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Took out my bass guitar for the first time in forever, partially because I'd always been wondering how really good bassists usually do those pull-offs when playing walking lines, and why they are almost always on the G string. Turns out, pull-offs are quite easy to do (hence why some people overuse them), and are often on the G string (first string) because there's nothing beyond it to block your hand. It's much harder (though still possible) to do on the E, A, and D strings. This is coming from me, a noob bassist--I don't practice often, and it being my third instrument, I know the least about it. I can walk bass lines in good time (which I learned to do on the piano first when I was young, and surprisingly, it has translated perfectly onto the fretboard with little effort) but that's pretty much as far as my bass skills go.
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As it happens, I have spent the Christmas period, - and post-Christmas period - reading books, (real books, things between covers, with pages to turn...), taking long walks in the (dry, if cold) outdoors, and chatting with family and friends on the phone - long, leisurely, relaxed, pleasant chats, chats that are not constrained by the demands of work, or the threat of looming deadlines, or the normal routine followed much of the rest of the year
A few beers have also been consumed.
On Christmas Day, I chatted - by phone - for a few hours, with each of my brothers and my sister-in-law; a chat in excess of two hours with a very good friend (the very best student I ever taught, she has a son who is profoundly autistic), followed on Saturday evening; last night - also for around two hours, I had a terrific chat with a Norwegian friend with whom I had worked as an international election observer.
Tonight, another phone chat is scheduled to take place with another good friend, a chap with whom I have been friendly since our time as undergrads together, some time ago.
This was something that my mother used to do; take time - set aside some time, a few hours over a few days - in those days that fall between St Stephen's Day/Boxing Day and the New Year to catch up with friends - and extended family - by way of long, leisurely, chats.
A few beers have also been consumed.
On Christmas Day, I chatted - by phone - for a few hours, with each of my brothers and my sister-in-law; a chat in excess of two hours with a very good friend (the very best student I ever taught, she has a son who is profoundly autistic), followed on Saturday evening; last night - also for around two hours, I had a terrific chat with a Norwegian friend with whom I had worked as an international election observer.
Tonight, another phone chat is scheduled to take place with another good friend, a chap with whom I have been friendly since our time as undergrads together, some time ago.
This was something that my mother used to do; take time - set aside some time, a few hours over a few days - in those days that fall between St Stephen's Day/Boxing Day and the New Year to catch up with friends - and extended family - by way of long, leisurely, chats.
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I remember someone in a small Midwestern town replaced his boiler ca. 2000. He got oil (again, I think), saying it seemed like oil prices were more stable than propane.
I've heard coal can be really cheap, Bonus: you get that exercise shoveling it.
I do basically the same thing . Probably the last 3 calls , all of which will be lengthy ,will be on Friday . Far too many family and friends have moved half a continent ( or more) away . Holiday cards and e-mails are nice , but hearing someone's voice is better ; particularly when most of us are now at the point where bad things happen .
Well all the best for everyone here for 2026. 2025 was mixed for me to say the least but I wish to remain soberly optimistic.
Sick with either a cold or flu today. I was around two people who were also sick recently, and one did indeed have the flu, so it could be either thing. (I got both flu and COVID shots last month, but that still doesn’t completely eliminate the chance of getting it.)
Amen 🤲🏻
It was a good year for me. It was the first step towards eternal happiness for my country. This year, Allah willing, we will regain our democracy. We will leave these bad days behind. We've left another year behind us, with its ups and downs. I hope it will be a good year for all people, starting with you. A year without war, conflict, troubles, or disputes, a year in which we can live with our true, pure feelings.
It is currently 11:48 pm Turkish Local Time (UTC+3.00). In 12 minutes, we will enter the new year with the salah to prayer. My New Year's tree is right beside me. We will enter the new year by praying and offering prayers of gratitude. May it be auspicious for all of us 😏
3 hours left of 2025. But I’ve headed to bed already. No one to call or text so I’ll be asleep (hopefully) well before 2026 (last couple of nights have been pretty bad for sleep).
Hopefully 2026 is better than this one. Enjoy however you welcome in the NY. May it be a good one for you and yours.
Hopefully 2026 is better than this one. Enjoy however you welcome in the NY. May it be a good one for you and yours.
What part of Alaska are you in? Apologies if you already told me me. Brother is in Kenai and I heard 15F recently, but not disputing your report.This is what my wife and I woke to this Sunday morning:
Just a few minutes of sunlight as you can see (sort of reddish colors) a few yards behind the birch tree (took the photo from the back porch of my house around 1:30 PM). The fog is natural as it usually happens when the temperature drops to perhaps -30º F and colder:
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In my experience living in a relative colder climate (Minnesota):
- 20F+ piece of cake.
- 10F tolerable if wind not blowing.
- 0F and below- cold.
An hour later and still have 7:40 hrs to go, but we’ll see it pop in NYC and then go to bed… (were US Central time
).
Just past midnight in Norway: Happy New Year, everyone! 🎆🎇🎆🧯
Listening to Tubular Bells yesterday.
For many people, the opening to Tubular Bells brings to mind The Exorcist.
But for me, it brings back something different.
When I was in high school, I had bought a very sensitive AM/Shortwave radio. Seven years later, I was sitting in my dorm room at the University of PNG, with that radio, and had managed to pick up the new AM radio station 2JJ in Sydney (1800 miles away...). Someone had found the LP to Tubular Bells, and they played the whole of side one, without a break.
I just sat there, for the whole 25 minutes, mind blown.
Anyway, here is a link to what is the recording they probably played --
Also, Happy New Year.
For many people, the opening to Tubular Bells brings to mind The Exorcist.
But for me, it brings back something different.
When I was in high school, I had bought a very sensitive AM/Shortwave radio. Seven years later, I was sitting in my dorm room at the University of PNG, with that radio, and had managed to pick up the new AM radio station 2JJ in Sydney (1800 miles away...). Someone had found the LP to Tubular Bells, and they played the whole of side one, without a break.
I just sat there, for the whole 25 minutes, mind blown.
Anyway, here is a link to what is the recording they probably played --
Also, Happy New Year.
I just want to wish Happy New Year to everyone!
🤣
She parks in her garage, but my wife and I park two trucks and small SUV on the front and back driveways of our house. We have these three vehicles plugged to AC power outlets that have adjustable power cycles. The SUV has a block, oil pan, and a battery heater. Each truck has a battery charger/maintainer, and oil pan heater, and battery heater (no block heater). When the temperature drops to perhaps -20 degrees F., the timers cycle the power for a period of 4 hours on/off (energize/de-energize every four hours). If the temperature reaches -30 degrees and lower, then we start the engines using remotes from inside the house three times per day when the vehicles aren't being warmed by the heaters. The remote-start systems are set to idle the engines for a period of 25 minutes.
It is approximately 4:15 PM on this December day as I edit what I wrote above. Still a few hours before 01/01/2026 😊
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One Christmas break I was getting ready to drive home from college, and my motor wouldn’t start that morning (this was in South Dakota, not the brutal Alaska temps you see). My parking spot had a post next to it with a couple AC outlets, so I got the idea to slide my toaster oven under the oil pan, leave the oven door open, then plug it in to warm the engine block (fortunately there was no wind, rare in SD). I plugged it in and, nothing.
I called the property manager about the broken outlet:
Me: Hey, I plugged something into the post by my parking spot, and it isn’t working
He: Did you turn it on from inside your apartment?
Me: Uhhh
He: You know, the red translucent light switch by the door.
Me: (long pause). Uhhh, Oh! I thought that was a night light!
He and Me: (long laughter, one of us with a red face)
I flipped the switch, went out to the car and my toaster oven was heating! I let her sit until about 3 that afternoon (~45-minute drive home) and turned the ignition key: Whump - Whump - whummmp - cough - whuu - cough - cough - puh - puh - puhpuhpuh and she was running! Was home an hour later, and Dad got me a block heater for Xmas which we installed over my break; things went a bit smoother after that in the winter!
Those posts were all over the place in Grand Forks North Dakota when I was stationed up there, except in the supermarket and mall parking lots (makes it too hard to plough) and, at least at the supermarket, most folks just left their vehicles running while they shopped; it was a different time and place back in the early ‘90’s…
Happy New Years, folks.
I remember seeing cords sticking out under the grills of Midwestern cars.
My mother had stories to tell of when she was a young woman in the Midwest. Her car had no engine heater. (Not available in the 60s? Option too expensive for her salary?) She'd go out regularly after midnight for a drive on the highway so her Mustang would start when she needed to go to work. She'd keep new bags of cat litter in the trunk to add weight to help traction on ice/snow. Later, when I was very young, my parents had a garage, which probably helped, but my father would bring the car battery into the house at least sometomes. Good thing 60s cars didn't have electronics that would kick up a fuss when the battery was disconnected!
Get well soon.
I’m just chilling in the house this morning. Just fed the birds in the garden. Mrs AFB goes to work at lunchtime.
It’s grey and gloomy out there. In other words just more of the same.