Vikarbyrgi Progress and the Heart Growing Fonder...

This last week Ethan and I were able to take another step toward recording and publishing Vikarbyrgi's music. We recorded a demo version of the song called "An End To Duality." From it we were able to figure out what elements of the sound and process we needed to fix. It was a fun few days, and not without laughs, particularly because of our setup. For example, the bass drum microphone was set on top of a dinosaur puzzle box, which was then placed on top of an old egg carton. Another microphone was taped and hanging from the ceiling. All recording was done, of course, using a laptop and smalll interface (which we were able to purchase, thanks to Ethan's friend Alex, for 1/3 of the regular price).

We feel that we are now ready to begin recording the album. After the demo track was finally mixed, we were in the car and noticed that on other black metal records, the drum sounds were not always perfect either: sometimes the bass and snare were very hard to hear, which is the case with ours. Hopefully, though, this issue is resolved. Ethan will now be recording drum and keyboard tracks until I am able to return to Fort Wayne. Our greatest hope in all of this, of course, is that God would be glorified through our efforts.

Now on to my other recent thoughts...it is indeed true, absence is making my heart grow indeed fonder of Haley's presence. Though I don't know that would have, were we not separated for this time, I know that because of this prolonged absence I will never take her presence for granted. When I see her, it feels like a great weight is lifted from my chest. I have 4 days from today until I get to see her. After that, the times apart will continue to increase. I suppose I shall be that much happier to see her each time.

A Better Half

As you probably guessed from the title, I now have a girlfriend. It's been slightly over a month now, and it's been one of the best months of my life. We have so far been perfect for each other. We make one another want to do greater things, be a greater person.

The great thing about these things is that they are nothing like what you anticipated. There is so much to experience that one does not enough realise was out there. Now I see what is so special about it.

Of course, now, moving to Ohio from Texas, we are having to do the "long-distance" thing, one month and one day after entering our relationship. It's going to be a challenge. Now's the time when we must truly rely on God, more than ever.

Voice

The concept of voice is fascinating. It's unique. It's multidimensional. There are many ways to manipulate one's voice: tone, inflection, pitch, type. And even when these are matching between people, there is something underneath that still distinguishes the two, more so to the familiar ear. There are even differences in the male and female voice, to those who listen closely...it is possible, in almost all cases, to tell when a man or woman is speaking or singing, even if the pitch is shifted higher or lower. I at least find it funny when a woman says she "sounds like a man" just because a cold has her at the bottom of her register.

Then there is also the idea of voice within other forms of communication. Visual art, music, literature, reporting, debate...everyone has their own style. And in the same way that multiple people can recognise and mimic each others' uses of voice (in the sense of speaking) as they have more contact, their voices within composition may also converge as they continue to work together. Vikarbyrgi will prove to be such an instance; Ethan and I are slowly creating material that sounds more and more similar to something that the other would compose, thus allowing for much more ease of collaboration.

Stepping into the spiritual realm for a second...Jesus says that "my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." As one has more contact with Christ, it is easier to distinguish His voice from that of an imposter.

Unfortunately I have no moral or clever tie-off for this weblog. I haven't done this in a while, so perhaps I'm a little rusty. I'll explain in my next blog where I've been...until then, God bless.

Prose: "A Girlfriend or Something"

So maybe a few of you will be able to relate to at least part of this. Enjoy.




Really loud noise what is that oh yeah my alarm get up find my phone 5:15 am hit snooze fall back in bed the fan has been going all night oh well another weird dream but not as weird as the first 5:25 turn off the alarm why is all this crap
________on my floor
_____turn on the light
____________open my laptop

make a bowl of cereal while_______ it _______ gets
out _______ of ________ hibernate _______ mode.
I hate getting up this early man the desk is a mess too and I'm starting to wonder if there exists somewhere a job someone likes and if there are such things as husbands and wives. This computer has been
running increasingly
s
__l
____ o
______ w
lately maybe I oughta give it a spyware scan it's.
Been a while damnit I forgot to put a stamp on this bill for the envelope,
oh shut up you know what I mean,
and take it out to the mailbox again. Check my email,
drink the chocolate milk left over from the cereal, get up to grab Pop-Tarts hey look I forgot to take the bowl with me to the sink again. I think I need

a girlfriend
or something
today's Toothpaste for Dinner was hilarious but the Married to the Sea was lame usually it's the opposite, weird.
I oughta tell somebody about that dream last night.
________No
____ you idiot
_______no one cares about weird dreams
__they don't even care about normal dreams
_____ and sometimes not even
____________________________ real
____________________ life
Like when I got attacked by that falcon defending its nest.
I didn't even see it coming it rammed
__________ the top
_______ of ______ my head
I thought someone threw something at me.
Haha that's funny but I'm pretty sure we don't have falcons around here.
Don't question me I know it was a damn falcon.
Ok, sure, hey Chris are you going to Bash's tonight?

Man, I've been lying on my back staring at the ceiling for a while now. The microwave says it's 6:02 so it's really 6:04.
Get up put jeans on pull the belt from the other pair feed it through the new one.
Find my work shirt, tuck it in, put deodorant on, brush my teeth.
The beard is coming back well enough.
Put socks and shoes on and make sure my backpack has everything because I have class right after work.
Turn off the lights, close the computer, shut the door, and lock it.
Head downstairs.
Turn around and run back up because somehow, this time, I remembered that I need to take that bill to the mailbox.

Professional

I suppose that it's a part of the ominous reality that I am, in fact, a grown man, and possibly to be a husband in years to come, and I thus need to act like one. I have decided that while a student and, in the near future, a teaching assistant, and then later on as an actuary (or whatever I end up doing), I ought to be dressing the part. Nothing too extravagant, but I don't see why I can't put on a button-down shirt and good pair of shoes to attend class in. I'll still attend other events (except church and other special occasions) in casual clothing, I'm sure, but I think it will be better to look sharp, to look like I take things seriously while in the classroom and at work.

This may be strange, but I was in part inspired by Hannibal Lecter (minus the cannibalism....I think...). The only time the man is not well-dressed, besides when in prison, is the mall scene in Hannibal where he's blending in with everyone else. He has class and wit. I want that!

Of course there's also that quiet notion of wanting to necromance the old tradition of being dressed up. We've all seen the old films, paintings, etc. We've gotten lazy in our dressing habits, and it's now no wonder that this generation is seen in such atrocious attire as it is. Maybe I can spark some change (since that's what the nation voted for, right?) Let's see what happens!

Sidewalks of aMErica

Despite the fierce winds and the snow this morning, I got to school using my most frequently utilised means of transportation: my size 13EEs. One and a half miles from my apartment to the first bus stop on campus that I come across, which is in front of the law school building. Two generations ago, that would have been an easy, leisurely stroll. It has become that for me, as well, by now, though sometimes the stiff fingers and cold wind across the face becomes somewhat irritating. Still, it's good for exercise, self-discipline, and saving money on gas and a semester parking pass.

However, now, with cars so readily available for purchase to practically anyone who wants one, and communities built in such segmentation that, literally, "nothing is close by" one's house, the thought of walking more than a couple hundred yards seems utmost preposterous, if not for reasons of how utterly strenous walking (or riding a bicycle) can be, then simply for reasons of the amount of time it takes. I agree, I also feel the direst need to sit around my house doing nothing until a few minutes before I need to be somewhere and then hopping in my car and disregarding the authority of the government and its regulations on how fast I should be driving in order to be there on time.

Thus I noticed this morning that sidewalks have become little more than decor, another relic of the past to be kept looking good for no particular reason.

And I love how we keep griping about how high oil prices are, as if there's an infinite amount of it underground and if production can't keep up with the demand, then it's the fault of the people producing it. It's also the ozone layers' fault for not being able to absorb the CFC's we put into the air. That, or cranking up my car this one time won't hurt that much, you know?

Many of my peers ridicule "tree-huggers." While I sometimes think their methods are humourous and...interesting, I still have more respect for them, because they are at least devoting themselves to needs other than their own. That is more than can be said to a number of people I share this school, this city, this country with, sadly.

More to come.

Workouts

It always unnerves me to go to work and watch many of the people in the weight room work out. It seems that most of these guys (there are occasionally girls, though they tend to stick to the machine weight room, whereas my job only brings me to the free weight room at times; no one monitors the machine weight room consistently. I tend to find many of my employers' policies rather inane at times, but that's neither here not there) are not doing their research before engaging in these workouts, but only doing what a friend or an article in a muscle magazine told them. This leads to improper form and useless performance of an exercise, and will prove a hindrance.

Granted, part of the reason I disagree with how most of them do things may be simply that our goals are different: most of them want to gain weight (though I honestly cannot figure out why) and look "jacked," while I simply want to stay strong and in shape (and about the same size, since I'm cheap and don't want to buy new clothes!)

But I cannot stress how important it is to know as much as you can about an exercise before performing it. Consult a coach, personal trainer, or other person who is knowledgeable about exercise, both its gains and risks. They can tell you the proper way to perform it, as well as if it will help you achieve the results you desire. I will say one thing: if the lift makes you look silly (such as holding a weight in each hand and twisting your torso so that you swing the weights around) then you probably should avoid it.

And as far as protein supplements go....I stay away from them, as nothing beats what the body was designed to use as nourishment: a balanced meal. But that's not as important to me as proper performance of lifts.

Now is when I would generally rant the day away about other wonderful habits of the typical Rec Center patron, but I will leave that for another time.