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There are 276 blog entries within the category of Blog Entry
My parents have been in town helping my brother fix up his new house and so there have been all sorts of construction and arts and crafts projects happening. I've been wanting to make a pedalboard for some time now and felt inspired.
The bottom frame of the board is cut out of poplar and the top is covered in diamond board. I fastened a hearty power strip with an 8 foot cord to the top. All of the pedals are given power from a standard DC brick. There are holes drilled next to each device so that all of the wiring could be done on the bottom side. Finally the handles are just standard cabinet mounts turned the wrong way.
It was actually very difficult to find the short 1/4" cables to go between each of the pedals.
 The pedalboard shown under normal lighting
 The pedalboard shown in the dark
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I was just messing around with some melodic finger plucking and happened to come up with this. I threw it into GarageBand and applied some very light effects to it. Although it might sound like there is a bass guitar in it, I just turned the bass up very high on my LC2-Sonoma and ran with it.
You can listen to the song here: Intro_20060424.mp3
e|-----------------------------------------------|--
B|-----3-----3--3-3--3---------------------3-----|--
G|-----2-----4--2p0--2-----------0h2p0-----0h2---|:-
D|--0~~~--0~~~----0~~~--0--0h2h4--------0--------|:-
A|-----------------------------------------------|--
E|-----------------------------------------------|--
e|-----------------------------------------------|--
B|-----3-----3--3-3--3---------------------3-----|--
G|-----2-----4--2p0--2-----------0h2p0-----0h2---|:-
D|-------------------------0h2h4-----------------|:-
A|-----------------------------------------------|--
E|--3~~~--3~~~----3~~~--3~~~~~~~~~~~~~--3~~~~----|--
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 An overview of the basic HTML graphing. A screenshot of the data view.
Currently the program only supports the English system of miles and gallons. Future versions intend to include the metric system as well as conversions between the figures.
If the demand seems to exist, a future version will allow the user to import a CSV file (or something similar). This should satisfy any users who have historically kept up with such data with Excel and other spreadsheets.
Download from Freecode at:
http://freecode.com/projects/gastracker
Download directly from:
Tar/GZ: AS-GasTracker_v1_0_0.tar.gz (43,789 bytes)
WinZip: AS-GasTracker_v1_0_0.zip (62,133 bytes)
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My parents came into town this weekend and participated in the AIDS walk downtown with my brother. To our amusement, my mom made it into the paper the next day. Here's a little screen capture of it.
 Nancy walking in the AIDS walk (shes on the far left edge of the picture)
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Introduction
Instead of having the traditional wedding shower, Gene and Vanessa decided that they would have a Stock the Bar party - to be hosted by the Crocketts. However, instead of having the traditional Stock the Bar party, here is what they did: Everyone that was invited to the party showed up with a bottle of something. Gene and Vanessa brought all of their old bottles of liquor to the party. So rather than everyone consume the new bottles, we consumed the old ones, and the newer ones are to be saved for their wedding party. I thought it was a pretty good idea.
Setting up for the Party
Krista asked me if I could help her setup for the party and so naturally, I decided that I could.
Krista had a number of errands she needed to run for the party. First stop on the list was a quick trip over to Party Pig Superstore. Naturally, bring a kid into a candy store and it's not a quick trip. In this case, bringing me into a Party Pig store - we stayed there for awhile. After taking pictures of all things 'fascinating' and waiting around for 30 minutes to have a dozen balloons filled up, our trip was complete. Next stop was over to H.E.B. to pickup some flowers for the event. Finally, back to the Crocketts house where I spent 10 minutes making sure that the toilet that Crockett and I had broken, fixed, and broken again, just the day before, was in good working order.
Reuben's Emporium Liquor Store
 Inside of Reuben's Emporium
Take a look at those cubby holes they have for the liquors. They actually have a different cubby hole for each type of alcohol (tequilas, rums, etc.). Crockett sees these enclaves as the store's exclusive selling point.
Reuben's Wines and Spirits
11637 Research Blvd.
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 345-2866
Some Party Highlights
I would have to say that overall the party was pretty tame, but certainly not without it's moments of drunken humor. Since it was, in some way, a wedding shower party, we played a game whereby Gene and Vanessa were blindfolded (not at the same time) and had to sit on the couch. A line of girls formed for Gene, and a line of guys for Vanessa, and each one quietly kissed them on the cheek (or in some cases jumped on top and licked their cheek). After everyone had their turn, they were supposed to guess which one was their spouse-to-be. Gene failed not once, not twice, but thrice, before picking Vanessa. He cited he lost count. Vanessa technically lost as well, however I think it is clear she was cheated because Gene decided not to go. Technically I suppose it should have been possible for her to say that none of the kisses came from Gene, but it was assumed that he had participated.
Perhaps another element of the night worth mentioning is Christine taking a body shot from Crockett's bra? Well, naturally this is entirely captured on film. It's actually in two different parts because I could only film 20 second clips at a time on my cell phone.
Notable Word-Coining Experience
I would just like to add this quick section as a reminder to the greatest word ever coined. I believe the real name of this game is Indian Poker, wherby players pickup a card from a deck and place it on their foreheads. Since nobody could recall this name prior to wanting to play it, it was dubbed CardHead.
Crockett Dancing
It's almost getting too easy if you ask me - ruining any chance that Mike Crockett might have at Congress or the like. Once again, Mike drank some alcohol. Once again, without provoking of any kind, he was on the dance floor. And once again, the spectacle was caught on film. I'd personally like to thank Mr. Michael Crockett for providing me and all of his party guests with several minutes of entertainment.
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 Dreux and Amy about 1 hour after getting engaged The Rolex on Amy's arm
Well, it's been coming for years now - that Dreux and Amy would wind up getting married that is. I can recall back to the first time that I met Amy at a party. Though it WAS my birthday, the party was technically not a birthday party, but rather just a get-together that Crockett, Evan, and Dreux were having at their house.
I'm not sure if I was drunk or not, but I vividly recall telling Amy how much Dreux had been talking about her - even though it was only the first time I had found out Dreux was even dating someone. She seemed mildly impressed that he had spoken so much about her, but at the time, I don't think I knew she was a doctor and probably assumed I could out smart her. In hindsight, I'm sure she knew I was full of shit.
Anyway, I asked both Amy and Dreux to give me their own stories that landed them engaged. Dreux sent me his in two installments.
The Tale - Part I (Considering Marriage)
The Dreux version of how he and Amy got engaged.
Amy and I have been dating for quite some time, mostly long distance. I was in Austin and she was in medical school 79 miles away in San Antonio. At the end of medical school and 2.5 years of dating me, she accepted a residency in Austin so we could live in the same city. I bought a house around the same time that she was moving to Austin, so we thought, "What the hell? We'll live in sin and see where it gets us."
A year went by living in our small 1950's house. Late spring - early summer of '05 - things became a little more serious. We had discussed engagement rings and how impractical they were. As a doctor, Amy would not be able to wear the ring very often because she wears gloves when treating patients. Taking on and off the ring is a recipe for loosing it. Also if you know Amy, then you know she does not wear rings or jewelry unless it's a special occasion. Me, personally I think the diamond market is a scam. What are diamonds really? They're just a clear hard piece of rock that people only value because of clever marketing. The only piece of jewelry I own is a hoop that is pierced in the cartilage of my ear. I don't even wear a watch. I tell time by a mobile phone that fits nicely in my pocket, but I digress.
I was trying to figure out what to get Amy as an engagement gift. Amy tends to hold on to anything that she gets as a gift, even if it gets broken. Her brother once gave her this campy wall clock for her birthday. The clock broke and she did not want to toss it because her brother gave it to her. When I asked her brother if he would be offended if she got rid of it, he did not even remember that he gave it to her. Moral of the story: don't give her something that will got out of style, wear out, or an electronic that will be archaic in 5 years.
Rule #1: It had to be something that lasts a lifetime.
I was half-way considering getting a painting, a nice piece by an artist Amy and I liked. But then she would not be able to show off the painting to her friends when she told them she was engaged. Her conversations would go something like this:
Amy: I'm engaged!!!
Amy's friend: (jumping up and down screaming) Really, I'm excited. Where's the ring?
Amy: Oh he didn't get me a ring. I got a painting. It is hanging in the living room you should come by a see it sometime.
Amy's friend: (visibly less excited) Oh, that's interesting.
Rule #2: It has to be something mobile, so she can show it off.
I was talking to my friend Dave about the issue and he suggested a watch, a nice watch, like a Rolex. I thought it was a good idea. Amy currently wore a watch. Doctors usually do, they've got to time you heart beat somehow, or call someone's time of death. This was an excellent idea. Rolex watches last for forever, it is something that can be shown off, and it was something Amy could wear all the time. I liked the idea because a watch was utilitarian.
The Tale - Part II (The Proposal)
In the late spring - early summer of 2005 - Amy asked "Can we get a new showerhead?" Of course I said "Sure, we can get a new showerhead." This went on for another month during which Amy would periodically ask about a showerhead. Now Amy's birthday is September 27th, and so when she asked for a showerhead, our conversations would go a little something like this:
Amy: When are we going to get a new showerhead?
Dreux: Maybe you will get one for your birthday.
Amy: I don't want a showerhead for my birthday.
Dreux: A showerhead is a great birthday present.
Amy: I'm going to buy a showerhead and install it so you can't get me one for my birthday.
Dreux: But I already got you a showerhead it is in my box.
Amy: What box?
Dreux: The box where I store stuff of yours that I don't like and if you don't notice it is gone, in six months I get rid of it.
Amy: You don't have box, do you?
Dreux: Maybe I do.
This went on all summer long - Amy always threatening to call my bluff of getting her a showerhead for her birthday by getting one and installing it. It never happened. When September finally came around she started to ask what she was getting for her birthday. She always wants hints on her gifts and I have a history of not playing this game right. She asks me what her gift is and the first time I say, "I'm not going to tell you." But then she proceeds to ask and eventually after the 5th time I just tell her what she is getting. Then she says I was not supposed to tell her and that I've ruined the surprise. I always tell her if she wanted to be surprised she should not ask. So in September 2005, I employed a new tactic. Every time she asked I would say, "You know what you are getting, a showerhead." Amy would always reply "I'm going to be very disappointed if I get a showerhead for my birthday."
I planned to propose on her birthday. The week before her birthday I was going to be in the China for business, before I left, I ordered the watch. The salesman at the jewelry store assured me it would be in when I got back, and before Amy's birthday. My buddy Emerson knew my plan to propose and while I was in China, Amy and he went out to dinner one night. Amy was asking him for hints at what I was getting her. All Emerson would say was ?"It is something you have wanted for a long time."
I came home September 24th the same day hurricane Rita hit landfall in East Texas and West Louisiana. When I went to the jewelry store on Monday I was told that due to hurricane Rita, deliveries were delayed. The watch was not coming in until Wednesday, the day after Amy's birthday.
New plan. I needed to get her something so I was not empty handed on her birthday. That morning Amy mentioned that some of her bras were wore out and she needed new ones. After visiting the jewelry store I went to Victoria's Secret and got a gift certificate. Monday night I met Amy's dad for a beer at a restaurant near his work so I could ask for Amy's hand in marriage. I'm not a traditionalist, but Amy's parents are to some degree, and I felt it was the right thing to do. When I asked, his response was "Good, It's about time." We both laughed and he told me about when he and Amy's mom, Linda, went to Linda's parents place to tell them they were getting married.
Tuesday morning came and Amy woke up. I wished her a happy birthday. She asked when she was getting her present and I told her tonight at her parents place. During my lunch hour I went to Home Depot and picked out a top of the line showerhead.
That evening I met Amy at her parents place with my pink Victoria's Secret bag complete with a showerhead and gift certificate inside. I handed Amy the bag and the conversation went something like this:
Amy: A Showerhead?? I can't believe you got me a showerhead?
Dreux: There is a gift certificate too. You said you needed new bras.
Amy: Dreux!! (looking over at her mom)
Dreux: Your mom knows you wear bras. You don't like your birthday gift? (acting hurt)
Amy: No, no I like it, thank you. (trying to act not disappointed)
Dreux: That is a top of the line showerhead, and very aesthetically pleasing.
Amy: Yes it is a very good showerhead.
Amy's mom who was watching knew that the watch was late and this was a fake gift, but still could not help feel sorry for me. This was a feeling I appreciated though misplaced as I was enjoying this back and forth and acting hurt. And then as if on cue, Amy's brother, Scott, and his girlfriend, Kathy, showed up and asked what I gave Amy.
Kathy: What did Dreux give you?
Amy: A showerhead.
Dreux: A top-of-the-line showerhead.
Kathy: Cool.
Scott: That's cool.
Kathy: I want a showerhead.
Dreux: (to Amy) See, the showerhead is a good gift.
We went to dinner that night with her parents and on the ride over.
Amy: Did you tell Emerson what you were getting me?
Dreux: Yeah he knew, why?
Amy: It was just not what I was expecting.
Dreux: What you don't like the showerhead? Scott and Kathy like the showerhead. It is a very good showerhead.
Amy: No I like the showerhead, it is just not what I expected.
While I went and picked up the watch on Wednesday, Amy's friends at work asked what I had given her for her birthday. Amy had to reply "A showerhead." That sparked a male-bashing session with broad generalizations that men don't know how to give gifts or how to shop for gifts, and telling of tales of fathers giving mothers microwaves or vacuum cleaners. That night was Amy's birthday dinner with friends [at Trudys North]. When Amy got home she asked if we could delay the friend birthday dinner to another night. She had a presentation on Friday and the attending wanted to go over it Thursday and she had not done anything for the presentation yet.
Dreux: Well we could delay the dinner, but if we do I can't give you this. (handing Amy a gift wrapped box.)
Amy: What is this?
Dreux: Open it and find out.
Amy opens the box to show a very nice Rolex watch.
Dreux: Amy, will you marry me?
Amy: Of course I will.
Then I related the whole story of how the watch was not in on time and how I thought it would be fun to get her a showerhead. That night we had a great time with friends at dinner. Amy's friends at work had to eat their words the next day.
There you have it folks, the long twisted tale of how Amy and I got engaged from Dreux's point of view. I could not be happier on how it turned out and I'm glad we have a nice tale to tell.
Comments
Pat - 10/20/05 - 02:32:19 PM
"Dreux"
Did he ever tell you about the doll he set on fire?
The Other Cajun - 10/20/05 - 03:07:40 PM
"Every dog has his day"
My congratulations to you and my condolences to Amy. Amy: Please have that watch appraised. I hear through the grape vine that Druex took a quick flight to NYC and bought a couple of "Lolex's" in Chinatown....
Lauren, Joe and Noah - 10/21/05 - 09:46:47 PM
"Watch Boy"
If you need a watch boy, we have one who can do it for real cheap. If you do employ him, he will require workman's comp, and health insurance. Also, make sure the watch is water-proof, cause he drools a lot! It's nice to hear your story. It's a little long, but good, so long as Amy is happy. Don't forget to get the watch insured (they're only covered in theft under a Homeowner's policy for $500!)
Your beloved friends,
The Cadilacs
Kim - 11/29/05 - 03:58:31 PM
"Congrats to Dreux and Amy"
Congratulations on your engagement! Dreux, Amy is a keeper because I would've bopped you over the head with my "top of the line" showerhead! :-)
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