Today:
Up, listening to LCD Soundsystem, last minute grab of stuff.
AP psych, alright, did some of the packet will listening to Schroeder, liked it, think I'll continue doing it that way. See how it works on the next test.
Spanish: The less said the better. I've gotten a new system where I place a tic-mark down on a piece of paper every time Mrs. Mac does something that annoys me. She got 17 today.
English: People are stupid and bombed the quiz, so she had us make collages on symbolize pertaining to the book. (Don't look at me, I got an 85, and I don't think I wrote more than 12 sentences total!) I finished mine in 40 minutes because I didn't care. Easy enough.
Lunch, talking about the party saturday and the aftermath, which is apparently Bonnie's parents taking a strong disliking towards Bill. Not just for the sex comment, but for the swearing. We have the same opinion as to her parents being a little too demanding, especially of Bonnie and us as being her friends. No swearing? I understand that not everyone has the mouth of a sailor that I do, but considering some of the things I've heard come out of Bonnie's mouth, she's about on average with me.
Physics, do a lab, manage to fuck it up (I don't think I've done one lab properly in this class the entire year), although it's not my fault. Oh well.
Home, raining so I don't take the dog out, homework, work on the composition a bit more, fixing sax rhythms and cello parts and all that. Internet, definite date with Wayne for jamming. Good practice session on drums today. Retuned kit sounds really good, snare might need to be a bit tighter though. Starting to get back in the rhythm (sorry) of it.
Internet, showering, blogging, bed.
Edit: Thank fucking GOD that today is the last day of March. What a soul-sucking month.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Jesus, seeing my last blog was on WEDNESDAY. What the fuck.
Nothing to report from then until Friday. Stayed in Friday, big whoop. Oh, I got my RIEPS Graduation Portfolio done, huzzah! I can get that fucking thing off my back. Even if it gets handed back for "revisions" it's done, effectively.
Saturday was Bonnie's Party.
Original plan was going to the URI Pool, but Bonnie had forgotten to check the times and realized they closed at like 4 PM. Oops. A quick call to everyone and she's set up everyone to go to Lazergate at 8:30.
I get to the house around 6:40, clearing out my car beforehand because I said I would volunteer driving people. The thing about Bonnie's house is that it's... pretty tacky. Like, REALLY tacky. It has this whole Nautical theme, and it's filled with useless crap EVERYWHERE. It really reminds me of the old house at Emma G Lane, because it's just so fucking small, I wonder how she can live in it sometimes. But we cram in there, some how.
Walking towards her house I see a bumper sticker on a silver SUV that says "Big Bang Theory: God said 'BANG' and the universe was created!". Her parents are very religious, which is fine, but it's borderline the creepy religious parent kind. Still... nice people though. We eventually all roll out, not before her mom worrying over the directions (figures. It seems my parents are the only people that don't get worried that their kid is ALL THE WAY IN PROVIDENCE OR FURTHER! Well, they might be worried, but not for the same reasons as the other parents I know). I'm in the car with Kevin Northup, Bobby Mulligan, Bill Wilson and Joe Brennan.
In retrospect, I'm REALLY surprised we didn't get pulled over.
So, we're on the highway, driving along. The directions say to get off at exit 7. So we do. What we neglect to remember is that once you cross state lines, the exit numbers start again. Oh boy.
We end up in Barrington. You know, now I see why all those kids have nothing to do but drink. It helps.
Drive down Barrington for a good 10 minutes before we realize "OH SHIT" and turn back around. Get back on the highway towards where we wanna go. We're here! Fall River! There's the exit going RIGHT PAST OUR CAR.
Kevin failed to get into the exit lane in time.
No problem, we'll just take the next one and just go as straight as possible south.
Oh sweet dear God, no.
One half-hour and "Fuck me we just went around in a motherfucking circle" later, we get back on the highway, at Lasergate. At 9:30.
Welp, there goes our slot.
But we manage to get the 10:20 slot, and go to McDonalds for dinner (I did not eat as I was not hungry).
We play one game of lasertag, one game. And I came in last place. I was expecting 2 more for me to find my groove. Shit.
The ride home is much more fun than the ride up. We end up listening to WRIU, making fun of the DJ who sounds like he's pressing the "cough" button in order to do bong hits, and sing along to The Beatles and Simple Minds. Very very good ride home, and we were considering pooling our money and buying Bonnie a vibrator for a gift. Although, personally, even as a gag, I'd rather she'd just get some use of it than have it collect dust. Gotta keep that hysteria away!* (name the allusion for a gold star!)
Back at her house, where one of the funniest moments I've ever witness in my life occurred, no hyperbole.
We're sitting around her living room, talking, telling stories, when Bill brings up the time he and Bonnie tricked me into thinking they had sex on their trampoline. I was like 14, liked her (still do. I don't care, she doesn't read this blog, I don't really think anyone does except for one person. New idea, if you read this blog, leave a comment!) And basically I really didn't think they would lie to me. It was a dick move then and still is kinda a dick move now, but, this is neither here nor there, it is important for the backstory.
So I'm sitting there, sulking and smiling, picturing myself punching Bill's lights out, because he deserves it, just a little. Now, Bonnie's dad comes in, hanging by the doorway (with no door) just to see how it's going, I think.
Keep in mind Bill is sitting with his back towards the doorway, and his hood is up, so he has no peripheral vision at all.
He's near the end of the story, and we're all trying to shut him up, giving him cues such as "Aw good story man!" and "Man that's so funny". Bill proceeds to throw all these cues out the window and end his story with the quote "And then Bonnie and I made sweet love".
Two feet from the father in the doorway.
I have never seen a bigger, more terrified expression of Bill.
Karma is a bitch, but only to the people that deserve it.
Home, listening to "The Flaming Lips" because I've made it some weird tradition that if I go to southern MA, I have to listen to that record. I don't know why. Although I don't know why I thought "Sleeping On The Roof" was a bad song, ever. Staying up until 4, listening to music. Good times.
Today:
Up at 10, internet, dog walk to "Oranges and Lemons"
Just general relaxing for the weekend.
Got an email from Wayne, we're semi confirmed for next sunday to try and see if we can work something out between us. I hope it goes well. I'd really like to work with him (Although I'd really like to work with Meccalily, but something tells me Wayne and Martin had something of a fall out a few years ago). Oh well, I think we're going to run through some songs of his that I know and see where it goes.
Retuned my drum kit today. I think it sounds much better as a whole now. Hope to play it on my dad's little cover version of "Wall of Death" along with bass, just to try it out.
Blogging, Flaming Lips and XTC before bed.
Nothing to report from then until Friday. Stayed in Friday, big whoop. Oh, I got my RIEPS Graduation Portfolio done, huzzah! I can get that fucking thing off my back. Even if it gets handed back for "revisions" it's done, effectively.
Saturday was Bonnie's Party.
Original plan was going to the URI Pool, but Bonnie had forgotten to check the times and realized they closed at like 4 PM. Oops. A quick call to everyone and she's set up everyone to go to Lazergate at 8:30.
I get to the house around 6:40, clearing out my car beforehand because I said I would volunteer driving people. The thing about Bonnie's house is that it's... pretty tacky. Like, REALLY tacky. It has this whole Nautical theme, and it's filled with useless crap EVERYWHERE. It really reminds me of the old house at Emma G Lane, because it's just so fucking small, I wonder how she can live in it sometimes. But we cram in there, some how.
Walking towards her house I see a bumper sticker on a silver SUV that says "Big Bang Theory: God said 'BANG' and the universe was created!". Her parents are very religious, which is fine, but it's borderline the creepy religious parent kind. Still... nice people though. We eventually all roll out, not before her mom worrying over the directions (figures. It seems my parents are the only people that don't get worried that their kid is ALL THE WAY IN PROVIDENCE OR FURTHER! Well, they might be worried, but not for the same reasons as the other parents I know). I'm in the car with Kevin Northup, Bobby Mulligan, Bill Wilson and Joe Brennan.
In retrospect, I'm REALLY surprised we didn't get pulled over.
So, we're on the highway, driving along. The directions say to get off at exit 7. So we do. What we neglect to remember is that once you cross state lines, the exit numbers start again. Oh boy.
We end up in Barrington. You know, now I see why all those kids have nothing to do but drink. It helps.
Drive down Barrington for a good 10 minutes before we realize "OH SHIT" and turn back around. Get back on the highway towards where we wanna go. We're here! Fall River! There's the exit going RIGHT PAST OUR CAR.
Kevin failed to get into the exit lane in time.
No problem, we'll just take the next one and just go as straight as possible south.
Oh sweet dear God, no.
One half-hour and "Fuck me we just went around in a motherfucking circle" later, we get back on the highway, at Lasergate. At 9:30.
Welp, there goes our slot.
But we manage to get the 10:20 slot, and go to McDonalds for dinner (I did not eat as I was not hungry).
We play one game of lasertag, one game. And I came in last place. I was expecting 2 more for me to find my groove. Shit.
The ride home is much more fun than the ride up. We end up listening to WRIU, making fun of the DJ who sounds like he's pressing the "cough" button in order to do bong hits, and sing along to The Beatles and Simple Minds. Very very good ride home, and we were considering pooling our money and buying Bonnie a vibrator for a gift. Although, personally, even as a gag, I'd rather she'd just get some use of it than have it collect dust. Gotta keep that hysteria away!* (name the allusion for a gold star!)
Back at her house, where one of the funniest moments I've ever witness in my life occurred, no hyperbole.
We're sitting around her living room, talking, telling stories, when Bill brings up the time he and Bonnie tricked me into thinking they had sex on their trampoline. I was like 14, liked her (still do. I don't care, she doesn't read this blog, I don't really think anyone does except for one person. New idea, if you read this blog, leave a comment!) And basically I really didn't think they would lie to me. It was a dick move then and still is kinda a dick move now, but, this is neither here nor there, it is important for the backstory.
So I'm sitting there, sulking and smiling, picturing myself punching Bill's lights out, because he deserves it, just a little. Now, Bonnie's dad comes in, hanging by the doorway (with no door) just to see how it's going, I think.
Keep in mind Bill is sitting with his back towards the doorway, and his hood is up, so he has no peripheral vision at all.
He's near the end of the story, and we're all trying to shut him up, giving him cues such as "Aw good story man!" and "Man that's so funny". Bill proceeds to throw all these cues out the window and end his story with the quote "And then Bonnie and I made sweet love".
Two feet from the father in the doorway.
I have never seen a bigger, more terrified expression of Bill.
Karma is a bitch, but only to the people that deserve it.
Home, listening to "The Flaming Lips" because I've made it some weird tradition that if I go to southern MA, I have to listen to that record. I don't know why. Although I don't know why I thought "Sleeping On The Roof" was a bad song, ever. Staying up until 4, listening to music. Good times.
Today:
Up at 10, internet, dog walk to "Oranges and Lemons"
Just general relaxing for the weekend.
Got an email from Wayne, we're semi confirmed for next sunday to try and see if we can work something out between us. I hope it goes well. I'd really like to work with him (Although I'd really like to work with Meccalily, but something tells me Wayne and Martin had something of a fall out a few years ago). Oh well, I think we're going to run through some songs of his that I know and see where it goes.
Retuned my drum kit today. I think it sounds much better as a whole now. Hope to play it on my dad's little cover version of "Wall of Death" along with bass, just to try it out.
Blogging, Flaming Lips and XTC before bed.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Jesus what a long day. I hardly remember tuesday.
Up, listen to "The Velvet Underground"
School-eh. What can you expect? Math was boring, but Dig. Photo made me laugh my ass off thanks to Brendan and talking about the portfolio. Band was alright. Detail work today, hardly played the whole class. Wondered if there was something with Matt, our bell player. He seemed to be messing up way too much for someone with a sucky playing style. I'm wondering if he has a learning disability. It certainly would explain some things. Civics, gave my speech, meh. Worked in "Taking Tiger Mountain" (the play) in there, went over better than I though it would.
Teaching at the elementary school. They all did really well this lesson. Though Bennett was his typical "acting out" self, and Sam... well. I was kneeling to help Sidney through the worksheet, and all of a sudden I feel someone rubbing my back. Not like a brush, but a circular motion. I turn my head and see Sam...
"Uh, Sam? What are you doing?"
"Massaging your back"
"Well... uh, thank you Sam, but aren't you suppose to be doing that activity over there with the other group?"
"Yeah..."
And he continues for a good 4 seconds because the idea is not getting in his head.
"Sam, go play with the other group."
And then he runs along... I had no idea what to say to that...
Meet with Mike about comp. He likes it. I made him smile today, that's a first. Saw Dan Healey on the green playing football, didn't want to say hi because that would be weird... Saw Pete and Nick while waiting for Mike. Oh boy, everyone is just out in force today.
Home, 2 hours of AP psych. Urgh. Barely finish, then summative reflection... Shower and off to bed...
Up, listen to "The Velvet Underground"
School-eh. What can you expect? Math was boring, but Dig. Photo made me laugh my ass off thanks to Brendan and talking about the portfolio. Band was alright. Detail work today, hardly played the whole class. Wondered if there was something with Matt, our bell player. He seemed to be messing up way too much for someone with a sucky playing style. I'm wondering if he has a learning disability. It certainly would explain some things. Civics, gave my speech, meh. Worked in "Taking Tiger Mountain" (the play) in there, went over better than I though it would.
Teaching at the elementary school. They all did really well this lesson. Though Bennett was his typical "acting out" self, and Sam... well. I was kneeling to help Sidney through the worksheet, and all of a sudden I feel someone rubbing my back. Not like a brush, but a circular motion. I turn my head and see Sam...
"Uh, Sam? What are you doing?"
"Massaging your back"
"Well... uh, thank you Sam, but aren't you suppose to be doing that activity over there with the other group?"
"Yeah..."
And he continues for a good 4 seconds because the idea is not getting in his head.
"Sam, go play with the other group."
And then he runs along... I had no idea what to say to that...
Meet with Mike about comp. He likes it. I made him smile today, that's a first. Saw Dan Healey on the green playing football, didn't want to say hi because that would be weird... Saw Pete and Nick while waiting for Mike. Oh boy, everyone is just out in force today.
Home, 2 hours of AP psych. Urgh. Barely finish, then summative reflection... Shower and off to bed...
Monday, March 24, 2008
This is my 30th post! Hooray!
Up this morning, no music, didn't feel like any, listened to NPR. Story on the 4,000th soldier to die in the Iraq war. A little depressing but put it in perspective.
School: Schooly. Didn't really do a lot today but that's fine by me. Managed to scooch out of giving a presentation in civics by literally SECONDS. Bill gets down from the podium, teacher looks at me, I look at teacher, bell rings and I give high-fives. I wouldn't have minded giving it, but it's the principle of the thing. Driving home, "Talk of The Nation" on NPR had the same story on the 4,000 dead soldiers. A wife giving her testimonial on how her 4-year old daughter is coping since she never saw her father, and never will. Almost couldn't handle it. The fact that I have actual physical real-life friends over there (shout-out to my main man Joe Parker kickin' it in Iraq) makes it all the more real. I fear that one day I'll be reading over the obituaries and find his name. Hopefully not.
This war is all kinds of fucked-up.
Home, internet, taking the dog out. Listen to "English Settlement". Alright, not amazing, not bad either and at least it's warm out. Home, no homework except study. Have to re-write my english reflection for the portfolio as Ms. Tarasevich graded it but lost it. Not really a good teacher academically. We don't do dickity-shit in that class but at least it's a rest period for me from spanish and B-days in general. Pick up pizza from Junction (oh my god all the way in North Kingstown), take the scenic route and listen to Meccalily. Speaking of...
Wayne Belanger emailed me saturday asking how everything was going. Long story short, he's asked me to faux-audition for his band. He mentioned he has scrap of songs, and I do this a lot online, taking scraps of songs and putting parts over them, pretty much like Brian Eno, without being Eno (Remember, Justin is the fourth deadly finn). Honestly I think I'm usually better at this in a pop-songwriting environment than on my own. He's invited me to his house to put my grubby mits on his instruments to see which combination work out the best. We shall see....
Oh great, and now I've blogged myself away from studying. Well, time to go rectify this...
Up this morning, no music, didn't feel like any, listened to NPR. Story on the 4,000th soldier to die in the Iraq war. A little depressing but put it in perspective.
School: Schooly. Didn't really do a lot today but that's fine by me. Managed to scooch out of giving a presentation in civics by literally SECONDS. Bill gets down from the podium, teacher looks at me, I look at teacher, bell rings and I give high-fives. I wouldn't have minded giving it, but it's the principle of the thing. Driving home, "Talk of The Nation" on NPR had the same story on the 4,000 dead soldiers. A wife giving her testimonial on how her 4-year old daughter is coping since she never saw her father, and never will. Almost couldn't handle it. The fact that I have actual physical real-life friends over there (shout-out to my main man Joe Parker kickin' it in Iraq) makes it all the more real. I fear that one day I'll be reading over the obituaries and find his name. Hopefully not.
This war is all kinds of fucked-up.
Home, internet, taking the dog out. Listen to "English Settlement". Alright, not amazing, not bad either and at least it's warm out. Home, no homework except study. Have to re-write my english reflection for the portfolio as Ms. Tarasevich graded it but lost it. Not really a good teacher academically. We don't do dickity-shit in that class but at least it's a rest period for me from spanish and B-days in general. Pick up pizza from Junction (oh my god all the way in North Kingstown), take the scenic route and listen to Meccalily. Speaking of...
Wayne Belanger emailed me saturday asking how everything was going. Long story short, he's asked me to faux-audition for his band. He mentioned he has scrap of songs, and I do this a lot online, taking scraps of songs and putting parts over them, pretty much like Brian Eno, without being Eno (Remember, Justin is the fourth deadly finn). Honestly I think I'm usually better at this in a pop-songwriting environment than on my own. He's invited me to his house to put my grubby mits on his instruments to see which combination work out the best. We shall see....
Oh great, and now I've blogged myself away from studying. Well, time to go rectify this...
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Theater
Woke up saturday, showered, did normal things. Relaxing until about 4 when we head up to NH. Get a copy of my score done. One down, one to go. Got to put it into overdrive this week. Hopefully can meet with Mike., and this in gear. But, other things right now. Go up there, was introduced to Kate and Tim's new dog Sarabi. Sweet little thing. General good happenings commence. Easter dinner loaded with animal products and carbs. Ate till I was full, had a Guinness with dinner, not a bad thing at all. Then played poker with the family, did better than expected, came in third. Not bad for my 5th time playing ever. Stay in until 2 AM where sloppy playing and going all-in on a hand I was sure was fine as Tim was half bluffing his way through the game. He had a flush, I had three of a kind (or Three Of A Perfect Pair, I kept calling it). I was out. They kept playing for about an hour. I blew up my mattress in the living room and watched Adult Swim. Venture Brothers, NOVA and some other shows kept me up until about 3:30.
Woke up at 9:45 to my mom, my aunt and my cousin waking me up. I contemplated going into the bed my mom was in, she offered it, but I knew I was just going to sleep until noon and I won't feel very good if I sleep in that late, as I was pretty well rested to begin with.
Home, relaxing, checked my bag and realized tomorrow is an A-day, so I have no homework tonight! YAAAAAAAAY! Absolutely beautiful out. Gromit gets back from the kennel, take him out listening to XTC's "Apple Venus Vol. 1" and absolutely great. Sun beating down on my face as "Easter Theater" plays and "Knights In Shining Karma", just absolutely great. A brief two days of peace in an absolutely horrible month. Home, some TV and internet. More relaxing. Watch Futurama, check up on my internet after leaving it for 2 days, I managed to cope, somehow. Currently listening to A Post Modern John at the 2005 Luau, and listening to monitor it's status as I dump it to my computer to digitize it. I don't WANT to go to school tomorrow, and I might turn in early (How many times have I said that and gone to bed at 11?)
Woke up at 9:45 to my mom, my aunt and my cousin waking me up. I contemplated going into the bed my mom was in, she offered it, but I knew I was just going to sleep until noon and I won't feel very good if I sleep in that late, as I was pretty well rested to begin with.
Home, relaxing, checked my bag and realized tomorrow is an A-day, so I have no homework tonight! YAAAAAAAAY! Absolutely beautiful out. Gromit gets back from the kennel, take him out listening to XTC's "Apple Venus Vol. 1" and absolutely great. Sun beating down on my face as "Easter Theater" plays and "Knights In Shining Karma", just absolutely great. A brief two days of peace in an absolutely horrible month. Home, some TV and internet. More relaxing. Watch Futurama, check up on my internet after leaving it for 2 days, I managed to cope, somehow. Currently listening to A Post Modern John at the 2005 Luau, and listening to monitor it's status as I dump it to my computer to digitize it. I don't WANT to go to school tomorrow, and I might turn in early (How many times have I said that and gone to bed at 11?)
Friday, March 21, 2008
I really need to be better on blogging.
Thursday: Don't remember alot from school. Probably nothing important... Jazz band is good. Dan the drummer is a freshmen and it shows in his playing. We have to do Birdland (crappy arrangement) and he's sorta dragging. I can tell he's tensing up from playing fast, so I tell him to just relax. He does, gets it better. Work on blues jams for everyone. Take a few solos, do fine. Try not to wank out with a solo. Afterwards get a call from Bill saying he wants to go to Mahi Mahi. Pick him up and head to Dans. Lots of fun, talking, then eventually heading out. Somehow I end up driving, oh well...
Drive up, we get there early. Head to AS220 for something to eat and to warm up. Finish and head to the club. Almost get denied because the bouncer read my ID wrong. See the drummer, say hi. Says that he could have gotten me on the guest list if I emailed him. Guess I'm moving up in the world. Great show. The new tunes are good and the old ones are getting more revamps. Bill seemed to have a deer in the headlights look to him, as to be expected. Drummer broke his stick and threw it out. Caught it but gave it to Bill... Was good to see Jay. Get out of there after Mahi's set and head to Denny's. Get off at the wrong exit (too early) but was going to go down Route 2 to get there but it was closed off due to a big accident. Get there, see the company, get a milkshake, talk for a while. Give Kate and Bill rides home. Home, dicking around, bed at 3.
This morning, get up at 12. Dick around, restring my noise guitar, using HEAVY HEAVY strings. Tune it to C-G-D-G-B-B using 2 Gs for Bs but it won't stay in tune, too much tension. Swap them out for 2 regular Bs and it's fine. Usually those aren't the problems anyway. Chores, took a 2 hour nap at 6 PM, woke up at 8, pretty shabby. Get a call from Pete saying Matt is putting together a house party tomorrow and wants to Troop to play, taking top priority. Call my parents frantically trying to see if I could work something out. Talk to Justin for like 2 hours about all things. Hope his detox is going well, although he was getting progressively buzzed as our conversation went on, but not horrible. Internet...
Parents get home, and "negotiations begin" although honestly they aren't negotiations. I left them a message explaining the situation, so they know whats up. I explain that we get first priority over all other bands. My dad says "It's a house party" and I say that it's not partying, but the chance to play, and I've never heard a faster "no" in my life. Some negotiations. Not to turn this into a "RARRRRGGH PARENTS" angst filled rant, but she really didn't even all me to give my full argument. I knew nothing was going to help though, so I just stood cross armed and stared silently at her while she talked. I just hope there will be other shows, and tomorrow I'm not just stuck listening to music by myself. Which will probably be the case...
Thursday: Don't remember alot from school. Probably nothing important... Jazz band is good. Dan the drummer is a freshmen and it shows in his playing. We have to do Birdland (crappy arrangement) and he's sorta dragging. I can tell he's tensing up from playing fast, so I tell him to just relax. He does, gets it better. Work on blues jams for everyone. Take a few solos, do fine. Try not to wank out with a solo. Afterwards get a call from Bill saying he wants to go to Mahi Mahi. Pick him up and head to Dans. Lots of fun, talking, then eventually heading out. Somehow I end up driving, oh well...
Drive up, we get there early. Head to AS220 for something to eat and to warm up. Finish and head to the club. Almost get denied because the bouncer read my ID wrong. See the drummer, say hi. Says that he could have gotten me on the guest list if I emailed him. Guess I'm moving up in the world. Great show. The new tunes are good and the old ones are getting more revamps. Bill seemed to have a deer in the headlights look to him, as to be expected. Drummer broke his stick and threw it out. Caught it but gave it to Bill... Was good to see Jay. Get out of there after Mahi's set and head to Denny's. Get off at the wrong exit (too early) but was going to go down Route 2 to get there but it was closed off due to a big accident. Get there, see the company, get a milkshake, talk for a while. Give Kate and Bill rides home. Home, dicking around, bed at 3.
This morning, get up at 12. Dick around, restring my noise guitar, using HEAVY HEAVY strings. Tune it to C-G-D-G-B-B using 2 Gs for Bs but it won't stay in tune, too much tension. Swap them out for 2 regular Bs and it's fine. Usually those aren't the problems anyway. Chores, took a 2 hour nap at 6 PM, woke up at 8, pretty shabby. Get a call from Pete saying Matt is putting together a house party tomorrow and wants to Troop to play, taking top priority. Call my parents frantically trying to see if I could work something out. Talk to Justin for like 2 hours about all things. Hope his detox is going well, although he was getting progressively buzzed as our conversation went on, but not horrible. Internet...
Parents get home, and "negotiations begin" although honestly they aren't negotiations. I left them a message explaining the situation, so they know whats up. I explain that we get first priority over all other bands. My dad says "It's a house party" and I say that it's not partying, but the chance to play, and I've never heard a faster "no" in my life. Some negotiations. Not to turn this into a "RARRRRGGH PARENTS" angst filled rant, but she really didn't even all me to give my full argument. I knew nothing was going to help though, so I just stood cross armed and stared silently at her while she talked. I just hope there will be other shows, and tomorrow I'm not just stuck listening to music by myself. Which will probably be the case...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Up in the morning, yogurt for breakfast. It's raining out, decide to take the third VU record as it fits the mood.
School, schooly. Have an assembly on drunk driving that take out a good portion of civics, so yay for presentations. Typical story. Harmless kid taken away by a drunk driver. Heartbreaking, but honestly good to get the story out there. A few kids were talking and the presenter whipped them, with good reason. If they are the people I think they are, then maybe a little cleaning on their side of the gene pool would not be a bad thing... I don't wish death, but jesus christ I hope they grow up, or at least keep their offspring the hell away from me and my own if I have any.
Home, still raining. Internet, short dog walk. Finish uploading the Meccalily 2005 set. Next is the PMJ show, but I think that won't happen until next week. Oh well, they've been sitting on minidiscs for 4 years, it can probably wait on their for a few more weeks. Talk to Dan, apparently the rest of the week is out with schedules so we can't get a practice in. At least we got another song done!
Tomorrow, last day of school before long weekend, woo hoo! Think I shall my camera and my music score with me to keep my occupied for the NH trip, but I might get nothing done. Who knows how this goes? Also, Mahi Mahi! yaaaaaaay.
School, schooly. Have an assembly on drunk driving that take out a good portion of civics, so yay for presentations. Typical story. Harmless kid taken away by a drunk driver. Heartbreaking, but honestly good to get the story out there. A few kids were talking and the presenter whipped them, with good reason. If they are the people I think they are, then maybe a little cleaning on their side of the gene pool would not be a bad thing... I don't wish death, but jesus christ I hope they grow up, or at least keep their offspring the hell away from me and my own if I have any.
Home, still raining. Internet, short dog walk. Finish uploading the Meccalily 2005 set. Next is the PMJ show, but I think that won't happen until next week. Oh well, they've been sitting on minidiscs for 4 years, it can probably wait on their for a few more weeks. Talk to Dan, apparently the rest of the week is out with schedules so we can't get a practice in. At least we got another song done!
Tomorrow, last day of school before long weekend, woo hoo! Think I shall my camera and my music score with me to keep my occupied for the NH trip, but I might get nothing done. Who knows how this goes? Also, Mahi Mahi! yaaaaaaay.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Up again, at a "normal" time where I have time to get myself ready! Who knew? Grab Sonic Youth (first album) for the ride until...
I hit a squirrel. Not 50 feet from my house. It came out, I swerved, it swerved with me. I feel it go under the car and look back, and see it flip over and then lie still in the middle of the road. I feel bad about it all day, but getting over it now. It totally wasn't intentional...
School is... well... Last friday in AP Psych we took a quiz and Mr. Schroeter was absent. Long story short we can't find the plans, but find the quiz. Take quiz with books and in groups. We find plans 20 minutes before the end of class saying that it's suppose to be a regular quiz. He finds out and is pretty pissed. Decided to not make the quiz count. Oops. Oh well, as long as he doesn't completely hold it against us for the rest of the year...
Spanish was interesting. Everyone was gone for teaching, so we only had about 8 students. Ms. Mac just let us work on our homework for the class. Eventually it gets towards the subject of prom, and she went around the room asking who we would go with. I replied that I was probably not going to go. She seems visibly upset. I asked if I went to my junior prom. I said I did not. For the record, I was out seeing a What Cheer Bridge and Slavic Soul Party show at AS220 that night with Pete and Jay, and you can bet your ass I had more fun there than I probably would have at the prom. Probably more fun than some of the people that actually went. Anyway, she says that this prom is different, it's local, no limos, just nice and low-key. I can see where she was coming from, but those aren't the reasons I didn't go. I barely can stand being in school with most of these people, I'm probably going to be worse outside of school (well, I'll be polite outside of school...)
English... eh, faked it.
Physics, do a lab on Pulleys with Joe and Kevin. Get one result that doesn't seem correct. In retrospect we probably measured wrong, but we didn't have time to redo it.
Home, internet, dog walk listening to Matthew Good's Avalanche. Homework... and then an experiment.
For reasons unknown to myself, I decided to test how long I could listen to 92.3 PRO-FM. For those of you that don't live in Rhode Island, this is the Top 40 station. I started somewhere around 6:30, and stopped around 8. What I found was two or three good songs amongst a sea of clunkers. I finally pinpointed what I hate about mainstream hiphop. It lacks funk. Old school hip-hop (Afrika Bambaataa, LL Cool J, Ice-T, NWA, Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five) was taken from MCs spilling rhymes over funk and soul records and breakdowns. And those things had FUNK to them. Or at least what this white boy knows of da funk. Listening to mainstream hiphop, all of the funk is gone. I don't know why, but the drum programming completely lacks funk. It might be a funk line, but there is no funk to it at all. That and the same damn 6 synthesizer settings. I really, honestly, felt a little sick after a while. Like tension was filling my stomach. I don't know if it was something else, but it might have been an actual physical reaction towards something I dislike.
In an afterthought, after playing along to Sonic Youth (Oh my god that felt good), I turned on the radio back to 92.3 to see if I could stomach a little more. They were playing the same song I had ended on an hour earlier. AN HOUR EARLIER. As in, they probably have a music library bigger than my house, and they played the same damn song they had played AN HOUR EARLIER. I knew right then I had to stop.
And in order to heal my ears, I'm listening to XTC's "Knights In Shining Karma" right now. Oh Andy, don't ever stop...
Ok, really, my mp3 player on shuffle, but still, it's better than that shit on the radio.
And I feel I can honestly say that having listening to a straight hour and a half of it.
I hit a squirrel. Not 50 feet from my house. It came out, I swerved, it swerved with me. I feel it go under the car and look back, and see it flip over and then lie still in the middle of the road. I feel bad about it all day, but getting over it now. It totally wasn't intentional...
School is... well... Last friday in AP Psych we took a quiz and Mr. Schroeter was absent. Long story short we can't find the plans, but find the quiz. Take quiz with books and in groups. We find plans 20 minutes before the end of class saying that it's suppose to be a regular quiz. He finds out and is pretty pissed. Decided to not make the quiz count. Oops. Oh well, as long as he doesn't completely hold it against us for the rest of the year...
Spanish was interesting. Everyone was gone for teaching, so we only had about 8 students. Ms. Mac just let us work on our homework for the class. Eventually it gets towards the subject of prom, and she went around the room asking who we would go with. I replied that I was probably not going to go. She seems visibly upset. I asked if I went to my junior prom. I said I did not. For the record, I was out seeing a What Cheer Bridge and Slavic Soul Party show at AS220 that night with Pete and Jay, and you can bet your ass I had more fun there than I probably would have at the prom. Probably more fun than some of the people that actually went. Anyway, she says that this prom is different, it's local, no limos, just nice and low-key. I can see where she was coming from, but those aren't the reasons I didn't go. I barely can stand being in school with most of these people, I'm probably going to be worse outside of school (well, I'll be polite outside of school...)
English... eh, faked it.
Physics, do a lab on Pulleys with Joe and Kevin. Get one result that doesn't seem correct. In retrospect we probably measured wrong, but we didn't have time to redo it.
Home, internet, dog walk listening to Matthew Good's Avalanche. Homework... and then an experiment.
For reasons unknown to myself, I decided to test how long I could listen to 92.3 PRO-FM. For those of you that don't live in Rhode Island, this is the Top 40 station. I started somewhere around 6:30, and stopped around 8. What I found was two or three good songs amongst a sea of clunkers. I finally pinpointed what I hate about mainstream hiphop. It lacks funk. Old school hip-hop (Afrika Bambaataa, LL Cool J, Ice-T, NWA, Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five) was taken from MCs spilling rhymes over funk and soul records and breakdowns. And those things had FUNK to them. Or at least what this white boy knows of da funk. Listening to mainstream hiphop, all of the funk is gone. I don't know why, but the drum programming completely lacks funk. It might be a funk line, but there is no funk to it at all. That and the same damn 6 synthesizer settings. I really, honestly, felt a little sick after a while. Like tension was filling my stomach. I don't know if it was something else, but it might have been an actual physical reaction towards something I dislike.
In an afterthought, after playing along to Sonic Youth (Oh my god that felt good), I turned on the radio back to 92.3 to see if I could stomach a little more. They were playing the same song I had ended on an hour earlier. AN HOUR EARLIER. As in, they probably have a music library bigger than my house, and they played the same damn song they had played AN HOUR EARLIER. I knew right then I had to stop.
And in order to heal my ears, I'm listening to XTC's "Knights In Shining Karma" right now. Oh Andy, don't ever stop...
Ok, really, my mp3 player on shuffle, but still, it's better than that shit on the radio.
And I feel I can honestly say that having listening to a straight hour and a half of it.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Up at a reasonable time today! like 6:40, only hit the snooze button once! Hooray! Grab Yo La Tengo for the ride, it'll do.
School, schooly. Mrs. Burke liked most of my shots for Photography, which is good. I think my portfolio for final exam will be shows in Providence. Going to AS220 for credit! Band was alright, my playing was a little off, but a combination of the bass and my technique is so finicky. Some days it will be great, others it will be not-so-great... Sub in civics, in the library, spend the time with Bill looking up crazy people in the Westboro Baptist church (You know, the GodHatesFags people?) Fred Phelps, their headpersons, was a civil rights lawyer. Let me make this perfectly clear. This man who tells us that 9/11, the mine collapsing in West Virginia, and soldiers being killed in Iraq are all because God is trying to punish us for our TOLERANCE towards homosexuals, was a FUCKING CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER for black people against people who ...would not tolerate black people... My head felt like it was going to explode. Then Steve saw someone banging on the emergency door, and opened it. Despite big large print signs saying "STOP" and "NOTICE, THE DOOR USED FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY". Celia said he probably has ADHD up the wazoo and just never got the proper diagnosis for it. Makes sense, but he sure is dumb as a stump. Bill and I then contemplated getting a shovel for a few whacks at the back of the head to level us out into the bell curve of intelligences. Being smarter than the general public is really, really frustrating sometimes.
Home: Dicking around on internet, dog walk. Watch a little bit of a documentary on 70s film making, very interesting considering how so many movies were considered "low-budget" and were swept under the rug until these directors did amazing things with them.
Get a call from Dan asking 6:30 practice. Do my homework, talk to mom. Fill up my tank o gas and get a gallon of skim in the process. Not before grabbing the compilation of Chris's music for the ride. Listening to it, he is a very good songwriter, although the recordings are lo-fi as fuck. Some of the keyboard parts the keyboard player is playing don't really fit the song, and I wish he had another sound besides the annoying Faux-fasa organ. But the songs still stand up. I feel a little connection with him as best as I could.
Practice: Fine, a little slow going at first. I was kinda just coasting along and being in and out of it, which made Nick a little frustrated. But we get going and I like some parts I've come up with, although I've noticed I'm very more a chord progression player rather than a riff player... again, have to work on that.
Out, home again before picking up a pizza. Internet, shower, blogging, to bed.
School, schooly. Mrs. Burke liked most of my shots for Photography, which is good. I think my portfolio for final exam will be shows in Providence. Going to AS220 for credit! Band was alright, my playing was a little off, but a combination of the bass and my technique is so finicky. Some days it will be great, others it will be not-so-great... Sub in civics, in the library, spend the time with Bill looking up crazy people in the Westboro Baptist church (You know, the GodHatesFags people?) Fred Phelps, their headpersons, was a civil rights lawyer. Let me make this perfectly clear. This man who tells us that 9/11, the mine collapsing in West Virginia, and soldiers being killed in Iraq are all because God is trying to punish us for our TOLERANCE towards homosexuals, was a FUCKING CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER for black people against people who ...would not tolerate black people... My head felt like it was going to explode. Then Steve saw someone banging on the emergency door, and opened it. Despite big large print signs saying "STOP" and "NOTICE, THE DOOR USED FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY". Celia said he probably has ADHD up the wazoo and just never got the proper diagnosis for it. Makes sense, but he sure is dumb as a stump. Bill and I then contemplated getting a shovel for a few whacks at the back of the head to level us out into the bell curve of intelligences. Being smarter than the general public is really, really frustrating sometimes.
Home: Dicking around on internet, dog walk. Watch a little bit of a documentary on 70s film making, very interesting considering how so many movies were considered "low-budget" and were swept under the rug until these directors did amazing things with them.
Get a call from Dan asking 6:30 practice. Do my homework, talk to mom. Fill up my tank o gas and get a gallon of skim in the process. Not before grabbing the compilation of Chris's music for the ride. Listening to it, he is a very good songwriter, although the recordings are lo-fi as fuck. Some of the keyboard parts the keyboard player is playing don't really fit the song, and I wish he had another sound besides the annoying Faux-fasa organ. But the songs still stand up. I feel a little connection with him as best as I could.
Practice: Fine, a little slow going at first. I was kinda just coasting along and being in and out of it, which made Nick a little frustrated. But we get going and I like some parts I've come up with, although I've noticed I'm very more a chord progression player rather than a riff player... again, have to work on that.
Out, home again before picking up a pizza. Internet, shower, blogging, to bed.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
I originally started this post a few minutes ago, but Frippertronics and the thought of new sheets had enticed me, and when I came back, the post was not here anymore...
From the top
Went to bed at 4 AM last night, woke up around noon. Putted around for an hour before getting an email from the man about the guitar. 30 minutes later I'm a guitar lighter and 180 dollars richer, which goes to paying towards my new bass rig. I only have 16 dollars left to play, so this is good. Back home, grab some lunch, lovely oven friend chicken with beans and rice and greenbeans. Scarf it down and then bitch about lilypond which is fucking up my score... Print out what I have and talk to Mike. He likes what he sees, I think. Although the piece is far more tonal than I had originally thought... We talk, listen to music. I let it slip I'm in a band called "Cockslap". He grins and goes "Oh great" sarcastically. I don't really think he knows the depths of the weirdness of my music, but whatever. Probably going to meet Wednesday or something.
Back home, homework, watching Penn and Teller's Bullshit for a few episodes. Laughed and almost didn't get the work done. More dicking around on the internet. Talk to Justin, laid a new piece on me, it's great and only 60 seconds long. Might see if I can get that or "Here Come The Warm Jets" to be my ring tone for my phone.
Started dumping the lost Meccalily Luau 2005 set to digital today. Tomorrow I will cut it up and hopefully export it. Then APMJ Luau 2005. Speaking of Meccalily, got a message from Wayne via myspace. He's in a new band that looks interesting. Hopefully will check it out one of these days when they play around here.
Watching a Frippertronics performance has made me think that honestly, I do not play notes. I play patterns based on what i think will work FOR the music, but I really don't hear parts in my head and then play them. I must work on this and fix it. Although sometimes I play in places where I can not hear myself think.
Now, sheet changing, shower, and to bed.
From the top
Went to bed at 4 AM last night, woke up around noon. Putted around for an hour before getting an email from the man about the guitar. 30 minutes later I'm a guitar lighter and 180 dollars richer, which goes to paying towards my new bass rig. I only have 16 dollars left to play, so this is good. Back home, grab some lunch, lovely oven friend chicken with beans and rice and greenbeans. Scarf it down and then bitch about lilypond which is fucking up my score... Print out what I have and talk to Mike. He likes what he sees, I think. Although the piece is far more tonal than I had originally thought... We talk, listen to music. I let it slip I'm in a band called "Cockslap". He grins and goes "Oh great" sarcastically. I don't really think he knows the depths of the weirdness of my music, but whatever. Probably going to meet Wednesday or something.
Back home, homework, watching Penn and Teller's Bullshit for a few episodes. Laughed and almost didn't get the work done. More dicking around on the internet. Talk to Justin, laid a new piece on me, it's great and only 60 seconds long. Might see if I can get that or "Here Come The Warm Jets" to be my ring tone for my phone.
Started dumping the lost Meccalily Luau 2005 set to digital today. Tomorrow I will cut it up and hopefully export it. Then APMJ Luau 2005. Speaking of Meccalily, got a message from Wayne via myspace. He's in a new band that looks interesting. Hopefully will check it out one of these days when they play around here.
Watching a Frippertronics performance has made me think that honestly, I do not play notes. I play patterns based on what i think will work FOR the music, but I really don't hear parts in my head and then play them. I must work on this and fix it. Although sometimes I play in places where I can not hear myself think.
Now, sheet changing, shower, and to bed.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday: Don't remember much about friday... I listened to Meccalily for ride music, worked pretty well, although I'm just used to it my own lead guitar parts behind it for some of them... Do remember that Ayla in physics was crying as Olivia was confronting her about something. I later learned it was because that she was spending time with her boyfriend instead of her. I heard the phrase "We use to be inseparable!" and I had to roll my eyes...
Up real late, practice bass for three hours (no kidding) and watch Jaco Pastorius videos on youtube for some inspiration. Feel like I'm really improving on bass. Bed at 3 AM.
Today: Up around 11. Shower, clean up my area. Fix rosegarden problem I had, and I finished my composition today! Hot shit. Out with dog, listen to Eno compilation I grabbed from downstairs. Get home and finally talk to Nick about band practice. We agree for 7 and I warm up/get my stuff ready. I decided to bring my new amp rig for shits and giggles, and see how it sounds. Sounds great, ballsy, and LOUD. A little more than I need actually, which is good, as I hope to use this rig for all kinds of situations. Jam a little bit to warm up. Start to work on a song which we had scraps from last year. Goes alright. Decided to work on wrangling the 18 minute beast that is "Cockwaffle" down to 5 minutes. Was not happy at first. Kinda wanted to play through old material, like 2 or 3 songs just to get our bearings. We ran through Little Bird kinda half assed at the beginning, but I wanted more. Nick brought up that we didn't have any shows coming up, so why run through the material? I see his point I wanted just to make sure that there was enough lubrication in the gears in order to get the machine running. Felt my playing was pretty good for the first half. I kept reverting back to "boxy" patterns for Cockwaffle, but it's basically a stoner rock jam in E, so I felt that playing jazz licks that I've learned the past couple of months really couldn't apply. Alright practice though. Want to bring up the two songs we worked on before the break and see where they go. We tend to work on songs and record them, but they end up in the black hole that is Dan's laptop and our minds. I'm sure there are 5 or 6 sketches of songs that we have 50% done and just moved onto another thing that interested us... Hopefully I can get a new practice in tomorrow if meeting with Mike doesn't take up a assload of time...
Afterwards, meet up with Dave and go to get a bite to eat at Gregg's, where we proceed to act like children. Some context to a conversation I can't remember leads to Dan saying "Speaking of cumshots" right as the waitress walks out to take our order. We all have to retain our composure while ordering. As soon as she walks away we all just lose it completely. So many offensive things were said that I can't remember them all.
Talk with Pete and decided to hang out at his house afterwards. See a paper lying on the counter, with all my friends who are starring in "The Foreigner" this weekend. Feel bad as I said I would go, but as I made plans last night I thought it started at 7:30, looked at the clock and realized it started at 7 actually, so it was too late. Tonight I was busy, and I was banking on a matinée. I just hope they don't hate me. Talk about the theater program and how I'm a theater-nerd-by-proxy as I've done pit. It's a good time, and honestly I wish they did a musical this year. It would have been fun, it always is if you get a good director.
He played me a bit of his concerto for sax and piano. I almost made my ears fall off. Having to subject myself towards Dan's cymbals and Pete's high "C" on alto sax almost made my eardrums burst.
Decide to watch "Pet Sematary" with Pete. Wasn't familiar with the story beforehand, was a good flick overall. Nothing real deep. MST3k it the entire time, so it was a good time. Drive home, internet before bed, blogging, A Post Modern John.
Up real late, practice bass for three hours (no kidding) and watch Jaco Pastorius videos on youtube for some inspiration. Feel like I'm really improving on bass. Bed at 3 AM.
Today: Up around 11. Shower, clean up my area. Fix rosegarden problem I had, and I finished my composition today! Hot shit. Out with dog, listen to Eno compilation I grabbed from downstairs. Get home and finally talk to Nick about band practice. We agree for 7 and I warm up/get my stuff ready. I decided to bring my new amp rig for shits and giggles, and see how it sounds. Sounds great, ballsy, and LOUD. A little more than I need actually, which is good, as I hope to use this rig for all kinds of situations. Jam a little bit to warm up. Start to work on a song which we had scraps from last year. Goes alright. Decided to work on wrangling the 18 minute beast that is "Cockwaffle" down to 5 minutes. Was not happy at first. Kinda wanted to play through old material, like 2 or 3 songs just to get our bearings. We ran through Little Bird kinda half assed at the beginning, but I wanted more. Nick brought up that we didn't have any shows coming up, so why run through the material? I see his point I wanted just to make sure that there was enough lubrication in the gears in order to get the machine running. Felt my playing was pretty good for the first half. I kept reverting back to "boxy" patterns for Cockwaffle, but it's basically a stoner rock jam in E, so I felt that playing jazz licks that I've learned the past couple of months really couldn't apply. Alright practice though. Want to bring up the two songs we worked on before the break and see where they go. We tend to work on songs and record them, but they end up in the black hole that is Dan's laptop and our minds. I'm sure there are 5 or 6 sketches of songs that we have 50% done and just moved onto another thing that interested us... Hopefully I can get a new practice in tomorrow if meeting with Mike doesn't take up a assload of time...
Afterwards, meet up with Dave and go to get a bite to eat at Gregg's, where we proceed to act like children. Some context to a conversation I can't remember leads to Dan saying "Speaking of cumshots" right as the waitress walks out to take our order. We all have to retain our composure while ordering. As soon as she walks away we all just lose it completely. So many offensive things were said that I can't remember them all.
Talk with Pete and decided to hang out at his house afterwards. See a paper lying on the counter, with all my friends who are starring in "The Foreigner" this weekend. Feel bad as I said I would go, but as I made plans last night I thought it started at 7:30, looked at the clock and realized it started at 7 actually, so it was too late. Tonight I was busy, and I was banking on a matinée. I just hope they don't hate me. Talk about the theater program and how I'm a theater-nerd-by-proxy as I've done pit. It's a good time, and honestly I wish they did a musical this year. It would have been fun, it always is if you get a good director.
He played me a bit of his concerto for sax and piano. I almost made my ears fall off. Having to subject myself towards Dan's cymbals and Pete's high "C" on alto sax almost made my eardrums burst.
Decide to watch "Pet Sematary" with Pete. Wasn't familiar with the story beforehand, was a good flick overall. Nothing real deep. MST3k it the entire time, so it was a good time. Drive home, internet before bed, blogging, A Post Modern John.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Got a call from Bill last night as I was about to shower, asking for a ride into school this morning. No problem. I'd pick him up at 7:05. Get up at 6:20, slowly get out of bed and just go have a nice talk with him.
Wake up, open my eyes.
It's 7:08. FUCK. Literally throw on the first shirt, jeans and sweatshirt I find, rush out the door with a cereal bar and frappwhatchamacall it. Pick him up at 7:10, doesn't seem too pissed. Make it school on time.
School? Schooly. I got called to Guidance, they said I should look for my musical director and send him an email regarding the hours I spent in pit band the past two years than do it all over again. Was refreshing to hear that. We also went over my graduation portfolio, and found I have more than enough entries to graduate! Huzzah! So that's off my mind, which is good.
I wasted time in civics. Well, not waste. I just spent the period looking up Coltrane, Fred Frith, Peter Gabriel, Derek Bailey and other free jazz artists and tearing my hair out that I will never be as good as them. Made me want to listen to Ascension again when I got home, but I forgot. Oops. Was nice to be home on regular time for once. Jamie stopped by with the finale spanish poster, which is good. I need to finish the worksheets tomorrow but eh I don't care. One is done...
Jazz band tonight. Small number, so we just work on improvising on a Bb blues scale. Some take quickly to it, some have a little trouble. For some reason on the call and response section, I keep spilling over into a 3rd bar, don't know why. Not really happy with my solos tonight, but they're just for educational purposes. It's pretty obvious Dan Labove has never really had practice time behind a kit. This kid Christian asks to try out my bass. I agree, just saying not to break it. He plays "Smoke On The Water" and pretty well too, for not really being a bass player. I was impressed. Jazz band ends relatively early, Mr. Healey, Kevin, Christian and I talk about band, and the way things are going. We are all really impressed with him and hope it'll keep going this way. Talk to him about Narr. Wind ensemble he invited me to. If he can get a double bass from URI and I spend a month on it I will join (Oh jesus christ those poor poor souls...) Seems like a good time to improve my musicianship.
More Brian Eno before a shower and to sleep. (With my alarm set this time).
Wake up, open my eyes.
It's 7:08. FUCK. Literally throw on the first shirt, jeans and sweatshirt I find, rush out the door with a cereal bar and frappwhatchamacall it. Pick him up at 7:10, doesn't seem too pissed. Make it school on time.
School? Schooly. I got called to Guidance, they said I should look for my musical director and send him an email regarding the hours I spent in pit band the past two years than do it all over again. Was refreshing to hear that. We also went over my graduation portfolio, and found I have more than enough entries to graduate! Huzzah! So that's off my mind, which is good.
I wasted time in civics. Well, not waste. I just spent the period looking up Coltrane, Fred Frith, Peter Gabriel, Derek Bailey and other free jazz artists and tearing my hair out that I will never be as good as them. Made me want to listen to Ascension again when I got home, but I forgot. Oops. Was nice to be home on regular time for once. Jamie stopped by with the finale spanish poster, which is good. I need to finish the worksheets tomorrow but eh I don't care. One is done...
Jazz band tonight. Small number, so we just work on improvising on a Bb blues scale. Some take quickly to it, some have a little trouble. For some reason on the call and response section, I keep spilling over into a 3rd bar, don't know why. Not really happy with my solos tonight, but they're just for educational purposes. It's pretty obvious Dan Labove has never really had practice time behind a kit. This kid Christian asks to try out my bass. I agree, just saying not to break it. He plays "Smoke On The Water" and pretty well too, for not really being a bass player. I was impressed. Jazz band ends relatively early, Mr. Healey, Kevin, Christian and I talk about band, and the way things are going. We are all really impressed with him and hope it'll keep going this way. Talk to him about Narr. Wind ensemble he invited me to. If he can get a double bass from URI and I spend a month on it I will join (Oh jesus christ those poor poor souls...) Seems like a good time to improve my musicianship.
More Brian Eno before a shower and to sleep. (With my alarm set this time).
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Up this morning, listen to Mike Celleme on the way in. Borrow dress shirt and pants from my dad as mine were accidentally thrown in the was by me. Oops.
AP psych interesting. Watch "Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask" scene about ejaculation to tie into motivation and sex. Very funny. Spanish is a complete bore and I worry about Mrs. Mac bitching for no reason. Manage to snag a pass to the library and work in there for the rest of the period in silence. Watch "Little Miss Sunshine" in english. Good movie, wish I saw it earlier. Although everyone in the class talked through it, I managed to enjoy it. Well, they were quiet for some scenes, not others. I have a feeling they didn't quite "get it". Physics, next. Pray that i didn't fail the test. Go to my car for the dress clothes and then off to the elementary school.
Teaching was fine. Way easier than last time as we knew what to expect. Jamie still took a long time with the name tags, but oh well. We were actually semi-on time! The velcro posters she made are great. I noticed this one boy "Sergio" (his spanish name given to us) who is very overweight is new (he was absent last class) as well as other new faces. We start reviewing, and call everyone to sit down on the rug. Samuel is very eager to the point where I almost accidentally step on him! I ask him to move back and he complies. Everyone is a little bit rowdy today but we manage to calm them down. I notice Sergio and Benito have a scuffle. I almost wanted to talk it out but they seem to fix it within 5 minutes using words which is good.
They end with coloring and we get the hell out of there, with straight 4s across our rubric. Huzzah.
Home: Short dog walk, homework. Procrastination on composition again. I know I know it's killing me but I just want a night off...
I'm looking up anything I can find regarding Chris. For those that don't know, he died August 12, 1995 in a car accident. From what I know, he was in a road trip to see the largest whirlpool in the world, and was sleeping in the backseat without a seatbelt when the car hit the middle of the road with an oncoming RV. I have no idea how old he was, he must have been 20 or 21, very young. I don't honestly remember a lot except him making me laugh all the time when he was around, and the fact he had two albums by two different bands under his belt. I remember playing them at my request at my grandmother's house. I'm sure he was embarrassed, because that's how I feel now whenever someone plays my EP in front of family...
What is making me look up stuff about him? I found a video on youtube of some high school kids from 1997, making trouble and basically doing what high school kids do. Honestly, it was almost like my friends, and I guess that I want to think that my high school experience is different, because my high school is small and shitty, but a lot of high schools are small and shitty. Doesn't change a thing. Most of my older friends though picked fucked up whacked out music though, and they're in pretty cool places. I guess I'm doing something right/wrong. Hopefully it's right to the right people, and wrong to the wrong people.
I miss him, what I remember about him. I know there is a portfolio of his things downstairs I looked at one day, including a list of indie record labels... The more I think I about it, even if I do go to college, I will make a career in music. Part of this is that list of record labels, for some odd reason. I don't know if it inspired me, or what. But I think I will, for better or for worse, become a musician. On my own terms, of course ( would you expect nothing less from a member of bands called Troop of Echoes, House On Fire and Cockslap?).
Looks like I will be sleeping in the living room next Easter. I don't mind. It means I'll probably just listen to my Brian Eno albums and look at the ceiling all night, or the stars if I really feel bold. Not a bad way to end a night if I do. Or hopefully Tim and Katie will take me out somewhere, or we'll all do something as a family.
Speaking of Brian Eno, I have been listening to "The Big Ship" for quiet possibly 20 minutes now, on repeat. You should probably all do the same at least once every 5 days.
Meeting with Mike Sunday, should give me enough motivation to work my ass off until then.
Shower then sleep. But not before listening to The Big Ship one more time...ok maybe two...
AP psych interesting. Watch "Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask" scene about ejaculation to tie into motivation and sex. Very funny. Spanish is a complete bore and I worry about Mrs. Mac bitching for no reason. Manage to snag a pass to the library and work in there for the rest of the period in silence. Watch "Little Miss Sunshine" in english. Good movie, wish I saw it earlier. Although everyone in the class talked through it, I managed to enjoy it. Well, they were quiet for some scenes, not others. I have a feeling they didn't quite "get it". Physics, next. Pray that i didn't fail the test. Go to my car for the dress clothes and then off to the elementary school.
Teaching was fine. Way easier than last time as we knew what to expect. Jamie still took a long time with the name tags, but oh well. We were actually semi-on time! The velcro posters she made are great. I noticed this one boy "Sergio" (his spanish name given to us) who is very overweight is new (he was absent last class) as well as other new faces. We start reviewing, and call everyone to sit down on the rug. Samuel is very eager to the point where I almost accidentally step on him! I ask him to move back and he complies. Everyone is a little bit rowdy today but we manage to calm them down. I notice Sergio and Benito have a scuffle. I almost wanted to talk it out but they seem to fix it within 5 minutes using words which is good.
They end with coloring and we get the hell out of there, with straight 4s across our rubric. Huzzah.
Home: Short dog walk, homework. Procrastination on composition again. I know I know it's killing me but I just want a night off...
I'm looking up anything I can find regarding Chris. For those that don't know, he died August 12, 1995 in a car accident. From what I know, he was in a road trip to see the largest whirlpool in the world, and was sleeping in the backseat without a seatbelt when the car hit the middle of the road with an oncoming RV. I have no idea how old he was, he must have been 20 or 21, very young. I don't honestly remember a lot except him making me laugh all the time when he was around, and the fact he had two albums by two different bands under his belt. I remember playing them at my request at my grandmother's house. I'm sure he was embarrassed, because that's how I feel now whenever someone plays my EP in front of family...
What is making me look up stuff about him? I found a video on youtube of some high school kids from 1997, making trouble and basically doing what high school kids do. Honestly, it was almost like my friends, and I guess that I want to think that my high school experience is different, because my high school is small and shitty, but a lot of high schools are small and shitty. Doesn't change a thing. Most of my older friends though picked fucked up whacked out music though, and they're in pretty cool places. I guess I'm doing something right/wrong. Hopefully it's right to the right people, and wrong to the wrong people.
I miss him, what I remember about him. I know there is a portfolio of his things downstairs I looked at one day, including a list of indie record labels... The more I think I about it, even if I do go to college, I will make a career in music. Part of this is that list of record labels, for some odd reason. I don't know if it inspired me, or what. But I think I will, for better or for worse, become a musician. On my own terms, of course ( would you expect nothing less from a member of bands called Troop of Echoes, House On Fire and Cockslap?).
Looks like I will be sleeping in the living room next Easter. I don't mind. It means I'll probably just listen to my Brian Eno albums and look at the ceiling all night, or the stars if I really feel bold. Not a bad way to end a night if I do. Or hopefully Tim and Katie will take me out somewhere, or we'll all do something as a family.
Speaking of Brian Eno, I have been listening to "The Big Ship" for quiet possibly 20 minutes now, on repeat. You should probably all do the same at least once every 5 days.
Meeting with Mike Sunday, should give me enough motivation to work my ass off until then.
Shower then sleep. But not before listening to The Big Ship one more time...ok maybe two...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Whew, ok, lets begin.
Sunday: Adrian Belew kicked ASS. Major major amounts of it. Set list was the same as "Side Four" except "Theela" was replaced with "Neurotica" which was fucking AWESOME. Our seats were on the side of the stage looking straight on, perpendicular towards "normal" seats. Which meant that we couldn't see Julie, but Adrian 60% of the time and EVERYTHING Eric did. His right foot was fucking amazing to watch. It was like getting kicked in the ass. I made a comment after they came on for the Encore to him about real men not drinking water. He posed for me to make us both laughed, and that's when Adrian decided it was a good idea to shine a spotlight on him and introduce him! Oops, sorry bout that Eric. Andre of Project/Object and Don Preston's Ensemble was Adrian's tech, said hi to him briefly, he remembered me! Cut it short because Adrian had a cold and wanted to get out of there, can't blame him. Had a lovely ride with my dad on the way up and back, good conversation although I might have stretched it. Oh well.
Yesterday: Not much, school blows, I composed more, that's about it.
Today: Not much. Dan Stone accidentally opened the door and jammed my middle finger on my right hand, it still hurts, but getting better. Oh well, just keep it cracking and under hot water. Overheard a conversation in Digital photo about a kid driving from CCRI to his house at 115 MPH. And he was drunk. What a grade A fucking moron.
Mr. Healey's Professor Mr. Cardene was in as a guest conductor. He was excellent and made the band sound amazing. I'm realizing rather than bitch and bitch about how wind instrument exercises don't apply to me, I'm adjusting them to my stringed instruments, and finding breath control exercises actually DO help me with my technique. Who saw that coming? It's to the point where they don't even address the fact I'm not a wind instrument anymore, which is good.
Home: Dog walking, homework (although studying for Physics will suck), must dress up tomorrow for teaching, but after that I'm done for 2 weeks! Hooray!
Talked with my parents. Apparently we're going up to NH for Easter to see my cousin and aunt and uncle. Haven't been to that house in years. Last time I was there was possibly between 7th and 8th grade summer, I think. So that makes it roughly 5 years. I remember watching the reports of the iraq war and how we just started to invade, thinking "God damn, I hope this ends soon"... and it's 5 years later.
Apparently Katie (cousin who is a light tech for Porgy and Bess) is going to Russia in the summer, and trying to get me an intership for lightning or orchestra. They would use the Orient Express as a means of transportation. I would be ecstatic if I got it, but I also have obligations at home that are once in a life time as well. Who knows what will happen to A Troop of Echoes after this summer. I honestly don't know. To keep on going would be amazing, but I don't know what Nick is up to. He's mentioned going to Montreal, so there is a chance this is the last summer for The Troop. And the intership would be 6-8 weeks which would be prime recording and show time in the summer. I don't know. I would love an intership but I secretly hope that it might fall through... I look forward to going up there, although I need to brush up on my poker if Tim is there and expecting to play...
Speaking of Troop, our show friday was cancelled. Fucking building managers in Providence... It was going to be a great show, and I have literally been jonesing to play out. One for the sake of my musicianship, two for my new rig needs to get out of the house...
Had to go out and pick up some yogurt for mom, as I ate the last one that was in the fridge for weeks, only to find out tonight she was going to bake brownies with it. D'oh! Try Rite-aid, CVS and Cumberland Farms, nothing. Reach a compromise and go to Stop and Shop getting yogurt for baking and myself to eat, and breakfest foods and I've had to steal "weight watcher" bagels in order to have something in the morning. A few times there was nothing for breakfest food in the house, so I just gulped down juice and waited until Lunch... Glad that won't happen this week. Had a feeling I would see a teacher in Stop and Shop, just hoped it wasn't one I hated. Feeling was true, as Mr. Cannon comes up to me in the checkout line. We talk about senior project and goings on, he's fine, I'm fine, polite small talk. The woman behind the counter rings up my purchase as a Stop and Shop Super Saver when I didn't have a card. I realized on the way home I don't think I said thank you, and felt a little bad. Oh well.
More dicking around on the internet, some bass here and there but today was small due to the finger jam and the rehearsal today. Shower then bed.
Sunday: Adrian Belew kicked ASS. Major major amounts of it. Set list was the same as "Side Four" except "Theela" was replaced with "Neurotica" which was fucking AWESOME. Our seats were on the side of the stage looking straight on, perpendicular towards "normal" seats. Which meant that we couldn't see Julie, but Adrian 60% of the time and EVERYTHING Eric did. His right foot was fucking amazing to watch. It was like getting kicked in the ass. I made a comment after they came on for the Encore to him about real men not drinking water. He posed for me to make us both laughed, and that's when Adrian decided it was a good idea to shine a spotlight on him and introduce him! Oops, sorry bout that Eric. Andre of Project/Object and Don Preston's Ensemble was Adrian's tech, said hi to him briefly, he remembered me! Cut it short because Adrian had a cold and wanted to get out of there, can't blame him. Had a lovely ride with my dad on the way up and back, good conversation although I might have stretched it. Oh well.
Yesterday: Not much, school blows, I composed more, that's about it.
Today: Not much. Dan Stone accidentally opened the door and jammed my middle finger on my right hand, it still hurts, but getting better. Oh well, just keep it cracking and under hot water. Overheard a conversation in Digital photo about a kid driving from CCRI to his house at 115 MPH. And he was drunk. What a grade A fucking moron.
Mr. Healey's Professor Mr. Cardene was in as a guest conductor. He was excellent and made the band sound amazing. I'm realizing rather than bitch and bitch about how wind instrument exercises don't apply to me, I'm adjusting them to my stringed instruments, and finding breath control exercises actually DO help me with my technique. Who saw that coming? It's to the point where they don't even address the fact I'm not a wind instrument anymore, which is good.
Home: Dog walking, homework (although studying for Physics will suck), must dress up tomorrow for teaching, but after that I'm done for 2 weeks! Hooray!
Talked with my parents. Apparently we're going up to NH for Easter to see my cousin and aunt and uncle. Haven't been to that house in years. Last time I was there was possibly between 7th and 8th grade summer, I think. So that makes it roughly 5 years. I remember watching the reports of the iraq war and how we just started to invade, thinking "God damn, I hope this ends soon"... and it's 5 years later.
Apparently Katie (cousin who is a light tech for Porgy and Bess) is going to Russia in the summer, and trying to get me an intership for lightning or orchestra. They would use the Orient Express as a means of transportation. I would be ecstatic if I got it, but I also have obligations at home that are once in a life time as well. Who knows what will happen to A Troop of Echoes after this summer. I honestly don't know. To keep on going would be amazing, but I don't know what Nick is up to. He's mentioned going to Montreal, so there is a chance this is the last summer for The Troop. And the intership would be 6-8 weeks which would be prime recording and show time in the summer. I don't know. I would love an intership but I secretly hope that it might fall through... I look forward to going up there, although I need to brush up on my poker if Tim is there and expecting to play...
Speaking of Troop, our show friday was cancelled. Fucking building managers in Providence... It was going to be a great show, and I have literally been jonesing to play out. One for the sake of my musicianship, two for my new rig needs to get out of the house...
Had to go out and pick up some yogurt for mom, as I ate the last one that was in the fridge for weeks, only to find out tonight she was going to bake brownies with it. D'oh! Try Rite-aid, CVS and Cumberland Farms, nothing. Reach a compromise and go to Stop and Shop getting yogurt for baking and myself to eat, and breakfest foods and I've had to steal "weight watcher" bagels in order to have something in the morning. A few times there was nothing for breakfest food in the house, so I just gulped down juice and waited until Lunch... Glad that won't happen this week. Had a feeling I would see a teacher in Stop and Shop, just hoped it wasn't one I hated. Feeling was true, as Mr. Cannon comes up to me in the checkout line. We talk about senior project and goings on, he's fine, I'm fine, polite small talk. The woman behind the counter rings up my purchase as a Stop and Shop Super Saver when I didn't have a card. I realized on the way home I don't think I said thank you, and felt a little bad. Oh well.
More dicking around on the internet, some bass here and there but today was small due to the finger jam and the rehearsal today. Shower then bed.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Last time I updated was Tuesday, so I guess that means time for a quick recap
Wednesday: Teach the class of second graders. I oddly take command and find out I'm pretty good around kids. Who knew? The lesson has a few bumps because we really didn't prepare, but next time we'll do better since we know what to expect.
Thursday: Mrs. Mac continues to chew all of us out and shows that she is generally not a very good teacher by not telling us standards for things until she starts grading them. I can take criticism, especially on a project like this, but she goes past the point of criticism almost into degrading comments. I stand there and take it, because whatelse can I do? I later talk to Meagan and find out she is starting to hate her, so it's not just me. I really don't know a single person who thinks she is a good teacher. Mediocre teachers can at least have the saving grace of being nice. My math, english and civics teachers come to mind. Not the best, but they at least have their strong points of personality and being understanding and fair graders.
Meet with someone about buying the guitar.
Meet with Mike at the FAC. He kicks my ass talking about my composition, as he should. We listened to compositions such as Ives, Glass and others... Listening to the Glass violin concertos makes me change my perspective on him. He's amazing now, but please keep him the fuck away from the synthesizer, thank you.
Go home and change my thinking on the composition. Sleep
Friday: Not much, but a very very good day. Not as shitty as the rest of the week. Listen to "The Velvet Underground" for the ride. Get some sweet pleasure out of blasting "Venus In Furs" while driving by the ocean, especially in the hazy fog that morning had.
Home, start working on composition. Take a break to run out and buy bass strings. Listen to "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" on the way up and the way back. Daddy's Junkie Music was oddly quiet for a friday night, but it was nice, if only for a second.
More composition when I get home. Get near bar 50, feel tired. Take a break and change my strings while watching Futurama. Never start the composition again.
Wake up this morning, start into the composition, 2 hours pass and get very far, another 50 bars and very happy with the results. Again, another break until tonight.
Adrian Belew tomorrow! Tickets are sold out. Looking forward to it.
Wednesday: Teach the class of second graders. I oddly take command and find out I'm pretty good around kids. Who knew? The lesson has a few bumps because we really didn't prepare, but next time we'll do better since we know what to expect.
Thursday: Mrs. Mac continues to chew all of us out and shows that she is generally not a very good teacher by not telling us standards for things until she starts grading them. I can take criticism, especially on a project like this, but she goes past the point of criticism almost into degrading comments. I stand there and take it, because whatelse can I do? I later talk to Meagan and find out she is starting to hate her, so it's not just me. I really don't know a single person who thinks she is a good teacher. Mediocre teachers can at least have the saving grace of being nice. My math, english and civics teachers come to mind. Not the best, but they at least have their strong points of personality and being understanding and fair graders.
Meet with someone about buying the guitar.
Meet with Mike at the FAC. He kicks my ass talking about my composition, as he should. We listened to compositions such as Ives, Glass and others... Listening to the Glass violin concertos makes me change my perspective on him. He's amazing now, but please keep him the fuck away from the synthesizer, thank you.
Go home and change my thinking on the composition. Sleep
Friday: Not much, but a very very good day. Not as shitty as the rest of the week. Listen to "The Velvet Underground" for the ride. Get some sweet pleasure out of blasting "Venus In Furs" while driving by the ocean, especially in the hazy fog that morning had.
Home, start working on composition. Take a break to run out and buy bass strings. Listen to "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" on the way up and the way back. Daddy's Junkie Music was oddly quiet for a friday night, but it was nice, if only for a second.
More composition when I get home. Get near bar 50, feel tired. Take a break and change my strings while watching Futurama. Never start the composition again.
Wake up this morning, start into the composition, 2 hours pass and get very far, another 50 bars and very happy with the results. Again, another break until tonight.
Adrian Belew tomorrow! Tickets are sold out. Looking forward to it.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
When it rains, it pours...
Urgh, what a day.
Wake up, do the old "I'll shut my eyes for a second" and then notice that I'm dreaming. Oh joy... wake up with 6 minutes to 7, throw on some jeans and a shirt and grab Smashing Pumpkins "Gish" for the ride in. Step outside to warm up my car... and it's 50 out. Well ain't that somethin!
School is slowly breaking me down...
In Spanish Mrs. Mac has become so irritating, so abrasive and so rigid in her ways that I'm really getting tired of it. This whole "Teaching elementary school kids spanish" is really making me nervous... We split the work up threeways which is fine with me. Tell Mrs. Mac that we start tomorrow, she is noticeably ticked, but we needed to start early. Honestly, for some reason her words tend to be forgotten the most out of my teachers... But what can you do. It will be nice to have a week off in the middle as J is on vacation.
J is nice but I don't know, there's something about the fact she never really wears properly fitting clothes, or a belt, that kinda makes me wonder, but I think I might just be prying into her life too much...
English class consisted of a debate. I kept quiet mostly as I realized my class is full of cocky assholes who take competition way too far.
Physics was alright. Mrs. Krous did a demonstration with a Troll doll and remarked it was cutest butt she'd ever seen on the doll, then turned it around and asked me. Joe from the back said "It's lose-lose!".
Had to stay after school for 10 minutes, check in with "After school hours" for senior project. Felt bad considering I didn't really have anything to give them but they couldn't dock me for it...
Got home, internet, took dog out on short walk (on account of the rain) listening to 3 Tom Shields songs, forgetting how good they all. Homework, then out to meet with Mike.
Except I forgot my senior project folder, and I have to turn around and get it. Leave a notice on Mike's voice mail apologizing. Get to FAC and basically wait for him. Get a call from him and he tells me he had a dress rehearsal for a gig that he forgot about. I'm pissed but understand. Not angry at him, at the day, but I was looking forward towards it. Get dinner at The Pizza Pocket, which is under new management. Was kinda iffy. I missed the old look of the place. The chalkboard walls and the checked tiles was it's charm, especially the really nice kid behind the counter. Slow, but funny. Always let me have free bottles of water and soda considering Pete and I would always walk in around 2 AM. I guess I have to wait and see what happens next time I'm on campus and if I want to eat there or not.
Back home, a little veg time, but then work on name tags for the class tomorrow. Watch Family Guy. Then a little guitar. My soloing is still sloppy and not as tight as I'd like, but I feel like I'm improving, which is nice with out any actual practice.
Internet, blagging, then shower and bed...
Tomorrow is the worst, and final, day of the three part hell...
Wake up, do the old "I'll shut my eyes for a second" and then notice that I'm dreaming. Oh joy... wake up with 6 minutes to 7, throw on some jeans and a shirt and grab Smashing Pumpkins "Gish" for the ride in. Step outside to warm up my car... and it's 50 out. Well ain't that somethin!
School is slowly breaking me down...
In Spanish Mrs. Mac has become so irritating, so abrasive and so rigid in her ways that I'm really getting tired of it. This whole "Teaching elementary school kids spanish" is really making me nervous... We split the work up threeways which is fine with me. Tell Mrs. Mac that we start tomorrow, she is noticeably ticked, but we needed to start early. Honestly, for some reason her words tend to be forgotten the most out of my teachers... But what can you do. It will be nice to have a week off in the middle as J is on vacation.
J is nice but I don't know, there's something about the fact she never really wears properly fitting clothes, or a belt, that kinda makes me wonder, but I think I might just be prying into her life too much...
English class consisted of a debate. I kept quiet mostly as I realized my class is full of cocky assholes who take competition way too far.
Physics was alright. Mrs. Krous did a demonstration with a Troll doll and remarked it was cutest butt she'd ever seen on the doll, then turned it around and asked me. Joe from the back said "It's lose-lose!".
Had to stay after school for 10 minutes, check in with "After school hours" for senior project. Felt bad considering I didn't really have anything to give them but they couldn't dock me for it...
Got home, internet, took dog out on short walk (on account of the rain) listening to 3 Tom Shields songs, forgetting how good they all. Homework, then out to meet with Mike.
Except I forgot my senior project folder, and I have to turn around and get it. Leave a notice on Mike's voice mail apologizing. Get to FAC and basically wait for him. Get a call from him and he tells me he had a dress rehearsal for a gig that he forgot about. I'm pissed but understand. Not angry at him, at the day, but I was looking forward towards it. Get dinner at The Pizza Pocket, which is under new management. Was kinda iffy. I missed the old look of the place. The chalkboard walls and the checked tiles was it's charm, especially the really nice kid behind the counter. Slow, but funny. Always let me have free bottles of water and soda considering Pete and I would always walk in around 2 AM. I guess I have to wait and see what happens next time I'm on campus and if I want to eat there or not.
Back home, a little veg time, but then work on name tags for the class tomorrow. Watch Family Guy. Then a little guitar. My soloing is still sloppy and not as tight as I'd like, but I feel like I'm improving, which is nice with out any actual practice.
Internet, blagging, then shower and bed...
Tomorrow is the worst, and final, day of the three part hell...
Monday, March 3, 2008
Whoooo boy.
Friday: Not much to say except I was glad the weekend was here. Stayed at home and just vegged, played a lot of bass. Tested out the DI in the head, pretty damn good. Was nice to just stay in...
Saturday: Again, nothing until night. Parents went out to dinner, I went out to meet up with Jay so we could grab food and then go driving into the great unknown. Drive through Route 44 and then through god knows where. Hit Pascoag, Burriville and then went into a "neighborhood" which was really semi-paved roads through the backwoods of northern rhode island. 2 hours later we decided to hop on the highway, and then see signs for "Providence, 15 miles". Apparently were were a good 15 miles into Massachusetts, my guess, but god knows how long we were ACTUALLY there. It was fun though. Listen to a bunch of Zydeco (Jay has a bunch on her computer, gotta ask for a mix, it's great stuff), ironic hip-hop, classic indie and pop, and then The Soft Bulletin on the way home. See the lights of Providence coming south to "Sleeping On The Roof" with the stars visible in the sky was just amazing. Listened to A Post Modern John on the way up and the way home, the Macfest disc. Startled at how good of an album it is. Honestly, axing two songs (that i think were just not going well live anyway) and it would be a great first LP for APMJ. Which leads us to...
Sunday: Finally, picking up the One-celled-Hammond-Organism from Jon. Went over to his house around 1:30, he first played us a new piece he recorded. I had heard it before from past Luaus and shows, but it was nice he finally had something archived and ready to be recorded. Then got the Hammond organ ready for transport. It now sits in our basement waiting to be cleaned so we don't burn dust, but my is it sweet... Can't wait to learn to play the thing.
Later in the evening, Justin came over and we jammed. It sure felt good to play music again, and what we did was I think the best stuff we've ever done. Tonality ahoy! Certainly doesn't have to be a bad thing. He heads home, I have dinner and go to bed.
Today: The one good thing about having math early in the morning is that the room is located so that the sun slowly moves across my seat and warms my legs... Not a bad way to start the day. Things are fine until around Digital Photo where it's clear I am one of three people paying attention. Erin Moone sits next to me and is not paying attention. Fine, not that I care. She plays solitaire on the computer. Teacher sees, asks her to close it. She closes and then turns to me and Brendan to bitch about. Saying how she was so sweet freshmen year and then she doesn't have her for 3 years and she turns into a bitch. I replay saying how it couldn't have been anything she could have done, and she just replies with a "pssh, whatever". Yes, because it is never your fault. Ever.
The "I hate people mode" lasts throughout lunch where Bill cheers me up by throwing Arcade Fire on. It gets me back to where I need to be.
Stay after school with Jaime and Melanie. We work on posters for Spanish project and make some headway. I run to CVS to buy posterboard. Stay until 3:10 until we head towards the elementary school. Touch base with Mrs. DeLuca, she seems fine our lesson plan, says all the kids are eager for this... Oh boy, way to make me feel nervous...
Day one of the three day hell fest is over at school...
Home, then short dog walk. Homework, then some composition/transferring/copying. Hopefully will get this done by the end of the week. Also, Dad ordered tickets to Adrian Belew (FINALLY) and there were apparently only 5 left! So we're on the side, but it's a small venue. I won't mind...
Gas up my tank, made and agreement with my mom that if I spend money i was saving for gas on pizza for the family she'd let me use her ATM for gassing up my tank. Aaaah, I forgot how satisfying a full tank of gas is.
Play bass along to Tom Shields. I'm realizing that as much as I talk about the band, I was not perfect, or at least not part of the problem. I never practiced, but the idea that it was all "roots-rock" made me feel fine like I could fake it, so I would make the same mistake on the same songs in rehearsals. I should have practiced more. Honestly at that first gig it seemed like it was going fine, fuck, this might actually work! Until Tom busted a string and didn't have an extra. Oh well. I should email him and tell him I was sorry, and keep me in mind for future projects.
Internet, relaxing to Martin Bradburn, The Flaming Lips and Gavin Castleton.
Shower and then bed.
Friday: Not much to say except I was glad the weekend was here. Stayed at home and just vegged, played a lot of bass. Tested out the DI in the head, pretty damn good. Was nice to just stay in...
Saturday: Again, nothing until night. Parents went out to dinner, I went out to meet up with Jay so we could grab food and then go driving into the great unknown. Drive through Route 44 and then through god knows where. Hit Pascoag, Burriville and then went into a "neighborhood" which was really semi-paved roads through the backwoods of northern rhode island. 2 hours later we decided to hop on the highway, and then see signs for "Providence, 15 miles". Apparently were were a good 15 miles into Massachusetts, my guess, but god knows how long we were ACTUALLY there. It was fun though. Listen to a bunch of Zydeco (Jay has a bunch on her computer, gotta ask for a mix, it's great stuff), ironic hip-hop, classic indie and pop, and then The Soft Bulletin on the way home. See the lights of Providence coming south to "Sleeping On The Roof" with the stars visible in the sky was just amazing. Listened to A Post Modern John on the way up and the way home, the Macfest disc. Startled at how good of an album it is. Honestly, axing two songs (that i think were just not going well live anyway) and it would be a great first LP for APMJ. Which leads us to...
Sunday: Finally, picking up the One-celled-Hammond-Organism from Jon. Went over to his house around 1:30, he first played us a new piece he recorded. I had heard it before from past Luaus and shows, but it was nice he finally had something archived and ready to be recorded. Then got the Hammond organ ready for transport. It now sits in our basement waiting to be cleaned so we don't burn dust, but my is it sweet... Can't wait to learn to play the thing.
Later in the evening, Justin came over and we jammed. It sure felt good to play music again, and what we did was I think the best stuff we've ever done. Tonality ahoy! Certainly doesn't have to be a bad thing. He heads home, I have dinner and go to bed.
Today: The one good thing about having math early in the morning is that the room is located so that the sun slowly moves across my seat and warms my legs... Not a bad way to start the day. Things are fine until around Digital Photo where it's clear I am one of three people paying attention. Erin Moone sits next to me and is not paying attention. Fine, not that I care. She plays solitaire on the computer. Teacher sees, asks her to close it. She closes and then turns to me and Brendan to bitch about. Saying how she was so sweet freshmen year and then she doesn't have her for 3 years and she turns into a bitch. I replay saying how it couldn't have been anything she could have done, and she just replies with a "pssh, whatever". Yes, because it is never your fault. Ever.
The "I hate people mode" lasts throughout lunch where Bill cheers me up by throwing Arcade Fire on. It gets me back to where I need to be.
Stay after school with Jaime and Melanie. We work on posters for Spanish project and make some headway. I run to CVS to buy posterboard. Stay until 3:10 until we head towards the elementary school. Touch base with Mrs. DeLuca, she seems fine our lesson plan, says all the kids are eager for this... Oh boy, way to make me feel nervous...
Day one of the three day hell fest is over at school...
Home, then short dog walk. Homework, then some composition/transferring/copying. Hopefully will get this done by the end of the week. Also, Dad ordered tickets to Adrian Belew (FINALLY) and there were apparently only 5 left! So we're on the side, but it's a small venue. I won't mind...
Gas up my tank, made and agreement with my mom that if I spend money i was saving for gas on pizza for the family she'd let me use her ATM for gassing up my tank. Aaaah, I forgot how satisfying a full tank of gas is.
Play bass along to Tom Shields. I'm realizing that as much as I talk about the band, I was not perfect, or at least not part of the problem. I never practiced, but the idea that it was all "roots-rock" made me feel fine like I could fake it, so I would make the same mistake on the same songs in rehearsals. I should have practiced more. Honestly at that first gig it seemed like it was going fine, fuck, this might actually work! Until Tom busted a string and didn't have an extra. Oh well. I should email him and tell him I was sorry, and keep me in mind for future projects.
Internet, relaxing to Martin Bradburn, The Flaming Lips and Gavin Castleton.
Shower and then bed.
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