Earth, wind, fire… and METAL!

So some cunt burned down my favourite pub. Sigh. Why do these things always happen to ME?! I just logged onto Facebook for a second to check if they were opening at lunchtimes yet and, after getting initially excited due to seeing a long speech of a post, was horrified to find that they’ve been the victim of an arson attack. Whether it was a random thing or targeted, I have no idea, but it’s horrid. It’ a little community centre in there, basically. They’ve made a lot of lonely alcoholics homeless. Well, the same company has two other pubs in town, so maybe I’ll try one of those out whilst they’re rebuilding.

I’ve been back to the pub three times so far, the last was, coincidentally, the afternoon before the fire. I’m assuming any violent grudges are formed during the evening sessions, which I avoid. Everyone seems really sweet during the day. They had been opening at lunchtime on a Friday, so one of my three return visits was then. I’m not gonna lie, it’s felt damn good. Although, if I’m completely honest with you, it’s also felt a bit of an anticlimax. It turns out that life sucks anyway, regardless of deadly global pandemics. Oh well. I’m trying to find out if the ex wants to meet up for a pint, so I’m not too intimidated by establishments I’m not all that familiar with. We shall see.

I’ve been out of my diabetes medication since Thursday, but I’m not feeling any major side-effects. Yet. I actually felt “better” before I started taking them a couple of years ago, even though I was dying. Life, huh?! Anyway, I’ll trying picking them up either tomorrow or, should it turn into a pub day, Thursday.

I had to partially rebuild my bed yesterday as, believe it or not, the one the council gave me is a cheap piece of crap. In lieu of me applying for a new one, my unskilled DIY hands had to do. It just required me groping around on my disgusting carpet for the nuts and bolts. Literally. The thing was hanging together by, erm, magic, I think. I was actually starting to get back pains, so hopefully those will go away now the thing is sturdier.

I’ve still had no word about that custom build guitar. It’s a week away from their twelve-week ETA, so fingers crossed! I should really double check that the money left my account back in May, as I chose to prepay. I’m very on the ball.

That old colleague/guitar guru is still sort-of in touch. We emailed regularly for about a week, but now things have gone quiet. Maybe the arrival of that guitar will rekindle the conversation. At least contact with him has been more frequent than my old gaming buddy, who seems have gotten the message and is now leaving me alone.

My brother texted me the other day. I’ve not read it all, but judging by the opening few words (in the notification preview) he and mother are planning to turn up in town very soon. For some reason, my brain is telling me that it won’t happen if I just don’t read the text. I should just get it over and done with. I wish they’d take the hint that, while I love them and am happy to chat to them over text/emails or phone, I’m not keen to meet in person. They’re a lot of hard work and quite judgemental. And I’ve not aged well.

I’m such a warm fella, ain’t I?

I’m going through a bit of a dry spell in terms of my usual interest in music at the moment but, based on similar such periods in the past, it just means I need to try new stuff out. For some reason, I decided to give heavy metal my every-few-years-or-so try. I’m not a fan of metal, mainly because I find it takes the joy out of rock. It’s like the other extreme to progressive rock, which also takes the joy out of the genre. Where prog is dull and meandering, metal has TOO MUCH of the good stuff. Like a sugar overload. I prefer the instrumental/melodic restraint of alternative rock. Usually, that is. But, for some strange reason, I’m into metal right now. Like a pregnant woman with cravings for unusual foods (does that actually happen, or is it a myth created by sitcom writers?). I’m currently sticking mainly to “power metal”, which is more melodic than the usual stuff, plus it delves into speculative fiction themes, such as high fantasy. I can’t take any of it seriously, but the campiness and chugga-chugga riffs seem to be doing it for me. I’ve even started experimenting with high gain “metal” tones in my music nook. Crazy days.

If you have any heavy metal recommendations, then do drop me a line.

I’ve decided to try out some single player video games this week, since I’m short on gaming buddies. I’ve started the indie RPG Disco Elysium, which had its score composed by the band British Sea Power. Oh wait, sorry, they’ve recently changed their name to “Sea Power” due to Brexit. That’s not even a joke. It feels like a passive aggressive tantrum about four years too late. Anyway, I’ll be calling them British Sea Power until they finally pull their heads out of their arses. FFS. But, yeah, Disco Elysium is interesting so far. It's kind-of two dimensional, in terms of its graphics, and contrast between objects/areas is low, so I'm struggling a bit, visually speaking. It does look like somebody's hand-drawn and painted every inch of the map though, which is lovely. My eyes just bail on it. I guess I'm too used to the AAA lushness of games like Fallout and Skyrim. The change from my usual titles is enjoyable though.

I’ve nearly finished my watch of the American Dad boxset. It’s still solid, and I’d really recommend it. The only thing I don’t like is how they’ve changed Roger over time. He initially worked as this camp, eccentric, alcoholic “guy” who lives in the Smith’s attic and SOMETIMES put on disguises. It was a treat! Now he’s the psychotic villain of the show and is always wearing a “wacky outfit”, regardless of whether he needs to or not due to his extra terrestrial status. Like metal music, it’s too much of the good stuff. They should have kept his character simple. Now I feel unsettled and frightened whenever he appears on screen. I even yelled “No, don’t let him anywhere near her!” at the screen when Hayley was unconscious for some reason and he slowly creeped into view. That’s not a positive reaction to a once-loveable character.

Sort it out, Seth.

Hmmm, what else? Oh yes, as well as rebuilding my bed, I started tidying up around it a few days beforehand. After bringing the last of my possessions over from the ex’s a few years ago, I just let stuff pile up in there. I’ve been able to get to and from my bed, but that’s about it. I can now just about get to the other side of the room. I need a few bookcases, is all, then junk won’t be just sat in boxes still.

Well, I think that’s about all for now, folks. I’ve got a tin of chilli on the hob, which I’m going to add cous-cous too once it’s heated. Fancy!

I’ll try to post more frequently.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!