Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay

Hello all!

It's refreshing to be able to get on here and post something that doesn't feel like it has negativity to it. Last post was completely outside of my normal writing but I felt like I needed to get some things off my chest so I did and feel much better about it now. With that all said and done, this post is going to be a little bit about change and opportunity of sorts and a little about what you might be able to expect out of Fret in the future. There's plenty of things going on in my virtual life that I am excited about.

I'll start first with the get together we call a cookout. The next one will be held this coming Thursday which is the 30th of June and starts around 5:30SLT. I think that I'd like to have at least two a month if possible but don't want to go overboard with it so that people get bored with them or just tired of seeing my face or those of my family. The reason why I may be looking forward to this particular function more than the previous ones (which have all been fun) is that I'm going to be putting my DJ cap on for at least one night. I've said that I would for the other ones but I just really didn't feel it and I think that's what needs to happen for me to actually want to get a set ready. I like a decent club setting but the last few places I worked just ended up being drama city and I can't handle that. I don't need it nor do I want to be in the middle of it.

You might be interested to know what is motivating me to stick my toe back into the water and spin music again. It started a few days ago when I was went to see how much time was left on the stream I pay for. I have a good bit of time on it and then I started thinking about the program I use to DJ. I was curious to see how much it has been upgraded since I started using it and well they've had several different versions since I first bought the license. The original program worked best with Windows XP and well I run Vista on the machine I normally use so I had to go through a lot of workarounds to get it to work as well as it was hard because of the headset I had for it. Needless to say after installing the latest version and tinkering around (setting it back up was a snap), it renewed my interest and desire to continue DJ'ing. As far as what type of venue I'll wind up at is to be determined but I'll make sure it's one that my family and loyal fans are able to come to and enjoy....without them DJ Fretwerk doesn't exist.

The other cool thing I might have going for me is my brother Rusty asked me if I was interested in playing football. I went to a good handful of games that he had while he was with the He's now a member of the Powerhouse Panthers and set up a contact with the owners of the team to see if I can fit in with their organization. I was very interested to see how it worked in the previous season and if all works out and I can be a part of it, that will be just one more experience fulfilled in my book of things I'd like to do on the grid. I've been a DJ, I've run a shirt shop, I breed cats, and hopefully soon will be a football player. It would also be an honor to be able to play alongside Rusty. Even though I am the older brother there's still things I look up to him for as I hope there are for him concerning me.

So for now I'm just relaxing and taking things as they come. As the title of this post says, I'm just sitting on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away. It's nice to just look out over the water just outside our house...very peaceful and really good for when I just need to think about anything at all.  You'll see in the pictures I've posted along with this to fit the theme that I was trying to use shadows...I'll have to get the down better. Maybe get a few lessons from the wife since that's her cup of tea.

 I also mentioned last blog that I bought a new skin and I'll share some close-ups with you since I've tweaked the shape I normally wear as well. I think that I'm good for another six months at least before I even consider looking for anything different. I really like this one though so who knows maybe it will have a longer stay then previous attempts.

One of my fave stores had a sale this weekend. If any of you are familiar with Hoorenbeek, you'll know they have some choice stuff to offer. Their shoes and other items are really awesome if even a little pricey, which is why you have to hit them up when they are having their 200L sale much like the one this weekend. Perhaps I'll throw up some snaps of the stuff I picked up there...since I'm trying to have more pictures in these posts (I fail most of the time though)

Abby and I finally got to hang out together the other night. She convinced me to watch the first episode of "Game of Thrones" with her. She's been talking about it non-stop and the premise to me looked good. If any of you know what it is then you'll know that it's good and for those of you that don't and have HBO or some other source to be able to view it...DO IT! I'm not normally a fan of Sean Bean (who is one of the main characters in the show) but he's good in this one. By the time the episode was done I was impressed and want to see more when the opportunity presents itself.

On the KittyCats front, we've been taking them more often to the auctions and selling them for decent prices. Finally some turnaround with them considering it has been a large investment. At least I feel like we're making some ground with them and sadly I'm attached to a few of them who won't be able to have kittens for much longer. Odd but I guess that's a part of the territory and at least I don't really have to feed them or worry about their "activities" so much.

I am going to put this blog to bed and finish getting set up for the cookout since it's just about started and I'm running behind. Catch you for the next one, hope you enjoyed the update!

- Fret

This isn't just goodbye...this is "I can't stand you"

Howdy peepzillas, Fretwerk is back with a brand spanking new blog. It's been a bit since the last one but sometimes that happens and I'm sure the majority of you can forgive for the delay of this post and there are definite reasons behind it and since I don't pull punches I'll be straight forward and give you the scoop.

We're one less member of the family. After months of numerous bullcrap, backhandedness, and an overall display of asshattery, Lucky is no longer with us. It's funny how so much effort is put into trying to be friends with someone in RL and SL and the more you try the more you get shafted. I'm not sure how many people know him that read this blog and it's not my intent to overall trash talk him but to enlighten on the kind of character he has. It's not the first time that he chooses women over people he pretends to give a crap about...happened way before getting on the grid. I'm not sure what makes a person go from being the guy you'd give the shirt off your back for to someone that you'd want to see lying in a ditch. As much as I'd like to say I'm going to miss having him around and at family events...that would be a lie.

So for all of you that are still in the family and are willing to do what it takes to protect one another and have eachothers backs...thank you. That is what makes all of this worth while.

With that recent development also spawned my untimely departure from Mostly Harmless. As much as I love to DJ, it is not worth the stress or the barely making anything towards stream costs when people treat you like crap. When it comes to choosing between my loyalty to my family or to an employer in terms of the grid...I'm going to choose my family. Sorry about your damn luck. I normally don't walk out during a set either but I can't say I was given much choice and when my hand is forced, I'm gonna show how strong my pimp hand is. (Okay that was bad but whatever)

Last week we had our monthly picnic/cookout. Not as many people this time but it was still a blast and the best part of it was that it was drama free. The were flying bacon sammich planes and bouncy castles and we even played on the giant Connect 4 that I bought for Abby some time ago. That's pretty fun I have to say and I don't keep count but I have a pretty good Win/Loss record. Maybe next cookout we can organize a tournament in some game with some kind of cool prize. Guess the planning for that will have to start soon so that we can make it happen.

While I was off the grid on Saturday, Cady & Abby had people over and watched "Just Go With It" and I wish I had been there. It's been a while since I've been able to watch a movie with my ladies so hopefully I'll get to soon. They enjoyed themselves though as I came in just as it was getting close to ending and everyone there seemed to enjoy it. I'll have to check it out when I have some downtime.

With me being off the grid lately and Abby not staying up as late as she used to I haven't had much time to spend with her. I feel like I'm neglecting her as a father and I wish I could do more to not feel that way. With the strange times that I have to work when I'm not plugged in it makes it tough. Hopefully soon her and I can go shopping together or find someone to terrorize with our brand of humor. Maybe this week we can do the FLF (Fifty Linden Friday for those outside of the know). There's always Connect Four which is a favorite thing for us to do because it keeps those brain cells churning (not like I have that many to churn haha j/k). If you see her on the grid give her a big hug that would knock the jellybeans and sunshine out of her and tell her it's from me. :)

I've also made another big decision recently and it doesn't affect things overall but it is sort of sad. Projekt Mayhem will be closing at the end of the month after a good run. I think that the amount of involvement it takes to maintain a store is just not something I want to deal with right now. There's always the opportunity to pick back up down the road but I don't necessarily envision that for myself. I think I've had the experience of running a shop and getting my name out there and to have my shirts featured in a blog or two is nice but I'm going to take time and relax and let my time on the grid flow in whatever way the virtual wind and water take it.

Perhaps I should throw a going away party and at least I can DJ again without any pressure. The one thing that might hold me back is that I don't want people to think I'm trying to draw attention or sympathy because that is the exact opposite of why I would do it. Just want to celebrate what I consider an accomplishment with family and friends.

Another new thing to report is that I bought a new skin. I'm particularly picky when it comes to them and I try not to change them every other week (as there are some people on the grid who might). I try to go at least a few months before even considering it and this time I went at least 6 months without wavering until I saw one on the (I)regular Guy blog that struck my fancy from The Body Co. I took Cady with me to demo it and we determined it was my style so I grabbed it. Abby thought it looked good too and both my girls opinions are big factors in decision making for me. (For those curious enough, I'll post pics soon...i.e. next blog)

With updating my look it probably means that I should fix my blog header again...*groan* okay I'm not that bent about it but I do think it should get updated to reflect current events yeah? We'll see what happens but since I've got a little more free time it shouldn't be that hard.

Apologies to any of you who think this blog might be a little off, I guess the longer I space them apart the more boring they get. Hopefully the next one will be one of those that's considered "knocked out of the park". I hope all of my faithful readers are doing well and will catch you all inworld or out here on the interwebs.

Until next,

Fret