Sorry for the lack of posts, but even with a cool iPhone app (written by Roo) it's difficult to find time when ur on a family vacation.

Just got back from Disneyland. We're exhausted. Excellent time to go. Worst line was about 30 min, most were about 15 or so.

So for CF ob Sunday... Firstly, thanks to Austin for being a great mate, being the chaffeur (although he could have brought a stretch limo), being a tour guide and a very accommodating server at the show (everyone in the front row was freaked out when I came back after only a minute with a new drink!! LOL

Thanks to Aaron for tagging along and refusing to buy me a drink.

Thanks especially to Mick for floating me 3 aftershows so the guys could come back to see Joe after the show with me.

That was an awesome night. Got some great shots (about 450). Including me in front of joes amps and chads drums on stage, a great shot of me lying on the couch with chickenfoot cushions in the changeroom and with the JD bass. Awesome front row shots of the whole concert (where I wore an in-n-out hat all night - bloody Austin!) and good shots after the show one with me in an in-n-out hat with Joe and one of Austin, me, Joe and Aaron.

I caught a plectrum from Joe in a really flukey move. I was taking a photo of Sammy and just caught a glimpse of Joe flicking a pick across to the guy on my right... He was getting ready to catch it with both hands outstretched and in one swift move I shot out my right arm. Caught it, and shoved it straight in my pocket! Lol, the poor guy next to me looked at his hands with a puzzled look, then started looking on the floor. I then said "sorry man" as I couldn't let him keep searching for it.

The songs were again incredible. I am soooooooooo glad I made the effort to fly over to catch these last shows. I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to the rincon, but with the flight delays we had on Saturday I would have missed it anyway.

I showed a picture of the completed guitar to Joe and he thought it was excellent.

Well, a little more relaxing tomorrow. Then legoland (although we bought a lot of Lego today already) and a shopping trip to outlet stores and walking around rodeo drive etc probably Friday.

Hey Austin, any good tips on both factory outlet centres and what to see on rodeo drive area? Email me.. Anyone else with tips? Aaron?

Thanks again to Joe,Chad,Mike and Sammy for the awesome music. Really hope you guys come down under for a tour.

Roo
Roo

Oh, and I had my first shot of Cabo wabo tequila at the aftershow, very smooth stuff man.

And got a great photo of austin sculling a beer shot through a straw! That crazy man! :)

Roo

EDIT: Oh, and I forgot to mention, It was very cool when Davy Knowles came out to Jam at the end, he definitely held his own and is a very cool musician. Very cool.

Now I know how I ended up with 400 photos. I looked like a tourist taking photos of everything!

Oh wait... I AM a tourist...
Roo

Wow, what a trip... Finally back at home, left LA at 10:30pm on Saturday and walked in the door here at around midday on Monday! (well, we did completely skip Sunday with the date line thingy) the main flight was 14 hours, but all up with airports/transfers etc it was around 20 hours total.

Have started loading and sorting photos, will be loading some up tonight and will post links.

Got your little present skippygirl, will post tomorrow.

Not posting a pic of the guitar till I get it sealed and reassembled, sorry - not much longer.
Roo

Al: great to catch up mate, thanks for the kind words..

Jetlag? What jetla...zzzzzzzzzzzzZzzz.....ZzzzzzzzzZZZZzzzzz
Roo

....and shots from the Universal City Show...

Really peace lily? Glad you enjoy the site!
Roo

Cheese101: I'll be having a chocolate milkshake too when he gets there to celebrate with you.

Michelle: I try to avoid it as much as I can.
Roo

Mino0472: no

Do the stu: I have it on good authority the cd in with the DVD is different mixes.
Roo

Skippygirl. Hahaha! :)

Hey, don't shoot me though if I am wrong, I may have misinterpreted what was said.
Roo

Skippygirl: "hahaha" was to the "signed advance copy" - as if!

I was just slow posting...

I have your address, thanks, your gift will be in the post today.

Cheese101: congrats! I'm going off to the shops to get a double malted milkshake shortly to celebrate with you.

Roo

Don1963: tell them to be prepared... I heard it's on.

I'm sorry but i'm back in oz now, so won't be makin it to Cabo.
Roo

Hey, I just bought your time machine and wah pedals Joe. Wow! You are right, they just seem to play nicely together. I love the ability to really tweak so many settings on them to colour the sound.

I was really struggling to get a defined and clear tone with a zoom, but going back to pedals has changed the game completely... I am going to have a lot of fun playing with these!!!

Anyone debating a purchase of a wah, distortion or delay should seriously just buy one of these.. Cool.

Playing with google wave now, very cool!
Roo

Progress on the first guitar.. I've been researching clearcoats and discussing with the paint manufacturers. Looks like they recommend s 2-part auto body finish. I'll take the sample in shortly to get a test finish. Worst thing would be if the finish destroyed the artwork!!! After all this effort and expense.

I laminated the signed certificate of authenticity I made up for it. It's now assembled in a Perspex display sandwich... Yknow, like the ones the blackdog came with.

Hopefully the guitar will be clearcoated and reassembled in a little over a month for the big reveal! And for me to finally play it!
Roo

Jjc2009: turn it up and stand in front of the stack. It's called feedback. Move the guitar around to encourage different notes.

My rx8 has 4 seats and suicide doors!

And is much cheaper...

But it only has 2 cylinders!! (well, sort of)

:)
Roo

Jjc2009: funny, I think it's more related to guitar and your driver. I barely crack 1/4 on my Marshall volume through the clean with a js1000 and a satchurator with no other effects and can get almost instant feedback sitting 2 m away in my lounge room. Tilting the guitar and pivoting and rolling it I can just about get all the notes I need for the intro. Some are a little more work. I'll try tonight with my little portable peavey and see how I go...

What's your distortion coming from?

pip: no, they are a fine artist, not a clearcoat specialist. I wouldn't want to waste their time.

Looks like I can use the high quality 2-part auto-clear the spray guys have here. They have the test piece now. If it works I'll give them the guitar in a week or so.
Roo

Skippy: you mad girl!...

"perked up"? Haven't you heard that expression?

I used to have a bfp jem, loved that guitar, I miss it..:(

I sold it to by a js3! NOT regretting the decision in the slightest!! :)

This episode of top gear was the main reason I decided on an rx8 when I was choosing between a few options. People are amazed that you can actually fit 4 adults comfortably (but not basketball players).

And.... Here's mine! :) he he he.... It's very fun!
Roo

Oh, and a mate sent me this quote:

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

-Hunter S. Thompson
Roo

Jjc2009: I'm saying get a satchurator, it is good! :)

But, all the components, AND the way you play, all come into it. Depends on the sound you're trying to get.
Roo

Anibur: they were vinyl LPs. And it's a very cool little album, all but one track was re-released on Time Machine. That missing track was "Talk to me".

Here's the EP
Roo

Cheese101: it is in Vegas after all!

My better half said no to me flying to Vegas for that show. Even before I asked! :)

I guess that better judgement is why she's known as my better half! :)

Decided not to paint shielding pant on the guitar cavities, too expensive for questionable benefit. As one of the blokes I was talking to said. "you have 2 miles of wire wrapped around the pickups hangin out in the wind, and you want to shield a few cm of wire in the electronics cavity" - he made his point I guess.
Roo

Austin : nice complexion! Clearasil probably won't help, sorry man.

Last night we'd just sent all our worldly posessions on the removals truck, cleaned the house and headed off for some dinner. We left the bonsai collection to pick up tomorrow.

At about midnight, the next door neighbour calls and he's just chased off a couple of guys in a car - but didn't get a full license number - white old model Nissan toranno 3-door diesel YGM ???.

They'd backed up and cleaned out the entire collection!!

1) how did they know I had them?

2) how did they know that was the right and only night to do it? - probably saw the removal vans there all day..

3) who steals bonsais?? Weird - but apparently there is a bonsai crime wave on lately! Who wouldve thought??

So later today I have to call to see if insurance covers them and estimate what they were worth.

Strange world.... I'm not too fazed, I don't hold physical posessions that highly. Seems strange for someone that collects a lot of stuff over time, but I just don't seem to get too distressed over this sort of loss. There's always A silver lining I feel. I wasn't sure how I was going to look after them here and then transport them. Now I can use the time I would have spent on playing music! :)

Now that autistic 4 yo that wandered off last night is a worry though. I send all my best wishes to that family and hope he is found quickly and is safe.
Roo