The Wrap-up, 2011 edition. How was your year?

[skipclone 1]

I`ll have to do a slightly shortened version.

First it has to be said, for anyone in Japan, whether they were directly affected by the March 11th events or not, this year sucked. This is about as close as I need to be to a bona fide disaster, not an experience I`d recommend. One of the worst things is, knowing that some of what`s happening is not being reported, and some of what`s being reported is not happening. if the authorities or the power company had been anything like forthcoming from the beginning, it would have been a whole different situation. That didn`t happen, and it`s clear that it`s not going to happen. A citizen`s group recently found cesium in varying amounts, in ALL the milk samples they tested. My job requires me to eat an institutional lunch but, years ago I said I`m not going to drink the milk and that`s that. Toxic stuff is creeping through the environment and it`s only a matter of time-if it hasn`t happened already-until I get more than my body can get rid of.

 

 

Having said that, I had a really great summer travel experience, got to fulfill a longtime dream of visiting Sweden. I am finally wrapping up my demo project, four hours of vocal time next week and then it`s just one or two acoustic songs that I added. Next year-next phase, take three songs and really do them right. After that-um...try to make the whole thing pay off without becoming another illegal download victim I guess. Socially things have gone from not much to too much, I`m not even sure I could explain it even if I had time.

Somehow though,I don`t know why but I am really looking forward to 2012.

[Guitarzan]

this year has been pretty good for us, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary. we are lucky to be healthy and not in need.

on a musical note this Christmas is pretty well a musical theme with the boys and i having gifts from the local music store.

i have recently gotten a new Godin LG and the wife surprised me with a new Yamaha A1M acoustic.

The wife has gotten a much better EA job and is now making more and my job has been less stressful. Brett is working part time and has a steady girl.

Ben is now the tallest one in the house and it looks like he won't stop growing any time soon.

I have new jam mates and my right hand man is a bass playin friend from work.

i finally grabbed myself a good used car seeing we couldn't do the one car thing any longer.

 

The stray cat that decided to hang out on our patio last winter has now become a card carrying member of the family, "Noodles" is my buddy and it is nice to have someone get excited that i am home like when the kids were small.

i can't complain ( except when i am driving ha) about anything.

 

I do miss my hair, but it could be worse.

 

With 2 teenaged boys i must say we have been very lucky with zero drama and problems.

they are doing great in school and have awesome senses of humour.

they have a cool Mom and God Bless her for all that she gives our family. she will help anyone who needs a hand and as an EA at school she has a lot to deal with.

I hope everyone has had a good year. and if you haven't just keep your chin up, i have have had bad years but it doesn't stay bad forever.

 

 

[Caevan O’Shite]

I grumble and complain like an old wooden wagon, but I have much to be thankful for this year; among other things, my Dad seems to be clear of cancer that he went through treatments for, and my Mom is recovering rapidly and excellently from hip-replacement surgery.

[Winston Psmith]

Ah, friends, it's been a kind of weird year, but overall, I haven't got any complaints really worth complaining about, and I'm very grateful for that. To be really honest, probably the hardest thing was when my wife's favorite uncle, and our dear old Lab mutt, passed within days of each other back in February - that week kind of sucked. My wife also had a hard time with her business for a while, but we're past that now, and more or less trying to move forward - again, I feel like we've been very lucky, seeing what other folks are going through. We've had good work so far this season, even if we're feeling a little crisp, right about now. Our terrier foundling is still doing great, and we're probably going to adopt a buddy for him, sometime after the New Year, when we see how work is going. We'd been a two-dog household for a long time, and the local shelter always has a bunch of perfectly good used dogs (and cats, and rabbits, and guinea pigs), so . . .

 

For myself, I've been able to work on some new music, which I should be getting back to in just a minute, especially now that I've gotten the replacement GK-3 pup working for me. I've gotten back in touch with a long-lost bandmate (we last played together back in 1980, or so?) through the most roundabout of Internet connections - I expect some gawdawful noise to come from this reunion. A good friend with all the right tools, and skills, has offered to come over and re-work the pink Epiphone V with me, sometime next week, so that can finally come out of the case. I've sunken to putting in a whole new FR trem from GFS on it, so go ahead and laugh at me, I deserve it. I've really been having fun with my cheap-o Squier Mini, too - I always have it out to bang on. Like I said, I've got no complaints worth complaining about, right now, and I wish that for everyone here.

[picker]

I have much to be thankful for. I have played out more than I have in a very long time, and I think that's a very good thing. I made a little bit of money, not a lot, but I didn't end up losing money. I've made some new friends. I'm still clean & sober. I have a job, a roof over my head, and I haven't lacked for food. I had a car wreck a couple of weeks ago when my brakes went out, but no one was hurt, my insurance will cover the damage to the other cars, and my car still runs and has new brakes. I've had more medical, optical and dental attention than I've been able to afford in a few years. All in all I'm better off than I was last year. I could ask for more, but it would just be greed if I did.

[whitefang]

Well, I already told you all about the passing of my brother and needing to move and one of my dogs having to be put down.

 

I've had better years, but in retrospect, I've had much worse.

Whitefang

[Gabriel E.]

This year was BUSY! Unfortunately, it didnt leave much time for guitar-related activities. I put a new SD Twang-Banger in my frankenstrat but wired it in backwards relative to the other pickups. I havent had time to re-wire it. A Fender oil-can reverb remains in pieces on my work bench. I didnt play out all year.

 

I opened a new store in Yonkers, NY which was quite the experience (I work for a national all-natural supermarket chain) and continues to keep me occupied. My daughters doing great in school and with piano and my wife and I are expecting our second child in June.

 

I built the mother of all tree houses.

 

We had two major weather events that resulted in multi-day power outages and some property damage.

 

Could have been better. Could have been worse.

[Danzilla]

Musically? Some disappointments followed by some good things. After 6 years, my band called it quits. Guitar player had other commitments, singer wanted out. Drummer and I thought about going on, but it was hard enough finding potential guitar replacements. So, time to lay it down. We're all still friends. In fact, we got together last Friday night at the singer's house just to hang out and sing Christmas carols.

 

Big changes at my church, too. They did renovations over the summer, and the contemporary group took a vacation. We weren't consulted about what they were doing with the music area (why should they ask us?). Came back, with lots of restrictions, poor PA system (well, it's ok, but the bass response is bad and gives me a big ol' delay- and no amps allowed). Add in some politics and reduced play time, and it's probably time to step back from that, too.

 

While I was a bit depressed about losing the band, it gave me time to sit in with some other people I've known. Did a few recording sessions with a friend, and a live show; he wanted to get a band together long-term, and I told him when he had a plan in place, let me know. Filled in for a friend who's bass player got hurt; wish I could have done another show or two with her but he healed. She's talked to me about being a back up again and would like to work together, even writing something. Another band that I've known & jammed with on occassion was losing their bass player. I said I'd like to audition, and they said no audition, you've got it. Played my first show with them Dec 2, and look forward to more shows after the first of the year. Heavier than I'm used to playing, but it's fun and challenging. Too bad their new CD is already in the can.

 

Financially? Not a good year. I'd sell some gear, including the old band's PA, if it had a decent resale value, but alas, no. At least I'm employed, so I shouldn't complain.

 

Also became a grandfather in June. It's weird, as I still have 13 & 8 year-old kids at home, and I don't feel old enough, but it's a joy. She gets me.

 

Here's to us all making a joyful noise in 2012.

 

[SEHpicker]

Much to be thankful for. This has been kind of a weird year and I'm looking forward to 2012. My business has picked up considerably in the last couple of months. My band is going strong, been through a couple of new players (bass & drums) over the last year but we've settled back into a good groove and adding lots of new songs to the set list. I have the best wife in the universe. Can't understand how she continues to put up with me but I love her bad. I hope everyone here on the forum has a healthy, prosperous, kick-ass guitar playin 2012.

Peace to you all.

[desertbluesman]

Decent year for me. Some ups some downs, kept my chops up, did not acquire any new gear (downs) Did reacquire my Les Paul Custom (ups) Survived the year so far (ups) had some health issues (downs) Etc. Etc.

 

All in all pretty darn good truthfully.

[TuskBuffer]

This past year I've acquired more gear than I have in a few years--nothing expensive or even notable, but just had to satisfy that GAS that had been building up. Resurrected my guitar pick business after almost a decade and have been having a lot of fun with that, looking forward to kicking it up a few notches in 2012, hopefully get a couple more music stores to pick them up. All I need is a good woman by my side and I'll be all set!

[Guitarzan]

hopefully i can finally get around to snagging one of you picks this year.

[desertbluesman]

How was your year?

 

Pretty decent, at near 70 years old I had some dragged out surgeries, all were successful, all were old age related. But I survived another 12 months in relatively decent shape. So it is all good around here, thanks for asking.

[super combinator]

Hey Skip-san

 

It certainly has been an emotional rollercoaster here hasnt it, govt lied their a$$es off early on, I wonder if either of us wud still be here if we knew more of the truth, I really feel for those who were literally rained on with radiation up there, govt shud on trial in the Hague imo. But nuke power is just to big worldwide & it wasnt just Japan that kept a lid on the info sadly

 

And the amount of food/milk/beef etc that they let into distribution channels was/is unbelieveable........

 

And on Jan 1st we had a pretty big shaker......

 

I am glad to see 2011 go, but wonder if 2012 will be any better here, work wise the last half was good but long term its still open for debate in a lotta areas here.

 

Heres to a better 2012 for us all!

[TuskBuffer]

hopefully i can finally get around to snagging one of you picks this year.

Just one? Hey, wasn't it you that wanted a larger version of the Jazz III? Well, I've got one now, modeled after the Jazz III XL.

 

You guys in Japan--it really makes me sick to hear about all the crap still occurring. I was just talking to a girl I know who has family in Japan (Shizuoka Prefecture), and she said the rumblings are still happening daily. All my best to you and everybody on the forum!

 

[skipclone 1]

Thanks Tuskbuffer-well it certainly has put a big question mark on the future. I am thinking that most likely everyone in Japan who is not far away has a higher than normal exposure at this point-I don't know how the situation will play out but it could continue for like, years. That doesn't sound like such a great idea. But just walking off into the sunset doesn't work either, not with the economy as it is. Still I can't help thinking of, I believe it was Chile-they had a huge quake a few years ago, then a year later they had another huge one in the same place. If that happened in Japan it would REALLY not be good.

[SEHpicker]

I really feel for the people of Japan and keep them in my prayers. They have had way too many radio-active events.

I hope 2012 will be a better year for them... and you too Skip.

[Boggs]

Let's see... I got laid off in February after 38 years, I had my shoulder replaced, I have been embroiled in a battle with unemployment insurance that has dragged on with my not having had an unemployment check since the end of May, my wife had 2 surgeries right before I had my shoulder replaced, my partial bridge broke off two teeth requiring extractions AFTER my dental insurance expired... Any questions?

[Billster]

I've had better years, let's put it that way.

 

OTOH, as they say "From crisis comes opportunity". If that's true, then I've been laying the groundwork for better things.