The word "Nerdy"

It seems that for many the word "Nerdy" has negative connotations. Often meaning weak, socially inept, lacking physique, wearing glasses, or being awkward with the opposite sex. While this may have been true in the past, like all other things, this too has changed. What I define as being nerdy is finding out what you love to do, and doing it without caring what other people think. Some of these things may include hobbies like playing video games, table top roleplaying games, or live action roleplaying games. It can also apply to people who love things pertaining to their academic standing. In our society we stress for our children to do their homework and be good students, but they are called nerdy if they enjoy it. There is a major problem here...What I suggest is....find what you love....do it.....who gives a s#%@ what other people think about it! If you can...surround yourself with people that support you in what you love to do, and care about you for what you contribute to this world.

I am a nerd in many different ways....and proud of my nerdy-ness....

Purple point five

For those of you who don't know I've been studying the martial arts for a couple of years now. It started with me becoming an Uke for my friend Earl for a self defense class. An Uke is essentially the person that gets beat up in order to demonstrate a technique (it is also one of the best ways to learn). We would get together informally in the wee hours of the morning (between 1-4am) and work on things. After about a year of doing that inconsistently, he was telling me about a martial arts camp that he holds every year where a bunch of the members of our system show up and train for 3-4 days. Last year I went to the camp as a white belt, and after getting heat stroke (didn't drink enough water) and attempting to rehydrate I managed to make it through the camp and rank up to my yellow belt. Since then I've gone to orange, and again to my purple belt. After moving away I was no longer able to train so my progression in rank came to a standstill. I knew that there would be a camp again this year, and I would do my best to make it. While traveling 3 hours for 2 hours of class isn't really do-able, driving 3 hours for 4 days of training is much more worth it. Unfortunately the time I put in at camp wasn't enough time to let me reach my next rank, but I did go up half a rank. I look forward to being closer to my teachers and being able to train more so that I can get that rank. The next post will be about one of my experiences at camp....

6 down about 12 to go!

All I have left of my 6th class (Security Essentials) is my final exam. This class has been interesting, but the teacher doesn't seem to do much lecturing like some of the other teachers have. For those of you who didn't know, after receiving my B.A. in Music and taking a road trip around the country with my partner Auri, I was planning on going to the local community college to get a second bachelors or an associates in Network Administration. A friend of ours in Texas suggest the University of Advancing Technology (Online). This traditional University started an online program that is more specific than network administration; the program is a B.S. in network security. After this program I'll go for a number of networking and other related certifications.
While my first love is and always will be playing music, it doesn't exactly 'bring home the bacon'. Those of you that know me, also know that I am a computer geek as well. I figure I might as well have a day job that can pay the bills, and that most gigs don't happen during the daytime hours anyways. I am looking forward to where this path will take me!

The Town of Bellows Falls

The economic hardships of the recession have echoed across the state of Vermont. While some towns seem to become downtrodden and/or roll over waiting to die, other towns grab ahold of their community and chose to keep going. Bellows Falls was the first town I lived in, in Vermont. (I was born in Kankakee, Illinois). I lived in Bellows Falls from when I was 2 years old until the middle of 3rd grade. After we moved to Springfield I still thought fondly of the town of Bellows Falls. Over the past 10 years it seems that Bellows Falls began to renovate and revitalize their downtown area. Relatively recently though a fire took the building that housed the restaurant known as Oona's. I don't know if the Happy Cat cafe went out of business or not, but it was in the same building as Oona's. It was sad to see it go, but Bellows Falls had a way of bouncing back. For a while there was a musical venue in the old Windham Hotel. It was an intimate setting where people came to listen, not to socialize (an environment that musicians love to play in). While it is all well in good to have people socializing, it is great when people are focused and attentive.

Tonight I am going to Bellows Falls to one of it's new establishments called the Downstreet Cafe.

.......

The "........" signifies that I was away from the computer and actually went there. My sister and I ate dinner at the wurst place in Bellows falls. No I spelled wurst right. It's a little joint called Fat Franks. They specialize in delicious dogs, but as I am on a local-meat-only diet, I opted for their reputably delicious home made veggie burger. I was thoroughly satisfied, especially with their hand cut fries. Afterwards she had to head to a meeting so I grabbed my guitar and started walking towards the cafe.
I'd never been there before but I knew where it was. It was a little place, and when I first came in I asked myself "where do the performers perform?" The lady behind the counter said "our host isn't here tonight so it'll be an acoustic night." To which I replied " sounds good to me my guitar doesn't even have a pickup anyways!"
I saw a familiar face right away. Guitar virtuoso Julie Waters. She was playing a 6-string banjo that was tuned like a guitar, i'd never seen one like that before.
Someone named John was supposed to play first, but he wasn't there so Julie played a couple songs. John showed up and took over playing some original songs that were really really good I thought. Simple, but they had heart. There was a man with his son due to go after John and the son was extremely enthusiastic and eager to sing the Beatles. They had some fun, and we all smiled at how into it the boy (named Mikey) was. I was due to go after them but I decided to wait a few minutes and see if anyone else would show up. I chugged a glass of water and then started playing. Then I asked John "you know, there aren't any listeners really besides the staff, why don't we just go song for song?" So thats what we did. A photographer came in and started shooting us. Must be interesting to go somewhere where there is live music, and no audience. We'll see if we end up in a paper or something. I always say "a bird does not sing so that others will applaud". I don't know where I heard it first but that holds true to this day. It was a good time sharing our songs and listening. Towards the end of the night I saw a familar face come in. Kenneth Wright, a poet. He used to come to the open mic that I attended regularly at the (now closed) Morning Star Cafe. It was good to hear him read again. He's a hard-workin' new englander who shared some new works about everything from "hobos" and "sugarin' "
Overall it was good fun.
I have some academic work to attend to

Inspiration comes from lots of places

I've been feeling a bit discouraged lately living at my girlfriend's parents house for the summer. They are good hardworking people, but it is a challenge to live with another couple after having lived the past two years just Auri and I. Auri is working at a camp for the week and I am staying at my parents for the week. It is a week off from any sort of manual labor, but I am anticipating my martial arts camp that is fast approaching (next week). Anyways the title of this post is about inspiration so I will get to it.

Auri's brother Eli told me about a website a while ago that has a myriad of things to keep you busy but I saw a headline for a new website that had launched called YouPhonics. The main idea behind this website is that anyone can post audio in the from of music, poetry, speaking, really the sky is the limit. Once posted other musicians from around the world can then post a new 'stem' off of what you've posted and then others can build off of that! There are some excellent musicians on the site already (even though it is still in the testing phases) and I am exciting to see if the potential for this site is realized.

I worked on a number of things over the past couple days on YouPhonics. I posted a riff that was part clean electric guitar, part distorted electric, and a distorted melody. For those of you that have heard my music I generally don't use distortion, but I used to use it.....a lot. It will be fun to test my 'chops' as I've had experience playing a large variety of genres.

One thing led to another and with my 'The Weepies' pandora station going I was surfing around facebook looking at pictures that I could use for an album for my blog, and I went over to a friends page that I've lost touch with. Then I started thinking about all the great people I have met over the years and while I was in college. I miss the nights of hanging out, going to bars, having good food (I really want some good sushi right now), localized road trips that turned into day-long trips. Good times.....

For years now I've been working on writing music, and a few times I thought I would create an album but really I've just amassed a collection of songs I've recorded and played some shows around northern Vermont. Lately, I've been into writing instrumentals, and I know from some of my shows in the past people can lose patience when listening to instrumentals. Many listeners want to hear a catchy hook that they will be singing later that night. I want to record ME. I've let my thoughts of what other people might think get in the way, when really I should be recording my music. I have been coming up with some really great things, and people may never hear it or appreciate it if I don't record it. If I don't record it or play it out, I am not even giving people a chance to not like it.

So that is one of new side projects; to use Auri's Mac and the wonderful program "Garage Band", try and get my hands on a good microphone, and get some of my tunes recorded. Meanwhile I will try to use "Latest Chapter of the Dilly" as a production blog. To keep all of my 4 followers and random readers aware of what is going on. For now, I am going to watch a movie I think. I hope all of you reading this are in good health and spirits!

A weekend at Grandma's

Last weekend I was in western New York in a little town called Castile. This is where my mom's mom lives, and where my mom grew up. It had been quite some time since I'd been there, I think I was perhaps around 11 or perhaps 12 at the oldest. I am 24 now, but unsurprisingly not much had changed out in Castile (at least from what I can remember). It was about a 7 hour drive which started at my mother's house in Springfield, Vermont, which left my eyes tired from the road and my long legs longing to be stretched out. My girlfriend Aurina, and my nephew Connor rode along and Aurina was kind enough to read to us book one from Terry Goodkind's sword of truth series.

Auri and I have been watching the adapted-for-television version of the books called Legend of the Seeker. While I enjoy the show, after having Auri read to us Wizard's First Rule was far more engaging and intriguing. Her reading helped pass the time while we drove through the flatness that is known as the New York State Thruway.

I started recognizing the area by the rolling hills and farms with fields that stretch easily 20 times larger than any that I've seen in my home state of Vermont (but still nothing compared to the mid-western farms). Our windows were down now that we were off the highway and the smell of manure and silage wafted into our little Subaru. Connor winced in disgust, and I just laughed as I don't mind the smell so much anymore.

Seeing the big red barn, I knew we were there. My mom was right, it does seem a LOT bigger when you are a kid. I remembered it being much, much bigger. When we got out of the car we didn't even go inside because one of my mom's childhood friends was out walking and she waved and ran over to give him a hug. I only had vague memories of the people and the area, but I was eager to give my grandmother who I hadn't seen in years a hug. As I was thinking this my mother's friend made a comment "your mother is looking out the window at you" and I looked over and there she was. I could recognize her but time had changed her appearance from my previous memories. I remember her having dark reddish brown well kept hair, but it was replaced by short curly greyish-white hair.

Some people say that the sense of smell is tied strongly to memory, and that is absolutely true for me. When we opened the front door I remembered the smell first. Kindof like mothballs and old-fashioned aftershave. I don't know if it was just me who remembers that smell, but I could have been walked in there blindfolded and I could have told you where I was.

At first my grandmother thought that I was my older brother Jason, but my mom clarified that I was "little Danny". Not many people call me Danny anymore, pretty much just family. Its not that I am opposed to the name, it just seemed to fall out of fashion for me. It's Dan or Daniel now (and recently have been leaning towards a preference for Daniel). She had spaghetti and meatballs for us. This happens to be Connor's favorite meal, and is still one of my favorites. The problem is my new dietary decision I've made. I decided that I will do the best I can to try and only eat local, or humanely treated animals. I'd talk more about that now but that is another post. I just ate some pasta and sauce and had an egg-salad sandwich.

My grandmother is apparently a big baseball fan, but as she watched Aurina and myself sat up until about midnight chatting with my grandmother. It was a fun experience to be able to catch up a bit. Auri and I got to sleep in a king-sized bed, while everyone else was camping outside. For those of you who sleep with another person regularly, a king-sized bed is an amazing thing. You have so much room to stretch out, that it is hard to NOT get comfortable. Needless to slay we both slept much better than we had in a while.

The next morning we had breakfast and our agenda included Letchworth State Park and later that evening a visit to the Charcoal Corral. Letchworth State Park was a gorgeous place (if you've been there, you know that I am making a pun when I say gorgeous) that had massive cliffs, thundering waterfalls, and lots of wildlife. The only downside is that is was partnered with lots of development and paving. I always feel like state parks should be limited to little tollbooth like buildings, and perhaps the occasional restroom facility. Other than that though Letchworth was an enjoyable visit, and I took a lot of pictures with my old 35mm Minolta.

The Charcoal Corral is a family-oriented establishment that seemed to have gone through some changes since the last time I remember. The last time I went.....the Lion King had just come out. The only thing I didn't like was just how much food they moved in one day/night. These sorts of places are a lot of fun, but they don't seem like they could be sustainable. They had good wholesome fun though like mini-golf, hula-hoop competitions, and a ticket arcade where you can win glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth and army men with little plastic parachutes. Their dual drive-in theater had some upgrades! They had upgraded from the little speakers you put on the door to FM transmitters so you can just tune in and have the quality sound from your car speakers. We watched Toy Story 3 and Prince of Persia. TS3 was emotional, and PoP was a pretty good adaptation from the video games.

The next day we slept in (after being up so late watching the double feature). When we finally woke up we sat around and visited a bit. Auri and I played a game of scrabble with my grandmother (and I won!!!). We were set to go to the father's day page family reunion. It apparently happens every year! It was fun to meet a bunch of people that I am apparently related to. I had an interesting conversation about eating local with my dairy-farming relative named Corey. I can't remember how we're related but we had a great conversation about food!

After leaving the reunion, we went over to the home of one of my mom's childhood friends. Gail and her husband David are really down to earth, positive, and kind people. I really hope they come to visit us here in Vermont.

We went to the grocery store, and then home to grandma's to make sandwiches. That night we did some more chatting and anticipated our ride home in the morning. Auri and I were anxious to get back because Eli (Auri's brother) was going to be leaving on a flight early Tuesday morning. It was a long drive back, but Auri read to us again so it was bearable.

I just realized I forgot two very emotional and important events.....on the way to Grandmas....we stopped at my Great Aunt Betty's house. My Great Uncle Herb had died last September, and my Great Aunt wanted me to have his trumpet....this was very thoughtful....and pulled on my heartstrings. My Great Uncle was important to my musical development.

Also...When we left, my Grandmother gave me my grandfather's mandolin. I was glad to accept these musical instruments, and I will keep them well and in the family!

Really? It's been a year?

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I last wrote in my blog...but it has! So much has happened since then...Here is the bulleted list of what I've done.

• Started a program working towards a second bachelors degree in Network Security through the University of Advancing Technology (Online).
• Worked at a cafe as a Barista for about a year
• Wrote a bunch of instrumentals for guitar
• Went to a few different birthday parties in which the people celebrating their birthdays turned 21 years of age.
• Got my purple belt in Kempo Jiujitsu Eskrima
• I didn't blog...
• I watched my girlfriend of 5 years graduate with her Master's in Education
• I played some shows...
• Recently I applied to teach English as a second language in Korea.
• My girlfriend and I moved to live with her parents....This...is challenging...(more on that later)
• I'm currently jobless, but work odd-jobs for people to pay the bills....

That is about it in a nutshell If I think of more I will update it. I am gonna go help out with some painting downstairs now. Hope all you readers are doing well. Hopefully I can get back into this...and maybe people will read!