Daniel Amos Message Board | Print: thank you

Posted by tchandler on 02-07-2008 at11:57:

thank you

hi kids!

i've been asking for prayer in the Prayer Request section of the site (and thanks again for the prayers, friends!) and this is a follow-up/ explanation of pre-prayer-request events.

eleven years ago, realizing that i wasn't going to make any real living for my familiy as a musician, (took me long enough to figure that one out) i went back to school to learn as much computer-dorkery as fast as i could possibly learn it. i was lucky enough to be taught by this guy who was the equivilent of Jedi Knight of computer-dorkery network engineering.

he was a larger than life 300 pound black man with a shaved head who suffered no fool (other than me for some reason). he was a former LA gang member, and then later a US air force officer who not only made good but became someone who was known as being a computer dork badass. i was lucky to have landed in his orbit. i became his teacher's assistant. he was my mentor (younger than me by 3 years) and remains a great friend.

i then worked in the lab at the same college, worked some side-gig computer dork jobs, and then taught at the college (tech school actually, although they used the word "college" in their title...the requirements for teaching tech school are that you can prove that you know the subject, and have enough previous hours--lab time for me--to qualify. i got a california cert, and was hired to teach.)

they (the tech school) asked me at one point to "teach" a course i wasn't prepared to teach (fake it, in other words). realizing that this was just wrong to fake a class for people who were paying large money in an effort to learn something to be able to change their lives like i was able to do, i asked them to please not try to force me to teach the class. they insisted that i teach the class. i then asked all of them (the people who ran the college), in rather colorful language, but politely, if perhaps they wouldn't mind lining up one at a time to kiss the living hell out of my .ass for asking me to commit fraud.

oddly enough, they let me go. (soon after, having nothing to do with my leaving, the entire program collapsed. so actually, i was lucky enough to have left when i did.)

during this time, i began to realize something about how computer dork work affected me. i could be in a recording studio playing music for 18 hours in a row and walk out the front door feeling like i could go another 18 hours. when i did computer dork work, it drained me completely -- i had some sort of affinity for it, but it completely wore me out. it still does to this day.

during this same time period, i came down with a stress related eye disease. (i've been informed that airline pilots experience this same disorder.) and at nearly the same time, from using a steroid cream (cortizone 10) i developed fast growing cataracts. i was 44 at the time. 44 year old humans don't develop something like cataracts unless something is seriously wrong. my immune system had to have been suppressed? i don't know.

but the job i chose to do and move to nashville for, is the most stressfull thing i've ever experienced in life, having to do with retired 5-star generals, windowless-secret bunkers, and ridiculous silent-blue-siren lights following me down a hallway because i don't have the proper "clearance". i once actually watched a 6 inch thick steel Get Smart door as it opened automatically after the guy used his secret agent card to open it. i heard the theme song in my head as i walked through the open door.

more ridiculousness to follow!

Posted by Ron E on 02-07-2008 at12:33:

RE: thank you

quote:

Originally posted by tchandler
hi kids!

i've been asking for prayer in the Prayer Request section of the site (and thanks again for the prayers, friends!) and this is a follow-up/ explanation of pre-prayer-request events.

eleven years ago, realizing that i wasn't going to make any real living for my familiy as a musician, (took me long enough to figure that one out) i went back to school to learn as much computer-dorkery as fast as i could possibly learn it. i was lucky enough to be taught by this guy who was the equivilent of Jedi Knight of computer-dorkery network engineering.

he was a larger than life 300 pound black man with a shaved head who suffered no fool (other than me for some reason). he was a former LA gang member, and then later a US air force officer who not only made good but became someone who was known as being a computer dork badass. i was lucky to have landed in his orbit. i became his teacher's assitant. he was my mentor (younger than me by 3 years) and remains a great friend.

i then worked in the lab at the same college, worked some side-gig computer dork jobs, and then taught at the college (tech school actually, although they used the word "college" in their title...the requirements for teaching tech school are that you can prove that you know the subject, and have enough previous hours--lab time for me--to qualify. i got a california cert, and was hired to teach.)

they (the tech school) asked me at one point to "teach" a course i wasn't prepared to teach (fake it, in other words). realizing that this was just wrong to fake a class for people who were paying large money in an effort to learn something to be able to change their lives like i was able to do, i asked them to please not try to force me to teach the class. they insisted that i teach the class. i then asked all of them (the people who ran the college), in rather colorful language, but politely, if perhaps they wouldn't mind lining up one at a time to kiss the living hell out of my .ass for asking me to commit fraud.

oddly enough, they let me go. (soon after, having nothing to do with my leaving, the entire program collapsed. so actually, i was lucky enough to have left when i did.)

during this time, i began to realize something about how computer dork work affected me. i could be in a recording studio playing music for 18 hours in a row and walk out the front door feeling like i could go another 18 hours. when i did computer dork work, it drained me completely -- i had some sort of affinity for it, but it completely wore me out. it still does to this day.

during this same time period, i came down with a stress relataed eye disease. (i've been informed that airline pilots experience this same disorder.) and at nearly the same time, from using a steroid cream (cortizone 10) i developed fast growing cataracts. i was 44 at the time. 44 year old humans don't develop something like cataracts unless something is seriously wrong. my immune system had to have been suppressed? i don't know.

but the job i chose to do and move to nashville for, is the most stressfull thing i've ever experienced in life, having to do with retired 5-star generals, windowless-secret bunkers, and ridiculous silent-blue-siren lights following me down a hallway because i don't have the proper "clearance". i once actually watched a 6 inch steel Get Smart door as it openned automatically after the guy used his secret agent card to open it. i heard the theme song in my head as i walked through the open door.

more ridiculousness to follow!

You really are a big dork aren't you?

I mean, happy birthday and you're welcome for the prayers. WHy don't you start telling people at the new job you're feeling like you're living a lie because you can't tell everyone what you're doing and to form another line???

jokes.

Posted by larryl on 02-07-2008 at13:27:

tim.... you need to write a book someday....

Posted by joey on 02-07-2008 at13:35:

Cool

RE: thank you

tim, i sit at a computer all day and i have special glasses i wear only for that...
maybe that would have helped? Confused

glad to hear you are doing better now.......... Cool

Posted by tchandler on 02-07-2008 at13:36:

quote:

You really are a big dork aren't you?

yes. i have become an absolute complete dork, if i wasn't one before.

Posted by ladrtrk55 on 02-07-2008 at13:38:

quote:

Originally posted by larryl
tim.... you need to write a book someday....

I think we've already had a glimpse. Cool

You really DID have a bad experience with the CIA, didn't you Tim?

Posted by Lur King on 02-07-2008 at13:40:

RE: thank you

quote:

Originally posted by tchandler
when i did computer dork work, it drained me completely . . .

thats why I became a music dork TaPe / vinyl / cd / .mp3 collector Cool

Posted by jiminy on 02-07-2008 at13:57:

ditto-
im at the pc all freekin day....(no glasses reqd-yet.though I wear them for all else)

you should write (not type!!) a book my man.

more prayers for you (otherwise you may show up late one night to cart me away or zap me!)

and-
you are still a musician, my friend.

Posted by tchandler on 02-07-2008 at14:02:

jiminy -- thanks for the kind thoughts

joey and jiminy -- i spoke with an eye surgeon who told me that staring at computers couldn't have had anything to do with my condition. but what do they know.

tell me about the glasses Smile

Posted by Mountain Fan on 02-07-2008 at14:31:

glad you're doing better tim! Smile

i wore contacts for a little while but had to quit when I began needing to spend more face time with the computer for my job. i got dry, irritated eyes. guess it could have been a lot worse. Frown

glasses still do it for me, although I'm thankfully not to bifocal stage.

after various brushes with medical procedures i am more skeptical than ever about the risk/benefits so i will likely not do the laser surgery unless i hate bifocals (should i have to get them), or if my astigmatism got worse.

i wonder if berger has such eye conditions? if not, you may need a prescription for lavoris, windex, and girl scout cookies?!

BTW everytime i see "thank you" i think ZZ Top, but I will restrain myself from hijacking your most excellent thread.

i can't wait to hear more stories! Happy

Posted by DwDunphy on 02-07-2008 at14:37:

Holy cow, man. What is it with you DA types, working for generals and space stations and... and... Tony Shore...

I couldn't really add anything to the eye situation, other than have you tried gradual strength training? That's where you keep one eye covered to force the other to work harder, then reverse the process a few weeks later (not suggested while driving though). I dispute your eye doctor - I've read quite a lot of material that has stated computer monitor exposure weakens eye muscles...

You're always going to be a great musician and I wish things had worked differently than they did. Heck, I play music and hold down "a real job". It seems unfathomable that music isn't your real job...

Posted by joey on 02-07-2008 at14:40:

Cool

quote:

Originally posted by tchandler
jiminy -- thanks for the kind thoughts

joey and jiminy -- i spoke with an eye surgeon who told me that staring at computers couldn't have had anything to do with my condition. but what do they know.

tell me about the glasses Smile

i got them back when i worked at the l.a. times over 10 years ago...
some lady who worked for them sued them and won back in the 80's because her eyes went bad...
so......rather than pay another lawsuit they offered to buy anybody computer glasses who wanted them...
they are anti-glare, a lot of tint... and i can't see far away with them....
you'd have to ask an optometrist for more info than that.... Big Grin

Posted by jiminy on 02-07-2008 at14:41:

i get red eyes too
(but mostly on weekends)

he heeeeee.......!
Cool

Posted by tchandler on 02-07-2008 at14:43:

thanks DwD for the eye info -- yeah, i'm still tracking that down but suspect you guys are probably right -- although from research, i know that the initial condition can only be tracked to stress -- shouldn't berger be blind by now?

and i'm truly appreciative of the sentiment, yet understand fully why music isn't my real job. if DA didn't make it, there's no way that i would Smile

Posted by tchandler on 02-07-2008 at14:44:

joey -- you worked for the LA Times?!! you have to tell us all some stories! you must have some!!!

Posted by joey on 02-07-2008 at15:06:

Tongue!

as a telemarketer selling subscriptions.... Baby

not a reporter..........

Big Grin

Posted by dennis on 02-07-2008 at16:27:

Shocked

quote:

Originally posted by DwDunphy
Holy cow, man. What is it with you DA types, working for generals and space stations and... and... Tony Shore...

LOL!

Posted by dennis on 02-07-2008 at16:30:

Thumb Up!

Thanks for the update Tim!

It's tough, choosing between what you love and making a living.

I am looking forward to the "more to follow."

..and that book you need to write! Pleased

Posted by dennis on 02-07-2008 at19:31:

quote:

Originally posted by tchandler
...and i'm truly appreciative of the sentiment, yet understand fully why music isn't my real job. if DA didn't make it, there's no way that i would Smile

Regardless, Daniel Amos has served as an inspiration for countless Christian bands, not only because they engender creativity with their insightful lyrics and groundbreaking musical arrangements; Daniel Amos has served as an inspiration because... they committed to an artistic vision and pursued it without conceding to commercial concerns. ~Terry Wandtke

Posted by joey on 02-07-2008 at19:33:

Cool

that is why we are all here.........