Spinning
I started getting this headache yesterday. I get them every few times a month, since I had a bad car accident in 2000. The doctor told me my neck and head would never be the same, but I’ve just sort of gotten used to the migraine/neck headache a couple times every month. My neck starts to tense and I can feel it working toward the front of my head. Behind my eyes starts to pulse and it lasts for a few hours. Normally I can catch it and take a handful of medicine and it will eventually go away. Not this time.
This morning I woke up and could barely stand without feeling like I had just had way too much to drink. Literally almost falling down the stairs and unable to shake the feeling that I had just spun around in circles 100 times, I thought it was maybe a coffee thing. Nope. Food thing? Nope. Congestion? Nope. And the weird thing was, my head didn’t hurt that bad either. I just could barely stand. I’ve never had anything like this happen before, so being the pseudo-hypochondriac that I am, I can picture my brain literally breaking into pieces.
Kristin made me lay in a dark room with an ice pack on my neck and that seemed to help in the ‘knocking me out’ process, and I’m a tad less dizzy now. Everything is still a little streaked and foggy, but my neck is less stiff and something seems to be working. I don’t know what vertigo is, but I after reading about it a little and listening to that U2 song, it could be something like that. Who knows.
Anyone else ever feel this way?
San Antonio
Well, it’s been a while. It’s not that I haven’t had things to say, or really even time to say them. It’s more of a mental thing. I’ve had a tricky time wrapping my head around anything of any value for the past few weeks. Again, maybe it’s just being too tired or being away from home. Or maybe it’s just me taking a few weeks to whine like a baby on this thing because I can’t think of anything else to say. Normally I try to be a pretty positive person, but I’d be off base if I didn’t say that this tour has been a struggle for me. It’s been weird for sure. Not because of the tour, but more because of my own brain I think.
But today I’m working on making things a little different. I don’t know how, but it started with Mike and I taking a little scooter ride to a mall just to get out. I picked up some “ninja sock Vans” and Mike got an iPod player. Then we stopped by a ghetto pawn shop on the way back. It looks like a pretty rough part of town, but at least we had manly looking scooters.
I’m headed home tomorrow for a day or two, but during those days I’ll be at the Dove Awards, involved in something that I haven’t really heard about yet, and trying to spend as much time with Kristin and the boys as I can. Then we’ve got one more run after this, then it’s home sweet home for an uncertain amount of time.
Well, that’s it’s for now. I’m sure there’s something important that needs to be done, so I’m going to track that down.
The Bird Photographer
It happens every now and then. Sometimes when I’m on the road for long periods of time, sometimes when I’m tired, or sometimes when everything is fine. I get in this funk that for some reason I can’t shake. Call it a depression, call it being moody, call it what you want, but I think we all go through it occasionally…. At least I hope. These last few days have been a little like that but different…. and this time it’s starting to jack with me a little.
I literally just got back from walking down the street to a Starbucks in Spokane, Washington. The venue we are at is on the other side of the river and there’s this pretty amazing walk across a bridge and through a downtown area. There was a carousel with music and all sorts of people enjoying their day.
Walking back I noticed a guy sitting on the bridge with a massive camera taking pictures of, I assume, the birds as they dove down into the water. He looked pretty involved in what he was doing, wearing headphones and clearly ‘somewhere else’. Instantly, my mind went to this place of “what’s the point?” ”Why would you take the time to go to some bridge to take pictures of birds? Seems pointless to me. It’s not benefitting anything. What’s he going to do with 100 pictures of birds?”
What?!?
Who’s in my head, and how did you get there? I used to take pictures of birds. I used to appreciate art. I’m usually blown away by music. I’m fascinated by photography. Is the concept of ‘art’ slowly becoming meaningless to me? Maybe it’s because I’m working so much. Maybe it’s because I’m simply too busy to enjoy the artistry of the things around me. Maybe it’s because I have to pretend to be a “business owner” all the time studying statistics and all that junk. If anything, I hope I’m not turning into ‘that guy’.
Now this isn’t one of those posts where I have some answer or ‘solution’ on how I “got over it”. This is just the only thing I could think about writing when I got back from seeing the bird photographer. Maybe I need more sleep, or a day off, or to see my family. Who knows. I just know there’s going to need to be a conscious effort in noticing the art.
Anyone else fall into this every once in a while? Any suggestions?
It Only Takes One
Broadcasting things live is a tricky thing. There’s always this element of the ‘unknown’ and I think that’s what freaks some people out. I think that’s what causes people to shy away from it and decide to not do it. There’s also this element of making yourself subject to the public in real time. Where all you can do is react to people and what the decide to do. I think this freaks people out too.
I don’t know how many of you showed up to Jonny Diaz’s Live Chat last night, but if you did you noticed the “one chatter”. You know the one. The fifteen year old hiding in his mom’s basement typing the most offensive things he his middle school brain can think of to try to get a reaction from the rest of the chatters. Now, most of you know, this stuff happens. If you’ve ever been on any sort of live chatting thing, there’s always some scholar that throws out obscenities to try to get a reaction and it’s pretty easy to ban them from the chat. However, last night was a little different.
Due to some technical issues beyond my control and the flippant attitude for customer service expressed by Ustream I was somehow blocked out from being able to ban Mr. Offensive Chatter. What should have taken two clicks of a mouse turned into three phone calls and creating a whole new account to simply log in and block him. The problem? It’s a game now and he’s trying to be more offensive.
So, ten minutes and several comments later, I was finally able to ban him from the chat with no help from Ustream or even an, “I’m sorry this happened.” Not scoring points for Ustream.
So, bottom line. If you were offended, annoyed, distracted, or whatever else last night during the chat I apologize. Some time this stuff happens and we’ve got to just roll with it. Next I’ll be writing an email to the co-founder of Ustream to ask him if he thinks I should switch back to Mogulus for our live broadcasts.
+ (While a frustrated post, I am still being positive… except for my attitude toward Ustream)
My First Triathlon
So, I’ve noticed that marathons these days are the hip thing. Can I say hip? Or does that make me very un-hip? Either way, marathons and all sorts of endurance-y type things are sort of the ‘thing’ right now. So tonight I decided to jump on the old bandwagon. Yep, tonight at dinner I decided that as soon as we were done I would participate in my first ever triathlon. I mean how hard can it be?
Okay, it wasn’t your “conventional” triathlon, but hey, I don’t like to do things the “conventional” way. I like to think outside the box, march to a different beat, and rock my first triathlon the way I want to. And that’s exactly what I did.
After dinner I threw on my new athletic shoes that don’t look like they should go to space, some basketball shorts, stole the boys iPod and filled it with high energy songs that could keep me going and I was off. First leg of the triathlon was the running. I rounded the corner of my cul-de-sac with the wind in my face. The sun was setting so I knew that if I was going to finish this triathlon I was going to have to hurry. Past one ‘Stop’ sign, then another and another. Nothing could stop me, except that stabbing pain in my side. That stopped me for a second, but then I was back to a slow trot.
After about eight or so neighborhood ‘Stop’ signs I was approaching my friend Michael’s house at a blinding speed. He was out changing a headlight in his car so I stopped to throw up in his bushes help him and steal his bike for the second leg of my triathlon. At this point my legs were jell-o and my lungs were burning so biking would give me a chance to recover for the third and final leg.
I rode past Michael’s house, another ten or so ‘Stop’ signs, and I decided that I needed to push to finish before dark. Around the final cul-de-sac and I was officially half way done and headed back. Repeating my ten or so ‘Stop’ signs and then the original eight or so that I had run making a total of about eighteen more ‘Stop’ sign lengths on the bike, and I was ready for the third and final leg of my first ever triathlon. I came flying into the driveway and parking the bike in the garage. I knew there was only one leg left, but I needed to stop for water, check some emails and catch my breath again.
Then it was time for the third and final push. Now, typically the final portion of a ‘conventional’ triathlon is the swimming portion. You know in a cool comfortable ocean or something. But like I said before, I’m not really in to doing things the ‘conventional’ way, so for my third and final leg of my triathlon, I decided to take a shower. That’s right. Instead of the ‘normal’ splashing around in the water, I decided to step it up a level and stand. And in hot water no less. How you like me now Spence?
Now I’m watching The NBA Finals and barely able to move, but at least I have the sense of accomplishment still pressing firmly on my chest and lungs. I may need a day or two off and then it will be back to training for my next challenge. I might even ride the bike all the way to Target.
Sony Sucks
“If you know that PC’s are crap why did you buy one?”
If I hear that question one more time, I might freak out a little. Here’s the deal. Most of you know that I’ve been broadcasting live video for about a year now. There’s a couple different ways to do it but the ‘most effective’ is to use a program called a Flash Media Encoder that is conveniently only made for a PC. Not sure the logic on Adobe’s part in making a video product that doesn’t work with Mac’s but that’s not up to me. So, after hearing that the best way to broadcast is to spend money on something I passionately don’t even want, I did it anyway and left the store with a brand new Sony Vaio Notebook.
Now, I had this computer to be used for one thing and one thing only. To take out of the hard metal case, plug in and broadcast the shows. After the show was over it was packed back up in the hard metal case surrounded by foam and set in the back of the bus.
Twenty one shows this computer lasted. I hated using it every night because of it’s cheap, unreliable quality. Then it broke. Luckily I had a warranty and so all I needed to do was send it in and get whatever happened fixed and it would be all good. Well, today I got a call from Sony saying that there had been some ‘memory damage’ and also since the firewire port was broken the mother board would need to be replaced. All of those repairs would total $540 and they could have that back to me in ten days.
“What about the warranty?”
“I’m sorry sir, these are covered under the warranty.”
“But I just paid $900 for a computer of yours 6 months ago, and now you want me to pay $500 more to fix things that I didn’t break?”
“Yes.”
Seriously. I know I’m just annoyed right now, but if you are even remotely considering purchasing a Sony Vaio Notebook you are about to waste your money. The idea that something that costs $900, isn’t under warranty after six months and has that many problems, and costs $500 to fix completely blows my mind.
I told the lady that she might as well send the PC back to me and I’d use it as a paper weight or frizbee or something. She apologized and said she was ‘just a customer service person’ and I assured her I would do everything I could to discourage anyone from buying a Sony Vaio Notebook. So here I am. I’m telling you. If you can at all avoid getting a Sony, do it. You’ll thank me later.
Anyone else have any issues with Sony?
I’m Going To Do What?
So, I’m not all that great talking in front of people. I never have been. In fact, this whole blogging line of work is a direct result of my interest in being ‘behind the scenes’ not smack dab in front. I don’t like cameras, I don’t like microphones and I don’t like tons of eyes looking at me at once. And according to Bart, that’s all about to change.
Yesterday I found out that Bart has decided that it would be ‘fun’ if him and I went out at the beginning of the show every night of The Rock & Worship Roadshow and talked a little. Excuse me? Talk a little? See I don’t do that well, especially in front of…. oh… ten thousand people. Turns out Bart wants to talk about The Roadshow Blog, and what we are doing on there and all the plans we have for the tour and be involved in some sort of contest-y things that are going on. The only thing is, Bart is used to and very confortable talking in front of that many people and has been for years. I, on the other hand… not so much.
So if the bands aren’t enough, the train-wreck that is me talking in front of thousands of people is worth the ten bucks it costs to get in. I may not see you on the tour, but I’m guessing you’ll see me. Nice. (Insert thick sarcasm.)
How are you in front of people? Can you hang, or do you get that fevery, dizzy, want to throw up feeling? Just curious.
Pure Awesomeness
So, as most of you know it’s been getting pretty crazy around these parts, and I have been trying my hardest to stay organized. In fact, as it stands right now, SkörInc has nine, yes, nine pending projects. That’s a lot for Randy to do, and a lot for me to write down. Well tonight I decided to step up my organization a little more and it comes with a funny story.
I went to Home Depot because William told me that I would be able to get a massive piece of white board for cheap. William was right. This bad-boy only cost me thirteen bucks. Not bad eh? With the clips to hold it on, I was out the door for just under twenty-three dollars. Thanks to my smart friend William. Here’s the funny thing. As most of you know, or have heard, Tennessee is cold right now. Like, really cold. Like in the teens cold. Well, I brought this thing to my car and quickly realized there was no way this was going to fit inside my car. See, we have a little car and this thing is four feet by eight feet of pure awesomeness. Pure awesomeness that will now need to be tied to the top of my car.
I ran back inside Home Depot to ask for some twine and came back out and starting tying it down. Now, I’m no boy scout or anything like that so by the time I was done I had about fifteen knots wrapped around every handle on my car holding this thing down to the roof…. and it was still loose. There was only one option and it was to hold my hand out the window while I drove home making sure this thing didn’t fly off the top of my car. As if I could hold it if it decided to.
Well, remember when I said it was cold? Well it’s eighteen degrees right now, and it never got above twenty-two today, so it wasn’t much warmer driving home. By the time I got home I literally couldn’t feel my hand and it was bright red and purple. I couldn’t even open the door with that hand when I got home. Kristin saw my hand and told me to stick it under some warm water, then for some reason I almost threw up. Not sure if it’s related, but my hand, even now, four hours later, still aches. But I have my sweet white board. Tomorrow… I write on it.
My Weird Arm
Wanna hear something weird? The other day when we were playing football, during one of the plays I hit my arm on something. It instantly started hurting but I didn’t know what from. Now, today my arm looks like this. It doesn’t look too bad but the weird part is that the palm of my hand is starting to swell and my middle and ring fingers are hard to bend.
I assume it has something to do with the tendons inside there getting all banged up, but I’ve never had anything like that happen before. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever bruised that part of my arm before. It’s a little weird. Problem is, I am left handed and it’s hard to do things including type so I’m going to be done now.
Any medical people out there have an idea of what might be going on?
A North Georgia Bathroom Story
First of all, forgive the randomness of this post, as I only slept about three hours last night and it’s getting to that part of the day where things stop making sense.
So, last night down at the Gospel Music Channel’s studio in Atlanta, (thanks Carlos for not coming to visit even though it was in the middle of the Presidential Debate) there was a ridiculous amount of snacks and beverages laying around for everyone to take part it. And what does one do in between taking pictures, talking about blog stuff, and watching video performances over and over? They drink stuff. They drink multiple bottles of water, Sprite, Diet Coke, more water because they can’t handle any more Diet Coke, and even a little coffee for good measure.
Here’s the problem with being a four hour drive away from home and having an entire day of sipping on selected beverages. Nature takes it’s course and one might find themselves in need of a restroom more than once on the late night drive home. Now, if any of you have driven the stretch between Atlanta and Nashville you know, that aside from Chattanooga, there’s not many spots to pull over and take a stop, and I for one am horrible at choosing the right place to take these stops. I look for things that seem decent but always end up in places that I’m afraid I am leaving with a disease.
So last night at our second attempt to stop at a decent restroom, I had the choice between two gas stations. One on the right, and one under the freeway to the left. The one on the right looked a little dark and gross, so I decided to go to the one on the left. As I pulled in I noticed the sign informing me that the restrooms were, in fact, outdoor restrooms. Strike one. I walked around the corner to find two doors. ”Women’s” and “Men’s”. At first I debated just going straight into the women’s knowing that typically women are cleaner than men and since it was after two in the morning there was sure to be vacant. Locked. Strike two.
As I opened the next door I noticed, first that it was unlocked, and second that it was occupied. Not only was it occupied but it was occupied by a guy maybe in his early twenties, standing there with his back to me. This particular guy was not only not facing me, he was also not facing any sort of toilet. He was, however, doing what one would typically do when they are facing the toilet. This guy was literally turned completely to the side and was peeing on the wall and directly on to the plastic mechanism that dispensed the toilet paper. The floor was pooling and the toilet paper was now saturated with what I can only assume was at one point large amounts of alcohol.
I took a step back and closed the door, and started to walk back to the car as the door opened behind me and a loud “Whaaattsssssuuuppp” came from behind me. I turned to see now the front of this guy who was clearly under the influence of a different sort of beverage. A slight nod and I was headed back to the car to look for a third option.
