Lunch Report - Wednesday Nov 30, 2011

[guitar_ed]

Hi Guys,

Here it is, the end of November. For me, the year has gone pretty danged fast. The kid is growing like weed, being 10.5 years old.

For lunch today, I have to go to work (ugh) and sell computers and related crap at a chain business supply store. But, it does keep me out of trouble. When I actually get my lunch break, it will be rice, chicken, and frozen veggies. And a banana too. It is quick, cheap, and easy to do. What I do is make a large pot of rice, portion it and freeze. So I just grab stuff out of the freezer, and away I go.

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Todays highlight is one of my favorite TV shows, Dirty Jobs. We watch this as a family. I believe that it is instructional for the child. It shows her the wide array of jobs that are out there, and hopefully will scare her into going to college when the time comes.

On a topical point, one issue dealt with artificially inseminating turkeys.

This is a link to the official web page on this episode: http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirty ... ls-09.html

This is a link to the episode, posted on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo2tQ6IL0mA

At the moment, they are not showing new episodes, but that will change soon. December 13, on the Discovery Channel. The show will be back.

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No G&L today, but on a guitar related note, I got my daughter a guitar. It's an Axl 3/4 size Strat knock off. I will be surprising her with it shortly. Any other music or guitar related gifts out there?

Tomorrow I promise to post some G&L pics, because I will be home from work.

Later,

edg

[suave eddie]

On a topical point, one issue dealt with artificially inseminating turkeys.

Back in 1978 while working for the phone company taking orders for new service, I had to ask applicants for information regarding their occupation. I initially thought the guy was joking when he responded with "turkey inseminator" as his occupation.
My understanding of why this job is necessary is that due to the aritificial breeding of turkeys to produce huge breasts for more white meat, it has now become harder and more dangerous for them to breed naturally.

[darwinohm]

Edg, One month left and it's a new one! Lunch was left over Pepperoni pizza and it was a hit, but most things are!

At this point I will pass on the Turkey inseminator job. I have found the perfect job and I don't have to argue with turkeys any more.

I am not a TV fan but I do like to watch live concert videos. One of my favorites is the Eagles and James Taylor Pull Over. They never get old.

I bought my grand daughter a 3/4 strat for a first guitar and tuning and intonation was were terrible because of the short scale. At that age they don't notice and they outgrow them quickly. They still use the baby Taylors. I am looking forward to some pictures tomorrow. Keep those electronic items moving and get this economy moving again. I am trying to stimulate it but my mind is way ahead of my money. Anyone else have that problem?-- Darwin

[Kit]

I don't want to encourage my children to spend any more hours watching TV so in our household we only have 'basic' cable which is our local broadcast channels plus Discovery and about a dozen other unwatchable channels. The only reason I even subscribe to 'basic' cable is to get shows like Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs, which my children like to watch. I hardly pay any attention to what's on TV, but now that you mentioned it, I now realize that Dirty Jobs has not been on for a while.

Several years ago I bought a Jay Turser Jay Jr 3/4-size electric hoping to get my children to be interested in playing. I had to shim the neck to get the action to be perfect. Other than that the tuners actually hold tuning very well, the intonation was spot on after I set it, and the guitar played great. I used to play it myself since the neck felt great and it was easy to play. My children are now 17 and 15 so a child-size guitar is no longer needed, and they never showed any interest in playing in any case, so a couple of years ago I sold the Jay Jr on Craigslist.

I can use more mic stands so I just bought a couple from Musicians Friend for $10 a piece with free shipping. That's likely it for musical equipment this year.

Kit

[meowmix]

I have this triple bundle package with Verizon. TV is only $20 more, so what the heck.
My present arrived last month. The new S500 Red metal flake with Stainless Steel frets, and I am diggin it.

[blargfromouterspace]

Dirty Jobs is a great show. We don't get it here, at least not on our free to air TV (no way I'm paying to watch even more ads). I think the host is one of a handful of TV presenters with a brain. I also like Dhani Tackles the World, and Mythbusters. British comedy is in a very good place at the moment too with shows like 'Peep Show' and 'The Inbetweeners'.

I got my first guitar when I was 15 as a present - a Washburn Dimebag Darrell pointy thing with lightning bolts on it. I'd been playing my dads Japanese Strat for about a year and a half before I got it. I'd been eyeing it off for months as the guitar was in a shop where I got lessons. One day it wasn't there anymore. A couple of months went by and when my dad took me there for a lesson he came upstairs - which was unusual - and there was a big case sitting there. The clerk, who I used to chat with a lot, said "look in there". It was the guitar. I couldn't believe it. I had a coughing fit! I still have it, but rarely play it. It holds a lot of sentimental value.

[zapcosongs]

My kids and I really enjoy Dirty Jobs. We're also extremely fascinated by How It's Made, Deadliest Catch, and my personal favorite, River Monsters. There are also cool shows about folks who hunt for meteorites and for gold. Very interesting stuff on TV compared to when I was a kid. We do limit their time in front of the tube though, and encourage physical activity.

Lunch today was PBJ (apricot preserves employed as a change of pace), cheese puffs, apple slices and water.

Regarding kids and guitars, my boy is now big enough to play my old Yamaha acoustic. Problem is that my wife (yes, THAT one) encouraged the kid to join "orchestra" so now has to practice his violin. With swimming and Scouts and everything, guitar has taken a back seat for him. But I'm going to bribe him with my old SC-2 (yes, THAT one) so that if he gets serious about guitar again, he can have my beloved instrument. I figure that I can't take it with me, and I've got a two big-MFD equipped guitar in my '86 ASAT anyway. I'm a desperate man....

Look forward to seeing your collection later this week. Thanks - (the other) ed

[louis cyfer]

sushi for lunch. i like net geo, nat geo wild, discovery and the history channel. i like to improve along to gac sometimes. i have the 7/8 sized taylor gs mini acoustic, i love it.

last year i gave guitars and amps to the angel project where needy kids give a wish list and write it on little paper angels. the local unity project distributes the angels to businesses and i look through them to find kids who want guitars. bring the gift back unwrapped and tape the angel to it, they collect them just before christmas and take them to the kids. i bought a rondo and a squier affinity at the pawnshop for 20/25 bucks. fixed them up, took them to a tech to donate a set up and bought fender amps at garage sales for 4 bucks. worked well. the price limit on the gifts is 30 bucks, i managed to give a guitar/amp starter pack plus strap, chord and a setup included for the 30 bucks. i hope the kids liked it. this year the new angels just came in yesterday, have to pick through them to find kids wanting guitars. i weed out the 15+ year old ones, they can work for what they want. also parents put up lists for 3 months to 2 years olds, the kid has no idea. i also look at what the needs are. kids that list wii, laptop, tv, ps3, etc as needs i ignore as well. the kids that have shoes, socks, underwear, school supplies as needs, and have guitar listed as interest is what i am looking for. i hope to do it again this year.

[Philby]

last year i gave guitars and amps to the angel project where needy kids give a wish list and write it on little paper angels. the local unity project distributes the angels to businesses and i look through them to find kids who want guitars. bring the gift back unwrapped and tape the angel to it, they collect them just before christmas and take them to the kids. i bought a rondo and a squier affinity at the pawnshop for 20/25 bucks. fixed them up, took them to a tech to donate a set up and bought fender amps at garage sales for 4 bucks. worked well. the price limit on the gifts is 30 bucks, i managed to give a guitar/amp starter pack plus strap, chord and a setup included for the 30 bucks. i hope the kids liked it. this year the new angels just came in yesterday, have to pick through them to find kids wanting guitars. i weed out the 15+ year old ones, they can work for what they want. also parents put up lists for 3 months to 2 years olds, the kid has no idea. i also look at what the needs are. kids that list wii, laptop, tv, ps3, etc as needs i ignore as well. the kids that have shoes, socks, underwear, school supplies as needs, and have guitar listed as interest is what i am looking for. i hope to do it again this year.

Good on ya Louis. What a great idea.

[Ledergeist]

Ed -
Not only the month, but this year has just flown by for me....

Gifts -
I picked up that Epiphone Wilshire re-issue kind of as an early present. Our 2 young ones are starting to get interested, and I'd rather have them fool around with that than a G&L or my Guild Songbird.
I always remembered to put a few LP's on my wish lists back in the day. I think Ted Nugent's 'Double Live Gonzo' came from my Grandparents!...

TV-
I like most of those 'occupational' shows, Deadliest Catch, Lobster Wars, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Chasing Classic Cars, along with Dirty Jobs. The one my wife can't stand and I really like is Storage Wars.
I would just die to be at an auction like that when the door opens and it's all Guitar Cases and Amps and stuff, Yeeeeeep!

BW

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

.

It is good to see the TV show focused on and the turkey topic left in the dust.

Jamie that is a sweet story and it's nice to hear that you still have the guitar.

Pass a G&L Humanitarian Award to Louis.

.

[Sean Clavin]

Love Dirty Jobs! Me and my youngest (now 21yrs old) would watch that show all the time.

Lunch was some PBnJ.

I given some of my children musical gifts in the past (guitars, bass drums......I guess I was trying to create my own band ) but now we either give cash or gift cards so they can get whatever they want for their big gift. Small gifts are usually AAA, e-readers, an outfit or two...stuff like that. I was going to get my oldest grandson a guitar this Christmas, but I might wait another year or two till we go and get him one.

[CGT]

We got Netflix a couple of months ago. Cable in these parts is ridiculously expensive. Because we wanted CBC News Network, the most affordable package was $62/month + $10/boxtop rental + Tax = 81.36. Netflix, on the other hand is 8 bucks a month + 8 bucks for the Toronto Star and anything we want to watch on the networks we can stream online the next day, so bye bye cable company. That still leaves us with $63.36 to go to the movies every month.

I have put a couple of my beaters on craigslist to no avail, perhaps I will do as Louis, set them up and give them away. It's an excellent idea.

With respect to gifts, we give ourselves museum memberships with guest privileges. We get to go as often as we want and bring along friends, and that way, we gift ourselves and people we love throughout the year. (And there is nothing more inspiring than spending an afternoon at the museum when one is feeling down and in need of inspiration, especially when one is self-employed).

[louis cyfer]

We got Netflix a couple of months ago. Cable in these parts is ridiculously expensive. Because we wanted CBC News Network, the most affordable package was $62/month + $10/boxtop rental + Tax = 81.36. Netflix, on the other hand is 8 bucks a month + 8 bucks for the Toronto Star and anything we want to watch on the networks we can stream online the next day, so bye bye cable company. That still leaves us with $63.36 to go to the movies every month.

I have put a couple of my beaters on craigslist to no avail, perhaps I will do as Louis, set them up and give them away. It's an excellent idea.

With respect to gifts, we give ourselves museum memberships with guest privileges. We get to go as often as we want and bring along friends, and that way, we gift ourselves and people we love throughout the year. (And there is nothing more inspiring than spending an afternoon at the museum when one is feeling down and in need of inspiration, especially when one is self-employed).

i gave one of my own guitars as a present once, my stepson got my ibanez rg550. he was 13. never played guitar. now he is playing in a restaurant to earn money planning on attending berkeley.

but i find cheap guitars at pawnshops, garage sales etc, to give away now. my guitars are staying with me. i like the idea though, when you have beaters that won't bring you much, might as well give it away, make more use of it that way. i got my new big tv, and i am giving the 42" lcd i had to my housekeeper for the winter solstice. it wouldn't bring in much trying to sell it on CL, but it saves 400-500 bucks he would have to spend to get one. good all around.

[louis cyfer]

.

It is good to see the TV show focused on and the turkey topic left in the dust.

Jamie that is a sweet story and it's nice to hear that you still have the guitar.

Pass a G&L Humanitarian Award to Louis.

.

thank you kindly. when i give away a g&l, maybe i'll deserve it. not likely though