Update

Wow, one month until Christmas!

Some random things going on over the last several days:

• Last Road - We started recording our first "studio" CD last Saturday, at OMG Studios in downtown Greenville. It was a long, tiring process, but exciting as well. Unfortunately, of the 12 songs we hope to record, we only laid down the music to 3 songs that day! We may end up having to charge $50 per CD in order to re-coup our investment! Ha!
  
  
• Mandolin - Went to Owings jam session last night, and enjoyed getting to play the mandolin a bit. My 2002 Gibson Adam Steffey F5 is an awesome instrument -- low action, easy to play, huge volume and tone. God is good!
  
  
• Christmas trees - Put up our fake-o tree Friday...bought and put up an 8-ft real tree on Saturday...helped Brandon and Megan put up their real tree from NC on Saturday as well. Look like a forest in here!
  
  
• Christmas music - Charter cable has a great music channel with traditional Christmas music (Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Sinatra, etc). The channel is called Showcase, and its #924 for us. Every year, I begin to appreciate the crooners a little more.... I must be getting old.
  
  
• Work - For the last four or five months, I have been in transition between jobs (within Michelin). I've been doing 50% of my time in each job (feels like 80% in each!). Anyhow, I officially become full-time at the new position on December 10th.
  
  
• Fun - Zach and I have a tradition of playing 2-player, tactical shooter games (in co-op mode) during the holidays. Worked through some levels of Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six this weekend...good fun.

I'm really tired, and the four-day weekend is officially over, so I'll post again sometime this week.

Later!

Beater

Well, its been a busy few days since I've posted. Here are some highlights...

This weekend, I bought yet another mandolin. Actually, I have a mandolin that a guy at work gave me, free. It is my "beater", the one that doesn't even have a case, and sits by my chair in the living room. Basically, I can grab it and play it anytime, mostly during commercials. Well, anyhow, the top on this beater mandolin has started sinking, and I can't raise the action high enough to stop the strings from buzzing.

So, I ordered (and received, this weekend) a new beater mandolin: Rogue A-style, $49 from MusiciansFriend.com - that's it in the photo. Yes, that's right, $49 new! I have no idea how anyone can make and sell and archtop instrument with binding for $49. Heck, the tuning machines are probably worth $15, and a fret job runs $50 these days! I guess it's made in Chinese sweat shops... The tone is nothing to write home about, but the intonation ain't bad and it seems to stay in tune, so it fits the bill for my next "beater". Nice sunburst, too.

Also this weekend, I went to the Clemson vs. Virginia Tech game Saturday night. I think it was the first college game I'd been to since actually attending Tech in 1988! It was fun, especially since the tickets were free. And who won, you ask? Hokies, of course, 40-24.

I learned a couple things at that game. 1) There are a LOT of rich people giving to IPTAY, and 2) There are a lot of rich people who are really upset that Clemson has a not-so-outstanding football program. Look for Bowden to get the boot soon.

Sunday night, Last Road played at a little Baptist church in Bowersville, GA. Great people, and they were truly appreciative that we came and played. They treated us to a nice dinner afterward, too.

Anyhoo, that's the news. A plus tard.