones to the guide track. Then each individual track is put together and mixed down.
__________________________
I found a bodyfat calculator online. I don't think it can be as accurate as calipers, but seeing as I don't have any calipers I think it might be an acceptable substitute - at least to record changes overall. I won't tell you where I came in ;)
__________________________
Six Hairific Months Without Shampoo (their title, not mine). Basically a woman stopped overwashing her hair :P Really, I think a lot of people over wash. Six months might be a little long, but seriously I know people who wash once a week or so and have beautiful hair. Think of how the body reacts to being dried out. It, being the well designed body it is, tries to compensate for that by producing more oils (unless you have a deficiency). So if you're washing your hair with shampoos (that all pretty much have two cleansers in them, a derivative of lauryl sulfate. Check out the cheap and expensive shampoos, almost every one is based on that) every day, you're going to dry out your scalp which in turn is going to produce more oil to replace what you've been stripping off your hair. I've gone through periods where I washed my hair with conditioner only every 3-4 days and my hair was just fine. Now I'm using shampoo because of the lack of an abundance of water on the bus and I really feel like I have to wash every other day. Ok ok! No more hair talk. For today :D
___________________________________
And today I have two recipes and two pictures!
Whole Wheat Bread
4 - 4 1/3 C whole wheat flour
2 packages yeast (I used 3 teaspoons)
1 3/4 C milk (I used water)
1/3 C brown sugar (I used 3 tablespoons)
2 T. butter
2 tsp salt
Now for this variation I made, I soaked about 1/2 cup of wheat grains overnight in hot water (just pour hot water over them and cover overnight). Then after I kneaded the bread I kneaded in the seeds.
Mix together 2 cups flour with the yeast in a big bowl. Mix together milk (or water), brown sugar, salt, and butter together and heat till just warm. Then mix this mixture in with the flour and yeast, beat for about a minute, then add enough flour by hand to make a moderately stiff dough (not too stiff). If it's sticky add a little flour while you're kneading. Knead it for 10-15 minutes, or until it stretches fairly thin when stretched between your thumbs and index fingers. Let rise until doubled (about an hour and a half). Punch down, let rest 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 375. Form into loaf and place in pan. Bake 30-35 minutes (I tried 32 minutes and it got a little browner than I wanted it.) Remove from pan a cool a little before slicing.
____________________________
Muffins! I made up the dry ingredients the night before and then mixed the wet ingredients in the next morning. This recipe makes 24. Don't think I'm stating the obvious, but if you cut it in half it makes 12 :D
Chocolate Chip Muffins
2 C white flour
1 C whole wheat flour (or you can use 100% white flour, or more whole wheat.)
1 C sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
Mix together dry ingredients and if you want to make this up ahead of time, put in a bag or a container and put a piece of paper in with the following ingredients to add:
2 eggs
2 cups water (or milk)
1 stick butter, melted
1 - 1 1/2 C chocolate chips (I didn't measure, I just chopped up a few leftover bars of dark chocolate and mixed them in, more or less to your taste)
Mix together until just mixed. Spoon into greased muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes (I didn't time them, the book I got the recipe from that I altered said 20-25 minutes but I don't want you to burn them either.) Immediately remove from muffin tins and try to eat warm (they're always better warm!).
Labels: exercise, music, recipes
Thursday, March 29, 2007
I don't have time today for a long post, got up at 7am this morning and have almost been literally on one task or another (on my to-do list) for the whole time since then.
I found this link while I was asking a question on a forum (it was on my to-do list!). It's a slide show of unusual pictures. Not the kind you laugh uproarously about, but possibly slightly gasp, draw in breath, or chuckle about.
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I think I'm going to start playing trumpet again. I play at concerts all the time, but I never really PLAY. I miss it! I practiced today for a few minutes and it felt great. Just like old times :) Not to mention, I heard the community band I play in is playing with the Marine Band from Louisiana this summer! I had forgotten about band and I really do need my chops in better shape. I'm practicing on my guitar piece too and it's really kind of fun now that I'm able to play it without stumbling a lot. The hours of "make-things-up-and-practice-till-your-ears-hurt" practice are behind me for this piece, I think. Maybe I'll make little additions or revamp little parts of it, but I'm much more comfortable with the whole thing now.
__________________________
I started planting some seeds today. The soil I took in from our buckets of compost outside were so dry that it wouldn't absorb the water I poured on it. It was very frustrating to stir all 96 little pots (egg trays) trying to get the water to mix with the dirt. I'm going to leave it overnight and spray it with a spritzer and hopefully it'll be ready for seeds tomorrow.
___________________________
Off to finish some more things on my to-do list till I have to go and leave for the studio (from which I won't get back till late tonight :( But it's good, because we need to do this and it's a great opportunity to have this guy record for us. I'm very grateful for his skill and willingness. Besides, if I'm at the studio I won't be so tempted to snack on bad food ;)
I found this link while I was asking a question on a forum (it was on my to-do list!). It's a slide show of unusual pictures. Not the kind you laugh uproarously about, but possibly slightly gasp, draw in breath, or chuckle about.
_________________________
I think I'm going to start playing trumpet again. I play at concerts all the time, but I never really PLAY. I miss it! I practiced today for a few minutes and it felt great. Just like old times :) Not to mention, I heard the community band I play in is playing with the Marine Band from Louisiana this summer! I had forgotten about band and I really do need my chops in better shape. I'm practicing on my guitar piece too and it's really kind of fun now that I'm able to play it without stumbling a lot. The hours of "make-things-up-and-practice-till-your-ears-hurt" practice are behind me for this piece, I think. Maybe I'll make little additions or revamp little parts of it, but I'm much more comfortable with the whole thing now.
__________________________
I started planting some seeds today. The soil I took in from our buckets of compost outside were so dry that it wouldn't absorb the water I poured on it. It was very frustrating to stir all 96 little pots (egg trays) trying to get the water to mix with the dirt. I'm going to leave it overnight and spray it with a spritzer and hopefully it'll be ready for seeds tomorrow.
___________________________
Off to finish some more things on my to-do list till I have to go and leave for the studio (from which I won't get back till late tonight :( But it's good, because we need to do this and it's a great opportunity to have this guy record for us. I'm very grateful for his skill and willingness. Besides, if I'm at the studio I won't be so tempted to snack on bad food ;)
Labels: music
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Hoooowdy from North Carolina, our current location. We'll be here a few more days then it's off to Florida.
First off, since I found out there's homefolk reading this, Hi the LeBlancs, Marshalls, Theriaults, and especially Mrs. Dickenson :D And howdy whoever else I missed.
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Life on the road has been good. The hardest thing is to keep my big huge bag from lying on my legs when I go to sleep. I think I need to rig up something on the ceiling of my bunk to keep my bags UP away from me. I should have brought less, but it's so hard to know what you'll need for 9 weeks. Sometimes I find I have too much of one thing and I absolutely run out of something else. It's been fun, going down the road picking in the front next to dad (nice little niche in the stairwell of the bus to pick a guitar). Everyone else seems to have caught on to jamming in the bus and usually there are a few people practicing at once.
_____________
I botched all of my solos today. I feel like a "B" musician. I haven't prepared well enough. I think I'm going to have to stop improvising solos for now. It's too unpredictable and usually I end up with a boring sounding, blotchy, sputtering solo. Don't I paint wonderful pictures :)
First off, since I found out there's homefolk reading this, Hi the LeBlancs, Marshalls, Theriaults, and especially Mrs. Dickenson :D And howdy whoever else I missed.
________
Life on the road has been good. The hardest thing is to keep my big huge bag from lying on my legs when I go to sleep. I think I need to rig up something on the ceiling of my bunk to keep my bags UP away from me. I should have brought less, but it's so hard to know what you'll need for 9 weeks. Sometimes I find I have too much of one thing and I absolutely run out of something else. It's been fun, going down the road picking in the front next to dad (nice little niche in the stairwell of the bus to pick a guitar). Everyone else seems to have caught on to jamming in the bus and usually there are a few people practicing at once.
_____________
I botched all of my solos today. I feel like a "B" musician. I haven't prepared well enough. I think I'm going to have to stop improvising solos for now. It's too unpredictable and usually I end up with a boring sounding, blotchy, sputtering solo. Don't I paint wonderful pictures :)
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I just worked my next-to-last work day before we leave for the south! I haven't packed at all yet. I haven't even got my bunk made up. I'll tell you another time if I'm a procrastinator or not...
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We will be in NC, FL, and TX mostly I believe. Here is our schedule for people who would like to see if there's one near them, or who are just curious as to where we'll be.
As internet access pops up on the road, I will hopefully be able to update with what we're up to along with some pictures.
____________
Tonight we are going to discover how well we know our new bluegrass tunes. We've been working on some new ones and have been (surprise surprise) PRACTICING! I was thinking it'd be awfully fun to just record them in my room with the multitracking software, then we could critique it all before we go to the studio with them. With just a few days left, though, I dunno if I'll get around to it.
___________
We will be in NC, FL, and TX mostly I believe. Here is our schedule for people who would like to see if there's one near them, or who are just curious as to where we'll be.
As internet access pops up on the road, I will hopefully be able to update with what we're up to along with some pictures.
____________
Tonight we are going to discover how well we know our new bluegrass tunes. We've been working on some new ones and have been (surprise surprise) PRACTICING! I was thinking it'd be awfully fun to just record them in my room with the multitracking software, then we could critique it all before we go to the studio with them. With just a few days left, though, I dunno if I'll get around to it.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
This is the third time I've rewritten this paragraph. I'm having a pretty indecisive day.
Do I mention the C word, or do I avoid it? Are my readers going to be insulted I didn't write an expose, or are they going to be insulted that I didn't rave in its favor? Please don't celebrate the world's "x-mas". Don't have idols. Don't serve money or earthly goods. Don't lie to your kids. Don't engage yourself in gluttony. Whatever you do today, tomorrow, or next week, do as unto the Lord. That pretty much sums it up!
___________________________
This afternoon I had some time to record something.
Silent Night. Yes, I do sing out of tune and the thing is filled with glitches. However I hope that if you find anything nice in it you'll not thank me, but thank God for all He's given, including the ears that you hear the music with.
Have a wonderful, blessed day tomorrow!
Do I mention the C word, or do I avoid it? Are my readers going to be insulted I didn't write an expose, or are they going to be insulted that I didn't rave in its favor? Please don't celebrate the world's "x-mas". Don't have idols. Don't serve money or earthly goods. Don't lie to your kids. Don't engage yourself in gluttony. Whatever you do today, tomorrow, or next week, do as unto the Lord. That pretty much sums it up!
___________________________
This afternoon I had some time to record something.
Silent Night. Yes, I do sing out of tune and the thing is filled with glitches. However I hope that if you find anything nice in it you'll not thank me, but thank God for all He's given, including the ears that you hear the music with.
Have a wonderful, blessed day tomorrow!
Labels: Christian walk, music
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Mock The Devil: U2, Christian?
This is disturbing.
And so is this:
"The sanctuary at Christ Church Evangelical Covenant looked more like the stage for a rock concert than a traditional church altar on a recent Sunday night.
...Axtmann, who gave the sermon at Sanctuary that Sunday, says young people are natural skeptics, and have difficulty accepting the absolute truths the church traditionally promotes. Through art and music, young people can appeal to the beauty and mystery of religion and the truth can come later, Axtmann says....The rules were simple: There are no rules..."
Excerpt from Religion on Campus Project.
This is disturbing.
And so is this:
"The sanctuary at Christ Church Evangelical Covenant looked more like the stage for a rock concert than a traditional church altar on a recent Sunday night.
...Axtmann, who gave the sermon at Sanctuary that Sunday, says young people are natural skeptics, and have difficulty accepting the absolute truths the church traditionally promotes. Through art and music, young people can appeal to the beauty and mystery of religion and the truth can come later, Axtmann says....The rules were simple: There are no rules..."
Excerpt from Religion on Campus Project.
Labels: Christian walk, music
