Blog Post // 2023-04-10

Springtime Snow!

I am being transparent here. My health has been terrible. I passed out for reasons unknown, lost feeling, have been blacking out, had a skin cancer scare (still might require surgery), have had terrible stomach issues (will be seeing a specialist), and have a knee injury that can't be fixed (saw a specialist). I have some not-so-good results from a brain MRI and don't know exactly what they mean yet (waiting to see a specialist). It is the kind of situation where every time I see my mother, she cries. With everything so up in the air, it has reminded me somehow to just enjoy the little things, little moments, and get through the hard ones. Enjoy people you love, say the things that matter, and do the things you want to.

I started to play guitar again in a more serious, practice-more-often kind of way. I don't know if it is my experience with drumming or all the music I have been checking out in-depth or what, but it is going much better than ever before. My son started to play guitar and it inspired me to pick it up again. He has found the thing that helps him regulate, and as someone who has been on the end of his punches, my heart is happy that music is helping him calm down. I am learning some songs by Harakiri for the Sky. I am enjoying being on the making-the-music side of things. 

On the topic, I was hoping to be at a Harakiri for the Sky concert, as they are coming to Canada next month, but family members are not well and are in the middle of getting surgery and things just aren't aligning. :(  And I have been off-balance myself. It has been a bit of a scary time. I am hoping things will turn around and I will feel more stable on my feet soon. If I would have made it to the concert, it would have been in a wheelchair. I am excited to get to one, wheelchair or not. It has taken this chronic illness thing to a different level and made me feel for the experiences people have with loss of ability or illness that makes them weak. They are forced to think outside the box and must have determination just to be able to experience what a lot of people take for granted.

I decided to live life, and my way of doing that is to get the pet I always wanted - a rat - and play guitar, and listen to music. Oh, and my last tattoo is being put on my body very soon. :)

This winter has been very mild in terms of temperature. It only went down below -25C a handful of times. Some winters are mostly that cold. Because of the warmth, we have gone between melting snow and a huge pile of snow. 

Even though I am struggling physically, this has been the year I taught my son to use a machete. My dog is learning patience because I am walking very slowly. He always checks on me when we go out.

What has been standing out to me in terms of music?

Well, I am liking getting feedback on my polls. Lorna Shore was the band that people enjoyed that didn't do it for me in 2022. I thought that was interesting. It does seem to be an up-and-coming style, encompassing so many different vocal aspects, slowing almost to a stop and then also having a super quick pace at times. I have checked out all the releases in March that were mentioned in my latest poll. Haken's Fauna will be coming up in a review. I chose it because the poll indicated that you guys are checking it out, and I thought it would be something different. You can still give me your feedback until I get another poll up.

Here are my favourite songs from each album I have listened to, or maybe not, if I didn't like it so much.

Periphery V - Djent Is Not a Genre - I don't think I can pick anything because I really didn't like it. I know they said this is their most honest record, and I can respect that, but it isn't for me.

 Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust - Bodies As Driftwood

 Employed to Serve - Conquering Deluxe - Sun Up To Sun Down

 Ne Obliviscaris - Exul - Equus

Invent Animate - Heavener - Labarinthe

Since doing the Enslaved review, I have watched the documentary, Heimvegen, which was very enjoyable! I recommend it!

It does feel like a packed year already, as far as what is coming out. I am not sure what I am looking for, or what will be the best find. I guess I am wide open about it (I know some of you don't think I am. lol).

Hope this post finds you happy and healthy, and doing things you love.