navybsn

Yeah, he was extraordinarily lucky to live so long. Certainly not what you expect, but he was pampered. I don't feel bad that he had to go, he was in pain and wasn't eating. Kidney failure and arthritis were really getting him. Just sucks to have to do it on Christmas Eve. At least I got to be with him. As miserable as that was, I'm sure it made it a bit easier on him.

Had to put our 23 year old cat down today. Feeling pretty bummed. He came into our lives on Christmas eve and went out on Christmas Eve. Not the hardest thing I've ever done, but pretty damn close. He was just suffering and we couldn't stand to see him continue. Such a good little guy and the only cat I've ever given two shits about. He had a good life. Will be missed.

Exciter - Violence & Force

Same to all of you and yours!

Not quite as good as AJFA for my money, but Escape is probably my favorite Metallica song ever. NP: Charles Mingus - Ah Um

Time for a change New Order - Low-Life New Order - Power Corruption and Lies

I have an account, though admittedly I never use it. Had Facebook since the beginning (back when you had to be in college to sign up), but I only ever look at it on the shitter when trying to pass time. Only other thing I have is Reddit which gets the same usage as FB.

The Astral Spectre - The Oath is Broken

Going to work on getting my favorites for the year collected today. A few last minute discoveries to investigate first. Starer - 18" Below the Horizon - very much an early USBM feel to this one. I get some Judas Iscariot/Weakling type vibes from this one. Not direct comparisons mind you, just reminiscent of that sound. Antihælix - Demo MMXXI Kaldeket - Vitiate Jernved - Stormvarsel Леший — Поганые Сны Krigstjørn - Liv, Død og Mellemvejen

DVNE - Etemen Ænka

Can't say I've ever heard it before. I was pretty deep into DM back around that time, but this one never crossed my threshold. After a quick listen, some good ideas here and there, but I agree with @MacabreEternal that the production ruins it. Might have liked it back when I didn't know any better.

I've worked every holiday since I was 19 years old, so for the past 27 years. In my line of work, whether it was in the military or in Nursing, you just don't get that time off. The mission comes first, so you just adapt. And like you, I've just become to appreciate it. Less people to deal with, fewer deadlines, less interference. We did just mark one year from our initial vaccine rollout. It seems like 5 years. Hell of a lot of work and heavy lifting this time last year. Late nights, seemingly endless travel, and the usual bureaucracy and conflict that comes with developing a new service around a totally new/unknown product, but we got it done. Now it's just second nature. The hard work definitely paid off. Something to be grateful for. I've always found that less religious people tend to be less judgmental while showing more charity and empathy that the devout worshippers of any imaginary sky man. I am certainly moved to be more generous and kind this time of year which has traditionally been shitty for me. I really just don't want people to suffer and go out of my way to try to alleviate what I can when presented the opportunity.

My wife and I did away with gifts a while ago. We buy travel for each other or trips together. Better to spend money on experiences than gifts. I do the same for my daughter and her husband. Tickets to the local nerd convention (something like Comic-Con), a concert, etc. I will use the season as an excuse to buy stuff I wouldn't normally spend the money on. I just bought a Rush sweatshirt that I've had my eye on for a bit. $75 is usually a bridge to far for a sweatshirt.

Nocturnal - Serpent Death Order - The Gospel Anthrax (UK) - Serfs Out Arcaneblaze - Conjure Mysticism and Goblet of Eternal Fire

I have that Hollow Woods queued up next myself. Morcolac - Blackmoon Devourer

Cauldron - Regnum Phobos Flagg - Cosmic Chaos Manifest Caestus - The Undoer's Key

Likewise FA. I have to say that it's been quite a nice transition. The regulars have been very welcoming, and I get a lot out of the discussion and recommendations. Happy "whatever you choose to celebrate this time of year" to everyone.

Spinning this first thing. I get the TROB comparisons, but I wouldn't put it in the same leagues as TROB's best albums. Good stuff though. I'll have to find that Aquilus album @Thatguy mentioned and give it a go. My "listen to" listen is getting out of control again.

Love me some Charles Mingus. I've been on a Blue Note/Hard Bop binge for the past 2 days. Setting up my new home office and rearranging the hifi and nothing is better for calibrating a sound system than jazz.

Giving up meat is surprisingly easy. The hardest thing is figuring out what to eat and how to prepare it. Takes a while to adjust. I did the vegetarian thing for a year and really didn't miss meat (except for fish). The most frustrating thing was going out to eat with the wife. So few vegetarian choices in restaurants around here. Even though I eat meat again these days, I eat much less of it than I used to. With the prices going up as they have lately, I may go to only eating it twice a week. I went to the butcher shop this weekend. Bought a small ham for Christmas, 3 pork chops, and a small brisket flat. $80 for about 4-5 pounds of meat. Booze is rather easy to kick as well. I drink only on occasion these days. Usually just when I get together with the guys for a show/festival trip. Saves lots of money. Sleep is a bit harder to improve. I'm a regular 7-8 hour kind of guy, but my problem is getting to sleep. Some nights I'll lay there for an hour or more trying to shut my brain off. It's overstimulation (internet/tv/etc) and excessive caffeine. I know I spend too much time doing shit that's not worthwhile and not enough exercise or other healthy stuff. Definitely something to work on. Breaking my evening habits would do me a lot of good, so something to work on. Absolutely. My father ruined Christmas for me as a teenager. Walked out on us on Christmas Eve fucking asshole. Ever since (past 30 odd years), I could care less about it. Overblown, overhyped commercial exercise. I do enjoy the day off of work, so I guess it isn't all bad.

Condolences dude.

Only had to show my card once in Charleston and once in Asheville for shows. No one else really cares, especially where I live in Florida. No matter. I've had 3 shots, so I'm not worried to much.

A little Greek Crust to keep it going Procrastinate - S/T Procrastinate - Subjugated Herd

Ok, the Monster is kicking in now (coffee didn't do the trick this morning) Languid - A Paranoid Wretch in Society's Game Svaveldioxid - Första Dagen Efter Sista Bomben

Ok, so not really feeling that as much as I thought. Drab miserable weather out and the Dead are putting me to sleep. Switching to something more appropriate. Down the post-punk rabbit hole. Made a new mix that I'll try out instead. Deafear, Seraphim Gothique, Escape from Romeo, Asylum Party...some more obscure stuff that I don't get to often.