So... yeah.

I've totally neglected this blog. I think I'll try to keep it up more, though.

So lately I've been really into building effect pedals. It's something that I'm finding to be really fun. I probably should upgrade my building equipment, but for now, I'm having a blast just building circuits.

School's out. Been losing track of what day it is. I happen to know that today is Tuesday. Gigs are starting to pick up. I've got a whole bunch next month. If you'd like to see the schedule (whoever reads this), it's at http://www.benricelive.com/upcomingshows.htm. Maybe you can come to one of them. Last Saturday I had a three hour gig in Estacada, then a 5 1/2 hour gig in Newberg! If you subtract break time, we played for about 7 1/2 hours that day. And that doesn't even account for time loading in and setting up! I was beat. Didn't get home until 2:00AM. Got paid about $170, though.

We've actually have a little tour set up in September, which is neat. As it is (we might add gigs later), we'll be going to Spokane, WA, then to Moscow, ID, then to Leavenworth, WA, then to Oroville, WA, and then back down to Leavenworth. That'll be about 1400 miles, or over 24 hours total in the car! Should be fun, though.

I've been thinking about family. Now, this may be because I'm a douche-y college guy, but I think that the structure of family is kinda dumb. Now, I appreciate that my parents raised me (in the sense of basic financial support, clothes, food, etc.), BUT if they didn't, they could have gone to jail, so, dropping the idea of love at all for now, this could be just a legal agreement for them to pay for a sexual accident (which myself and all of my siblings were-- no planned babies in my family). Not only that, but there is the concept of reciprocation. If parents raise children with the expectation that they will go and do better than they did in life, and then have money to support them in old age, well that's not a very good reason to raise a child, by most moral standards, is it? So what do I owe my parents? I dunno, I suppose whatever I feel like I owe them. I'll support my dad. My mom, I dunno. But what about other family members? Should I get my aunt a Christmas present because her sister got knocked up? Or because she got me one? One can't expect everyone to reciprocate a gift each time one is given. I suppose long story short, I feel like I don't owe most of these people anything. I don't particularly like being around a lot of them. But I'm supposed to, because they're family, and they're all I've got, right? They'll love me no matter what, right? To be honest, I'd much rather choose my allies than have them thrust upon me by chance. As of now, I'm quasi-dependent on my parents. I say quasi because I don't really receive much at all in the way of financial support. I have a room, and I use some of the utilities (water, electricity, etc). I eat some of the food, but a lot of my food I buy myself. I buy my own clothes, aside from the occasional shirt my dad gets me from the thrift store because he thought the picture on it was funny. And I'm not getting any help for college from them. Hell, I didn't even get a Christmas present from them last Christmas!

Well, I suppose that's the end of that post.

My mission

Alright, we've got one week to go, and then finals week. Here's what I need to do:

Dead week

Aplia homework for econ -- Due Monday (Tomorrow) at 11:00 PM: Because of the concert I'm going to tomorrow, I might try to get that done/partially done tonight.

Keyboard Recital -- Wednesday and Friday: I've just about got my two pieces finished. I just need an hour or two more practice.

Statistics Homework -- Due Thursday: These usually take quite a while to complete, so I'm lucky there's no LOST this Wednesday night!

UNST term paper -- Due Thursday: I can crank this out in two hours or so. Not too worried about it.

Music Technology term paper -- Due Friday: Perhaps I should be somewhat worried about this, but I'm really not. I think I can do it in a couple of hours Thursday night.

Finals week

Statistics final -- Tuesday: Not worried about this one at all. It's not comprehensive, and I have fully understood the last few chapters. Also, I get two pages of notes, front and back.

Microeconomic Theory final -- Wednesday: I'll admit I'm not as confident about this one. I think I'll be lucky if I get a B in this class. I'm pretty sure I'll have a C, though. Unless he curves it. The final is comprehensive, and I get no notes. Motherfucker.



In other news, I'm playing a gig this Friday! Sandy, who is my keyboard player (Mac)'s mom, called me last night and told me that a bass player for a different band that my Mac is in cancelled, so she asked me to play! Free food and $30 - 40! I'm down! It's a band I've never played with before (save Mac), but the music is easy, so I can improvise. It's at The Mad Greek, a deli and restaurant in Beaverton. I've played there quite a bit. Nice people.

Aha!

I have my internet back!

Things that I need to do in the next few weeks:

Finish filling out the extra forms on my FAFSA

Write some bullshit on some 3x5 cards for two presentations this week, for which neither myself nor my groups are ready

Write two papers

Fill out an application for temporary cashier at the PSU Bookstore

Learn two songs for my keyboard class

Practice drumming

Find my metronome (seriously, what the fuck happened to it?)

Make sure I get at least a B in microeconomics

Get moar sleep

Get my internet back (currently it only works on one computer, and that computer is not the one in my room)

I don't know, probably some other stuff, too.



Oh, and instead of taking that American Music Traditions class, I'm taking Economic History of the 20th Century. Sounds interesting, no? Well, it is. I thought the Music class was on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but I found out that it's Tuesdays and Thursdays, which doesn't fit my schedule so well.

Schedule

MWF:

11:30 - 12:35: Macroeconomic Theory
12:45 - 1:50: The Power Game (a political science class)
2:00 - 3:05: American Music Traditions

TR

11:00 - 12:15: Knowledge, Rationality and Understanding (my UNST sophomore inquiry)
12:25 - 1:15: Mentor session for inquiry (Tuesdays only)

16 credit hours

I can't technically register until Monday, but none of these classes look like they're going to fill up.

Another food post

Damn near perfect sandwhich:

Turkey
Cheddar
Lettuce
Mayo
Mustard
Pepperoni
Vinaigrette
Parmesan
On some good bread, of course

Great idea

I absolutely love spinach. Recently, I started buy a lot of it. It's $0.89 for a 10oz. box. That's just about a meal! So today microwaved a box, and then I thought, how about some mozzarella cheese? So I put some of that on there... then some parmesan, then some olive oil, then some oregano, then some minced garlic....

So tasty!