the happiness, excitement, and general contentedness thread

[chuckjaywalk]

A lot has happened the last few months, but I'm posting in this thread to focus on the positives.

The big negative has been my partner's health. She is getting treatment and will be for the rest of her life, but at least we know what we are dealing with now.

The gooder news:
I got promoted. Third time in 4 years with this company. After a long career of not getting recognition, this company has given me every raise and promotion I've been up for. It's a real change.
I'm volunteering with the high school band. I'm not super useful, but I can help the percussion players with their instruments.
I love my cats.

The ILF news:
I'm giving up on Eurorack. I have no knack for it and it just leaves me frustrated and disappointed.
I haven't flipped a pedal in almost 3 years.
I'm reducing my guitar headcount from an unmanageable amount to 3: Strat, Reverend, Rickenbacker. Still figuring out if the Ric will be a 6 or 12 string.

[BitchPudding]

Eyy shoutout to the OGs!

Getting on meds for my mental health + getting an offical diagnosis of ADHD has made a huge impact on my life. Now that I've got the right meds, I can concentrate better, I've been able to deal with my emotions in a healthy way and overall have a much more positive outlook than I did at the start of the year.

My son started high school this year, which is a head trip. I'm only 32so it hasn't been that long for me....at least 2012 doesn't FEEL like it was that long ago. Being a father is weird as fuck but my kids are awesome so its all worth it.

Me and Mrs. Pudding's anniversary is coming up Saturday. 6 years married already, and every god damn day I'm reminded of how important she's been to me in getting well and sorting out my life. She really helped me grow up when I was scared to. She showed me growing up doesn't mean losing who you are, it just means you get to refine whats there to the ideal version of you minus any immature baggage. I love her so so much. I'm so lucky I get to spend my life with her.

My band has been really popping off as well. We've managed to play a show a month at least (sometimes two) since last November. Really made a mark in our local scene and we hope to branch out soon. But fuck man, it feels good to be making music with people who have a similar work ethic to mine who also understand the vision. We have another EP prepped for release early next year + an album we're working on that we hope we
ll be able to get recorded later next year. I'm so grateful to have this outlet. I would have been dead a long time ago if it wasn't for music.

I miss this site too. It makes me so happy that this is all still here. So much of my early years when I started playing can be tracked on this site. I really grew up with a lot of you fools. I still remember posting on here at like Midnight my time not thinking anyone would be up, and suddenly I gained a bunch of European friends. I learned so much here about gear, music, bands, and so much of that went on to inform how I make art and do what I do.

I miss you guys a bunch. I hope this site never dissappears. ILF foreverrrrrrrrrrr <3

[chuckjaywalk]

My last post was exactly a month ago.
I'm single now.
I own a Geddy Lee Minimoog.
I'm a modern-day warrior.