Revamped Electric Guitar (SneakPeek)

 

 

 I have a couple of things to finish and then I can post about the electric guitar that i have overhauled!!!  Subscribe to get notified of new posts and projects!

Before

After

Suffering from chronic back and/or neck pain like I am?

Maybe you could try these moves recommended by Dr. Oz to alleviate some of your agony...


I have been dealing with chronic back pain for as long as I can remember. I was in a car accident at age 8, diagnosed with scoliosis at 15, was born with three vertebrae fused together which left them shorter than one normal vertebrae (birth defect) and on top of all that I have had multiple muscle pulls and other back and neck injuries. I have been in and out of physical therapy my whole life. But that's enough about my chronic pain in the ass....

"I Say What I Mean, I Mean What I Say"

"I say what I mean, I mean what I say"Lyrics By Malibu Ninja
*~*Chorus*~*

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NOTE:  This is a work in progress & still needs a ton of editing.
x

When women talk, Most men just block

Understandable when all you hear is bawk bawk bawk

Why listen? She doesn't Say what she means

Expected to decipher And somehow glean

What's going on in her head? Anything?

Why so many words?  To say nothing at all

Spare me your speech It has no meaning

What it is you want?  A big fat brawl?

Quit beating the bush  Get down to biz

Please be honest and Tell it like it is

I say what I mean, I mean what I say

Expect the truth, won't tolerate grey

Won't lie or double speak
Must be some sort of freak

If I fuck up, I fess up
Won't point the finger

Put you through the ringer

Not two faced, I've got but one,
Won't cheat, nor allow reruns

Hate the games they play
Blame him, Blame her...  all day

Can't we just meet halfway?

I say what I mean, I mean what I say

As long as we speak true, we'll be okay

I will never tell you What you want to hear 
To get what I want, Why fake tears? 

Spin webs? Pump your ego?

If that's what you need
Sorry amigo, I'm not that girl

If you want fake
You’d better just go away

I Don’t Lie, then try to cover it up

Get all caught up until I'm stuck

Guarantee I won't make
You chase your tail

I am so blunt
You may call me a c%*t

I think like a guy, But look like a girl

I am what every man wants, I am real

I love football and can fix almost anything

I am sexy but don't do bling bling

The perfect catch 
Don't fish for compliments

Will never ask you
If my butt looks big

© 2013 Stacy M Price (AKA MalibuNinja)

My son is a walking, talking, adorable but super annoying commercial parroting advertising robot!!!!

I HATE COMMERCIALS!!!!!!!  I HATE THAT EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING!!!!

We have all sold our souls to the bank roll!!!!!

Commercials do not have any influence whatsoever on what I choose to purchase. There are many reasons for this but one of the main ones is that I am not exposed to them as much as the average American.  This is due to the fact that I do not watch TV @ all!  I haven't watched Television in about a year and a half and the only part I miss is Football!

Ever noticed the fountain at Seattle Center that is strangely reminiscent of a flushing toilet?

Jamison, Kale and Madyson checking out
"Encircled Stream" summer of 2010..

Well it is one of an artwork series done using natural elements, designed  to illustrate how amazing our mother earth really is.  This fountain was created by Ned Kahn and it’s  called "Encircled Stream".  Encircled Stream represents how Washington state's landscape was carved from repeated floods over time!

Cool Cab Logo (Font Options) Graphic Design

I am a total amature @ Graphic Design. Mediocre is probably the best way to describe what little graphic design work i have done.  I have created a few different logo designs over the years, a couple of logos for vacation homes I managed, one for a non-profit group I co-founded that helped people conquer their addictions and the logo for my own business..

Mostly I have designed logos for consulting clients as a kind of thrown in service., a good excuse for me to exercise my artist muscle.  I love fonts so designing logos is fun because I get to play with a variety of cool fonts.  Also logos were a good excuse to learn the basics of Photoshop.

Random Project: How TO Create Awesome Duct Tape art!

I adore duct tape, I have loved it since I discovered it's ability to stick to almost anything when I was in middle school.  That’s when it became my go-to preferred tape for anything except paper!  I used duct tape to repair a belt once and then decided I would wrap the whole belt with the tape.  It looked awesome, so I thought what else could I do with this?

I used it for all kinds of different things, covering notebooks, decorating my backpack and so many other things!  But, it wasn't until about two years ago that I started using different colors and patterns of duct tape to create 2 dimensional art. 

Johnie Pai & Wiz-Dumb Pai

Johnie is an amazing man; he has patience like no other, is a great listener and gives awesome advice when you need it.

He is the best kind of friend to have; a supportive, honest and trustworthy man. He will always make himself available to lend a hand when someone needs help. He is selfless, compassionate and considerate.  If he was about to eat his only sandwich and realized you needed it more than him; no matter how hungry, he would give it to you and go without.

Johnie would give up anything and everything to improve someone else's quality of life. I have personally witnessed him making so many sacrifices, most without a single complaint, so that others can have what they want or need. Even when his efforts are never acknowledged or appreciated; he still gives and gives, never expecting anything in return.  He will suffer endlessly, if it means that you don't have to.

Not only is Johnie genuinely empathetic but he actually feels the exact emotions that people around him are feeling. He absorbs your undesirable feelings (sadness, pain, anger) and suppresses them.  You are free from that emotional burden while in his presence. Just being around him relieves physical pain as well and stress; I relax when he walks into the house.

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Quote of the Day:      “Comedy is tragedy plus time.”  --Carol Burnett

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Sometimes I wonder how Johnie has become so insightful, so patient. I know that he has been through a lot in his time on this earth, he has made his share of mistakes and had his share of triumph.  Most importantly, he has learned from his experiences. 

Johnie will freely admit that he isn't perfect and has made plenty of stupid mistakes as everyone does. "Those who have never made any mistakes have never tried anything new" -Albert Einstein.  Those mistakes are behind him, a lesson learned and he never dwells on what could have been different.

He understands people, animals and nature more than anyone I have ever met. He has this innate ability to "read" people but amazingly he never passes judgment. Within 5 minutes of meeting someone he has a good idea of what they are about and where they are going in life. It doesn't matter if you are the president or a homeless person he will always treat you with respect and kindness and won't pass judgement.

He sees every person is a unique individual, understands that just because they may have chosen a different path in life than most that it doesn't make them good or bad, wrong or right.  Everyone is on their own crazy journey and who are we to judge one another when many of us have been in situations we weren't proud of.

Most times Johnie knows that something is bothering me just by hearing my voice, I don't have to say it.  He sees right through me, even when I am not myself.  Johnie knows what to say to lift my spirits and put me back on track when my train has derailed.

Johnie's intuition is so accurate it is scary. I cannot count how many times he has said something like "I have a feeling…” followed by his “prediction”. I always argue with him and I always have to eat my words. Never has he been wrong. See, if he is unsure of something he won’t say anything at all. So when Johnie does say something it’s because he knows it to be fact, so you better listen.

His outlook on life is so bright. Johnie is a dreamer, head in the clouds but somehow still has one foot firmly planted in reality. Johnie knows that dreams can come true, if you believe in yourself and take the time to follow the path that leads to achieving them. His Philosophies are simple but profound and they have had a positive effect on many lives already.

For months, I have been trying to convince Johnie to allow me to share his thoughts online with people who might benefit from them. Of course, he is very humble and thinks that his musings are not worth sharing.  He says "someone has thought the same things before, it's not like I am the first". 

I enjoy reading his "Johnie-isms" and I tell him that many others on Facebook do as well. So why not blog it up? It couldn't hurt. Finally, he agreed and here we are!

I will feature Johnie's Wiz-Dumb right here on Malibu Ninja Über Geek. Eventually I will have a separate “Wiz-Dumb Pai” blog up and running, which will be specifically dedicated to sharing Johnie’s Wiz-Dumb! I hope you enjoy his philosophies and musings as much as I do!

When Personal Space is Invaded, Peace of Mind is Desecrated... *Wiz-Dumb Pai*

Your personal space is YOUR own personal business; I believe that is why it's called "personal space".  Personal space should be acknowledged and respected.  I am talking about both the space your body is currently occupying also known as your “Personal Bubble” and the space that is your private area: where your belongings reside, where you sleep and get dressed, for most people this would be their bedroom. 

There is the line (don’t pretend you don’t know where the line is), do not cross it.  Most people understand these boundaries and they respect them.  They also expect others to do the same in regards to their personal space.
Yet there are those lovely self-absorbed people that will throw that door open without a thought and waltz right in to your personal space without an invitation.  Then they will act all shocked and surprised when you call them out on their lack of respect for you and your personal space.

My neighborhood fan club... (Working outside and the Associated Side Effects)

I work on a bunch of projects constantly...  Mostly I work outside because there isn't a lot of indoor space available but more importantly my grandfather has an allergy to cut wood. Papa also has asthma which makes him extremely sensitive to paint fumes and such.

Let me tell you, this last winter I had gotten really used to numb fingers!  When the weather warmed, I was thankful for Spring and I am very thankful for summer!

"Who I Am"

I see you looking, looking at me

Scrutinize me, tell me what you see?

Are you counting all my flaws

Making a mental list of pros and cons

Or are you imagining me with claws?

Tearing you apart

Not Your Typical Dumb Blonde… I am Trashing the Stereotype!

I refuse to conform to anyone's idea of who or what I should be; I am proud to be me, I am different and totally unique. I allow my freak flag to fly freely! I am incapable of being ordinary, only extraordinary!

For most of my life people have assumed me to be a typical dumb blonde, based solely on the way I look.  Okay, so I am blonde.  I never embraced it until a few years ago though, I spent much of my life trying to ignore and/or hide that fact.  I think it is so unfair to be considered ignorant simply because I am blonde and pretty.  

Anyone who has taken the time to speak with me at any length realizes that I am the exception, not the rule to the dumb blonde stereotype.  Unfortunately, most people don't invest any time in finding out who I am inside, they just believe the outside is sufficient to pass judgement.

Mustache The Right Question

"What are you?" asked a passenger.

"You must ask the right question for the answer you seek"  Johnie replied.

"What nationality are you?" The passenger rephrased his question.

"I have no boundaries, no borders; I am but one resident of earth; connected to all living beings on this planet; for I exist as they do. I am connected with you and the evidence is that you sit here with me here; we have been united for some reason however random it may appear." Johnie answered the question.

Johnie drives a hybrid Taxi cab in Bellingham, Washington.  He is a patient, kind, gentle, friendly man who puts up with a ton of craziness on a daily basis but still has an amazingly positive outlook on life.

Johnie continues when the man appears confused.  He tells the man that he is Hawaiian and when the passenger doesn't seem satisfied with that answer, he tells him that he is also Scotch Irish on his mother’s side. Still the man was not happy with the answers he was receiving.

Unfortunately, many people have this or a similar reaction to Johnie. He has brown skin; some people say he looks middle eastern, some believe that he is Mexican or Asian. I don’t think it should matter what color his skin is or where he came from because those things don’t define who he is.

Everyone's Favorite Vacation Spot...
Hawaii

"You ask me a question to set your own curiosity at ease. I answer your question honestly and tell you I am Hawaiian and you get upset. I tell you I am Scotch Irish on my mother's side and still you are not satisfied. Why must people classify me? Why not see me as what I am, just a peaceful, caring and kind human being." Johnie asks the passenger to which he receives no response.

Why must we label each other? Why put others into categories and form opinions without taking the time to learn who that person is on the inside? Why not be observant, ask meaningful questions, and have a decent chance to gauge who that person really is, based on your interactions?  Can’t we all just open our eyes and see the person in front of us for who they really are?

Before you stamp someone with your label and judge them by it, think about how you have been judged unfairly and inaccurately. As the old saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. When will we learn that what goes around comes around? Can’t we just embrace individuality and live peacefully and blissfully side by side?

If everyone could be measured based on a set criteria then sorted into say 6 or 10 different classifications, then everyone would be the same 6 or 10 people. The world would be nothing but a whole bunch of sheep following each other around.

 

I don't know about you but I refuse to conform to guidelines, criteria or categories. I am me and there is no one else like me!** Johnie is a very unique person as well, he is like no other that I have come across and it is unfair that he is often judged or worse because of his skin color. Smart people know better than to try to catalog a human being based on surface assumptions…

**(Many people choose to live their lives as sheep because it's easier to do what everyone else is doing and think what you are told to think, than it is to make your own decisions and think your own thoughts. More on the sheep subject in a later post.)

 I would have hoped that we as humans would have learned from our past but we have not and therefore it will repeat itself. How many times in history has a certain "kind" of people been mistreated or killed off? Chaos and destruction of valuable human life simply because the victims were different and fell into an unfavorable minority. People fear what they do not understand and if they don't take the time to understand "different" people then that fear breeds hate and that hate turns to violence, (violence doesn't always occur when hate is present but most of the time it does).

Think of the many instances of genocide; the Armenians massacred by the Ottoman government (during the First World War), the Holocaust when Jews were rounded up and massacred by the Nazis, during the Second World War and more recently the Rwandan Genocide (during the Rwandan Civil War). There are more but you get my point. All of these examples of acts designed to dehumanize a particular ethnic, racial or religious group. I could go on for days about the injustices that the world has seen all because of human classification.

Obviously one passenger attempting to classify and label Johnie is minuscule in comparison with Genocide but it all starts small. Starts with placing labels on people and passing judgment.

We each have the power to make a small difference by existing peacefully. When you come across someone you do not know and maybe do not understand, look for the things you may have in common instead of looking for the differences. Learn to understand them by finding common ground. Don’t assume the worst but give them the benefit of the doubt.

So which is it? Don't judge a book by its cover? Or, your first impression is solely based on the presentation and appearance? I already have my answer, and it's actually quite easy to know others opinion within a matter of seconds.

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Special thanks to Johnie Pai for this story and for being awesome!!

Wise and Inspiring Words

Albert Einstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some of my Favorite Quotes…

“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on it's ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid.”-Albert Einstein

"You are the brightest star, Jamison" A Poem for my son

"You are the brightest star, Jamison"
A Poem I Wrote for my son (inside a journal I made for him)..

With this journal record your hopes, dreams,
fears, even your worst nightmares.  Release
the words and find your freedom...
Jamison's Extra Special Journal
By MalibuNinja

You are the brightest star, Jamison
A blinding light hotter than the sun

You keep me laughing even when mad

I am proud to be your Mom, so glad

My love is endless, can't be contained

My patience however, you always drain

Feeling Blue @ The Needle

“Feeling Blue @ The Needle” 
is a painting of the Space Needle in Seattle Center as seen from the base of it looking (almost) straight up.
Although I still don't understand why Seattle, the suicide and heroin capital of the US has a big fat needle as their most beloved and widely recognizable land mark., but I may never get that one.
This particular painting was done with a variety of paints including oils, dimensional paints, acrylics, latex and glitter was applied to create a rain effect.

Who is Malibu Ninja?

A brief summary of where I come from....

(Super Nerd, Techie Geek, Computer Nerd, Crazy Person, Whichever you prefer)
Also a Mom, Artist, Craftsman, Fixer of all Things Broken, Dreamer, Writer, Bookkeeper, Productivity Consultant, Mortgage Loan Originator and Caregiver!

"I refuse to be ordinary and fall into the category that everyone places me in... I am no sheep but I am a Geek!!!! Some find me to be strange, some attack me because I am different, others relish in my self-expressive nature. You either love me or you hate me, not many fall in between." - Malibu Ninja

Welcome to my blog, a work in progress. Please check back often or subscribe to be updated when new content is available, as I am adding new stuff everyday and some day it will reach a state of awesomeness to which nothing can compare!!!

I am much more than just a bunch of labels, of course. I have lived an interesting life so far, have learned many skills and many lessons, most the hard way. I have plenty of good stories to tell and I hope to enjoy many more colorful years ahead. My Great Grandma Lucy lived to be 94 so based on genetic history, I think I may have a few years left (hopefully).




My name is Stacy, I was born in Mt. Vernon in the beautiful state of Washington. I spent most
of my early childhood years with my grandparents in Anacortes, WA but grew up in many different places all over the Pacific NorthWest including Ferndale, Oak Harbor, West Seattle and Silverdale.

I have a diverse professional background in Bookkeeping, Property Management (Vacation Home management including repairs & maintenance and I managed a 32 unit apartment complex where I performed most of the maintenance and upgrades myself), Small Business Management and Consulting, Mortgage Banking and Loan Modification Negotiation. I ran my own consulting business for 6 years while concurrently maintaining employment elsewhere.


My son Jamison is awesome! He is adorable, super smart and I love him more than life itself... I try not to tell him how great he is all the time, so he doesn't get a big head. He is my little man, my small male clone, my mini me!!!

Jamison is eagerly awaiting his 7th birthday coming up in August. He just finished 1st grade and has never missed a single word on all his spelling tests!!! Considering I am an awful speller, I think this is an accomplishment to be celebrated! He is very bright and so entertaining. Everyday he is surprising me with his abilities, talents and the witty, random things he says.

Jamison is quite a little lady's man too. Up until recently I thought being a sweet talker was a skill you learned but apparently it is passed on through DNA because his father hasn't been around to teach the craft but the boy has it down.

He has a little "girlfriend" Naomi, which he has had a crush on since we first moved here but has called his girlfriend since last July when they began to have regular play dates. Their first play date was just after he surprised her on her birthday with a super sweet gift at the vacation bible camp they were attending. She is blonde, wears glasses, her favorite color is green (just a little like his mommy!) and she is so much like him sometimes I wonder if I somehow unknowingly had a daughter too!

Anacortes is on Fidalgo Island which is located west of Mt. Vernon right next to the San Juan Islands (The ferry to get to the San Juan Islands leaves from Anacortes) but not considered part of them. 

Location of the San Juan Islands (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My grandpa “Papa” was a commercial fisherman, he owned a 65’ fishing vessel named “Alma” and was based out of Anacortes. Papa ran the boat and crew and my grandma “GG” ran the business side of things like taxes, payroll and other office matters.

I have always thought that my grandparents' marriage is the perfect example of how marriage is supposed to work. They complement each other so well, GG’s weaknesses are Papa’s strengths and visa-versa. They love unconditionally provide support in any way they can, they listen to each other, value the other's opinions and have stayed in love for over 50 years!

I have many hobbies including woodworking, painting, sewing, writing, among others but I especially love writing poetry/lyrics.

Completely randomly I began writing music in February of 2012, prior to then I had never attempted to write music. I was sitting with my friend Alex listening to him play guitar, we were talking about how many songs he has with no lyrics. Then he says to me "You should write some lyrics for my wordless songs". I told him I couldn't write lyrics and he replies with conviction "Sure you can, I know you can".

So I started writing, within about an hour I had a really good rough draft of "Changeling". We worked on it for a couple of hours and had a decent song! Unfortunately, "Changeling" is the only song I have written that I have been able to put to music. All in all, I have written about 15 to 20 songs. Most are as complete as they can get without music but some are at varied stages of completion.

Some believe I have a natural talent for lyrical writing; I have gotten nothing but positive feedback when I share my lyrics with others. A lot of them I am still hesitant to share with the world, I believe that music (lyrics) expose your heart and soul and are very personal, that and I'm not sure they are any good.. I have always found writing to be cathartic but writing lyrics is even more freeing than I ever imagined.

I am a super geek and pride myself on learning as much as I can about whatever I happen to find interesting at the moment. I am a software junkie, I love my computers and can waste hours on end tweaking them to perform better. My computers have been my partner in business for years but now I use them to create photo art, videos or new song lyrics. Friends and family are constantly asking for help with their computers, which for the most part, I don't mind. Although many seem to think that if you know something about computers that you know everything about computers and can solve their problem without even seeing the machine in question, which can be bothersome.

This past year I have learned several new skills and have dabbled in a few random areas of interest. I have taught myself a ton of new software programs, I have revisited my woodshop days building furniture, repurposing and/or refinishing old furniture and using wood to create all kinds of things. I have allowed myself more creative freedom than ever before.

After I master the blog realm (HTML & Such).... I suppose my next big adventure will be to re-learn to play violin or learn to play guitar, ukulele or mandolin, so that I may write the music to accompany my lyrical creations.

Quote of the Day:
"The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking."
--John Kenneth Galbraith
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

My To Do & Wish To Do List!

My son and I will be making stress balls out of common household materials (Thanks to my niece Alecia!)	We will be creating a mural using repurposed lids from recycled containers (like the one pictured above)!
Building a toy box that looks like a giant Lego (using plans from Ana White)	Up-Cycling coffee creamer bottles  into bowling pins ( idea my son came up with)
Turning rocks into “Stone Buddies” not to be confused with “Pet Rocks®”	Building this support structure for our sugar snap pea container garden!
Building a loft bed for my boy (using plans from Ana White)	Making candles from recycled candles and crayons! (once I get into my storage unit and dig out the supplies)

I could list out projects I want to do all day but unfortunately I don't think you would be that interested so I will end it here. :)

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