Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Great idea, far from perfect:
We've gawt these pretty handy filters here at werk called tha MiniMinit One Cup Coffee Filters that werk great fer tea when yer on tha road, campin, etc. Observe:
Ah have some awesome coffee that ah bought from my buddy Arpie at General Assembly. Arpie sells Fair Trade Coffee (note tha coffee cup chalice) that is some of tha best coffee ahve evah had. Ahve brought in a small bag of this ta werk b/c tha house blend french roast is a bit gross here, n want to make my own brew.
Tha MiniMinit werks okay - granted, its hard ta git as strong a cup as ah like, n thars potential spillage problems w. tha coffee grounds, but tha jist is thar. Tha downside - by tha time yer coffee has finished "steepin" (cuz its nawt roastin), its lukewarm. N heatin up a freshly made cup of coffee is lame.
Ahm sorry ah dont have anythang more interestin ta blog about at tha moment, but am sworn ta secrecy.....
Ah have some awesome coffee that ah bought from my buddy Arpie at General Assembly. Arpie sells Fair Trade Coffee (note tha coffee cup chalice) that is some of tha best coffee ahve evah had. Ahve brought in a small bag of this ta werk b/c tha house blend french roast is a bit gross here, n want to make my own brew.
Tha MiniMinit werks okay - granted, its hard ta git as strong a cup as ah like, n thars potential spillage problems w. tha coffee grounds, but tha jist is thar. Tha downside - by tha time yer coffee has finished "steepin" (cuz its nawt roastin), its lukewarm. N heatin up a freshly made cup of coffee is lame.
Ahm sorry ah dont have anythang more interestin ta blog about at tha moment, but am sworn ta secrecy.....
Monday, July 14, 2008
Ah should be asleep....
but ahm nawt cuz tha mexican bar across tha street is playin musick really loud. Ah think they have live bands on Sundays, but haven't checked it out as of yet. Tonights bass player is a bit more interesting then most nights.
My brutha Marc and his new fiance Kelly came into town this weekend which was awesome. They were pretty much just in time fer dinnah n then tha think13 show at tha House of Shields, which totally rawked. My old Berklee friends The Tand kicked off tha nite w. some killah blues-rawk, promptin everyone ta tell me "They're really good!" They seemed ta enjoy themselves as well, n think13 played a rawk show ta a pretty decent crowd, considerin that tha only folks thar REALLY wanted ta see us. Tha HOS has a very strange set up - tha band plays on a 10 x 10 (ish) balcony above n to tha back of tha main bar floor, n thars a projection screen that shows tha downstairs crowd whas happenin. So unique, but has its sound issues.
All in all though, a great nite - we definitely had a blast n ah was very glad ta hang out w. my old buddies, new friends, n my brutha n his girl. Like we're adults n all that. Today we checked out tha Stern Grove Festival n saw a decent rock/funk/middle eastern band in a ridiculously cool outdor venue. Very minimalistic backing, and then log-seating up some relatively steep california park slopes w. huge trees everywhar - FOR FREE! Only in San Francisco. Aftahwerds we briefly looked at what may be tha most schmancey chinese restaurant in tha city, n then ate at one a lil less extravagant (while still on a roof) n shared a bottle of wine ahve been keepin chilled since ah fawkin moved here in my BACKYARD (cuz ah totally have one!).
Here's me n tha bro at tha Chinatown entrance (yes, ah need ta chill out more in front of photos, n yes ahm temporarily blonde, full update on that coming):
My brutha Marc and his new fiance Kelly came into town this weekend which was awesome. They were pretty much just in time fer dinnah n then tha think13 show at tha House of Shields, which totally rawked. My old Berklee friends The Tand kicked off tha nite w. some killah blues-rawk, promptin everyone ta tell me "They're really good!" They seemed ta enjoy themselves as well, n think13 played a rawk show ta a pretty decent crowd, considerin that tha only folks thar REALLY wanted ta see us. Tha HOS has a very strange set up - tha band plays on a 10 x 10 (ish) balcony above n to tha back of tha main bar floor, n thars a projection screen that shows tha downstairs crowd whas happenin. So unique, but has its sound issues.
All in all though, a great nite - we definitely had a blast n ah was very glad ta hang out w. my old buddies, new friends, n my brutha n his girl. Like we're adults n all that. Today we checked out tha Stern Grove Festival n saw a decent rock/funk/middle eastern band in a ridiculously cool outdor venue. Very minimalistic backing, and then log-seating up some relatively steep california park slopes w. huge trees everywhar - FOR FREE! Only in San Francisco. Aftahwerds we briefly looked at what may be tha most schmancey chinese restaurant in tha city, n then ate at one a lil less extravagant (while still on a roof) n shared a bottle of wine ahve been keepin chilled since ah fawkin moved here in my BACKYARD (cuz ah totally have one!).
Here's me n tha bro at tha Chinatown entrance (yes, ah need ta chill out more in front of photos, n yes ahm temporarily blonde, full update on that coming):
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Ahm SOOOO Old....
Ah just turned down a booty call. Cuz ah just gawt home, haven't showered, n want ta have all my energy togetha fer tomorrow.
On tha otha hand, ah started my new work trade at my bikram studio n that is supah sweet.
Sleepin alone,
Mr. Humble Observer
On tha otha hand, ah started my new work trade at my bikram studio n that is supah sweet.
Sleepin alone,
Mr. Humble Observer
Monday, July 07, 2008
Review from a while back
Ah fergawt ta post tha Soilent Green review from Metal-Realm.net when they posted it. Here's the link:
Soilent Green - Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction
N here's a sneak preview of the Opeth review ah just finished while ahm at it (cuz ah don't know how long it mite take fer them ta put it up):
Opeth – Watershed
Opeth’s best and worst attribute is that their albums come with a large amount of anticipation and generally high expectations. They are some of the most technically skilled musicians in the modern metal scene as well as some of the most diverse and subtle, so there’s a reason they are pretty much the only progressive atmospheric metal band out there that can tastefully and effectively blend beautiful instrumentals with pounding rhythms, guitar pyrotechnics with lush melodies, etc. etc. Watershed starts off as one would expect – a soft acoustic song exploring the differences in Mikael Akerfeldt and guest vocalist Nathalie Lorichs vocal styles and setting you up for the crunch of “Heir Apparent,” which is a great transition – the first time you hear it.
With every other song clocking at over 7 minutes, there seems to be a lacking of original parts in some of them. “Heir Apparent” and the following track “The Lotus Eater” sound almost identical when one ends and the other begins, which might be the point, but when you’ve only got 7 tracks (and one of them is “Coil” the acoustic intro), I kind of expected a little more diversity. The songs do switch up the vibe rather effectively, and some of the best moments are when switching back and forth from driving angry musical blasts and the fast but still well played acoustic moments. But contrast is not necessarily enough to make a strong album, and after the second listen, this album begins to drag. Especially obnoxious is the last minute or so of “Burden,” which features out-of-tune acoustic guitar and then some smarmy laughing at the end of it. Hey Opeth – when Type O Negative plays a joke on it’s listeners, at least they don’t make it last more then 20 seconds. The production is great, although the bass is a bit behind the mix then I like (but I’m a bassist so that could just be my opinion), and the overall sound is air-tight, although anything less would be a monumental disappointment.
Finally, for an album that screams to be digested in one sitting, the last track “Hex Omega,” is completely unnecessary. The second-to-last track, “Hessian Peel,” puts pretty much everything out on the table and leaves you feeling somewhat satisfied. By throwing another track on the end of what is already a 48 minute album, it gives the whole thing the feeling it wasn’t completely thought out. Not to mention that “Hex Omega,” doesn’t explore any musical territory that hasn’t already been done (almost to death) in the preceding 5 tracks. There’s also a large amount of self-indulgent guitar playing that I noticed after I’d digested the album as a whole.
It’s not a bad album by any means – there are some great riffs in this track, some very cool progressions and phenomenal guitar playing. But when you expect a little bit more from a band that is as polished and professional as Opeth, it leaves sort of a bad taste in your mouth and seriously takes away from it’s ability to be revisited over and over again. The determination in “Watershed” is obvious, but some of the focus is lost, and that makes for a more-then-slightly uneven album. Which is a shame, because there’s hints at greatness spread throughout.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Soilent Green - Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction
N here's a sneak preview of the Opeth review ah just finished while ahm at it (cuz ah don't know how long it mite take fer them ta put it up):
Opeth – Watershed
Opeth’s best and worst attribute is that their albums come with a large amount of anticipation and generally high expectations. They are some of the most technically skilled musicians in the modern metal scene as well as some of the most diverse and subtle, so there’s a reason they are pretty much the only progressive atmospheric metal band out there that can tastefully and effectively blend beautiful instrumentals with pounding rhythms, guitar pyrotechnics with lush melodies, etc. etc. Watershed starts off as one would expect – a soft acoustic song exploring the differences in Mikael Akerfeldt and guest vocalist Nathalie Lorichs vocal styles and setting you up for the crunch of “Heir Apparent,” which is a great transition – the first time you hear it.
With every other song clocking at over 7 minutes, there seems to be a lacking of original parts in some of them. “Heir Apparent” and the following track “The Lotus Eater” sound almost identical when one ends and the other begins, which might be the point, but when you’ve only got 7 tracks (and one of them is “Coil” the acoustic intro), I kind of expected a little more diversity. The songs do switch up the vibe rather effectively, and some of the best moments are when switching back and forth from driving angry musical blasts and the fast but still well played acoustic moments. But contrast is not necessarily enough to make a strong album, and after the second listen, this album begins to drag. Especially obnoxious is the last minute or so of “Burden,” which features out-of-tune acoustic guitar and then some smarmy laughing at the end of it. Hey Opeth – when Type O Negative plays a joke on it’s listeners, at least they don’t make it last more then 20 seconds. The production is great, although the bass is a bit behind the mix then I like (but I’m a bassist so that could just be my opinion), and the overall sound is air-tight, although anything less would be a monumental disappointment.
Finally, for an album that screams to be digested in one sitting, the last track “Hex Omega,” is completely unnecessary. The second-to-last track, “Hessian Peel,” puts pretty much everything out on the table and leaves you feeling somewhat satisfied. By throwing another track on the end of what is already a 48 minute album, it gives the whole thing the feeling it wasn’t completely thought out. Not to mention that “Hex Omega,” doesn’t explore any musical territory that hasn’t already been done (almost to death) in the preceding 5 tracks. There’s also a large amount of self-indulgent guitar playing that I noticed after I’d digested the album as a whole.
It’s not a bad album by any means – there are some great riffs in this track, some very cool progressions and phenomenal guitar playing. But when you expect a little bit more from a band that is as polished and professional as Opeth, it leaves sort of a bad taste in your mouth and seriously takes away from it’s ability to be revisited over and over again. The determination in “Watershed” is obvious, but some of the focus is lost, and that makes for a more-then-slightly uneven album. Which is a shame, because there’s hints at greatness spread throughout.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
oh tha mission....
Just as ah finished my last post, a group of street musicians started up some mexican musick in close proximity ta my street. ah hear upright bass n accordion, altho ah can't see them (othawise you would totally git a picture).
How ahve usually done my "year in review"...
Those of you who know me mite think ahm a pretty introspective guy. Ah won't argue w. that - ahm especially intae anniversaries n thangs along those lines. Fer many MANY years while ahve appreciated tha new year as a new beginnin, whar ahve REALLY gawten my "new beginnins" from is summer UU hippy-type conferences. This started at SUUSI, as ah came back from my first year thar a changed person. Tha years that ensued, ah noticed growth. Summer is often more of a time ta reinvent yerself then January anyway, n as SUUSI became constant (more so then otha thangs in my life), ah started feelin like that was my way of markin 1 more year.
Eventually, SUUSI turned intae opus. Ah remembah tha first year ah missed a summer conference - n it felt like stagnation. It was hard ta git a new handle on my life n whar ah was gaein w.o trekkin off ta some campus er woods n spend in a few days w. engagin, challengin, n unconditionally lovin people. Tha next year ah was determined - so determined ah spent 2 days in a dyin car w. someone who drove me absolutely nuts.
But, it werked. Ah came back from these thangs a new person - n many times w. a completely different take on bass playin. Ah was able ta judge myself n whar ah was gaein (n wanted ta be gaein) so much bettah fer those days of isolation n (at least sometimes) relaxation.
N now, thars this year. Now, ah did indeed gae ta a summer UU conference - tha largest one out thar actually. But GA happens in convention centers in cities - nawt relaxed college campuses er idyllic wilderness retreats. N GA is bizness - while thar is definitely a social aspect, n thar are some workshops n worships that are more spiritually enlightenin then othas, GA makes nae qualms about bein about tha bizness - so thas what you git outta it.
Don't think ahm complainin - ahve had some really good times at this GA n GA's past. Highlights from this year included naked Atlantic swimmin past midnite in watah unbelievably warm - somethang ahve nawt always found at otha more social conferences. N GA challenges ya ta evaluate yer UUism, somethang you ken git away w.o daein at otha conferences. But it didn't recharge me in tha same way - especially w my volunteer position endin when it did (which is a blessin in many ways, but still leaves me a lil sad).
So ahm left in a place whar ah dont quite know how ta proceed - ah feel ahm on tha cusp of some really great thangs here in SF (altho my room is totally a mess n ah cant imagine bein here past october), but ah dont have that same place ta come from whar ah feel renewed n ready fer action. Instead, ahm almost in a place whar ahm just daein tha same thang since ah left off. While thas nawt entirely true, its also nawt entirely false.
While thars still a million ways ah ken re-engage w. myself n tha communities around me, thar is one fact - as great as GA ken be (n ah really enjoyed this year), it's nae Opus er SUUSI. N ah dont know exactly what ta dae about that.
Eventually, SUUSI turned intae opus. Ah remembah tha first year ah missed a summer conference - n it felt like stagnation. It was hard ta git a new handle on my life n whar ah was gaein w.o trekkin off ta some campus er woods n spend in a few days w. engagin, challengin, n unconditionally lovin people. Tha next year ah was determined - so determined ah spent 2 days in a dyin car w. someone who drove me absolutely nuts.
But, it werked. Ah came back from these thangs a new person - n many times w. a completely different take on bass playin. Ah was able ta judge myself n whar ah was gaein (n wanted ta be gaein) so much bettah fer those days of isolation n (at least sometimes) relaxation.
N now, thars this year. Now, ah did indeed gae ta a summer UU conference - tha largest one out thar actually. But GA happens in convention centers in cities - nawt relaxed college campuses er idyllic wilderness retreats. N GA is bizness - while thar is definitely a social aspect, n thar are some workshops n worships that are more spiritually enlightenin then othas, GA makes nae qualms about bein about tha bizness - so thas what you git outta it.
Don't think ahm complainin - ahve had some really good times at this GA n GA's past. Highlights from this year included naked Atlantic swimmin past midnite in watah unbelievably warm - somethang ahve nawt always found at otha more social conferences. N GA challenges ya ta evaluate yer UUism, somethang you ken git away w.o daein at otha conferences. But it didn't recharge me in tha same way - especially w my volunteer position endin when it did (which is a blessin in many ways, but still leaves me a lil sad).
So ahm left in a place whar ah dont quite know how ta proceed - ah feel ahm on tha cusp of some really great thangs here in SF (altho my room is totally a mess n ah cant imagine bein here past october), but ah dont have that same place ta come from whar ah feel renewed n ready fer action. Instead, ahm almost in a place whar ahm just daein tha same thang since ah left off. While thas nawt entirely true, its also nawt entirely false.
While thars still a million ways ah ken re-engage w. myself n tha communities around me, thar is one fact - as great as GA ken be (n ah really enjoyed this year), it's nae Opus er SUUSI. N ah dont know exactly what ta dae about that.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Before ah gae....
offta sweaty pretentious Ft. Lauderdale, ah thought ahd make a brief update:
-Ah gawt my 50 dollah haircut today - we'll see if it was worth it in 2 weeks.
-Lawts of potential w. tha jawbreaker cover band, depending on many factors out of my control. But gawdamm did it feel awesome ta sing n play w. a band backing me. Maybe thars a frontman in me still.....
-Takin tha bus on Friday, it began to speed off while an angry patron ran aftah it. He knocked on (more like straight-up punched) tha plastic part of tha front side door n actually broke it. What surprised me is that tha driver still stopped, told him he broke tha window, then LET HIM on, while tha guy mumbled an apology. Tha guy gawt off at tha next stop, n ah think tha driver made a phone call but thar was NAE follow-up. Maybe ahm naive, but that surprises me.
-think13 rawked kimo's pretty good on Friday, fer tha first time it felt like we were a band, nawt provin ourselves ta be a band. AND we gawt a real soundcheck. and drunk. and late-nite supah burritos.
ah guess ah need ta pack. ah dont really think ahm ready fer tha next 7 days.....
-Ah gawt my 50 dollah haircut today - we'll see if it was worth it in 2 weeks.
-Lawts of potential w. tha jawbreaker cover band, depending on many factors out of my control. But gawdamm did it feel awesome ta sing n play w. a band backing me. Maybe thars a frontman in me still.....
-Takin tha bus on Friday, it began to speed off while an angry patron ran aftah it. He knocked on (more like straight-up punched) tha plastic part of tha front side door n actually broke it. What surprised me is that tha driver still stopped, told him he broke tha window, then LET HIM on, while tha guy mumbled an apology. Tha guy gawt off at tha next stop, n ah think tha driver made a phone call but thar was NAE follow-up. Maybe ahm naive, but that surprises me.
-think13 rawked kimo's pretty good on Friday, fer tha first time it felt like we were a band, nawt provin ourselves ta be a band. AND we gawt a real soundcheck. and drunk. and late-nite supah burritos.
ah guess ah need ta pack. ah dont really think ahm ready fer tha next 7 days.....
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Haircuts n Punk Rawk
Even back in tha day, ah did care about my hair. Just cuz ah grew it out all crazy-like didn't mean ah didn't like it ta look good from time ta time. That became both hardah n easier when ah finally gawt rid of it all - easier in tha showah, hardah ta git a QUALITY hair cut - you know, tha kind that looks good a month latah, doesn't grow out all funky, n is maintained pretty easily. Gradually ah began to discovah thar certainly are differences between tha free girlfriend-cut, tha 15 dollah cut at tha cheapo place, n tha 30+ dollah cut at tha salon.
Ahve been makin dae w. tha 15 dollah cheapo cut cuz ahm broke, but General Assembly is next week, then it will be July, n ah want ta look good. Ahm also bringin back some red-dyage soonish, n want a bangin cut ta gae w/ it. But ahm findin in SF thar is nae such thang as a 35 dollah haircut - thars a 12 dollah cheapo, a 20 dollah-decent, n then it skyrockets to at least 45 bux. Findin this was tha case EVERYWHAR (n that many places cuts started at 60) ahve bit tha bullet (baby) n have an appointment fer a 50 dollah haircut on Sunday. This bettah look AWESOME (ahm daein tha dye job myself - ah dont have a hunnered dollahs ta gae red).
This evenin ahm also supposed ta meet w. some dudes ta play some jawbreaker tunes n ah hope they gawt thar shite togetha - in tha last week ahve learned 7 tunes n am ready ta rawk tha hell out. Ah need somethang else ta keep me busy now that my involvement w. Warren Teagarden is potentially ovah....
Fuckin hell, Ft. Lauderdale n a big bag of UU mess next week. 2 fricken years ago ah was inspired enuff ta git voted intae this mess. Full-circle, next stop....
Ahve been makin dae w. tha 15 dollah cheapo cut cuz ahm broke, but General Assembly is next week, then it will be July, n ah want ta look good. Ahm also bringin back some red-dyage soonish, n want a bangin cut ta gae w/ it. But ahm findin in SF thar is nae such thang as a 35 dollah haircut - thars a 12 dollah cheapo, a 20 dollah-decent, n then it skyrockets to at least 45 bux. Findin this was tha case EVERYWHAR (n that many places cuts started at 60) ahve bit tha bullet (baby) n have an appointment fer a 50 dollah haircut on Sunday. This bettah look AWESOME (ahm daein tha dye job myself - ah dont have a hunnered dollahs ta gae red).
This evenin ahm also supposed ta meet w. some dudes ta play some jawbreaker tunes n ah hope they gawt thar shite togetha - in tha last week ahve learned 7 tunes n am ready ta rawk tha hell out. Ah need somethang else ta keep me busy now that my involvement w. Warren Teagarden is potentially ovah....
Fuckin hell, Ft. Lauderdale n a big bag of UU mess next week. 2 fricken years ago ah was inspired enuff ta git voted intae this mess. Full-circle, next stop....
Sunday, June 15, 2008
best grocery store evah
is Rainbow Grocery at Folsom and 13th. Of kerse, if you live in SF, this is prolly nawt news in tha slightest. Fer those of you that aren't - this is a great reason ta move out here.
First thang off tha bat, ah found some bamboo stir-fry handle thangs that were really similar to tha ones ahd been usin (n gawt used ta) back in el Cerrito, so supah bonus points thar. It's also a worker-owned coop (of kerse), n gives discounts to members of tha SF Bike Co-op (of which ahm nawt - yet. ah will be aftah next paycheck).
But really, its tha fact that they have everythang - it's huge (largah then most whole foods, yet bettah organized). It carries everythang you'd expect from a natural food store, but tha real treat is in all tha bulk goods they have - 3 full aisles of bulk pastas, proteins, rice, beans, snacks, bath goods, you name it.
Of course ah was overwhelmed tha first time ah went in n spent too much, but thas ta be expected ah think. As ah slowly git used ta how great this store is, ah think ahll figure out a routine.
If anyone is still nawt impressed, they have naked people on tha mural near tha cash registers. Naked people n groceries - does it git much bettah?
First thang off tha bat, ah found some bamboo stir-fry handle thangs that were really similar to tha ones ahd been usin (n gawt used ta) back in el Cerrito, so supah bonus points thar. It's also a worker-owned coop (of kerse), n gives discounts to members of tha SF Bike Co-op (of which ahm nawt - yet. ah will be aftah next paycheck).
But really, its tha fact that they have everythang - it's huge (largah then most whole foods, yet bettah organized). It carries everythang you'd expect from a natural food store, but tha real treat is in all tha bulk goods they have - 3 full aisles of bulk pastas, proteins, rice, beans, snacks, bath goods, you name it.
Of course ah was overwhelmed tha first time ah went in n spent too much, but thas ta be expected ah think. As ah slowly git used ta how great this store is, ah think ahll figure out a routine.
If anyone is still nawt impressed, they have naked people on tha mural near tha cash registers. Naked people n groceries - does it git much bettah?
First instance of my old location bein bettah then my new one:
It is 53 degrees and partly cloudy in tha mission.
It is 67 degrees and sunny in el cerrito. n bikin ta berkeley is outta tha question.
Church should be gittin started downstairs sometime soon - actually ah thought it was supposed ta kick off at 10 er somethang on sunday. Since it hasn't ahm prolly annoyin my roommate w/ efforts at severe bass, even tho its too early fer my voice to actually function.
N thars tha drums from downstairs. Happy Sunday!
It is 67 degrees and sunny in el cerrito. n bikin ta berkeley is outta tha question.
Church should be gittin started downstairs sometime soon - actually ah thought it was supposed ta kick off at 10 er somethang on sunday. Since it hasn't ahm prolly annoyin my roommate w/ efforts at severe bass, even tho its too early fer my voice to actually function.
N thars tha drums from downstairs. Happy Sunday!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Weekendin'
Thursday night was my last gig w. Warren Teagarden fer who knows how long - he's takin another bassist and drummer on tour at the end of July so tha next SF show will be w/ tha new guys. It's a bit of a bummer, as we've gotten pretty tight over the last couple months and I can only think of how solid we would be after two weeks on the road. But its nawt meant ta be - altho ah think thars a pretty decent chance he'll be in touch when they return. We shall see.
We rawked Kimo's pretty good, openin was some dirty punk kids from Spokane, WA (tha Sissies) who played a jawbreaker cover (boxcar) and were cool dudes. Aftahwerds tha Interchangeable Hearts did thar thang - they were tha first band WT played w. so it was a nice kind of "full circle" thang. Ah chatted up tha soundguy n scored a think13 show fer next friday - hell yeah. Aftahwerds some guys told me how awesome ah was but didn't offah ta buy me a drink - gae figure.
This mornin think13 (minus percussion) played at a Burning Man picnic thang in Golden Gate park, which was fun and relaxed. Free food and beer is always a good thang - even if tha burners are a bit too intentionally out-thar fer me. My old boss came out which was nice - apparently he's been playin tha game pretty solidly out here (tha datin game) so we made tentative plans ta hit up tha town togetha one of these nites. Then ah went to bikram - prolly tha first time ahve evah gawn on Saturday evening (usually ah gae on sat. mornins). It's quite impressive actually - tha last couple months ah haven't had tha time ta gae regularly n was losin some muscle definition and tone. 3 classes this week n ah feel like ahm almost back ta tha excellent shape ah was in late March/early April. N this studio is even closah then my old one - w. nae big hill ta bike up on tha way back!
Tonite ah should totally gae out n party my ass off as its my first weekend in tha Mission, but ah don't really know whar ta start. How dae you make new friends when yer 27 n nawt in skool? At least folks are friendly out here (if ah was in Bawstan ahd prolly die lonely), but despite tha tons of kickass places around tha corner from me, how dae ah know which ones are good, n what does it take fer me ta strike up a conversation w. strangers? Cuz ahm nawt at tha point whar ahm gaein out by myself to a bar - at tha very least ah need a wingperson. Maybe ahll figure it out in a few weeks, but fer tonite ahll prolly just continue ta frustrate myself w. tha best way ta put my room togetha - hurray!
Also, ah gawt tha new Weezer album n ah like. It's nae Pinkerton, but those are high standards, n its way bettah then tha album they put out aftah that. A review may be comin....er may nawt. Ahm unpredictable like that!
We rawked Kimo's pretty good, openin was some dirty punk kids from Spokane, WA (tha Sissies) who played a jawbreaker cover (boxcar) and were cool dudes. Aftahwerds tha Interchangeable Hearts did thar thang - they were tha first band WT played w. so it was a nice kind of "full circle" thang. Ah chatted up tha soundguy n scored a think13 show fer next friday - hell yeah. Aftahwerds some guys told me how awesome ah was but didn't offah ta buy me a drink - gae figure.
This mornin think13 (minus percussion) played at a Burning Man picnic thang in Golden Gate park, which was fun and relaxed. Free food and beer is always a good thang - even if tha burners are a bit too intentionally out-thar fer me. My old boss came out which was nice - apparently he's been playin tha game pretty solidly out here (tha datin game) so we made tentative plans ta hit up tha town togetha one of these nites. Then ah went to bikram - prolly tha first time ahve evah gawn on Saturday evening (usually ah gae on sat. mornins). It's quite impressive actually - tha last couple months ah haven't had tha time ta gae regularly n was losin some muscle definition and tone. 3 classes this week n ah feel like ahm almost back ta tha excellent shape ah was in late March/early April. N this studio is even closah then my old one - w. nae big hill ta bike up on tha way back!
Tonite ah should totally gae out n party my ass off as its my first weekend in tha Mission, but ah don't really know whar ta start. How dae you make new friends when yer 27 n nawt in skool? At least folks are friendly out here (if ah was in Bawstan ahd prolly die lonely), but despite tha tons of kickass places around tha corner from me, how dae ah know which ones are good, n what does it take fer me ta strike up a conversation w. strangers? Cuz ahm nawt at tha point whar ahm gaein out by myself to a bar - at tha very least ah need a wingperson. Maybe ahll figure it out in a few weeks, but fer tonite ahll prolly just continue ta frustrate myself w. tha best way ta put my room togetha - hurray!
Also, ah gawt tha new Weezer album n ah like. It's nae Pinkerton, but those are high standards, n its way bettah then tha album they put out aftah that. A review may be comin....er may nawt. Ahm unpredictable like that!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
ah, tha mission...
Today when ah came home from band practice a latino couple was making out in my doorway. CLASSY!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
hmm
ahm pretty sure thars a latino band playin somewhar on my block - ah ken hear tha I's n V's from tha bass, n it has tha same timbre from song ta song. If it weren't almost midnite on Sunday n ah wasn't exhausted ahd gae find tha source n have a beer.
Ah did move my headboard away from tha street howevah, n apparently nawt an evenin too soon! Ot also gave me tha confidence needed ta plug in fer 20 minutes just now n play some severe bass. Visions of buskin ran thru my head.....
Ah did move my headboard away from tha street howevah, n apparently nawt an evenin too soon! Ot also gave me tha confidence needed ta plug in fer 20 minutes just now n play some severe bass. Visions of buskin ran thru my head.....
Back to Back Shows fer this rawkstar....
Friday nite was tha first think13 gig in way too fricken long (late March) n we only gawt 30 minutes so we had ta make them count. On tha up side, it was at tha very swanky Red Devil Lounge, w/ a backstage n everythang. Us n 3 otha bands gawt a half hour, n then thar were two headliners who gawt a bit longah. B/c we are 5 fricken people that are a combination of picky about thar sound n nawt especially skilled at at effective soundchecking, we did nawt git a great mix. Howevah, tha energy was up, n ah had a blast. We revealed a brand-new song, as well as one that had been provin especially difficult to "nail" n gawt pretty close ta nailin it. The Red Devil Lounge also sells 24 oz. Red Stripes fer 6 bux, which is sweet (altho someone fawkin stole mine from tha stage while ah was fiddlin w. tha amp - bollocks!). A late nite of alcohol ensued, but eventually we took our cabs home n said adieu.
Then Saturday mornin Warren Teagarden went ta Reno! It's about a 4 hour drive n we left w. plenty of time - almost too much. Showed up at Warren's neice's place who has 4 kids n a puppy. It was a lil hectic. Eventually made our way down to tha Zephyr in downtown, nestled between porn stores n tattoo parlors - my kind of place! Tha second we gawt thar two locals were "fighting" w/ each otha, throwin a drum skin at tha street n stealin each othas beer. We quickly learned that thar wasn't much of a PA n crossed our fingers that Trigger Effect would be prepared to help us out - Ah still don't have an amp!
Trigger Effect were really nice guys who totally had thar shite togetha - they showed up w. a full PA, bass amp, guitar amp, n monstrous drum set in a case (played by a huge Navy guy they called "Animal.") We figured out what we'd be borrowin n started drinkin - fer free cuz renos good like that.
Tha Teagarden boyz had potentially thar best set - high energy, well-performed songs, n tha small-but-thar crowd seemed pretty intae it all. 3 songs in tha bass amp started smokin - apparently this is a new problem they've been havin w. it. ah plugged intae tha PA which sufficed, but tha sound was nawt quite as good aftah that. Nonetheless ah had a total blast on tha supah-tiny stage n Trigger Effect seemed ta really enjoy what were spittin out.
Trigger played some very enjoyable punk/metal w. some green day influence, n had high energy. Thar drummer was a fawkin machine, n by this point in time Teagarden n company was feelin good. A good nite was had by both bands n Reno secured a lil place in my heart - altho ah don't think ah could live in a valley like that. A local was tellin me how Reno had everythang: nature, hiking, geology, mind shafts, history, skiin n then tha convo went sour when he also told me thar were hills ah could gae ta n shoot autmoatic weapons n that it was completely legal ta carry one in Reno. Yikes. He latah told me ta "nevah stop rockin n ah mean that. Keep on rawkin hard, please." Ah assured him ah would think about it.
Ah thought it was ovah but instead we ended up at a pool hall until 3 am eventually gittin home n crashin out on some flimsy bunk beds that had pink sheets (we were in tha girls room). A long drive back finished us both off.
Ahm quite sorry ah dont have any pictures of tha good times fer any of you :(. Perhaps next time.....
Then Saturday mornin Warren Teagarden went ta Reno! It's about a 4 hour drive n we left w. plenty of time - almost too much. Showed up at Warren's neice's place who has 4 kids n a puppy. It was a lil hectic. Eventually made our way down to tha Zephyr in downtown, nestled between porn stores n tattoo parlors - my kind of place! Tha second we gawt thar two locals were "fighting" w/ each otha, throwin a drum skin at tha street n stealin each othas beer. We quickly learned that thar wasn't much of a PA n crossed our fingers that Trigger Effect would be prepared to help us out - Ah still don't have an amp!
Trigger Effect were really nice guys who totally had thar shite togetha - they showed up w. a full PA, bass amp, guitar amp, n monstrous drum set in a case (played by a huge Navy guy they called "Animal.") We figured out what we'd be borrowin n started drinkin - fer free cuz renos good like that.
Tha Teagarden boyz had potentially thar best set - high energy, well-performed songs, n tha small-but-thar crowd seemed pretty intae it all. 3 songs in tha bass amp started smokin - apparently this is a new problem they've been havin w. it. ah plugged intae tha PA which sufficed, but tha sound was nawt quite as good aftah that. Nonetheless ah had a total blast on tha supah-tiny stage n Trigger Effect seemed ta really enjoy what were spittin out.
Trigger played some very enjoyable punk/metal w. some green day influence, n had high energy. Thar drummer was a fawkin machine, n by this point in time Teagarden n company was feelin good. A good nite was had by both bands n Reno secured a lil place in my heart - altho ah don't think ah could live in a valley like that. A local was tellin me how Reno had everythang: nature, hiking, geology, mind shafts, history, skiin n then tha convo went sour when he also told me thar were hills ah could gae ta n shoot autmoatic weapons n that it was completely legal ta carry one in Reno. Yikes. He latah told me ta "nevah stop rockin n ah mean that. Keep on rawkin hard, please." Ah assured him ah would think about it.
Ah thought it was ovah but instead we ended up at a pool hall until 3 am eventually gittin home n crashin out on some flimsy bunk beds that had pink sheets (we were in tha girls room). A long drive back finished us both off.
Ahm quite sorry ah dont have any pictures of tha good times fer any of you :(. Perhaps next time.....
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Ah know you want some pictures....
Of my new digs, rite?
So just ta reiterate - ah live on one of tha busiest streets in tha city, nawt quite at tha busiest intersection thar is, but its nawt small potatoes. This does have its advantages - fer 1, three buses stop rite outside my door that take me directly to werk (ah actually werk on tha same street ah live on, just 28 blocks south), as well as tha UU Church w. tha most young adults. Ahm also a 5 minute walk from tha Light Rail n a 10-15 minute one from tha BART. Ahve biked to n from werk all week in about 25 minutes each way (its a touch faster going to b/c of tha slight hill ah live on - but nuthang even close to tha hill ah used ta live on). Ah also live at tha bottom of Bernal Heights - which is big fawkin hills. Honestly, anutha block er two east n my commute would blow donkey goats. So its convenient as hell - but also loud, busy, n a bit run-down. My biggest concern actually is that ah have a glass front door w. nae grates/etc. Ahm hopin ah ken git some installed - if nawt, its almost definite ah wont stay here all too long. Ah did install a werkin deadbolt on my room - it werks, but its nawt a glove-tight fit exactly.
Ah live w. 3 otha guys (all of whom ah think are gay), but one of them is nevah here (only one weekend out of tha month - altho ah guess he has friends that stay here from time to time), tha otha is barely here (werd is he spends most nites at his boyfriends place and is currently bikin to LA so he wont be around til mid next week at all), n tha otha does sleep here most nites (21 year old, slightly shy, just moved outta his rents n werks front desk at a hotel downtown).
And now - tha pixs!
My living room (which ah think functions more as bike storage):
(not pictured are various board games ah doubt have evah been played).
my giant kitchen - fully stocked w. pretty much everythang imaginable (except fer a cheese grater - wtf? n an electric kettle - ah bought both today) -
(thars two bad thangs about tha kitchen - 1)nawt enuff outlets which is a bit scary, n 2)stupid electric stove. Otha then that its tha best room in tha house).
My bedroom, messy n outlookin tha main street itself, but a decent size w. a walk-in closet (a weird one, but ah ken walk in it) -
AND tha ginormous backyard overrun with weeds -
Tha big bushes ahm pretty sure are fennel. Tha first buildin in tha foreground is actually nawt on our property, but tha second one is, which is a cool lil enclosure space. Tha yard does extend all tha way back to tha bbq n lawn furniture (n that is astroturf). Most of tha weeds are actually growin outta concrete, so tha potential fer gardenin is nawt quite as great as it seems. Thars also a fallen hammock in thar somewhar.
This will be tha last update fer a couple days as tomorrow nite is friday which has a pretty high-profile n important think13 gig, n then Saturday Warren Teagarden gaes ta Reno. Pretty spiffy, eh?
So just ta reiterate - ah live on one of tha busiest streets in tha city, nawt quite at tha busiest intersection thar is, but its nawt small potatoes. This does have its advantages - fer 1, three buses stop rite outside my door that take me directly to werk (ah actually werk on tha same street ah live on, just 28 blocks south), as well as tha UU Church w. tha most young adults. Ahm also a 5 minute walk from tha Light Rail n a 10-15 minute one from tha BART. Ahve biked to n from werk all week in about 25 minutes each way (its a touch faster going to b/c of tha slight hill ah live on - but nuthang even close to tha hill ah used ta live on). Ah also live at tha bottom of Bernal Heights - which is big fawkin hills. Honestly, anutha block er two east n my commute would blow donkey goats. So its convenient as hell - but also loud, busy, n a bit run-down. My biggest concern actually is that ah have a glass front door w. nae grates/etc. Ahm hopin ah ken git some installed - if nawt, its almost definite ah wont stay here all too long. Ah did install a werkin deadbolt on my room - it werks, but its nawt a glove-tight fit exactly.
Ah live w. 3 otha guys (all of whom ah think are gay), but one of them is nevah here (only one weekend out of tha month - altho ah guess he has friends that stay here from time to time), tha otha is barely here (werd is he spends most nites at his boyfriends place and is currently bikin to LA so he wont be around til mid next week at all), n tha otha does sleep here most nites (21 year old, slightly shy, just moved outta his rents n werks front desk at a hotel downtown).
And now - tha pixs!
My living room (which ah think functions more as bike storage):
(not pictured are various board games ah doubt have evah been played).
my giant kitchen - fully stocked w. pretty much everythang imaginable (except fer a cheese grater - wtf? n an electric kettle - ah bought both today) -
(thars two bad thangs about tha kitchen - 1)nawt enuff outlets which is a bit scary, n 2)stupid electric stove. Otha then that its tha best room in tha house).
My bedroom, messy n outlookin tha main street itself, but a decent size w. a walk-in closet (a weird one, but ah ken walk in it) -
AND tha ginormous backyard overrun with weeds -
Tha big bushes ahm pretty sure are fennel. Tha first buildin in tha foreground is actually nawt on our property, but tha second one is, which is a cool lil enclosure space. Tha yard does extend all tha way back to tha bbq n lawn furniture (n that is astroturf). Most of tha weeds are actually growin outta concrete, so tha potential fer gardenin is nawt quite as great as it seems. Thars also a fallen hammock in thar somewhar.
This will be tha last update fer a couple days as tomorrow nite is friday which has a pretty high-profile n important think13 gig, n then Saturday Warren Teagarden gaes ta Reno. Pretty spiffy, eh?
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
barghen
- my ampeg is dyin. Lettin out sad tremors undah every string pluck, snap, er whap. It's nawt suitable fer tha publick anymore. thar gaes payin off credit cards this pay cycle!
- my room is soooo fricken loud - n my headboard is currently next to tha thin windows. Have ah complained enuff about how badly built houses are out here? cuz they sure is. Anyway, ah think ah ken git used ta it - but ridin my bike home this evenin at 930 n when it was quiet in areas nawt all that far from tha bump n grind of tha mission was much nicah then my first nites sleep as ah struggled ta ignore drunks, cell phone talkahs, n vehicles (especially tha stupid buses) sos ah could just pass tha fawk out.
BUT ah did ride my bike to n from werk today in half tha time it used ta took, so if you factor that in w. all tha sleep ah missed ahm really only like 3 hours down!
- my room is soooo fricken loud - n my headboard is currently next to tha thin windows. Have ah complained enuff about how badly built houses are out here? cuz they sure is. Anyway, ah think ah ken git used ta it - but ridin my bike home this evenin at 930 n when it was quiet in areas nawt all that far from tha bump n grind of tha mission was much nicah then my first nites sleep as ah struggled ta ignore drunks, cell phone talkahs, n vehicles (especially tha stupid buses) sos ah could just pass tha fawk out.
BUT ah did ride my bike to n from werk today in half tha time it used ta took, so if you factor that in w. all tha sleep ah missed ahm really only like 3 hours down!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
tha adventure continues
boy howdy it does (ah promise nawt ta make boy howdy a regular expression) ! Ah moved all my shite today intae my new bedroom - directly above a spanish church w. live bands n full pa. It's nawt LOUD-loud, but it is audible. Will it be somethang ah eventually cannot stand, er will ah git used ta it? ah dae plan on attendin at least one service.....
ahm back in el cerrito fer one last nite sos ah could clean up n also return tha van, etc. My housemate (who is lame n anti-social...landlady says hes shy, ah think he's rude) has been in n out of tha kitchen today n yestahday, n despite tha large suffle of activity, boxes around, etc., hasn't said a word to me. Whats surprising is nawt that he's refrained from speakin ta me about tha obvious move, is that he's been in n out of tha kitchen. Ah swear ta gawd, he bought bags of chips from safeway yestahday n two bags of somethang from trader joes. Fer tha first time as long as ahve been here, ahve seen him both bring food intae tha house as well as gae intae tha kitchen! (ah shite you nawt, ahve only seen him gae from his room intae 1)tha laundry room, 2)tha bathroom), n 3)tha front door. Ah have NEVAH seen him in tha kitchen, nor seen any evidence that he keeps food in it.
Perhaps knowin my jerk-ass won't be around has given him some balls er somethang. ahll admit ahve nawt been shy about loud musick late at nite, singin, n drum playin tha last few days. on drum playin - ahve turned a cornah on drummin (albeit it is a very minute degree of a turn) n ken now sorta play some basick beats that resemble actual drum playin! tha last week ahve been bangin on tha drums downstairs - of kerse, rite before ah move out. Maybe tha church will let me practice on thars......
stay fawkin tuned! Life is about ta turn tha hell up!
ahm back in el cerrito fer one last nite sos ah could clean up n also return tha van, etc. My housemate (who is lame n anti-social...landlady says hes shy, ah think he's rude) has been in n out of tha kitchen today n yestahday, n despite tha large suffle of activity, boxes around, etc., hasn't said a word to me. Whats surprising is nawt that he's refrained from speakin ta me about tha obvious move, is that he's been in n out of tha kitchen. Ah swear ta gawd, he bought bags of chips from safeway yestahday n two bags of somethang from trader joes. Fer tha first time as long as ahve been here, ahve seen him both bring food intae tha house as well as gae intae tha kitchen! (ah shite you nawt, ahve only seen him gae from his room intae 1)tha laundry room, 2)tha bathroom), n 3)tha front door. Ah have NEVAH seen him in tha kitchen, nor seen any evidence that he keeps food in it.
Perhaps knowin my jerk-ass won't be around has given him some balls er somethang. ahll admit ahve nawt been shy about loud musick late at nite, singin, n drum playin tha last few days. on drum playin - ahve turned a cornah on drummin (albeit it is a very minute degree of a turn) n ken now sorta play some basick beats that resemble actual drum playin! tha last week ahve been bangin on tha drums downstairs - of kerse, rite before ah move out. Maybe tha church will let me practice on thars......
stay fawkin tuned! Life is about ta turn tha hell up!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Home Sweet....?
If you know me well enuff to have evah planned anythang w. me, you mite know that ah am DEATHLY afraid of countin my chickens before they hatch. Ah think this stems back to my early childhood, when ah would often git sooo excited about thangs before they happened that it was sometimes hard fer me to enjoy tha actual act. If you don't know me that well, you mite at least know that ahve spent a fair amount of work counteracting some of my natural inclinations in ordah ta be, well, more sane.
So ahm sorta out on a limb here, but tha reason fer tha fingah crossin should be fairly obvious - it looks very much like ah have a new place ta live in tha city! Ah wasn't 100% sure thangs were gawna werk out, as ah hadn't met most of tha folks livin thar, n it was kinda last minute - n ah was especially afraid b/c ah turned down a slightly nicer place ta live b.c ahd already told these folks ahd be tha new roomie (A choice ah may nawt necessarily live ta regret, but ah will prolly always wondah what life would've been like thar - likely a bit more comfortable). But today ah wrote a check fer 1st n last months rent fer a bedroom in a 4 bed/1.5 bath flat on tha outskirts of tha mission district - located above a church. It has a MASSIVE backyard that is TOTALLY overrun w. weeds but w. great potential - if ah had three solid weeks ta dae nuthang but dig it up. Washer dryer onsite (bonus), a room outlooking mission street (nawt so much of a bonus - thassa loud n busy street), but they are a bit desperate ah think n thus willin ta live w. my bass playin n singin. It has a lil bit of charm - in a strange way, n really tha worse thang about it (so far) is that it has an electric stove.
So tomorrow ahm gittin a van n gaein intae berkeley n then oakland ta buy a dresser n a bed (both wicked cheap) n then movin those intae tha place, n sunday will be about movin all tha bits n pieces. Ahll prolly sleep here on Sunday nite so ah ken return tha van n then gae ta werk - n then ah will gae home ta tha mission on Monday afternoon. So surreal - n soooo much ta dae before then.
Ah should really be in full force right now, but honestly, ahm way more likely ta just fawk around so tomorrow n sunday ken be tha main effort. Nice enuff, ahm home alone this weekend so ah ken spread out a bit as needed.
Ahm still nervous n a bit unsettled but excited that ahm takin tha next step towards livin tha kinda life ah want. 7 freakin months in el cerrito - ah really nevah expected that. All in all tho, its nawt been too bad - but its time fer a change.
special thanks to all those out thar who've kept my plight in yer thoughts - ah know my housin situation is far from bein tha most important n pressin mattah in most peoples lives, so ah appreciate any amount of good intentions folks have sent my way.
Next stop - San Fran-fawkin-cisco baby!
So ahm sorta out on a limb here, but tha reason fer tha fingah crossin should be fairly obvious - it looks very much like ah have a new place ta live in tha city! Ah wasn't 100% sure thangs were gawna werk out, as ah hadn't met most of tha folks livin thar, n it was kinda last minute - n ah was especially afraid b/c ah turned down a slightly nicer place ta live b.c ahd already told these folks ahd be tha new roomie (A choice ah may nawt necessarily live ta regret, but ah will prolly always wondah what life would've been like thar - likely a bit more comfortable). But today ah wrote a check fer 1st n last months rent fer a bedroom in a 4 bed/1.5 bath flat on tha outskirts of tha mission district - located above a church. It has a MASSIVE backyard that is TOTALLY overrun w. weeds but w. great potential - if ah had three solid weeks ta dae nuthang but dig it up. Washer dryer onsite (bonus), a room outlooking mission street (nawt so much of a bonus - thassa loud n busy street), but they are a bit desperate ah think n thus willin ta live w. my bass playin n singin. It has a lil bit of charm - in a strange way, n really tha worse thang about it (so far) is that it has an electric stove.
So tomorrow ahm gittin a van n gaein intae berkeley n then oakland ta buy a dresser n a bed (both wicked cheap) n then movin those intae tha place, n sunday will be about movin all tha bits n pieces. Ahll prolly sleep here on Sunday nite so ah ken return tha van n then gae ta werk - n then ah will gae home ta tha mission on Monday afternoon. So surreal - n soooo much ta dae before then.
Ah should really be in full force right now, but honestly, ahm way more likely ta just fawk around so tomorrow n sunday ken be tha main effort. Nice enuff, ahm home alone this weekend so ah ken spread out a bit as needed.
Ahm still nervous n a bit unsettled but excited that ahm takin tha next step towards livin tha kinda life ah want. 7 freakin months in el cerrito - ah really nevah expected that. All in all tho, its nawt been too bad - but its time fer a change.
special thanks to all those out thar who've kept my plight in yer thoughts - ah know my housin situation is far from bein tha most important n pressin mattah in most peoples lives, so ah appreciate any amount of good intentions folks have sent my way.
Next stop - San Fran-fawkin-cisco baby!
"I don't actually have a pen"
Warren Teagarden played to nobody last nite (again) at the fabulous Stork Club in Oakland. We hit tha stage around 11 and played too fast and since no one showed up ah decided ahd reacquaint myself w. an old friend - $2 PBRs. We gawt pretty chummy by tha end of tha nite....
Durin one of tha otha acts, ah went to tha bar n briefly chatted up this girl whod ordered a jagerbomb - mostly out of boredom and it was a little away from tha musick. She was nice, but thar wasn't any chemistry er attraction - at least on my end. She was pretty touchy pretty quickly, fairly drunk, n w/ a friend who was kinda anti-social. They also stated they were on thar way out soon, nae mattah my band was up ta rawk in about 15 mins. As they were leavin she hugged me, n told me ah should call her, remindin herself ah didn't have her numbah mid-sentance. She told me ah could have it if ah wanted, so ah sorta shrugged noncommittally n put my hands in my pocket. Now, if she'd asked me fer mine, ah would've definitely given it ta her, but ah didn't feel like gaein through tha motions of takin her numbah while her friend waited fer her outside b/c ah knew ah wouldn't call her so. So instead ah told her "Ah don't actually have a pen." Ahm just smooth like that.
As much fun as ah had w. my old buddy tho, he's left me w. a bit of a headache this mornin, just like tha jerk he is.
N don't stop crossin yer fingahs until ah update tonite please!!
Durin one of tha otha acts, ah went to tha bar n briefly chatted up this girl whod ordered a jagerbomb - mostly out of boredom and it was a little away from tha musick. She was nice, but thar wasn't any chemistry er attraction - at least on my end. She was pretty touchy pretty quickly, fairly drunk, n w/ a friend who was kinda anti-social. They also stated they were on thar way out soon, nae mattah my band was up ta rawk in about 15 mins. As they were leavin she hugged me, n told me ah should call her, remindin herself ah didn't have her numbah mid-sentance. She told me ah could have it if ah wanted, so ah sorta shrugged noncommittally n put my hands in my pocket. Now, if she'd asked me fer mine, ah would've definitely given it ta her, but ah didn't feel like gaein through tha motions of takin her numbah while her friend waited fer her outside b/c ah knew ah wouldn't call her so. So instead ah told her "Ah don't actually have a pen." Ahm just smooth like that.
As much fun as ah had w. my old buddy tho, he's left me w. a bit of a headache this mornin, just like tha jerk he is.
N don't stop crossin yer fingahs until ah update tonite please!!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Just something I noticed....
When ah first moved here, ah jammed w. these two guys (literally 3 days aftah ah landed). They were a guitarist and drummer who were set on "doing this for a living." Their craigslist add boasted that they knew how to write killer licks and needed someone who would be able to tour that summer. They were also looking for a vocalist.
Ah was pretty under-impressed w. tha musick we actually jammed on - nawt that it was bad, but it was fairly derivative, and tha songs were more like riffs stuck together then anything w. real vision or purpose. Some dude named Ash came by and played very 80s guitar and sang very 80s vocals on top of it - he was obviously really psyched about tha possibility of playin. Ah told them ahd be up fer playin again, if they were interested (cuz thas whas nice ta say). They nevah called me back, n ah believe found a vocalist briefly.
Tha biggest thang is thar drummer just did NAWT have tha chops it took ta play what they were gaein fer - fair enuff, he'd only recently switched from bass. But it was pretty much impossible to "groove" with him, as their ad stated they were looking for. Shortly thereafter I found both Warren Teagarden and think13 and ahve been busy evah since. Every once in a while, ahd find thar ad on craigslist (it nevah hurts ta see whats out thar) n kinda felt sorry fer them, but nawt too much b.c of how full of themselves they came across in tha ad.
Yestahday, ah was lookin around, n found a similar post - only this time it was only tha guitarist lookin. that band that was gawna take everythang disbanded some time ago - leavin some poorly produced tracks on myspace as tha only testament to thar fame. Ah was a lil dissapointed they nevah called me again - just b/c ah like hearin what a kickass bassist ah was. But sometimes its nice ta have proof that thangs werk out fer a reason. Ah wondah if that drummer evah realized he had about 2 years of solid practicin ta dae ta git close to tha person he wanted ta be......
Ah was pretty under-impressed w. tha musick we actually jammed on - nawt that it was bad, but it was fairly derivative, and tha songs were more like riffs stuck together then anything w. real vision or purpose. Some dude named Ash came by and played very 80s guitar and sang very 80s vocals on top of it - he was obviously really psyched about tha possibility of playin. Ah told them ahd be up fer playin again, if they were interested (cuz thas whas nice ta say). They nevah called me back, n ah believe found a vocalist briefly.
Tha biggest thang is thar drummer just did NAWT have tha chops it took ta play what they were gaein fer - fair enuff, he'd only recently switched from bass. But it was pretty much impossible to "groove" with him, as their ad stated they were looking for. Shortly thereafter I found both Warren Teagarden and think13 and ahve been busy evah since. Every once in a while, ahd find thar ad on craigslist (it nevah hurts ta see whats out thar) n kinda felt sorry fer them, but nawt too much b.c of how full of themselves they came across in tha ad.
Yestahday, ah was lookin around, n found a similar post - only this time it was only tha guitarist lookin. that band that was gawna take everythang disbanded some time ago - leavin some poorly produced tracks on myspace as tha only testament to thar fame. Ah was a lil dissapointed they nevah called me again - just b/c ah like hearin what a kickass bassist ah was. But sometimes its nice ta have proof that thangs werk out fer a reason. Ah wondah if that drummer evah realized he had about 2 years of solid practicin ta dae ta git close to tha person he wanted ta be......
Monday, May 26, 2008
MEM Day
Memorial Day 2008 will always be remembered by me as my first paid holiday. Dog Bless America.
Tomorrow is my last chance ta move on June 1st. Honestly, ahd almost ratha wait it out n hope somethang else comes along before June 20th - but will jump on any of tha three places ah see tomorrow if ah think thars enuff room ta be me thar n they want me.
Then tha rest of tha week is stupid busy - this Sunday will be tha last day ah clean tha yoga studio fer free yoga ah think. Ah changes - mostly endings, nawt many beginnins in site as of yet....but thars time still.
Ah did nawt dae any of tha stuff ah was supposed ta dae today, minus a lil housekeepin. Ah did howevah record a bunch of backing tracks of old n new Severe Bass songs on tha PA downstairs. Tha recordin quality is far from superb, but its embarassingly bettah then anythang else ah have as of now. Specifically that tha bass n vocals will finally be on separate tracks. Ahm still lackin tha equipment ta effectively multi-track in real time (Cuz ah suck), but have bit tha bullet n decided ta put down separate bass n vocal tracks so ah have a bit more flexibility with tha performances/editin/effects/etc. But ah'll finally have some more listenable tracks - at least fer potential producers. Ahve pretty much decided ta record a demo in a semi-real studio w. a semi-pro producer sometime in tha next year er so - w. a band of some sort.
Why? Honestly - cuz ahm nawt gittin any bettah at singin. Ah have my moments, n still love it, but ah dont have tha focus, tha patience, er really tha natural ability ta be a solo act - n gae anywhar with it. Ahll prolly always write solo pieces, n hopefully be able ta perform that way ferevah, but ahm startin ta just face facts that Severe Bass in its ESSENCE is just nawt tha listenable. N bands just rawk harder - way more fun fer me!
Ah think it marks some sort of a transition - n lets face it, bands rawk hardah. Speakin of bands, n ah dont want ta git my hopes up, but ah talked to a drummer who wants to put a jawbreaker cover band togetha n ah cant wait ta find out if he ken make it happen w. my help!
Tomorrow is my last chance ta move on June 1st. Honestly, ahd almost ratha wait it out n hope somethang else comes along before June 20th - but will jump on any of tha three places ah see tomorrow if ah think thars enuff room ta be me thar n they want me.
Then tha rest of tha week is stupid busy - this Sunday will be tha last day ah clean tha yoga studio fer free yoga ah think. Ah changes - mostly endings, nawt many beginnins in site as of yet....but thars time still.
Ah did nawt dae any of tha stuff ah was supposed ta dae today, minus a lil housekeepin. Ah did howevah record a bunch of backing tracks of old n new Severe Bass songs on tha PA downstairs. Tha recordin quality is far from superb, but its embarassingly bettah then anythang else ah have as of now. Specifically that tha bass n vocals will finally be on separate tracks. Ahm still lackin tha equipment ta effectively multi-track in real time (Cuz ah suck), but have bit tha bullet n decided ta put down separate bass n vocal tracks so ah have a bit more flexibility with tha performances/editin/effects/etc. But ah'll finally have some more listenable tracks - at least fer potential producers. Ahve pretty much decided ta record a demo in a semi-real studio w. a semi-pro producer sometime in tha next year er so - w. a band of some sort.
Why? Honestly - cuz ahm nawt gittin any bettah at singin. Ah have my moments, n still love it, but ah dont have tha focus, tha patience, er really tha natural ability ta be a solo act - n gae anywhar with it. Ahll prolly always write solo pieces, n hopefully be able ta perform that way ferevah, but ahm startin ta just face facts that Severe Bass in its ESSENCE is just nawt tha listenable. N bands just rawk harder - way more fun fer me!
Ah think it marks some sort of a transition - n lets face it, bands rawk hardah. Speakin of bands, n ah dont want ta git my hopes up, but ah talked to a drummer who wants to put a jawbreaker cover band togetha n ah cant wait ta find out if he ken make it happen w. my help!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Hunting Houses in SF - tha most difficult sport EVAH!
Yeah, ah still don't have a place ta live. W/ tha combination of people nawt gittin back ta me, missin a window, n tha ridiculously high competition fer a decent crash pad, ahm still in el Cerrito - fer who knows how long.
One of these days all that good karma ahm tryin ta generate n all tha bad karma from tha fuckheads who don't git back to me will figure shite out n ahll be granted a sweet place ta call home. Until then - big balls of stress! N evaluatin my self-worth, watchin what ah say, n driftin close to depression (at least today).
Most recently frustrating is ah saw a great place n had a good vibe w. tha folx - but an off-handed comment about tha obnoxiousness of tha cat ah live w. has led them ta think ahm nawt animal-friendly n would let one of thar critters starve. From now on, ah keep my big mouth shut about how much tha resident cat gits on my (n everyone else's nerves).
So - thars really only one fix when ah feel like ahm daein all ah possibly ken ta make this shite werk out n tha universe continues ta turn me down - take some of my favorite medication n beat tha crap out of my 4-string. good thang she likes it rough.
Oh, n ahve gawt a bunch of shows comin up which is really sweet - but ah think ahd prefer a place ta live and a summah devoid of opportunities ta rawk on stage.
So to those of you w/ a place ta call home - it might nawt always seem like much, but don't EVAH take it fer granted. Ah nevah will again.
One of these days all that good karma ahm tryin ta generate n all tha bad karma from tha fuckheads who don't git back to me will figure shite out n ahll be granted a sweet place ta call home. Until then - big balls of stress! N evaluatin my self-worth, watchin what ah say, n driftin close to depression (at least today).
Most recently frustrating is ah saw a great place n had a good vibe w. tha folx - but an off-handed comment about tha obnoxiousness of tha cat ah live w. has led them ta think ahm nawt animal-friendly n would let one of thar critters starve. From now on, ah keep my big mouth shut about how much tha resident cat gits on my (n everyone else's nerves).
So - thars really only one fix when ah feel like ahm daein all ah possibly ken ta make this shite werk out n tha universe continues ta turn me down - take some of my favorite medication n beat tha crap out of my 4-string. good thang she likes it rough.
Oh, n ahve gawt a bunch of shows comin up which is really sweet - but ah think ahd prefer a place ta live and a summah devoid of opportunities ta rawk on stage.
So to those of you w/ a place ta call home - it might nawt always seem like much, but don't EVAH take it fer granted. Ah nevah will again.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
What daes it take to find a good Hand Percussionist?
An earlier blog chronicled the firing of think13's previous hand drummer - a great guy w. a problem w. sticking up to women who wanted to take advantage of him. Since he left, thar's been a hole in our sound - one prolly only noticeable to me n tha rest of think13. Ah've taken it upon myself ta aggressively look fer a new one b/c, well, thas how ah am. Especially when ah want somethang done. It's nawt been gaein well.
Initially, ah had several misses on replies - folks who didn't have their schedule under hand, or didn't get back to me about ANYTHING (including their name - man it weirds me out when someone's email has a name attached to it - that is nuthang like tha name they sign it with), etc. Finally thar was a potential fit who was less then responsive, n cancelled tha day of b/c of strep throat. She seemed a bit spacey, but hey, we're looking for musicians (n psuedo-drummahs at that) so ah let it fly. We re-schedule fer next week - she even calls to confirm it tha day before - n nevah shows up. Nae call, nae email, nuthang. boo. Unfortunetly, ah wasn't even that surprised.
Next add, ah git anutha email from a very interested n recent transplant to tha area - calls me right back, chats me up fer a while, sounds like it could werk out. Ah send him an email latah w. a tune - hear nuthang (back - nawt necessarily a problem). Call tha guy on Sunday ta confirm, n he tells me tha mp3 didn't gae through, but he heard some of tha otha stuff - will see him on Sunday. Guess what happened?
Dee's convinced thars lurkers on craigslist that dae this just fer kicks - n ah can't say ah disagree necessarily. Ah didn't really expect findin a new drum-guy would be tha EASIEST thang in tha world, but ah was definitely more concerned about havin ta listen ta gawdawful drummin then ah was some person flakin. It's sorta amazing how awesome n awful craigslist ken be dependin on tha day, huh?
Initially, ah had several misses on replies - folks who didn't have their schedule under hand, or didn't get back to me about ANYTHING (including their name - man it weirds me out when someone's email has a name attached to it - that is nuthang like tha name they sign it with), etc. Finally thar was a potential fit who was less then responsive, n cancelled tha day of b/c of strep throat. She seemed a bit spacey, but hey, we're looking for musicians (n psuedo-drummahs at that) so ah let it fly. We re-schedule fer next week - she even calls to confirm it tha day before - n nevah shows up. Nae call, nae email, nuthang. boo. Unfortunetly, ah wasn't even that surprised.
Next add, ah git anutha email from a very interested n recent transplant to tha area - calls me right back, chats me up fer a while, sounds like it could werk out. Ah send him an email latah w. a tune - hear nuthang (back - nawt necessarily a problem). Call tha guy on Sunday ta confirm, n he tells me tha mp3 didn't gae through, but he heard some of tha otha stuff - will see him on Sunday. Guess what happened?
Dee's convinced thars lurkers on craigslist that dae this just fer kicks - n ah can't say ah disagree necessarily. Ah didn't really expect findin a new drum-guy would be tha EASIEST thang in tha world, but ah was definitely more concerned about havin ta listen ta gawdawful drummin then ah was some person flakin. It's sorta amazing how awesome n awful craigslist ken be dependin on tha day, huh?
Monday, May 19, 2008
A lil ado about Severe
Ahd like ta first note that this is my 101st blog entry - altho that numbah does include tha 11-er-so entries made a couple years back in a slang that is most definitely nawt Severe - strange as it may have been.
Do I have a place to live yet? no. Do I feel better about those odds? Maybe. Ask me on Friday.
I still don't know how much tha ticket will cost - bargh.
Howevah, ah had a good weekend.
My lil bro graduated himself from college on Saturday w. a schmance degree in Electrical Engineering. Guess which of us is makin more money?
So ah flew intae tha East Coast on Virgin Airlines fer a ridiculously low fair like 130 each way fer a direct flight. Note to all you folx who should visit when ah have a place ta live - Virgin Airlines rawks! In flight tv, musick, games, chat w. people in otha seats, yep, its pretty good.
Ah apologize to you DC Metro folx who may just be learnin now that ah was in town. Suffice ta say, ah was nawt around fer long, n knew ah wouldn't have much hang out time, n gave my best friend from jr. high dibs on my company. Please don't feel like ah dont love and miss you - ah just didn't need to try and squeeze in more then that. Ah'll catch you next time, ah promise.
Tha majority of tha time was of kerse spent in Richmond eating food and sitting through ceremonies, altho Saturday night had a particularly kickass turn out of folks to remind me why ah love richmond and tha people who inhabit it. And sleeping, b/c:
My trip out, while quick, was a bit heavy. Work on Thursday until 6, n then straight to SFO via BART. Overnite flite ta Dulles, a nap, a drive ta richmond, n then a graduation ceremony/dinnah. Sleep and then up fer ANUTHA graduation ceremony, more food, n eventually tha aforementioned nite drinking on a porch. Tha next mornin - more food, wandering, n drivin back to DC. Ah woke up this mornin at 5:20 am Eastern (thas 2:20 am Pacific), took at 7 am flight home, and then went to werk fer 5 hours - surprisingly busy and productive. Actually, if my work load was that big all tha time, ah could justify a raise pretty quickly...
N now ahm back, tired, playin my bass, n sendin out more emails about how great of a roommate ah am. Thars some gigs that have popped up fer tha next couple weeks - includin a likely confliction between think13 n mr. teagarden. How dae ah decide? - Diplomatically. First come, first served is tha way mr. Severe werks in that department - at least in theory. We shall see....
Do I have a place to live yet? no. Do I feel better about those odds? Maybe. Ask me on Friday.
I still don't know how much tha ticket will cost - bargh.
Howevah, ah had a good weekend.
My lil bro graduated himself from college on Saturday w. a schmance degree in Electrical Engineering. Guess which of us is makin more money?
So ah flew intae tha East Coast on Virgin Airlines fer a ridiculously low fair like 130 each way fer a direct flight. Note to all you folx who should visit when ah have a place ta live - Virgin Airlines rawks! In flight tv, musick, games, chat w. people in otha seats, yep, its pretty good.
Ah apologize to you DC Metro folx who may just be learnin now that ah was in town. Suffice ta say, ah was nawt around fer long, n knew ah wouldn't have much hang out time, n gave my best friend from jr. high dibs on my company. Please don't feel like ah dont love and miss you - ah just didn't need to try and squeeze in more then that. Ah'll catch you next time, ah promise.
Tha majority of tha time was of kerse spent in Richmond eating food and sitting through ceremonies, altho Saturday night had a particularly kickass turn out of folks to remind me why ah love richmond and tha people who inhabit it. And sleeping, b/c:
My trip out, while quick, was a bit heavy. Work on Thursday until 6, n then straight to SFO via BART. Overnite flite ta Dulles, a nap, a drive ta richmond, n then a graduation ceremony/dinnah. Sleep and then up fer ANUTHA graduation ceremony, more food, n eventually tha aforementioned nite drinking on a porch. Tha next mornin - more food, wandering, n drivin back to DC. Ah woke up this mornin at 5:20 am Eastern (thas 2:20 am Pacific), took at 7 am flight home, and then went to werk fer 5 hours - surprisingly busy and productive. Actually, if my work load was that big all tha time, ah could justify a raise pretty quickly...
N now ahm back, tired, playin my bass, n sendin out more emails about how great of a roommate ah am. Thars some gigs that have popped up fer tha next couple weeks - includin a likely confliction between think13 n mr. teagarden. How dae ah decide? - Diplomatically. First come, first served is tha way mr. Severe werks in that department - at least in theory. We shall see....
Thursday, May 08, 2008
WTF???
Ah was runnin a few minutes late today - n tha way ah dae thangs is a few minutes ken make all tha difference. Ah have a pretty tight routine down in tha mornin that doesn't allow fer much more then 7 minutes between leavin my house n bein upstairs at tha BART stop fer my train. If ah miss that one, anutha train comes in 8 minutes - but requires a transfer. Tha next direct train isn't fer 15 minutes, which is pretty anticlimactic aftah a fast n furious bike ride.
Generally ah pay relatively good attention to traffic signs, etc. But when ahm late, n approachin a cross street w. nawt a car in sight, ahll usually gae right past it. Today, this led to me gittin stopped by a cop, who wrote me a ticket fer failin ta yield to a stop sign. Ah was hopin by playin tha complacent offendee, ah mite git off w. a warnin (hey, it werked when ah bought underage youth alcohol!), but nae such luck.
Aftahwerds, ah wish ahd been at least a touch more rebellious - nawt ta fight tha ticket, but when he mentioned that if a car had broken tha law ah just ignored, it would be big trouble ah wish ahd pointed out that ahm nawt a two ton vehicle in motion powered by dinosaur debris - ahma dude on a bike n combined we don't total 175 pounds (ahm skinny, ah know). Also, ah really should've mentioned that while ah wasn't arguin that ahd broken tha law, as someone who gawt mugged by uncaught (n apparently somewhat notoroius) thugs just three blocks away, ah didn't support spendin so much person-power on finin cyclists who breezed through a stop sign. Especially when he told me thar were cops all along tha path today. Ah hate bein caught off guard!
Tha biggest kickah is ah totally read an article in tha SF Weekly just tha aftahnoon before that mentioned how cops were crackin down on cyclists - n nawt those who drive automobiles b/c "studies" have started indicatin that cylcists are more likely ta disobey tha traffic rules then cars are. Tha slant was that more education/awareness could potentially fix tha amount of accidents n help folx share tha road bettah (as an initiative in Marin is startin ta prove), but ah really should've taken somethang more then that away from it. Considerin tha amount of stop signs ah have nae problem runnin so long as thars nae one drivin on tha road, ah ken almost assume tha cops read tha same fricken article ah did ta git tha idea.
When asked how much it mite run me (why dae ah dae this? Cops nevah know - er if they don't they don't say what tha consequences are EVAH), ah was told that tha verdict was usually about half what a car violation was. While ah git this in concept, if we want ta gae by weight/impact/etc., a 1 to 10 ratio is a lawt more accurate. Thus far findin what this translates to in American dollars has proved fruitless.
Worst part - this could (probably will) give me points on my license, which ah really hope doesn't increase my non-car-ownin insurance. How stupid is all this?
Generally ah pay relatively good attention to traffic signs, etc. But when ahm late, n approachin a cross street w. nawt a car in sight, ahll usually gae right past it. Today, this led to me gittin stopped by a cop, who wrote me a ticket fer failin ta yield to a stop sign. Ah was hopin by playin tha complacent offendee, ah mite git off w. a warnin (hey, it werked when ah bought underage youth alcohol!), but nae such luck.
Aftahwerds, ah wish ahd been at least a touch more rebellious - nawt ta fight tha ticket, but when he mentioned that if a car had broken tha law ah just ignored, it would be big trouble ah wish ahd pointed out that ahm nawt a two ton vehicle in motion powered by dinosaur debris - ahma dude on a bike n combined we don't total 175 pounds (ahm skinny, ah know). Also, ah really should've mentioned that while ah wasn't arguin that ahd broken tha law, as someone who gawt mugged by uncaught (n apparently somewhat notoroius) thugs just three blocks away, ah didn't support spendin so much person-power on finin cyclists who breezed through a stop sign. Especially when he told me thar were cops all along tha path today. Ah hate bein caught off guard!
Tha biggest kickah is ah totally read an article in tha SF Weekly just tha aftahnoon before that mentioned how cops were crackin down on cyclists - n nawt those who drive automobiles b/c "studies" have started indicatin that cylcists are more likely ta disobey tha traffic rules then cars are. Tha slant was that more education/awareness could potentially fix tha amount of accidents n help folx share tha road bettah (as an initiative in Marin is startin ta prove), but ah really should've taken somethang more then that away from it. Considerin tha amount of stop signs ah have nae problem runnin so long as thars nae one drivin on tha road, ah ken almost assume tha cops read tha same fricken article ah did ta git tha idea.
When asked how much it mite run me (why dae ah dae this? Cops nevah know - er if they don't they don't say what tha consequences are EVAH), ah was told that tha verdict was usually about half what a car violation was. While ah git this in concept, if we want ta gae by weight/impact/etc., a 1 to 10 ratio is a lawt more accurate. Thus far findin what this translates to in American dollars has proved fruitless.
Worst part - this could (probably will) give me points on my license, which ah really hope doesn't increase my non-car-ownin insurance. How stupid is all this?
Monday, May 05, 2008
"Teeth" Review
Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Ahll admit, half of tha appeal of this movie is its ridiculous idea coupled w. a Poison song title as tha tagline(one that I cover). And the trailer totally won me over - purposely awkward, a touch gorey, and really they are makin a real movie about a toothy vagina? Fer serious?
So ah couldn't find anyone ta see it with when it was in local theatres (cuz tha Bay area gits EVERY FRICKEN MOVIE EVAH!), but ah did recently snag a copy now that its hit DVDs.
"Teeth" delivers pretty much everythang you could n should expect from a current independant but classy horror movie about a penis-chomping vagina. Tha film itself totally knows whar everythang is gaein, but tha particpants are only vaguely clued in. Tha acting is quite good (Jess Weixler won Sundance for her performance), the script is mostly good (plenty of bad moments, n a poorly developed brother-in-law give it the right amount of cheese), and it's a great example of "show, don't tell" (without ever giving us a real view of whatevah tha hell it is w. tha aforementioned teeth - specifically that the dialogue or movie doesn't necessarily explain what you are seeing, nor does it give you voice-overs. Then again, its not too complicated...). And of course, there are scenes of completely amputated prosthetic peni (nawt exactly what ah was lookin fer, but ah had assumed tha gore factor would mostly be in that category). Tha sound-effects are pure troma, but everything else is quite well done.
It builds tha tension nicely, n tries its best ta keep you off-guard while not being outlandish. Tha whole thang has a great digital "Sheen" to it that actually works. In short, the movie tries w.o trying too hard, n succeeds because of that (in my opinion). Thar won't be a bettah movie about dick-eatin-pussies fer quite a while. Probably.
Ahll admit, half of tha appeal of this movie is its ridiculous idea coupled w. a Poison song title as tha tagline(one that I cover). And the trailer totally won me over - purposely awkward, a touch gorey, and really they are makin a real movie about a toothy vagina? Fer serious?
So ah couldn't find anyone ta see it with when it was in local theatres (cuz tha Bay area gits EVERY FRICKEN MOVIE EVAH!), but ah did recently snag a copy now that its hit DVDs.
"Teeth" delivers pretty much everythang you could n should expect from a current independant but classy horror movie about a penis-chomping vagina. Tha film itself totally knows whar everythang is gaein, but tha particpants are only vaguely clued in. Tha acting is quite good (Jess Weixler won Sundance for her performance), the script is mostly good (plenty of bad moments, n a poorly developed brother-in-law give it the right amount of cheese), and it's a great example of "show, don't tell" (without ever giving us a real view of whatevah tha hell it is w. tha aforementioned teeth - specifically that the dialogue or movie doesn't necessarily explain what you are seeing, nor does it give you voice-overs. Then again, its not too complicated...). And of course, there are scenes of completely amputated prosthetic peni (nawt exactly what ah was lookin fer, but ah had assumed tha gore factor would mostly be in that category). Tha sound-effects are pure troma, but everything else is quite well done.
It builds tha tension nicely, n tries its best ta keep you off-guard while not being outlandish. Tha whole thang has a great digital "Sheen" to it that actually works. In short, the movie tries w.o trying too hard, n succeeds because of that (in my opinion). Thar won't be a bettah movie about dick-eatin-pussies fer quite a while. Probably.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Hooray Saturday
Last nights Warren Teagarden show was fun - a lawt of fun. Even tho pretty much no one came out, that didn't stop us from jumping around and making asinine comments. Playin w. Nathan's old band was cool too - they were very nice n totally genuine. Tha House of Shields is a hunnered years old n tha stage looks crowded w. about 8 people on it. Tha stage is actually a balcony above tha bar itself, but thars a video feed set up so patrons ken watch from below. Ah talked too loud n sang too hard, which has set my recovering sore throat back at least a day.
Today was beautiful, but windy. We decided to barbeque at christop (of think13)'s house anyway. Veggie kabobs n kickass eggplant w. souvlaki sauce on top n chicken n steak fer tha meateaters. We collectively agreed to drink too much beer and just enjoyed tha day. We've been werkin pretty hard lately and tha new stuff is startin ta sound pretty awesome.
So here's hopin my stupid throat stops jerkin around soon. Ahm gettin my baby (my bike) a tune-up tomorrow, which will be a good excuse ta ride her intae oakland. Have ah mentioned that ah totally love tha West Coast recently?
Today was beautiful, but windy. We decided to barbeque at christop (of think13)'s house anyway. Veggie kabobs n kickass eggplant w. souvlaki sauce on top n chicken n steak fer tha meateaters. We collectively agreed to drink too much beer and just enjoyed tha day. We've been werkin pretty hard lately and tha new stuff is startin ta sound pretty awesome.
So here's hopin my stupid throat stops jerkin around soon. Ahm gettin my baby (my bike) a tune-up tomorrow, which will be a good excuse ta ride her intae oakland. Have ah mentioned that ah totally love tha West Coast recently?
Thursday, May 01, 2008
New Rawk Videos!
Interestingly enough, even though I haven't played a show in 3 weeks, two videos of me rawkin out w. a band have found thar way to my inbox in tha last 24 hours. Note - both of these videos are significantly less choppy if you go to the youtube page, so links are below.
Tha first is a clip from think13 at Rock It Fest in late March. It's pretty homemade, but if you can get past the shaky camera and so-so sound quality, not too shabby!
youtube (say what you mean live) -
think13 live on youtube
Tha second is from a Warren Teagarden practice in my basement, and is also a bit homemade - this one is from a camera phone. It's one of my favorite Teagarden songs though, and you can *sorta* hear my two bass solos. "Crystal Palace"
Warren Teagarden in my basement
Enjoy!
Tha first is a clip from think13 at Rock It Fest in late March. It's pretty homemade, but if you can get past the shaky camera and so-so sound quality, not too shabby!
youtube (say what you mean live) -
think13 live on youtube
Tha second is from a Warren Teagarden practice in my basement, and is also a bit homemade - this one is from a camera phone. It's one of my favorite Teagarden songs though, and you can *sorta* hear my two bass solos. "Crystal Palace"
Warren Teagarden in my basement
Enjoy!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Is it bettah ta blog about nuthang....
then ta nawt blog at all? Thoughts?
In sad news, one of my band members suffered a loss in his family so we did not make it to Sacramento last week. He seems to be doing okay, and we're looking forward to rawkin the House of Shields before he goes on tour w/o me this Friday.
Nawt much exciting has happened, altho apparently ah gawt gunk on one of my brake pads n it was startin ta scare me a bit... n then somethang excitin happened:
My friend who ah haven't seen since a few summahs ago in Iowa calls me n invites me to a punk show at her friends house, n ah see her kickass warehouse space n watch 5 folx from chicago play in two different bands w. big assed smiles on thar face n tha one guy tells me that this is tha first time they've really felt appreciated since they left fer tour two weeks ago n it was great. Ah was given an aloe plant ta grow n repotted my cactus who's been suffering, as well as movin em outside fer more sun.
Tha Bay Area knows how ta dae weekends, ah gawta hand it ta them. Doesn't mattah what tha weekdays been like, Saturday n Sunday are usually drop-dead gorgeous tempratures n climates. This aftahnoon ah biked home from Emeryville, partially along tha coast/highway. Tha Bay has a pungent odor, n thar were a ton of dogs at one particular beach havin a blast.
Also watched Super High Me, wherein Doug Benson stops smoking pot for 30 days, and then spends tha next 30 REALLY stoned. He defintely fawked up a lawt more in his standup when he was stoned, er at least thas how it was intended ta come across. As a movie, it was uneven (big surprise), but it had a decent little charm to it, and is tha most potentially mainstream movie ahve seen that adequately describes how medical cannabis works in lovely CA.
In sad news, one of my band members suffered a loss in his family so we did not make it to Sacramento last week. He seems to be doing okay, and we're looking forward to rawkin the House of Shields before he goes on tour w/o me this Friday.
Nawt much exciting has happened, altho apparently ah gawt gunk on one of my brake pads n it was startin ta scare me a bit... n then somethang excitin happened:
My friend who ah haven't seen since a few summahs ago in Iowa calls me n invites me to a punk show at her friends house, n ah see her kickass warehouse space n watch 5 folx from chicago play in two different bands w. big assed smiles on thar face n tha one guy tells me that this is tha first time they've really felt appreciated since they left fer tour two weeks ago n it was great. Ah was given an aloe plant ta grow n repotted my cactus who's been suffering, as well as movin em outside fer more sun.
Tha Bay Area knows how ta dae weekends, ah gawta hand it ta them. Doesn't mattah what tha weekdays been like, Saturday n Sunday are usually drop-dead gorgeous tempratures n climates. This aftahnoon ah biked home from Emeryville, partially along tha coast/highway. Tha Bay has a pungent odor, n thar were a ton of dogs at one particular beach havin a blast.
Also watched Super High Me, wherein Doug Benson stops smoking pot for 30 days, and then spends tha next 30 REALLY stoned. He defintely fawked up a lawt more in his standup when he was stoned, er at least thas how it was intended ta come across. As a movie, it was uneven (big surprise), but it had a decent little charm to it, and is tha most potentially mainstream movie ahve seen that adequately describes how medical cannabis works in lovely CA.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A few thangs....
My rents have been in town this weekend, which has been good. It's also meant a lawt of eatin out at fancy places ah ken only drool about. Hurray fer my genetic contributers!
Warren Teagarden had a CD release on Friday at tha weirdest club ahve evah played in. Tha upstairs is a swanky lounge w. couches (n some jam band playin when we gawt thar). Tha downstairs is a dingy concrete basement with airplane seats. One of tha walls has actually been made to look like tha windows of an airplane - complete w. a flashing light. Strange. BUT, there was two cases of PBR fer tha bands, n a generous jager shot fer $5. Ah think people had a good time - ah was a bit too intae tha PBR ta really be able ta tell....
Ahve been skippin yoga a lawt recently - nawt sure exactly why. Ah keep tellin myself ahma gae, n then, ah dont. My apologies fer bein lame - er maybe ahm tryin ta git my waist size back up. Nawt a good idea tho - cuz ah bought 3 pairs of shorts today - fer a total of 12 bux. Hellz yeah good will!
Ah downloaded tha recent Magnetic Fields album - ahm nawt really a huge fan of them, but ah needed somethang new ta listen to, n figured they might just be able ta win me ovah w. an album called Distortion. Ah was wrong - ah think ah dislike them even more then evah. First off, tha lyrics are really clevah - but they are so clevah ah think they don't pay too much attention to tha songs themselves. Tha production on this album tries way too hard ta be low-fi, n really, thars nawt a single tune thats been stuck in my head. Tha whole thang comes across as feelin very smug, n thas NAWT a vibe ah listen ta musick fer. While tha Mountain Goats are able ta write smart, sad, amazing lyrics, n combine them w. musick that is at tha worst tolerable, n at tha best, toe-tappin, tha Magnetic Fields make me think of a group of really smart science kids who eat lunch togetha n talk about how much money thar gawna make aftah they graduate from MIT. Blech.
Ah also found Frank Zappa beer today at my local liqour store, which has made me happy. And ah have think13 and Warren Teagarden shirts now - finally. Next Friday ahll play my first outta-tha-area gig in Sacramento w. WT.
And now - Chocolate!
Warren Teagarden had a CD release on Friday at tha weirdest club ahve evah played in. Tha upstairs is a swanky lounge w. couches (n some jam band playin when we gawt thar). Tha downstairs is a dingy concrete basement with airplane seats. One of tha walls has actually been made to look like tha windows of an airplane - complete w. a flashing light. Strange. BUT, there was two cases of PBR fer tha bands, n a generous jager shot fer $5. Ah think people had a good time - ah was a bit too intae tha PBR ta really be able ta tell....
Ahve been skippin yoga a lawt recently - nawt sure exactly why. Ah keep tellin myself ahma gae, n then, ah dont. My apologies fer bein lame - er maybe ahm tryin ta git my waist size back up. Nawt a good idea tho - cuz ah bought 3 pairs of shorts today - fer a total of 12 bux. Hellz yeah good will!
Ah downloaded tha recent Magnetic Fields album - ahm nawt really a huge fan of them, but ah needed somethang new ta listen to, n figured they might just be able ta win me ovah w. an album called Distortion. Ah was wrong - ah think ah dislike them even more then evah. First off, tha lyrics are really clevah - but they are so clevah ah think they don't pay too much attention to tha songs themselves. Tha production on this album tries way too hard ta be low-fi, n really, thars nawt a single tune thats been stuck in my head. Tha whole thang comes across as feelin very smug, n thas NAWT a vibe ah listen ta musick fer. While tha Mountain Goats are able ta write smart, sad, amazing lyrics, n combine them w. musick that is at tha worst tolerable, n at tha best, toe-tappin, tha Magnetic Fields make me think of a group of really smart science kids who eat lunch togetha n talk about how much money thar gawna make aftah they graduate from MIT. Blech.
Ah also found Frank Zappa beer today at my local liqour store, which has made me happy. And ah have think13 and Warren Teagarden shirts now - finally. Next Friday ahll play my first outta-tha-area gig in Sacramento w. WT.
And now - Chocolate!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
HOLY WOW!
It is 81 degrees!!!!! Ah cannot express how excited ah am - Ah ken (And SHOULD) wear shorts!
Ah totally win. (altho ah hafta buy shorts now)
Ah totally win. (altho ah hafta buy shorts now)
Monday, April 07, 2008
Ah don't know whethah ta laugh er threaten....
so remembah my supah-sketch cell phone insurance company NCOA? N how they took a month ta replace a stolen phone, makin me git my own police report n nawt respondin ta emails etc.?
Today ah git a lettah from them:
"After reviewing NCOA membership activity, including claims processed and settled under the NCOA cellular benefits, we have been instructed to forward due notice of cancellation to certain members. As a consequence, your NCOA membership is cancelled, effective immediately."
while ahm glad ah gawt a replacement phone, ah wondah if ahm justified ta a refund....ah wish thar was actually someone who could dae somethang about how awful an organization these folks are.
Er that they were local so ah could gae yell n bitch at some folks in person, perhaps urinating in their lobby.
a man ken dream, can't he?
Note - This is me predicting this phone will die on me within 6 months (more likely 3).
Today ah git a lettah from them:
"After reviewing NCOA membership activity, including claims processed and settled under the NCOA cellular benefits, we have been instructed to forward due notice of cancellation to certain members. As a consequence, your NCOA membership is cancelled, effective immediately."
while ahm glad ah gawt a replacement phone, ah wondah if ahm justified ta a refund....ah wish thar was actually someone who could dae somethang about how awful an organization these folks are.
Er that they were local so ah could gae yell n bitch at some folks in person, perhaps urinating in their lobby.
a man ken dream, can't he?
Note - This is me predicting this phone will die on me within 6 months (more likely 3).
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Flowers, Fire, and drunks!
First off, pictures as promised from tha bike path between my house and the BART:
Makes me think of how badassed a whole field of wildflowers out here will look in tha summer - this was a desolate patch of grey brown when ah moved here.
Next, think13 played at MAPP last nite in tha supah cold windy Balmy alleyway (Balmy is actually tha name of tha alleyway). It was just Dee and Christoph and myself, accompanied by fire dancers and for a little while by a little girl named Haley (probably around 9 years old) who banged on tha drum. Aftahwerds was this total weird duo of weirdos who chanted like ghosts and banged on stuff - total prima donnas. ah knew from tha git gae they'd be hard ta please, havin sound issues w. thar one amp (without which they couldn't gae "wooo! woo!"), n then when some of our dancers decided to accompany thar weirdness, one of em complained she couldn't breathe from tha kerosene. Fair enuff, but w.o tha fire dancers, thar stuff was pretty much unwatchable/listenable. N then it gawt werse w. a drunk latino man in his 40s started singing/shouting at them, and they disbanded before finishing. Tha crowd (what was left of them) wasn't too dissapointed, but they did start gittin annoyed at tha drunk guy who would nawt leave and would nawt shut up.
But thar WAS fire:
Gawta love San Francisco!
Today ah biked around tha mission gaein ta three open houses - only one of them is a potential fit, n its a bit more expensive then ahd like n only has one bathroom, for like 8 people, which could be a problem. but it would be a great space to live in - this huge crazy warehouse w. a 93" tv screen and bikes scattered around fer parts. We'll see how it gaes.....
Makes me think of how badassed a whole field of wildflowers out here will look in tha summer - this was a desolate patch of grey brown when ah moved here.
Next, think13 played at MAPP last nite in tha supah cold windy Balmy alleyway (Balmy is actually tha name of tha alleyway). It was just Dee and Christoph and myself, accompanied by fire dancers and for a little while by a little girl named Haley (probably around 9 years old) who banged on tha drum. Aftahwerds was this total weird duo of weirdos who chanted like ghosts and banged on stuff - total prima donnas. ah knew from tha git gae they'd be hard ta please, havin sound issues w. thar one amp (without which they couldn't gae "wooo! woo!"), n then when some of our dancers decided to accompany thar weirdness, one of em complained she couldn't breathe from tha kerosene. Fair enuff, but w.o tha fire dancers, thar stuff was pretty much unwatchable/listenable. N then it gawt werse w. a drunk latino man in his 40s started singing/shouting at them, and they disbanded before finishing. Tha crowd (what was left of them) wasn't too dissapointed, but they did start gittin annoyed at tha drunk guy who would nawt leave and would nawt shut up.
But thar WAS fire:
Gawta love San Francisco!
Today ah biked around tha mission gaein ta three open houses - only one of them is a potential fit, n its a bit more expensive then ahd like n only has one bathroom, for like 8 people, which could be a problem. but it would be a great space to live in - this huge crazy warehouse w. a 93" tv screen and bikes scattered around fer parts. We'll see how it gaes.....
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Weird Dreams
Ah usually don't remembah my dreams so well. Thar are a couple theories floatin around on this, some of them havin ta dae w. my consumption of a certain plant native to North America, whcih ah dont know enuff medical schtuff about ta argue w.
Howevah, ah remembah a big portion of last nites, n how frustrated it made me fee.
Specifically, the focal point of tha dream is that ah moved. But instead of movin intae tha city like ah wanted, somehow ah moved out to a suburb of San Francisco, a suburb in tha hills overlookin SF. Note - ahve actually seen these hills in otha dreams, undah tha guise of australia and bawstan mostly. Ah also remembah thar bein a particularly steep hill just before my house, one that ah could nawt even climb as tha wooden beams set in place ta make it more accessible were rotting. Ah remembah bein very pissed at myself fer choosin such an inconvenient place ta live (n rightly so).
My new housemates were a family - ah remembah bein very pissed at myself fer livin w. anutha family (nawt that my current family sucks, but ah thought ahd moved on). They were pretty straight-laced, but somehow undah tha impression ah would be makin a livin from teachin bass lessons, which ah would dae in tha house (my room - which ah nevah saw). Ah resolved ta instantly start searchin fer a new place ta live, n hoped my current situation was month-to-month.
Latah that evenin, ah biked to a friends place w. tha drummer from think13. My friends place ended up lookin identical to my current basement (but wasn't). My drummer had some crazy big wheel bike, n in makin room fer it, he knocked my own bike ovah.
Ah gawt up n beat tha shite outta him. Now - ahve prolly only punched someone in tha face once er twice in my entire life, as most of my physical entanglements were via wrestling, er punching shoulders. But ah nawt only punched him in tha face, ah kicked him when he was down. Ah remembah thinkin "Why are our friends lettin me beat tha crap out of my drummer?" but instead just told him "ah didn't kick you that hard."
Then ah was woken up by a phone call that ah didnt take.
Ah guess in tha grand scheme of thangs, that dream isn't really all that weird. but tha fact that remembered it is. Why is this one more important, er how did it slip through my unconscious so that it could stay w. me all day?
In otha news, think13 (a very very stripped down version) will be performing this evenin at a Mission alleyway, hopefully w. firedancers. Warren Teagarden opens fer tha guy who used ta play w. tha New York Dolls, but as a solo acoustic show. Ahm glad April is here, n startin ta dae some more significant househuntin werk.
sorry fer such a borin post, but a saturday mornin w.o obligations is a rare thang (one ah created fer myself b/c tomorrow is jam packed w. band practice n open-house attendance).
Howevah, ah remembah a big portion of last nites, n how frustrated it made me fee.
Specifically, the focal point of tha dream is that ah moved. But instead of movin intae tha city like ah wanted, somehow ah moved out to a suburb of San Francisco, a suburb in tha hills overlookin SF. Note - ahve actually seen these hills in otha dreams, undah tha guise of australia and bawstan mostly. Ah also remembah thar bein a particularly steep hill just before my house, one that ah could nawt even climb as tha wooden beams set in place ta make it more accessible were rotting. Ah remembah bein very pissed at myself fer choosin such an inconvenient place ta live (n rightly so).
My new housemates were a family - ah remembah bein very pissed at myself fer livin w. anutha family (nawt that my current family sucks, but ah thought ahd moved on). They were pretty straight-laced, but somehow undah tha impression ah would be makin a livin from teachin bass lessons, which ah would dae in tha house (my room - which ah nevah saw). Ah resolved ta instantly start searchin fer a new place ta live, n hoped my current situation was month-to-month.
Latah that evenin, ah biked to a friends place w. tha drummer from think13. My friends place ended up lookin identical to my current basement (but wasn't). My drummer had some crazy big wheel bike, n in makin room fer it, he knocked my own bike ovah.
Ah gawt up n beat tha shite outta him. Now - ahve prolly only punched someone in tha face once er twice in my entire life, as most of my physical entanglements were via wrestling, er punching shoulders. But ah nawt only punched him in tha face, ah kicked him when he was down. Ah remembah thinkin "Why are our friends lettin me beat tha crap out of my drummer?" but instead just told him "ah didn't kick you that hard."
Then ah was woken up by a phone call that ah didnt take.
Ah guess in tha grand scheme of thangs, that dream isn't really all that weird. but tha fact that remembered it is. Why is this one more important, er how did it slip through my unconscious so that it could stay w. me all day?
In otha news, think13 (a very very stripped down version) will be performing this evenin at a Mission alleyway, hopefully w. firedancers. Warren Teagarden opens fer tha guy who used ta play w. tha New York Dolls, but as a solo acoustic show. Ahm glad April is here, n startin ta dae some more significant househuntin werk.
sorry fer such a borin post, but a saturday mornin w.o obligations is a rare thang (one ah created fer myself b/c tomorrow is jam packed w. band practice n open-house attendance).
Monday, March 31, 2008
Weekend again
Last thursday marked 5 months in tha SF area, so lets see what ah was up ta, shall we?
First off, fer those of you unaware, my basick schedule these days is this: up around 7:30, out tha door between 8 and 8:30, 7.5 hours at my job, n then ah gae ta eitha yoga er band practice. On tha days ah have neitha (er skip yoga, as has been my march trend), ah generally gae home n veg, altho sometimes ah dae somethang bettah (like gaein to tha berkeley library er git a haircut). My weekends start w. me out tha house at 10:30 fer 11 am yoga, n then ah hop on tha BART fer practice w. think13. This usually takes me till about 5 er 6 pm, when ah usually gae home n collapse. Sunday, ah try ta take off.
Ahve been keepin up this pace all year, which is a lil surprising even ta me, but its a lawt of fun.
N this last weekend, think13 showed tha world (er at least tha Rock It Room) that we ain't all about tha handdrums n acoustic geetars all tha time. We brought 25 minutes of rawk to tha house, keepin up our end of tha bargain (as thar were 9 otha rawk bands, n if we didn't kick some ass it would've been very easy ta be tha weakest link). Even bettah, we were on kinda early, so that left tha rest of tha nite ta drink our hearts away (on our dime cuz tha rock it room doesn't take care of its bands - sorry guys, its tha truth. Ah will say that tha sound guy was phenomenal n worked way way way too hard).
Of kerse, whar alcohol is involved, thars opportunities fer bullshit. Especially when drunk frat boys think its funny ta pinch tha ass of our lead singers date. Over and over again. While it was quite a fine ass, it was made abundantly clear that she was spoken fer, n this guy did nawt take a hint. Nuthang came of it, but ah was surprised how quickly and easily East Coast teenager Anthony came to tha surface when confronted w. a total jackass who might have actually benefitted from gittin his ass kicked. Tha fact that thar was a dozen of us (mostly irish) who were of a similar mindframe helped...while ah continued ta tell myself that it wasn't worth it, nor a good idea, n that my karma would NAWT be rewarded, ah found myself shouting at a scumbag, n if ah hadn't been so inebriated ah might've even tried a curse. DOWN BOY!
tha rest of tha nite was fun, but its becoming obvious that ah need ta find myself a female companion in tha city, as at tha end of our gigs ahm crashin solo on a couch while tha otha band membahs spend "quality time" w. thar wife/gf/groupie. Perhaps ah should start talkin in a paddy accent in ordah ta make myself more exotic.....
Sunday was cold...actually its been ratha brisk in general out here since spring hit. Ahm told its b/c thars less cloud cover which makes sense. Despite tha sun beamin down all day, we're still hangin out at about 55/60 degrees, which is a smidge less then what ah consider "good weather." ahm sure my east coast friends like ta hear me complain.
Sunday afternoon was practice w. Warren Teagarden, which felt really really good. Partially b.c ah think our last live set went off so well and we're starting to feel a lot more comfortable w. each other and willing to dive into the songs. The CD release fer Warren is next Friday, and it should be a great nite. We play a particularly fantastic cover of Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Right Round," which you can hear if you buy tha CD (er email me and ask me nicely maybe).
Tha new job is startin ta settle in, altho ahm currently nawt busy enuff ta have an excuse ta nawt dae some of tha tedious busy work (mostly data entry). Howevah, my co-workers are quite competent at thar jobs, which is excellent, n thar promises ta be a shit ton of work as we gear up fer 2008 elections. It is a bit exciting to feel like in some way, ah could just maybe be makin a difference.
Ah also came intae some cool luck, as an old friend of mine from college had apparently moved w.o letting me know his new contact info. On a whim, ah googled his name, and found a number for him as he's been a guitar teacher fer quite a while. Ah rang him outta tha blue n had a great 2 hour conversation with him whar we reflected on how different our lives our - He's married n teaches almost 60 kids a week, but hasn't had a gig in so long he can't even remember. He's also just about 20 miles away from his home town, n gittin excited about tha prospect of buyin a house in tha relatively near future. Different priorities and different circumstances indeed.
It's spring. how about that. Thars a bitchin wildflower patch on my bike path that ah should take pictures of. This state is fricken beautiful, n everyone should move out here so they ken watch my bands play.
First off, fer those of you unaware, my basick schedule these days is this: up around 7:30, out tha door between 8 and 8:30, 7.5 hours at my job, n then ah gae ta eitha yoga er band practice. On tha days ah have neitha (er skip yoga, as has been my march trend), ah generally gae home n veg, altho sometimes ah dae somethang bettah (like gaein to tha berkeley library er git a haircut). My weekends start w. me out tha house at 10:30 fer 11 am yoga, n then ah hop on tha BART fer practice w. think13. This usually takes me till about 5 er 6 pm, when ah usually gae home n collapse. Sunday, ah try ta take off.
Ahve been keepin up this pace all year, which is a lil surprising even ta me, but its a lawt of fun.
N this last weekend, think13 showed tha world (er at least tha Rock It Room) that we ain't all about tha handdrums n acoustic geetars all tha time. We brought 25 minutes of rawk to tha house, keepin up our end of tha bargain (as thar were 9 otha rawk bands, n if we didn't kick some ass it would've been very easy ta be tha weakest link). Even bettah, we were on kinda early, so that left tha rest of tha nite ta drink our hearts away (on our dime cuz tha rock it room doesn't take care of its bands - sorry guys, its tha truth. Ah will say that tha sound guy was phenomenal n worked way way way too hard).
Of kerse, whar alcohol is involved, thars opportunities fer bullshit. Especially when drunk frat boys think its funny ta pinch tha ass of our lead singers date. Over and over again. While it was quite a fine ass, it was made abundantly clear that she was spoken fer, n this guy did nawt take a hint. Nuthang came of it, but ah was surprised how quickly and easily East Coast teenager Anthony came to tha surface when confronted w. a total jackass who might have actually benefitted from gittin his ass kicked. Tha fact that thar was a dozen of us (mostly irish) who were of a similar mindframe helped...while ah continued ta tell myself that it wasn't worth it, nor a good idea, n that my karma would NAWT be rewarded, ah found myself shouting at a scumbag, n if ah hadn't been so inebriated ah might've even tried a curse. DOWN BOY!
tha rest of tha nite was fun, but its becoming obvious that ah need ta find myself a female companion in tha city, as at tha end of our gigs ahm crashin solo on a couch while tha otha band membahs spend "quality time" w. thar wife/gf/groupie. Perhaps ah should start talkin in a paddy accent in ordah ta make myself more exotic.....
Sunday was cold...actually its been ratha brisk in general out here since spring hit. Ahm told its b/c thars less cloud cover which makes sense. Despite tha sun beamin down all day, we're still hangin out at about 55/60 degrees, which is a smidge less then what ah consider "good weather." ahm sure my east coast friends like ta hear me complain.
Sunday afternoon was practice w. Warren Teagarden, which felt really really good. Partially b.c ah think our last live set went off so well and we're starting to feel a lot more comfortable w. each other and willing to dive into the songs. The CD release fer Warren is next Friday, and it should be a great nite. We play a particularly fantastic cover of Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Right Round," which you can hear if you buy tha CD (er email me and ask me nicely maybe).
Tha new job is startin ta settle in, altho ahm currently nawt busy enuff ta have an excuse ta nawt dae some of tha tedious busy work (mostly data entry). Howevah, my co-workers are quite competent at thar jobs, which is excellent, n thar promises ta be a shit ton of work as we gear up fer 2008 elections. It is a bit exciting to feel like in some way, ah could just maybe be makin a difference.
Ah also came intae some cool luck, as an old friend of mine from college had apparently moved w.o letting me know his new contact info. On a whim, ah googled his name, and found a number for him as he's been a guitar teacher fer quite a while. Ah rang him outta tha blue n had a great 2 hour conversation with him whar we reflected on how different our lives our - He's married n teaches almost 60 kids a week, but hasn't had a gig in so long he can't even remember. He's also just about 20 miles away from his home town, n gittin excited about tha prospect of buyin a house in tha relatively near future. Different priorities and different circumstances indeed.
It's spring. how about that. Thars a bitchin wildflower patch on my bike path that ah should take pictures of. This state is fricken beautiful, n everyone should move out here so they ken watch my bands play.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Children of Bodom review
cross posted from tha BG....
ta prove ahm nawt all Kylie -->
Here is my review of tha new Children of Bodom album Blooddrunk which ah found very interestin actually.
ta prove ahm nawt all Kylie -->
Here is my review of tha new Children of Bodom album Blooddrunk which ah found very interestin actually.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday is MY DAY!
MY DAY ta bike all ovah tah fricken place. Mostly via tha ohlone greenway er tha Bicycle Boulevard. Apparently it was also Easter, which ah always think is in mid-April.
HAPPY ZOMBIE JEEBUS DAY!
In case anyone is wonderin, ahm diggin my new job. It's a bit slow at tha moment, but ahm part of a 4 person department (thars actually two otha folx in tha department, but they don't werk in SF) n ah like that we're a small department on a big floor. Essentially my job is ta learn this online database well enuff so that ah ken eventually train n support volunteer leaders across tha country w. usin it, so ah think it will be a good fit.
think13 has a big gig this Saturday whar we will be debutin as a full-on RAWK BAND, w. electric guitars n kit drum. It's part of a fundraiser, we'll be playin w. some great bands. Watch out SF, thar will be rawk.
Also, ahm very excited b.c this week ahll git ta meet up w. an old Mysterious Odors band mate. Ah haven't seen any of these guys since our last gig, which was pandemonium. mmm, pandemonium.
HAPPY ZOMBIE JEEBUS DAY!
In case anyone is wonderin, ahm diggin my new job. It's a bit slow at tha moment, but ahm part of a 4 person department (thars actually two otha folx in tha department, but they don't werk in SF) n ah like that we're a small department on a big floor. Essentially my job is ta learn this online database well enuff so that ah ken eventually train n support volunteer leaders across tha country w. usin it, so ah think it will be a good fit.
think13 has a big gig this Saturday whar we will be debutin as a full-on RAWK BAND, w. electric guitars n kit drum. It's part of a fundraiser, we'll be playin w. some great bands. Watch out SF, thar will be rawk.
Also, ahm very excited b.c this week ahll git ta meet up w. an old Mysterious Odors band mate. Ah haven't seen any of these guys since our last gig, which was pandemonium. mmm, pandemonium.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How'd it gae?
My birthday n all that jazz? Pretty good!
While tha 13th itself was pretty lowkey, sushi was bought fer me, n my yoga class sang me happy bday between tortoise n camel (n we were invited ta hold camel fer up ta two minutes if anyone was up fer it, which they weren't).
My last day of werk was mostly a half day cuz people kept takin me out fer lunch er gelato er tellin me how much they'd miss me.
Ah gawta new phone, finally, it only took a month (literally).
Tha gig was a trip, as expected. Orders gawt switched around, a bartendah kicked SEVERE BASS off early fer bein "too mellow," n then Warren Teagarden brought tha place down (brought in part by tha fact that ah was absolutely LIVID about bein told my set was ovah when ah had just one more, kickass rawk tune left, n that ah usually play great w. a band when ahm PISSED OFF). People were dancin, moshin, drinkin, screamin. Tha audience demanded an encore, tha second time thas happened in my life (tha first was also a birthday gig, that time w. AllEyesOn), which they were treated too cuz we're nice guys. think13 played "Whiskey in the Jar," twice, and a lawt of alcohol was consumed fer free. We were up till four in tha mornin, n my 9-5in self was awake n movin at 10 am.
Today was tha first day at my new job, which was slow n left me w. lil ta dae, but ahm still quite excited about bein a gae-ta guy soon, n showin these folx how smart they were ta hire me. Ah just need ta be less tired.....
so there!
While tha 13th itself was pretty lowkey, sushi was bought fer me, n my yoga class sang me happy bday between tortoise n camel (n we were invited ta hold camel fer up ta two minutes if anyone was up fer it, which they weren't).
My last day of werk was mostly a half day cuz people kept takin me out fer lunch er gelato er tellin me how much they'd miss me.
Ah gawta new phone, finally, it only took a month (literally).
Tha gig was a trip, as expected. Orders gawt switched around, a bartendah kicked SEVERE BASS off early fer bein "too mellow," n then Warren Teagarden brought tha place down (brought in part by tha fact that ah was absolutely LIVID about bein told my set was ovah when ah had just one more, kickass rawk tune left, n that ah usually play great w. a band when ahm PISSED OFF). People were dancin, moshin, drinkin, screamin. Tha audience demanded an encore, tha second time thas happened in my life (tha first was also a birthday gig, that time w. AllEyesOn), which they were treated too cuz we're nice guys. think13 played "Whiskey in the Jar," twice, and a lawt of alcohol was consumed fer free. We were up till four in tha mornin, n my 9-5in self was awake n movin at 10 am.
Today was tha first day at my new job, which was slow n left me w. lil ta dae, but ahm still quite excited about bein a gae-ta guy soon, n showin these folx how smart they were ta hire me. Ah just need ta be less tired.....
so there!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
TODAY (3/13)
Is my Birthday!
You don't hafta comment, er send me an email, er pretend ta call me (still nae phone), er drop by my office n take me out fer lunch (altho all that stuff would be nice!), ah just ask that you think about me today, preferably how awesome you think ah am. N you east-coasters should miss me a lil too, please :)
Twenty-Seven is a numbah that has much spiritual and mathematical significance. Ah think its a pretty rawkin age ta be, n am lookin forward ta fawkin all sortsa shite up this next year!
You don't hafta comment, er send me an email, er pretend ta call me (still nae phone), er drop by my office n take me out fer lunch (altho all that stuff would be nice!), ah just ask that you think about me today, preferably how awesome you think ah am. N you east-coasters should miss me a lil too, please :)
Twenty-Seven is a numbah that has much spiritual and mathematical significance. Ah think its a pretty rawkin age ta be, n am lookin forward ta fawkin all sortsa shite up this next year!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 09, 2008
How weak
and unprofessional!
We'd been contacted by what ah will say no more about then that they are a country-western band from las vegas if we could help them git a gig. Well, favors are good, rite?
They decide instead that they'll play anutha show but maybe they ken swing by tha bar we're at at like midnite?
No thanks.
Ahm still pullin triple duty, unless, like ah said, ah pussy out.
Upside - Today ah biked ta berkeley. Ah really like how that sounds n what that meant. Walkin that first couple blocks on Telegraph on a beautiful Sunday w. my bike = excellent. N aftahwerds came home ta play some surprisingly rawkin musick somewhat out of tha blue. We felt like a band, just about, except ah had nae idea what they were gawna dae until they actually did it. Sounded pretty good tho, whatevah it was.
We'd been contacted by what ah will say no more about then that they are a country-western band from las vegas if we could help them git a gig. Well, favors are good, rite?
They decide instead that they'll play anutha show but maybe they ken swing by tha bar we're at at like midnite?
No thanks.
Ahm still pullin triple duty, unless, like ah said, ah pussy out.
Upside - Today ah biked ta berkeley. Ah really like how that sounds n what that meant. Walkin that first couple blocks on Telegraph on a beautiful Sunday w. my bike = excellent. N aftahwerds came home ta play some surprisingly rawkin musick somewhat out of tha blue. We felt like a band, just about, except ah had nae idea what they were gawna dae until they actually did it. Sounded pretty good tho, whatevah it was.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
DECISION MADE!
Ah will start on March 18th as tha new Program Assistant for an amazing Environmental Organization. My current employer is really bummed that ahll be leavin them (n turnin down more money), but unnerstand my decision n isn't holdin a grudge.
Thanks so much to everyone fer thar insight, comments, n thoughts. It really did make all tha difference.
Much love,
a fully employed Humble Observer
Thanks so much to everyone fer thar insight, comments, n thoughts. It really did make all tha difference.
Much love,
a fully employed Humble Observer
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Buy A Word...any word.....
cross posted from tha BG
Ah found this on Laughing Squid.
The Big Word Project reminds me of that book The Phantom Tollbooth and tha scene whar thar at tha word market n buyin words. These folks have simplified tha concept, that tha worth is only based on how long it is. They say:
"About The Big Word Project
The Big Word Project has been set up by Paddy Donnelly and Lee Munroe, two Masters students from Northern Ireland, who are exploring what different words mean to different people. The project allows you to purchase a word from our list to represent your site. Your site will then represent this word in our list and when people click on it, they will be taken to your site. The project is aimed at changing definitions and creating a new tapestry of words, meaning altogether different things.
We're selling words for $1 per letter. Find it, click it, buy it :-)
For example, you may buy the word 'Donkey' for $6 and it will link to your site dedicated to donkeys. The word 'Donkey' will then be the gateway to your site and the definition will be changed. No longer will the word Donkey mean 'a woodworking apparatus consisting of a clamping frame and saw, used for cutting marquetry veneers', instead it will now be represented visually by 'Chris's Donkey Site'."
Currently, ahve spent $10 ta secure both "severe" and "bass." Ahve decided that whenevah ah git first dibs on eitha of those words from now, ah should just jump on it. Maybe some dumb-ass latah generation will credit me w. its conception...."you know, SEVERE, like in 'severe bass?'"
Or maybe I just gave 10 bux to some Irish guys. Which I'm okay with.
Ah found this on Laughing Squid.
The Big Word Project reminds me of that book The Phantom Tollbooth and tha scene whar thar at tha word market n buyin words. These folks have simplified tha concept, that tha worth is only based on how long it is. They say:
"About The Big Word Project
The Big Word Project has been set up by Paddy Donnelly and Lee Munroe, two Masters students from Northern Ireland, who are exploring what different words mean to different people. The project allows you to purchase a word from our list to represent your site. Your site will then represent this word in our list and when people click on it, they will be taken to your site. The project is aimed at changing definitions and creating a new tapestry of words, meaning altogether different things.
We're selling words for $1 per letter. Find it, click it, buy it :-)
For example, you may buy the word 'Donkey' for $6 and it will link to your site dedicated to donkeys. The word 'Donkey' will then be the gateway to your site and the definition will be changed. No longer will the word Donkey mean 'a woodworking apparatus consisting of a clamping frame and saw, used for cutting marquetry veneers', instead it will now be represented visually by 'Chris's Donkey Site'."
Currently, ahve spent $10 ta secure both "severe" and "bass." Ahve decided that whenevah ah git first dibs on eitha of those words from now, ah should just jump on it. Maybe some dumb-ass latah generation will credit me w. its conception...."you know, SEVERE, like in 'severe bass?'"
Or maybe I just gave 10 bux to some Irish guys. Which I'm okay with.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
TORN
my current job wants me. BAD.
problem? they can't make me an offer until they have the posting up for 2 weeks internally. Which hasn't happened yet.
But damn, they want me. N will pay me more. N will give me development experience. N are possibly tha best skool in tha WORLD.
but, tha otha job CAN make me an offer. N has. n is awesome. N thar will be a lawt of opportunities ta move up and sidewayz within tha organization. Whereas the current position is set at "Staff Assistant," likelihood of promotion (and even interest in promotion within geographical possibilities) is close ta zero.
ah totally dont know what ta dae at tha moment. Thoughts?
problem? they can't make me an offer until they have the posting up for 2 weeks internally. Which hasn't happened yet.
But damn, they want me. N will pay me more. N will give me development experience. N are possibly tha best skool in tha WORLD.
but, tha otha job CAN make me an offer. N has. n is awesome. N thar will be a lawt of opportunities ta move up and sidewayz within tha organization. Whereas the current position is set at "Staff Assistant," likelihood of promotion (and even interest in promotion within geographical possibilities) is close ta zero.
ah totally dont know what ta dae at tha moment. Thoughts?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
HELLZ YES!
Ah gawt an offer from a prestigious Environmental Organization ta be a Program Assistant today!!!!!!
ah cannot explain how relieved n excited ah am that this has finally happened....aftah 4 fawkin months, somebody has finally recognized that ah would be a kickass full-time employee. N while ah would prolly take just about any offer ah gawt at this point in time, this is a group ah would LOVE ta werk fer.
AND tha place ahm currently tempin wants ta talk ta me tomorrow about possibly makin me full-time cuz my boss loves my work n my personality. My guess is - they can't make me an offer tomorrow, even tho if they could, it would pay me WAY WAY more then tha place that did. HOWEVAH, ahve been here too long ta turn down a real offer, fer a job ah want, fer a potential bettah offer at a job ah also want. Maybe if ahd only been here 2 months, ahd be willin ta take a chance, but my loyalty lies w. whoevah ken pay me a livin wage...guaranteed. N that would be door numbah 1.....
but its like a weight has been lifted. Ah can't describe how good it feels ta finally have this stuipd job thang taken care of. N now ah ken officially start lookin fer new digs in tha city.
My life is comin togetha, n ah am eternally grateful fer these opportunities, n tha support of my friends during this entire transition. It's hard ta nawt think ah made tha right move leavin my comfortable and happy (but easy) life in NOVA fer tha great trendy unknown.
Much love and appreciation fer you, my friends, n to tha universe fer bringin us togetha. Sometimes life is hard...sometimes life is shitty...sometimes life is good....n right now, LIFE IS AWESOME!
ah cannot explain how relieved n excited ah am that this has finally happened....aftah 4 fawkin months, somebody has finally recognized that ah would be a kickass full-time employee. N while ah would prolly take just about any offer ah gawt at this point in time, this is a group ah would LOVE ta werk fer.
AND tha place ahm currently tempin wants ta talk ta me tomorrow about possibly makin me full-time cuz my boss loves my work n my personality. My guess is - they can't make me an offer tomorrow, even tho if they could, it would pay me WAY WAY more then tha place that did. HOWEVAH, ahve been here too long ta turn down a real offer, fer a job ah want, fer a potential bettah offer at a job ah also want. Maybe if ahd only been here 2 months, ahd be willin ta take a chance, but my loyalty lies w. whoevah ken pay me a livin wage...guaranteed. N that would be door numbah 1.....
but its like a weight has been lifted. Ah can't describe how good it feels ta finally have this stuipd job thang taken care of. N now ah ken officially start lookin fer new digs in tha city.
My life is comin togetha, n ah am eternally grateful fer these opportunities, n tha support of my friends during this entire transition. It's hard ta nawt think ah made tha right move leavin my comfortable and happy (but easy) life in NOVA fer tha great trendy unknown.
Much love and appreciation fer you, my friends, n to tha universe fer bringin us togetha. Sometimes life is hard...sometimes life is shitty...sometimes life is good....n right now, LIFE IS AWESOME!
thursday will be a tuff day
It's 1 am, ahm prolly at least 30, if nawt more like 60, minutes from sleep. See below post, n you'll know that ah hafta be at werk at 9 am (meanin, out tha house ABSOLUTELY nae latah then 8:05). Howevah, ahm pretty sure Warren Teagarden recently rawked tha Stork Club, n ah sorta have pictures ta prove it (altho most of them are fuzzy).
Yoga was switched ta tomorrow as well, as an act of universe synchronicity. But this means nawt only will ah need ta be out my house in 7 hours, but tha ah wont be back here till past 9 pm tomorrow; that day includes 8 hours o work (likely data entry), a phone call w. a potential employer, 2 hours of commute, 90 minutes of bikram (which ah haven't been ta since Sat), n cleanin tha studio (45ish mins., depending). This all before ah have dinnah, relax, n process everythang from today n tomorrow.
As busy as this current life ah have is keepin me, ah hafta admit, ahm pretty fawkin happy. Which was tha point of movin out here, rite?
Also - It's been exactly four months since ah gawt here. Ah arrived Oct. 27th (which incidentally is tha date of tha last think13 "balance" performance), ahm on tha verge of somethang. Ah ken totally feel it. Bein on stage 5 times this year is nice too!
Yoga was switched ta tomorrow as well, as an act of universe synchronicity. But this means nawt only will ah need ta be out my house in 7 hours, but tha ah wont be back here till past 9 pm tomorrow; that day includes 8 hours o work (likely data entry), a phone call w. a potential employer, 2 hours of commute, 90 minutes of bikram (which ah haven't been ta since Sat), n cleanin tha studio (45ish mins., depending). This all before ah have dinnah, relax, n process everythang from today n tomorrow.
As busy as this current life ah have is keepin me, ah hafta admit, ahm pretty fawkin happy. Which was tha point of movin out here, rite?
Also - It's been exactly four months since ah gawt here. Ah arrived Oct. 27th (which incidentally is tha date of tha last think13 "balance" performance), ahm on tha verge of somethang. Ah ken totally feel it. Bein on stage 5 times this year is nice too!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
More Workplace Bullshit
So when my boss starts off a conversation w. "It's come to my attention that," its nawt a good thang. Howevah, being that ahve been a pretty good lil employee thus far, my brain is sorta like "ah didn't fawk up!"
Well, it's come to my boss' attention that my corporate conservative "casual" office place doesn't allow temps to work unsupervised This is a bummer b/c ah have band practice 1 er 2 times a week in tha city, but nawt until 7 pm. So in tha past, at this job n tha last, ahve been comin in 10 n leavin at 6 on evenins like that, as an hour ta git from one place to anutha is a lawt less time ta kill.
So tha otha two officers in my department were out this mornin, n ah sent my supervisor an email askin if that meant ah had ta take lunch at tha same time as tha otha staff assistant (who, while 2 years my junior, as a REAL employee of my institution, is a supervisor). My boss said he thought that would be stupid, n assumed that, unless he heard othawise, ah was okay ta be in tha office from 9 - 5, which is good, as tha bosses here dae a lawt of travelling.
Well, it came to his attention AGAIN that officer who is here today n tha otha assistant will be leavin at 3:30 fer a meeting. Which means ah hafta leave as well. AND ah can't git paid past when ah leave. So today, ahm out 2 hours of werk (n ah git a good hourly rate here) b/c of stupid corporate rules.
Ta let you know a lil more about tha environment that is bein sublet, ah looked online ta see what this company did. n they invest money in management teams in the 10 - 100 MILLION dollar range. Ah guess tha more money you invest, tha more pleasure you git outta bein a complete douchebag.
Tha one thang ah dae like about this, is my boss pointed out that by treatin me like garbage, ah was WAY more likely ta try n destroy all tha nice thangs in this office then if they just treated me like a human being. But apparently, b/c ahma temp, ah pose GRAVE security issues.
This post brought ta you, on tha companies dime, b/c of bullshit.
Well, it's come to my boss' attention that my corporate conservative "casual" office place doesn't allow temps to work unsupervised This is a bummer b/c ah have band practice 1 er 2 times a week in tha city, but nawt until 7 pm. So in tha past, at this job n tha last, ahve been comin in 10 n leavin at 6 on evenins like that, as an hour ta git from one place to anutha is a lawt less time ta kill.
So tha otha two officers in my department were out this mornin, n ah sent my supervisor an email askin if that meant ah had ta take lunch at tha same time as tha otha staff assistant (who, while 2 years my junior, as a REAL employee of my institution, is a supervisor). My boss said he thought that would be stupid, n assumed that, unless he heard othawise, ah was okay ta be in tha office from 9 - 5, which is good, as tha bosses here dae a lawt of travelling.
Well, it came to his attention AGAIN that officer who is here today n tha otha assistant will be leavin at 3:30 fer a meeting. Which means ah hafta leave as well. AND ah can't git paid past when ah leave. So today, ahm out 2 hours of werk (n ah git a good hourly rate here) b/c of stupid corporate rules.
Ta let you know a lil more about tha environment that is bein sublet, ah looked online ta see what this company did. n they invest money in management teams in the 10 - 100 MILLION dollar range. Ah guess tha more money you invest, tha more pleasure you git outta bein a complete douchebag.
Tha one thang ah dae like about this, is my boss pointed out that by treatin me like garbage, ah was WAY more likely ta try n destroy all tha nice thangs in this office then if they just treated me like a human being. But apparently, b/c ahma temp, ah pose GRAVE security issues.
This post brought ta you, on tha companies dime, b/c of bullshit.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Break-ups suck
A couple of weeks ago, think13 played a pretty wild show at a local Irish bar. While our musick was relatively tame, tha nite of daein our own sound, drinkin waay too much, n a stolen handbag was plenty of nutzo. Ah knew before tha nite even began we'd be talkin about that "crazy first nite" at Irelands 32.
Unfortunetly, some of tha crazy gawt a bit big fer its britches.
A good friend of our guitarist had their handbag stolen at that show, n soon aftah all her friends received nasty text messages from tha thief. Luckily, somebody had tha incident on tape.
Nawt so luckily, tha evidence strongly points to tha significant other of one of our hand percussionists. It very clearly shows her putting her bag and jacket on top of the handbag, n then latah, picking it up, revealing tha handbag as missing.
Ahll be honest, this significant otha wasn't my favorite person in tha world (ahm nawt such a fan of girlfriends who sit in on EVERY band practice, especially when they are somewhat of a distraction to tha band member), but ah didn't really think that badly of her. But tha videotape is what tha cops called "a classic case," and its given us a bad name w. tha Irish community. Charges are bein filed, etc. etc.
Our hand percussionist was told he needed ta "take care of it." Unfortunetly, this did nawt translate in his head to "dump yer girlfriend." Ah remembah bein 21, n thinkin that tha relationship ah was in was IT. So ah feel fer tha kid, n identify w. whar he's comin from.
Howevah, while a band is a family, its tha kind of family you CAN choose. And this band, is a bizness to some extent (or will be). And this girlfriend, is a liability.
So, while it broke our hearts (others more then mine, this guy has been w/ think13 for a long long time), we had to make a choice based on his choice. And he's still gawt a girlfriend, but nae band.
In good news fer think13, we just subletted a practice space (a pretty decent one too) in tha city. This is obviously a new beginnin fer us. It just sucks that tha first thang we did in our new practice space is fire a drummer.
N now, tha search is on fer anutha percussionist. Our friend left some fairly big shoes ta fill....
Unfortunetly, some of tha crazy gawt a bit big fer its britches.
A good friend of our guitarist had their handbag stolen at that show, n soon aftah all her friends received nasty text messages from tha thief. Luckily, somebody had tha incident on tape.
Nawt so luckily, tha evidence strongly points to tha significant other of one of our hand percussionists. It very clearly shows her putting her bag and jacket on top of the handbag, n then latah, picking it up, revealing tha handbag as missing.
Ahll be honest, this significant otha wasn't my favorite person in tha world (ahm nawt such a fan of girlfriends who sit in on EVERY band practice, especially when they are somewhat of a distraction to tha band member), but ah didn't really think that badly of her. But tha videotape is what tha cops called "a classic case," and its given us a bad name w. tha Irish community. Charges are bein filed, etc. etc.
Our hand percussionist was told he needed ta "take care of it." Unfortunetly, this did nawt translate in his head to "dump yer girlfriend." Ah remembah bein 21, n thinkin that tha relationship ah was in was IT. So ah feel fer tha kid, n identify w. whar he's comin from.
Howevah, while a band is a family, its tha kind of family you CAN choose. And this band, is a bizness to some extent (or will be). And this girlfriend, is a liability.
So, while it broke our hearts (others more then mine, this guy has been w/ think13 for a long long time), we had to make a choice based on his choice. And he's still gawt a girlfriend, but nae band.
In good news fer think13, we just subletted a practice space (a pretty decent one too) in tha city. This is obviously a new beginnin fer us. It just sucks that tha first thang we did in our new practice space is fire a drummer.
N now, tha search is on fer anutha percussionist. Our friend left some fairly big shoes ta fill....
Monday, February 25, 2008
ah skipped yoga today
ah know, ahma horrible person, n ah beg fer yer forgiveness. But ahm damn tired n thars a Warren Teagarden gig on Wed. n ah just didn't feel like 1)daein yoga, n a really didn't feel like 2)gittin home at 8:30.
On anutha hand - Please keep me in your thoughts this week. Ah had a meeting w. tha HR person for a job ahd interviewed for back in January and was told that meeting w. her "was a good sign." Ah also found out today that my current temp assignment has been given tha green light to potentially become permanent, n know that my current boss is very pleased with my work. Wed (same nite as my show) is tha 4 month anniversary of landing out here in tha SF Bay, n ah feel like a puzzle piece is oh-so-close ta bein in place. Ahm excited at tha potential for some REAL employment, but don't want ta git my hopes up too much until ah git a real offer....
On tha third hand, ah found out that my insurance, NCOA is known fer bein a sketchy jerkface that doesn't deliver on its promises, currently w. ovah a hundred Better Business Bureau claims against it. tomorrow ah hafta fax a copy of my police report, but am worried that they may send me a bad replacement (as ahve read they are notorious for).
On anutha hand - Please keep me in your thoughts this week. Ah had a meeting w. tha HR person for a job ahd interviewed for back in January and was told that meeting w. her "was a good sign." Ah also found out today that my current temp assignment has been given tha green light to potentially become permanent, n know that my current boss is very pleased with my work. Wed (same nite as my show) is tha 4 month anniversary of landing out here in tha SF Bay, n ah feel like a puzzle piece is oh-so-close ta bein in place. Ahm excited at tha potential for some REAL employment, but don't want ta git my hopes up too much until ah git a real offer....
On tha third hand, ah found out that my insurance, NCOA is known fer bein a sketchy jerkface that doesn't deliver on its promises, currently w. ovah a hundred Better Business Bureau claims against it. tomorrow ah hafta fax a copy of my police report, but am worried that they may send me a bad replacement (as ahve read they are notorious for).
Sunday, February 24, 2008
It really is tha little thangs....
Ahd like ta speak briefly about three relatively little thangs that have GREATLY increased my quality of life in tha recent future.
1)The Vornado Digital Vortext Heater that ah bought recently to combat rising heating prices in my home. While far from perfect, this compact and quiet heater turns my room or basement from a freezing space ta somethang downrite bearable, n relatively quickly too!
2)Rain pants. A friend of my landlady recently donated her pair to me b/c ahd mentioned bikin in tha rain kinda SUCKS! Altho it is a bit disturbin that ah ken fit intae size XS of ANYTHANG!
3)A good shower head. Recently ahd been strugglin against a piece of shite showah head that barely dropped watah out of it. B.c of tha low pressure, it also took ages ta git hawt, n was sometimes a very finely-tuned process of showerin. Howevah, ah just showered in somethang thas been installed in tha last few days, n it was WONDAHFUL! Honestly, if ahd been told "rent is gaein up 50 bux a month BUT ahm puttin in a new showah head" ahd prolly conceeded!
numbah 4 is a certain card issued by an oakland non-profit that ah can't find a good enuff link to ta make it worthwhile.
1)The Vornado Digital Vortext Heater that ah bought recently to combat rising heating prices in my home. While far from perfect, this compact and quiet heater turns my room or basement from a freezing space ta somethang downrite bearable, n relatively quickly too!
2)Rain pants. A friend of my landlady recently donated her pair to me b/c ahd mentioned bikin in tha rain kinda SUCKS! Altho it is a bit disturbin that ah ken fit intae size XS of ANYTHANG!
3)A good shower head. Recently ahd been strugglin against a piece of shite showah head that barely dropped watah out of it. B.c of tha low pressure, it also took ages ta git hawt, n was sometimes a very finely-tuned process of showerin. Howevah, ah just showered in somethang thas been installed in tha last few days, n it was WONDAHFUL! Honestly, if ahd been told "rent is gaein up 50 bux a month BUT ahm puttin in a new showah head" ahd prolly conceeded!
numbah 4 is a certain card issued by an oakland non-profit that ah can't find a good enuff link to ta make it worthwhile.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Corporate Conservative Casual
Does this sound 1984-ish to you? Er at tha very least, like a made-up oxymoron?
So ah werk in a posh office at tha moment, fer a well-known institution, in thar West Coast Development office (any more info then that could git me in trouble). My current employer is a leasee on a few offices and cube spaces in a two-story bay on a pier in SF's Embarcadero. This office is SUPAH posh, on Monday's we git free leftovah lunch, thars fully stocked sodas, coffee, tea, snacks (including Nature Valley Bars, chips, fruit, and yogurt), n apparently our kitchen is modeled aftah tha ownahs PERSONAL kitchen. Fer reasons ah don't remembah, thars even a piano, drum set, bass guitar + amp and electric guitar + amp IN my office (which are, obviously off-limits. N horribly, HORRIBLY temptin, but ahm nawt stupid.)
Howevah, this poshness comes w. a price. Some time durin my first week, ah wore a pretty conservative sweater to work, n my boss told me he was pretty sure thar was a collared shirt requirement at tha office. So ah now always wear a collared shirt....its nawt that my boss cares, but tha office does.
Although ah don't think any of us knew how much they cared. Apprently tha office manger talked to one of our guys yestahday, which resulted in this email:
"Just a friendly reminder to us all that we are in subleased space. As
you may have noticed, there has been an increase in visitors to _name witheld_.
In any event, we need to keep in mind that we are in a professional
environment and our attire and appearance should reflect that. The
guests of _name withheld_ do not necessarily know the distinction
between the _my employers_ space/staff downstairs and the rest of the office
here at Bay X. Though we may not be having _my employer_ visitors daily, we
should dress appropriately since _name withheld_ often has business
clients coming through the space. We also want to be respectful of our
hospitable hosts. FYI, they do notice what we wear! (For guidance, below
is a memo from _a place_ regarding attire.)
Another reminder that under no circumstances should we be using the
musical instruments that are in the building. It has come to the
attention of _name withheld_ that musical instruments were used last
night without permission(This totally WASNT ME). The instruments are valuable and private property. Our arrangement is primarily for the offices and cubes.
Lastly, a reminder that we should only be going upstairs for access to
the restrooms.
As you'll note below, _my boss_ has a "Business Casual" dress environment
throughout the entire year with the exception of a
donor/volunteer/faculty meeting or event where more formal business
attire is appropriate.
What's not appropriate for the office?
* jeans (any color)
* shorts (please note that "culottes" are ok only so long as they
are specifically designed as work attire and are knee length or longer
and are conservative in color - khaki, black, navy)
* midriff or cut-off t-shirts, descriptive t-shirts (t-shirts with
pictures, words, slogans or statements), tank or halter tops (please
note that women may wear tasteful, professional sleeveless shirts or
dresses)
* mini skirts
* ragged clothing or footwear
* pool style or athletic style sandals or flip-flops
* athletic / sports wear (sweats, football jerseys, etc.)
_boss-man_ has adopted a business casual dress
environment with the exception of a client meeting/event where business
attire is appropriate. ***Examples of business casual attire are
collared shirt and dress slacks (or khakis) for men and dress slacks,
skirts, or dresses for women, and appropriate footwear.*** Examples of
business attire are collared shirt, tie, suit, jacket or blazer and
dress slacks for men and suit, dress slacks and jacket, skirts, or
dresses for women."
Ah thought this was prety straight forward, n a bit obnoxious of a reminder (n ah have been known ta wear a hoodie ovah my collared shirt cuz its damn cold sometimes), howevah, it apparently wasn't enuff, b/c this email, almost immediately, was responded to by tha office manager:
Thanks _someone more important then me_--
To elaborate on the dress, _name witheld_ has a conservative corporate
casual dress code. It generally follows the guidelines mentioned below
with the addition of clean shaven faces, clean and pressed clothes,
shirts tucked in, and no tennis shoes.
As for the instruments, they are off-limits for
personnel as well -- we've been told that it is grounds for termination
if they are used without permission.
So ah can't help but wondah if tha fact that sometimes ahve fergawten ta shave before werk, n that ah usually DONT tuck my shirt in at werk, has gawten me on someones shit list. But what really gits me is tha term "conservative corporate casual." Thar's pretty much NUTHANG casual about that....except that they aren't requirein a suit jacket n a tie.
Luckily, if ah dae end up werkin w. these folks once they move offices, ah can't imagine this shite bein a problem. Altho ah was a bit annoyed cuz today in tha restroom ah was washin hand next to someone in jeans who did NAWT have a collared shirt.
Anyway, its fawkin friday, tomorrow is band practice mania (back to back WT + think13), n thars a new George Romero Zombie Movie ah can't wait ta see! Happy Friday!
So ah werk in a posh office at tha moment, fer a well-known institution, in thar West Coast Development office (any more info then that could git me in trouble). My current employer is a leasee on a few offices and cube spaces in a two-story bay on a pier in SF's Embarcadero. This office is SUPAH posh, on Monday's we git free leftovah lunch, thars fully stocked sodas, coffee, tea, snacks (including Nature Valley Bars, chips, fruit, and yogurt), n apparently our kitchen is modeled aftah tha ownahs PERSONAL kitchen. Fer reasons ah don't remembah, thars even a piano, drum set, bass guitar + amp and electric guitar + amp IN my office (which are, obviously off-limits. N horribly, HORRIBLY temptin, but ahm nawt stupid.)
Howevah, this poshness comes w. a price. Some time durin my first week, ah wore a pretty conservative sweater to work, n my boss told me he was pretty sure thar was a collared shirt requirement at tha office. So ah now always wear a collared shirt....its nawt that my boss cares, but tha office does.
Although ah don't think any of us knew how much they cared. Apprently tha office manger talked to one of our guys yestahday, which resulted in this email:
"Just a friendly reminder to us all that we are in subleased space. As
you may have noticed, there has been an increase in visitors to _name witheld_.
In any event, we need to keep in mind that we are in a professional
environment and our attire and appearance should reflect that. The
guests of _name withheld_ do not necessarily know the distinction
between the _my employers_ space/staff downstairs and the rest of the office
here at Bay X. Though we may not be having _my employer_ visitors daily, we
should dress appropriately since _name withheld_ often has business
clients coming through the space. We also want to be respectful of our
hospitable hosts. FYI, they do notice what we wear! (For guidance, below
is a memo from _a place_ regarding attire.)
Another reminder that under no circumstances should we be using the
musical instruments that are in the building. It has come to the
attention of _name withheld_ that musical instruments were used last
night without permission(This totally WASNT ME). The instruments are valuable and private property. Our arrangement is primarily for the offices and cubes.
Lastly, a reminder that we should only be going upstairs for access to
the restrooms.
As you'll note below, _my boss_ has a "Business Casual" dress environment
throughout the entire year with the exception of a
donor/volunteer/faculty meeting or event where more formal business
attire is appropriate.
What's not appropriate for the office?
* jeans (any color)
* shorts (please note that "culottes" are ok only so long as they
are specifically designed as work attire and are knee length or longer
and are conservative in color - khaki, black, navy)
* midriff or cut-off t-shirts, descriptive t-shirts (t-shirts with
pictures, words, slogans or statements), tank or halter tops (please
note that women may wear tasteful, professional sleeveless shirts or
dresses)
* mini skirts
* ragged clothing or footwear
* pool style or athletic style sandals or flip-flops
* athletic / sports wear (sweats, football jerseys, etc.)
_boss-man_ has adopted a business casual dress
environment with the exception of a client meeting/event where business
attire is appropriate. ***Examples of business casual attire are
collared shirt and dress slacks (or khakis) for men and dress slacks,
skirts, or dresses for women, and appropriate footwear.*** Examples of
business attire are collared shirt, tie, suit, jacket or blazer and
dress slacks for men and suit, dress slacks and jacket, skirts, or
dresses for women."
Ah thought this was prety straight forward, n a bit obnoxious of a reminder (n ah have been known ta wear a hoodie ovah my collared shirt cuz its damn cold sometimes), howevah, it apparently wasn't enuff, b/c this email, almost immediately, was responded to by tha office manager:
Thanks _someone more important then me_--
To elaborate on the dress, _name witheld_ has a conservative corporate
casual dress code. It generally follows the guidelines mentioned below
with the addition of clean shaven faces, clean and pressed clothes,
shirts tucked in, and no tennis shoes.
As for the instruments, they are off-limits for
personnel as well -- we've been told that it is grounds for termination
if they are used without permission.
So ah can't help but wondah if tha fact that sometimes ahve fergawten ta shave before werk, n that ah usually DONT tuck my shirt in at werk, has gawten me on someones shit list. But what really gits me is tha term "conservative corporate casual." Thar's pretty much NUTHANG casual about that....except that they aren't requirein a suit jacket n a tie.
Luckily, if ah dae end up werkin w. these folks once they move offices, ah can't imagine this shite bein a problem. Altho ah was a bit annoyed cuz today in tha restroom ah was washin hand next to someone in jeans who did NAWT have a collared shirt.
Anyway, its fawkin friday, tomorrow is band practice mania (back to back WT + think13), n thars a new George Romero Zombie Movie ah can't wait ta see! Happy Friday!
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