Pickabar Blog

I woke up extremely early this morning when a basketball somehow forced my closet door open. I sat straight up the moment I heard the loud bang and then a moment later I rolled over and stuck my arm under my bed to grab my trusty baseball bat. I took a moment to feel proud of my instinctual reaction and then I jumped to my feat empty handed. The bat wasn’t in it’s normal place.

I walked into the living room distinctly less brave than I would have been with the bat. After a few moments, perhaps quite a few moments due to my being only partially awake, I sighed heavily and turned back to bed. On my way to the bedroom, I kicked the basketball…hey, we have a basketball?…and identified the ruthless burgular.

I went back to bed, flipped on the TV and proceeded to watch some French movie called Backstage. Entertaining, but not nearly as restful as a couple of hours of more sleep would have been.

Then, as if in some marketer’s wet dream, the image of a Guitar Center ad filled my mind. “Black Friday Sale at Guitar Center!”, I thought. “Today’s the day for me to grab a better amp, maybe some extra strings, I may need a new cable…wait.”

At that point I thought back to Tuesday after band practice. For the thousandth time, I had heard someone with a natural gift for communicating use the very same musical tools I’m always looking to improve to make beautiful music. I need to remember that message. I don’t need to spend any more money on musical stuff.

Ok, maybe I’ll still grab somethng silly once in a while for fun. I don’t need to though. I need to learn how to do that E to B chord change neatly so I can impress Elizabeth.

I wound up not buying anything and that felt pretty good.

I posted previously about the lack of vista drivers for my Tascam US-122 external soundcard. The soundcard worked in my DAW (Cakewalk Home Studio 6) without WDM drivers, but the card couldn’t be used by standard programs. Well, it seems like Tascam has finally gotten their act together and released drivers for the US-122. The drivers work great and I’m now able to use the card with programs like Audacity. Nice!

This was an especially unexpected turn of good luck since the US-122 has been replaced by the new US-122L model. I was fully expecting to either never get working drivers or to have to hack the drivers for the US-122L.

Cool!

No, I’m not suggesting you go buy a new pair of dunks.

I mean, there’s probably something you’re thinking about doing. Maybe doing it is scary, because it challenges how you see yourself, or how others see you. Maybe the thing you want to do is frowned upon by clergy, politicians or other old people whose opinions shouldn’t even matter. Maybe you’re waiting for the golden key, the magic flute, the missing statue’s hand, the special lucky day or something else that’s never going to appear. Maybe you’re waiting until you’ve had enough time to meditate, debate, dialogue, chant, pray or read the tea leaves. Maybe you’re just plain scared. Who cares. Leap.

Every single regret I’ve had has been because I stood at the edge and didn’t jump. Every single one. Every time I’ve actually had the courage to leapt I’ve embraced the end results of my choices without fear or regret. It’s just the edge that’s scary. Don’t let it be a barrier between you and the life you envision for yourself.

Look over the edge and imagine the worst thing that could happen. The worst possible thing. Not that bad is it? Then imagine the best thing that can happen. It’s worth the risk, isn’t it? If you’re ok with both, gird your loins, spit over your shoulder and dive in.

Every day I get a little bit older, a little bit more cocky, and I realize even more how short life is. We don’t have time to hem and haw, people. Make it happen. Live the life you want to live.

On second thought, buy that new pair of sneakers. You can’t take the money with you, and if you get hit by a car today at least your body will have dope kicks on.

Speak the truth to power. If the captain doesn’t like hearing that there’s an iceberg up ahead, find a new boat to row on.

Have one more drink. Hangovers build character and you’ll never know who you’ll meet.

Take off your clothes, wrap it up for safety and enjoy the dance. Morality is mainly an excuse for repressed people to make open people feel as bad as they do.

Get on that stage, take a deep breath and show everyone you’re a superstar.

The point I’m trying to make is I’m ready to do some open mics. I’m a little scared, but I’m jumping.

No, I’m not suggesting you go buy a new pair of dunks.

I mean, there’s probably something you’re thinking about doing. Maybe doing it is scary, because it challenges how you see yourself, or how others see you. Maybe the thing you want to do is frowned upon by clergy, politicians or other old people whose opinions shouldn’t even matter. Maybe you’re waiting for the golden key, the magic flute, the missing statue’s hand, the special lucky day or something else that’s never going to appear. Maybe you’re waiting until you’ve had enough time to meditate, debate, dialogue, chant, pray or read the tea leaves. Maybe you’re just plain scared. Who cares. Leap.

Every single regret I’ve had has been because I stood at the edge and didn’t jump. Every single one. Every time I’ve actually had the courage to leapt I’ve embraced the end results of my choices without fear or regret. It’s just the edge that’s scary. Don’t let it be a barrier between you and the life you envision for yourself.

Look over the edge and imagine the worst thing that could happen. The worst possible thing. Not that bad is it? Then imagine the best thing that can happen. It’s worth the risk, isn’t it? If you’re ok with both, gird your loins, spit over your shoulder and dive in.

Every day I get a little bit older, a little bit more cocky, and I realize even more how short life is. We don’t have time to hem and haw, people. Make it happen. Live the life you want to live.

On second thought, buy that new pair of sneakers. You can’t take the money with you, and if you get hit by a car today at least your body will have dope kicks on.

Speak the truth to power. If the captain doesn’t like hearing that there’s an iceberg up ahead, find a new boat to row on.

Have one more drink. Hangovers build character and you’ll never know who you’ll meet.

Take off your clothes, wrap it up for safety and enjoy the dance. Morality is mainly an excuse for repressed people to make everyone else feel as frustrated as they do.

Get on that stage, take a deep breath and show everyone you’re a superstar.

The point I’m trying to make is I’m ready to do some open mics. I’m a little scared, but I’m jumping.