Been A While

So it's been a while since the last post. I continue to write scripts for use on my Mac, and I'm almost running out of ideas for things to create. Almost. I've got a few nemeses that I'm going to be dealing with when I'm done yakking here. Namely, I'm trying to create a PDB file of a short polypeptide from scratch using Python and MMTK. If anyone is familiar with how to do this, I'd appreciate it. Stupid 'NoneType' attribute errors...

I shall prevail.

In other news, I'm a bit peeved with Apple. They have just released a new version of the iBook which is superior to mine - faster processor, more RAM, SuperDrive standard, and Bluetooth built in. That's like $300 worth of upgrades, all for $67 less than I paid for mine. Damn, timing is everything. You think I would've learned that throughout my life. Also, I got really excited about the GarageBand software included on my iBook. It allows me to create very high quality recordings of my music, all on my computer. What they didn't tell me was that I'd have to buy a $100 USB input/preamp device to actually do that. I canNOT afford that right now, or any time soon. I guess I'll have to wait for Christmas or something before I can actually record myself. Shit.

Also in guitar news, I'm challenging myself. For anyone who has never heard the Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds CD "Live at Luther College," well, you need to. The guitar work is mind-blowing. I'm trying to play the version of "Tripping Billies" on the album, which features some blazing licks from TR. I first started trying to play it years ago, ending only in frustration. It was way beyond me then. But now I'm challenging myself again. It has been too long since I challenged myself on guitar. For a while, nothing was challenging (not to sound like a conceited ass, but guitar was my life, so I got pretty damn good). Then, I got comfortable with my acoustic transformation, and had no desire to challenge myself (except vocally - good results there). It feels really good to tear into the frets with the same reckless abandon in which I used to revel. It's such a high to fly up and down the neck at mind- and finger- numbing speeds. I can't quite pull it off perfectly yet, but I'm so damn close I just can't seem to put my guitar down once I start playing. I haven't felt quite this way in a very long time.

Amazingly enough, I have new calluses growing. It feels good to be back.