9.14.2012

AVP

Yup, after 6+ years in this Company, I've been (finally) promoted to Assistant Vice President 1.

AVP.

Wow.

It's a humbling achievement to be given such a title. It really gives that "umph!" to the meaning of executive level. I'm really feeling good right now.

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

9.05.2012

Rattleheads 2012: Still Alive and Kicking

August 30, 2012 was a good day. Relieving myself from another 9.6 hours of stressful work in the office, I accepted the invitation of college friend Edesel to spend 6 hours of jamming at Cherry Studios, Paranaque City. The place was equipped with Marshall and Laney amps and Tama Drums. For P150.00 an hour, it was definitely a bargain. Along with Alex, Pedro, and Edesel's student, Ian, we jammed heavy/trash metal to our heart's content.

It was a beautiful distraction from the everyday stress at work. Work has been a lot of pressure lately, much to the point that I wanted to quit. Unfortunately finding an alternative source of income has been difficult so I've no choice but be stuck in this cubicle/pressure-cooker that I'm in. Then again, that's for another blog post.

The band practiced several Metallica and Megadeth songs. We were amazed at how Ian was so skillful in playing the riffs and lead parts of the songs ---cleanly. This was where I realized how amazing Metallica's "Holier Than Thou" is (before, I would usually skip it when listening to the Black album).

No more! The crap rolls out your mouth again
Haven't changed, your brain is still gelatin
Little whispers circle around your head
Why don't you worry about yourself instead

Of course, us late-30 somethings were pretty rusty in the other departments so Ian was a ray of sunshine amidst our bass-drum-guitar mess. My bass-playing, in particular, was all over the place, a product of trying to cram several songs in a few days before the jam date. Yup, such would make Ellefson and Newstead cover their ears in disappointment.

I need more practice.

Even when Pop, Alternative, OPM, and even Dance music revolves around my mp3 playlist, I definitely (definitely!) still have plenty of space for Heavy/Trash Metal.

Hello me... It's me again
You can subdue, but never tame me

  I really hope that that jam session wasn't the last one. Those few hours of musical enchantment of Hetfield and Mustaine genius must be regularized in our busy, hectic, almost-age-40 lives.