My Drums Past and Present

      No Comments on My Drums Past and Present

I always wanted to be a drummer.  I learned while I was in Junior High School on detention while waiting for my stepdad to pick me up.  The music room was impressively sound proof, and yet always left unlocked.  I only picked up the basics on my own back then.  It wasn’t until High School that my friends and I did the whole, let’s make a band even though none of us had much talent at all; thing.  Why do kids do this?  No talent, just a flyby desire to be a rock-star 😅

But we managed to get the opportunity to go into the local music store (Musik Haus) when it was on main street.  The one guy who could play guitar somewhat was amazed that I sat down and put out a beat without ever having heard me play the drums before.  After practicing for a couple of months, I finally got the nerve to start bugging my mom for a drum kit.  I had to take her to practice to show her I could actually play the drums.  Until then, I never told her I could.  Her and my stepdad had split, so she was the single mom barely making it.  But she had a friend who was generous enough to pick me up a used drum kit from the thrift store near him in Detroit.  He brought it up to our house and surprised me with it.

Used Slingerland Drums from Thrift ShopUsed Slingerland Drum Kit (Metallic Blue)

1986 – 1991
Sadly I don’t have a photo or a manufacturer image like I do for my other kits.  So this silhouette will have to do.  I rocked this thing pretty hard.  It had Remo heads and some off brand cymbals I can’t even recall what they were.  They didn’t sound half bad though and I was shocked at how good looking this used kit was.  It was almost pristine.

I unfortunately was married shortly after high school and as a young couple starting out.  We had little money.  Our car needed repairs and I sold the drums for a mere $40 to help pay the car bill.  I had no idea what a drum kit was worth back then and there wasn’t an internet to speak of.

Between 1991 and 2014 I was only able to play drums on occasion at music stores or using kits owned by other people every few years.  But my love of drums didn’t fade, I just kept making bad choices that kept me from buying another kit.

Roland TD-11K-S V-Compact SeriesRoland TD-11K-S V-Compact Series

2014 – 2020
Having returned to Michigan from Virginia after my surviving my triple heart attacks in 2012.  I got this ordered as a bundle kit from Kraft Music.  It came with a Gibraltar double kit pedal and a set of headphones.  Living in an upstairs apartment at the time, I had to find out when the neighbors would be at work or when it was OK for me to practice.  Even though I used headphones to practice.  They can still here the thumping of the kick pedal and batting of the drum sticks to the rubber trigger pads.  I really liked rocking on this and made a few drum cover videos.

Tama Imperialstar 6-piece Complete Drum SetTama Imperialstar 6-piece Complete Drum Set

2020-2023
It was time to get serious and upgrade my drumming to a real drum kit.  This was early 2020 and I didn’t make the good money yet.  So I got what I thought would be a good kit.  Tama being a worldwide leader in drums.  Unfortunately, you get what you pay for.  It was a fun kit, but it had serious tuning stability issues.  The snare and toms would loosen after just a few hours of play.  It was frustrating.  But I did get my Zildjian Custom A set of cymbals that I still use today.  Though I’m considering a Mienl set.  Just need to do some research.  Yes, that was the kick drum art I had put on it.

Sonor AQ1 Stage WhiteSonor AQ1 Stage Drums

2023 – Current
Finally got the best set I’ve had so far.  I hope when I have my music studio finished to be able to do drum covers and more to add to my collection.

I will always be a drummer.  Though I hope to learn other instruments to do even more.

Please Share:
Shortlink:

Dear Guitar Center Saginaw Michigan

      No Comments on Dear Guitar Center Saginaw Michigan

I don’t normally like to blast anyone publicly.  But this experience has left me very bitter and I will not be giving Guitar Center my business again.  Just because I’m inexperienced at guitars, does not make me stupid.  I certainly don’t appreciate being treated as such when my suggestion not only gets ignored, but had they tried it, it would have worked as you’ll see in the video below.

On July 22, 2024, I just finished up my yearly cardiology appointment.  I had brought my Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster with me.  I live 3 hours away from Saginaw, which has the closest Guitar Center to me.  I was interested in using their Trade-In Program as I’ve just never been very happy with my guitar.

The frets are horrible and will hurt your fingers even after I had them filed down some (at a more local guitar tech).  While it was in the shop, I had the strings changed and had the tech check the intonation.  If there was a problem then, he never mentioned it.  Still with the fixes, I never really liked the sound of this guitar.  So I decided I wanted to try and trade it in for an actual acoustic guitar.

Anyway, I went in the Saginaw Guitar Center and asked if the program was still available.  They said yes, but because of the whole CrowdStrike issue, they were unable to do it that day.  But could offer me an estimate of what my guitar would be worth.  So I went and got the guitar out of the car.

They took the guitar to the tech bench and I could see the tech trying to use a tool in the truss rod access hole.  He kept moving the tool rapidly from side to side.  This confused me and I walked over and asked what was wrong.  He told me that he couldn’t find the truss rod.  I found that to be odd.  So as a tech savvy person in my other fields in my life, I immediately thought I have everything that came with my guitar in the case the guitar came in.  So I grabbed the truss rod tool (which is an appropriately sized Allen (hex) Key).  I offered it to the tech.  He refused and said the tool he was using is the same size.  Then he tilted the guitar up.  Using a flashlight and a set of magnifying glasses said he didn’t see anything but threads in the opening.  Then handed the guitar back and said my truss rod was incomplete and he could no longer help me.

I’ve never had good service at this Guitar Center to begin with.  This of course, makes me even more angry.  I was shunned at my suggestion and treated like an idiot.  I really don’t like being treated this way.  So I made this video after I had calmed down enough to do so.  Just to prove that I’m not an idiot and that I don’t like being lied to.

So Guitar Center.  Specifically the one in Saginaw Michigan.  I will no longer support your company in any way.  Nor will I suggest you with people seeking new gear, repairs or anything related to your company.

Please Share:
Shortlink:

One Year Weight Goal

      No Comments on One Year Weight Goal

One Year Weight GoalIt’s been one year since I stood on my scale and had finally reached my ultimate weight loss goal of 175 pounds!  Life has been very good since I lost 185 pounds.  For the last year, I’ve been able to keep my weight between 175 and 180 consistently.  People said I wouldn’t be able to loose the weight.  People said once I lost the weight, I’d simply gain it back.  People telling me I can’t do something is my greatest motivator.  Just like when I was told I would never make it in the military in 1994.  Not only did I make it, I left with honors and awards 😀

While my heart problems haven’t gotten any better.  Thanks to the weight loss they haven’t gotten any worse and I still function very well at work and at home.

My knee problems have lessened as I no longer have to carry the extra weight around.  Though at some point I will need to get my knee replaced.  I just can’t afford a 6-8 week recovery time.  I can still perform my work duties just fine.

My osteoarthritis isn’t as bad as it was when I was heavier.  I get injections quarterly in my knee and my wrists only bother me in humid or very cold weather.  I have a prescription ointment that I use for that, but it’s not often at all.

The best part is I don’t feel old most days.  I have way more energy than I’ve had in decades.  Life is pretty awesome for having been through so many things in the past.

I also see things differently now that I don’t eat junk food regularly.  I’ve found much healthier alternative ways to eat my every day foods I’ve always enjoyed.  Without losing any of the enjoyment!  Learning to be a good cook and healthy baker has been fun!

To those who don’t think Keto is a healthy way to live, I completely understand.  This is why I was never fully Keto.  I’m Cyclical Keto.  I still eat everything I love and enjoy.  I just re-arranged when I eat them.  Add in daily fasting of 12 hours from 10pm to noon.  I find I don’t lack any nutrients and there’s always vitamin supplements if you think you’re missing something important in your daily intake.  I’m living proof that what I do works and all my doctors praise my efforts.  Yes, willpower is very much key to succeeding.

The only side effect I don’t understand is why I’m more popular now.  I’m still me.  Does physical looks really matter so much?

Please Share:
Shortlink:

Doing Things I’ve Put Off

      No Comments on Doing Things I’ve Put Off

Doing Things I've Put OffOne of the biggest advantages of being single, is doing things you end up putting off because the combined goals of a couple don’t always match. Especially in the case of opposites attract. Inevitably some dreams and goals get put off for the greater goals of the unity.

I’m excited to be able to do things I’ve put off for years and years because of having shared resources.  Now I am able to focus solely on my own goals and dreams.

I had a bucket list that I never thought I would finish.  Once I bought my house, I found I did them all.  Now it’s time to enjoy all the things I couldn’t before now.

Examples are:

I now own a set of high quality drums.  Not the cheap thrift store ones I had as a kid in 1986.  Because of compromises and shared goals, I sold them in 1989.  That shared goal had me put off my dreams of playing drums again until 2013 when I bought my Roland TD-11KV set.  I was then able to expand my dreams by buying some really sweet guitars!

Plus I always wanted my own music studio.  Before I was single, I had no drums.  So why have a studio?  Now I have my own house with a room that I will convert to a studio in the next year or two.

Speaking of my own house.  I could never have much say as to how things were decorated.  As a gamer and lover of fantasy worlds of knights, wizards, castles and dragon; I am now able to decorate my house exactly as I want with all the cool pictures and decorations of a person with my tastes.

Cooking was never my forte before.  So many times I had to eat things cooked for me that I didn’t really care for.  Now I get to not only eat exactly what I like, but I’ve learned to become quite the cook!  I also have learned to take all my favorite dishes and make them super tasty and healthy!

Side note: I’m almost a year celebrating my loss of 185 pounds and I’m still averaging 175 pounds!!  I’m super excited that I feel better than ever and look so slim!

I now get to watch my favorite movies!  Listen to my music all the time!  I’m free to do things at my own leisure.

I get to learn new things and buy things as I please.  It’s a nice feeling having this kind of freedom.  I’m open to dating someone still, but this time I need to have some similar interests.  This whole opposites attract never worked well for me.

Please Share:
Shortlink:

No to Consoles

      No Comments on No to Consoles

No to ConsolesTry as I may.  I just cannot get used to a controller.  Whether it’s the native Steam Deck controls or the Xbox controller I bought and mainly used while my deck was connected to my TV.  Plus, my favorite games don’t play as well on a controller (except GTA V).

Everything just never stopped feeling clunky and 40ish years of using a keyboard and mouse to play games with has really become like an extension of myself.  Not just for gaming.  But coding, editing and of course writing.  LOL  I still write by hand like a third grader.  I always tell people there’s a reason I prefer a keyboard.  The problem comes in when I write for pleasure and end up adding <code> to it 😉

So I sold my Steam Deck and all it’s peripherals for $400 to a co-worker.  I’m a computer gamer now and forever.

Please Share:
Shortlink: