A bit of the old recap redux here, along with a healthy dose of personal griping that I have to get off my chest before the new week starts. I want a decent bill of mental health and writing here is my substitute for therapy.

Good: Getting my hands on the Power Mac G4 my cousin is trading me as payment for a website.

Bad: Having all kinds of trouble getting the thing hooked up to my cinema display. Older computer, newer monitor and connectors I’ve never had to deal with before. Why is it I have issues with getting new computers up and running>

Good: Getting to see The Doves play at Webster Hall on Thursday night for free. Never heard of them before the show, but damn if it wasn’t good. Knowing someone who works in the music industry does have its perks.

Bad: The hair on the members of the opening band. Forgettable music and heavily reliant on syncing their performance to video that pulled about 10 chapters worth of content from your local library’s book of quotes. That and their stage manager dressed them funny.

Good: Catching a few beer afterwards and then watching Star Wars at a 1:30 am showing, just because I was in the neighborhood.

Bad: The hype surrounding the movie. Yes, it was good. Yes, I enjoyed it. No, it did not beat any of Empire or Jedi, but it can hang around them if it wants to.

Good: Getting the podcasting bug. More on this later, but some weeks ago someone suggested I do some writing on music. I like the idea, but I think I’ll take the suggestion in a different direction. The investment in research, time and equipment will hopefully not be too steep, but this is still a newly developing playing field.

Bad: The forthcoming licensing hassles that are still on the horizon for podcasting. Once again, this is still a newly developing playing field, and RIAA and the rest will want their cut eventually.

Good: Free beer and food. You could probably get some too if you knew someone who knew someone graduating from a theology masters course. Good times for sure, and many newly familiar faces from the karaoke crowd I’ve seemed to fall into. Don and Mike rule.

Bad: That alarm on the fire door that was accidentally tripped as Ryan and I were entering. Damn that thing was loud. Annoying too.

Good: Somehow still being able to wake up at 10 the next morning. A few weeks ago I had made plans to throw a second Allaire Park picnic after the first one went so well.

Bad: Getting stuck in a freak traffic jam on the Parkway with no apparent cause. That threw my schedule for a bit of a loop, as I still had to stop and grab provisions from the food store.

Good: Still being the first to arrive, even through I was running 45 minutes late.

Bad: Still being the first to arrive, even through I was running 45 minutes late.

Good: Finally seeing familiar faces in the form of Adam and Kelly. Ages since I had a chance to catch up with them and it was certainly something I was looking forward to.

Bad: After an hour or so the only other person to show up was my sister. Considering at least half a dozen people told me they were attending, this pissed me off. Had I known I would have such a low turnout I wouldn’t have spent so much money on provisions.

Good: Getting two apology calls from some people who couldn’t attend.

Bad: Getting them two hours after the scheduled start time.

Good: Walking in Allaire, eating funnel cake and italian ice.

Bad: How can funnel cake and italian ice be bad?

Good: Heading to a local bar to enjoy drinks and conversation with Adam, Kelly and the sister — kind of an unexpected combo. Getting free refills on my soda without having to ask was a nice perk too.

Bad: That long drive home, seething in my own thoughts.

Ugly: The lingering seed of doubt that has been planted in my head regarding some of my friends. Hell, I can understand that you got called in to work, or you were only going to be able to attend for an hour or so, but how fucking hard is it to pick up the fucking phone and let me know!!!

Seriously, how little do they think of me? I put time, money and effort into arranging this thing and I couldn’t fully enjoy the day. I was in a funk after that for a while; the rain and thunder outside just adding atmosphere to my insides. Eventually I came around and things started pointing upwards again, but this is just another in a disturbing trend of events and I doubt that some of them even realize it. How sad is that?

Ah well, cut my losses and get ready to start the week anew.