Three cool things + one uncool thing

1. I finally got my driver's license today! I took the driving test once on Friday, but my examiner was batshit insane (no, really D:) and failed me almost immediately for one or two very minor violations. I got a much nicer lady today, and even when she did tell me of things I did wrong, she didn't actually seem to detest me for making mistakes. Cool.

Templicense

2. I've had a nice, old set of garage-sale speakers lying around for a while now, but I didn't have the right adapters to connect them to anything and I didn't want to cut the ends off. I finally got past that crap a few days ago, chopped off the ends, and plugged them into my stereo. For someone with my budget for these kinds of things, they sound totally great. I haven't had a chance to really crank them yet, but I don't do that often anyway. I hooked up my crappier stereo speakers to my record player, and finally got that going again for the first time in ages. Since I last used it, I had purchased old copies of, among other albums, Over-Nite Sensation by Frank Zappa, Machine Head by Deep Purple, and, most surprising of all, The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall by The Fall. Mind you, I found it (and the other two) at an antique store in Hays, freakin' Kansas. You don't know how rare those little glimmers of culture are around here, even if you're looking for them. Fucking cool.

3. Yesterday I tuned my guitar to EEAADD on a whim, and I'm finally beginning to really comprehend the value of alternate tunings. I haven't been able to make a single noise yet that doesn't sound angry, melancholic, or otherwise negative. It sounds kinda Slint-y, even. Very cool.

4. The record player stopped working today :(. Granted, I got it from a dumpster, but it still kinda killed my hopes. I don't know if it'll work again, or when the next time I'll be able to find one is. I might check antique stores and garage sales soon for a new one. Uncool.