the trombonebleu thread

[trombonebleu]

A bit slow on the uptake it seems, I'm just now posting here. Perhaps I should read a bit closer.

33, 31 of those years living in Dallas, managed to escape nearly two years ago now. Live in the commuter belt north of London Village. Yes, I've played trombone since I was 10 and still going...

Love to travel, and done lots of it: all over the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, and so much more to see...

In fear of writing too much, you can just ask me shit, else I'll write a book of useless information....

[fountains of nay]

where did you visit in Japan?
I used to live in Shin-Kemigawa, Chiba.

[trombonebleu]

August of 2003, I visited Osaka and Tokyo and went to Summersonic

August of 2004, I went to Osaka, Tokyo, The Real Man Festival? in Chichibu, and Kyoto, which was my favourite...

[fountains of nay]

Oooo never went west... but I still have lots of time.

What was your favourite part of Tokyo?

[trombonebleu]

Kiddyland!

Actually, I didn't get to see a whole lot of it to be honest. I spent a lot of time in the vintage clothing shops (which are the best I've ever seen), Kiddyland (!), and the Hie Temple, which was right next to the hotel I was staying in. Sorry, I don't know the parts so well. Never had a bad meal though...

[fountains of nay]

hehe, I can say I had a few...fish flakes! Yuck!

If you go again, I definately recommend you check out the Ramen museum... a museum of noodles! Tis wicked :D

[trombonebleu]

More memorable for me is Osaka...I was in a fairly big earthquake there and almost got caught in a typhoon while in Kyoto...

I steered clear of the fish flakes. But you can't hide from vending machines!

[fountains of nay]

Hehe I love the venders... used to have a beer machine down the road from my house. Twas very convenient :)

Ahhhh earthquakes... gotta love em. It was always very exciting in Chiba, particularly because if the BIG ONE happens...then most of Chiba will sink into the sea as it is built on reclaimed land.

[trombonebleu]

a lot of the people I was with were scared. It was at night and I happened to be asleep and thought the people downstairs were being rowdy. when the aftershock came the next day, I finally realised what was going on. apparently the buildings were swaying and people were taking pictures...

Another thing was all the bicycles parked on the sidewalk sans locks. Amazing...

[fountains of nay]

yep... no need for real security in Nippon. You can leave your windows open all night and nobody will break in!

Also, it's safe to walk around anytime at night. I used to walk home on my own at about 3am and never felt threatened.

[trombonebleu]

but wow, the humidity!

[fountains of nay]

Aye, yes... always carry that fan!

[Peace-Phoenix]

So what you to these here shores? :)

[trombonebleu]

the biggest reason is my wife is English. And it was a lot easier for me to get into the country here than it was for her to get into the US.

But then, I've always had that nagging feeling this country was made for me and I it. When I first came over here in 2002, I knew immediately it's where I wanted to live. So my lifelong hunch was right. Texas never really agreed with me. This place does.

[Peace-Phoenix]

What agrees with you most about Britain? Is there anything you don't like about it?

[trombonebleu]

I think, more than anything, is the conversation style. I find that I can have a conversation with someone a bit more on my level, whereas in Texas I always felt like a weirdo because I didn't know what happened on last night's episode of Friends...plus, being a musician and music lover in general, this is a much better place to be. I can see whoever I want because they all play London at some point, and I can generally find the music I want to find...and overall, people seem to be a bit more politically aware here, whereas in Dallas they're either asleep or not interested in rocking the boat no matter what...

Sure, there are things I don't care for, but they're minor. The weather changing every hour takes some getting used to. Chavs. Tesco. Asda. London prices. But they're minor things compared to my overall satisfaction of living here.

[Peace-Phoenix]

How do Texans react to people who aren't staunch conservatives/Republicans?

[trombonebleu]

depends on which Texans you're talking about. The majority are staunchly conservative and don't like having their views slighted in any way. But there are a lot of liberals too, strewn about in various places but many have feelings of isolation and the need to keep it to themselves in some places lest they be hassled. Austin is a different story; an oasis in the desert. But that's what I mean about political discussion; the majority have this opinion about politics (stemmed from religious belief more often than not) and any debate on the topics is seen as borderline heretical. In other words, they spout beliefs fed to them but don't know how to defend it so they just start calling people names.

This isn't true of everyone, but it's becoming more and more common.

Also, most Texans aren't aware of anything outside of Texas. I have family members that have never been outside of east Texas, much less the state...a bizarre and frightening way of life IMO...but they seem happy enough.

[Peace-Phoenix]

Are you yourself religious?

[trombonebleu]

No.

Like most Texans though, I was brought up in a very religious home, which turned into something very suffocating. When I was old enough to start asking the tough questions, I simply got lectures on "devil's thoughts" and such. That didn't sit well with me and I left that far behind as soon as I was able. Never really bought it though.

That's not to say I don't think there is a human spirituality out there, because I certainly think there is. I just stopped trying to continually define it and just try to live it.

[Peace-Phoenix]

How about your political views?

[lithium]

If you had a bionic arm and were capable of lifting many times your body weight, would you use it for good or for evil and how?

What do you do for a living?

[trombonebleu]

How about your political views?left

[trombonebleu]

If you had a bionic arm and were capable of lifting many times your body weight, would you use it for good or for evil and how?

What do you do for a living?depends on your definition of good and evil :) Actually, that'd be good at doing brick work I suppose, if I could roof a house in one swoop. that and I'd vacuum under the furniture more often than not...

At the moment, I'm moonlighting as an accountant...

[fountains of nay]

what made you want to learn to play the trombone?

[trombonebleu]

i come from a pretty musical family. my dad played trumpet professionally for years and years, and my older sister is an excellent clarinetist. I had always wanted to play a musical instrument apart from piano (I'd been playing since I was 5), and was always intrigued with what appeared to be an overblown slide whistle. So I started when I was 10 and it's gotten me this far...

[Peace-Phoenix]

If you could have any superpower on top of the bionic arm, what would it be and why?

[trombonebleu]

Flight, I think, just over invisibility. I'd also like to be able to speak every language in the world which, while not a true superpower, would be impressive. Or breathing underwater...damn they're all so cool....

Flight.

[lithium]

How do you define good and evil?

[trombonebleu]

If it doesn't hurt anyone else = good. If it does = evil.

Or, to quote Andy Partridge again:

"Kid,
Stay and snip your cord off,
Talk and let your mind loose,
Cant all think like chekov,
But youll be o.k.

Kid,
Is this your first time here?
Some cant stand the beauty,
So they cut off one ear,
But youll be o.k.

Welcome to the garden of earthly delights.
Welcome to a billion arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just dont hurt nobody,
And the big rewards here,
In the garden of earthly delights.

Kid,
Pick up with another,
Some will even drop you,
But hearts are built like rubber,
So youll be alright.

Kid,
Swallow but believe us,
You wont die of boredom,
Should you have to leave us,
Itll be alright.

Welcome to the garden of earthly delights.
Welcome to a billion arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just dont hurt nobody,
less of course they ask you,
In the garden of earthly delights.

Welcome to the garden of earthly delights.
Welcome to a billion arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just dont hurt nobody,

Welcome to the garden of earthly delights.
Welcome to a billion arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just dont hurt nobody,
less of course they ask you,
In the garden of earthly delights"

[Peace-Phoenix]

I always end up reading your signature as by Alan Partridge. So, what's your favourite comedy show?

[trombonebleu]

I always end up reading your signature as by Alan Partridge. So, what's your favourite comedy show?Ironically enough, it's "I'm Alan Partridge" but for reasons completely different than the similarity to Andy Partridge.

Well, I don't know if it's my fave, but it's up there. Anything with Mitchell & Webb, Green Wing, Little Britain, Bremner, Bird & Fortune, Mock The Week, Nevermind The Buzzcocks, Monty Python, Only Fools & Horses, Black Adder, The Office, Extras, The Simpsons, Futurama, Southpark, American Dad, Family Guy, and I'm sure there's more...those are all my favourites; I can't pick one.

[Peace-Phoenix]

Aye Mitchell and Webb are great too. So, British or American humour?

[trombonebleu]

Aye Mitchell and Webb are great too. So, British or American humour?British. No contest.

Well, The Simpsons makes it a contest, but otherwise, no contest at all.

[lithium]

Do you still speak funny or has life in Britain made you start to speak more normally?

[trombonebleu]

people tend to think I'm Canadian or Australian before they settle on America. I have no southern accent anymore (unless I'm drunk).

[Peace-Phoenix]

What's your favourite accent in the world?

[trombonebleu]

anything from a romance language, particularly espanol, particularly para sud america...

[Peace-Phoenix]

Back to comedy, have you seen the American version of The Office? I didn't actually think it was that bad. How do you think it compares?

[trombonebleu]

Yeah, I've seen a lot of them. Started out pretty slow but got a lot better. Not sure it's ever going to reach the level of the UK version, but I don't think either of them reach the genius level of the movie "Office Space", but they all have their moments...

but back to the US version of The Office...in typical fashion, they'll ruin it eventually because it will go on and on and on until it becomes a shell of anything; that's how TV there works; shows go on way too long...

[fountains of nay]

Who's your favourite author?

[trombonebleu]

Who's your favourite author?I don't know if I can choose one, but the person that keeps popping up over the last 20 years or so is Alan Watts. In my attempts to read philosophical stuff, his way of writing brings it to life and makes for a pleasant, uplifting read. As for fiction, not sure, but as many times as I've read "The Celestine Prophecy" in the last ten years, I would have to say James Redfield is up there.

[lithium]

If you had really big arms, where would you put them when you sleep?

[trombonebleu]

If you had really big arms, where would you put them when you sleep?

are they detachable? because if so I'd just stand them in the corner. If not, I think I'd have to get a bigger bed. I'm sure my wife would be annoyed at a massive set of arms encroaching on her space. Probably lay them in front of me in a downward direction...

(better late than never...)