superflea

The girl and I bought matching surround systems the other day. Nothing fancy - just starter systems. Honestly, my place isn't even big enough for it, but I've just wanted one forever, and an inexpensive starter seemed like a great solution to fill the interim until I could afford (and justify) a quality system.

I'm not wowed with the sound quality (it sounds great for electronic and hip hop music, but much less good for rawk), and it won't do Vice City on the PS2 in surround. (For some reason, despite being a DTS decoder, it won't accept a DTS signal on the optical input.)

But it IS good enough. I threw on a Bowie DVD documenting his last tour (which regular readers will recall I was lucky enough to see twice) and the surround was fabulous. I even think (and I say this as a professional sound dude) that surround is gimmicky but just having the surround spread brought the show to life yet again.

My main concern is that I've been trying to be very good with my money lately, and it represents a dip into the credit card that I've been trying to avoid. It's really only an issue if something really unpleasant happens with respect to my professional situation (more on that later), but I just tend to get really antsy with anything involving what could be considered a 'major purchase'.

The girl, being a total sweetheart, is leaving hers boxed up for the week. She's told me that if I change my mind, I can bring mine to her place and return hers, and I'm not out any cash. So a week of critical listening shall ensue.

Although it kills me that it won't do Vice City in DTS. Sure, the XBox version will play fine in Dolby Surround, but who wants to play it on the XBox? Seriously.

As far as work goes, I'm still very nervous about my situation for reasons that I won't go into. However, I did just get a raise (and technically a new office, although that's just the result of our old floor being remodelled and we got moved to another floor) and I'd like to think that my work drama is ancient history. I've been told that it is... but it's hard not to be nervous.

I guess this is par for the course when you're stupid enough to pursue a career in the arts. And the really sick thing is that every time I wonder if I'm doing the right thing, I always arrive at the same indisputable conclusion: I belong in this industry. It's a bizarre tug-of-war between my passion and my practicality.

I envy people who were born to be systems administrators and dentists. I would drink stability by the barrel if I could.

Anyways.

That's all that's really new. I'm still playing World of Warcraft far too much, although I'm starting to spend more and more time in 'real life'. I'm not really enjoying the game any less - I'm just starting to resent the utter absence of time that exists for anything else these days.

I really need to strap on a guitar and write a song. It's been too long since I've done that.

I need to jam like you wouldn't believe.

I miss the stage.

The girl(tm) has very long hair. It looks absolutely gorgeous on her head, but I'm one of those folks who's absolutely phobic of hair when it's not attached to people. I keep finding these long, spindly tangles all around my apartment, which have somehow formed these unbreakable bonds to all manner of furniture. It's like finding really long, skinny spiders everywhere. Am I the only one with that hangup?

I miss you guys. I miss writing here all the time. I'm still trying to figure out if my love affair with the site is over or if the site and I just need some space.

But that has absolutely nothing to do with you find people on my friends list (particularly if you've managed to weasel your way onto my instant messenger lists and into my heart).

And yeah, I'm rambling. I'm tired. Naptime now.

Although before I sign off - I need to get this off my chest:

I've always felt Bob Dylan was severely overrated.

I'm just sayin'.