And meanwhile, for the sake of posting more than just Tweets

[annathepiper]

Here's a general update in the life of me!

I'm definitely grooving on the new job. The atmosphere of the office is very casual and relaxed, and I'm going to like this whole Agile/Scrum mode of getting projects done. I really like the idea of sitting down as a team at the beginning of a month and going, "Okay, we're doing these things, can you do this and you do that and you over here do this other thing", and then we all just go do it.

Also, I am desperately in love with the chair they gave me. It's super-comfy. It's leather. I can lean back in it and work and my back doesn't complain. At all. I will be able to put up with a lot at this job if they just let me keep this chair. <3

And I don't know if it's all the extra walking, the stress release of not having to worry about looking for a job, or both, but my energy level has gone up considerably. Sleep's still weird and I'm having to rely on sleep meds to knock myself out in the evening, but at least I'm starting to feel a lot more like myself than I have in months. Of course, this could also be tied in with not having to have any more saline fills either. But whatever the reason, I'm happy with it.

I am delighted to discover that one of my teammates is the lead singer for a local band called The Wages of Sin. He describes them to me as very Pogues-like, and while I haven't listened to enough of the Pogues for an informed opinion, I can authoritatively state that they do remind me a lot of Captain Tractor. This is a very good thing. It was also very cool to just be able to music-geek with him and provide evidence (a la the old Three Good Measures MP3s) that while I am strictly an amateur when it comes to making music, I do at least know what I'm talking about.

Should also note that another (former) coworker of mine, Eric Goetz, is a musician too. He's in a band called Central Services, and I plan to be checking them out next. Though they'll have to fight with Angelique Kidjo, the Chieftains (I mean, seriously, people, why the hell haven't I bought more Chieftains before now), Alexander James Adams, vixyish and tfabris, and s00j for my musical attention. I've got a lot of recently acquired music I need to get caught up on.

Speaking of music, solarbird has been doing open mikes again and had a very good time last night at the open mike at the Wayward, as well as doing a bit of open filking at Rustycon. I myself am saving my energy to drop in on Conflikt. So for the filk-inclined among you, I mean at least the ones who don't already know about it, you might consider coming by Conflikt and helping a little filk convention get its feet under it for its second year.

Last but not least I am in the middle of reading Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer's jointly written romance Agnes and the Hitman, and I am enjoying it immensely. I mention this by way of handing out props to the fine ladies at Smart Bitches Trashy Books, without whom I would never have known about this quite entertaining duo. More on this will of course be forthcoming in a review post.

Miles since September 30th: 195.7
Miles out of Hobbiton: 3310.3
Miles out of Minas Tirith: 473.3
Miles to Hobbiton: 1151.7

Comments

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm glad the new job's working out for you :-) It's great when you work in an atmosphere of trust like that, and everyone has their job and just gets on with it, nobody questioning. Nothing like a stress-free working life.

[annathepiper]

Thanks! I'm hoping this delightful state of affairs will continue. Starting to settle into the groove of getting actual stuff done; we'll see how the month proceeds.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

Do you have both of the CDs from Seanan Mcguire (cadhla)?

There's a third one coming out.

I think we have four from sooj on the way.

I would also recommended Heather Dale and, of course, old Heather Alexander.

Also, Chieftains = Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, Enter tje Haggis, etc.

Your tastes make me tink you might like this particular band out of St. John, Newfoundland, too. Called Great Big Sea.

;)

Bwaaahahaha.

Need more?

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

*misses laptop*
*splorts coffee on self*

yeah, just a smidge of GBS-like in this one! ;) ;)

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

Oh, what about Gaelic Storm? Don't know if they are restricted to Ohio & environs, but I know someone from there who LOVES them almost as much as GBS.

[annathepiper]

Already checking out Gaelic Storm, yeah. solarbird has their first album and I was loaned their second. They're on the queue to have more bought.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

Yes, Gaelic Storm is easy to obtain.

Put On Yer Wellies

[annathepiper]

I'll get to that one eventually. I've already promised myself a copy of Tree, since that album was loaned to me and I now wish to purchase it for myself. :)

[annathepiper]

Yes, I've got both of cadhla's CDs and have pre-ordered the third. Way, way, way ahead of you on old Heather Alexander as well; I think I have just about all of her albums.

I would not however use the = sign in that equation, if nothing else because I daresay the Pogues are a bit punky to really match up to the Chieftains. But I should check them out anyway just because I keep hearing about them. I'm just starting to collect Chieftains CDs though out of general principle of their being the granddads of modern Celtic music, and also, they blend very nicely with GBS, as the Fire in the Kitchen version of "Lukey" has taught us.

damara's already sent me a Heather Dale CD, and yeah, I liked that and will probably get more at some point, although I'll have to order her online since she's not on the shelves in stores down here. Or download her from iTunes.

Great... Big... Sea. *mulls* Have I heard of them? ;)

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

Methinks that the sleeping-&-waking-human can also be partially contributed to by the Good Chair (tm) at work. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the power of a comfy chair on the spine AND how far-reaching those effects can actually be, especially given the hours your tush inhabits said chair!!

[annathepiper]

Very much so. Also, I must sing the praises of having a new futon and a new pillow as well!

[peregrine-ek.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear your new job exceeds your expectations. may it continue to groove for you.

[annathepiper]

Thanks! Here's hoping. :)

[kendaer.livejournal.com]

I actually like the Pogues quite a bit and have a bunch of MP3s of their stuff in my musical collection. I'd be interested in hearing some stuff from your co-worker's band so I could compare :) Listening to the stuff on their myspace page, I'd say it has a very similar feel.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I saw the Pogues live (Same month or so I saw Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphs and sometime around there the 'Boys, too).

The Pogues would have been great if I had been as drunk as Shame Magowan.

[annathepiper]

Both albums by The Wages of Sin are up on iTunes as well as the Amazon MP3 music store, so there are samples to be listened to for all the songs. The samples alone were enough to convince me I wanted the albums.

Go check 'em out that way, and if you want to hear more before you decide, I'll play a track or two for you after next Jam.

[kendaer.livejournal.com]

Yup.. I'd actually like to hear more before I decide. Unfortunately it's very likely I won't make it to Jam this Sunday.

[annathepiper]

No worries, the albums aren't going anywhere.