Section U8
Row M
Seat 2
That's where I'll be.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Layin' Low
I was in bed by 9 last night. It's not characteristic of me to stay home on a weekend, but I just wasn't feeling it last night. Plus, I need to save money for Madonna tickets which go on sale in 22 minutes. Getting good seats is all about the timing of the "Refresh" button. The word "excitement" doesn't even begin to describe my emotions.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Oh, Happy Day!
I received some of the best news I've ever received in my entire life today:
MADONNA
LAS VEGAS
MAY 27th.
I'm SO there.
You don't understand. I've never seen Madonna live. The most expensive tickets are nearly $400, but I don't care. As my friend Jason said, "I want her to sweat on me."
This is going to be so amazing.
MADONNA
LAS VEGAS
MAY 27th.
I'm SO there.
You don't understand. I've never seen Madonna live. The most expensive tickets are nearly $400, but I don't care. As my friend Jason said, "I want her to sweat on me."
This is going to be so amazing.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
$elf Control
I've discovered I have an addiction. No, it's not the binge drinking in which I took part last week. It's not snowboarding, though that comes close. It could be sweets, but that's not what I'm talking about here.
My addiction is spending money. I rarely go a single day without buying something, almost always something I don't need. I go out for lunch, when it would be just as easy to bring something from home. I walk through the mall and feel worthless if I leave empty-handed. There are rumours of a new video iPod coming out, and I'm concerned about the lengths to which I might go to get one.
The worst part is that I'm really good at rationalising whenever I reach for my wallet. I think, "Don't worry, Curtis. You're still saving and giving and you might die tomorrow so if you don't enjoy this beer with your friends while wearing those new pants from Banana, you'll regret it. So spend away!"
I've always been able to find balance in this area. I guess my scale is just tipping a little bit too far to one side. If you happen to see me at the Apple Store or Pottery Barn or Armani/Exchange anytime soon, you have my permission to drag me out by any means necessary.
My addiction is spending money. I rarely go a single day without buying something, almost always something I don't need. I go out for lunch, when it would be just as easy to bring something from home. I walk through the mall and feel worthless if I leave empty-handed. There are rumours of a new video iPod coming out, and I'm concerned about the lengths to which I might go to get one.
The worst part is that I'm really good at rationalising whenever I reach for my wallet. I think, "Don't worry, Curtis. You're still saving and giving and you might die tomorrow so if you don't enjoy this beer with your friends while wearing those new pants from Banana, you'll regret it. So spend away!"
I've always been able to find balance in this area. I guess my scale is just tipping a little bit too far to one side. If you happen to see me at the Apple Store or Pottery Barn or Armani/Exchange anytime soon, you have my permission to drag me out by any means necessary.
Monday, April 03, 2006
A Semana of Sauce
Tonight, I went over to John's place and he and I tossed back an entire bottle of Meade. This makes seven days of continuous alcohol consumption. Yeah, last week was definitely a party week, but this coming week is going to be pretty mellow. Mostly because I'm broke. But also because last week was so crazy. It's all about balance, right?
Sunday, April 02, 2006
This was also posted a few minutes ago as a bulletin on myspace.com.
Inventory
Synopsis of the binge drinking I've done this week:
Monday - two 16 oz. beers at Rooster's
Tuesday - four 16 oz. beers at MacCool's
Wednesday - two 16 oz. beers at Squatter's
Thursday - six 16 oz. beers at Rooster's
Friday - three 12 oz. beers at Ryan & Brian's followed by two 12 oz. beers at Club Sound
Saturday - two 16 oz. beers at Rooster's followed by a flask of Crown Royal at Scott and Mark's
We'll see what happens tomorrow. It's amazing I'm coherant enough to type this. Honestly.
I just did the drink and dial with Don Weber, who actually answered his phone, but told me he'd call me back tomorrow when he will be a little more awake. Tomorrow's agenda will consist of brunch with my posse and worship at Washington Heights.
Now I'm just typing random thoughts. Today was April Fool's Day, and I totally got Kyle, Ryan, and John with my story about the dog and the gasoline. I also played strip pool earlier tonight, but I choose not to divulge any further details. It's cool how when you've been drinking, you can't really feel your teeth. I look forward to moving out of this apartment, but not the actual process of moving. I have a routine before I got to bed every night that consists of taking out my contacts, brushing my teeth, flossing, and washing my face. Can't go to sleep until it's done. Have you ever seen Chocolat? Kind of a fairy tale, but a great movie. I have lots of pictures on my wall. Abby appears on there several times. So does Jay. Alex and Ben are on there a few times, and one of the pictures is of Don, Jean-Marie, Alex, JR, Ben, and I singing karaoke at 007's. Now it's time for me to get some sleep. Just so you know, this post will appear in its entirety on my official blog, so if you read it and you think you're having deja vu, you're mistaken. Drunken blogging is almost as much fun as drunken texting and/or random dialing. Yay! (Or, as Abs would say, Yeah!) Oh, yeah, and I apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors, if there are any. Let's not forget how much I've had to drink. Let's also not forget that alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years, and I'm not about to change the rules now. So there. Okay, I'm really going to bed now. But not after I cut and paste this post to my blog. But that's it. Just the cut and paste, and then it's off to R.E.M. for me. But not the band. Not that there's anything wrong with them. "Monster" and "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" are both great albums. My friend Heath really likes "Up," but I couldn't get into it. I saw them once in September of '95. What a great show. Radiohead opened, but that was before I realised what an amazing band they were. I've totally digressed way too far, so I'm going to lay my head on my pillow right now. Yes, I'm up for a visit from the Sandman. It's sleepy-time Currt-Dawg. I'm all tuckered out. The eye-lids are feelin' heavy. Drifting off to dreamland. Bu-bye!
Synopsis of the binge drinking I've done this week:
Monday - two 16 oz. beers at Rooster's
Tuesday - four 16 oz. beers at MacCool's
Wednesday - two 16 oz. beers at Squatter's
Thursday - six 16 oz. beers at Rooster's
Friday - three 12 oz. beers at Ryan & Brian's followed by two 12 oz. beers at Club Sound
Saturday - two 16 oz. beers at Rooster's followed by a flask of Crown Royal at Scott and Mark's
We'll see what happens tomorrow. It's amazing I'm coherant enough to type this. Honestly.
I just did the drink and dial with Don Weber, who actually answered his phone, but told me he'd call me back tomorrow when he will be a little more awake. Tomorrow's agenda will consist of brunch with my posse and worship at Washington Heights.
Now I'm just typing random thoughts. Today was April Fool's Day, and I totally got Kyle, Ryan, and John with my story about the dog and the gasoline. I also played strip pool earlier tonight, but I choose not to divulge any further details. It's cool how when you've been drinking, you can't really feel your teeth. I look forward to moving out of this apartment, but not the actual process of moving. I have a routine before I got to bed every night that consists of taking out my contacts, brushing my teeth, flossing, and washing my face. Can't go to sleep until it's done. Have you ever seen Chocolat? Kind of a fairy tale, but a great movie. I have lots of pictures on my wall. Abby appears on there several times. So does Jay. Alex and Ben are on there a few times, and one of the pictures is of Don, Jean-Marie, Alex, JR, Ben, and I singing karaoke at 007's. Now it's time for me to get some sleep. Just so you know, this post will appear in its entirety on my official blog, so if you read it and you think you're having deja vu, you're mistaken. Drunken blogging is almost as much fun as drunken texting and/or random dialing. Yay! (Or, as Abs would say, Yeah!) Oh, yeah, and I apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors, if there are any. Let's not forget how much I've had to drink. Let's also not forget that alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years, and I'm not about to change the rules now. So there. Okay, I'm really going to bed now. But not after I cut and paste this post to my blog. But that's it. Just the cut and paste, and then it's off to R.E.M. for me. But not the band. Not that there's anything wrong with them. "Monster" and "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" are both great albums. My friend Heath really likes "Up," but I couldn't get into it. I saw them once in September of '95. What a great show. Radiohead opened, but that was before I realised what an amazing band they were. I've totally digressed way too far, so I'm going to lay my head on my pillow right now. Yes, I'm up for a visit from the Sandman. It's sleepy-time Currt-Dawg. I'm all tuckered out. The eye-lids are feelin' heavy. Drifting off to dreamland. Bu-bye!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Proof of My Stupidity
As everyone knows, my crew and I hit up Rooster's every Thursday night. It's a given. And I'm not about to let a little thing like testing for Tech get in the way of my weekly brotherhood tradition. I just told myself that I'd have no more than two beers and still be in bed at a decent time.
Famous last words.
I rode with John to Rooster's. We got there around 6:30, and after a long day of boarding, the food tasted so good and the beer went down so smooth. By the time we left at 11, I'd had six, and was feeling pretty good.
But that wasn't the end. Oh, no.
The whole Rooster's staff was going to a bar called Good Times, and we all decided to tag along. I'd never been there, and I doubt I'll ever go again. It had to be one of the nastiest, dirtiest, white-trashiest, creepiest dives I've ever been to, and I've been to plenty. I decided to stop drinking, and John decided to start. After lots of conversation and karaoke and other random events, we left around 1:30. I was sober by then, and John was about to fall over, so I drove.
And here's where it gets really fun. As soon as I pulled out of the bar, I saw flashing lights behind me. Now, I've never, ever been pulled over in my entire life, and my first instinct was to freak out, but I handled things surprisingly well. Here's a paraphrase of the conversation:
Currt-Dawg: How ya doin'?
Trooper: Pretty good. Can I see your license and proof of insurance?
CD: Yes, ma'am. I'm driving his car.
T: Why is that?
CD: Because he's had a bit to drink.
T: Yeah, I can smell it. Have you had anything?
CD: A couple beers with dinner, but that was a few hours ago.
T: The reason I pulled you over is because the light for your license plate is out.
John: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'll get that fixed.
T: No problem. Are you in the military, sir?
CD: Yes, ma'am.
T: Just curious why you have an out-of-state license.
CD: Do you need to see my military ID?
T: No, that's fine. Hang on a sec. I'll be right back.
(Trooper goes back to her car.)
J: Holy shit!
CD: No big deal, man. I've never been pulled over before. It's kind of exciting.
J: I'm so sorry, man.
CD: It's okay.
(Trooper returns.)
T: I'm gonna need you to blow into this for me, sir.
CD: Okay.
(I start blowing into the little white tube attached to a little box.)
T: Keep blowing......and.....stop.
(She starts reading the breathalizer.)
T: How many beers did you have?
CD: Um, a couple.
T: And how long ago was that?
CD: We left the restaurant around 10.
T: Well, you must not have a very high tolerance. It's still going up.
(Very long pause.)
T: You blew a .05. The legal limit in Utah is .08. Just so you know, that's about the maximum amount of alcohol you can have and still drive. If you would have been pulled over right after dinner, you might not have been as lucky.
CD: Uh-huh.
T: Just be careful, sir.
CD: Yes, ma'am.
(Trooper walks back to her car and drives away.)
CD: (Exhales louder than he's ever exhaled in his entire life.)
So, yeah, that pause after she said, "It's still going up," was about the longest five seconds of my entire life. All I could think of was getting taken away in hand-cuffs and that it was a good thing I didn't study for Tech because it would have just been time wasted. I've always been really careful when it comes to driving after I've had a beer or two. I guess I'll just take this as a warning that I can never be too careful.
As far as my test, considering the circumstances of a) I haven't studied, b) I'm a little hung over, and c) I'm going on about 3 1/2 hours of sleep, I think I did pretty well. I was clueless on PFE stuff, but SKT was a breeze. I guess I'll find out for sure when the results come out in June. To be honest, I seriously doubt I made it, and I'll kick myself for not studying. But who knows? Maybe my method of making pictures out of the little circles really works.
Famous last words.
I rode with John to Rooster's. We got there around 6:30, and after a long day of boarding, the food tasted so good and the beer went down so smooth. By the time we left at 11, I'd had six, and was feeling pretty good.
But that wasn't the end. Oh, no.
The whole Rooster's staff was going to a bar called Good Times, and we all decided to tag along. I'd never been there, and I doubt I'll ever go again. It had to be one of the nastiest, dirtiest, white-trashiest, creepiest dives I've ever been to, and I've been to plenty. I decided to stop drinking, and John decided to start. After lots of conversation and karaoke and other random events, we left around 1:30. I was sober by then, and John was about to fall over, so I drove.
And here's where it gets really fun. As soon as I pulled out of the bar, I saw flashing lights behind me. Now, I've never, ever been pulled over in my entire life, and my first instinct was to freak out, but I handled things surprisingly well. Here's a paraphrase of the conversation:
Currt-Dawg: How ya doin'?
Trooper: Pretty good. Can I see your license and proof of insurance?
CD: Yes, ma'am. I'm driving his car.
T: Why is that?
CD: Because he's had a bit to drink.
T: Yeah, I can smell it. Have you had anything?
CD: A couple beers with dinner, but that was a few hours ago.
T: The reason I pulled you over is because the light for your license plate is out.
John: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'll get that fixed.
T: No problem. Are you in the military, sir?
CD: Yes, ma'am.
T: Just curious why you have an out-of-state license.
CD: Do you need to see my military ID?
T: No, that's fine. Hang on a sec. I'll be right back.
(Trooper goes back to her car.)
J: Holy shit!
CD: No big deal, man. I've never been pulled over before. It's kind of exciting.
J: I'm so sorry, man.
CD: It's okay.
(Trooper returns.)
T: I'm gonna need you to blow into this for me, sir.
CD: Okay.
(I start blowing into the little white tube attached to a little box.)
T: Keep blowing......and.....stop.
(She starts reading the breathalizer.)
T: How many beers did you have?
CD: Um, a couple.
T: And how long ago was that?
CD: We left the restaurant around 10.
T: Well, you must not have a very high tolerance. It's still going up.
(Very long pause.)
T: You blew a .05. The legal limit in Utah is .08. Just so you know, that's about the maximum amount of alcohol you can have and still drive. If you would have been pulled over right after dinner, you might not have been as lucky.
CD: Uh-huh.
T: Just be careful, sir.
CD: Yes, ma'am.
(Trooper walks back to her car and drives away.)
CD: (Exhales louder than he's ever exhaled in his entire life.)
So, yeah, that pause after she said, "It's still going up," was about the longest five seconds of my entire life. All I could think of was getting taken away in hand-cuffs and that it was a good thing I didn't study for Tech because it would have just been time wasted. I've always been really careful when it comes to driving after I've had a beer or two. I guess I'll just take this as a warning that I can never be too careful.
As far as my test, considering the circumstances of a) I haven't studied, b) I'm a little hung over, and c) I'm going on about 3 1/2 hours of sleep, I think I did pretty well. I was clueless on PFE stuff, but SKT was a breeze. I guess I'll find out for sure when the results come out in June. To be honest, I seriously doubt I made it, and I'll kick myself for not studying. But who knows? Maybe my method of making pictures out of the little circles really works.
Lone Boarder
I test for Tech tomorrow. Most shops will give you the day off before you test. Not really to study, but just to be stress-free and kind of mentally relaxed.
The best way for me to relax is to go boarding. So I did. I took these pictures on the way up to Snowbasin. I love it when low-lying clouds creep over the mountains like ghosts. So cool looking.
Snowbasin got eight inches of snow last night, and the conditions were some of the best I've ever seen. I got to the lift at 9:30 and rode until 3:30, stopping only to pee. Boarding is one of those things that's better with friends, especially friends who board at about the same level. But having to go by myself isn't going to prevent me from going altogether.
Around 11-ish, some clouds rolled in, and the visibility at the peak was next to nothing. The worst part about the fog is that I have horrible depth perception, and it's difficult to tell how fast I'm going. On the other hand, I can ride past hot girls and goose them, and they have no clue who it was. Not that I would ever do that. I'm just sayin'.
Luckily, the clouds didn't linger too long. It slowly cleared up, and I regained confidence in my speed.
I was taking a few of these pictues while on the lift, and I accidentally dropped my glove. Retrieving it was rough, as it was in some serious back country with hella deep powder, but I ended up really loving it.
Being Thursday, there weren't many people on the mountain at all. I took as many opportunities as I could to go on trails that hadn't been groomed or tracked out by anyone else. I bit it pretty hard several times (even flipping head-over-heels twice!), but the powder was so deep, it was like landing on a cloud.
One of the coolest things about today was that one time I happened to be riding the gondola with Valerie Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson. You might remember her as the CIA agent whose name was leaked to the press after her husband made remarks criticising the war in Iraq. Of course, I'm sure there are several sides to that story, and this isn't a post about politics. Regardless, it was cool to share a gondola ride with someone who was a staple of all the 24-hour news networks for a while.
The best way for me to relax is to go boarding. So I did. I took these pictures on the way up to Snowbasin. I love it when low-lying clouds creep over the mountains like ghosts. So cool looking.
Snowbasin got eight inches of snow last night, and the conditions were some of the best I've ever seen. I got to the lift at 9:30 and rode until 3:30, stopping only to pee. Boarding is one of those things that's better with friends, especially friends who board at about the same level. But having to go by myself isn't going to prevent me from going altogether.
Around 11-ish, some clouds rolled in, and the visibility at the peak was next to nothing. The worst part about the fog is that I have horrible depth perception, and it's difficult to tell how fast I'm going. On the other hand, I can ride past hot girls and goose them, and they have no clue who it was. Not that I would ever do that. I'm just sayin'.
Luckily, the clouds didn't linger too long. It slowly cleared up, and I regained confidence in my speed.
I was taking a few of these pictues while on the lift, and I accidentally dropped my glove. Retrieving it was rough, as it was in some serious back country with hella deep powder, but I ended up really loving it.
Being Thursday, there weren't many people on the mountain at all. I took as many opportunities as I could to go on trails that hadn't been groomed or tracked out by anyone else. I bit it pretty hard several times (even flipping head-over-heels twice!), but the powder was so deep, it was like landing on a cloud.
One of the coolest things about today was that one time I happened to be riding the gondola with Valerie Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson. You might remember her as the CIA agent whose name was leaked to the press after her husband made remarks criticising the war in Iraq. Of course, I'm sure there are several sides to that story, and this isn't a post about politics. Regardless, it was cool to share a gondola ride with someone who was a staple of all the 24-hour news networks for a while.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Semantics
The more I think about it, the more interested I am in the term "fundamentalist," especially when it comes to one's faith. You'd think it refers to someone who has taken his or her beliefs back to the basics, without any influence from modern culture. If so, then why are so many "fundamentalist Christians" so full of judgment and intolerance when the fundamentals of Christ's teachings were just the opposite? These people seem to have taken their views to an extreme, skewed by politics, too radical for the balanced, evangelical Christian.
So I'm taking it back.
That's right. From now on, I consider myself a fundamentalist Christian. I've studied (and continue to study) the teachings of Christ. I believe He is the Son of God. I believe His death is necessary for my salvation. I believe His words are true and wise and I follow them to the best of my ability.
The fundamentals of Christ's teachings were loving everyone (including one's enemies), meekness, acceptance, humility, honesty, treating others with kindness and respect, and always putting God first. Nowhere does He ever say anything about killing those who disagree with you or denying basic human rights to those unjustly judged unrighteous. The words of Jesus are the basics of life. The rest is just details.
So I'm taking it back.
That's right. From now on, I consider myself a fundamentalist Christian. I've studied (and continue to study) the teachings of Christ. I believe He is the Son of God. I believe His death is necessary for my salvation. I believe His words are true and wise and I follow them to the best of my ability.
The fundamentals of Christ's teachings were loving everyone (including one's enemies), meekness, acceptance, humility, honesty, treating others with kindness and respect, and always putting God first. Nowhere does He ever say anything about killing those who disagree with you or denying basic human rights to those unjustly judged unrighteous. The words of Jesus are the basics of life. The rest is just details.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The In-Crowd
After pressure from friends that was bordering on harassment, I finally gave in and created a myspace account. You can check it out here. Don't worry, though. As addicting as myspace apparently is, I promise to not neglect this blog for any reason other than death. (Or maybe severe illness or if the internet explodes or something like that.)
Saturday, March 25, 2006
New Addition
Congratulations to Jim and Nicole on the birth of Owen James Sullivan at 10:38 AM this morning. I can't wait to make it down to Vegas to see him! Congrats, again, you guys!
Heard That Sound
MxPx is one of those bands that, even if you're not a huge fan and don't own every album, you still make an effort to see them live. I did last night, and it was super-fun.
I've only seen them perform once, back in April 1998, which was preceded by a chance meeting with them. Even though they've been around for nearly 15 years, they still seem very down-to-earth guys who just enjoy playing live music and having fun.
There were three opening bands, two of whom were local. I missed the first two, but the third one, Laruso (?), was pretty decent. The show had to start early because it was at a venue that, at 10 PM, turned into a club for, ahem, alternative lifestyles.
MxPx came on a little after 8, and launched right into their set with tons of energy. You can tell there's really something special about these guys. I mean, anyone can get a bunch of punk rock kids to jump, but to keep them jumping for nearly two hours takes magical powers or something. But they did it.
In the middle of their set, they took requests. It's amazing that a band with such a huge catalogue can still be able to pull off playing any song in their repitoire at a moment's notice. Of course, most of their songs have three chords, but it's still pretty impressive.
It's also cool that these guys still appeal to such a wide audience. I was probably one of the older people in the crowd, but the bulk of it was made up of teenagers. I also happened to see someone bring a little girl who couldn't have been any older than six. But, I guess if you're going to bring a six-year-old to a punk rock show, then MxPx is probably the most wholesome one to see.
Their earliest stuff is pretty hard-core punk, but they've been through several phases ranging from hard-core to power-pop. I think their sound works best when it's a mix between the two, as heard on the "Life In General" album.
The encore included a cover of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," originally by the Proclaimers. And, as always, they ended the night with "Punk Rawk Show." They mentioned coming through SLC again this summer on a club tour, and I can't wait.
I've only seen them perform once, back in April 1998, which was preceded by a chance meeting with them. Even though they've been around for nearly 15 years, they still seem very down-to-earth guys who just enjoy playing live music and having fun.
There were three opening bands, two of whom were local. I missed the first two, but the third one, Laruso (?), was pretty decent. The show had to start early because it was at a venue that, at 10 PM, turned into a club for, ahem, alternative lifestyles.
MxPx came on a little after 8, and launched right into their set with tons of energy. You can tell there's really something special about these guys. I mean, anyone can get a bunch of punk rock kids to jump, but to keep them jumping for nearly two hours takes magical powers or something. But they did it.
In the middle of their set, they took requests. It's amazing that a band with such a huge catalogue can still be able to pull off playing any song in their repitoire at a moment's notice. Of course, most of their songs have three chords, but it's still pretty impressive.
It's also cool that these guys still appeal to such a wide audience. I was probably one of the older people in the crowd, but the bulk of it was made up of teenagers. I also happened to see someone bring a little girl who couldn't have been any older than six. But, I guess if you're going to bring a six-year-old to a punk rock show, then MxPx is probably the most wholesome one to see.
Their earliest stuff is pretty hard-core punk, but they've been through several phases ranging from hard-core to power-pop. I think their sound works best when it's a mix between the two, as heard on the "Life In General" album.
The encore included a cover of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," originally by the Proclaimers. And, as always, they ended the night with "Punk Rawk Show." They mentioned coming through SLC again this summer on a club tour, and I can't wait.
Friday, March 24, 2006
iMixed
A couple weeks ago, after Saturday afternoon coffee with John, I was driving home and happened to pass by a car stereo installation place. On a hunch, I stopped in. I was curious if they'd be able to hard-wire my iPod into my car. The answer was a resounding "Yes!"
It cost me nearly $300, but it was totally worth it. My iPod stows nicely in the middle console, and I can use the buttons on my radio to skip or rewind.
The only drawback is this: my iPod has made me a lazy listener. Let me explain. There's something cool and necessary about albums. Every record has it's good and bad tracks (except for Radiohead's "OK Computer" and Sleater-Kinney's "Dig Me Out"), but listening to an album in its entirety is something that should never become ancient or forgotten.
Of course, legally downloading single songs does have its place (i.e. Toni Basil's "Mickey" or the theme from "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes). But if there's an artist in which I have a particular appreciation, I find it's best to purchase the whole album. It takes more effort, but it's more rewarding in the end.
So, yeah, I'm pretty much addicted to my iPod. I just need to regain the discipline to listen to records all the way through, beginning to end. It will be tough lowering my use of the "shuffle" option, but I'm confident I can do it.
It cost me nearly $300, but it was totally worth it. My iPod stows nicely in the middle console, and I can use the buttons on my radio to skip or rewind.
The only drawback is this: my iPod has made me a lazy listener. Let me explain. There's something cool and necessary about albums. Every record has it's good and bad tracks (except for Radiohead's "OK Computer" and Sleater-Kinney's "Dig Me Out"), but listening to an album in its entirety is something that should never become ancient or forgotten.
Of course, legally downloading single songs does have its place (i.e. Toni Basil's "Mickey" or the theme from "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes). But if there's an artist in which I have a particular appreciation, I find it's best to purchase the whole album. It takes more effort, but it's more rewarding in the end.
So, yeah, I'm pretty much addicted to my iPod. I just need to regain the discipline to listen to records all the way through, beginning to end. It will be tough lowering my use of the "shuffle" option, but I'm confident I can do it.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Feel to Believe
Back in 1999, I was living in Vegas and working a second job at GAP. The best thing about that job was meeting so many cool people. One of those cool people was Shawna. She and I soon discovered we had similar tastes in music, and it wasn't rare for one of us to introduce a new artist to the other. One of the people to whom Shawna introduced me was Beth Orton.
Beth played SLC last night. I saw some friends at the venue, and we tossed back a beer and totally missed the opening act. Beth came out kinda late, but she put on a great show.
Beth started out singing for the Chemical Brothers, which explains why her first three albums had a lot of electronica infused within. Plus, she released a spectacular album of remixes. Her newest album, however, is much more organic.
The show had a very intimate and even romantic feel to it. You can tell Beth is at home in smaller venues, and she has no problem interacting with the crowd.
Her set was divided into three parts. The first was she and her band playing mostly songs from the new album. Then the band left, and it was just Beth and her guitar. For the third part, the band came back and they played some favourites like "Tangent," "Stars All Seem To Weep," and "Anywhere."
I'm glad I finally got to see her live after appreciating her records for the past seven years. I could tell everyone else there felt the same way.
Beth played SLC last night. I saw some friends at the venue, and we tossed back a beer and totally missed the opening act. Beth came out kinda late, but she put on a great show.
Beth started out singing for the Chemical Brothers, which explains why her first three albums had a lot of electronica infused within. Plus, she released a spectacular album of remixes. Her newest album, however, is much more organic.
The show had a very intimate and even romantic feel to it. You can tell Beth is at home in smaller venues, and she has no problem interacting with the crowd.
Her set was divided into three parts. The first was she and her band playing mostly songs from the new album. Then the band left, and it was just Beth and her guitar. For the third part, the band came back and they played some favourites like "Tangent," "Stars All Seem To Weep," and "Anywhere."
I'm glad I finally got to see her live after appreciating her records for the past seven years. I could tell everyone else there felt the same way.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Everybody's Working for the Weekend
Last week was long and stressful, so I made it a point to enjoy myself as much as possible over the weekend. It was a weekend of firsts. My first Jagermeister shot. (Not bad.) My first jello shot. (Pretty good.) My first drunken hot tub. (Fun!)
Here's a few pictures.
Brian and Ryan were both out of town, but Katie was house-/dog-sitting, so we partied at their place anyway. This is Dozer, the younger of the two dogs. He's a boxer, and he's still a puppy, but he has no problems knocking you down if you have food.
I had a great conversation with Mike about Buddhism. And it was an actual conversation, not a debate. Unfortunately, I was a little inebriated. We'll have to talk again when I'm more coherant.
As you can see, there was some alcohol-induced craziness, but it was all harmless and in good fun. My friends are the best! This is why I enjoy my weekends so much.
Here's a few pictures.
Brian and Ryan were both out of town, but Katie was house-/dog-sitting, so we partied at their place anyway. This is Dozer, the younger of the two dogs. He's a boxer, and he's still a puppy, but he has no problems knocking you down if you have food.
I had a great conversation with Mike about Buddhism. And it was an actual conversation, not a debate. Unfortunately, I was a little inebriated. We'll have to talk again when I'm more coherant.
As you can see, there was some alcohol-induced craziness, but it was all harmless and in good fun. My friends are the best! This is why I enjoy my weekends so much.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Democracy Discourse
I could write pages and pages about the deaths of innocent civilians, the deaths of U.S. troops, the costs of the war and of the occupation of Iraq, how we aren't any safer than we were three years ago, and several other subjects. But writing about it doesn't really do a whole helluva lot of good, does it?
Today is the three year anniversary of the day the U.S. invaded Iraq. I've done enough talking. I'm going to act. I encourage everyone to tell his or her congressman, representative, etc. what you want done about things in Iraq. I, for one, am going to start with some serious e-mailing to The Honorable Ed Whitfield of Kentucky's 1st District. If I don't hear anything back, then I'll move on to letter writing and calling.
Of course, I understand not everyone agrees with my stance, but I still encourage them to do something, as well. Elected officials are there to represent all of us, and how are they going to know what to do unless we tell them?
Talk is cheap.
Do something.
Today is the three year anniversary of the day the U.S. invaded Iraq. I've done enough talking. I'm going to act. I encourage everyone to tell his or her congressman, representative, etc. what you want done about things in Iraq. I, for one, am going to start with some serious e-mailing to The Honorable Ed Whitfield of Kentucky's 1st District. If I don't hear anything back, then I'll move on to letter writing and calling.
Of course, I understand not everyone agrees with my stance, but I still encourage them to do something, as well. Elected officials are there to represent all of us, and how are they going to know what to do unless we tell them?
Talk is cheap.
Do something.
Don't you wanna know how we keep starting fires?
Last night, my friend Brett and I went to see Electric 6 down in SLC. The venue was this total dive called the Urban Lounge that had more hipsters than I've ever seen. All the boys looked like Beck or Rivers Cuomo and the girls looked like Betty Page. The show didn't even start until 10, so we were prepared for a late night.
There were three opening bands. We arrived late and missed the first one, which, I think, was a local band. The second opener was Rock Kills Kid. They definitely had the hipster/disco/pop/punk thing down, and I was pretty impressed. The third opener was Every Move A Picture, who obviously went to the Franz Ferdinand school of music. They were energetic, but not very original.
Finally, around midnight, Electric 6 took the stage. They play some great disco-punk that's fun to the point of absurdity. Here's a few song titles: Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother), Dance Epidemic, Nuclear War (On the Dance Floor), etc. It's nice to see a band that just wants to have fun and doesn't take themselves too seriously. The entire crowd was jumping and dancing and having a great time. Dick Valentine, the lead vocalist, totally worked the crowd. He gave off kind of a hip geekster vibe, and strangely reminded me of Don Weber (for those of you who know him). He danced around and had a sly grin and occasionally layed on the stage between verses to do push-ups and sit-ups. Yeah, you heard me.
They played until 1:30, and by the time they left the stage, everyone was hot and sweaty and exhausted, but we all had smiles on our faces.
There were three opening bands. We arrived late and missed the first one, which, I think, was a local band. The second opener was Rock Kills Kid. They definitely had the hipster/disco/pop/punk thing down, and I was pretty impressed. The third opener was Every Move A Picture, who obviously went to the Franz Ferdinand school of music. They were energetic, but not very original.
Finally, around midnight, Electric 6 took the stage. They play some great disco-punk that's fun to the point of absurdity. Here's a few song titles: Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother), Dance Epidemic, Nuclear War (On the Dance Floor), etc. It's nice to see a band that just wants to have fun and doesn't take themselves too seriously. The entire crowd was jumping and dancing and having a great time. Dick Valentine, the lead vocalist, totally worked the crowd. He gave off kind of a hip geekster vibe, and strangely reminded me of Don Weber (for those of you who know him). He danced around and had a sly grin and occasionally layed on the stage between verses to do push-ups and sit-ups. Yeah, you heard me.
They played until 1:30, and by the time they left the stage, everyone was hot and sweaty and exhausted, but we all had smiles on our faces.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Alarm Call
After I got back from Texas, I was reassigned to the Fire Suppression shop, which is still in the same zone, but a different area of expertise. I've been back at work for over a month, but, due to lots of paperwork and an exercise, this was the first week I actually got to work fire suppression. And it was great. I'm learning lots of new skills and working with new people and even digging big holes. So much fun.
In other news, I bought some time in the house hunting adventure. I made a command decision, and we're going to stay in our apartment for another month. Trying to find a place in Ryan's absence was frustrating and overwhelming. And I'm hoping we'll be able to find another house as perfect as the one we previously found. Now I'll be able to enjoy the weekend without this house-stress hanging over my head.
By the way, Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! Have a fun, safe, green beer-filled weekend!
In other news, I bought some time in the house hunting adventure. I made a command decision, and we're going to stay in our apartment for another month. Trying to find a place in Ryan's absence was frustrating and overwhelming. And I'm hoping we'll be able to find another house as perfect as the one we previously found. Now I'll be able to enjoy the weekend without this house-stress hanging over my head.
By the way, Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! Have a fun, safe, green beer-filled weekend!
Please, Ease Lease
Work is great. Social life is great. God is great.
House hunting, however, has got my stress level through the roof. It's getting down to crunch time, and I still haven't found a place that's comparable to the one we found before. They're either crappy houses or really crappy neighbourhoods or way out of our price range. Perhaps we should just become white trash. Or perhaps we should find a third roommate. Or perhaps we should just say the hell with it and stay in our apartment for another year.
House hunting, however, has got my stress level through the roof. It's getting down to crunch time, and I still haven't found a place that's comparable to the one we found before. They're either crappy houses or really crappy neighbourhoods or way out of our price range. Perhaps we should just become white trash. Or perhaps we should find a third roommate. Or perhaps we should just say the hell with it and stay in our apartment for another year.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Silver Lining
David Gray was supposed to play Salt Lake City last October. He cancelled last minute due to illness. This ended up being a blessing in disguise because when he rescheduled, I got a much better seat.
The opening act was Aqualung. I'm not really too familiar with them (which is actually a him, Matt Hales), except for their first single, which was extremely overplayed on VH-1. Regardless, they sounded great and had some amusing comments between songs.
David Gray is a brilliant singer/songwriter whose style is mostly acoustic with nice, well-placed electronic enhancements and beats. He writes some great, bare-bones, honest songs about love, and, as luck would have it, puts on a helluva show.
Not only was he well-dressed, but he was very animated, and reacted great with the audience. The first half of his set was made up mostly of selections from his newest album, "Life in Slow Motion," but he eventually tossed in songs from his entire catalogue. And one of the most impressive parts of his show was his drummer. It was amazing how he kept up with break beats that were, when recorded, usually created by a drum machine.
David played for nearly two hours, then came back out for a five song encore which included a haunting cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren." This was the first show I've seen this year, and it was a great way to start things off.
The opening act was Aqualung. I'm not really too familiar with them (which is actually a him, Matt Hales), except for their first single, which was extremely overplayed on VH-1. Regardless, they sounded great and had some amusing comments between songs.
David Gray is a brilliant singer/songwriter whose style is mostly acoustic with nice, well-placed electronic enhancements and beats. He writes some great, bare-bones, honest songs about love, and, as luck would have it, puts on a helluva show.
Not only was he well-dressed, but he was very animated, and reacted great with the audience. The first half of his set was made up mostly of selections from his newest album, "Life in Slow Motion," but he eventually tossed in songs from his entire catalogue. And one of the most impressive parts of his show was his drummer. It was amazing how he kept up with break beats that were, when recorded, usually created by a drum machine.
David played for nearly two hours, then came back out for a five song encore which included a haunting cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren." This was the first show I've seen this year, and it was a great way to start things off.
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