I'm glad I didn't throw my life away like I used to assume I would. Every year I realize more and more how much things that I may think matter so much right now don't add up to jack shit. Family and friends are the most important things in the world, but it doesn't do you a damn bit of good if you have shitty friends or are a shitty friend yourself. I try to better myself with each passing day, and I know there will always be more roads to trek, but at least I'm trying to make progess. fuck wasting life. fuck blowing up your ego. fuck anything that has to do with money.
just sayin
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Last Night
Last night I ventured out into the cold, rainy, San Diego evening at around eight oclock. The sun had been down for a little while, and my stomach was full of creamy chicken Ramen Noodles. Travis texted me at six and told me that Allison was having a birthday party at the Ruby Room. After locking the front door for the evening, leaving the well being of my possessions to a wildly incompetent kitten, I hopped on my bike and headed West toward Hillcrest. After a quick check in the old billfold, I realized I needed to make a pitstop at the grocery store for some easy green. I decided twenty dollars should be more than enough and continued on my way after declining a receipt from the ATM.
I arrive at my destination, the Ruby Room on University Ave. Good thing I rode, because parking is always a nightmare here on the weekend. I'm happy to find out that there is no cover tonight, even though bands are going to be playing. I'm also a bit surprised at how empty the place is. Every time I had been there before it was a total mob scene of hip cats and multicolored track bikes, or "fixies" as the obnoxious like to call them. My friends become apparent to me immediately as they are the only people who are already wasted. I don't often find myself on this side of the beer goggles, so I get a kick out of how silly everybody is being and order myself a drink.
The night progresses for about an hour until my party starts discussing the appeals of going to sleep soon. A few taxis are called, and the over served depart upon their journeys home, safe and drunk.
At this point only Hannah, Ky, Eddy, Rick, and myself remain. It's about 930 and four of us discover that our fifth counterpart was accidentally left behind from the wagon train of taxis and should really be somewhere that doesn't serve alcohol. Identities shall stay protected, but we close our tabs while sketching up a plan to drop off the load and regroup at Bar Pink in North Park.
I'm outside now, unlocking my bike and trying to ignore the pitter pattering rain on my hoody. An older, obviously homeless gentleman approaches me and asks if I saw "the fight last night". He dotted the metaphorical question mark with a swig from a pocket flash. Not sure if he was referring to a televised sporting event or a street brawl, I just say no because it wouldn't be a lie either way. He gets a little excited and starts recounting about a young white fellow who approached him with distasteful remarks about his skin color. I wasn't really sure what the man was implying or why he felt the urge to tell me about this happening, but I sensed concern in the man's voice, so I tried to comfort him by expressing my opinions on white power shitbags.
I could tell he was pleased with my passion, because he followed up my shpeel up with the phrase "I mean come on, it's two thousand nine!" I almost geeked out and told him how often I use that very same expression, but I settled on a quick smile in agreement. So after all this, I finally hear the story of "the fight from last night." It boils down to something like this, some racist guy approaches my new aquaintance talking shit. A body builder looking white guy happens to be walking past and immediately starts thrashing the racist, eventually knocking him off his feet but still continuing the beating. The body builder eventually stops and leaves the racist lying in a pool of blood with nobody to help him. somebody calls an ambulance and the bloody meat pile is taken away.
Well, I tell Rolando (at some point during the story we exchanged formal greetings)how glad I am that this story had a happy ending, and cap it off with a few more opinions on those types of people. I almost ended the conversation with the drop of a few coins into his cup, but I remembered that I was only going to another bar and I probably had better odds for good conversation right here on this rainy street corner. I tell him I'm not in any hurry, so he tells me another story about how last weekend, some good lookin girl walked out of the thai restaurant a few blocks up and offered to let him suck on her tits. He shat me not, and said that she was going to let him fuck her if he had a condom, but unfortunately he didn't. I saw no reason not to believe him, so I congratulated his courting abilities and we laughed about it for a few minutes. Here and there, the two gentlemen Rolando had been hanging out with would pop up and try to get in on our bro down, but they were both pretty messed up and didn't do very good jobs staying involved. Here's when things start getting really good.
An even older, maybe early sixties aged black man, well dressed by 1978 standards, stopped on our piece of sidewalk for a quick chat. I got the impression that he and Rolando had met before because they gave brief hello's to each other and Rolando told the man that he was looking to shoot some pool, then chuckled and said that he was actually joking. I assumed it was an inside joke, so when the older man turned to me and asked if I would like to shoot some pool I tried to side step the question by apologizing for my lack of skill in that particular game. He posed the question again, saying that he didn't care if I was any good, but that he'd buy me a drink while we were at it. Somewhere inside me a few gears started clicking, and I replied with a straight forward "no thanks man." I noticed Rolando giving me the wary eye, and shooed the older man off by telling him that we only liked girls, and that shit is for exit only. The older man made a few more comments, flattering me with the old "you're a pretty white boy, I'm looking for a pretty white boy to keep me company tonight. come find me if you change your mind." I agree to do so, and the man bids us ado. In his own words of course.
Rolando and I shoot the shit for a little longer. He tells me he has a Bachelors in Biology, that he is a Katrina victim, that his wife had passed due to breast cancer, and that he wanted to work but couldn't find anything that paid well enough to get by. I didn't challenge anything he told me. I don't really care if they were true or not, it doesn't matter to me. I could tell he needed somebody to talk to for a few minutes who wasn't just another fucked up hobo or a sneaky religious type with a carrot on a stick. He told me he had a dry place to sleep though, and that he hoped to get back on his feet one day even if he never got anything from his home insurance policy in New Orleans. I was thinking about kicking it with him for longer, but i realized that I had already ignored three phone calls from my friends who were now at Bar Pink and wondering if I was okay. I told Rolando I was going to get out of the rain, and that I hoped he stayed dry and safe. He actually thanked me for talking to him like a real person and told me that he hoped to cross paths again sometime. I agreed, thinking about how I used to like running into guys like Pete and Grady back in Richmond.
I didn't really mean this to turn into a lesson on being nice to people, but I guess it did that for itself. I hope you enjoyed reading it!
I arrive at my destination, the Ruby Room on University Ave. Good thing I rode, because parking is always a nightmare here on the weekend. I'm happy to find out that there is no cover tonight, even though bands are going to be playing. I'm also a bit surprised at how empty the place is. Every time I had been there before it was a total mob scene of hip cats and multicolored track bikes, or "fixies" as the obnoxious like to call them. My friends become apparent to me immediately as they are the only people who are already wasted. I don't often find myself on this side of the beer goggles, so I get a kick out of how silly everybody is being and order myself a drink.
The night progresses for about an hour until my party starts discussing the appeals of going to sleep soon. A few taxis are called, and the over served depart upon their journeys home, safe and drunk.
At this point only Hannah, Ky, Eddy, Rick, and myself remain. It's about 930 and four of us discover that our fifth counterpart was accidentally left behind from the wagon train of taxis and should really be somewhere that doesn't serve alcohol. Identities shall stay protected, but we close our tabs while sketching up a plan to drop off the load and regroup at Bar Pink in North Park.
I'm outside now, unlocking my bike and trying to ignore the pitter pattering rain on my hoody. An older, obviously homeless gentleman approaches me and asks if I saw "the fight last night". He dotted the metaphorical question mark with a swig from a pocket flash. Not sure if he was referring to a televised sporting event or a street brawl, I just say no because it wouldn't be a lie either way. He gets a little excited and starts recounting about a young white fellow who approached him with distasteful remarks about his skin color. I wasn't really sure what the man was implying or why he felt the urge to tell me about this happening, but I sensed concern in the man's voice, so I tried to comfort him by expressing my opinions on white power shitbags.
I could tell he was pleased with my passion, because he followed up my shpeel up with the phrase "I mean come on, it's two thousand nine!" I almost geeked out and told him how often I use that very same expression, but I settled on a quick smile in agreement. So after all this, I finally hear the story of "the fight from last night." It boils down to something like this, some racist guy approaches my new aquaintance talking shit. A body builder looking white guy happens to be walking past and immediately starts thrashing the racist, eventually knocking him off his feet but still continuing the beating. The body builder eventually stops and leaves the racist lying in a pool of blood with nobody to help him. somebody calls an ambulance and the bloody meat pile is taken away.
Well, I tell Rolando (at some point during the story we exchanged formal greetings)how glad I am that this story had a happy ending, and cap it off with a few more opinions on those types of people. I almost ended the conversation with the drop of a few coins into his cup, but I remembered that I was only going to another bar and I probably had better odds for good conversation right here on this rainy street corner. I tell him I'm not in any hurry, so he tells me another story about how last weekend, some good lookin girl walked out of the thai restaurant a few blocks up and offered to let him suck on her tits. He shat me not, and said that she was going to let him fuck her if he had a condom, but unfortunately he didn't. I saw no reason not to believe him, so I congratulated his courting abilities and we laughed about it for a few minutes. Here and there, the two gentlemen Rolando had been hanging out with would pop up and try to get in on our bro down, but they were both pretty messed up and didn't do very good jobs staying involved. Here's when things start getting really good.
An even older, maybe early sixties aged black man, well dressed by 1978 standards, stopped on our piece of sidewalk for a quick chat. I got the impression that he and Rolando had met before because they gave brief hello's to each other and Rolando told the man that he was looking to shoot some pool, then chuckled and said that he was actually joking. I assumed it was an inside joke, so when the older man turned to me and asked if I would like to shoot some pool I tried to side step the question by apologizing for my lack of skill in that particular game. He posed the question again, saying that he didn't care if I was any good, but that he'd buy me a drink while we were at it. Somewhere inside me a few gears started clicking, and I replied with a straight forward "no thanks man." I noticed Rolando giving me the wary eye, and shooed the older man off by telling him that we only liked girls, and that shit is for exit only. The older man made a few more comments, flattering me with the old "you're a pretty white boy, I'm looking for a pretty white boy to keep me company tonight. come find me if you change your mind." I agree to do so, and the man bids us ado. In his own words of course.
Rolando and I shoot the shit for a little longer. He tells me he has a Bachelors in Biology, that he is a Katrina victim, that his wife had passed due to breast cancer, and that he wanted to work but couldn't find anything that paid well enough to get by. I didn't challenge anything he told me. I don't really care if they were true or not, it doesn't matter to me. I could tell he needed somebody to talk to for a few minutes who wasn't just another fucked up hobo or a sneaky religious type with a carrot on a stick. He told me he had a dry place to sleep though, and that he hoped to get back on his feet one day even if he never got anything from his home insurance policy in New Orleans. I was thinking about kicking it with him for longer, but i realized that I had already ignored three phone calls from my friends who were now at Bar Pink and wondering if I was okay. I told Rolando I was going to get out of the rain, and that I hoped he stayed dry and safe. He actually thanked me for talking to him like a real person and told me that he hoped to cross paths again sometime. I agreed, thinking about how I used to like running into guys like Pete and Grady back in Richmond.
I didn't really mean this to turn into a lesson on being nice to people, but I guess it did that for itself. I hope you enjoyed reading it!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Life Goals
Every motherfucker should have some goals for his or her life. I've set some short to mid range goals in my 22 years of experience, but I don't feel like I've made any good, structured, long term, goals. I've made some open ended promises to myself like "when I'm older and settled down I want to be happy and not just living because I haven't died yet." But seriously, that isn't much of a commitment. It's more of a dream that may or may not happen if I don't sit my ass down and make some REAL goals to ensure that I actually DO keep myself happy later on down the road. If you don't know this about me, I'm fairly quick to become interested in something, and also fairly quick to lose interest in it. I love new experiences but for some reason I'm not so great at building upon past ones. That isn't to say I don't learn things, but I have a deep fear of failure that I haven't really figured out how to address that has kept me from devoting all me free time to any one certain activity. I guess I like to consider myself more of a "jack of all trades" but I'm kind of just hoping one day I'll pick up a hobby and just be a pro at it right off the bat. I know that is a ridiculous statement but unfortunately it is kind of true.
ANYWAYS
I'm going to start setting some goals for my ass to accomplish in the near, mid, and long term and I'd like to post them for all to see, because I need people to push me and remind me and down right annoy me to ensure that I don't drop the ball on myself. So be a friend and talk to me about these some time if you are interested!!
1) Get out of the military. This is only a matter of time and doesn't really require TOO much effort on my part so it isn't really a goal, but more of a timed event. Either way I'll be happy to accomplish it because it WILL end a goal I set in my earlier years to serve my country.
2) Publish something. There it is. I don't care if it is a book, a play, music, poetry, or even artwork(though that is least likely to happen) This is DEFINITELY one of my big goals that I really have to keep myself to. I am SO jealous of everybody who gets their ideas and works copied and distributed for other people to see that I just have to know what it feels like. I'm terrified of dying and being forgotten EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE INEVITABLE TRUTH. That is beside the point. I will make this happen.
3) Continue traveling. This one is especially important now that I have a busy work/school schedule. I have to keep looking for new places to go. Hold me to this if you have trip ideas!
4) Own a home/property. Even if it is just an empty lot somewhere, I love the idea of owning some real estate. I better have a damn good excuse if I turn 30 and am still paying rent somewhere.
5) Be a better friend. Ok I guess this is one of those Oxygen Channel "we can always be better people" goals that is hard to measure, but I really do think so highly of all my buddies and I want to stay committed to being a good friend regardless of circumstances.
Ok that's going to be it for right now. I know it's a short list but I promise it will grow after I've put some more thought into the matter.
Adios for now!
ANYWAYS
I'm going to start setting some goals for my ass to accomplish in the near, mid, and long term and I'd like to post them for all to see, because I need people to push me and remind me and down right annoy me to ensure that I don't drop the ball on myself. So be a friend and talk to me about these some time if you are interested!!
1) Get out of the military. This is only a matter of time and doesn't really require TOO much effort on my part so it isn't really a goal, but more of a timed event. Either way I'll be happy to accomplish it because it WILL end a goal I set in my earlier years to serve my country.
2) Publish something. There it is. I don't care if it is a book, a play, music, poetry, or even artwork(though that is least likely to happen) This is DEFINITELY one of my big goals that I really have to keep myself to. I am SO jealous of everybody who gets their ideas and works copied and distributed for other people to see that I just have to know what it feels like. I'm terrified of dying and being forgotten EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE INEVITABLE TRUTH. That is beside the point. I will make this happen.
3) Continue traveling. This one is especially important now that I have a busy work/school schedule. I have to keep looking for new places to go. Hold me to this if you have trip ideas!
4) Own a home/property. Even if it is just an empty lot somewhere, I love the idea of owning some real estate. I better have a damn good excuse if I turn 30 and am still paying rent somewhere.
5) Be a better friend. Ok I guess this is one of those Oxygen Channel "we can always be better people" goals that is hard to measure, but I really do think so highly of all my buddies and I want to stay committed to being a good friend regardless of circumstances.
Ok that's going to be it for right now. I know it's a short list but I promise it will grow after I've put some more thought into the matter.
Adios for now!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Overwhelmed
Sometimes life gets really damn overwhelming. I've heard all the adages, "Life is Pain", "We wouldn't enjoy the sun if it wasn't for the rain" et cetera, et ecetera. I've never listened to that bullshit though. In my opinion, sayings are for lazy bastards and conformists. Just because smartasses like "Unknown" and "Anonymous" were able to sum up their lives in simple metaphors, similes, and otherwise incomplete sentences doesn't mean I can. Hell, it doesn't even make me feel better to know that they feel that terrible about their own lives. I just write them off obnoxious pedestrians and people who are in front of me in line places. If I could condense the reasons I don't kill myself at this very moment into any rational expression I would probably already have a gun in my mouth and a foot off the ledge. It's about emotions and feelings that no one can explain. I don't know where I'm driving with this blog, so just hop in and pay attention.
Ok, I was saying that I feel overwhelmed. It's true. I work 40+ hour weeks doing manual labor in a fast paced environment while still learning how to even do my job in the first place. On top of that, I have two classes, each three hours long, a week and I am required to keep up with. I know people have worked longer and harder hours than I do and I respect that a lot. I'm trying not to complain too much, but it really fucking sucks coming home two nights a week from 13 hours of work (not including drive time) and knowing that you have to do the same thing again tomorrow. It'll all pay off in the end. That is one true proverb I do agree with. I just don't like not having any time to myself to do things I enjoy doing. I want to be able to go out at night and check out new things or enjoy new restaurants and bars. I guess this all goes back to the "paying off in the end" thing.
I really need to keep myself writing and playing music and drawing. Why does it seem so hard to motivate yourself to do awesome stuff like that? Is it because you're afraid you won't like the product after spending time and energy on it? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is for me. I don't think I have ever had the balls to really pick something and dedicate myself to learning how to be extraordinarily good at it. I'd rather be mediocre at a lot of things and consider myself versatile. Actually, I'd REALLY like to pick something up and be a prodigy at it. One of those assholes who does a kickflip the first time he sees a skateboard or builds a sweet bicycle from spare parts found in the alley behind work.
I've yet to find my "God Given Gift". I like to think it's relating to people. I don't know if I'm the only person who feels this way or if I'm just a self righteous jerk, but I have always thought that I could talk to anybody in any room and make them feel comfortable. I guess that isn't really a talent though. Anybody can do it if they have a little curiosity and patience. Maybe being hard to offend is a gift after all though. I see plenty of people get bent out of shape about dumb comments or rude motions and their entire days are ruined, or worse.
I used to procrastinate like it was my job in school. I've tried to get better about it, and I definitely have, but it'd be nice to say that I never put off anything that needed to get done. That would probably make me inhuman though. I still don't really know where this blog is going. Haha. I hope it is interesting to you. To you and you alone! Fuck the person who read this before you. Seriously, that guy is kind of an ass, and I once read his shitty poetry. We should grab drinks soon, just you and I. Maybe the next person after you to read this. I mean, I'm not going to call him, but if you want to I wouldn't really care. I wonder who will be next to read this? It could be anyone in the world. What if it was the Queen of England herself and we ended up drinking beer with her. That'd be debateably cooler than drinking with Obama, even though I'd still be stoked on that.
How did that last paragraph make you feel? I hope it made you feel a little better, like we connected a bit. Let me know..
Hopefully it won't be this long until I post again.
Love,
Ashton
Ok, I was saying that I feel overwhelmed. It's true. I work 40+ hour weeks doing manual labor in a fast paced environment while still learning how to even do my job in the first place. On top of that, I have two classes, each three hours long, a week and I am required to keep up with. I know people have worked longer and harder hours than I do and I respect that a lot. I'm trying not to complain too much, but it really fucking sucks coming home two nights a week from 13 hours of work (not including drive time) and knowing that you have to do the same thing again tomorrow. It'll all pay off in the end. That is one true proverb I do agree with. I just don't like not having any time to myself to do things I enjoy doing. I want to be able to go out at night and check out new things or enjoy new restaurants and bars. I guess this all goes back to the "paying off in the end" thing.
I really need to keep myself writing and playing music and drawing. Why does it seem so hard to motivate yourself to do awesome stuff like that? Is it because you're afraid you won't like the product after spending time and energy on it? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is for me. I don't think I have ever had the balls to really pick something and dedicate myself to learning how to be extraordinarily good at it. I'd rather be mediocre at a lot of things and consider myself versatile. Actually, I'd REALLY like to pick something up and be a prodigy at it. One of those assholes who does a kickflip the first time he sees a skateboard or builds a sweet bicycle from spare parts found in the alley behind work.
I've yet to find my "God Given Gift". I like to think it's relating to people. I don't know if I'm the only person who feels this way or if I'm just a self righteous jerk, but I have always thought that I could talk to anybody in any room and make them feel comfortable. I guess that isn't really a talent though. Anybody can do it if they have a little curiosity and patience. Maybe being hard to offend is a gift after all though. I see plenty of people get bent out of shape about dumb comments or rude motions and their entire days are ruined, or worse.
I used to procrastinate like it was my job in school. I've tried to get better about it, and I definitely have, but it'd be nice to say that I never put off anything that needed to get done. That would probably make me inhuman though. I still don't really know where this blog is going. Haha. I hope it is interesting to you. To you and you alone! Fuck the person who read this before you. Seriously, that guy is kind of an ass, and I once read his shitty poetry. We should grab drinks soon, just you and I. Maybe the next person after you to read this. I mean, I'm not going to call him, but if you want to I wouldn't really care. I wonder who will be next to read this? It could be anyone in the world. What if it was the Queen of England herself and we ended up drinking beer with her. That'd be debateably cooler than drinking with Obama, even though I'd still be stoked on that.
How did that last paragraph make you feel? I hope it made you feel a little better, like we connected a bit. Let me know..
Hopefully it won't be this long until I post again.
Love,
Ashton
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Life: Post Show
Ok. Now I see what I've gotten into. I've spent the last year and a half dipping my toes into the likes of Strike Anywhere, Jets To Brazil, Dead Serious, Saves The Day, and New Found Glory over my sisters stereo, but now I've taken the plunge. That show flipped me in every way shape and form. I saw kids not giving a fuck and loving every fleeting second of it. I saw the guy who booked the show and I'd put him at 20 years old, tops. This whole god damn thing is run, attended, and down right owned by "kids". I wanted to be one of them.
I had never before been so at home, even though I had also never before seen so out of my comfort zone. The freedom of speech and personality and art. I could not believe that it was okay to bounce, or to put it realistically "slam", around with other kids who you didn't even know, screaming at the top of your lungs. I was free. Free from the collared shirts my mom made me wear to school to show the teachers that I wasn't a thug. Free from the judgments of all the other 13 year old's that seemed so important to survival. Free from the questions in my head about what the hell was going on in my body or the world around me. I knew right then and there that this was the place and the crowd for me. I wanted to hold on as tight as I could and let the ride take me wherever it happened to go.
I had never before been so at home, even though I had also never before seen so out of my comfort zone. The freedom of speech and personality and art. I could not believe that it was okay to bounce, or to put it realistically "slam", around with other kids who you didn't even know, screaming at the top of your lungs. I was free. Free from the collared shirts my mom made me wear to school to show the teachers that I wasn't a thug. Free from the judgments of all the other 13 year old's that seemed so important to survival. Free from the questions in my head about what the hell was going on in my body or the world around me. I knew right then and there that this was the place and the crowd for me. I wanted to hold on as tight as I could and let the ride take me wherever it happened to go.
Friday, August 14, 2009
"Step back from yourself." Okay. There is a bowl full of chocolate in front of me and an ipod full of my favorite bands next to that. Why can't I come up with an idea for a good story? No. Wrong question. I can come up with good story ideas, I just can't write them down with interesting beef. I swear people would pay money to see my thoughts projected against a white screen. Or maybe I just wish they would... Anyways, as far as I'm concerned my problem is how to put some of these ideas into words. Words that will make people want to read more. Not just two dollar words I learned from dictionary dot com's daily emails though. Real words. Words like Filth, Crinkle, and Poised. Words that convey ideas. I want my readers to see what I'm writing, not just wonder whether I talk like this in real life or if I get off on pretending that I studied English Literature at some lush university in rural New Jersey. Fuck it. Ok, now that I have my R rating, or at least PG by today's standards, I guess I can start in from the beginning again. Did I mention that I've been drinking? Actually I have not, but let's pretend I am for sake of belligerence because I respect a free mind's creativity. From the beginning!
This story begins in 2001. August to be sure. Late in the month, but the exact date is irrelevant. On this particular night I will witness, for the first time in my life, an inexplicable, uncontrollable, and absolutely nonsensical marriage between real music and real energy in a real crowd of real individuals. Now I must ask you to please not take my overuse of the word "real" for granted here. When I say "Real Music" I mean music that has been written for a purpose. To send a message. To pull like minded people together. And when I say "Real Energy" I mean energy that is aroused from deep within one's heart and mind, not demanded by a squad of cheer leaders or a light up "Applause!" sign. This is energy being expelled without rules, save the laws of physics. As for the "real crowd" of "real individuals", well, if you don't understand that one then you should just take a look around the room the next time you attend a punk show.
This story begins in 2001. August to be sure. Late in the month, but the exact date is irrelevant. On this particular night I will witness, for the first time in my life, an inexplicable, uncontrollable, and absolutely nonsensical marriage between real music and real energy in a real crowd of real individuals. Now I must ask you to please not take my overuse of the word "real" for granted here. When I say "Real Music" I mean music that has been written for a purpose. To send a message. To pull like minded people together. And when I say "Real Energy" I mean energy that is aroused from deep within one's heart and mind, not demanded by a squad of cheer leaders or a light up "Applause!" sign. This is energy being expelled without rules, save the laws of physics. As for the "real crowd" of "real individuals", well, if you don't understand that one then you should just take a look around the room the next time you attend a punk show.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Being "the bigger man"
High school is a very dramatic time period for most people. I am definitely in that category. I remember many occasions where I would be in some sort of altercation with somebody and, doing as most people do, would ask my friends for advice. It didn't matter how big or small the problem was, I always "knew" that I was right and my opposition was wrong. The last thing I ever wanted to hear was "Be the bigger man." It KILLED me when the person I had turned to gave me such ego blowing advice. I'm a bit older and much wiser these days, and now I understand what it means to suck it up and be the "bigger man". I wish I could go back in time (or at least remember everybody who gave me those words of advice) and thank them for being mature enough and a friend enough to realize that whatever I was so pissed off about really was not that important and the last thing I needed anybody to do was justify my vengeance.
So anyways, here's to true friends who tell you what you might not want to hear because at the end of the day, it's the right thing.
So anyways, here's to true friends who tell you what you might not want to hear because at the end of the day, it's the right thing.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Preliminary Taste Tests...
• Nerve Agents:
Initial flavor- kind of tart, but quickly followed by reasonable heat. Maintains tangy flavor in mouth though. Texture- Thin paste.
• Municipal Waste:
Initial flavor- Artichoke heavy. A little sweet, but that’s more of an afterthought. Milder but still warm. Texture- Clumps of artichokes in sauce.
• Battle Master:
Mild, but a little burn on the lips. Good taste that reminded me of Tapatio. Texture- very runny.
• BloodQuest:
Oh man. Initial taste is almost like spaghetti sauce, but it quickly turns up the temperature. Maybe too hot for typical use. Definitely spike some salsa with this for a pleasant surprise. Or use in cheesy dish. Flavor is great though.
Initial flavor- kind of tart, but quickly followed by reasonable heat. Maintains tangy flavor in mouth though. Texture- Thin paste.
• Municipal Waste:
Initial flavor- Artichoke heavy. A little sweet, but that’s more of an afterthought. Milder but still warm. Texture- Clumps of artichokes in sauce.
• Battle Master:
Mild, but a little burn on the lips. Good taste that reminded me of Tapatio. Texture- very runny.
• BloodQuest:
Oh man. Initial taste is almost like spaghetti sauce, but it quickly turns up the temperature. Maybe too hot for typical use. Definitely spike some salsa with this for a pleasant surprise. Or use in cheesy dish. Flavor is great though.
HOT SAUCE RECIPES
HOT SAUCE RECIPE/RECORD KEEPER OF DOOM
1) ANNIHILATION TIME-
2 cups White Vinegar
5 Serrano Peppers
4 Habanero Peppers
3 Yellow Chili Peppers
4 Cloves Garlic
½ Tsp Cumin
½ Tsp Oregano
½ Tsp Basil
½ Tsp Black Pepper
Notes: Liquify, bring to boil, let simmer 15 minutes. (<--use for all that follow). This will be the base of the next couple sauces in case you were wondering what A.T. stood for!
2) BIOHAZARD-
½ cup A.T. plus…
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Tsp Cumin
½ Tsp Olive Oil
3) ANTHRAX-
1/3 cup A.T. plus…
1 tsp Hersey’s Chocolate Syrup
4) INSECT WARFARE-
½ cup Maple Syrup
1 Tsp Chili Powder
1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper Powder
1 Clove Garlic
5) BLOOD QUEST-
1.5 Cup A.T. plus…
6 oz Tomato Paste
¾ Tbsp Crushed Onion
¼ Tbsp Oregano
1 Clove Garlic
¼ Tsp Sage
¼ Tsp Black Pepper
6) NERVE AGENTS-
1 cup vinegar
¼ cup Anaheim Pepper
¼ cup Japones Pepper
¼ Jalepeno Pepper
½ Tsp Cumin
1 Tsp Cayenne Powder
1/8 Tsp Salt
7) AMERICAN NIGHTMARE-
1 cup vinegar
¼ cup Anaheim Pepper
1 tbsp Honey (Wild Flower)
¼ cup Jalapenos
¼ tsp Cumin
1 tsp chili powder
8) MUNICIPAL WASTE-
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup vinegar
1 tbsp cilantro
1/8 tsp salt
¼ lime juice
1 jalapeno
½ artichoke heart
½ tsp cayenne
9) BATTLE MASTER-
2 jalepeno
1 cup vinegar
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ lime
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 clove garlic
1) ANNIHILATION TIME-
2 cups White Vinegar
5 Serrano Peppers
4 Habanero Peppers
3 Yellow Chili Peppers
4 Cloves Garlic
½ Tsp Cumin
½ Tsp Oregano
½ Tsp Basil
½ Tsp Black Pepper
Notes: Liquify, bring to boil, let simmer 15 minutes. (<--use for all that follow). This will be the base of the next couple sauces in case you were wondering what A.T. stood for!
2) BIOHAZARD-
½ cup A.T. plus…
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Tsp Cumin
½ Tsp Olive Oil
3) ANTHRAX-
1/3 cup A.T. plus…
1 tsp Hersey’s Chocolate Syrup
4) INSECT WARFARE-
½ cup Maple Syrup
1 Tsp Chili Powder
1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper Powder
1 Clove Garlic
5) BLOOD QUEST-
1.5 Cup A.T. plus…
6 oz Tomato Paste
¾ Tbsp Crushed Onion
¼ Tbsp Oregano
1 Clove Garlic
¼ Tsp Sage
¼ Tsp Black Pepper
6) NERVE AGENTS-
1 cup vinegar
¼ cup Anaheim Pepper
¼ cup Japones Pepper
¼ Jalepeno Pepper
½ Tsp Cumin
1 Tsp Cayenne Powder
1/8 Tsp Salt
7) AMERICAN NIGHTMARE-
1 cup vinegar
¼ cup Anaheim Pepper
1 tbsp Honey (Wild Flower)
¼ cup Jalapenos
¼ tsp Cumin
1 tsp chili powder
8) MUNICIPAL WASTE-
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup vinegar
1 tbsp cilantro
1/8 tsp salt
¼ lime juice
1 jalapeno
½ artichoke heart
½ tsp cayenne
9) BATTLE MASTER-
2 jalepeno
1 cup vinegar
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ lime
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 clove garlic
Thursday, July 16, 2009
So I started making hot sauce
Yesterday I blended my first batch of hot sauce. Here is the recipe I used for the base, but I'll be adding different variables in smaller samples to try and tweek the flavor:hotness ratios!
Hot Sauce Base:
2 cups White Vinegar
3 Yellow Chili Peppers
5 Serrano Peppers
4 Habanero Peppers
4 cloves of Garlic
1/2 Tsp. Cumin
1/2 Tsp. Oregano
1/2 Tsp. Basil
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
All ingredients were then blended ferociously into a soupy substance, brought to a boil, and then simmered for 15 minutes. I immediately put the sauce into the refrigerator and am now trying some different flavors out.
More to come!
Hot Sauce Base:
2 cups White Vinegar
3 Yellow Chili Peppers
5 Serrano Peppers
4 Habanero Peppers
4 cloves of Garlic
1/2 Tsp. Cumin
1/2 Tsp. Oregano
1/2 Tsp. Basil
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
All ingredients were then blended ferociously into a soupy substance, brought to a boil, and then simmered for 15 minutes. I immediately put the sauce into the refrigerator and am now trying some different flavors out.
More to come!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
sometimes "friends forever" don't last a summer
It's a gameface quote, and you can probably put names and faces to it in your own life. It always gets me...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Ashton's recipe for something that probably already has a name:
Heat up a skillet with some olive oil
add 1 sliced squash, 1 sliced zuchini(or whatever its called)
dice a few cloves of garlic, unless you are a vampire.
throw em in
dice 1 roma tomato(probably works w any tomato though) and throw it in after gords have been chillen for a hot second
wisk two eggs(assuming that means the same as beat) and dump it in.
Then, as the eggs are coming to an omlet like consistancy, dolop on a couple spoons of salsa (use hot unless you are a total wuss).
let things mix up a bit and turn the heat off when its ready(i trust your judgement).
salt and pepper to taste.
cheese would probably be good on this, but i didn't add any this time.
fresh green beans might fit in well too. fuck it
enjoy your evening on a patio or porch if you got one. dream about it otherwise.
pairs well with crappy beer, or probably a good lager.
add 1 sliced squash, 1 sliced zuchini(or whatever its called)
dice a few cloves of garlic, unless you are a vampire.
throw em in
dice 1 roma tomato(probably works w any tomato though) and throw it in after gords have been chillen for a hot second
wisk two eggs(assuming that means the same as beat) and dump it in.
Then, as the eggs are coming to an omlet like consistancy, dolop on a couple spoons of salsa (use hot unless you are a total wuss).
let things mix up a bit and turn the heat off when its ready(i trust your judgement).
salt and pepper to taste.
cheese would probably be good on this, but i didn't add any this time.
fresh green beans might fit in well too. fuck it
enjoy your evening on a patio or porch if you got one. dream about it otherwise.
pairs well with crappy beer, or probably a good lager.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Painter
I watch the old man whisk paint across canvas. forward and backwards, his brush kisses in staccato strokes. lines grow into shapes, and accents transform them into figures. as if in a dream world, the flat white surface comes alive with color. daylilies dance in cadence with the bubbling beat of cloud formations. a child in a grass stained sundress twirls about on her tip toes, complimenting the sunflowers cresting the horizon. grain seeds flutter through the air on their tiny travels, winking at me with the shimmering prisms of early morning dew as sun beams tap them for the slightest of moments. (though as soon as you catch a glimpse of their existence, the warm beams release them again to go about their gentle ways). my mind wanders the dusty trail leading back into the distance. the old man reaches for his dark paints, and whisps of smoke start to ascend from behind the pool of yellow sunflowers. i follow the summons of the soft greys climbing higher and higher, promising a full meal for the void in my stomach. i pass the little girl, still twirling about in seamless harmony with the air we breathe, and i begin to understand the meaning of the images enveloping my mind. my eyes sees only what the old man paints, and he only paints the contents of his sweetest dreams. i have no perception of the passing time, for as long as the sun still shines and the girl still dances, this world is in peace.
Friday, June 5, 2009
In This Blog: God doesn't know why Saves the Day sucks now either
It probably wouldn't be an accurate statement for me to say that I have an unshakable faith in God. A few minutes ago, I was eating a bag of Doritos for lunch and thinking about what makes me so different from those with unquestioning faith, and why I lack the ability to have it. Immediately I remembered back to the advice every religious recruiter has ever told me..."Pray about it and ask for an answer." Well, I've tried the old "Hey God, it's me Ashton. Are you there?!" shtick before and got the same results as everybody. Duh, if God straight up told you he was for real then it wouldn't be a faith it would be a knowledge. (I learned that in a Keanu Reeves movie). "Ok." I prayed, attempting to be clever "God...why has Saves The Day put out nothing but garbage since Stay What You Are?" I thought about this question a few more times, attempting to even come to my own conclusion and then cite divine intervention. Well, it's been about half an hour now and I still have no idea what made STD start sucking so much, but I don't think that would've been a terribly hard question for God to answer (or at least help me answer). And yes, he technically WOULD have time to do this if he was really GOD).
As my mind started to wander (I came to terms with them putting out bad records around 2006) I realized that I was eating said Doritos at quite the clip while sitting next to an open window. I casually looked out to the sidewalk and the apartments that face our's wondering what the odds were that there could be ANOTHER 22 year old guy, directly across the street from me, ravaging a bag of chips next to his open window at this exact instant. When I couldn't find any takers, I realized that my "One in a million odds" quota hadn't been reached for the day, and I contemplated running to the grocery store for a lottery ticket.
This idea didn't really seem worth the effort (I'm not a big gambler), so I started reading the EnergyGuide tag from our new refrigerator that was laying conveniently on the kitchen table (the tag, that is. Not the new refrigerator). Apparently this baby is only going to run about $39 a year in electrical costs. I think that sounds pretty reasonable and environmentally friendly. I read some more. "Your cost will depend on your utility rates and use." OH COME ON! How are you going to advertise a number like $39/year and then leave the door open to the effects of both my usage and my local utility company's rates?! WHAT OTHER FACTORS COULD POSSIBLY COME INTO PLAY TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL BILL!?! good grief. And THEN, as I was mentally congratulating the refrigerator builders of America for being able to adapt to the Green Lifestyle and stay in business during these trying times, I noticed that it was actually just built to U.S. EPA Standards by those damn Canadian Uncle Tom refrigerator builders!!!
Naturally, I reacted to all the midmorning's findings the only way I knew how to...with a blog.
And this, my friends, has been a glimpse into an hour of my life.
As my mind started to wander (I came to terms with them putting out bad records around 2006) I realized that I was eating said Doritos at quite the clip while sitting next to an open window. I casually looked out to the sidewalk and the apartments that face our's wondering what the odds were that there could be ANOTHER 22 year old guy, directly across the street from me, ravaging a bag of chips next to his open window at this exact instant. When I couldn't find any takers, I realized that my "One in a million odds" quota hadn't been reached for the day, and I contemplated running to the grocery store for a lottery ticket.
This idea didn't really seem worth the effort (I'm not a big gambler), so I started reading the EnergyGuide tag from our new refrigerator that was laying conveniently on the kitchen table (the tag, that is. Not the new refrigerator). Apparently this baby is only going to run about $39 a year in electrical costs. I think that sounds pretty reasonable and environmentally friendly. I read some more. "Your cost will depend on your utility rates and use." OH COME ON! How are you going to advertise a number like $39/year and then leave the door open to the effects of both my usage and my local utility company's rates?! WHAT OTHER FACTORS COULD POSSIBLY COME INTO PLAY TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL BILL!?! good grief. And THEN, as I was mentally congratulating the refrigerator builders of America for being able to adapt to the Green Lifestyle and stay in business during these trying times, I noticed that it was actually just built to U.S. EPA Standards by those damn Canadian Uncle Tom refrigerator builders!!!
Naturally, I reacted to all the midmorning's findings the only way I knew how to...with a blog.
And this, my friends, has been a glimpse into an hour of my life.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
You know what
There are mindless drones on both sides of the political spectrum. For every brain dead FOX News quoter there is a naive protestor with unquestioning faith in CNN. I'm not totally biased against the idea of a conservative government. I know there is a time and place for everything. My problem is in the religiously charged nonsense that has ruined countries for thousands of years (yes, long before the catholic church even existed people were being persecuted, let's not place all the blame in one place!)
My problem with the whole Prop. 8 fiasco right now, beyond my own personal beliefs of human equality, is that these forever hypocritical GOPers can sit there with smug faces calling President Obama a socialist(or condemn his practices as such) while donating their money to bullshit Proposition 8 Support groups (money that they turn around and bitch about being "over taxed") that actively oppress a minority group. How is THAT fair and just? Is THAT what freedom is, the ability to dehumanize people who practice things you, in your holy righteousness, don't agree with?
I love the signs that read along the lines of "Protect Marriage, Outlaw Divorce". They sum it up PERFECTLY. The majority of married couples in this country deface the "sacred union" every day with divorce, affairs, and domestic abuse. How dare these people stand in their pulpits telling us that WE are shameful, that WE are misled, and that WE are the source of evils in the world. Who is some ignorant man or woman in rural Utah to speak about the relation that two men or two women in California? NOBODY. Just like I have no place to say that shot gun weddings and socially acceptable marriages are ok or not ok (they end up speaking for themselves sooner or later). The issue here is so black and white, it is incredible how much grey some people have managed to inject into it.
Personally, I don't need anybody, let alone people I've never met, to tell me my feelings for another person are acceptable or okay. If I love somebody, I love them. I don't really understand why so many homosexuals care to be a part of the tradition of marriage in the first place (even though I'm sure I'll end up getting married, I'm just saying that it is an after action of already being in love).
And you know what, fuck the politics, the only groups who is REALLY at liberty to decide how they want to define marriage are the churches. This is really a no brainer on both sides of the spectrum. If I go to a catholic church with Scott Henley and they tell us to fuck off then I'm going to say "well, fuck em too. I don't want to be a part of that kind of bullshit anyways". If we get in the car and drive down the street to a unitarian church and they say "word! we're down, lets make it happen." Then who the fuck is the Government to step in and say "ahh...no"? Theres this crazy little thing called the Constitution of the United States of America that perfectly outlines these things and the people who are trying to use it as ammunition are the ones who are contradicting it.
wow. rant over
My problem with the whole Prop. 8 fiasco right now, beyond my own personal beliefs of human equality, is that these forever hypocritical GOPers can sit there with smug faces calling President Obama a socialist(or condemn his practices as such) while donating their money to bullshit Proposition 8 Support groups (money that they turn around and bitch about being "over taxed") that actively oppress a minority group. How is THAT fair and just? Is THAT what freedom is, the ability to dehumanize people who practice things you, in your holy righteousness, don't agree with?
I love the signs that read along the lines of "Protect Marriage, Outlaw Divorce". They sum it up PERFECTLY. The majority of married couples in this country deface the "sacred union" every day with divorce, affairs, and domestic abuse. How dare these people stand in their pulpits telling us that WE are shameful, that WE are misled, and that WE are the source of evils in the world. Who is some ignorant man or woman in rural Utah to speak about the relation that two men or two women in California? NOBODY. Just like I have no place to say that shot gun weddings and socially acceptable marriages are ok or not ok (they end up speaking for themselves sooner or later). The issue here is so black and white, it is incredible how much grey some people have managed to inject into it.
Personally, I don't need anybody, let alone people I've never met, to tell me my feelings for another person are acceptable or okay. If I love somebody, I love them. I don't really understand why so many homosexuals care to be a part of the tradition of marriage in the first place (even though I'm sure I'll end up getting married, I'm just saying that it is an after action of already being in love).
And you know what, fuck the politics, the only groups who is REALLY at liberty to decide how they want to define marriage are the churches. This is really a no brainer on both sides of the spectrum. If I go to a catholic church with Scott Henley and they tell us to fuck off then I'm going to say "well, fuck em too. I don't want to be a part of that kind of bullshit anyways". If we get in the car and drive down the street to a unitarian church and they say "word! we're down, lets make it happen." Then who the fuck is the Government to step in and say "ahh...no"? Theres this crazy little thing called the Constitution of the United States of America that perfectly outlines these things and the people who are trying to use it as ammunition are the ones who are contradicting it.
wow. rant over
Monday, May 18, 2009
New ways of explaining myself
I need to figure out a better way of explaining my opinions than just coming out as a self righteous know it all on my little soap box of a blog. I have a tendency to ostracize the opposing view in similar form as that god awful bitch Ann Coulter, and boy is that the LAST person I ever want to share anything with.
I started writing this blog about how much of a joke the "War on Drugs" is, and how insulting it is that the participating governments and media continue to carry the banner on this nonsense like anyone who hasn't done some scratch-the-surface research on it still believes it is somehow worth spending another penny on.
I don't even NEED to explain WHY it is so absurd because if you have done nothing more than attend public school in the United States you have already learned about the failure of Prohibition in the late 1910's-early 1930's and how beneficial(monetarily) the relegalization of alcohol has been since. Just change the word "booze" to "drug" and the story is the same. Do you think you would even know the name Al Capone if there had never been a ban on alcohol? Do you understand that the United States Government essentially GAVE him the power to commit all the crimes of extortion and murder? Some people are going to cause trouble regardless. Some people are going to abuse substances regardless. These don't have to go hand in hand though!
My opinion on illicit substances are about the same as they are on abortions.
1) No authoritative body should be able to dictate what I do with my body.
2) Nobody needs to "protect me from myself"(If I make a poor decision and kill myself, then the world now has one less idiot there to destroy it. It's called Natural Selection)
3) Possibly the most important, JUST BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL DOESN'T MEAN I'M GOING TO DO IT!!!!!!
I think a lot of those radical "Christian" hate groups have this warped idea that the "Godless Culture" of today (which is silly enough in itself once you crack a history book and realize that nothing we are doing today is worse than anything any previous generation has done. in fact, we're probably more moral and responsible than most past cultures!!) fancies a lifestyle out of getting pregnant and then sticking it to the Pope by running over to our local Planned Parenthood for an abortion, laughing all the way.
...And here I am going to stop myself. Do you see what I was saying earlier about the Ann Coulter comparison? I hope anybody who reads this blog takes it as a grain of salt and, if nothing else, gets a chuckle out of my ability to get bent out of shape too easily. I really do have these opinions, I just have weird ways of putting them into words because as soon as I start writing them down I become 110% convinced that my opinion is flawless and that I see the world more clearly than anyone else. Obviously these are both UNTRUE facts, but you know what it's like to get caught up in the heat of the moment!!!
love
I started writing this blog about how much of a joke the "War on Drugs" is, and how insulting it is that the participating governments and media continue to carry the banner on this nonsense like anyone who hasn't done some scratch-the-surface research on it still believes it is somehow worth spending another penny on.
I don't even NEED to explain WHY it is so absurd because if you have done nothing more than attend public school in the United States you have already learned about the failure of Prohibition in the late 1910's-early 1930's and how beneficial(monetarily) the relegalization of alcohol has been since. Just change the word "booze" to "drug" and the story is the same. Do you think you would even know the name Al Capone if there had never been a ban on alcohol? Do you understand that the United States Government essentially GAVE him the power to commit all the crimes of extortion and murder? Some people are going to cause trouble regardless. Some people are going to abuse substances regardless. These don't have to go hand in hand though!
My opinion on illicit substances are about the same as they are on abortions.
1) No authoritative body should be able to dictate what I do with my body.
2) Nobody needs to "protect me from myself"(If I make a poor decision and kill myself, then the world now has one less idiot there to destroy it. It's called Natural Selection)
3) Possibly the most important, JUST BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL DOESN'T MEAN I'M GOING TO DO IT!!!!!!
I think a lot of those radical "Christian" hate groups have this warped idea that the "Godless Culture" of today (which is silly enough in itself once you crack a history book and realize that nothing we are doing today is worse than anything any previous generation has done. in fact, we're probably more moral and responsible than most past cultures!!) fancies a lifestyle out of getting pregnant and then sticking it to the Pope by running over to our local Planned Parenthood for an abortion, laughing all the way.
...And here I am going to stop myself. Do you see what I was saying earlier about the Ann Coulter comparison? I hope anybody who reads this blog takes it as a grain of salt and, if nothing else, gets a chuckle out of my ability to get bent out of shape too easily. I really do have these opinions, I just have weird ways of putting them into words because as soon as I start writing them down I become 110% convinced that my opinion is flawless and that I see the world more clearly than anyone else. Obviously these are both UNTRUE facts, but you know what it's like to get caught up in the heat of the moment!!!
love
Monday, May 11, 2009
If you watch Fox news, I feel sorry for you
I'm just chilling, waiting for work to happen. studying and trying to get myself up to speed on the whole "electricity" thing. Trying to get involved in some other stuff so that I can stop going to bed feeling slightly bored. Last night we ate dinner at Carrie's with a group of people and Kim made a comment about how she misses the subculture and activity of the East Coast. That totally hit the nail on the head when I thought about it. I was trying to figure out why I seemed to be surrounded by forward thinking people, yet not having as much involvement in any specific activity and I realized that things just aren't very organized out here. It is nice to be away from the dominating social cliques that tend to take a lot of metaphorical dick sucking to even be invited into, but at the same time it's unfortunate to see a whole lot of small circles meander aimlessly with no greater purpose. I don't know exactly what problem I'm trying to solve or what cause I'm trying to support, but I definitely feel a little less important not participating in any sort of big picture events these days. I know it still has something to do with not knowing as many people as I did in Richmond and not being as familiar with the events and places that they are "happening", but I also don't want to let myself use that as an excuse. I need to spend some time pondering what I want to accomplish and start working on how I'm going to do that. I'll let you know when I know.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
that is a good thing
Since we've lived in San Diego my alcohol intake has gone WAY WAY WAY WAY down. phew. Last summer was ragin. I could definitely count on two hands the number of nights I went to bed sober. Of course I knew at the time that what I was doing was pretty unhealthy(NOT TO MENTION COSTLY) but hey, I somehow ended up losing weight and have more or less gotten over the entire concept of drinking=definitely going to have fun. I mean, OBVIOUSLY I still appreciate the taste of a well crafted beer; a good, smooth liquor; and a strong wine, and I'm sure I'll over indulge many more times in the span of my life, but the days of smashing cheap beer after cheap beer on such a regular basis just for the hell of it are over.
That being said, I definitely think being in Richmond drove me to those alcoholic trends and I'm glad that I got out before it became a definite problem. This is pretty much reason numero uno why I want/need all of my friends out of that city. It's just too easy to "stop the clock" and wake up 5, 10, however many years later and say "holy shit, all I have to show for the past X years is a low balance in my bank account and a shitload of empty tylenol bottles." Yes, some of the most awesome adventures and most fun nights I've been involved in were fueled by booze, but already at 22 I'm getting over the ability to do act like that anymore and I don't think drinking HARDER until I lose control again is the right answer, so I'm just going to go ahead and say that I'm burying the shovel.
I mean, the bottom line here is I'm sick of getting hang overs. I don't know how the hell we would drink 40's of malt liquor and bottles of andre all night and then wake up the next morning feeling better than ever. Seriously, what the fuck was different in my body 3 years ago? Oh well, I'm glad because it doesn't give me an excuse to continue that doing that crazy shit. I would've been an alcoholic by 25 for sure if I had managed to keep those trends up.
So yeah, listen to yourself after a long night at the bar when you say "dude this sucks, gotta stop drinking so much" and you'll be a much happier camper.
That being said, I definitely think being in Richmond drove me to those alcoholic trends and I'm glad that I got out before it became a definite problem. This is pretty much reason numero uno why I want/need all of my friends out of that city. It's just too easy to "stop the clock" and wake up 5, 10, however many years later and say "holy shit, all I have to show for the past X years is a low balance in my bank account and a shitload of empty tylenol bottles." Yes, some of the most awesome adventures and most fun nights I've been involved in were fueled by booze, but already at 22 I'm getting over the ability to do act like that anymore and I don't think drinking HARDER until I lose control again is the right answer, so I'm just going to go ahead and say that I'm burying the shovel.
I mean, the bottom line here is I'm sick of getting hang overs. I don't know how the hell we would drink 40's of malt liquor and bottles of andre all night and then wake up the next morning feeling better than ever. Seriously, what the fuck was different in my body 3 years ago? Oh well, I'm glad because it doesn't give me an excuse to continue that doing that crazy shit. I would've been an alcoholic by 25 for sure if I had managed to keep those trends up.
So yeah, listen to yourself after a long night at the bar when you say "dude this sucks, gotta stop drinking so much" and you'll be a much happier camper.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
hm
yesterday was cool, Brandon Tim and I toured downtown and horton plaza waiting for something that wasn't actually supposed to happen. we tried on jeans, looked at shoes, laughed at the ben and jerrys free cone day line, and visited Foose at work. I'm just waiting for the union to call me about working. COME ON MONEY!!
talked to my pop last night, it was nice. ate some pho at Mr. Vo's cafe and was stoked on him giving us free dessert. gotta make it back over there more often.
i had a weird caffeine withdrawl yesterday afternoon. i hate that feeling. oh well, it passed before bedtime and i feel better today.
i can't wait for my shoes to get here!!
i also can't wait for this weekend! Brunchatise me, cap'n
THIS IS GOOD SHIT www.sandiegoartjournal.com i hope to get my act together and go to some of their events and meet some of those peeps.
talked to my pop last night, it was nice. ate some pho at Mr. Vo's cafe and was stoked on him giving us free dessert. gotta make it back over there more often.
i had a weird caffeine withdrawl yesterday afternoon. i hate that feeling. oh well, it passed before bedtime and i feel better today.
i can't wait for my shoes to get here!!
i also can't wait for this weekend! Brunchatise me, cap'n
THIS IS GOOD SHIT www.sandiegoartjournal.com i hope to get my act together and go to some of their events and meet some of those peeps.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
yes yes yes yes yes
So, after numerous people returned my interview questions on here and my facebook page, I hope you learned a little bit about somebody you might have been a little curious about. Thanks again to everybody for doing that.
What else is up...not too much, just waiting to get a call to work! stoked.
finishing up some projects around the house(bikes mainly). Our new basil plants are starting to poke their little heads out!! sweeeeet.
It has been pretty hot here the past few days. I think it's great, but a lot of people are whining!!! just wait till you hit the East Coast, mofos. GOOD LUCK
Pokez last night, as usual. Good times, as usual.
Kate and Bowen are moving back to Boston this Summer to get married and settle back down with their old friends and family. Completely understandable, but I will definitely miss them even though we have only been friends for a short period of time. Very cool people. Oh well, it's good to know that I'll always have friends in Boston (because all my current friends there are planning on moving out here, RIGHT GUYS??!?!?) good.
Man, I can't wait for The Riot Before to tour CA. Love that band. good times.
Hopefully today will be extra gnarles barkley. I dont know why, I just hope it is.
Oh man, I had a really funny idea last night that might translate on here as me being a weirdo goofball, but that would be correct. What if you were in a painting class and your teacher came up behind you with a paint brush and painted a huge F on your work. OMG I WOOD DYE, FML ROFL. indeed.
What else is up...not too much, just waiting to get a call to work! stoked.
finishing up some projects around the house(bikes mainly). Our new basil plants are starting to poke their little heads out!! sweeeeet.
It has been pretty hot here the past few days. I think it's great, but a lot of people are whining!!! just wait till you hit the East Coast, mofos. GOOD LUCK
Pokez last night, as usual. Good times, as usual.
Kate and Bowen are moving back to Boston this Summer to get married and settle back down with their old friends and family. Completely understandable, but I will definitely miss them even though we have only been friends for a short period of time. Very cool people. Oh well, it's good to know that I'll always have friends in Boston (because all my current friends there are planning on moving out here, RIGHT GUYS??!?!?) good.
Man, I can't wait for The Riot Before to tour CA. Love that band. good times.
Hopefully today will be extra gnarles barkley. I dont know why, I just hope it is.
Oh man, I had a really funny idea last night that might translate on here as me being a weirdo goofball, but that would be correct. What if you were in a painting class and your teacher came up behind you with a paint brush and painted a huge F on your work. OMG I WOOD DYE, FML ROFL. indeed.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Beth D! COACH CHUCK WHERE YOU AT? oh right there
1) What is your name?: Elizabeth Anne Demmon
2) How old are you?: 24 in 2 weeks
3) How long have we known each other?: a bit over a year
4) Where did you grow up?: sterling virgina
5) What would you say is your passion?: exploring creativity in a variety of mediums
6) What are you afraid of?: bugs, being alone in a dark house at night
7) Favorite food?: sushi, burritos, my mom's tacos and salsa, anything that we cook
8) Where/how would you like to spend the last 20 years of your life?: constantly on the go with the person i love until the end, and then chilling on a front porch in the south
9) What is your ideal career?: owning a coffeeshop/venue or being a travel food writer
10) What is something else you care about?: bringing as much fun and happiness into the world that i can
11) What is your favorite kind of art?: anything made from the heart
12) Tell me something you hate: liars, cheaters, anyone who does something to purposefully hurt another person
13) Share an interesting experience you've had in life(anything): i won a free trip to hawaii when i was 15
14) Favorite/most inspirational band?: the smiths, the clash, the ramones, the cars, the appleseed cast
15) Do you think you'll ever settle down in the suburbs with a spouse and kids?: settle down? in a sense i already am. for the moment. kids? still thinking about that being in the DISTANT future if at all.
16) What do you want to be written on your tombstone?: no tombstone for me, i want to donate my body to science
17) Best piece of advice to give someone: pick your battles and make every moment count. relish in the present and don't get TOO nostalgic or forward-thinking
2) How old are you?: 24 in 2 weeks
3) How long have we known each other?: a bit over a year
4) Where did you grow up?: sterling virgina
5) What would you say is your passion?: exploring creativity in a variety of mediums
6) What are you afraid of?: bugs, being alone in a dark house at night
7) Favorite food?: sushi, burritos, my mom's tacos and salsa, anything that we cook
8) Where/how would you like to spend the last 20 years of your life?: constantly on the go with the person i love until the end, and then chilling on a front porch in the south
9) What is your ideal career?: owning a coffeeshop/venue or being a travel food writer
10) What is something else you care about?: bringing as much fun and happiness into the world that i can
11) What is your favorite kind of art?: anything made from the heart
12) Tell me something you hate: liars, cheaters, anyone who does something to purposefully hurt another person
13) Share an interesting experience you've had in life(anything): i won a free trip to hawaii when i was 15
14) Favorite/most inspirational band?: the smiths, the clash, the ramones, the cars, the appleseed cast
15) Do you think you'll ever settle down in the suburbs with a spouse and kids?: settle down? in a sense i already am. for the moment. kids? still thinking about that being in the DISTANT future if at all.
16) What do you want to be written on your tombstone?: no tombstone for me, i want to donate my body to science
17) Best piece of advice to give someone: pick your battles and make every moment count. relish in the present and don't get TOO nostalgic or forward-thinking
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Second Response.
What is your name?: Nathan Webb Anderson.
How old are you?: 27
How long have we known each other?: a year or so
Where did you grow up?: Richmond, VA
What would you say is your passion?: people
What are you afraid of?: snakes
Favorite food?: lobster
Where/how would you like to spend the last 20 years of your life?: with my Taryn-Dee
What is your ideal career?: movie critic
What is something else you care about?: my family
What is your favorite kind of art?: paintings and film
Tell me something you hate: liars
Share an interesting experience you've had in life(anything): i've broken my forearm in half
Favorite/most inspirational band?: avail
Do you think you'll ever settle down in the suburbs with a spouse and kids?: i've already settled down, minus wife and kids
What do you want to be written on your tombstone?: I'm going to be buried at sea
Best piece of advice to give someone: shit happens, get over it
How old are you?: 27
How long have we known each other?: a year or so
Where did you grow up?: Richmond, VA
What would you say is your passion?: people
What are you afraid of?: snakes
Favorite food?: lobster
Where/how would you like to spend the last 20 years of your life?: with my Taryn-Dee
What is your ideal career?: movie critic
What is something else you care about?: my family
What is your favorite kind of art?: paintings and film
Tell me something you hate: liars
Share an interesting experience you've had in life(anything): i've broken my forearm in half
Favorite/most inspirational band?: avail
Do you think you'll ever settle down in the suburbs with a spouse and kids?: i've already settled down, minus wife and kids
What do you want to be written on your tombstone?: I'm going to be buried at sea
Best piece of advice to give someone: shit happens, get over it
DAVE DOUCET, FIRST TO RESPOND
What is your name?: David Doucet
How old are you?: 23
How long have we known each other?: 6 or 7 years
Where did you grow up?: Midlothian, VA
What would you say is your passion?:history
What are you afraid of?:spiders
Favorite food?:sushi,mac and cheese
Where/how would you like to spend the last 20 years of your life?: travelling
What is your ideal career?: teacher or record store owner
What is something else you care about?: my mom
What is your favorite kind of art?: photography
Tell me something you hate: ignorance
Share an interesting experience you've had in life(anything): one time some sirens went off and mortars were coming in, i ran to a bunker and inside the bunker was an air force girl crying, all i could do was laugh
Favorite/most inspirational band?: no idea, saves the day, count me out, american nightmare are probably my 3 most important
Do you think you'll ever settle down in the suburbs with a spouse and kids?: maybe...hopefully not
What do you want to be written on your tombstone?: Here Lies David Doucet, Awesome Dude
Best piece of advice to give someone: don't spend your life wishing for time to speed up, before you know it, its over
How old are you?: 23
How long have we known each other?: 6 or 7 years
Where did you grow up?: Midlothian, VA
What would you say is your passion?:history
What are you afraid of?:spiders
Favorite food?:sushi,mac and cheese
Where/how would you like to spend the last 20 years of your life?: travelling
What is your ideal career?: teacher or record store owner
What is something else you care about?: my mom
What is your favorite kind of art?: photography
Tell me something you hate: ignorance
Share an interesting experience you've had in life(anything): one time some sirens went off and mortars were coming in, i ran to a bunker and inside the bunker was an air force girl crying, all i could do was laugh
Favorite/most inspirational band?: no idea, saves the day, count me out, american nightmare are probably my 3 most important
Do you think you'll ever settle down in the suburbs with a spouse and kids?: maybe...hopefully not
What do you want to be written on your tombstone?: Here Lies David Doucet, Awesome Dude
Best piece of advice to give someone: don't spend your life wishing for time to speed up, before you know it, its over
duh
Obviously I look up to all my friends a lot, so I decided an interesting project might be to interview some of them. maybe i'll do like one per day and just kind of see what comes out. Pro's of this could be 1) learning more about people you already know 2)finding out surprising things about people you had the wrong impression about.
cons could be 1)finding out somebody you thought you liked is actually an asshole (actually, i already know that you're all assholes, so it shouldn't be a big surprise)
anyways, i guess i'll be taking suggestions while i write out a few questions... hey maybe this will get more people reading my shit!!!
cons could be 1)finding out somebody you thought you liked is actually an asshole (actually, i already know that you're all assholes, so it shouldn't be a big surprise)
anyways, i guess i'll be taking suggestions while i write out a few questions... hey maybe this will get more people reading my shit!!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
i love...
I was never one to say "I already have enough friends" or "I've already met all the cool kids around here" and I feel sorry for those who do. My parents taught me that everybody has something bring to the table and that some of the seemingly weirdest people you meet often end up being huge inspirations. In my 22 years of life so far I've had the pleasure to meet dozens of wacky, funny, talented, brilliant, and caring people behind some of the goofiest mannerisms and personalities imaginable.
Richmond is a melting pot for so many different types of people and I bet a lot of its residents aren't even aware of truth in that statement. It's so easy to get tied up in our own clique or scene that we write off people with different ideas or interests with stereotypes like "bike nerd", "hipster", "metal head", "hippie", "frat bro", etc. (sure, sometimes the stereotypes hold up... but it's never a waste of time to find out the truth, and you could be surprised yet at what these types of people have to offer!)
Naturally, I've done my share of judging, and even in the past few years that I've tried to stay conscious of it I'm sure I've missed out on learning things from people because I didn't give them the time of day. I do my best to keep myself open to different people though, and I can say without a doubt that some of my best friends are people I didn't initially think I'd find common ground with.
Some of the most interesting people I've met(or maybe just observed with curiosity) remain mostly anonymous characters in my mind that I might as well have read about in a story. Train hopping punks from shows at the Bonezone or 9 North.... Actors and artists from Richmond's community at parties my parents hosted when I was just a kid... Bostonians I can't explain(if you've ever been, you know what I mean), bike punks at Best Friends Days, Slaughteramas, Polo games, etc..., Soldiers in my National Guard units, and of course all those folks I've interacted with in my travels both near and far.
I love San Diego as a city and I love it even more because it is incredibly diverse and it's all new to me. I have been having a blast meeting new people and seeing how different the cultures out here are from the same ones back East.
This whole experience thus far has been nothing short of exciting.
Richmond is a melting pot for so many different types of people and I bet a lot of its residents aren't even aware of truth in that statement. It's so easy to get tied up in our own clique or scene that we write off people with different ideas or interests with stereotypes like "bike nerd", "hipster", "metal head", "hippie", "frat bro", etc. (sure, sometimes the stereotypes hold up... but it's never a waste of time to find out the truth, and you could be surprised yet at what these types of people have to offer!)
Naturally, I've done my share of judging, and even in the past few years that I've tried to stay conscious of it I'm sure I've missed out on learning things from people because I didn't give them the time of day. I do my best to keep myself open to different people though, and I can say without a doubt that some of my best friends are people I didn't initially think I'd find common ground with.
Some of the most interesting people I've met(or maybe just observed with curiosity) remain mostly anonymous characters in my mind that I might as well have read about in a story. Train hopping punks from shows at the Bonezone or 9 North.... Actors and artists from Richmond's community at parties my parents hosted when I was just a kid... Bostonians I can't explain(if you've ever been, you know what I mean), bike punks at Best Friends Days, Slaughteramas, Polo games, etc..., Soldiers in my National Guard units, and of course all those folks I've interacted with in my travels both near and far.
I love San Diego as a city and I love it even more because it is incredibly diverse and it's all new to me. I have been having a blast meeting new people and seeing how different the cultures out here are from the same ones back East.
This whole experience thus far has been nothing short of exciting.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
ok ok ok ok ok
heres whats up right now...
actually nevermind. i don't feel like recapping a bunch of boring, uninteresting things that I've been dealing with because chances are, you the reader have similar issues on your mind and don't give a rat's behind about mine! can't blame ya.
SO WITH THAT SAID LET US TAKE A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF EXITING THINGS!!!
Beth's birthday is coming up and I'm going to go ahead and say that Thursday, April 30th(her ACTUAL birthday) will be the night of the cookout!
Plans and Timelines to follow in the next few days. BE STOKED!
I have orientation with the electrician's union on Thursday. I'm pretty nervous about that but in a good way. Man, if I get an apprenticeship I am going to be very very excited. Fo real fo real. But either way, things oughta keep workin out(or at least that's what I've been told. and it's worked out so far!)
I wish I had a million dollars.
stew on it
actually nevermind. i don't feel like recapping a bunch of boring, uninteresting things that I've been dealing with because chances are, you the reader have similar issues on your mind and don't give a rat's behind about mine! can't blame ya.
SO WITH THAT SAID LET US TAKE A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF EXITING THINGS!!!
Beth's birthday is coming up and I'm going to go ahead and say that Thursday, April 30th(her ACTUAL birthday) will be the night of the cookout!
Plans and Timelines to follow in the next few days. BE STOKED!
I have orientation with the electrician's union on Thursday. I'm pretty nervous about that but in a good way. Man, if I get an apprenticeship I am going to be very very excited. Fo real fo real. But either way, things oughta keep workin out(or at least that's what I've been told. and it's worked out so far!)
I wish I had a million dollars.
stew on it
Monday, April 13, 2009
something weird has happened...
i'm not sure wtf is going on but i seem to have been paid money from the army that i don't believe i earned. i'm going to make some phone calls tomorrow to get details, but hopefully this is some sort of pleasant surprise. On the other hand, they took out $20 for an unspecified "debt". Wow, I hope I get some answers....
SWEET
ok easter weekend went like this- chilled friday with a walk at Pacific Beach with Brandon including a visit to Gohar at Buffalo Exchange and Mike at Music Trader, then of course mr frosty. went back to boen and kate's for some more wii action, complimented by some frozen pizza from albertsons. Saturday- woke up and did some laundry and a little spring cleaning, then rolled up to Oceanside with Beth to her aunt and uncles place where we hopped in their truck and continued up to Palm Springs to her g-parents house for some birthday/easter festivities.
Saturday night was a gnarly ham/cheesey potato/cake feast and then nothing would do but we play a game of Dominos. We started watching The Outlaw Josie Wales on big mike's advice. It was pretty good, but I realized about half way through that I actually had seen it. We soon retired to our quarters for some reading and sleeping.
Sunday morning- caught a service at the grandparents church, apparently their congregation had exploded with the development of the area's neighborhoods so they have a brand new sanctuary that was pretty nice. There was a decent string and percussion ensamble playing throughout the service. Afterwards the rest of the extended family came back up to the house and we had a really nice cookout(the weather was purrrrfect) good times. It was cool talking to beth's uncle mike because I had heard so much about him and he just came home from iraq. I'm under the impression there is a chance he might look into joining my unit, but I know he has a lot on his mind right now so who knows what will actually happen/ be available.
Today started nicely. I took a shower and read a bunch, complete with a bowl of cereal and cup of coffee. The weather is once again beautiful (as always!) and i just got back from the hardware store where I got some Jalapeno and Basil seeds. I'm kind of reserved about the whole "starting" seeds thing, 1) beacuse it takes so damn long and 2) because i'd rather not worry about all the what-ifs that seem to go into that nonsense, but the only option available at the time was seeds so...I just put em in.
I'm about to run up to the post office to see what this Certified Letter waiting for me is. Hopefully good news! I hate car insurance man. Now my old company is screwing up by not faxing my past info to esurance but for some reason every time i talk to them they assure my the faxes have been sent. UGH! you suck! i will be damned if i ever throw my life into the world of insurance. it's fields of business like that that make me want to believe in a satan. i hope my plans work out in the end and everything i do in life ends up costing them a fortune. motha lickas!!
ok so i need to go the the grocery and get some milk, then the post office, then I'm going to do some more work on my math tests and find some other things I need to get done. WORD!
Saturday night was a gnarly ham/cheesey potato/cake feast and then nothing would do but we play a game of Dominos. We started watching The Outlaw Josie Wales on big mike's advice. It was pretty good, but I realized about half way through that I actually had seen it. We soon retired to our quarters for some reading and sleeping.
Sunday morning- caught a service at the grandparents church, apparently their congregation had exploded with the development of the area's neighborhoods so they have a brand new sanctuary that was pretty nice. There was a decent string and percussion ensamble playing throughout the service. Afterwards the rest of the extended family came back up to the house and we had a really nice cookout(the weather was purrrrfect) good times. It was cool talking to beth's uncle mike because I had heard so much about him and he just came home from iraq. I'm under the impression there is a chance he might look into joining my unit, but I know he has a lot on his mind right now so who knows what will actually happen/ be available.
Today started nicely. I took a shower and read a bunch, complete with a bowl of cereal and cup of coffee. The weather is once again beautiful (as always!) and i just got back from the hardware store where I got some Jalapeno and Basil seeds. I'm kind of reserved about the whole "starting" seeds thing, 1) beacuse it takes so damn long and 2) because i'd rather not worry about all the what-ifs that seem to go into that nonsense, but the only option available at the time was seeds so...I just put em in.
I'm about to run up to the post office to see what this Certified Letter waiting for me is. Hopefully good news! I hate car insurance man. Now my old company is screwing up by not faxing my past info to esurance but for some reason every time i talk to them they assure my the faxes have been sent. UGH! you suck! i will be damned if i ever throw my life into the world of insurance. it's fields of business like that that make me want to believe in a satan. i hope my plans work out in the end and everything i do in life ends up costing them a fortune. motha lickas!!
ok so i need to go the the grocery and get some milk, then the post office, then I'm going to do some more work on my math tests and find some other things I need to get done. WORD!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
oh tay
about an hour after i posted that first blog brandon came over with his camera. we swung by boen and kate's place to feed The Professor and plan a night of Wii gaming, then continued on to Balboa Park to take some pictures. I haven't uploaded mine yet, but I'm sure Brandon got some sweet ones. Dude rules behind the camera.
then we went and got some Gyros at Alexi's Greek Cafe on 5th and then met up with a bunch of peeps at Mama's Bakery for some bangin Arabic coffee.
YUM YUM YUM
then we went and got some Gyros at Alexi's Greek Cafe on 5th and then met up with a bunch of peeps at Mama's Bakery for some bangin Arabic coffee.
YUM YUM YUM
lettuce see
well, of course monday we had dinner at pokez with everybody. i got some stuff done around the house.
tuesday i got some more stuff done, just about finished with my sheetmetal apprenticeship application!
we ate dinner at Dao Sun with Mike, Aaron, Sam, and Joe. Beth and I hadn't been there yet but it was some pretty fine Vietnamese food and, not unlike pokez, seemed to be another meeting place restaurant as at least two groups of either mike, joe, aaron, or sam's friends were feasting there. i think i like vo's cafe a bit more, but this place was definitely good.
today i continued with some more of my "organizing my music on my external harddrive" project. wow, it has taken a long time and will continue to take a long time for a long time now. especially as i keep adding music. yikes! i guess that isnt a bad thing though. i've been fooling around with my keyboard some more and have some decent stuff in the works. def still early stages though.
what else what else what else.... being unemployed stinks. a lot. wahh. i am going to start looking for other jobs just in case neither apprenticeships work out. I am meeting up with mike and some of his friends to go to this apparently outstanding coffee place up on el cajon blvd in a little while. stoked on caffeine!
I've started working out more which rules and feelings great again. beth and i are talking about going camping on catalina island for Easter!! It's either that, go to Brandon's family's party, or catch a ride with Beth's aunt and uncle up to the desert to visit her g-rents.
i love how our neighborhood's library has morrissey, smashing pumpkins, the beatles, elton john, the ramones, etc etc on cd for my checking out pleasure. good times.
tuesday i got some more stuff done, just about finished with my sheetmetal apprenticeship application!
we ate dinner at Dao Sun with Mike, Aaron, Sam, and Joe. Beth and I hadn't been there yet but it was some pretty fine Vietnamese food and, not unlike pokez, seemed to be another meeting place restaurant as at least two groups of either mike, joe, aaron, or sam's friends were feasting there. i think i like vo's cafe a bit more, but this place was definitely good.
today i continued with some more of my "organizing my music on my external harddrive" project. wow, it has taken a long time and will continue to take a long time for a long time now. especially as i keep adding music. yikes! i guess that isnt a bad thing though. i've been fooling around with my keyboard some more and have some decent stuff in the works. def still early stages though.
what else what else what else.... being unemployed stinks. a lot. wahh. i am going to start looking for other jobs just in case neither apprenticeships work out. I am meeting up with mike and some of his friends to go to this apparently outstanding coffee place up on el cajon blvd in a little while. stoked on caffeine!
I've started working out more which rules and feelings great again. beth and i are talking about going camping on catalina island for Easter!! It's either that, go to Brandon's family's party, or catch a ride with Beth's aunt and uncle up to the desert to visit her g-rents.
i love how our neighborhood's library has morrissey, smashing pumpkins, the beatles, elton john, the ramones, etc etc on cd for my checking out pleasure. good times.
Monday, April 6, 2009
If you follow my Twitter, you already know
Yesterday was pretty nice. Beth and I met up with Mike, Joe, and Emily in the morning and went over the Hillcrest Farmers Market. I love how there are multiple Farmer's Markets every day of the week in different sections of town here. Best city ever. So we got the good shit as usual, bread...hummus....veggies, etc. and then swung by their place with Joe's truck to move a dresser back to our place (Sweet!!)
After this, Beth and I met up with Brandon and Tim and went down to Pacific Beach again for another long bike ride. We ended up in Music Trader hanging out with Mike (who was working by this point) and I got a sweet 3 disc Genesis collection while Brandon picked up a sweet 4 disc Bowie comp. They have so much good music there. I can't even look through the indie/hardcore/punk sections without having an aneurysm. So tight. After all this, we retired to Brandon's garage for a sick cook out including fresh corn from Henry's.
Damn it I love the West Coast. no regrets. ever.
ALSO! I got a nice message from my friend Sue from NC who now lives in Washington state!! I met her and some guys she was in Richmond with for BFD last summer. Definitely good to hear that she is well and enjoying the PNW as much as I'm enjoying the PSW.
ALSO ALSO! Robby Helwig and Julia Naismith(sp? who cares, it's only that for a little while longer anyway) are engaged!!! fucking shit!! I'm stoked for them. They are old pals of mine and both just really great people. I can't wait to see what kind of things their marriage will produce. It's almost weird, but not really. I like it. congratulations!!!
runnin errands runnin errands runnin errands
After this, Beth and I met up with Brandon and Tim and went down to Pacific Beach again for another long bike ride. We ended up in Music Trader hanging out with Mike (who was working by this point) and I got a sweet 3 disc Genesis collection while Brandon picked up a sweet 4 disc Bowie comp. They have so much good music there. I can't even look through the indie/hardcore/punk sections without having an aneurysm. So tight. After all this, we retired to Brandon's garage for a sick cook out including fresh corn from Henry's.
Damn it I love the West Coast. no regrets. ever.
ALSO! I got a nice message from my friend Sue from NC who now lives in Washington state!! I met her and some guys she was in Richmond with for BFD last summer. Definitely good to hear that she is well and enjoying the PNW as much as I'm enjoying the PSW.
ALSO ALSO! Robby Helwig and Julia Naismith(sp? who cares, it's only that for a little while longer anyway) are engaged!!! fucking shit!! I'm stoked for them. They are old pals of mine and both just really great people. I can't wait to see what kind of things their marriage will produce. It's almost weird, but not really. I like it. congratulations!!!
runnin errands runnin errands runnin errands
Sunday, April 5, 2009
i wish people would comment more on my BLOG
but then again, i don't often comment on other's blogs, so it's really not polite for me to demand more.
This past week/weekend has been pretty terrific. I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird again and enjoy it just as much as I did years ago when I first read it.
I got a beach cruiser and have convinced a decent number of my friends that this summer we need should start two gangs: the Beach Bruisers (all male) and the Bitch Cruisers (all female). Definitely stoked. We will be terrorizing PB's board walk on the reg. Hopefully my asshole friends in Richmond aren't too cool to start their chapter. THIS IS ME LOOKING AT YOU WITH SQUINTY EYES!!!!!
Yesterday we FINALLY got over to the City Height's farmer's market and talked to the kids who run the free bike kitchen there. Always stoked to see people doing rad shit like that... I got some brake housing and exchanged numbers with one of the guys who was telling me about a group ride they are organizing for next Saturday. Maybe I'll be able to recruit some more Bruisers there. Hopefully they won't just think I'm a loser.
SPEAKING OF WHICH
apparently the thing to do around here is go on THEMED pub crawls. Yesterday we saw a big group of people dressed up like characters from REVENGE OF THE NERDS and I lost my shit only to be informed that it wasn't really THAT big of a deal. Man, what a good time.
AND SHOOK ONES AND HAVE HEART PLAYED ON FRIDAY AND DUH THAT WAS AWESOME. CAMADRE RULED AND PLAYED A SUICIDE FILE COVER
This past week/weekend has been pretty terrific. I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird again and enjoy it just as much as I did years ago when I first read it.
I got a beach cruiser and have convinced a decent number of my friends that this summer we need should start two gangs: the Beach Bruisers (all male) and the Bitch Cruisers (all female). Definitely stoked. We will be terrorizing PB's board walk on the reg. Hopefully my asshole friends in Richmond aren't too cool to start their chapter. THIS IS ME LOOKING AT YOU WITH SQUINTY EYES!!!!!
Yesterday we FINALLY got over to the City Height's farmer's market and talked to the kids who run the free bike kitchen there. Always stoked to see people doing rad shit like that... I got some brake housing and exchanged numbers with one of the guys who was telling me about a group ride they are organizing for next Saturday. Maybe I'll be able to recruit some more Bruisers there. Hopefully they won't just think I'm a loser.
SPEAKING OF WHICH
apparently the thing to do around here is go on THEMED pub crawls. Yesterday we saw a big group of people dressed up like characters from REVENGE OF THE NERDS and I lost my shit only to be informed that it wasn't really THAT big of a deal. Man, what a good time.
AND SHOOK ONES AND HAVE HEART PLAYED ON FRIDAY AND DUH THAT WAS AWESOME. CAMADRE RULED AND PLAYED A SUICIDE FILE COVER
Thursday, April 2, 2009
NORTH PARK PHOTOS
HEY! I just went on a long walk and took some pictures around the neighborhood. They're all flowers and architecture and nonsense of the like.
It was too annoying to post this many pics up on Blogger, so I just posted them to my Myspace and I'm going to give you a link to check them out.
ENJOY!!!
It was too annoying to post this many pics up on Blogger, so I just posted them to my Myspace and I'm going to give you a link to check them out.
ENJOY!!!
poems/writings
Okay, I'm going to post some of the stuff I found (some of them are weird enough to still be embarrassing even though I don't remember writing any of them nor what/who they might have been about) I don't have the exact dates but I'm pretty sure all are from Summer/Fall 2006...
PS- don't think I'm TOO big of a weirdo, I was drinking a lot and girlfriendless at the time. I don't identify with any of these emotions anymore!!
"bays"
When I found myself staring
across an open bay
with nothing but darkness to shadow the light
draining from my eyes
and memories no longer reminders
of anything i could ever hope to see again
something strikes my spine
harder than any physical pain
I had felt in the past
"document"
i just cant go sleep tonight
and tell myself its okay
breathing out as the world goes dark
showing everyone else
that ive spent one more day
wishing and not doing
thinking of everything i could have
maybe ill change tomorow
of course i wont
not unless i do it right now
and watch the sun come up again
able to think back on what ive done
and know deep down that
i can rest at ease
while the rest of the world wakes up to die
ill go to sleep feeling more alive
and tomrow night will be just the same
and ill remember this one in my dreams
"ft"
do you have any idea what i would give for a second in your mind. just to feel what kind of fucked up things you think and figure out if you try hard to ruin my day or if its just a punishment from God for something horrible i've done in the past. i have no idea how i let you take control of my dreams. i would do anything to have back just one second of that time you stole. playing me for the fool that i am, i just fall apart in your arms. there is nothing left for me to give but you still turn your back whenever i start to speak. i spilled my blood dying for you and you let me bleed. i'll spend the rest of your life haunting you into hatred. excuse me if this was just too forward for good taste.
"hh"
im thinking back on the day i wrote to myself
saying now it would be the future
and that things would be different
well now it seems like i was wrong
"hjdjhdjhdsakdasds"
thoughts determine what you want. actions determine what you get
"life an dlove"
i cant even say that im living in a dream
i used to know my feelings
i could describe them to a t
i knew what it was that made me sad
but i chose to dwell on it
and explore the emotion of mental defeat
i couldnt escape the typical
i couldnt get out of what i was taught
even though i thought i knew the feelings
i was still living out my dreams
but now im stuck in reality
where i hit the brick wall
of not being able to sleep
and turn these dreams into what i want
i cant find any comfot in the crazy thoughts
the answer escapes me.
i dont know the way out
but i still feel far from the pain
even though im walking down that road
trees overhead shadow my journey
shadow the sights
to make them just mine
because nobody will ever walk this path again
nobody will feel what i can feel and see what i see
but everyone thinks that
everyone knows
that its all for you
its all for someone else
why cant i find comfort in anyone else
i have my friends who im comfortable with
but its always an awkward silence when the girls come around
no i dont want to start over so i can ruin it again
i want to hurry home
heres what i wish
i could feel the pain and endure the hate and strive through the day
knowing that my heart is warm and my life exists in the a room without walls
with no worries except the pain of growing old'
i want to slow dance with you
in a dull living room with not much going on
maybe a window shade pulled down
maybe a few lamps burning in the corner
a starch dinner in our stomachs
and nothing else to worry about
excpet eachother
i want to know love
i want to feel the love
in such a way that i cant feel anything else
i cant feel anything else
i think think of anything else
i need nothing else
you are mine and i am all that you think about
we live for eachother and with eachother
but thats not real
why not i dont know i hate to give up faith
but i dont think it can work
"nono"
Yesterday I walked outside and everything was just okay
because everything was right in place
but now things are so much different
today things just arent what they seemed
so im wondering what exactly im supposed to think
and exactly what im supposed to feel
those assholes arent alive anymore to tell me how
how to live, how to be
im expecting the worst from a country of clones
and none of us were programed to think alone
we all picked our thoughts from the same bucket
and here they come now, all spilling out
and im left here to collect my feelings from
a bullshit world to tie in with my ventureless life
and you say they died for the cause
and you say youd die to have the chance
"sadldlkat"
forget your death
its over now
its all going to come together
i promised myself that i would tell myself when
i was getting to this point and id pull myself back
but my frineds, i admit that i cant do that
at least not alone
if everyhting is so much nicer when its effected by time
and if love is so much more meaningful
when its shared and not one side
"geramny"
ITS FUNNY HOW FAST A CRAPPY EXPERIENCE AT THE AIRPORT CAN CHANGE WHEN ALCOHOL IS INTRODUCED TO THE STORY
I'm listeing to Broadway musical's and getting sketched out by the old people next to me. I wonder if they realize I'm half cocked and listening to shit even they think is for dorks. I can feel their eyes pouring another shot of scotch into my Schwepps Bitter Lemon. I mean, come on, this is OBVIOUSLY a dollar store mixer. Nobody has THIS bad taste in lemonade. I'm pretty sure it looks a lot darker than it should. I'm trying to be covert, but only half of it is what the label claims. Haha, yeah blow your nose at my you old hen. I wonder if I should slow it down or eat something before my flight. It doesnt even board for another 2 hours. Eventually I'll have to go through some sort of customs. Hmm, i should probably scope that out before I go through. I'm going to need to ditch the bottle, but I wonder if i can bring my whiskey sour. We'll take this one step at a time. 8 hours of flight time. yuck. I'm so ready to relax at home for a bit. I won't bore you too much with this anymore. see yaaa
PS- don't think I'm TOO big of a weirdo, I was drinking a lot and girlfriendless at the time. I don't identify with any of these emotions anymore!!
"bays"
When I found myself staring
across an open bay
with nothing but darkness to shadow the light
draining from my eyes
and memories no longer reminders
of anything i could ever hope to see again
something strikes my spine
harder than any physical pain
I had felt in the past
"document"
i just cant go sleep tonight
and tell myself its okay
breathing out as the world goes dark
showing everyone else
that ive spent one more day
wishing and not doing
thinking of everything i could have
maybe ill change tomorow
of course i wont
not unless i do it right now
and watch the sun come up again
able to think back on what ive done
and know deep down that
i can rest at ease
while the rest of the world wakes up to die
ill go to sleep feeling more alive
and tomrow night will be just the same
and ill remember this one in my dreams
"ft"
do you have any idea what i would give for a second in your mind. just to feel what kind of fucked up things you think and figure out if you try hard to ruin my day or if its just a punishment from God for something horrible i've done in the past. i have no idea how i let you take control of my dreams. i would do anything to have back just one second of that time you stole. playing me for the fool that i am, i just fall apart in your arms. there is nothing left for me to give but you still turn your back whenever i start to speak. i spilled my blood dying for you and you let me bleed. i'll spend the rest of your life haunting you into hatred. excuse me if this was just too forward for good taste.
"hh"
im thinking back on the day i wrote to myself
saying now it would be the future
and that things would be different
well now it seems like i was wrong
"hjdjhdjhdsakdasds"
thoughts determine what you want. actions determine what you get
"life an dlove"
i cant even say that im living in a dream
i used to know my feelings
i could describe them to a t
i knew what it was that made me sad
but i chose to dwell on it
and explore the emotion of mental defeat
i couldnt escape the typical
i couldnt get out of what i was taught
even though i thought i knew the feelings
i was still living out my dreams
but now im stuck in reality
where i hit the brick wall
of not being able to sleep
and turn these dreams into what i want
i cant find any comfot in the crazy thoughts
the answer escapes me.
i dont know the way out
but i still feel far from the pain
even though im walking down that road
trees overhead shadow my journey
shadow the sights
to make them just mine
because nobody will ever walk this path again
nobody will feel what i can feel and see what i see
but everyone thinks that
everyone knows
that its all for you
its all for someone else
why cant i find comfort in anyone else
i have my friends who im comfortable with
but its always an awkward silence when the girls come around
no i dont want to start over so i can ruin it again
i want to hurry home
heres what i wish
i could feel the pain and endure the hate and strive through the day
knowing that my heart is warm and my life exists in the a room without walls
with no worries except the pain of growing old'
i want to slow dance with you
in a dull living room with not much going on
maybe a window shade pulled down
maybe a few lamps burning in the corner
a starch dinner in our stomachs
and nothing else to worry about
excpet eachother
i want to know love
i want to feel the love
in such a way that i cant feel anything else
i cant feel anything else
i think think of anything else
i need nothing else
you are mine and i am all that you think about
we live for eachother and with eachother
but thats not real
why not i dont know i hate to give up faith
but i dont think it can work
"nono"
Yesterday I walked outside and everything was just okay
because everything was right in place
but now things are so much different
today things just arent what they seemed
so im wondering what exactly im supposed to think
and exactly what im supposed to feel
those assholes arent alive anymore to tell me how
how to live, how to be
im expecting the worst from a country of clones
and none of us were programed to think alone
we all picked our thoughts from the same bucket
and here they come now, all spilling out
and im left here to collect my feelings from
a bullshit world to tie in with my ventureless life
and you say they died for the cause
and you say youd die to have the chance
"sadldlkat"
forget your death
its over now
its all going to come together
i promised myself that i would tell myself when
i was getting to this point and id pull myself back
but my frineds, i admit that i cant do that
at least not alone
if everyhting is so much nicer when its effected by time
and if love is so much more meaningful
when its shared and not one side
"geramny"
ITS FUNNY HOW FAST A CRAPPY EXPERIENCE AT THE AIRPORT CAN CHANGE WHEN ALCOHOL IS INTRODUCED TO THE STORY
I'm listeing to Broadway musical's and getting sketched out by the old people next to me. I wonder if they realize I'm half cocked and listening to shit even they think is for dorks. I can feel their eyes pouring another shot of scotch into my Schwepps Bitter Lemon. I mean, come on, this is OBVIOUSLY a dollar store mixer. Nobody has THIS bad taste in lemonade. I'm pretty sure it looks a lot darker than it should. I'm trying to be covert, but only half of it is what the label claims. Haha, yeah blow your nose at my you old hen. I wonder if I should slow it down or eat something before my flight. It doesnt even board for another 2 hours. Eventually I'll have to go through some sort of customs. Hmm, i should probably scope that out before I go through. I'm going to need to ditch the bottle, but I wonder if i can bring my whiskey sour. We'll take this one step at a time. 8 hours of flight time. yuck. I'm so ready to relax at home for a bit. I won't bore you too much with this anymore. see yaaa
So.....
Have you ever found old letters or prose or poetry that you wrote? I just did. There are about 2 dozen finished and unfinished poems/lyrics/whatever that I wrote between the ages of 19 and 20 that I stored deep on my hard drive and just located. I'm assuming that a good 90% of them were written when I was drunk because the titles are like "sadas" and "mecge" (although somehow my spelling inside the documents seems to be pretty spot on). Some of them are interesting, some are scary, all are emotional. I can tell the ones that even scared me at the time because they are labeled "Scary" or "wow, scary" and those ones are definitely kind of fucked up. Anyways, I kind of want to post them on here but I'm not sure if anyone wants to read them. so let me know if you want to and I will!!
I used to have pages and pages of journal entries, lyrics, etc stuffed in various drawers around my room...I think I'll try to locate those next time I'm home
I used to have pages and pages of journal entries, lyrics, etc stuffed in various drawers around my room...I think I'll try to locate those next time I'm home
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
.......AHHHHHHH!!!
I had my interview with the local electrician union board of directors today. It was nothing short of terrifying. I entered a conference room full of about 10-12 middle aged men who almost instantly began firing questions regarding my experiences and history as well as the standard "why do you want to do this...". I had been totally pumping myself up and I answered every question with motivation and intelligence, not forgetting a single "yes sir" or "no sir". I thanked them for their time at the end of the 10 minute ordeal and was told that I would receive a letter within the next 2 weeks notifying me of my acceptance or rejection into the apprenticeship program.
I think there were about 150 interviewees and 20 positions, so..........
I, like half of the others, wore a dress shirt, nice slacks, and a tie. The other half of the guys were in collared shirts and jeans, so I think I might have a little leg up on them.
AHH! i don't know though, I don't have any experience in this field so I just really really hope I get a slot.
They also gave me a copy of the pay scale that goes through each step of the 5 year program and I about shit when I saw that after 5 years I would be making $50 PER HOUR. that is a lot of money. that is a LOT of money. WOW I HOPE I GET THIS!!!
I think there were about 150 interviewees and 20 positions, so..........
I, like half of the others, wore a dress shirt, nice slacks, and a tie. The other half of the guys were in collared shirts and jeans, so I think I might have a little leg up on them.
AHH! i don't know though, I don't have any experience in this field so I just really really hope I get a slot.
They also gave me a copy of the pay scale that goes through each step of the 5 year program and I about shit when I saw that after 5 years I would be making $50 PER HOUR. that is a lot of money. that is a LOT of money. WOW I HOPE I GET THIS!!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
realization
Every negative thought I have, every negative action, is not only hurting me as an individual, but also the world around me by wasting moments that I could be doing something positive and productive. I think about peace and love a lot, but I sure don't put those thoughts into action enough.
THIS IS ME HUGGING YOU!
THIS IS ME HUGGING YOU!
John Mellencamp
I hate John "Cougar' Mellencamp as much as the next guy... OR SO I THOUGHT!
Wow, was I wrong about about him. This blog will just go to show how much stereotyping and assuming negatively effects us when we're least expecting it.
What do you think of when you hear John Mellencamp? Good ol boy, church attendin, wanna be cowboys? The same things that come to mind when you think of Chevy trucks and hometown football heros ("Jack and Diane" reference)?
Well, thats what I thought of at least! BUT I WAS WRONG!
What I learned today on yet another beautiful block of NPR listening breaks every stereotype I had for both Mellencamp and his followers. I want to keep emphasizing how wrong I was about this so that maybe I won't be so quick to judge in the future, even on things that "just HAVE to be true".
Mellencamp is an anti-prejudice, anti-organized religion, very liberal, humble, and open minded gentlemen. He is the first to admit that he altered and sugar coated his music in the 80's, like his most popular song "Jack and Diane" from being about being accepting of interracial relationships(In the first version of the song, Jack was black), to just being about "American nostalgia".
He began his music career in cover bands playing everything from Dylan to Iggy Pop (He even lived in London from 77-78 and was at least aware of the punk scene at the time) Through the interview he made it absolutely clear that his main pulse has always been for Folk music. He went on to show how all of his songs are truly Folk when played correctly, but in order to make a career as a musician he had to cater to the mainstream's musical tastes.
I'm going to get kind of off topic here by leaving John Mellencamp behind (wikipedia him if you want to learn more), and go back to my overall thought with this entry... No matter what you THINK you know about someone, you could ALWAYS be wrong, and at the end of the day when you pass unsupported judgements on them you have a 50% of being right, but also a 50% chance of being a total pawn to image and another sheep in the media's herd.
Wow, was I wrong about about him. This blog will just go to show how much stereotyping and assuming negatively effects us when we're least expecting it.
What do you think of when you hear John Mellencamp? Good ol boy, church attendin, wanna be cowboys? The same things that come to mind when you think of Chevy trucks and hometown football heros ("Jack and Diane" reference)?
Well, thats what I thought of at least! BUT I WAS WRONG!
What I learned today on yet another beautiful block of NPR listening breaks every stereotype I had for both Mellencamp and his followers. I want to keep emphasizing how wrong I was about this so that maybe I won't be so quick to judge in the future, even on things that "just HAVE to be true".
Mellencamp is an anti-prejudice, anti-organized religion, very liberal, humble, and open minded gentlemen. He is the first to admit that he altered and sugar coated his music in the 80's, like his most popular song "Jack and Diane" from being about being accepting of interracial relationships(In the first version of the song, Jack was black), to just being about "American nostalgia".
He began his music career in cover bands playing everything from Dylan to Iggy Pop (He even lived in London from 77-78 and was at least aware of the punk scene at the time) Through the interview he made it absolutely clear that his main pulse has always been for Folk music. He went on to show how all of his songs are truly Folk when played correctly, but in order to make a career as a musician he had to cater to the mainstream's musical tastes.
I'm going to get kind of off topic here by leaving John Mellencamp behind (wikipedia him if you want to learn more), and go back to my overall thought with this entry... No matter what you THINK you know about someone, you could ALWAYS be wrong, and at the end of the day when you pass unsupported judgements on them you have a 50% of being right, but also a 50% chance of being a total pawn to image and another sheep in the media's herd.
Change Is a Sound
So on the drive home from work yesterday I was listening to Strike Anywhere. It has been quite a while since the last time I kick started my mind with the social and political ideology that this band's lyrics recommend, so OF COURSE i find myself needing to blog about it now.
Strike Anywhere was the first band to change my life. I started listening to them in 2000 when I was a 13 year old 8th grader in a family being ripped apart by divorce. Lets just say I had a lot of unanswered questions and pent up emotions on my mind. I couldn't tell you the day or place that my sister introduced me to the Chorus Of One EP, but I can tell you that I was NOT instantly hooked. My first reaction was somewhere between A) Holy shit, this cd is fucking crazy. and B) well, if Virginia likes it then it's cool, so i do too.
It didn't take much longer after that initial shock for me to warm up to the speed and energy of the songs. I had a general idea of what the lyrics were about, though I didn't really understand them or many of the references they were making. I did know one thing though... none of the kids at my middle school were aware of this band, so they were mine, mine, and mine. Finally, an identity! Sure I had convenient "school-only friends" who were into weird ska and mainstream punk bands and wore some goofy shit, but my parents didnt let me go to school with t-shirts or jeans, so at that time I, too, was wearing "goofy shit".
I could write a short novel about the first time I saw them play or all the times I have seen them both in Richmond and out of state, but I think you have the general concept. Let's skip back into the present though and see where the past 9 years have led me.
Made obvious by my lifestyle today, I don't agree with 100% of the message that S.A.'s lyrics bring. I do agree with a bunch of them though, and I definitely enjoy the food for thought that the other parts give me. I was thinking back over the past 9 years and wondering how I got to where I was in life right now. I don't mean this in a bad way at all, I mean shit my life fucking rules these days. I'm proud of who I am and what I've accomplished (for the most part) and I'm happy over all so in my book that is success. I just wish I was a little bit more involved with some things. I could never wait to be older because then people would take me seriously and I could do things that changed the world, or other people's lives. I wanted to make a stamp on the environment around me that would push something or someone in a better direction. I'm not saying that I didn't do any of these things or that I've gone in the other direction or anything, but I definitely haven't lived up to my own expectations.
Over the next couple days, weeks, months, whatever... I'm going to try to evaluate what I'm about now, and what I wanted myself to be about when I was younger. Then I'm going to consider what I will have wanted myself to be about once I'm too old to do it again, and hopefully I'll find a middle ground somewhere to get myself back on the "righteous" path that I thought I had laid out for my life.
Maybe you'll notice this change, maybe you won't. I guess we'll see...
Strike Anywhere was the first band to change my life. I started listening to them in 2000 when I was a 13 year old 8th grader in a family being ripped apart by divorce. Lets just say I had a lot of unanswered questions and pent up emotions on my mind. I couldn't tell you the day or place that my sister introduced me to the Chorus Of One EP, but I can tell you that I was NOT instantly hooked. My first reaction was somewhere between A) Holy shit, this cd is fucking crazy. and B) well, if Virginia likes it then it's cool, so i do too.
It didn't take much longer after that initial shock for me to warm up to the speed and energy of the songs. I had a general idea of what the lyrics were about, though I didn't really understand them or many of the references they were making. I did know one thing though... none of the kids at my middle school were aware of this band, so they were mine, mine, and mine. Finally, an identity! Sure I had convenient "school-only friends" who were into weird ska and mainstream punk bands and wore some goofy shit, but my parents didnt let me go to school with t-shirts or jeans, so at that time I, too, was wearing "goofy shit".
I could write a short novel about the first time I saw them play or all the times I have seen them both in Richmond and out of state, but I think you have the general concept. Let's skip back into the present though and see where the past 9 years have led me.
Made obvious by my lifestyle today, I don't agree with 100% of the message that S.A.'s lyrics bring. I do agree with a bunch of them though, and I definitely enjoy the food for thought that the other parts give me. I was thinking back over the past 9 years and wondering how I got to where I was in life right now. I don't mean this in a bad way at all, I mean shit my life fucking rules these days. I'm proud of who I am and what I've accomplished (for the most part) and I'm happy over all so in my book that is success. I just wish I was a little bit more involved with some things. I could never wait to be older because then people would take me seriously and I could do things that changed the world, or other people's lives. I wanted to make a stamp on the environment around me that would push something or someone in a better direction. I'm not saying that I didn't do any of these things or that I've gone in the other direction or anything, but I definitely haven't lived up to my own expectations.
Over the next couple days, weeks, months, whatever... I'm going to try to evaluate what I'm about now, and what I wanted myself to be about when I was younger. Then I'm going to consider what I will have wanted myself to be about once I'm too old to do it again, and hopefully I'll find a middle ground somewhere to get myself back on the "righteous" path that I thought I had laid out for my life.
Maybe you'll notice this change, maybe you won't. I guess we'll see...
Monday, March 23, 2009
I got crop dusted on the highway today
I don't even know if that is possible, but it definitely happened.
I'm starting a new band called The Bento Boxes and we're looking for members
I'm starting two beach cruiser gangs, the male side is called the Beach Bruisers.
The female side is called the Bitch Cruisers. email me for more information on joining.
After these past few months of not touching that dial, i don't think i'll ever stop listening to NPR in the car. It's completely reinvented my concept of what Radio should be. I should've been listening throughout the cross country move. oh well. now i know.
i seriously got crop dusted on the highway. it was terrible.
does anyone want to start a mildly half asses comedy/acting troupe? I kinda do.
I can't believe the weather in california.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MUSTARD PLANTS GROW ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY MEDIANS. i want to stop everytime i see a patch and high five somebody. mustard is for winners.
I'm starting a new band called The Bento Boxes and we're looking for members
I'm starting two beach cruiser gangs, the male side is called the Beach Bruisers.
The female side is called the Bitch Cruisers. email me for more information on joining.
After these past few months of not touching that dial, i don't think i'll ever stop listening to NPR in the car. It's completely reinvented my concept of what Radio should be. I should've been listening throughout the cross country move. oh well. now i know.
i seriously got crop dusted on the highway. it was terrible.
does anyone want to start a mildly half asses comedy/acting troupe? I kinda do.
I can't believe the weather in california.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MUSTARD PLANTS GROW ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY MEDIANS. i want to stop everytime i see a patch and high five somebody. mustard is for winners.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
ok so
here we are again, sunday morning. time for brunch. this week we'll be going with Andy and his girlfriend whos visiting from....duh! richmond. She just graduated from VCU in December so perhaps she will be the next addition to our troop of former richmonders now residing in san diego? i'm merely speculating here.
Anyways, this weekend was really nice. we just chilled a lot and rested and were kinda lazy. we rebuilt the window box EVEN better than it was before. unfortunately our last one got (i hesitate to use the word stolen, but...) taken by the grounds keeper in an effort to clean up our back alley-ish space. it's weird. i dont know. but anyways, the new, bigger, better loft is in place so as soon as we start our seeds and get them rockin, they will be gracing our cooking with much flavor.
riding bikes riding bikes riding bikes.
brunch brunch brunch
Anyways, this weekend was really nice. we just chilled a lot and rested and were kinda lazy. we rebuilt the window box EVEN better than it was before. unfortunately our last one got (i hesitate to use the word stolen, but...) taken by the grounds keeper in an effort to clean up our back alley-ish space. it's weird. i dont know. but anyways, the new, bigger, better loft is in place so as soon as we start our seeds and get them rockin, they will be gracing our cooking with much flavor.
riding bikes riding bikes riding bikes.
brunch brunch brunch
Friday, March 20, 2009
Hm
I'm so glad that things are finally starting to slow down. and by things I mean
THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO
deal with car insurance, health insurance, business trips(STILL WEIRD!), army crap, ETC ETC ETC
but finally I have the end in my sights....well, the end of my current list of stressful things I have to do. I can't wait for my interview with the electricians in April or my placement test with the Sheet Metal/welders. It's really great thinking about things going well. Growing up never fails to annoy me, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.
this weekend will be totally chill. replanting our herb window box and adding another plant (i think rosemary?). hope the basil leaves are bigger this time....
THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO
deal with car insurance, health insurance, business trips(STILL WEIRD!), army crap, ETC ETC ETC
but finally I have the end in my sights....well, the end of my current list of stressful things I have to do. I can't wait for my interview with the electricians in April or my placement test with the Sheet Metal/welders. It's really great thinking about things going well. Growing up never fails to annoy me, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.
this weekend will be totally chill. replanting our herb window box and adding another plant (i think rosemary?). hope the basil leaves are bigger this time....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
dinner last night
so we went to Benihana for dinner last night (It's like a more casual Kabuto's). The meal was incredible, the chef was extraordinary, and our company at the table was just top notch.
One of these statements is a lie.
I got the Hibachi Scallops with the usual grilled vegetables and fried rice. I don't remember the last time I had fried rice at all, let alone any that tasted THAT good. Of course the scallops were just totally succulent morsels of deliciousness.
The funny thing about San Diego is that you can go to a Japanese Steakhouse and still have Latino chefs. DON'T LAUGH TOO HARD THOUGH!!! For last night I witnessed a better show than any true Japanese chef has ever shown me. Maybe it has just been so long that I forgot all the tricks and gags, but this guy had a seemingly endless amount of antics that had me dying with laughter.
Ok, now for the lie. The family sitting across from us was.... incredible. I don't want to get too mean with my descriptions, so I'll keep the possibly funniest parts to myself, but one of the guys was possibly Dick Van Dyke or AT LEAST his twin brother. The resemblance was uncanny and he ate a "well done" steak and had VANILLA icecream(out of a choice of red bean, green tea, or vanillla) COME ON BUDDY. WHAT THE FUCK.
I might be able to find a picture online.
One of these statements is a lie.
I got the Hibachi Scallops with the usual grilled vegetables and fried rice. I don't remember the last time I had fried rice at all, let alone any that tasted THAT good. Of course the scallops were just totally succulent morsels of deliciousness.
The funny thing about San Diego is that you can go to a Japanese Steakhouse and still have Latino chefs. DON'T LAUGH TOO HARD THOUGH!!! For last night I witnessed a better show than any true Japanese chef has ever shown me. Maybe it has just been so long that I forgot all the tricks and gags, but this guy had a seemingly endless amount of antics that had me dying with laughter.
Ok, now for the lie. The family sitting across from us was.... incredible. I don't want to get too mean with my descriptions, so I'll keep the possibly funniest parts to myself, but one of the guys was possibly Dick Van Dyke or AT LEAST his twin brother. The resemblance was uncanny and he ate a "well done" steak and had VANILLA icecream(out of a choice of red bean, green tea, or vanillla) COME ON BUDDY. WHAT THE FUCK.
I might be able to find a picture online.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
yay
yay today is beth and i's one year anniversary. pretty stoked on some Japanese Steak House action tonight.
more later
more later
Monday, March 16, 2009
alright already!
Ok, FINALLY.
If anyone even reads this thing anymore....
The past few weeks have been nonstop 100 mph. People coming and going, introducing old friends to new friends, showing off the West Coast to the East Coasters. It's been a blast and I'm more than stoked for everybody who came out here and I hope we did a good job hosting said friends' vacations. Now, the time has come to rest!
This week will be pretty chill. Beth and I's 1 year is tomorrow!!!
Last night was pretty cool, Swamp Thing and Naysayer were on tour out in CA all week and their last show was here last night so I got to catch up with even MORE old friends, including singing Jodie by Blink 182 as an intro to ST's set (everyone went nuts, it ruled).
Seriously, I'm not even going to try to explain everything that's been going on since the last real update I put. Read our house guest book if you want some more info!
I'm so stoked on Spring and I'm so stoked on Summer and I can't wait for August. I've been working a ton and it kind of sucks but at least it's income. Hopefully my employment will be changing in a few weeks though(fingers crossed).
Yeah, once again though, I'm really tired. I can't believe we've lived here for almost 6 months now. The time has FLOWN. seriously.
I really hope my sister gets in the Brand Center at VCU this Fall for grad school, but if she doesn't I'm under the impression that she is moving out here so OF COURSE that idea makes me uber pumped too.
Drew and Lauren's wedding is going to be so much fun. I seriously can't wait for that week.
Ok now that I'm KIND OF caught up on this long overdue post I'm going to leave saying SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!
If anyone even reads this thing anymore....
The past few weeks have been nonstop 100 mph. People coming and going, introducing old friends to new friends, showing off the West Coast to the East Coasters. It's been a blast and I'm more than stoked for everybody who came out here and I hope we did a good job hosting said friends' vacations. Now, the time has come to rest!
This week will be pretty chill. Beth and I's 1 year is tomorrow!!!
Last night was pretty cool, Swamp Thing and Naysayer were on tour out in CA all week and their last show was here last night so I got to catch up with even MORE old friends, including singing Jodie by Blink 182 as an intro to ST's set (everyone went nuts, it ruled).
Seriously, I'm not even going to try to explain everything that's been going on since the last real update I put. Read our house guest book if you want some more info!
I'm so stoked on Spring and I'm so stoked on Summer and I can't wait for August. I've been working a ton and it kind of sucks but at least it's income. Hopefully my employment will be changing in a few weeks though(fingers crossed).
Yeah, once again though, I'm really tired. I can't believe we've lived here for almost 6 months now. The time has FLOWN. seriously.
I really hope my sister gets in the Brand Center at VCU this Fall for grad school, but if she doesn't I'm under the impression that she is moving out here so OF COURSE that idea makes me uber pumped too.
Drew and Lauren's wedding is going to be so much fun. I seriously can't wait for that week.
Ok now that I'm KIND OF caught up on this long overdue post I'm going to leave saying SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I'm sorry
heres another "sorry i haven't updated in a while, but it isn't quite time yet". I'm SO tired. ahhhhhh
Monday, February 2, 2009
Better than the last
Sorry about the last post. sometimes i just get fired up about that kind of stuff though. Hope this will be better
THIS WEEKEND!
Friday night we went to Chula Vista for Mel's graduation which was cool and then came back to our place for some beers before going to the Ruby Room. Beth, unbeknownst to the rest of us, was a bit too thirsty and we never actually made it to the bar, but I was hoping to get to sleep a little early anyway since I had been invited to go biking with Andy, Dennis, and Scott Saturday morning. First we went behind the Best Buy in CV where there is a GREAT bmx trail. The whole thing was way too big for me and since my health insurance doesn't kick in until March 1st, my balls were the sizes of peanuts. I rode around the little kickers that had been set up on the other side of the creek for a little while which was good because it helped me get a feel for my bike and the science of dirt jumps. I wish I had gotten into this sport 10 years ago!!! It was a blast just watching those dudes ride, especially Scott because he was navigating the line beautifully by the time we rolled out to Alpine for some mountain biking action.
I've never mountain biked before. I've seen some pictures and videos and I understood that it was a pretty extreme sport, but I didn't know how serious and no-room-for-posers that is was. I only ate shit once. I had a few other close calls, but I managed to get out with both myself and (thank god) dennis's bike intact. Andy went first and showed me the ropes down the mountain that we were riding, being nice enough to point out the safe route while he glided down rock faces and over small cliffs. The ride itself was full of beautiful California scenery which I tried to admire when I wasn't busy staring the Grim Reaper in the eyes. I had an awesome time and I would love to do it again, but maybe after getting a little better at riding BMX so I'm more comfortable with the whole "being in control" thing.
Yesterday was the Super Bowl. Beth made chili on Saturday and we brought it up to Alicia's parents condo in Oceanside for a rager. The majority of the crowd was over the age of sixty, but they seemed to be the same crowd my grandparents and their friends were in the sense that they partied the hardest. There was an overabundance of finger foods, all delicious, and over course we drank beer all afternoon. I like this whole "things happening in the afternoon rather than the evening" that the west coast provides. Waiting around until 6pm for the game to even START on the east coast was such a drag. This is the only way to do it. Oh, did I mention I wore t shirt and shorts all weekend?
THIS WEEKEND!
Friday night we went to Chula Vista for Mel's graduation which was cool and then came back to our place for some beers before going to the Ruby Room. Beth, unbeknownst to the rest of us, was a bit too thirsty and we never actually made it to the bar, but I was hoping to get to sleep a little early anyway since I had been invited to go biking with Andy, Dennis, and Scott Saturday morning. First we went behind the Best Buy in CV where there is a GREAT bmx trail. The whole thing was way too big for me and since my health insurance doesn't kick in until March 1st, my balls were the sizes of peanuts. I rode around the little kickers that had been set up on the other side of the creek for a little while which was good because it helped me get a feel for my bike and the science of dirt jumps. I wish I had gotten into this sport 10 years ago!!! It was a blast just watching those dudes ride, especially Scott because he was navigating the line beautifully by the time we rolled out to Alpine for some mountain biking action.
I've never mountain biked before. I've seen some pictures and videos and I understood that it was a pretty extreme sport, but I didn't know how serious and no-room-for-posers that is was. I only ate shit once. I had a few other close calls, but I managed to get out with both myself and (thank god) dennis's bike intact. Andy went first and showed me the ropes down the mountain that we were riding, being nice enough to point out the safe route while he glided down rock faces and over small cliffs. The ride itself was full of beautiful California scenery which I tried to admire when I wasn't busy staring the Grim Reaper in the eyes. I had an awesome time and I would love to do it again, but maybe after getting a little better at riding BMX so I'm more comfortable with the whole "being in control" thing.
Yesterday was the Super Bowl. Beth made chili on Saturday and we brought it up to Alicia's parents condo in Oceanside for a rager. The majority of the crowd was over the age of sixty, but they seemed to be the same crowd my grandparents and their friends were in the sense that they partied the hardest. There was an overabundance of finger foods, all delicious, and over course we drank beer all afternoon. I like this whole "things happening in the afternoon rather than the evening" that the west coast provides. Waiting around until 6pm for the game to even START on the east coast was such a drag. This is the only way to do it. Oh, did I mention I wore t shirt and shorts all weekend?
Friday, January 30, 2009
TWO POSTS IN ONE
First off, I want to touch on something that has been bothering me since somebody told Sarah Palin (I know she wasn't witty enough to make this up herself) to accuse President Obama's approach on reforming the Health Care system as "Socialistic". The bottom line is that this is an untrue statement, though Republicans were quick to take things out of context when arguing it (Also making me lose a LOT of trust in the integrity I thought John McCain possessed.) You can get a quick refresher with this easy to understand Forbes article
http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/05/obama-healthcare-plan-forbeslife-cx_rr_1105health.html.
Now, just to put things in perspective for anyone who still isn't tracking me....
UNITED STATES FEDERAL AND STATE EMPLOYEES, SUCH AS PALIN, OBAMA, MCCAIN, THE MILITARY, AND YOUR LOCAL POSTMEN ALL RECEIVE THE MOST SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE IN THE NATION!!!
yes, joe the plumber, YOUR tax money pays for 100% of the health insurance plans that THEY and THEIR FAMILIES enjoy. Do you get anything out of that? Directly, the answer is NO! Indirectly, yes- you get a healthier politician, a more fit Dept. of Defense, and more reliable service at the DMV(supposedly) but the basic point I'm trying to make is,
IF YOU ARE A TAX PAYER, YOU ARE ALREADY FUNDING A WAY MORE SOCIALIST HEALTH CARE THAN THE PRESIDENT EVEN WANTS TO CREATE. so start realizing how lucky we are to live in a country that even HAS a health care system and stop finding reasons to complain about what the world hasn't given YOU today.
I can't remember what the second part of this was going to be, but i think it had to do with me talking to stubbs for a while today(SWEET!), going to BevMo and wishing I had a million dollars to spend on strange/exotic alcohols, and over all excitement for the weekend. SMOKE OR FIRE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT!!!! yeah. I know there was more, but I don't remember.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/05/obama-healthcare-plan-forbeslife-cx_rr_1105health.html.
Now, just to put things in perspective for anyone who still isn't tracking me....
UNITED STATES FEDERAL AND STATE EMPLOYEES, SUCH AS PALIN, OBAMA, MCCAIN, THE MILITARY, AND YOUR LOCAL POSTMEN ALL RECEIVE THE MOST SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE IN THE NATION!!!
yes, joe the plumber, YOUR tax money pays for 100% of the health insurance plans that THEY and THEIR FAMILIES enjoy. Do you get anything out of that? Directly, the answer is NO! Indirectly, yes- you get a healthier politician, a more fit Dept. of Defense, and more reliable service at the DMV(supposedly) but the basic point I'm trying to make is,
IF YOU ARE A TAX PAYER, YOU ARE ALREADY FUNDING A WAY MORE SOCIALIST HEALTH CARE THAN THE PRESIDENT EVEN WANTS TO CREATE. so start realizing how lucky we are to live in a country that even HAS a health care system and stop finding reasons to complain about what the world hasn't given YOU today.
I can't remember what the second part of this was going to be, but i think it had to do with me talking to stubbs for a while today(SWEET!), going to BevMo and wishing I had a million dollars to spend on strange/exotic alcohols, and over all excitement for the weekend. SMOKE OR FIRE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT!!!! yeah. I know there was more, but I don't remember.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
MEMBER
So today, through an internet advertisement, a conversation, a haircut, and a $10 tip, I landed myself a membership at a very unique and exclusive barbershop. Let's just say there are 2 free beers an hour and you've seen some of the clientele on America's Most Wanted.
I'm not going to expand much past this online, but if anyone wants more of the story ask me!!
PS- it is a good ass haircut too.
I'm not going to expand much past this online, but if anyone wants more of the story ask me!!
PS- it is a good ass haircut too.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
i promised you San Francisco reports
So here you go...
I've been to SF twice now. Both times were awesome. The first time i was there from Wednesday until Friday. AwarePoint flew me up there on Virgin America which is a really radical airline comparable to JetBlue. I was greeted at the airport by a KANGAROO! no shit. I guess there was some big event going on for Australia Airlines(or something) and they had a kangaroo hopping around. Those things are quick. Lets see, I took the BART up to Powell station and stayed in the INTERCONTINENTAL (read: swanky mcswankmeyer hotel). Worked split shifts morning and evening and hung out during the day.
A big highlight was going to KidRobot(and Haight street in general), eating Thai food, hanging out with Anica and what seemed like an entire clan of former Richmonders, and drinking good Guinness.
LAST WEEK, I spent Wednesday-Sunday up there and stayed at a little less nice hotel, but still better than what I would be willing to drop on a room. I went to KidRobot AGAIN to get some English Series Dunny's for Beth. I got to spend a lot more time exploring the city this week and I couldn't stop wishing I had a bike up there. I also had a "Jamba Juice" for the first time ever and damn was it tasty. I would end up having another one before boarding my plane on Sunday.
On Saturday night I grabbed some dinner at a cafe called St. Francis where Anica works and met up with her, her boyfriend Roberto, his twin brother Carlos, and Carlos's girlfriend Meg. I had met Roberto briefly only once before and never the other two, but they immediately invited me to hang out with them for the rest of the night. It's really fucking cool when people are just warm like that. I don't think I had even spoken two words to Anica when we both lived in Richmond, but she was treating me like a old friend each time I was her new city.
Today I am going to go for a ride and hopefully find some sort of toy for that damn cat. I also am excited that I found a way around the hoops that my asshole high school is trying to make me jump through (FOR FALSE REASONS) to get my transcripts.
I suppose I have it pretty good these days. I miss the blood out of all you back East though, for serious.
I've been to SF twice now. Both times were awesome. The first time i was there from Wednesday until Friday. AwarePoint flew me up there on Virgin America which is a really radical airline comparable to JetBlue. I was greeted at the airport by a KANGAROO! no shit. I guess there was some big event going on for Australia Airlines(or something) and they had a kangaroo hopping around. Those things are quick. Lets see, I took the BART up to Powell station and stayed in the INTERCONTINENTAL (read: swanky mcswankmeyer hotel). Worked split shifts morning and evening and hung out during the day.
A big highlight was going to KidRobot(and Haight street in general), eating Thai food, hanging out with Anica and what seemed like an entire clan of former Richmonders, and drinking good Guinness.
LAST WEEK, I spent Wednesday-Sunday up there and stayed at a little less nice hotel, but still better than what I would be willing to drop on a room. I went to KidRobot AGAIN to get some English Series Dunny's for Beth. I got to spend a lot more time exploring the city this week and I couldn't stop wishing I had a bike up there. I also had a "Jamba Juice" for the first time ever and damn was it tasty. I would end up having another one before boarding my plane on Sunday.
On Saturday night I grabbed some dinner at a cafe called St. Francis where Anica works and met up with her, her boyfriend Roberto, his twin brother Carlos, and Carlos's girlfriend Meg. I had met Roberto briefly only once before and never the other two, but they immediately invited me to hang out with them for the rest of the night. It's really fucking cool when people are just warm like that. I don't think I had even spoken two words to Anica when we both lived in Richmond, but she was treating me like a old friend each time I was her new city.
Today I am going to go for a ride and hopefully find some sort of toy for that damn cat. I also am excited that I found a way around the hoops that my asshole high school is trying to make me jump through (FOR FALSE REASONS) to get my transcripts.
I suppose I have it pretty good these days. I miss the blood out of all you back East though, for serious.
Dinner last night
Last night was pretty cool. Beth got home and we decided to invite some friends over for dinner. Travis and Mel were already cooking their own, so they said they would come by later. Brandon seemed interested but didn't end up making it out. But, to our delight, the RICHMONDERS came in ALMOST full force. Dennis, Andy, and Scott made the trek on bike (GET IT!? TREK...BIKE!?) with a stack of waffles (i told andy we were having fried chicken, which was a lie) and a backpack full of beer.
I won't steal Beth's thunder by discussing the dish(peep her food blog), but I will say that it was awesome and the entire night was a huge success. Those dudes are very talented at finding good riding spots and told me about some trails a little bit south of here that we're going back to on Saturday. Definitely excited
I won't steal Beth's thunder by discussing the dish(peep her food blog), but I will say that it was awesome and the entire night was a huge success. Those dudes are very talented at finding good riding spots and told me about some trails a little bit south of here that we're going back to on Saturday. Definitely excited
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
So glad I was born in the mid to late 80's
people spent wayyyy to much time making themselves look like fucking idiots every morning.
god bless this t shirt and pair of jeans
god bless this t shirt and pair of jeans
Monday, January 26, 2009
Reading "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama
(I know book titles are supposed to be underlined, but I don't think I can do that for blog titles)
ANYWAYS
This book is amazing and I don't mean that in an idealistic, hippy-dreamer type way. This book is NOT a fantasy blueprint for what President Obama has simply promised that his administration will do (Even though I do believe him!!). This book was written to explain his observations of today's political world and WHY his approach to it is one that will succeed in getting shit done. If you think this dude is a good public speaker, JUST WAIT until you have the pleasure of reading his prose. He does an outstanding job of explaining the recent history of our political parties and the personalities that make up each side, not failing to address the reasons why BOTH major parties are failing the common citizen. Bottom line, he gives the bottom line. If you voted for Obama, you really should read this book. If you voted for anyone other than Obama, you MUST read this book. I promise you it will fill in any blanks you might have on him. I can't sing it any more praises until I am finished reading it, but seriously, go get it. I want him to be my best friend.
later
ANYWAYS
This book is amazing and I don't mean that in an idealistic, hippy-dreamer type way. This book is NOT a fantasy blueprint for what President Obama has simply promised that his administration will do (Even though I do believe him!!). This book was written to explain his observations of today's political world and WHY his approach to it is one that will succeed in getting shit done. If you think this dude is a good public speaker, JUST WAIT until you have the pleasure of reading his prose. He does an outstanding job of explaining the recent history of our political parties and the personalities that make up each side, not failing to address the reasons why BOTH major parties are failing the common citizen. Bottom line, he gives the bottom line. If you voted for Obama, you really should read this book. If you voted for anyone other than Obama, you MUST read this book. I promise you it will fill in any blanks you might have on him. I can't sing it any more praises until I am finished reading it, but seriously, go get it. I want him to be my best friend.
later
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
So there I was...
sitting at home on the computer watching CNNlive streaming the Presidential Inauguration. I'm in nothing but a pair of boxers and I'm drinking a cup of coffee. Somewhere deep inside of me, something yelled "um, excuse me, earth to ashton...yes? THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING, WHY AREN'T YOU SOMEWHERE EPIC?!" I started to reason with laziness by thinking "welllll if I was still in Richmond I would totally have made it up to DC for this." Fortunately, I cut myself off before I wasted another moment and diverted my attention to a google search query of "san diego obama inauguration events" A couple results suggested balls and parties I could attend tonight, but I REALLY wanted something to go to for the big moment. Then I noticed that the Malcom X Public Library, a meer 10 minutes from my apartment, was playing the event over a big screen projection and would have refreshments available.
sold!
I do a quick mapquest and head towards my viewing party with the air of coincidence that I should be seeing this at a library named after Malcom X. The multipurpose room is full of chairs and the big screen is indeed big. There were no more than 20 attendees at 8:20am PST when I arrived. By 8:45, the place was swarming with people; young and old, black and white, male and female. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and I couldn't help but engage the woman sitting next to me in conversation. She was equally as anticipant and it soon came to my attention that she was, along with the half dozen other nicely dressed middle aged folks around me, one of San Diego's City Council members. What?!? I totally played it cool, and we were so busy expressing opinions on Rick Warren and Dick Cheney and the like that I never even thought about bringing up some grievances I had with the system(The post office being whack, The ghost bike memorial being removed, Charging for trash removal).
Anyways, back to the topic at hand, The crowd was easily 100 people, and at least 2 classrooms of seventh and eighth graders managed to come in just minutes before the actual ceremony began. Everyone went wild anytime the Obamas or Bidens came up on screen, and we all took great pride in waving FORMER president george w. bush away towards that big cattle ranch in the land of no-one-cares. I was captivated by Obama's speech(and downright impressed he managed to memorize that whole thing!) and found comfort in his strong, yet gentle words expressing his ideas of what we, as a country, can do to lead the world towards a new age.
The Malcom X Public Library would continue to party until 7pm tonight, with a different ethnicity of food being served every hour(I believe Mexican, Ethiopian, Soul, and Indian were a few courses on the menu) and there would be an open mic on the stage for anyone who wanted to share some words to do so. Truely a democratic community in it's finest capacity, sharing food, knowledge, and friendship for all those willing to accept.
Also, starting at 4pm the library will begin conducting interviews with anyone interested that will be edited and conformed into a dvd that will be a part of City history for future citizens to enjoy if they find themselves wondering what we were doing on this day and how it all felt.
sold!
I do a quick mapquest and head towards my viewing party with the air of coincidence that I should be seeing this at a library named after Malcom X. The multipurpose room is full of chairs and the big screen is indeed big. There were no more than 20 attendees at 8:20am PST when I arrived. By 8:45, the place was swarming with people; young and old, black and white, male and female. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and I couldn't help but engage the woman sitting next to me in conversation. She was equally as anticipant and it soon came to my attention that she was, along with the half dozen other nicely dressed middle aged folks around me, one of San Diego's City Council members. What?!? I totally played it cool, and we were so busy expressing opinions on Rick Warren and Dick Cheney and the like that I never even thought about bringing up some grievances I had with the system(The post office being whack, The ghost bike memorial being removed, Charging for trash removal).
Anyways, back to the topic at hand, The crowd was easily 100 people, and at least 2 classrooms of seventh and eighth graders managed to come in just minutes before the actual ceremony began. Everyone went wild anytime the Obamas or Bidens came up on screen, and we all took great pride in waving FORMER president george w. bush away towards that big cattle ranch in the land of no-one-cares. I was captivated by Obama's speech(and downright impressed he managed to memorize that whole thing!) and found comfort in his strong, yet gentle words expressing his ideas of what we, as a country, can do to lead the world towards a new age.
The Malcom X Public Library would continue to party until 7pm tonight, with a different ethnicity of food being served every hour(I believe Mexican, Ethiopian, Soul, and Indian were a few courses on the menu) and there would be an open mic on the stage for anyone who wanted to share some words to do so. Truely a democratic community in it's finest capacity, sharing food, knowledge, and friendship for all those willing to accept.
Also, starting at 4pm the library will begin conducting interviews with anyone interested that will be edited and conformed into a dvd that will be a part of City history for future citizens to enjoy if they find themselves wondering what we were doing on this day and how it all felt.
Monday, January 19, 2009
OK!
Ok here is a more filling update for all you ashblogeyes out there.
I was in San Francisco for a few days for work. My first experience with this city was cool, but the freezing July winds did NOT impress me on my FIRST trip to California. I enjoyed it a LOT more this time. Work was chill and uneventful, so I'll skip over those parts.
Wednesday, 6:45pm- I arrive at SFO and take BART up to Union Square to meet Larry. He tells me I'm going to get paid for a full day for flying and then checks me into my room in the INTERCONTINENTAL(This is a NICE fucking hotel). We go grab some Thai food and a few beers, then turn in early for our 5am wake up.
Thursday, 11:00am- I'm off work for the morning(we're doing split shifts) and I give Anica a call to see what shes up to. We grab lunch at a pretty chill cafe a bunch of her friends(most of whom were also richmond natives) worked at. After lunch, I ask her if we can go to KidRobot so I can pick something up for Beth. We do. Then, it turns out a couple of people were hanging out in a city park down the road and since it is unseasonably beautiful outside we go join the chiller and about an hour and a half later I realize that it's time for me to start heading back for my second shift. Needless to say, I promptly get lost trying to walk the 1.5miles back to my hotel. Good thing Larry and Brittany aren't in any rush to get back to work.
Friday- Wake up, work, go around a bit on the bus, go to the airport, sit, have a beer, read, try to nap, draw, get on the plane, get home, RUN to meet everyone for sushi(was awesome), come home, go to sleep
Saturday- Beth drops car off at mechanic, Travis and Mel pick us up for some perusing around Pacific Beach. Buffalo Exchange has free cupcakes, naturally I take two and they are both excellent. Beth gets a phone call that she has to pick up her car within 30 minutes or she can't get it until Monday. We rush back and get Beth's car, planning a trip up to the Stone brewery and dinner at the famous Red Robin. We get to the brewery and find out that we have to wait in line for tickets and of course they run out the group before ours. We go to Red Robin. Everythings great, and then we walk about the mall for a little while(it's a pretty nice mall). Beth buys jeans, I buy chocolate espresso beans, everybody's happy. We drive downtown to Pokez for a power violence show. Show starts late, so in the mean time we are at the bar down the block having a decent time. Show goes on, bands are good, show goes late. We're all too tired to make it up to the party at Ky's so we go to sleep.
Sunday: Originally supposed to go to the ghetto swap meet down south, our path doesn't end up crossing with Trav and Mel and we opt for mexican breakfast at El Zarape. Everythings delicious, and we go back to PB to meet up with Dennis, Zac, Miles, Claire, and Andy(all former richmonders) for some beach volleyball. Volleyball ends up being really really fun and actually pretty good matches so afterwards we decide that a cookout should follow and beer should be present. Zac, Miles, and Claire live in an awesome house in PB and we had a good time just kicking it there for a while and then watching the Steelers game on a huge projector they set up against the wall. After dropping off Dennis and Andrew we swing by Ky's to check out whats going on there and find Rick and Ky watching the Simpsons. Two episodes later we grow weary and decide it's time to turn in after a long weekend.
Then I woke up and wrote this.
I was in San Francisco for a few days for work. My first experience with this city was cool, but the freezing July winds did NOT impress me on my FIRST trip to California. I enjoyed it a LOT more this time. Work was chill and uneventful, so I'll skip over those parts.
Wednesday, 6:45pm- I arrive at SFO and take BART up to Union Square to meet Larry. He tells me I'm going to get paid for a full day for flying and then checks me into my room in the INTERCONTINENTAL(This is a NICE fucking hotel). We go grab some Thai food and a few beers, then turn in early for our 5am wake up.
Thursday, 11:00am- I'm off work for the morning(we're doing split shifts) and I give Anica a call to see what shes up to. We grab lunch at a pretty chill cafe a bunch of her friends(most of whom were also richmond natives) worked at. After lunch, I ask her if we can go to KidRobot so I can pick something up for Beth. We do. Then, it turns out a couple of people were hanging out in a city park down the road and since it is unseasonably beautiful outside we go join the chiller and about an hour and a half later I realize that it's time for me to start heading back for my second shift. Needless to say, I promptly get lost trying to walk the 1.5miles back to my hotel. Good thing Larry and Brittany aren't in any rush to get back to work.
Friday- Wake up, work, go around a bit on the bus, go to the airport, sit, have a beer, read, try to nap, draw, get on the plane, get home, RUN to meet everyone for sushi(was awesome), come home, go to sleep
Saturday- Beth drops car off at mechanic, Travis and Mel pick us up for some perusing around Pacific Beach. Buffalo Exchange has free cupcakes, naturally I take two and they are both excellent. Beth gets a phone call that she has to pick up her car within 30 minutes or she can't get it until Monday. We rush back and get Beth's car, planning a trip up to the Stone brewery and dinner at the famous Red Robin. We get to the brewery and find out that we have to wait in line for tickets and of course they run out the group before ours. We go to Red Robin. Everythings great, and then we walk about the mall for a little while(it's a pretty nice mall). Beth buys jeans, I buy chocolate espresso beans, everybody's happy. We drive downtown to Pokez for a power violence show. Show starts late, so in the mean time we are at the bar down the block having a decent time. Show goes on, bands are good, show goes late. We're all too tired to make it up to the party at Ky's so we go to sleep.
Sunday: Originally supposed to go to the ghetto swap meet down south, our path doesn't end up crossing with Trav and Mel and we opt for mexican breakfast at El Zarape. Everythings delicious, and we go back to PB to meet up with Dennis, Zac, Miles, Claire, and Andy(all former richmonders) for some beach volleyball. Volleyball ends up being really really fun and actually pretty good matches so afterwards we decide that a cookout should follow and beer should be present. Zac, Miles, and Claire live in an awesome house in PB and we had a good time just kicking it there for a while and then watching the Steelers game on a huge projector they set up against the wall. After dropping off Dennis and Andrew we swing by Ky's to check out whats going on there and find Rick and Ky watching the Simpsons. Two episodes later we grow weary and decide it's time to turn in after a long weekend.
Then I woke up and wrote this.
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