Mikael Fernstrom

>I did my re-certification last week, to be able and allowed to use an EAD defibrillator to try to save someone’s life. I would hope that more people would learn this, as we will all need one another whenever in trouble.

>I’ve just adjusted all “old” clocks in the house. 1h+. How will I convince my body and soul that the universe has jumped in time? I have a vague recollection when this winter/summer time change started. But, why… Instead we could decide to keep clocks as they are and get out of bed one hour earlier or later…. It’s all down to frame of reference. Are we moving the window or the document. Personally, I’d prefer to keep clocks as they are and make my way out of bed earlier, or later.

>I’ve been reading my feeds on the web. Suddenly it dawned on me, not through logic but through imagination, that everything is connected – which I believe but cannot prove.
In the past week, a couple of significant events occurred.
1. Arthur C. Clarke passed away.
2. The brightest ever supernova, GRB 080319A, exploded.
The timing of the events is extraordinary!
Did he go there? What the hell happened? Is it, by any metaphysical metaphor, connected? I guess the pure fact that it got my imagination going is a proof that it makes life, and death, feel significant. What if…. How???… and the most difficult, Why?????????

>This evening, the Bootleggin band was back playing in the Hurlers Pub in Castletroy in Limerick. It was the first time since I got it, my new PA and my new ear-gear. It worked – fine! And, I didn’t have any head pain, so I feel really good now. I’m hoping that tonight’s gig marks the end of this Horton period and that I can work my way back to normal (whatever that is…).

>Life is still SHITE. I have excruciating pain at least once a day, but the frequency is dropping.

Pain, who needs it? I don’t. I wish for a day some weeks from now, when I don’t have to fear this.

>and crying with one eye. The number 9 corresponds quite well both to the Kip and Mankoski scales of pain.

>Today I picked up my ultimate keyboard PA system. A Numark 1,900 W amp, 2 ProSound 800W speakers and an Alesis mixer. This is a perfect match to my keyboard setup. I just wish I was well enough to be out playing a gig…. (currently suffering with chest infection).

>I know the Bootleggin Band is loud. Very loud. Or, as J.J. says “a wee band with a big sound”. I don’t have a problem with the big sound as long as I have hearing protection. So far, I’ve been using the cheap standard earplugs that you can buy in any pharmacy for less than a euro. But they dont give me the option to hear what I want to hear.
So, last night I ordered what I could afford from Ultimate Ears. It’ll be interesting to see (or rather hear) how it works….

>this evening, I’m working through all my recipes for toffee. I’m trying to develop the perfect toffee recipe. Anything is allowed, vanilla, brandy, mustard. The only way to find the prefect toffee is to make it and eat it. Pure fun, and science.

>from West Clare. I should have stayed another week.. and another week… and another week. I think I belong there.

http://www.idc.ul.ie/mikael/images/loop-head.mov

I know this is not a good QT panorama (sorry, wrong settings on the camera), but it illustrates what I feel.