Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“Maggie” was out in the “She-Shack” and I took the opportunity to blast the volume a bit on the Vintage 47 VA-20 packaged in a RIC “Supreme” cabinet.
The bass remains tight at loud volumes, and the volume and tone are highly interactive. Turning up the volume changes tone drastically. At certain points the treble falls off as you turn down the volume. Turning up the volume adds a certain amount of fullness, but the thickness in the mids I have not dialed in yet. I’m looking for a bit more warmth…
The half power switch when activated seems to suck out some of the mids.
Still very early in the speaker breakin, and I think this somewhat limits the amount of warmth and mids. The amp needs to be played hard at volume more than a few minutes. Eventually through use it will open up. Still a fresh amp that needs to settle in and get broken in.
Overall the amp is both tight and loud. The overkill in the trannies and the speaker kinda hold down the flab or distortion. Over all I say a clean amp with a great amount of headroom.
I could change the speaker to a 16 ohm to double the load, and this would allow me to drop the power and make this a 6V6 power tube amp. Tonal response would be different, with more early breakup and less clean headroom. Hmmm…
Lots of testing and experimenting a head. So far I’ve only used my Snakehead Tele in this amp.
It will take about 45 minutes to am hour of high volume playing to soften up the speaker to give any fair evaluation.
Cal
The bass remains tight at loud volumes, and the volume and tone are highly interactive. Turning up the volume changes tone drastically. At certain points the treble falls off as you turn down the volume. Turning up the volume adds a certain amount of fullness, but the thickness in the mids I have not dialed in yet. I’m looking for a bit more warmth…
The half power switch when activated seems to suck out some of the mids.
Still very early in the speaker breakin, and I think this somewhat limits the amount of warmth and mids. The amp needs to be played hard at volume more than a few minutes. Eventually through use it will open up. Still a fresh amp that needs to settle in and get broken in.
Overall the amp is both tight and loud. The overkill in the trannies and the speaker kinda hold down the flab or distortion. Over all I say a clean amp with a great amount of headroom.
I could change the speaker to a 16 ohm to double the load, and this would allow me to drop the power and make this a 6V6 power tube amp. Tonal response would be different, with more early breakup and less clean headroom. Hmmm…
Lots of testing and experimenting a head. So far I’ve only used my Snakehead Tele in this amp.
It will take about 45 minutes to am hour of high volume playing to soften up the speaker to give any fair evaluation.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“Maggie” is heading into NYC tomorrow, and I can use the opportunity to do some speaker break in. I certainly will soften it up and loosen it up.
Had the grandson today. What love. So excited when with us. Does not want to nap.
Kinda funny when his mom drops him off that he pushes her out the door. He cries when he has to leave to go home.
Had him harvesting some green peppers today. Made his day. He is getting evaluated and his hearing checked later this week. He still only has a few words, yet he understands everything. He seems to be a genius.
Cal
Had the grandson today. What love. So excited when with us. Does not want to nap.
Kinda funny when his mom drops him off that he pushes her out the door. He cries when he has to leave to go home.
Had him harvesting some green peppers today. Made his day. He is getting evaluated and his hearing checked later this week. He still only has a few words, yet he understands everything. He seems to be a genius.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold’s new Intra-Day High: $2694.90. Looks like $2.7K will get breached later today.
Looking forward to breaking in the speaker on the new amp. The cooler weather makes it so I can bring the under 30 pound amp down into the living room. I can use the pocket doors that separate the living room from the dining room to somewhat isolate me from the amp, this way I can really crank the amp with closed windows and have a way to dampen the volume.
My practice is definitely more focused, and the gains are faster. Pretty much I’m integrating what I know in a manner that connects all the dots and makes everything more fluid. Lots of muscle memory happening. Pretty amazing how long I can concentrate. Pretty much now I enter a separate universe when playing.
I pulled out the carved top Tele that I swapped in the mahogany neck. I’m not so settled on this choice. The shorter scale for me feels out of place. Not really a Tele to me anymore.
I think I also have to restring two of my Tele’s because the “G” strings I can feel grooves in the undersides of the windings. Strings are cheaper than frets.
Miss the grandson. Pure love.
Cal
Looking forward to breaking in the speaker on the new amp. The cooler weather makes it so I can bring the under 30 pound amp down into the living room. I can use the pocket doors that separate the living room from the dining room to somewhat isolate me from the amp, this way I can really crank the amp with closed windows and have a way to dampen the volume.
My practice is definitely more focused, and the gains are faster. Pretty much I’m integrating what I know in a manner that connects all the dots and makes everything more fluid. Lots of muscle memory happening. Pretty amazing how long I can concentrate. Pretty much now I enter a separate universe when playing.
I pulled out the carved top Tele that I swapped in the mahogany neck. I’m not so settled on this choice. The shorter scale for me feels out of place. Not really a Tele to me anymore.
I think I also have to restring two of my Tele’s because the “G” strings I can feel grooves in the undersides of the windings. Strings are cheaper than frets.
Miss the grandson. Pure love.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Pretty much a red screen today, except gold is still in the green.
A new Intra-Day High for gold in the pre-market was $2694.90, but the red screen killed the possibility of breaching $2.7K today.
The dining room pocket door worked as a good attenuator for the cranked amp. Things really opened up, and I’m mighty pleased. I love the touch sensitivity of this amp, and it is powerful enough to do gigs. I got to get a feel for how the volume and tone knobs interact.
I get a really nice clean tone that is rich sand full with the volume on the guitar turned down about a quarter turn.
Counterintiuitively turning down the volume on the amp brightens the amp. Also the volume and tone knobs on the guitar add another layer of adjustment that is highly interactive.
My Tele’s kinda sound like horns. The volume knob on the guitar is very sensitive and pretty much it is like an overdrive pedal that kinda controls saturation and acts like a thickness control. Really nice having a great amount of control close to your fingers.
All that is needed is a tiny partial twist of the volume knob, and then things kinda dramatically change. The guitar is very touch sensitive, and there is a huge threshold above clean that is diverse and rich.
I also pulled out my small National amp, and pretty much I was underwhelmed. Pretty much just a collectible that already is an appreciating asset. Nice condition and 100% original.
I still have some time left before I have to pick up “Maggie” from the train station.
I stopped by to meet with AJ. He tells me that at a certain point I won’t need so much rest. I think I’m on the verge of that turning point. AJ knows from recovering from injuries. I know from experience not to over do things. I feel things are starting to open up where I can do more and push harder.
Cal
A new Intra-Day High for gold in the pre-market was $2694.90, but the red screen killed the possibility of breaching $2.7K today.
The dining room pocket door worked as a good attenuator for the cranked amp. Things really opened up, and I’m mighty pleased. I love the touch sensitivity of this amp, and it is powerful enough to do gigs. I got to get a feel for how the volume and tone knobs interact.
I get a really nice clean tone that is rich sand full with the volume on the guitar turned down about a quarter turn.
Counterintiuitively turning down the volume on the amp brightens the amp. Also the volume and tone knobs on the guitar add another layer of adjustment that is highly interactive.
My Tele’s kinda sound like horns. The volume knob on the guitar is very sensitive and pretty much it is like an overdrive pedal that kinda controls saturation and acts like a thickness control. Really nice having a great amount of control close to your fingers.
All that is needed is a tiny partial twist of the volume knob, and then things kinda dramatically change. The guitar is very touch sensitive, and there is a huge threshold above clean that is diverse and rich.
I also pulled out my small National amp, and pretty much I was underwhelmed. Pretty much just a collectible that already is an appreciating asset. Nice condition and 100% original.
I still have some time left before I have to pick up “Maggie” from the train station.
I stopped by to meet with AJ. He tells me that at a certain point I won’t need so much rest. I think I’m on the verge of that turning point. AJ knows from recovering from injuries. I know from experience not to over do things. I feel things are starting to open up where I can do more and push harder.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Oil prices are now under $70.00 a barrel. Oil previously bumped higher with the Chinese stimulas thinking demand would be higher. Seems the market is reading already the Chinese stimulus as a head fake.
I am pleased with my new amp and also with my hands. Pretty much with an electric guitar you are actually playing the amp as well as the guitar.
I’m kinda happy I have a great selection of amps.
I learned that the Roma tomato’s I have freeze well, and pretty much all I have to do is put them in a zip lock bag. I just loaded in 2 1/2 gallons of Roma tomatoes, and my freezer is getting full. Upon defrosting they remain firm.
I think tomorrow it is expected to rain and I will make stuffed peppers with peppers and tomato’s from my garden using brown rice and this 5% fat ground beef. I can freeze future meals. “Maggie” is not so keen on stuffed peppers, but that means/translates into more or less making them for me. I’m cool with being greedy.
I restrung two of my Tele’s. Before reaching any conclusions I’ll test the short scale carved top Tele in the new amp.
Had a lot of fun blasting the new amp without killing my ears. Isolating the amp in a separate room worked very well. Still a lot of sound got transmitted, and enough to evaluate.
Cal
I am pleased with my new amp and also with my hands. Pretty much with an electric guitar you are actually playing the amp as well as the guitar.
I’m kinda happy I have a great selection of amps.
I learned that the Roma tomato’s I have freeze well, and pretty much all I have to do is put them in a zip lock bag. I just loaded in 2 1/2 gallons of Roma tomatoes, and my freezer is getting full. Upon defrosting they remain firm.
I think tomorrow it is expected to rain and I will make stuffed peppers with peppers and tomato’s from my garden using brown rice and this 5% fat ground beef. I can freeze future meals. “Maggie” is not so keen on stuffed peppers, but that means/translates into more or less making them for me. I’m cool with being greedy.
I restrung two of my Tele’s. Before reaching any conclusions I’ll test the short scale carved top Tele in the new amp.
Had a lot of fun blasting the new amp without killing my ears. Isolating the amp in a separate room worked very well. Still a lot of sound got transmitted, and enough to evaluate.
Cal
Prest_400
Multiformat
About the period of austerity or quasi stagflation, the Swedish economy was tagged as "canary in the coalmine" by an European newspaper. Being a small country up here, very export oriented and with heavy industry, its dependency shows when things slow down. I am not up to date with Australia, but I guess the smaller actors that are aligned with the superpowers have a similar situation. ie. DU's mentioning the weak currencies.
Saw a headline of "Slow state of the market to be longer than expected". Our central bank also lowered interest rates, carefully still, and there is some positivity towards the end of year-Q1 25. Inflation seems to relax.
A previous employer, very notable for its industry effort, is just undergoing heavy layoffs. Sometimes not getting a place to stay is good. They were however VC powered and the game of chairs started as the money stopped pouring in. Mind you that in this part of Europe, these processes were infrequent shocks.
Lately I have what I call 2022 nostalgia. That is, the post-corona stimulus in all senses given the reopening and boom after the lockdowns.
In a month I will be off and start a snowbirding period... I will "go south" but I hope not the economy, politics, etc. Pun intended.
At my previous job my colleagues coined the "Vacation curse" that whenever I took Vacation something bad happened. I am taking a long one and by this old rule, I might come back to the planet of the Apes.
Saw a headline of "Slow state of the market to be longer than expected". Our central bank also lowered interest rates, carefully still, and there is some positivity towards the end of year-Q1 25. Inflation seems to relax.
A previous employer, very notable for its industry effort, is just undergoing heavy layoffs. Sometimes not getting a place to stay is good. They were however VC powered and the game of chairs started as the money stopped pouring in. Mind you that in this part of Europe, these processes were infrequent shocks.
Lately I have what I call 2022 nostalgia. That is, the post-corona stimulus in all senses given the reopening and boom after the lockdowns.
In a month I will be off and start a snowbirding period... I will "go south" but I hope not the economy, politics, etc. Pun intended.
At my previous job my colleagues coined the "Vacation curse" that whenever I took Vacation something bad happened. I am taking a long one and by this old rule, I might come back to the planet of the Apes.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Jorde,
At times lay-offs were a good thing for me. I got my first Master’s degree, then I moved on the second time. Had to be flexible and adaptable to reinvent myself.
Even my early retirement happened because of a possible lay-off because my machine was going to get retired and my job eliminated.
In Australia they export a lot of Comodities. The recent momentary bump and drop of oil prices due to the Chinese stimulus suggests that the Chinese economy will be slow and stagnate. China’s export of ill-will and aligning with Russia I think creates mucho bad sentiment for buying cheap goods from China in the U.S. and in Europe.
India also is supporting Russia by buying their oil. So cheap labor and cheap goods from China and India presents a moral dilemma if you support the Ukraine and the freedom and security in Europe.
Living on credit, first governments, and now households, can’t go on forever… Payback is a bitch.
Paying down debt is not only requires discipline, it also requires sacrifice and some pain.
Who will be sacrificed, and who will feel the pain: debtors. In a way we are paying forward for the lack of corrections (prosperity) and the lack of financial crashes.
Cal
At times lay-offs were a good thing for me. I got my first Master’s degree, then I moved on the second time. Had to be flexible and adaptable to reinvent myself.
Even my early retirement happened because of a possible lay-off because my machine was going to get retired and my job eliminated.
In Australia they export a lot of Comodities. The recent momentary bump and drop of oil prices due to the Chinese stimulus suggests that the Chinese economy will be slow and stagnate. China’s export of ill-will and aligning with Russia I think creates mucho bad sentiment for buying cheap goods from China in the U.S. and in Europe.
India also is supporting Russia by buying their oil. So cheap labor and cheap goods from China and India presents a moral dilemma if you support the Ukraine and the freedom and security in Europe.
Living on credit, first governments, and now households, can’t go on forever… Payback is a bitch.
Paying down debt is not only requires discipline, it also requires sacrifice and some pain.
Who will be sacrificed, and who will feel the pain: debtors. In a way we are paying forward for the lack of corrections (prosperity) and the lack of financial crashes.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold’s new Intra-Day High is $2700.20.
How long till $2800.00?
A rainy day, but as my retired friend Andrew says, “Every day is a Saturday.”
I think I want to hit the gym later. I’’l cook those stuffed peppers. Maybe buy some wood as an errand.
Cal
How long till $2800.00?
A rainy day, but as my retired friend Andrew says, “Every day is a Saturday.”
I think I want to hit the gym later. I’’l cook those stuffed peppers. Maybe buy some wood as an errand.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Do you know that tariffs help create the Great Depression. A financial collapse happened in 1929, then there was an era of protectorism and trade wars (1932), and finally tariffs (1934). Some say that tariffs made the Great Depression worse, but it kinda was a finishing touch.
The Trump tariffs on Canadian lumber is 20%. Do you think this had an effect on construction costs and housing? Realize that Canada supplies about 25% of our lumber supply.
Sadly Biden did not rescind this tariff.
As I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”
Pretty much a bad policy and a major creator of inflation. IMHO tariffs cause instant inflation.
Here in the U.S. we are a net exporter of oil and natural gas. Pretty much we are dumpers that are flooding the market. OPEC+ has less control over the world’s energy supply.
My friend Klaus mentioned how a liter of gas in Germany is about as costly as a gallon of gas in the U.S.
Politically Russian oil is being bought by China and India. There is a good reason not to buy their exports.
Also know price controls eventually fail.
Cal
The Trump tariffs on Canadian lumber is 20%. Do you think this had an effect on construction costs and housing? Realize that Canada supplies about 25% of our lumber supply.
Sadly Biden did not rescind this tariff.
As I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”
Pretty much a bad policy and a major creator of inflation. IMHO tariffs cause instant inflation.
Here in the U.S. we are a net exporter of oil and natural gas. Pretty much we are dumpers that are flooding the market. OPEC+ has less control over the world’s energy supply.
My friend Klaus mentioned how a liter of gas in Germany is about as costly as a gallon of gas in the U.S.
Politically Russian oil is being bought by China and India. There is a good reason not to buy their exports.
Also know price controls eventually fail.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold new Intra-Day High: $2708.70.
Cal
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The Saudies have decided to scrape their production limits, and oil prices dropped. The future is an oil glut of sorts and energy prices certainly will become cheaper. Simple supply and demand structures…
This will help lower the rate of inflation, so now inflation is becoming more secular. I would expect housing, food and perhaps hard assets to still trend higher. Global warming and the housing shortage are structural issues that are not going away.
So parts of the economy are deflationary (oversupply) like energy, while other parts like housing and food are inflationary. Don’t know if the offset will eliminate inflation, or how much will get canceled out, but this does not change the structural issue of a housing shortage. This supports the idea of stagnation.
They say the economy grew 3%, and they project another 3% in the next quarter. Really? Are we doing that good? Hmmm???
Remember that our government spending is a big part of our economy. Appearances-appearances-appearances. Remove the big government spending and our GNP certainly would be lower.
Politically the drop in oil prices has a deep impact on Russia and China. Understand that China and Russia are kinda bypassing the commodity markets that are priced in U.S. dollars, and they trade and barter privately using goods and their own currencies. Pretty much an underground market that removes them from the world markets.
Pretty much the Saudi’s flooding the market compromises both China and Russia’s economies. These private dealings kinda cornered them, and now they are entwined. What is bad for Russia, a major oil exporter, even with restrictions and trade sanctions, will likely also impact China.
As far as the bigger picture goes, meaning the entire world, cheaper energy prices will moderate somewhat some inflation, but not all of it. I believe the stagnation and huge debt from living on credit only gets kicked down the road.
Take your pick: inflation or deflation. Both are bad. Both are happening now. China’s troubles means and translates into them dumping and trying to support and stimulate their economy.
China and Russia are doing a good job of destroying their economies, but the U.S., France, and Italy are also guilty in doing some sever damage to their futures. Understand that debt is mortgaging the future. Two options lay ahead: either austerity; or default. The longer this goes on the worse the ending…
In the end the U.S. is a net exporter of energy, and pretty much the U.S. has enough influence in the world’s oil supply to un-empower OPEC, OPEC+, Russia, and even Saudi’s Arabia. Oil is being used as an economic weapon. Remember that the Cold War was really about destroying Russia’s economy.
Cal
This will help lower the rate of inflation, so now inflation is becoming more secular. I would expect housing, food and perhaps hard assets to still trend higher. Global warming and the housing shortage are structural issues that are not going away.
So parts of the economy are deflationary (oversupply) like energy, while other parts like housing and food are inflationary. Don’t know if the offset will eliminate inflation, or how much will get canceled out, but this does not change the structural issue of a housing shortage. This supports the idea of stagnation.
They say the economy grew 3%, and they project another 3% in the next quarter. Really? Are we doing that good? Hmmm???
Remember that our government spending is a big part of our economy. Appearances-appearances-appearances. Remove the big government spending and our GNP certainly would be lower.
Politically the drop in oil prices has a deep impact on Russia and China. Understand that China and Russia are kinda bypassing the commodity markets that are priced in U.S. dollars, and they trade and barter privately using goods and their own currencies. Pretty much an underground market that removes them from the world markets.
Pretty much the Saudi’s flooding the market compromises both China and Russia’s economies. These private dealings kinda cornered them, and now they are entwined. What is bad for Russia, a major oil exporter, even with restrictions and trade sanctions, will likely also impact China.
As far as the bigger picture goes, meaning the entire world, cheaper energy prices will moderate somewhat some inflation, but not all of it. I believe the stagnation and huge debt from living on credit only gets kicked down the road.
Take your pick: inflation or deflation. Both are bad. Both are happening now. China’s troubles means and translates into them dumping and trying to support and stimulate their economy.
China and Russia are doing a good job of destroying their economies, but the U.S., France, and Italy are also guilty in doing some sever damage to their futures. Understand that debt is mortgaging the future. Two options lay ahead: either austerity; or default. The longer this goes on the worse the ending…
In the end the U.S. is a net exporter of energy, and pretty much the U.S. has enough influence in the world’s oil supply to un-empower OPEC, OPEC+, Russia, and even Saudi’s Arabia. Oil is being used as an economic weapon. Remember that the Cold War was really about destroying Russia’s economy.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Here is a good example. Say I have an eighth of a million dollar credit limit on say 5 credit cards. At one time in fact this was true, kinda crazy how loose credit was, and I had/have a great credit score/rating.
Then say I have/had a $100K salary, but I decide to kinda go crazy buying cameras, bikes, guitars, and I max out all my credit cards.
Effectively I owe more than I earn in a year, and now, somehow I have to pay all this money back and somehow still live. I can’t eat or live in a guitar case. Well maybe if I’m homeless…
So pretty much here in the U.S. our debt load is expected to be 125% of our GNP. Of course the U.S. government is not paying credit card interest rates, but this pretty much is not so different. Pretty much the debt load within a decade is expected to be 125% of our GNP.
I’m not a terrorist, I’m not trying to scare you, but pretty much this is where we are heading. The debt load is insane, and the longer we wait the worse it will get.
BTW default is not really an option, unless you suddenly want to be a Third World Country.
BTW France and Italy are in the same leaky ship.
Cal
Then say I have/had a $100K salary, but I decide to kinda go crazy buying cameras, bikes, guitars, and I max out all my credit cards.
Effectively I owe more than I earn in a year, and now, somehow I have to pay all this money back and somehow still live. I can’t eat or live in a guitar case. Well maybe if I’m homeless…
So pretty much here in the U.S. our debt load is expected to be 125% of our GNP. Of course the U.S. government is not paying credit card interest rates, but this pretty much is not so different. Pretty much the debt load within a decade is expected to be 125% of our GNP.
I’m not a terrorist, I’m not trying to scare you, but pretty much this is where we are heading. The debt load is insane, and the longer we wait the worse it will get.
BTW default is not really an option, unless you suddenly want to be a Third World Country.
BTW France and Italy are in the same leaky ship.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Wow. The markets are thinking that China is going to have a “Soft-Landing.” Not easy to do. We don’t even know if a soft-landing is happening here in the U.S.
To me, I have to ask is this a double-bluff, or a possible double head-fake. Perhaps a double Pump and Dump.
The play book is the same, loose credit and flood the economy with money to avoid a collapse.
Worked with Alan Greenspan for decades, why not now?
Well my answer is the money has to come from somewhere, and now inflation is persisting. You can’t live on credit forever…
Cal
To me, I have to ask is this a double-bluff, or a possible double head-fake. Perhaps a double Pump and Dump.
The play book is the same, loose credit and flood the economy with money to avoid a collapse.
Worked with Alan Greenspan for decades, why not now?
Well my answer is the money has to come from somewhere, and now inflation is persisting. You can’t live on credit forever…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
One of the reasons why gold is tending higher is that everywhere in the world Central Banks are cutting interest rates. Low interest rates inflate gold prices.
So I have to ask, if the U.S. economy grew 3% in the second quarter, and the third quarter looks to be a repeat of 3%, why the severe 1/2 point rate cut and why are all the major Central Banks lowering rates and adding stimulas?
Is there a crisis or hidden crisis?
The European Common Bank is projecting lowering rates, but also understand that when the U.S. FED lowered rates that of course this effects other economies and currencies.
Living on debt continues… BTW.
I’m thinking aloud here: with the second quarter firmly at 3% growth GNP, and the 3rd quarter expected to be a repeat certainly by definition we are not in danger of a recession, or are we because recessions are usually recorded after the fact. Then there is the generous 1/2 point cut…
Anyways all I’m saying is a lot of things are not adding up, but then again Jerome Powell is a lawyer and not an economist.
Cal
So I have to ask, if the U.S. economy grew 3% in the second quarter, and the third quarter looks to be a repeat of 3%, why the severe 1/2 point rate cut and why are all the major Central Banks lowering rates and adding stimulas?
Is there a crisis or hidden crisis?
The European Common Bank is projecting lowering rates, but also understand that when the U.S. FED lowered rates that of course this effects other economies and currencies.
Living on debt continues… BTW.
I’m thinking aloud here: with the second quarter firmly at 3% growth GNP, and the 3rd quarter expected to be a repeat certainly by definition we are not in danger of a recession, or are we because recessions are usually recorded after the fact. Then there is the generous 1/2 point cut…
Anyways all I’m saying is a lot of things are not adding up, but then again Jerome Powell is a lawyer and not an economist.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A thought comes to mind that the FED tried killing inflation with higher interest rates, but pretty much ran out of increases. Pretty much it ran as high as it can. The interest rates on our government debt kinda placed a ceiling on how high the FED could go is one spin.
So now I wonder if the FED is “engineering” “soft” inflation to kinda erode our government debt.
My focus is on how to moderate our government debt in this post, and what I’m suggesting is that the FED is purposely keeping inflation within a moderate band as “financial engineering.”
Makes sense to me that it is not in the FED’s best interest to kill inflation and its best use is to use inflation to moderate or mitigate our huge debt load to keep it manageable. With this thought in mind I now kinda understand the 1/2 point drastic rate cut when it was not required or needed.
The FED suggests that the target for inflation is 2% (neutral), but that is not the fact. The real target is moderate inflation because of our debt load.
In China, I don’t think they have much choice but add stimulus because they are in a deflationary spiral. They are using lots of ammo, but pretty much they missed the target by being too late. The deflation will persist. Think of Japan when they had a real estate collapse.
History does not lie.
Cal
So now I wonder if the FED is “engineering” “soft” inflation to kinda erode our government debt.
My focus is on how to moderate our government debt in this post, and what I’m suggesting is that the FED is purposely keeping inflation within a moderate band as “financial engineering.”
Makes sense to me that it is not in the FED’s best interest to kill inflation and its best use is to use inflation to moderate or mitigate our huge debt load to keep it manageable. With this thought in mind I now kinda understand the 1/2 point drastic rate cut when it was not required or needed.
The FED suggests that the target for inflation is 2% (neutral), but that is not the fact. The real target is moderate inflation because of our debt load.
In China, I don’t think they have much choice but add stimulus because they are in a deflationary spiral. They are using lots of ammo, but pretty much they missed the target by being too late. The deflation will persist. Think of Japan when they had a real estate collapse.
History does not lie.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis states Q3 2023 goverment spending comprised 36.2% of our GDP.
Consider that government spending is more than a third of our economy.
Cal
Consider that government spending is more than a third of our economy.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’m having fried Matzo with some of my “surprise” tomato’s grew out on the “table” in my back-backyard from mulching my kitchen waste. I was lazy yesterday and today I’ll jump on the rowing machine set up in my front porch to see how long I can row to make up for my laziness.
Last night obsessed about the Victoria Regal II I bought earlier in the year. I bought it used and it is a bit funky showing some wear and tear, nothing major, but it has a few scuffs and the Tolex is discolored.One thing that is a mystery is that the cabinet is from a first version, and the chassis has been updated to a second version.
Pretty much the second version allows interchanging and mismatching tubes via usage of a unique output tranny. The first version was a kinda Supro clone. Anyways it seems like the speaker date code if I’m reading it correctly is from the 21st week in 2004, so it is likely the speaker and cabinet date back to 2004 and are 20 years old, but the version 2 came out around 2006.
The electronic chassis as an assembly was changed out, so I don’t know if this amp was sent back to the factory and upgraded, or possibly it is a prototype. Victoria started out in 1993-1994 or so. The serial number on the cabinet is 2104 which according to the info from Victoria that amps are sequential in serial number regardless of model.
Hmmm…
Because I’m a smut queen I wonder a lot. I learned last night that this amp favors 6V6’s both single and in a pair. Although it can utilize all these other 8-pin output tubes for more power it is of course is optimized only around one tube type, and it seems likely a 6V6 which suits me fine.
With one 6V6 it is only 5 watts and is kinda great as a practice amp, but the Regal 2 is kinda big/large with a 15 inch speaker, and it weighs 52 pounds. Not really sized as a practice amp.
The thing with a Regal 2 is that you can change the rectofier and power tubes to reduce or upgrade the power output to match the size of a venue or space. It is many amps in one by design.
So no need for a new Vintage 47 6V6 amp. I already have one, but I never got around to playing around and converting it into a single 6V6 amp or a dual 6V6 amp until today.
The other day at AJ’s a customer came to check in. He had just rode the Empire State Trailway Albany to Buffalo doing 80 miles a day. The trip took 4-5 days, and he had to have a reservation with Amtrack to use the train for the ride back to Albany. Long term parking in Albany cost $50.00. He reported great infrastructure, he camped and enjoyed perfect weather.
Hmmm.
My modeling contract expires in March 2025, and now that “Maggie’s” book got published and launched, our agent contacted us. Maggie in the public eye as a model/influencer is over. We have separate contracts, and right now older men is a hot commodity. Don’t know if I want in.
Anyways a huge lux brand is interested in us.
“I was just minding my own business…”
Cal
Last night obsessed about the Victoria Regal II I bought earlier in the year. I bought it used and it is a bit funky showing some wear and tear, nothing major, but it has a few scuffs and the Tolex is discolored.One thing that is a mystery is that the cabinet is from a first version, and the chassis has been updated to a second version.
Pretty much the second version allows interchanging and mismatching tubes via usage of a unique output tranny. The first version was a kinda Supro clone. Anyways it seems like the speaker date code if I’m reading it correctly is from the 21st week in 2004, so it is likely the speaker and cabinet date back to 2004 and are 20 years old, but the version 2 came out around 2006.
The electronic chassis as an assembly was changed out, so I don’t know if this amp was sent back to the factory and upgraded, or possibly it is a prototype. Victoria started out in 1993-1994 or so. The serial number on the cabinet is 2104 which according to the info from Victoria that amps are sequential in serial number regardless of model.
Hmmm…
Because I’m a smut queen I wonder a lot. I learned last night that this amp favors 6V6’s both single and in a pair. Although it can utilize all these other 8-pin output tubes for more power it is of course is optimized only around one tube type, and it seems likely a 6V6 which suits me fine.
With one 6V6 it is only 5 watts and is kinda great as a practice amp, but the Regal 2 is kinda big/large with a 15 inch speaker, and it weighs 52 pounds. Not really sized as a practice amp.
The thing with a Regal 2 is that you can change the rectofier and power tubes to reduce or upgrade the power output to match the size of a venue or space. It is many amps in one by design.
So no need for a new Vintage 47 6V6 amp. I already have one, but I never got around to playing around and converting it into a single 6V6 amp or a dual 6V6 amp until today.
The other day at AJ’s a customer came to check in. He had just rode the Empire State Trailway Albany to Buffalo doing 80 miles a day. The trip took 4-5 days, and he had to have a reservation with Amtrack to use the train for the ride back to Albany. Long term parking in Albany cost $50.00. He reported great infrastructure, he camped and enjoyed perfect weather.
Hmmm.
My modeling contract expires in March 2025, and now that “Maggie’s” book got published and launched, our agent contacted us. Maggie in the public eye as a model/influencer is over. We have separate contracts, and right now older men is a hot commodity. Don’t know if I want in.
Anyways a huge lux brand is interested in us.
“I was just minding my own business…”
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The rowing machine is a tough workout. Really easy to beat myself up. I figure I need to use it more often. I feel I’m using different groups of muscles and I feel the soreness.
I love that the same tone settings for 1 6V6 can be used for when I utilize a pair of 6V6’s for twice the power. I had to raise the volume a little with the pair of tubes, and interestingly the volume knob kinda thickens the sound. The loudness kinda remains the same.
I did this testing with a 5Y3 rectofier that has a really big voltage drop. It is a NOS RCA of course made in the U.S.
I have a 5V4 that only has a 25 voltage drop that will generate more power. I’ll try this next. This too is a NOS tube and it is shaped like a coke bottle (ST).
I figure about 5 watts one 6V6 with the low power 5Y3, and perhaps 12-15 watts for a pair of 6V6’s with a 5V4.
The thing with tube amps is that they have the best tone and dynamics when pushed into higher power where saturation begins. The thing with the Victoria Regal is that I can convert the amp into the optimum power size to surf this sweet spot depending on room size and venue.
Also vacuum tubes have their own tonal flavor.
So now I realize I already own and have a wonderful 6V6 amp, and I don’t really need another. How cool is it that I kinda already have what I need. No need for more.
I want to try those NOS Tung-Sol 5881’s in this amp. They kinda have the smooth rolled off top end like a 6V6, but they have more power. I get to have yet another two different sounding amps but just changing the tubes.
This is a Class-A amplifier which has less power than other amps, is less clinical, but has its own kinda tonal character and flavor. The Vintage 47 VA-20 also is a Class-A amp. They have the old school sound I want to pursue.
I did some research last night on changing out the reverb pan to moderate the effect. For me it is too much in my face, and pretty much exchanging the pan will quicken the decay so it is not so bold. Not an expensive mod, plugs right in, and can easily be restored back to original.
In retirement it is actually fun going OCD and digging in. Every day is a Saturday.
I drove “Maggie” to Irvington a few towns south on the river to Eileen Fisher’s “Renew” store where the resell used and repaired Eileen Fisher clothing as a way of being green and recycling. Prices are good, so it is worthwhile going.
Next month we have two book festivals to attend. One is in Saratoga, and the other in Brattleboro. As a guest I get to attend the dinners and parties. Kinda big deal and lots of fun.
Its up to me how to proceed with my agent. Maggie has no interest, but I have not had the experience. Our contracts expire in March 2025, and I wonder how all this will pan out. Originally we were signed as a couple, but also we had separate contracts.
The brand that was mentioned is high end lux. I have my artistic old man look as a leftover hippy, and that kinda is who I am. The money could be crazy big, and since I’m retired I could always create a slush fund and use the money I don’t need for something, perhaps something crazy like an Audi RS6 Avant, or finance a 1966 C-10 muscle truck, or perhaps a cabin with land north of us…
So I’m tempted. Call me greedy… Also it not only is an opportunity, I kinda think it could be an interesting experience.
I guess I’m jumping the shark here, because I only know the brand and that they are going to do this campaign in or for December. Tax wise it would be great if I got paid in 2025. I’m partially living on savings and I need to float three more years.
Kinda follows my life, when I need a boost or help somehow divine intervention happens. If this gig works out pretty much I kinda bypass the fluff and start at the top.
Not really sure what are the possibilities or where this is going. Am I a male model who also is an old man? Kinda crazy…
Cal
I love that the same tone settings for 1 6V6 can be used for when I utilize a pair of 6V6’s for twice the power. I had to raise the volume a little with the pair of tubes, and interestingly the volume knob kinda thickens the sound. The loudness kinda remains the same.
I did this testing with a 5Y3 rectofier that has a really big voltage drop. It is a NOS RCA of course made in the U.S.
I have a 5V4 that only has a 25 voltage drop that will generate more power. I’ll try this next. This too is a NOS tube and it is shaped like a coke bottle (ST).
I figure about 5 watts one 6V6 with the low power 5Y3, and perhaps 12-15 watts for a pair of 6V6’s with a 5V4.
The thing with tube amps is that they have the best tone and dynamics when pushed into higher power where saturation begins. The thing with the Victoria Regal is that I can convert the amp into the optimum power size to surf this sweet spot depending on room size and venue.
Also vacuum tubes have their own tonal flavor.
So now I realize I already own and have a wonderful 6V6 amp, and I don’t really need another. How cool is it that I kinda already have what I need. No need for more.
I want to try those NOS Tung-Sol 5881’s in this amp. They kinda have the smooth rolled off top end like a 6V6, but they have more power. I get to have yet another two different sounding amps but just changing the tubes.
This is a Class-A amplifier which has less power than other amps, is less clinical, but has its own kinda tonal character and flavor. The Vintage 47 VA-20 also is a Class-A amp. They have the old school sound I want to pursue.
I did some research last night on changing out the reverb pan to moderate the effect. For me it is too much in my face, and pretty much exchanging the pan will quicken the decay so it is not so bold. Not an expensive mod, plugs right in, and can easily be restored back to original.
In retirement it is actually fun going OCD and digging in. Every day is a Saturday.
I drove “Maggie” to Irvington a few towns south on the river to Eileen Fisher’s “Renew” store where the resell used and repaired Eileen Fisher clothing as a way of being green and recycling. Prices are good, so it is worthwhile going.
Next month we have two book festivals to attend. One is in Saratoga, and the other in Brattleboro. As a guest I get to attend the dinners and parties. Kinda big deal and lots of fun.
Its up to me how to proceed with my agent. Maggie has no interest, but I have not had the experience. Our contracts expire in March 2025, and I wonder how all this will pan out. Originally we were signed as a couple, but also we had separate contracts.
The brand that was mentioned is high end lux. I have my artistic old man look as a leftover hippy, and that kinda is who I am. The money could be crazy big, and since I’m retired I could always create a slush fund and use the money I don’t need for something, perhaps something crazy like an Audi RS6 Avant, or finance a 1966 C-10 muscle truck, or perhaps a cabin with land north of us…
So I’m tempted. Call me greedy… Also it not only is an opportunity, I kinda think it could be an interesting experience.
I guess I’m jumping the shark here, because I only know the brand and that they are going to do this campaign in or for December. Tax wise it would be great if I got paid in 2025. I’m partially living on savings and I need to float three more years.
Kinda follows my life, when I need a boost or help somehow divine intervention happens. If this gig works out pretty much I kinda bypass the fluff and start at the top.
Not really sure what are the possibilities or where this is going. Am I a male model who also is an old man? Kinda crazy…
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I guess there is pressure for me to loose my 5 pounds of baby-fat to be a skinny bitch again, 5’10” under 155 pounds. Last weigh in was 159 pounds: less fat; but gained some muscle bulk. Pretty much going sideways.
Soon I will be a 67 year old man, but I am lean and muscular like a high school kid.
Pretty much a lot of long-slow distance on the rowing machine to burn the calories. A pound of fat is about 4,000 calories or an 8 hour bike ride.
Time to get serious if I want to have a new career. I can see doing four 2 hour rides every week to drop the weight. The exercise is also good for my skin.
Next week my agent, Vanessa will call from London. Not sure if the gig is in New York City or maybe Italy. All this is new to me.
Hmmm… Not easy being retired. BTW I can see me being a fitness model. Perhaps this is the draw: old and fit.
BTW my agent Vanessa can snooker anyone. I have to keep this in mind.
Cal
Soon I will be a 67 year old man, but I am lean and muscular like a high school kid.
Pretty much a lot of long-slow distance on the rowing machine to burn the calories. A pound of fat is about 4,000 calories or an 8 hour bike ride.
Time to get serious if I want to have a new career. I can see doing four 2 hour rides every week to drop the weight. The exercise is also good for my skin.
Next week my agent, Vanessa will call from London. Not sure if the gig is in New York City or maybe Italy. All this is new to me.
Hmmm… Not easy being retired. BTW I can see me being a fitness model. Perhaps this is the draw: old and fit.
BTW my agent Vanessa can snooker anyone. I have to keep this in mind.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I just got another “Probation” reminder from the parole board in Colorado. Somehow my identity is mistaken. Evidently someone with my first and middle name had a bad day at work and beat up his boss. Kinda sounds like something I could of done, but didn’t.
First thing is even though How-Weird was a bully, in a fight it would be like hitting a kid, meaning no fight at all.
Big news is at a high end craft fair in Garrison I secured an Alpaca hat that makes me resemble Gengas Chan, but this one is not bright white, it is a carmel brown with a fluffier brim.
Over a decade ago I found the white version at an Alpaca farm in Vermont. I wore it in NYC and it kinda made me a bit of a tourist attraction when I wore it. The price was about double.
Pretty much likely a woman’s hat, but I’m cool enough to pull it off.
The Vintage 47 amp with retro octal tubes I kinda have dialed in using the low power setting. Pumping the volume recovers and thickens the sound. Class “A” amps are not efficient, and I think from what I saw of the circuit, the cathode bias on the power tubes is lowered to kill about 3 DB in volume with the half-power switch. The math suggests perhaps from a max of 20 watts with a pair of 6L6’s and a beefy rectofier, to maybe 7-9 watts with 5881 power tubes and a wimpy 5Y3 recto.
The big deal is a lot less hum at idle, meaning no guitar input. Basically class “A” amps kinda hum more than class AB amps. Low power also offers a smoothness. Understand that a Tele is an aggressive guitar and is know to be bright and articulate.
So pretty much it is an 18-20 watt amp, but I love the quieter output with minimized hum in the background. The amp also has a nicer sweet spot for me, and I don’t need the power or volume, but its there if I need it. So in the end for me the full power setting is really just a boost switch.
Likely the amp in half power mode is all I need. Weighs under 30 pounds and the package is rather small. Since the trannies and speaker are overkill things don’t get too loose or flabby, unlike say a tweed Deluxe.
Sound is thick with a lot of mids. Touch sensitive, and the volume and tone knobs do well to control everything at my finger tips. I now kinda use the halfway down on the tone knob to 1/4 down as my usable range, and the tipping point on the volume is about 1/8th turn down.
The Victoria Regal in comparison has an extreme overbuild in the power supply, output tranny, and speaker power handling. The speaker is rated for 100 watts. The sound is tighter and the clean is very articulate and detailed. Pretty much no mush.
The Vintage 47 is real old school, and so is the sound. Someone on the Internet said that a Vintage 47 amp is like Chess Records in a box. Thick greasy tone of the old blues and Jazz of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Kinda great for that old school sound.
The Victoria Regal is and can be compared to having a Fender tweed Champ (5 watts), Fender tweed Deluxe (15 watts Class “A” push pull), or a Fender tweed Pro (35-40 watts) all in one amp. The overbuild kinda is a tighter/stiffer sound, but for Jazz and for what I want to do having these three versions of amp along with the tightness, clarity, and articulation for Jazz to gain a piano like sound and percussiveness, it kinda is a dream amp.
The ripening of tomato’s in my garden and on my counter has slowed down. There are mucho green tomatoes on the vine and the abundance of tomato’s is getting intense. I harvest every day. I see the transition to the cooler weather. Think I’ll take out the window air conditioner out of the bedroom upstairs today to store it in the basement over the winter.
Gloomy Halloween weather expected over the next week with cloudy and over cast. I’m concerned about my high school friend Billy, the guy who I boxed with who I almost brain damaged that somehow I stopped and managed to deflect an uppercut as he fell forward, defenseless with his arms drooping at his sides from a concussion I gave him following a left jab followed by a right.
Anyways Billy and his family are just outside Tampa. I E-mailed Billy a few days ago, and no response. I am worried, and I will call him later today to see if he and his family are alright.
The southeast got hit pretty hard. I feel a lot safer here in the Hudson Valley.
I guess I don’t want to become a muscle-head, but a gym body is emerging via my arms and chest. Even my butt is muscular. I’m still loosing fat, but I’m gaining muscle. Don’t know if I’ll ever be technically a skinny bitch again, meaning under 155 pounds at 5’10”. I kinda want to maintain my kid’s body that remains boyish rather than manly. I guess I don’t want to grow up.
Pretty much I think it is my access to a higher level of protien in my diet. I am kinda cat like in nature in that my physic is all muscle on a light frame. Lean, but mean, as one of my coaches said.
“Maggie” has a concern when our agent calls on Tuesday. Pretty much she wants out, and her concern is if I somehow get picked up and make it big as a model. I tell her it is highly unlikely and remote. The event in December actually is a fashion show. Likely this is not not a high paying gig, and probably some honorarium to be in the audience and dressed by the brand.
Maggie explained to me that as far as older models go there really are few Asian’s, and that pretty much I might get some surprise traction. She warned me how seductive it can be, and her real worry is that our boring life could get complicated fast.
So at the craft fair yesterday, when I tried on a white version of the alpaca hat and compared the brown version, as usual I drew in a crowd and many comments.
This group of 5 people proceeded to try on my hats, and I walked away. Maggie expressed that I should get the brown version, I played it cool, and I told her there are other’s interested in my hats/style and that pretty much I too want the brown version, and pretty much if it was bought by one of the interested parties then it was not meant to be.
Anyways things worked out, but I gave away the opportunity up to chance, and pretty much toned down the Alpha male and my competitive nature to be mucho cool. Pretty much I tempted fate as a game and for fun. If my brown cap was purchased by someone else it would of been, “Oh-well.”
Pretty much my attitude with the modeling gig is “Oh-well.” I think if it did become big deal, also my contract dies sometime in March 2025. There is a time limit…
So all fun and games for me.
Maggie once said, “You have no style,” and I argued having no style is actually a style. I would describe the clothes I wear as a kinda uniform of the same old clothes that I term as “Rags,” meaning just old clothes that no one else wears like Patagonia knickers designed for rock climbing that are well tailored for skinny muscular bodies.
I would describe my look as below casual active wear where my knickers serve almost 3 seasons for hiking, biking, swimming or running. I enjoy that my clothes look a bit ratty. I live in New York so rats come witrh the territory, and I kinda blend in.
I will tell Vanessa our agent that I’m unwilling to do social media, or any of the time wasting BS that others do. If this is a deal breaker, I’m cool with that. I have my reputation as a lazy-slacker to maintain. Pretty much not important to me to be well known or famous, don’t really need the money or the bother either, I realize that I worked hard my entire life to enjoy the freedom I now have. Why would I want to throw all that away?
Money? Lots of it? Well maybe I’m a bit of a slut, or call me a Ho. I live in a world of crazy possibilities, and anything can happen. “I’m just minding my own business.
Cal
First thing is even though How-Weird was a bully, in a fight it would be like hitting a kid, meaning no fight at all.
Big news is at a high end craft fair in Garrison I secured an Alpaca hat that makes me resemble Gengas Chan, but this one is not bright white, it is a carmel brown with a fluffier brim.
Over a decade ago I found the white version at an Alpaca farm in Vermont. I wore it in NYC and it kinda made me a bit of a tourist attraction when I wore it. The price was about double.
Pretty much likely a woman’s hat, but I’m cool enough to pull it off.
The Vintage 47 amp with retro octal tubes I kinda have dialed in using the low power setting. Pumping the volume recovers and thickens the sound. Class “A” amps are not efficient, and I think from what I saw of the circuit, the cathode bias on the power tubes is lowered to kill about 3 DB in volume with the half-power switch. The math suggests perhaps from a max of 20 watts with a pair of 6L6’s and a beefy rectofier, to maybe 7-9 watts with 5881 power tubes and a wimpy 5Y3 recto.
The big deal is a lot less hum at idle, meaning no guitar input. Basically class “A” amps kinda hum more than class AB amps. Low power also offers a smoothness. Understand that a Tele is an aggressive guitar and is know to be bright and articulate.
So pretty much it is an 18-20 watt amp, but I love the quieter output with minimized hum in the background. The amp also has a nicer sweet spot for me, and I don’t need the power or volume, but its there if I need it. So in the end for me the full power setting is really just a boost switch.
Likely the amp in half power mode is all I need. Weighs under 30 pounds and the package is rather small. Since the trannies and speaker are overkill things don’t get too loose or flabby, unlike say a tweed Deluxe.
Sound is thick with a lot of mids. Touch sensitive, and the volume and tone knobs do well to control everything at my finger tips. I now kinda use the halfway down on the tone knob to 1/4 down as my usable range, and the tipping point on the volume is about 1/8th turn down.
The Victoria Regal in comparison has an extreme overbuild in the power supply, output tranny, and speaker power handling. The speaker is rated for 100 watts. The sound is tighter and the clean is very articulate and detailed. Pretty much no mush.
The Vintage 47 is real old school, and so is the sound. Someone on the Internet said that a Vintage 47 amp is like Chess Records in a box. Thick greasy tone of the old blues and Jazz of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Kinda great for that old school sound.
The Victoria Regal is and can be compared to having a Fender tweed Champ (5 watts), Fender tweed Deluxe (15 watts Class “A” push pull), or a Fender tweed Pro (35-40 watts) all in one amp. The overbuild kinda is a tighter/stiffer sound, but for Jazz and for what I want to do having these three versions of amp along with the tightness, clarity, and articulation for Jazz to gain a piano like sound and percussiveness, it kinda is a dream amp.
The ripening of tomato’s in my garden and on my counter has slowed down. There are mucho green tomatoes on the vine and the abundance of tomato’s is getting intense. I harvest every day. I see the transition to the cooler weather. Think I’ll take out the window air conditioner out of the bedroom upstairs today to store it in the basement over the winter.
Gloomy Halloween weather expected over the next week with cloudy and over cast. I’m concerned about my high school friend Billy, the guy who I boxed with who I almost brain damaged that somehow I stopped and managed to deflect an uppercut as he fell forward, defenseless with his arms drooping at his sides from a concussion I gave him following a left jab followed by a right.
Anyways Billy and his family are just outside Tampa. I E-mailed Billy a few days ago, and no response. I am worried, and I will call him later today to see if he and his family are alright.
The southeast got hit pretty hard. I feel a lot safer here in the Hudson Valley.
I guess I don’t want to become a muscle-head, but a gym body is emerging via my arms and chest. Even my butt is muscular. I’m still loosing fat, but I’m gaining muscle. Don’t know if I’ll ever be technically a skinny bitch again, meaning under 155 pounds at 5’10”. I kinda want to maintain my kid’s body that remains boyish rather than manly. I guess I don’t want to grow up.
Pretty much I think it is my access to a higher level of protien in my diet. I am kinda cat like in nature in that my physic is all muscle on a light frame. Lean, but mean, as one of my coaches said.
“Maggie” has a concern when our agent calls on Tuesday. Pretty much she wants out, and her concern is if I somehow get picked up and make it big as a model. I tell her it is highly unlikely and remote. The event in December actually is a fashion show. Likely this is not not a high paying gig, and probably some honorarium to be in the audience and dressed by the brand.
Maggie explained to me that as far as older models go there really are few Asian’s, and that pretty much I might get some surprise traction. She warned me how seductive it can be, and her real worry is that our boring life could get complicated fast.
So at the craft fair yesterday, when I tried on a white version of the alpaca hat and compared the brown version, as usual I drew in a crowd and many comments.
This group of 5 people proceeded to try on my hats, and I walked away. Maggie expressed that I should get the brown version, I played it cool, and I told her there are other’s interested in my hats/style and that pretty much I too want the brown version, and pretty much if it was bought by one of the interested parties then it was not meant to be.
Anyways things worked out, but I gave away the opportunity up to chance, and pretty much toned down the Alpha male and my competitive nature to be mucho cool. Pretty much I tempted fate as a game and for fun. If my brown cap was purchased by someone else it would of been, “Oh-well.”
Pretty much my attitude with the modeling gig is “Oh-well.” I think if it did become big deal, also my contract dies sometime in March 2025. There is a time limit…
So all fun and games for me.
Maggie once said, “You have no style,” and I argued having no style is actually a style. I would describe the clothes I wear as a kinda uniform of the same old clothes that I term as “Rags,” meaning just old clothes that no one else wears like Patagonia knickers designed for rock climbing that are well tailored for skinny muscular bodies.
I would describe my look as below casual active wear where my knickers serve almost 3 seasons for hiking, biking, swimming or running. I enjoy that my clothes look a bit ratty. I live in New York so rats come witrh the territory, and I kinda blend in.
I will tell Vanessa our agent that I’m unwilling to do social media, or any of the time wasting BS that others do. If this is a deal breaker, I’m cool with that. I have my reputation as a lazy-slacker to maintain. Pretty much not important to me to be well known or famous, don’t really need the money or the bother either, I realize that I worked hard my entire life to enjoy the freedom I now have. Why would I want to throw all that away?
Money? Lots of it? Well maybe I’m a bit of a slut, or call me a Ho. I live in a world of crazy possibilities, and anything can happen. “I’m just minding my own business.
Cal
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