It ain't easy...

I've given a lot of thought about the music that I've written over the last couple years. And every time, it frustrates me to no end on why I haven't done something with it yet. I think it really boils down to wanting it to be perfect. What if these are the only 12 songs I ever write and put in place on a record? That probably won't be the case but nonetheless the fear of that happening is still paralyzing.

Tonight after cutting the grass, one of my many distractions and "things to do" that allow me an excuse as to why not to record-- I was getting cleaned up and it hit me: You're just gonna have to do it! SO I dug out my microphone. Set it up. Ran all the wires around the room that it requires to get the sound on tape and off I went. Instead of spending the evening looking at guitars thinking, "Hey that one will probably record better than the one I have now." or reseraching "Which microphone will sound just a bit better than the one I'm using?" I just put the equipment I have now to work. It was fun! It was exciting and I realize that I have a long way to go. But if I keep plugging along there's no telling what might fall out of my new completed studio.

Another day closer

... took some time today to finish up the painting. Although it's my least favorite part of any home improvement, I was able to keep my brain occupied with a Dave Ramsey Podcast (more like 4 of them) while doing this tedious painting. It's finished though... Yaahooo!

I also fitted the wallboard pieces that block in the old archway. Now just need a skilled person to come and make it look purdy. Gonna have to hire someone for that, cause I sure don't have that skill in my bag of tricks.

Tasks completed today: touchup painting of baseboards. replacing baseboards. transition painting around ceiling and window. wallboard patches. A successful day for me. Another day closer.

Three Day Weekend Update

That title reminds me of the Before and After Wheel of Fortune category... how's that for an off topic start?

Lots of work was done since the last update so this might be a little long....

After a call for volunteers on my Facebook page, I had one volunteer show up to help me with my little project. So I took full advantage of an eager participant!

We started Thursday evening with a little splash of color. Giving my studio a good "vibe" with some Iron Frost tone:

We got up Friday thinking we'd jump right to the flooring but found that the first coat of paint didn't fully do the trick... so on to coat number two.

On to the floor. It's of interested to note that I'm not used to working this hard... so many breaks were had... and that's when Olsen would stop by so that he can later say that he helped too!

Next was the part we'd (I'd) been dreading... filling a round hole with a square door. Fun to be had... much frustration and engineering later... it went in. There were some tense moments when our perfectly plumb and square door wouldn't allow both doors to close at once. But with my master engineer on the job... He got it all worked out in short order.

So we got the door in (and functional), laid the floor and the transition to the tile, and painted in the course of 3 long and grueling days. We were beat a little more each day but the payoff is just around the corner.

Now accepting volunteers to come finish it up... I hate that last inch of painting up to that nice clean white ceiling!!

Thanks Papa!! Could have NEVER done it without you!!

Progress Report

Often times, a progress report will come when you're halfway to some forth-set goal... like say, halfway through a semester. I wish I could say that this progress report was coming as I approach the midway mark of completing Through the Stained Glass... but it's not. Sorry to disappoint. But any progress is worth rejoicing for this procrastinator!

So you've seen the before pictures... so this is a bit of progress toward the after. Here's the inspiration

We were awakened this morning by our dog alarm when the big truck rolled in to deliver the french doors to enclose my soon to be studio. Glad they decided to deliver today, my day off... I was expecting a call to warn of the delivery- but no such warning was given. So our backup warning (Olsen) came through as usual. He's still 100% accurate with that by the way.

So I dove in, with the help of my assistant and we made some progress today. Trying to figure out how to most efficiently get the door in place and not have the thing look like an amateur job.

Decided to get the carpet out of the way and ready to lay the laminate hardwood. Still not sure of the order of things, but at least the demo is complete.

Trying to make room

I would argue that having adequate space to complete my little "project" is what has been holding me back. Not sure that argument would hold water... BUT I can always remember hearing the saying "use the proper tool for the proper job".

So in the fall of 2008 I set out to make some space. With the help of some key players... through much sweat and labor I had my own music studio. Equipped to complete the task at hand. Carefully thought out and the plan was executed....

...only problem.... We decided to move... ByeBye Studio!

So now here I sit, in my new recording space. And before I get to recording we've got some more laboring to get the "new" space recordable. Something about Olsen's tip toeing across the tile floor that doesn't work well on a recorded track. It might work if I could get him to keep time... but so far he can't keep a beat!

So here's the before:

After to follow... I've ordered the Doors to enclose my room so the ball is rolling!

Time to make it happen...

I've been planning "Through the Stained Glass" for the better part of 2 years. The songs have been written but getting them down in their "forever form" has been challenging- to say the least. My perfectionistic way of doing things and my analytical brain have paralyzed me into doing nothing.

My new plan involves putting my effort down as proof of the steps taken. Maybe if I can see little steps of progress the "big picture" won't keep me from taking the first step.

photo by: Doug Bunnell

So off we go to see about getting this one behind me...