I've been working a bit more this past couple of weeks, which has made running a bit more difficult. I've tried to keep it to at least 3 days a week, but I would prefer to get it back up to 4 or 5 days a week. My hasn't been improving like it had been; I think I've hit a wall in that regard. Speed was never really my goal, anyhow, so I'm not really frustrated or anything.
I made a template for my guitar's neck pocket, made a heel to match it, designed the neck from there and drew out a headstock. From there, I made a template for the headstock. Now I just need to make the neck template, route the body, make the neck, then proceed. I may toss up some pictures at some point, but I'm just so bad at photographing my projects....
Erin and I have seen a few movies lately... Inglourious Basterds was really really good, District 9 was also very good. 9, however, was disappointing (for me, at least). I felt that the story and animation were lacking. The concepts, however, were great...
There are a bunch of other movies I want to see, but a lot of them are too "scary" for Erin to watch...so I may have to wait until they're out on video or something, I guess.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
As I was going over the far-famed Kerry mountains
Another long time between posts...
I've been running at about the same pace (down as low as 13:20 for 1.96 miles...but usually around 13:30-13:50). Trying to run and ensure I do it at least 3-4 times a week. I've slipped a few times because work has been hectic and we've been swimming a lot on the weekends (because I like to swim at the bottom, my ears hurt and a few days later, I get sinus headaches...ear infection?). I'm happy with my weight and my exercise, though, so I'm just trying to keep it from feeling like a chore.
I've been reading quite a lot lately. Mostly Stephen King (I found that the Dark Tower series ended [well, it ended in 2004, but the last time I checked was way before then] and had always wanted to read it...so I've started that), but I also picked up one other book: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I was immediately drawn to the fact that the book appeared old. It was a hardback edition, and the dustjacket is a thin paper over plastic; the paper bends and gets distressed easily while the plastic gives it structure. The pages are also rough-cut. I knew immediately that it wasn't new because Half Price Books had 4 copies that appeared to be in nearly the same condition, but with different distressing on the sleeves (same type, but different locations). I opened the book to find that it was printed in 2004. I probably would have bought it anyway based solely on the cover (I have judged books by their covers since I began reading and it has almost never done me wrong), as it was a fantasy book (which is probably my favorite genre) but the little blurb on the inside cover sounded good, so I definitely had to pick it up. I'll try to remember to review it once I've read it (which might be after The Dark Tower...I'm a little more than halfway through book 2 of 7).
I've had some luck with guitar neck building. I think my processes and techniques are all in a row, except for fret slotting. I have an idea, but have been consumed with another project. Artie gave me a strat body a long time back (along with the neck I put on my thinline I built) but it was in pretty poor shape. The neck pocket is uneven and poorly cut, the trem route was NOWHERE NEAR being square with the centerline, but I painted it a really nice color... I've opted to patch the trem route with a bit of mahogany I picked up at WoodCraft. I will be installing a trem spring cover on the back like a strat (but it will have to be oversized to cover the patch, which I didn't paint) and I will install a Fender Mustang bridge/trem unit (primarily because it covers the patch on the front of the body. I'll probably wind up routing this one with a swimming pool route (so I can swap pups as I see fit) but I'm not getting too ahead of myself. The trem unit still needs to be routed. Once that's in place, I'll draw off a center line and figure out the neck pocket. Assuming I can make something work, I'll build a neck from my piece of ambrosia maple (probably 24" scale length or something a little smaller, just for fun and because I don't want to BUY a shortscale, but I've always wanted to at least try one out). I plan to install a black pickguard, maybe black pup covers and black knobs, but that might be too much black. We'll see.
I've been really tired the last few mornings, despite getting a decent number of hours of sleep. It's quite unfortunate.
I've been running at about the same pace (down as low as 13:20 for 1.96 miles...but usually around 13:30-13:50). Trying to run and ensure I do it at least 3-4 times a week. I've slipped a few times because work has been hectic and we've been swimming a lot on the weekends (because I like to swim at the bottom, my ears hurt and a few days later, I get sinus headaches...ear infection?). I'm happy with my weight and my exercise, though, so I'm just trying to keep it from feeling like a chore.
I've been reading quite a lot lately. Mostly Stephen King (I found that the Dark Tower series ended [well, it ended in 2004, but the last time I checked was way before then] and had always wanted to read it...so I've started that), but I also picked up one other book: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I was immediately drawn to the fact that the book appeared old. It was a hardback edition, and the dustjacket is a thin paper over plastic; the paper bends and gets distressed easily while the plastic gives it structure. The pages are also rough-cut. I knew immediately that it wasn't new because Half Price Books had 4 copies that appeared to be in nearly the same condition, but with different distressing on the sleeves (same type, but different locations). I opened the book to find that it was printed in 2004. I probably would have bought it anyway based solely on the cover (I have judged books by their covers since I began reading and it has almost never done me wrong), as it was a fantasy book (which is probably my favorite genre) but the little blurb on the inside cover sounded good, so I definitely had to pick it up. I'll try to remember to review it once I've read it (which might be after The Dark Tower...I'm a little more than halfway through book 2 of 7).
I've had some luck with guitar neck building. I think my processes and techniques are all in a row, except for fret slotting. I have an idea, but have been consumed with another project. Artie gave me a strat body a long time back (along with the neck I put on my thinline I built) but it was in pretty poor shape. The neck pocket is uneven and poorly cut, the trem route was NOWHERE NEAR being square with the centerline, but I painted it a really nice color... I've opted to patch the trem route with a bit of mahogany I picked up at WoodCraft. I will be installing a trem spring cover on the back like a strat (but it will have to be oversized to cover the patch, which I didn't paint) and I will install a Fender Mustang bridge/trem unit (primarily because it covers the patch on the front of the body. I'll probably wind up routing this one with a swimming pool route (so I can swap pups as I see fit) but I'm not getting too ahead of myself. The trem unit still needs to be routed. Once that's in place, I'll draw off a center line and figure out the neck pocket. Assuming I can make something work, I'll build a neck from my piece of ambrosia maple (probably 24" scale length or something a little smaller, just for fun and because I don't want to BUY a shortscale, but I've always wanted to at least try one out). I plan to install a black pickguard, maybe black pup covers and black knobs, but that might be too much black. We'll see.
I've been really tired the last few mornings, despite getting a decent number of hours of sleep. It's quite unfortunate.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
If I could open my mouth...
I haven't updated in over a month. Oh well.
Haven't really been up to that much. I've still been running. I've gotten my time down to below 14 minutes. I've also measured the distance and it is about 1.96 miles...not terrible.
Guitar building has been going slowly, and I still haven't done a "real" neck yet. I'm too worried of screwing up, I guess. I've got a stack of pine necks that I'm working on right now. So far, they're roughly cut to shape. I need to cut fret slots, drill some holes, plug the skunk stripe and sand a transition, also shape the fretboard. Then it's the part I really like: spokeshave! The fret slots are the only part I'm still worried about. I really need to figure that one out well...otherwise the whole thing is just pointless. I have a few ideas, but I might wind up spending some money to buy a fret miter box.
Work is fine. Our office moved to a mostly-cubicle environment from a mostly-office environment. In a way, it's nicer, because I have my own "space"...I used to share an office with another guy on the team; in another way, though, that space is less private (you can hear conversations from a few rows over with relative ease). However, the thing I really like is that our teams feel (to me, at least) a bit more cohesive. Not only do we sit in little cube areas, but the teams we interact with most tend to be in the areas bordering ours...so things feel a bit more effective, in that way. Plus, the new building is a lot nicer than the old one.
I think I had a sinus infection earlier this week, but I'm not sure. My sinuses just felt like hell and my nose was running clear junk for a few days. Then the sinus pressure eased and giant chunks of green stuff came out when I blew my nose. Now I'm better. Erin got sick right after I got better, though...but we're pretty sure hers was just allergies...her symptoms weren't the same or as severe as mine.
I'm getting my computer set up again. Fedora 11 is pretty sweet.
Haven't really been up to that much. I've still been running. I've gotten my time down to below 14 minutes. I've also measured the distance and it is about 1.96 miles...not terrible.
Guitar building has been going slowly, and I still haven't done a "real" neck yet. I'm too worried of screwing up, I guess. I've got a stack of pine necks that I'm working on right now. So far, they're roughly cut to shape. I need to cut fret slots, drill some holes, plug the skunk stripe and sand a transition, also shape the fretboard. Then it's the part I really like: spokeshave! The fret slots are the only part I'm still worried about. I really need to figure that one out well...otherwise the whole thing is just pointless. I have a few ideas, but I might wind up spending some money to buy a fret miter box.
Work is fine. Our office moved to a mostly-cubicle environment from a mostly-office environment. In a way, it's nicer, because I have my own "space"...I used to share an office with another guy on the team; in another way, though, that space is less private (you can hear conversations from a few rows over with relative ease). However, the thing I really like is that our teams feel (to me, at least) a bit more cohesive. Not only do we sit in little cube areas, but the teams we interact with most tend to be in the areas bordering ours...so things feel a bit more effective, in that way. Plus, the new building is a lot nicer than the old one.
I think I had a sinus infection earlier this week, but I'm not sure. My sinuses just felt like hell and my nose was running clear junk for a few days. Then the sinus pressure eased and giant chunks of green stuff came out when I blew my nose. Now I'm better. Erin got sick right after I got better, though...but we're pretty sure hers was just allergies...her symptoms weren't the same or as severe as mine.
I'm getting my computer set up again. Fedora 11 is pretty sweet.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
That's fine I'm barely alive
I got more jigs built. I just need to make my miter box for cutting fret slots...getting it absolutely square is proving to be some difficulty.
I'm running 2 miles in 14:30 or so...my best time is somewhere around 14:15...I think that is finally bottoming out. I've dropped down to around 170, so I guess that wasn't stopping like I thought.
I'm running 2 miles in 14:30 or so...my best time is somewhere around 14:15...I think that is finally bottoming out. I've dropped down to around 170, so I guess that wasn't stopping like I thought.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I thought I was getting something right
I got my phone last Thursday. Overall, I'm very pleased with the phone. The build quality is excellent, the hardware design is great, and the android OS is, given its relatively young age, very well developed. The only thing that I really wish that it had is a pdf viewer...but that will probably come in time. Having my email with me, as well as google maps (complete with gps support) are both very reassuring.
My running has bbeen going fairly steadily. I have been running 2 miles consistently under 15 minutes for a couple weeks now, I suppose. I'm not losing weight as fast as I had been; it is almost like I have levelled out...but that's not too bad. I'm just a bit shy of the initial goal of 175 that I had set, and it might still happen. I have definitely lost a pretty noticable amount of fat so far, so that is both good and encouraging.
Guitar stuff is progressing...albeit incredibly slowly...necks don't require a lot of jigs, but the ones that are required can be really unforgiving...
My running has bbeen going fairly steadily. I have been running 2 miles consistently under 15 minutes for a couple weeks now, I suppose. I'm not losing weight as fast as I had been; it is almost like I have levelled out...but that's not too bad. I'm just a bit shy of the initial goal of 175 that I had set, and it might still happen. I have definitely lost a pretty noticable amount of fat so far, so that is both good and encouraging.
Guitar stuff is progressing...albeit incredibly slowly...necks don't require a lot of jigs, but the ones that are required can be really unforgiving...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
You can't find nothing at all if there was nothing there all along
This title would have been more applicable to the previous post... oh well.
I made a better neck template for my next neck attempts. The first turned out okay, but was only meant to be a rough draft and ensure I have the steps in the most logical order. The next couple tries will be to fine-tune the individual steps and, ideally, I'll have a decent pine neck out of it all. I've also decided to go with the Stratocaster style curved neck pocket as opposed to the telecaster flat neck pocket. This is more difficult/ambitious, but I think I should be able to manage. One thing I'm a bit worried about is getting the neck to be perfectly symmetrical. My neck template isn't 100% symmetrical, but it's damn close. I've cut a pretty snug fitting neck pocket template, so I think I'm happy (for now).
I got my tax refund, and I'm going to use part of it to pay for the G1 phone. There is supposed to be a refresh of the phone in about 6 months, but I think the new design looks kind of dumb. Plus, I'm not certain about the availability of a developer version (read: totally unlocked, hardware and software). There is another phone coming to t-mobile that doesn't have a physical keyboard, but that's a lot of the reason I would never get an iPhone.
I'm also considering a oscillating spindle/edge sander. I'd need a shopvac for all the dust, though, because collecting it as it is generated is much easier than after.
I made a better neck template for my next neck attempts. The first turned out okay, but was only meant to be a rough draft and ensure I have the steps in the most logical order. The next couple tries will be to fine-tune the individual steps and, ideally, I'll have a decent pine neck out of it all. I've also decided to go with the Stratocaster style curved neck pocket as opposed to the telecaster flat neck pocket. This is more difficult/ambitious, but I think I should be able to manage. One thing I'm a bit worried about is getting the neck to be perfectly symmetrical. My neck template isn't 100% symmetrical, but it's damn close. I've cut a pretty snug fitting neck pocket template, so I think I'm happy (for now).
I got my tax refund, and I'm going to use part of it to pay for the G1 phone. There is supposed to be a refresh of the phone in about 6 months, but I think the new design looks kind of dumb. Plus, I'm not certain about the availability of a developer version (read: totally unlocked, hardware and software). There is another phone coming to t-mobile that doesn't have a physical keyboard, but that's a lot of the reason I would never get an iPhone.
I'm also considering a oscillating spindle/edge sander. I'd need a shopvac for all the dust, though, because collecting it as it is generated is much easier than after.
I am nothing of a builder
This entry is comprised of lots of complaining. Sorry.
Trip to Katy was balls. We drove to San Antonio to pick up a bunch of my brother's stuff first. That wasn't so bad. The drive there was about 1.5 hours, and it went by pretty quickly. We helped my brother get all his stuff into the back of my truck and left. That took about an hour or so. Then, we left for Katy. This drive is boring. I-10 is boring and there isn't shit to look at. We had a decent time, though, listening to music/talking/singing/whatever.
When we got to my parents' house, though, the crazy started. First, the driveway was full of all sorts of shit. We unloaded my truck and put it next to all of the shit. Then we looked through the three boxes of my stuff that was apparently not put into the trailer that got stolen. The boxes were: 1 box of socks, one box with a bunch of trophies I won when I was a kid, and a puppet, along with some assorted things. Of all the stuff I left behind when I moved out of my parents' house, the only things I wound up keeping were a set of french curves, some plastic triangles, a men's restroom sign I apparently stole at some point. There were also two 15W guitar amplifiers that seem to have magically appeared at the house; I didn't even own a guitar before I moved out...I had a bass and a bass amp, but those aren't in Katy.
The cards Erin and I hoped would be there are, apparently, yet another thing that were lost when the trailer got stolen. This is frustrating mostly due to the fact that 1) the cards and the books were probably my most prized possessions, but they were put into a trailer for storage 2) the trailer is NOT any sort of good storage location for any kind of paper products 3) my mom told me about a week ago that my closet was still largely as I left it when, in fact, it was 100% NOT the way I left it 4) my mom had LOADS of other crap she could have put into the trailer that wouldn't be susceptible to the elements (I found a box full of glass sculptures of weird shit like reclining cartoon frogs, for instance) 5) my mom had NO idea where anything of mine was placed. In addition to those three boxes, I had to look through a bunch of crap in the attic, my brother's closet, under my brother's bed, in the laundry room, in my parents' closet, and the garage. She's STILL not even sure if I looked through everything...there could still be other boxes...which, I guess, leaves me without closure.
Probably the only nice part about going to Katy was that we went to Raising Canes for lunch. I like that place.
Sunday, we walked to a store about 2 miles away and bought some cards. We should be able to start playing more interesting games fairly soon.
I wasn't feeling well yesterday (the worst headache of my life) and went home early. I slept for a while and felt better.
Trip to Katy was balls. We drove to San Antonio to pick up a bunch of my brother's stuff first. That wasn't so bad. The drive there was about 1.5 hours, and it went by pretty quickly. We helped my brother get all his stuff into the back of my truck and left. That took about an hour or so. Then, we left for Katy. This drive is boring. I-10 is boring and there isn't shit to look at. We had a decent time, though, listening to music/talking/singing/whatever.
When we got to my parents' house, though, the crazy started. First, the driveway was full of all sorts of shit. We unloaded my truck and put it next to all of the shit. Then we looked through the three boxes of my stuff that was apparently not put into the trailer that got stolen. The boxes were: 1 box of socks, one box with a bunch of trophies I won when I was a kid, and a puppet, along with some assorted things. Of all the stuff I left behind when I moved out of my parents' house, the only things I wound up keeping were a set of french curves, some plastic triangles, a men's restroom sign I apparently stole at some point. There were also two 15W guitar amplifiers that seem to have magically appeared at the house; I didn't even own a guitar before I moved out...I had a bass and a bass amp, but those aren't in Katy.
The cards Erin and I hoped would be there are, apparently, yet another thing that were lost when the trailer got stolen. This is frustrating mostly due to the fact that 1) the cards and the books were probably my most prized possessions, but they were put into a trailer for storage 2) the trailer is NOT any sort of good storage location for any kind of paper products 3) my mom told me about a week ago that my closet was still largely as I left it when, in fact, it was 100% NOT the way I left it 4) my mom had LOADS of other crap she could have put into the trailer that wouldn't be susceptible to the elements (I found a box full of glass sculptures of weird shit like reclining cartoon frogs, for instance) 5) my mom had NO idea where anything of mine was placed. In addition to those three boxes, I had to look through a bunch of crap in the attic, my brother's closet, under my brother's bed, in the laundry room, in my parents' closet, and the garage. She's STILL not even sure if I looked through everything...there could still be other boxes...which, I guess, leaves me without closure.
Probably the only nice part about going to Katy was that we went to Raising Canes for lunch. I like that place.
Sunday, we walked to a store about 2 miles away and bought some cards. We should be able to start playing more interesting games fairly soon.
I wasn't feeling well yesterday (the worst headache of my life) and went home early. I slept for a while and felt better.
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