Thursday, May 29, 2008

As any good addict does, I have been preparing all day to submerge myself into my new addiction. I have only played Guitar Hero III once (last weekend at Pat Dahl’s house in L.A.), but I think that I’ve played enough to know that controlling my urge to play the game will be difficult. I am still on the beginner or easy level and spent the better part of an hour on Sunday trying to master the lead guitar part on “Slow Ride” by Foghat. Who knew that their music was so complicated? My apologies to Lonesome Dave and the Foghat crew for underestimating them. I did see Linda Blair backstage with them in Detroit in the 70s. That was pretty impressive too.

In my more self-destructive days when I felt a binge coming on, I would make every effort to get all of my affairs in order. In a weird way, it was a good motivator. Of course, I was useless for the next three or four days, but you’d be surprised what you can do in three very productive weekdays. I always tried to at least start the show sober. It’s best to get one’s footing before embarking on a five-hour radio odyssey. Doing the show high is extremely difficult, and I would always try to have it together by show time. That’s why I had a guy to get me Reuben sandwiches. They are the best hangover food ever.

So right after I finish this blog and feed the dogs, I’m going to crack open the Guitar Hero III box and hook it up to my Mac. The White Sox have already won, I’m only mildly interested in the Stanley Cup, and American Idol ended last week. I have nothing but time and my full attention to devote to mastering the game and possibly putting myself in a position to someday beat my sons at a video game. You’d think the fact that I can actually play guitar would give me a leg up on this whole endeavor, but it seems like it might actually hamper me. Guitar Hero III is less about playing guitar and more about not letting the notes fall to the bottom of the screen.