Broken - August 18 2002

07.25 am It is much cooler this morning, the alarm went off three
times. I dreamt I was trapped at the top of a very tall building riding
a rollercoaster, and somebody was making biscuits. I woke up when the
biscuits were ready so I never got to taste any. I am listening to the
Bad Religion CD I got, the one that has Broken on it.

Yesterday (16) I got up early, fed the cats, and Tabby wasn't too sure
about his food. If I tarry, then Longhair eats his biscuits while he
waits. I went online and had a look at the board. See what email I had.
Then I played guitar for a while. Better practice this time, I have a
couple of tunes I am working on as well.

Later, my wife went out. I messaged Erin. I hoped that she might be
around but when I called the phone rang and no reply, so maybe I
misjudged the time I rang. I got the bus, and it was very hot. I went
into Southend, getting off the buss at Victoira Circus and walking past
the Odeon and down Southchurch Road to the Old Record Museum. I had a
look at the CDs and bought one by Mouse and The Traps (a sixties garage
punk band), then I went round to Honky Tonk. They still had several
guitars in their sale.

I tried out a BC Rich copy and it was horrible, very tinny, then I
spent an hour playing a second hand Stratocaster. This had a marvellous
sound, and since it was a 1992 model, it was a solid body rather than
laminate. I liked the colour as well, and bought it.

Then I went in Mama Amalfis and had a latte, lugging the huge cardboard
box they had packed the Strat in. Then in HMV where I bought an
Offspring CD that Erin had recommended to me and the Bad Religion CD I
wanted. I had a listen to both of them in the shop. Both albums are
very individual and I like them.

I got the bus home. I went in the garage fired up the Peavey amp and
plugged in the Strat and played it for a long time. My wife came out
when she heard me playing and told me it was too hot and the sound
would make people annoyed.

I brought the guitar inside, and stood near to the table. Then I went
online for a bit. I had a chat with friends and then I taped a few
songs in the early evening, including a couple which I personally
liked, I want to send them to Erin but I can't, because we agreed that
I wouldnt send anymore tapes or CDs. I have changed my style of playing
a bit, trying to go for a more rounded sound as well. The Strat was
great, very solid sound. I don't think I would have done those two
songs without it, or at least been inspired enough to try something
different. They are more melodic, maybe akin to the garage punk sound I
am trying to capture.

My wife got in from her Mum and Dad's and I had my pizza for tea. She
had taken out Mulholland Drive, on DVD, a David Lynch film and yes, it
was a bit adult in places. Quite weird. She is a big fan of Twin Peaks,
so likes the director, I thought the story was very dark but worked
well. It's a Psycho-Sexual Drama if there is such a thing. Full of
icons, it had the arrogant director, the classic blonde and brunette
and some really weird almost dream like sequences.

I went online and posted something about the film. I played the
Offspring CD quite a lot during the evening before the film. The Vaio
was even letting me listen to the CD without getting upset which I took
to be a good sign that maybe the CD drive is feeling better now.

Reading is rapidly approaching, and I still need to sort out
arrangements for food, and what's being taken, with my niece. I am
supposed to meet her friends before we go, so they know who I am. Else
the first time they will see me is at Reading.

It was hot again today. I wonder how Erin coped with the hot
weather.