I complain a lot.

I'm realizing that I really do. I feel sorry for anybody who has to listen to me.

Body modding

I've been thinking very seriously lately about getting into body modding.

I already know that I'm going to do tattoos over a large part of my torso. I have a back piece planned, as well as something for my left shoulder. I would like to get pieces figured out for other parts of me as well... and I know already how I'm going to link them together. That way it's not just a bunch of random patches of ink across my skin... they will actually flow together in a way.

More recently though I've been thinking about piercings as well. Partially because these are much cheaper than tattoos... and partially because I've always liked piercings. Once it was suggested that some piercings might look good on me.. well, it was all over.

So far, I'm thinking I would like to get (eventually) ears, septum, labret and bridge... all nice and symmetrical. The bridge might be a bit awkward, with the way my glasses sit... since I've got such a narrow bridge, my glasses sit right exactly where the piercing would go.

I still have a huge fear of needles... and I would definitely have to give my standard disclaimer of me + needles = passing out when I got pierced.. but I think this would also help me overcome that fear. Maybe.. somehow.

My other problem is, I don't know how these piercings will be viewed at work. I'm not even sure about ear piercings simply because of my job. Granted, this is a business casual environment... but some of these people are also very straight laced. Plus the fact that I actually have to meet with clients on occasion... which I hate (see my previous post about that.) I really want to start doing this stuff.. it just really interests me. I guess I'll have to ask if there's any kind of policy here about that. It just somewhat bugs me that work might actually restrict me from doing things like this, when really, it doesn't change at all who I am or how I perform my job. It just changes how I look... which really, they shouldn't give a damn about, as long as I'm presentable.

Management

So I posted here previously that I will soon have somebody working under me, and the stress and doubts associated with that. I think I can safely say that I'm over those fears. I'm certain that I will be a strong leader and also a good teacher. I have no doubts there anymore. The problem is, now I'm doubting if I want to be in that type of position. It may be that I was born to be in a leadership role of sorts... I have always somewhat fallen into that role in most situations in my life. I'm just not sure if I want that to be my job. I like obscurity... I like being the man behind the curtain, making things work from the shadows. I like having the freedom to actually work, without constraints, without distractions. Most of all though, I hate dealing with political bullshit. And to me, that's what comes with a management role. You have to deal with customers and other managers all the time, and you have to play political footsie with them. That's not something I enjoy, that's not something I want. Sure, I can bullshit with the best of em when I have to, but I couldn't live with myself if that's what I did for a job. I would start to hate my job, and I just got myself out of a position where I couldn't stand waking up in the morning, because it meant I had to drag myself in for another day of worthless time at my job.

Then again, who knows, maybe it won't be that way at all. I may be over analyzing. Being in a management position here might be just what I need. I suppose only time will tell.

Rust 'n Bass

So I was listening to a drum 'n bass mix that I recorded last night... just about a half hour worth. And I realized, that I sound like CRAP. I am way rusty with that stuff. I can't believe how incredibly out of practice I am now... so yeah, I need a lot more practice with that stuff. And probably more records. Definitely more records. Or I could just stick with tech house & breakbeats. Both of which I'm at least decent at mixing. Grr, decisions decisions!

I <3 RedHat.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061116-8240.html
http://www.redhat.com/promo/believe/
http://www.redhat.com/truthhappens/

RedHat rules. Plain and simple. Microsoft pushes, and they shove back. They won't take guff from anybody. That is awesome. More people should follow their example.

Organization

I really need to start getting things organized. I keep finding myself forgetting to do things, or ending up doing them several days later than I really should. It's not that I have too many things to do... well okay maybe I do, but all of this really should be manageable if I just put my mind to it. At least I've started to get my dates and appointments organized, thanks to my wonderifical new phone.
I love my phone. I really do.
I just need to figure out what to do to organize everything else.... my white board is filled with chicken scratch, and I've got sticky notes every freaking where.

Drum 'n Bass +10

I've learned a very valuable lesson tonight.

Spinning drum 'n bass with all the tracks at or near +10% pitch is very difficult.
And it sounds like crap.

Note to self: Never do that again.