The original idea was for a "normal" band practice, but Jenn got sick so it was decided we'd be better off doing our own things at home and then meeting up next week.  Plus, I really didn't want her to hurl on my cats...

It worked out really well, actually, to just do our own things.  I got a lot done, so that's a good thing.  I started off by practicing guitar a bit.  I'm a few weeks rusty, so I tired pretty quickly.  Played through Discovery & 10K, with attempting to hit actual vocal notes on 10K.  Did a few minutes of singing practice before Julie came home and we ate dinner.  While playing through the songs, I was thinking about my right hand motion.  I noticed that when we watched through the last MarVell show a while ago, I look like a dork in the way I use my right hand.  I mean, I know it doesn't matter if I look like a dork, but it's something I noticed.  I just hold the pick and strum how I always have.  I know that I *could* change my playing motion, but I have no desire to undertake that right now...or maybe ever.  I'm trying to become more aware of my body while playing guitar (it still feels a bit unnatural to me, honestly).  Part of the problem of "unnatural playing" is due to the size of my gut.  I noticed this especially at the last gig.  Sitting down isn't a problem, but I'm not Robert Fripp so I'm not going to sit down while I play live.  I mean, I really don't want to anyway.  So, more reasons why I need to lose weight.  I had an idea this morning while on the bus that might help things along better.

So, after dinner I played on my new ukulele that Julie got me in Mexico.  It doesn't hold tuning very well, but whatthefuck.  I can play 10K on it!

Following the uke-fest, I got down to mixing.  I used the computer speakers exclusively (Julie's TV watching be damned!) and it's so much better, and more accurate, than going with headphones.  I did check everything with the headphones to make sure I didn't have any level peaks and distortions.  I need to get some good speakers for mixing purposes.  One day.  I think I spent an hour or two finishing up Abused's and making sure everything was as good as I could get it.  I see the limitations in how we recorded and doing at home on my old computer, but I think I got it as good as I can.  It sounds good, I'm happy.  Sent a finished copy to Jenn for her approval (hopefully she'll have time tonight to listen).  For my part, unless there are some minor corrections I'm DONE with the song.  Yay!

Next I went back to Lady Pilot (ah, my perfectionist tendencies) to make sure everything was right with that one.  Everything was good or could not be improved so that makes 2 down, 2 to go.

Spent the rest of the night until bedtime working on 10K.  Drums, Guitars & Bass are all mixed.  I mixed the bass solo, but there is one run that I'm not too happy with (I can play it tons better) so I'm going to re-record the solo when I get home.  It shouldn't take too many passes to get it right, and I should have done it right the first time.  Oh well, no big deal.  I don't have problems playing it so it should be painless.  So, all that remains on the mix for 10K is the vocal.  She's more consistent level-wise on this than she is on Abused's so hopefully it won't be too time-intensive and MAYBE I can actually finish it up tonight.  Fuck, I hope so.