h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Goodness, it's been a while since I said hello to you here!

I'd read some of the stuff on your journal, seems like you're hanging in there all right in spite of things.

How's the guitar playing coming? Mastered any new tunes?

Have you seen the Ramones box set that was released a couple of weeks ago? "Weird Tales of the Ramones", from Rhino Records. Three CDs, a DVD, and a nifty comic-book type thing for liner notes. It's pricey, but cool. Maybe there's a good reason you should be getting a gift soon?

So, how are you?

Hi
Hows you?
I'm good today. All bruised cos I finally went paintballing yesterday, but it was fun so I don't care.

The Ramones thing sounds good, I doubt I'll be able to get it, for a while at least. I saw some smaller boxset things in MVC that were quite cheap, but I might just save up and get the one you mentioned.

I got the tabs for a new song, but haven't had time to try it yet. I've been a bit buisy, so I havent practised for a few days. Hopefully I will make time soon!

Thought of another favorite of mine that you should enjoy learning to play, if you can locate the tabs. "Sweet Jane", by the almighty Velvet Underground.

I'm going to have to hold off on the Ramones box set, too, but I'll get it eventually. Maybe Santa will bring it for Xmas. I've just gotten another box set because I found it at a steep discount, and I'm going to place an order next week for a new messenger bag. My old one broke.

Hope you're having a good week.

Hiya.
I'll try and find the song, I have a free Napster download credit that came with my box of Pop Tarts, so I can get it there if I cant find it anywhere else. Ive heard of the Velvet Underground but not checked them out. Might do that soon

Good week? Well, in terms of what's happened, no. But I have been mostly happy so none of it matters. And the newfound happyness is paying off as I have regained the attention of someone I like.

I learned the song I got the tabs for, it was really easy. I'm learning the entire song, I dont have to miss out the solo like I usually do, cos it's a really simple one. Happy! And some girl taught me the White Stripes '7 Nation Army' on guitar, which is also really easy. Its meant to be the bass part, but I do it on guitar due to lack of bass . My mate's getting a bass for xmas though, so I can teach her the ones I know.
Then all we'll need is a drummer and singer lol!

I got that Velvet Underground song you mentioned, but didn't like it much, so I wont try and learn it yet.

How are you though?

Didn't like it much? Shame on you. That's blasphemy!

Seriously though...

I'm all right. Innundated with work this week, property tax returns from hell. I'm being considered for a promotion, thugh- keep fingers crossed and I should know by the end of next week.

Lol, I repent of my sins!!

Well done, hope you get your promotion!! Im back to school this week, oh the joy. Id take work experience over school any day. Well, if it was an actual job anyway. At least then Id be doing something usefull, getting paid!

Work experience is good, but education is important. Herein the States, you can earn a million or so more in cumulative salary over the course of your lifetime, if you have a graduate degree as opposed to a mere undergrad. If you haven't finished high school, in many states, employers are exempt from paying you the minimum wage.

So hang in there!

Meanwhile, I'll find out tomorrow if I get the promotion or not...

So did you get it??

Lots of jobs just need special training rather than academic qualifications, but unfortunatley not journalism

Not this time. They decided to eliminate the position altogether and distribute the workload amongst existing employees in the department. Cheap b*ggers!

But they did say that if and when (and they frequently do) they have another opening for a property accountant, they've got me under consideration, because they're quite happy with my background and references. So, maybe soon.

I hope so, we could use the additional income.

I haven't actually *used* my college degree, practically, for work at all. But here in the States, as far as prospective employment goes, not earning one's bachelor's degree is as bad as not completing high school was considered 20 or 30 years ago.

Journalism is a lot of fun, though, my friend Stacy works for a newspaper company, and I know a few people who've gotten into publishing, too. Good luck with it!! You could be the next Lester Bangs!

Aww, good luck for next time then...the cheapskates!!

I want to specialize in music journalism, I'd love to work at a rock mag like Kerrang! or something, but I'll probably have to start with normal journalism to get experience. Hope I ont have to have to much technical music knowledge though, I never understood bars and quavers etc. I can manage chords and read tabs but thats as far as it goes!!

Had a nice weekend?

Hiya!

Weekend was nice, but short! Visited my in-laws on Sunday afternoon. Saturday night K's band played, but they didn't go on till 1:30 AM so I stayed home and did some reading. Other than that, we mostly just lolled around and relaxed.

This week at work, it's been SO busy so far!!

I'll see if any of my journalistic friends have any advice. And read "Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung", by Lester Bangs. I'll think of other good rock journalist-type books, too. Trouser Press music guides are good, and I really enjoyed "Stairway to Hell".

Glad you enjoyed your weekend, I cant wait for the next one! Although this weeks been quite good. I went snowboarding for the 1st time yesterday, it wes fun. And Im going skiing today so i'll probably spend a lotta time on my ass!

Ah thanks. I wondered where I could get info on it, I'll try to find some of those books. I may even be able to persudade mum to buy em for me because "it'll give me an idea of what rock journalism is like so I can see if I want to do it". I think she's talking to me again so I might have a chance, lol.

Hope you dont get too knackered. I was up quite late last night doing homework for today (and chatting online obviously ), Ive got loads this week. year 11 sucks!

Hey there! Had a helluva week, finally caught up on work a half hour before quitting time on Friday! I'm dead tired, we're dog-sitting this weekend, next week, and next weekend, and not only will it be fun (and probably pay well, they usually leave about $100 a day, last time they went for over a week they left $1000...), but it will be kind of fun. They have nice (but dumb) dogs and a gorgeous mansion of a house.

Sorry to hear that year 11 (is that your last year? We do 12 years here) sucks so much. But keep doing well at it, don't want to blow that brill journalistic career before it starts!!

Well, I'd better get a few loose ends cleaned up before I go... squeak to you soon, and I'll think of more suggestions of good reading materials. If you can get your mom to get you any, see if you can get the Trouser Press guide(s) (there are two), and/or the Lester Bangs one.

Heya. Im lucky, I dont have to finish all my work before I leave, as long as the teacher isnt checking it!
Wow, good pay! I cat-sit sometimes (just feed it really), and usually get &10 which isnt bad for just feeding a cat for the weekend.

Yeah, year 11 is the last compulsory year, then its into 6th form (aka collage) for me Lotsa homework again, I sepnt all yesterday doing it cos Ive been out all week. (learning that I cannot skateboard down hills sucessfully!! ) But it was fun

Lol, 'squeak' to you soon? Cool!!

We were left a check for $500 for dog-sitting this time, not bad, although I have to wonder if it's enough to compensate for being on such serious poo detail. My poor running shoes will need to dry for a week before I can scrape them properly.

Here, 10 years of school (two of high school) is compulsory, you need 12 years total (four years of high school) in order to graduate. We're not required to complete high school past the tenth grade, but most states do not require employers to pay minimum wage to anyone who hasn't earned a high school diploma, or GED (an equivalent to a diploma for those who've dropped out or been expelled).

Anyway, be careful on that skateboard- try wrapping yourself in bubble wrap before attempting any more downhill stunts!

Hi again.
Lol, I hate having to clean up after pets. I'd never get up early enough to take a dog out!
My shoes are still soaked from going into town in the rain. As is my bag. And its contents. It was a bit wet that day.

I didnt take the bubblewrap advice, so I now have more bruises. But I can skate a lot better! Still terrible, but a lot better than before lol. And I only ran over my boyfriend with the skateboard once, and ran over myself with it twice (somehow! ). I also discovered you shouldnt walk through brambelly bushes in the dark cos they scratch (duh). It was fun though, but I might just invest in some bubblewrap like you suggested! I had a good week (except the failiure of my msn leaving me gutted ), hope you did too.

Talk soon