tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127902772009-11-15T06:44:23.079-06:00Blog of a bass player...for InnerSiege, and USAF (Air Guard) Officer - deploying, again. I'm heading to Tampa for a bit, then off to Germany.InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-88948954618422007402009-09-30T07:25:00.000-05:002009-09-30T07:27:50.162-05:00

My first time installing an IV port and saline lock. I suppose it could've gone way worse than it did - he didn't lose too much blood, and I did get it on the first stick. Yes - I got stuck also. Twice. And no, I didn't get the IV - both were misses. C'est la vie. _________Wes wes.bass@gmail.comwww.FretlessBassist.comwww.InnerSiege.comhttp://strangebass.blogspot.comSent from my BlackBerry

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-61738774010183413072009-08-17T08:51:00.000-05:002009-08-17T08:50:36.343-05:00

PT. So running again today - by the ocean. It was beautiful. I'm not a huge fan of 0600, but it sure beats running in the heat of the day in Tampa. We did about 3 miles - and since we're running every day, its getting easier. As we were approaching the end of the run, and right on the ocean, I heard some 'squawking' - looking up I saw a group of about 10 - 12 parrots of some sort sitting on the

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-64154062125075056002009-08-15T06:02:00.001-05:002009-08-15T06:02:47.038-05:00

_________Wes wes.bass@gmail.comwww.FretlessBassist.comwww.InnerSiege.comhttp://strangebass.blogspot.comSent from my BlackBerry

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-14046953517300116362009-08-12T07:48:00.001-05:002009-08-14T20:52:21.950-05:00

Well, training has started.I'm now in Tampa training with the JCSE (Joint Comm Support Element). Joint meaning we have troops from every branch of service, and being led by a LTCDR from the Navy (O-5) and an Army SGM (Sergeant Major). Not a bad group actually, and a very cool mission.If you Google JCSE you'll see we fall under Joint Forces Command. We also have a great history - going back many

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-79517428298972715232009-06-25T09:36:00.003-05:002009-06-25T11:16:20.263-05:00

Yup - my good ole uncle is sending me abroad again. Only this time to . . . San Antonio? ? ? Is that right?Yes, that's right. The plan thusfar is to go to Tampa for training (including advanced weapons training - I'm all over that) for 2 months, home for a week, and then off to San Antonio for 6 months. I'll be working with the JCSE folks out of McDill AFB - on the DJC2 project (Deployed

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-20093243234118385552009-06-25T09:14:00.004-05:002009-06-25T09:35:57.794-05:00

First of all . . . StrangeLand is now, officially, over. Sorry if you were a fan - but the band is no more.InnerSiege - is here. This is my new band. We are: Me (bass), Kevin Grose (guitar), Kevin Schmitt (guitar), Jeremy Ray (vox) & Wade Helm (drums). We have at least 10 songs ready to record, with a few more in the works. We have a gig this Sat. June 27, at B's Bar & Grill, bottom of the hill

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-23801838060652175832009-06-03T12:13:00.001-05:002009-06-03T12:13:12.603-05:00

wes wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the The Band albumShared via AddThis

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-47758368570952995522009-05-29T11:48:00.001-05:002009-05-29T11:48:01.074-05:00

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=257070308&blogId=491775057Shared via AddThis

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-4390194489795198652009-05-21T08:58:00.003-05:002009-05-21T14:17:32.609-05:00

Nope, not the US Naval call of universal distress - although some in my class might disagree - SOS in the USAF is for Squadron Officer's School. A CGO course - Company Grade Officers - course designed to "reblue" Captains, and designed as a mid-level course to teach officership, military history, leadership, team building, and a host of other topics of import to officers.Not a bad class, overall

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-66294158821473517852009-03-11T08:52:00.002-05:002009-03-11T09:06:23.203-05:00

Well, it appears that I may be doing some more. . . travelling. Not sure, and everything - as always - is subject to change, but I will probably be doing more in the next year.First off - I know I'm going to Squadron Officer's School (SOS). In the USAF, we refer to this as PME - or Professional Military Education. SOS is the next PME course I need to qualify for my next promotion - which is

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-79668594169725990192009-02-12T09:04:00.001-06:002009-02-12T09:04:55.081-06:00

How does this kind of thing not reach the mainstream press?http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2006/06/22/report-hundreds-wmds-iraq/I don't get it. . ..

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-48251434993904269412009-01-14T09:09:00.000-06:002009-03-11T09:25:32.798-05:00

Well, I guess I'm an overage. If that doesn't sound odd enough - what happens is even stranger - but turned out well for me. The ASOS I was part of . . . ok, wait - here's the history. 182 ASOC182 ASOG182 ASOS168 ASOSSo, while I was in the same unit - we went through some changes. My last assignment was at the 168 ASOS - at which point I was 'unnecessary'. :) We had 2 Comm Officers - and only

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-16260069323204439572008-12-24T08:26:00.002-06:002008-12-24T09:27:13.358-06:00

Well, StrangeLand has been going strong for just around 8 years now. We have only made on personnel change in that entire time - when Karl left the band, and Jeremy joined. Since that time, we have been writing - and getting ready to release a full length CD on the world.As we have been contemplating what form we will take - and how we plan to get out in the world and spread the metal madness -

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-74995416059681208582008-12-14T20:26:00.001-06:002008-12-14T20:26:26.435-06:00

Kevin Schmitt just picked up a new amp. Egnater Tourmaster 4100.Wow. Oh my.This thing kills!!

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-54038237004936536302008-12-09T11:03:00.000-06:002008-12-09T11:15:04.737-06:00

This was pretty cool - we ran into Herman Li after the show and he was nice enough to oblige me with a pic. He was a very nice guy - and certainly more soft spoken than when he's on stage!

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-86552501666900832282008-12-09T10:25:00.002-06:002008-12-09T11:14:37.540-06:00

House of Blues is a very cool venue - this was my first time there - at least to the Chicago HOB - and it was a load of fun! The venue is what you'd refer to as 'intimate' - I think maximum capacity is around 800 or so, and there are 2 balconies, and they seem to be box seats. The decorating is. . . interesting. You have to see it.The bands playing were diverse and interesting - as interesting as

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-44115813988544196502008-12-04T10:59:00.003-06:002008-12-04T11:10:20.660-06:00

Yes - that is correct! We have created a Tali-Band Myspace page!For those of you that haven't ventured down yet (as in, down the blog - to see the older posts) - I was a member of the band, affectionately known as "The Tali-Band" while I was stationed at HQ ISAF (HeadQuarters, International Security Assistance Force) Kabul, Afghanistan. The ISAF is the name of the organization set up by NATO to

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-18463787747858677792008-12-02T09:11:00.002-06:002008-12-02T11:03:32.522-06:00

You know, I am really not fond of snow, ice or even cold weather, for that matter. Its not even just driving in it - which is probably the worst - but the fact that cold and ice is the enemy of bass necks, and of shiny finishes, and can hurt my precious. Anyway - winter is here. Yuck.

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-2094634063666147112008-11-25T14:21:00.002-06:002008-12-02T11:03:13.726-06:00

Yup - I'm back posting again. Here's an interesting photo from the USO Gala held at the Navy Pier a few weeks ago. My daughter I attended, and got to see some friends, lots of military, and some of the Chicago supporters. All in all - a pretty cool event. Also, besides Bill Murrey being the MC, we got to see a wonderful cover bans - the Lt. Dan Band - with none other than Lt. Dan himself - Gary

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-59445209600969086722008-10-30T13:25:00.002-05:002008-10-30T13:31:28.230-05:00

I realize I haven't been doing much in the way of updating since I've been back home. I will do my best to correct this sad state of affairs. :)As I've been back, gotten back to my job - and been able to enjoy the company of my children and my family - life is good. I have been on vacation - courtesy of the USO - been back to 'drill' (which is what we refer to as our National Guard weekend work

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-78086203575104489212008-05-16T08:09:00.003-05:002008-05-16T10:05:40.173-05:00

On one of my last days at HQ ISAF, I was finishing up my out-processing - the process of getting signatures of the various agencies that were responsible for me in various ways, around 22 total - and I had some very interesting comments. Of course I was talking to all my Tali-Band friends, and their friends that I had come to know and appreciate, but I was also saying goodbye to the merchants

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-57042291118305246642008-05-15T19:37:00.003-05:002008-06-05T15:45:42.235-05:00

Well, leaving certainly got interesting. While I know we're in an 'austere' environment, and I know we're in a war zone, but there are happenings that can still be surprising. Like, for example, being ready to leave and being told the airport is closed due to a rocket attack. That was a wake up call. . . we are in a war zone. This shouldn't surprise me. Goodness, we'd been through bunker calls,

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-67161763161258645092008-05-01T09:22:00.003-05:002008-05-06T12:42:42.515-05:00

The Dutch have a Queen's day celebration, and we were all invited -and the band was asked to play - so of course, we accepted. We even learned Radar Love, as it turns out, Golden Earring is from The Hague.The party started earlier than we were to play, so we took a bit to wander around the Distille Gardens and see what all was happening. There was traditional dutch food, which was quite tasty,

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-60795129625359953972008-05-01T06:48:00.000-05:002008-05-01T09:14:52.329-05:00

I, personally, like adventure. Not crazy stuff - but doing something different - going somewhere cool - seeing something unusual. Regular stuff. Here in Afghanistan - believe it or not - there is beauty everywhere. Every morning I'm in awe - no matter which way I walk, I'm walking towards a mountain. Beautiful - absolutely stunning.We had a little accident about a month ago - the NCOIC - Ken

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12790277.post-29891312142608402682008-04-28T07:58:00.000-05:002008-04-27T21:48:39.848-05:00

When we decided to do a CD - we had to find a charity to donate to, because being military, we can't 'make money' off of it, and we weren't interested in that anyway. We decided to donate everything made to a very worth cause - the Women of Hope Project, located right here in Kabul. Please visit the website - Women of Hope Project Website .I will post the CD cover when done (getting close) -

InnerSiege Bassisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06797356911971179837Wes.Bass@gmail.com0