in all seriousness

I apologize for the breach in blog etiquette, but I must apologize for the lack of posts this week.

I've been going through a rather difficult situation involving a very dear friend of mine, Laura. She and I have been close for, about four years now. We spend a great deal of time together during the week, and she's been one of the only constants in my life over the fast four years.

On Thursday, while I was getting her ready for TNL at WEC, I noticed that there was something quite wrong with her. It took me a long while to realize what was going on, and by then it was too late to do anything about it. I was terrified of what this could mean; all the time we've spent together, to be ended so soon by such a small, yet profoundly influential problem. My emotions overwhelmed me, rushed over me like a cold wind, freezing me in place as I contemplated the changes that were about to come.

The threads on her locknut on her neck were stripped, which meant that no whammy bar action would happen, and she was useless to me.

In case you're wondering, Laura is my 2005 Ibanez S470 electric guitar, the . . . um . . . let's say . . . second-place love of my life. I bought her in 2005 (I know it's hard to comprehend) and she has been my the best guitar I have ever laid hands on. Other guitars have come, and I've even tried to convince myself a couple others were the ones for me; Laura and her perfect tremolo system and beautiful, lightweight black body have always remained number one in my heart.

The good news is, I went to Wintersound and picked up some parts (I love them there, well worth the trip across the Coleman Bridge) and she's as good as new, ready to rock for Sunday. All is well, and a friend has been restored to me.