Bricks, stones, heavy metal.

Hello people...

I'm trying to write this email from an optimistic perspective which is a delightful change for me.

I'm currently stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I now work as a sales consultant, helping my clients solve problems in the areas of design, print and web development.. i.e. help their business grow.

Sounds simple enough.. but recently it seems like everything I do is wrong.
However there is no support to help correct my wrongs etc.. and having not done this before, training would be a fantastic step forward.

So I'm currently putting together a campaign for a particular target market...
which has just been shot down by my manager.. not all that useful however, as there wasn't any real feedback.

So we'll see how it goes, hopefully I can get my head back into a good copy writing space, and go from there.

I'll keep you posted actually on the response... and perhaps someone else with the same issues could benefit from it. Always nice.

Enjoy
Jonny.

Quite talking about things you don't understand!

Why do pop starts bag God?

have they ever asked him if he's real?

From where have they gotten their conclusions?

I often wonder why people think it's a good idea
to comment, or work in the spiritual world... when they
have no idea what they're playing with?

It would be a bit like me walking into a dark room,
and saying.. 'This room, will kill you!!'
No basis for my statement, no research.. just a statement.

So Mr. Williams - Yes, Jesus DID die for you.
Ask him, don't just make blanket statements.

Bah.. Tired.

I'm so bored it's making me sleepy.

So i finally have a date for going full time as a sales rep.
i can't tell anyone just yet however, just office politics.
But good news is that it's not far off.

meanwhile I'm stuck here at Hanafins every morning.
Recently, things have been quite slow (as in my post below).
And it's taking it out of me.

Things go like this;

Since my boss exploded at me for not having anything to do (not my fault!)
I can no longer hang out in my room doing nothing (i.e. blogging) with out the constant feeling that some one's looking over my shoulder.
This means that I no longer constantly listen to music (that way I get a warning if he's walking down the hall to my room).

I have two canvases to do today (both of which of course are sizes I've TOLD people I've sold out of...oh they were also sold by the branch managers themeselves..goes to show how well the manage things, negelecting to read emails etc).

these two canvases represent about - 50mins of work for me (35mins of that being printing, and a drying time). So tell me something, does this sound fair; (?)

The woman who did this job before I came here would have - turned upto work, signed in, gone out of 10mins and got coffee, came back, looked at the orders, booked them in, scanned the pictures, taken about 5mins to set each canvas up (this is now down to about 5seconds, because of a little forward planning on my behalf) started them printing, gone off to have a snak while chatting to the lab staff, put the canvas to dry, applied far too little fixative (protects the ink) gone away, had lunch! came back stretch the smallest one, gotten annoyed at the fact that the sales people had sold two of the sizes she's out of, then signed out and said she had to take her daughter to hospital (again) leaving the second canvas for the next morning.

This would take a good 5 hours!
For which she'd have gotten paid something like - $72

Now is it fair that because I'm capable of doing both canvases in 50mins that i only get paid - $13.75?

This is something that's annoyed me ever since my boss started basically telling me to get lost once the work is done.

It's weird...but

I've never had a thirst for knowlegde like I do at the moment!

It's bizzar, but something in me just wants to know stuff, about stuff.
Regardless of what it is really, I'm just semi interested in everything.
i guess it's better than being interested in nothing (wonder if Channel X has a Doco section...hopefully).

Any way, what're you guys upto?

I'm waiting for things to print (story of my life really).
Waiting for things...waiting for sales...waiting for sales people to learn their job a little better etc.
Waiting for management to plug up the holes in this boat, waiting for the holes to become so big that they can't just ignor them any more.
Waiting for people to pay up the accounts...okay here's something i don't get;

Canvas is the biggest profitting thing we have right?
it's massive, lots of money can be made with it.
So naturally we try to sell a lot of the stuff.
But the other day i went to check up on a late order of frame stock, only to find out that the account with that supplier had been on hold for a few weeks, which meant that I was going to run out of certain sized frames, and everything would fall to crap.
Now my question is this;
There is NO DOUBT money coming in with canvases, why is it that management thought it would be a good idea NOT to put aside the money it would take to buy the next lot of stock and save that specifically for keeping the canvas section running?
Why is it that they would use THAT money (canvas money) for any thing OTHER than keeping canvases running. Surly you can see my point here... they handle money badly, I lose out!!
If I lose out, that means they're not making much money, which means that THEY lose out...

Management is a science, but it's not rocket science.

And with that semi plagerised quote, I shall leave you.

:)

Enjoy.

Jonny.

I'm not a designer...

So I've just been asked by boss number one to design a thing for a camera sale.
Not a bad sale.
Basically, you join our Hanafin's Photo Club thingy, and get a free camera.
Of course it's weighted in our favour, but that's the point of retail right?

Any way, what made him think I can design?
I've done a few things for this company in the past, but not something that actually had to entise people. I've got a few ideas...but they all cost money, so i can promis you that it won't happen!

SO, i've decided to just start thinking about names for my album...yes...album!

"How to dig a hole." was the EP, although I liked the title.
Perhaps "relative I" - after the song from the EP?

Who knows, I'll work on it

Enjoy.

Jonny.

Working...agian?

Get off the ship,
Let it sink,
No need to hold your breathe,
Take out the raft,
Inflate to hold on,
Hold on to inflate - and deflate ships fate.

Get the hell off the boat,
You're not the captain,
let him go in his arrogance,
He should be smarter than this.

His was the wheal,
Scar hull to keel,
Not your issue,
None scare tissue.

Water rises,
The band keeps to play,
Realize screams,
Death hath stow-away.

Stay off the boat,
Go back by no means,
Keep above water,
Keep your hands clean.

I want a new job.

----------------------

Ah sitting here again with absolutely nothing to do!
How can this company survive like this?
I'm sure we can't be making up enough profit with other products.
My part of this company is the single highest profit operation we have - so why are we not using it to it's full extent?
Blah, i don't know.
All i know is that it's annoying me.

Yes & No

Yes - Running is faster than walking.
No - You never look cool doing it.
Yes - automatic doors are one of the banks most useful tools.
No - walking at them faster won't make them open quicker.
Yes - 80% of people working with computers have too much time on their hands.
No - They do not all know every XKCD comic off by heart (as much as they should).
Yes - Ninjas exist.
No - There is not one behind you. (He's stashed in the ceiling...don't look)
No - You can not wear someones name out.
Yes - Names will hurt longer than sticks or stones.
No - Toxic waste will not give you powers, don't believe me? Go try it.
Yes - you have far too much time to waste (I know this because you're reading my blog).
No - keep going, I like it.
Yes - Some LOL cats are photo-shopped.
No - there are no monsters under the bed.
No - Noone noticed what you did last night, and you got away Scot-free.
Yes - i knew you would read this and wonder if I was talking about you!
Yes - to answer your question, i am!

To be continued - you know who you are.

haiku?

Just picture a sun-rise.
Over the open planes of a deserted beach, too early for any one else to be there with you to appreciate the gold which shimmers across the calm waters and falls onto the fresh sand.

It's a sight that one usually beholds by oneself.
One of few moments where being alone heightens the experience.
One of very few moments in life where it's best seen by oneself.

Shortly over how ever. The sun rises, and the children come out of their houses to greet the waves, and yell at the crabs as the punch their way through another day of excitement.

Then we go back, to normality.
no lessons learned, nothing to gain by the experience, just the experience itself.
It'd be nice if there were more moments like this.


Enjoy.

jonny.

parallel switching = complicated.

i can't help but feel a little like my right front tire at the moment.
Worn and unwarrantable. much to its misfortune it's been in this state for quite some time now.
the sway bar needs adjusting - not sure how much that's going to cost.
no WOF for nearly one and a half months now, oh well - haven't been pulled up yet, so that's a bonus. really can't afford the $400 fine that would go with getting pulled over.

I was wondering why the right front was so much more worn that the left, and of course I realize now that in Moz I got a flat on the front left, so in the boot it went and therefore has done about 500k less than the right.

That was a fun trip, must do it again some time.

Today I'm not here to talk about a great deal.
No inner workings on the human mind - although it is very interesting, might have to actually study psyk one day.
just feeling a little flat, and decided to start typing. Always fun. getting faster too (not sure how, no practice or anything...meh)

I'm currently working on a project, instead of working on my music :P
little bit of procrastination I guess.
It'll be the absolute height of distortion...then hopefully I'll never need another one again haha.

Long story short it'll be;
MXR Dist +
TS - 808
Big Muff Pi (op amp 1977 version)
and a custom Fuzz bassed on the Marshall Shred Master

All in one box, all true bypass, with all controlls accessable, and switchable between parallel and series. But even better is that you can run them independant, I.E. you could run the 808 and the Big Muff in parallel, but have the two of them running in series after the MXR.
Oh...trickey.

I've done the MSM and the Muff, just got to work on the 808 now, which shouldn't be too hard, and the then the MXR, whcih shouldn't take more than an hour. (Yay simple 741 disortion)

And now, a series of questions. (? )

How are we feeling?
extatic for reasons?
extatic with out.
With our hands,
with our hearts?

How are we seeing?
With eyes? - or with out?
Which is better?
Can we chose?

I'd like to think so, but with what will be i looking at the conclustion of this thought with?

Do do doooo...that wasn't meant to make a great deal of sense, so it's a good thing i can accomplish at least that.

Enjoy

jonny.

Dust to dust I guess.
Forgotten members allhha...to yaa....laaah...

Hmm this is such a good song! Just wish i could hear the lyrics more clearly.

Smashing Pumpkins are fast becoming a favorite of mine.
i think some where between the weird, slash awesome vocals and amazing distortion tones, they've won me over.

Pretty awesome that the head man became a christian.
After singing 'I still believe i can't be saved' so singing 'bring the light...' it's a good worship song if you pull apart the lyrics.
And all the while keeping his hard core bald rock star image :P

i tried to build a shredmaster yesterday, i think I got the build right, but the thing is really low gain.
I Don't get it! GreenWood's sound in the early stuff is high HIGH gain, which is fantastic, but this clone just doesn't cut it. I'm gonna try re-working the power circuit, and buying fresh IC's (There might be a problem with mine, you never know). Hopefully I can get it going, it was be awesome to have such a rare pedal.
Unfortunatly the schematics I was using also have a few minor faults, like (and I'm annoyed I didn't pick this up earlier) the tone controll circuit has a cap which is 10times its real value...which is just annoying, becasue I've built the thing so solidly that it'll be hard to replace, oh well...got to do it I guess.

Any way, I'm at work..and should therefor go.

have a fantastic day....you....person.

Enjoy.

jonny.

La blah blah

i've once again reached a place of placidiy.
Feeling like I can again gather the little parts i left along the way, and start again.

Sorry for spilling my gutts.
The few friends I still have will tell you that it's nothing abnormal, just to a hightened extent since i stopped sleeping properly :)

I only have four pills left :(
They're such fun. Very bizzar effect, but they get me sleeping, so what's the complain about.

I've seen far too much TV recently.
Just hanging out on the couch, deciding that TV would help.
Battle Star Galactica is awesome, for those of you who don't know it.

Hmmmm...Placitity - I don't think that's a word, but you get what I mean (it should be a word).

Winter has shown us here in Christchurch its claws, and it's ready to strike.
I'm wearing my sheep again.

But the sun will come out and burn away the grey, which means it's going to be a very hot walk home (WALKING SAVES THE INVIROMENT!...driving because you need a change of scenery to take your mind off things doesn't).

There's not much point to this poast some of you may have noticed.
I've just wanted to type..waste time..warm up my fingers, what ever the reason. I want a piano.

Have yourself a fantastic day.



Jonny.

Possible drummer :D

AirPlay has a possible drummer for the new sessions.

A bloke i live with Ben Davis...no jokes...he even owns 7 Ben Davis shirts!

Very cool guy, and good taste. Only problem is he doesn't have a kit right now.
He can hold a beat, which is exactly what I need haha. so that's awesome!

New demo's shouldn't be too far off.

Probably using some weird percussion tools, boxes, springs etc.
Good times :)

I'll let you know more when i can.

Enjoy.

Jonny.

money's

i need money.

not QUITE making enough at the moment to support myself, AND afford my studio.
fortunatly Andrew has lent me a lot in order to get the studio up and running.
But still, would like some more in come.
Problem is I lack the motivation to actually do it.


You ever feel like you're going backwards?
Like life has regressed back into what it once was, which was a state you were so happy to get out of the first time, and just can't handle it going back that way.
Almost like everything you've worked for for the past few years has been a waste of time?
....hint.

perhaps I came back from Rarotonga too early.

Hmm, probably not actually, I like my life here...clothes actually dry in this country.
Ah, all in all i'm just not happy at the moment.

it would be a great time for writing, although I'd write a bunch of songs which I'd regret writing later because if I write them in pain, then that's all i'll feel when I play them.
AHHH!....stupid emotions/heart.

okay, rant over...got to work.

On our way.

Recently I've found myself with a lot of time to kill, long story.

i decided that during this time I should to plan out an album of sorts.
I've got all the gear, enough materiel (skill's getting there) and time enough to record.
All i lack now is a decent drummer.

I know I've been promising people an album for about a year now, but THIS time it's gonna happen I promise!

I don't fully know what to call it, i guess i don't want to name it too early.
I like the hopeless names, because it shows more clearly the amazing-ness of what God's done in my life...the whole contrast creating meaning thing.
I.E. if you'd never tasted a lemon you wouldn't appreciate the sweetness of sugar as much.

Unfortunately i seem to have fallen into this image of some guy in an old leather jacket hanging out in a barn with this acoustic!
I don't personally think that my music sounds like this, BUT the image is there and it's kind of annoying me. I'd much rather the slick imagery of some guy in a practise room with his band, dressed in a smart but not flashy T-Shirt with jeans on.
Something where the sounds of saturated delay fits.

Any way, for this i need a drummer! Oh and some charts, but that's my fault that I don't have any yet.

i think i might be asking a little too much in a drummer right a the moment.
I would LOVE some one who's gone through Jazz School....problem is I have zero credit to my name, so noone that good would want to be in my band.
Perhaps I should just go with who ever is willing.

Lyrics seem to be escaping me too. It kinda sucks. But oh well, they'll come back I hope.
Plenty more walks around the city should do it.
Perhaps I need to find another concept...although this will not be a concept album I'm afraid, just can't get my head around it! I really need some kind of music writing software perhaps.

come to think of it, i haven't ever graphed this!!! Wow, that's not like me.

okay that's step one. Graphing!

I will post when i know more.

Enjoy,

Jonny.

Slackness -

hello, wow I forgot how long it'd been since i last posted on here.
Sorry about that.

Okay, AirPlay - Wow complex wee thing right now.

It all kinda ended when I moved to rarotonga, all those months ago.

how ever I did keep writing and recording some stuff, in the hope of coming back one day getting a band together and gigging.
So recently I've been getting my ideas out in recorded form. Nothing special yet, but just enough to try and convince people to play with me.

I'm currently looking for a drummer....not so easy to find apparently.

We now have a studio set up though, so recording is not a problem.

Any way, i'm at work again haha - so I should really head off and actually earn some money.
just thought I'd let any one who cared know that AirPlay still exists, and we will be releasing an album by christmas at the latest :D

Enjoy

Jonny.