April Diary ~ 14 year anniversary edition

It's ok to feel down once in a while Shamika, and it is normal to think about existential matters, too. Take some time off, but please come back. And don't worry about people reading whatever you write, that's the beauty of the Internet: One can always decide to scroll down... :)

---

I had a lot of things to ponder (still pondering) and I took a short break but I did miss wikiloops, it's hard to stay away.

This morning I heard about the Swedish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest and it made me smile :) It's being performed by a Comedy band from Finland called Kaj. It's called Bara Bada Bastu and the reason I smiled was because it's all about the joy of Saunas, something that came up in a diary entry before :)
[img]https://images.sanoma-sndp.fi/cba579fb943362d6faf8d284e59f6caa/normal/468.jpg[/img]

I don't know how wikiloopers feel about this song contest because it has become quite political so a song like this is just pure, crazy catchy fun in true Eurovision tradition.

---

Birthday. I hate my birthday. Well, I don't hate it, but I like it less every year.


Youth has been over for years. My handsome Tarzan-like appearance has been replaced by the appearance of Tarzan's monkey. Well, maybe I've always looked more like a monkey, I've never looked like Weissmuller.

As a child, I loved the black-and-white Tarzan films. I haven't seen them for years, but I don't think I would get the same joy from them anymore. I also liked the Tarzan comics.
I don't really know why Tarzan came to my mind. Maybe a birthday brings back memories of my youth. I think I'll go buy some old comics tomorrow that I used to read. Maybe I'll get a moment of youth back from them. :)


Happy birthday to me!

---

In that case, Happy Birthday to you!

---

Happy Birthday Aito, wishing you well :W

---

-I listened to the songs I've played in this year and I have to admit that a few of them sounded good.

Why did I do that? Shamika has been trying to tell me for a long time that they are good. I didn't think it was like that.
Well, even if I made the best song in the world, I'd probably find something wrong with it.


-Spring is finally here. There are no leaves on the trees yet, but sand and stones are already being cleared from the streets.

In winter, stones and sand must be spread on top of the ice, so the streets must be cleaned when the snow melts. I can finally breathe when the dry sand doesn't dust.


-I uploaded the first songs to Wikiloops with my gym buddy. The first one sounded horrible, but the second one was better.


-I bought a bottle of soju. This weekend my wife and I are just the two of us, so this is a good opportunity to have a glass or two of wine (And of course, a soju bottle).

---

Aito, even if you were the best bass player on the planet there would still be someone ready to criticize, you don't need to do that yourself :D At least I have confidence in you. :) Your diary entries always lift me by the way :)

This morning I did something I get pleasure from, experimental electronics. I stamped all over Johnny's drums with my little box of fun tricks. Whenever I've done stuff like this in the past, people always said "what are you on ?" in fact I don't need drugs to be crazy, it comes naturally. I think some people are borderline nuts and it's a good thing when it comes to art.... but it helps to have an audience that's on your wavelength. There are a few wikiloopers who travel on my Crazy Train I think.

I'm not eating 'Hot Cross Buns' today and I'm not buying Easter eggs for the kids in my life, I've seen the results of overeating chocolate for too many Easters in the past :(

---

I tried soju for the first time a few years ago. was at an all-you-can-eat sushi bar in Las Vegas and tried it there, it was soooo good. I think I had like 3 or 4 different flavors...along with shots of saki...I was toasted :)

---

I like soju because it has a pure taste. Kind of like a good vodka, but it doesn't have as much alcohol.

Well, there are many types of soju in Korea, but this soju I drink only has 20% alcohol.



I also like beers from China, Japan, etc.
They have same light taste because they are rice-based. They have a lot in common with corn-based ones, which come from places like Mexico.

---

haha we're definitely from different parts of the world, "only 20% alcohol" :o:D that's a lot for me, especially for a beer-type serving. after a couple of those I'm feeling it :D:Y

---

I don't drink much beer anymore, I don't like the feeling it gives. I mostly drink wine or vodka mixed with something.
If I drink vodka or gin without a mixer, it's only a few shots.

I don't like whiskey, it seems to be more popular in that part of the world. Well, a Motörhead-style Jack Daniels + Coca-Cola is good. Although you live so far south that tequila might be popular too.

Well, I'll drink any of those without complaining, as long as I never have to drink a warm English-style dark beer. 😂

---

4/22/25

today's coffee was a bit different than the normal...

being a big system of a down fan, i've always enjoyed them musically and as individuals in whatever endeavors the members of that band go into. i got to meet them at the roxy in los angeles and they were so down to earth, so that may weigh in as well. i've purchased a couple of serj tankian books in the past and now have purchased some kavat coffee
https://kavatcoffee.com/pages/our-story

i brewed/made my first cup today and was pleasantly surprised at the flavor. i usually brew coffee with an electric coffee pot but making it in a sauce pan like i did, it was kind of cool and like a throwback to something simple :) the extra fine pre-ground coffee left a bit of a chalky taste, which i ended up liking too. it's definitely a coffee i can also enjoy with no creamer, just as-is with sugar.

so i ended up purchasing/ordering a 'turkish coffee pot' for brewing this coffee, as i don't want to ruin my sauce pan with coffee stains :)

[youtube]83i0AoHcYxQ[/youtube]

---

Thanks to Aito and rootshell the diary is still hanging on (by a thread) but as much as I'd like to stay with it, I think, for me, it's time to 'call it a day'
As far as starting new threads, although I go in hard and fast, I don't take these things too seriously, you get wins and fails but it's not 'life and death'
I'm aware that 'naysayers' exist, they are entitled to their opinion. A balance of views is important but sometimes it's better to turn away than garner opposition and cause awkwardness.
The sad thing about life is that negatives often attract more action than positives. A big mouth and a raised hand will usually get the attention it seeks.
I still believe there's a need to inspire imagination and thought. I'm not sure forum threads are the right platform for community projects ..... but I wish they were :)

---

Don`t be so negative Shamika. The response rate may have dropped a bit but don`t forget the readers. Even if I`ve been mostly offline for the past weeks, I still make it a point to read through the forum threads.

---

Ahhhh turkish coffee, my speciality! I drink around 3 cups of it a day, however at work I don't have the time to properly cook it so I just pour hot water over a huge spoonfull of coffee, give it a good stir, wait for 2 minutes and then hmmmmmmm. I love it!

---

a totally new coffee experience for me TeeGee, I'm definitely loving it! :W

---

Shamika, I agree with MySounds/Thomas. I may not post frequently but I check the forum daily and read the posts... especially like now while I'm enjoying my morning coffee...the forum is like my morning newspaper:) it's even better, it's news from around the world.

---

Actually, I don't find much to interest me on the forum apart from the threads I start :D. I know that sounds arrogant but I rarely visit threads containing links, videos or technical stuff. I enjoyed the first 2 months of the diary - they were newsy and personal, interesting and amusing.... now it's becoming a chat and drinks with friends ;) much like the Shout Box..... and I don't drink anything worth talking about. I'm not being negative, just realistic.... the forum soda has lost it's fizz. If people like reading and sharing then I think a Blog or Vlog would be something to look forward to, I'd read that.

Maybe I should shut up now, writing this has reminded me of a song I wrote on this topic.... I'll go and get it.... seeya :)

---

I like the forum, I always check it before listening to music. Wikiloops is a much more boring place without forum posts.

Sure, music is main thing, but sometimes it can feel lonely. I don't know how much other people write to each other, but at least for me, writing is limited to polite comments when I post a song. The forum has made Wikiloops a completely different place for me.

The diary has been a good idea. Music sounds completely different when you know who has a dog, who drinks coffee, or who is kicking the tires of a broken motorcycle.. :)

---

Aito, I`m having a panic attack. My future wife told me last weekend that we should get a dog. Will this change the sound of my music? I`ve run an internet search for dog-owner EQ settings but came up nada. Do I really need to choose between having a relationship and staying true to my sound (and that is MySounds asking :D)?

Diary-wise: I uploaded one of the tracks ( #315486 ) from the new album yesterday. It`s the one track that all who listened in during the mastering process were able to agree on that it sounded alright. (Can I trust their judgement if some of them are dog-owners? I wonder...) Glad I did it in the afternoon as I was in a foul mood after the evening game between Arsenal and Palace.

---