Music For 2/28/09

I miss the 90's

Beastie Boys

Sabotage

Missed Out

I've been missing out on loads of good things in my life. Mainly movies, music, art, etc. I'm getting into it all now. Playing catch-up. Really, there are so many treasures that I've overlooked because I neglected to branch out during high school, etc. I'm just glad I'm doing it now. And thanks to Scott for being the guy to have all of the things worth reading/watching/listening to.

Used

There's a good reason I don't talk to a lot of people. Even people that I used to talk to. Last night as I was getting ready to remove the three months of hair accumulated on my face I got a text from a number I wasn't familiar with. It said: "Andyyyy are you down for randomness tonight??!!!" Not knowing the number I wrote back with simply "?" "Andy its ____!!! Are you in town in the hills??!!" "____! How the hell are ya?! I got a new phone awhile back, so I didn't know the number. No, I'm still in SD. What's new with you?" I didn't lose the number, I deleted it. We'll get to that in a minute. "Aweeeee i miss you and i needyou to dress up like a fireman i have the uniform and go to a couple of my friends houses and get them outside so i can steal these hats for this game all week weve been playing hahah i wish you were in town i know you would do it hahah:((" "Haha, I probably would. What've you been up to? I haven't talked to you in what, two years?" No, I really wouldn't have done it. End communication.

Yep. Used. I stopped talking to this person long ago because after being their friend for a couple years I learned how little they actually gave a damn. It's like the people who would be my friend in high school so that they could cheat off my test. They remember good 'ol Andy when they need someone to be their bitch. They come to me when all of their friends are drunken a-holes with no insight on anything whatsoever and as soon as they've thoroughly soaked my shoulder with their tears they get up and go with their thanks and compliments, but as soon as a call is made to them then it's always some excuse or another to ditch me. When did my friendship become a give only and receive my face and dignity in the mud type of system? In all honesty, I don't really care if this person ever sends me another text or calls me. I was better off without their constant calls of "should I put them up on my top friends list? I'm not on theirs" and bull shit of the sort. I'm seriously considering burning a bridge here. I'm all for helping someone out who genuinely needs it, someone who's not a completely selfish twat. But if I'm putting forth the effort to maintain something and I'm only met with people who try to avoid me, people who don't even think about an action that brutalizes the very being of the person who sat by their side countless times to make sure they were alright, people who don't even bother to show you the respect you deserve or any at all, why in God's name am I going to put up with that? I'm just glad that I have the few friends that don't act like this. Meaning if you're reading this you're probably one of those few. Probably.

Greatness

This is what I'm shooting for. I must channel the man who single-handedly defeated the British to create the USA. Though I know my greatness can never reach even 1/8 his level. I'm aiming for 1/12.

Sigh

Nine hours, twenty minutes left.

BEHOLD!

I feel like I should be out kidnapping fair maidens and roping them to railroad tracks, rubbing my hands together menacingly with an evil laugh, constantly twirling my mustache. And a top hat.

Music For 2/26/09

Cake

I Will Survive

Nick Lowe

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Buddy Holly

Not Fade Away

YESSS!

Given that I was completely unprepared for my three exams today and one yesterday, I'm going to have to say that I did pretty damned well. Normally when I think I did well on a test I end up failing miserably, so I guess we can only wait for the results. George Washington was with me today! And what's more? As soon as I arrived at work some customers wanted a crystal made. If any of you remember correctly, I HATE photo crystals. Just as they were selecting their design they asked how long it took. "Why, two hours, my fellow citizens!" "Alas, alack, two hours?! But mine schedule doth forbid me to linger at this fine establishment any longer than one! Any delay afterward and I should be executed post-haste by mine cruel and evil lord and protectorate!" "Ah, my apologies good citizen. May I interest you in a simple inked soul-capturing? A frame would be provided? Perhaps an eight inch by ten inch frame commemorating the domination of the sporting team referred to as the "packers" (what they pack, I am unsure) by the some electrically charged, blue-colored team, more commonly known as "the Thanatosians" or "the French Dandies," the name eludes me." "Aye, we most graciously decline your offers of prancing Frenchmen and the packing of goods. For now that this crystal has been denied us, there be nothing but sadness throughout the land! We must fly and continue our search for transparent pictures of our loved ones elsewhere!"

Yep. This day needs to be over.

UPDATE:

This day keeps getting better! Free food at work! Had I known that I wouldn't have bought Carl's beforehand. But hey, FREE FOOD AT WORK!

UPDATE II:

Still getting better. A customer just tipped me $2 for changing a car alarm battery for him. Only a few other things could make this day better.

Washington

Two midterms down. I feel confident about them. George Washington's ghost is with me. May he come to my aid for my last one of the day starting at 2 pm. I'll channel him with my Globetrotters wristband...with a vengeance.

"Music For" should be up and running again soon. More later. Maybe.

Grumbles

Today I'll have a (1) midterm. Tomorrow I'll have three (3). Friday I'll once again work eleven (11) hours straight. Saturday night? Home again for some R&R. I sure could use a nap.

Dammit, Scott

Just when I was starting to think it was safe to get back in the water, I hear about this:

They eat people, man. They fuckin' eat people. And they're not just in Mexico-land either.

Hrrm

I guess this explains a lot. Enjoy. And thanks, Heckler Spray.

Yesterday & One Week From Friday

Under the Sea 3D and Wild Ocean were, how should I put this, informative. Though it was a bit difficult to take Under the Sea 3D seriously with Jim Carrey narrating. You have a guy who's known for goofy movies talking about a dying reef and human populations doing harm to the calcium carbonate that keeps lots of sea life alive and you just want to laugh.

I'll be attending a particular concert one week from Friday. In Los Angeles. That concert? TOM FUCKING JONES! Eat it! Now I just want to sleep. Not enough sleep. Classes too small to sleep in. May my Globetrotters wristband bring me strength. Wonder Twin powers, ACTIVATE! The form of...Gene Shalit!

It's 6:00 AM

Do you know where your Andy is? Oh. Right here. Writing. Why the hell am I up so early?! While I know that today is going to be, well, AMAZING, I should probably get a few more hours of sleep before I have to mosey on out of this place. LA Science Museum, here I come. I'm not one to use emoticons, but if there were one that smirked and had the shifty-eyes going for it,...well, you get the picture. More later. Maybe.

Thinking About It

As I noted earlier, I've been in some sort of flashback living lately where I'm back into the 90's but with a greater understanding and appreciation for things in some sort of quest for I don't know what. One thing that I remember always being in my dad's truck was a little thing of Binaca. Remember Binaca? That minty mouth spray stuff to make sure you're not breathing all nasty-like? Do they still make that? I think that Marionette would be complete again if she had some Binaca on the dash. She's already got the after-bite (itch relief from insect bites) that's been hanging around since I can remember. And since I'm on the topic: I haven't gotten to hike lately.

I bought some new pants yesterday. The jeans I've been wearing (all of them) have developed holes where my wallet goes. I figured it was about time for some new pairs, but whilst at Target all I could find were 30x30s. I can never get what I need. I'm too damned tiny. I went with the 30x30s, but they feel too big. Maybe I'll get another pair while I'm home. Seriously, I'm like a stork wearing empty paper towel rolls.

Speaking of home, Sam, do you think we'll get a chance to play some basketball this time around, or should we wait until the next time I'm up where I'll have a bit more time to hang out? I still want to go on that hike.

March is going to be a good month.

UPDATE:

I remember this commercial from back then. Grant Hill was one of my favorite players (next to Joe Dumars...for some reason). At random times the phrase "Grant Hill drinks Sprite?" will pop into my head. I don't know if this was actually from the 90's, but I think it was. Could be early 2000's.

You've Got To Ask Yourself One Question:

My answer is yes. I do feel lucky. Not if I were going up against Clint, of course.

I gots ta know.

Was It

Was it the idiot that made the person or the person that made the idiot?

Is it the trend that makes the person or does the person make the trend?

Was it the faux hawk that made the douche bag or the douche bag that made the faux hawk?

What's the deal with these people (losers) who wear these uber-tight pants that they still, for some reason, can't seem to keep on themselves. Really, you're gonna wear 'em half-ways down your ass and wonder why they're slipping off? Then you're going to give some slack-jawed surf/skate talk that's hardly intelligible and pass yourself off as some sort of gift to the world?

Why do these damned jugglers/magicians/child-singers have to use microphones? Now I just have to turn my music up louder.

If I cloned myself then killed my clone, would that be considered suicide?

Yep. Just killing time.

Worth It?

I'll let you know on Monday or Tuesday. My guess is yes. Completely worth it.

Lucky Kids

Bret "the Hitman" Harte Elementary School.

$2.99

Seriously? You're gonna come in here and ask me to reduce the price of a magnet 50 cents because the store around the corner is selling them for $2.50 rather than $2.99? If it's that important to you then just go around the damned corner to where you saw them for $2.50! Harrumph.

Music For 2/20/09

General Electric Engines

Black Molly (this is a cover of a Mountain Goats song. There are only two videos of the song on the you tubes, both are covers and this one sounds closest to the original. If ever I find one where JD is performing it, you can bet it'll be up here)

Jordan Zevon

This Girl

Elvis Costello

I Hope You're Happy Now

A Bothersome Event

Wednesday saw me at Best Buy for about an hour before class began. Like most stores that big, there's music plays and between songs the announcer for the store chimes in to tell everyone about one of their latest deals, whatever, whatever, right? While perusing the aisles for music (being unable to find any Woody Guthrie and being frustrated with nothing but "Greatest Hits" albums) this announcer came on telling the people of the store about the Clash. She started talking about how they've been performing for 30 years and they're still entertaining audiences and to buy their "Greatest Hits" album or something like that. Ok. Here we go. First, the Clash may have been entertaining audiences for 30 years with their albums, but the band formed in '79 and disbanded in '86 where, still signed to Sony as a solo artist, Joe Strummer ended up sabotaging his own contract with Sony by putting out a $5 million "artistic" album just so that he could be free to write whatever he wanted without having to give the rights to Sony and wouldn't be forced to produce albums whenever they wanted. That being said, Mr. Strummer didn't get back together with the band, but did some radio work and formed a band called the Mescaleros. So, only through recordings did they entertain for 30 years.

As far as "they've been performing" goes? No. Joe Strummer died in 2002. He hasn't been recording and performing with the band posthumously. He's in the ground, dead, and it's a shame that he is. So don't give me any of this "they've been performing for 30 years" crap.

One of the biggest things that irks me is the fact that there are people out there who 1) don't know who Joe Strummer is, 2) don't know who the Clash are, 3) probably believe that Strummer's still alive because Best Buy told them so, 4) are going to buy the greatest hits album and think they know everything about the Clash! Agh! Damn you, Best Buy! You just lost some serious points.

041778367803

Eleven hours of justice dispensation today. Ten, technically. At least tomorrow I'll have an opportunity to get some work done. Marionette needs an oil change and both Fry's and Target are calling me. And maybe even REI can use another visit. I've almost purchased everything I need. I think the big things now are proper pants and cookware.

Gha!

Stupid lips. Gettin' all dry and peeled and painful-like.

Music For 2/19/09

Nick Lowe

Hope For Us All

Ugh

Y'know, you shouldn't get mad at us for not placing an order every week if you're always going to get the order wrong! We asked for various canon cameras, not six of the same camera with the two colors that look almost identical! Yeesh! Tired. And really? What's with everyone complaining about things these days? Neighbors below are gettin' huffy because we're using running water at 2am. Excuse us for living. Jerk faces.

Less Than One Week

Sam, this weekend (Sunday) I'll be returning home after work (10-4, so home by 6) to be in the area for Monday. While my hands will be full on Monday, I strongly suggest we get together on Sunday as it's been over a month since last we fought crime atop buildings. I've also requested Sunday and Monday of the the following week off (the 1st and 2nd) in order to see the good folks coming into town. I imagine they're staying at your place again, right? That particular Sunday sees me elsewhere visiting with my aunt flying in from Texas, but I imagine that will be over early enough to join any festivities that may be occurring at your residence. Andrew, if you'd like to meet up for breakfast this coming Monday before you head to work/class, I'd be more than happy to make a plan. Yep. Good mood.

It's Here!

Acceptance! Now it's time to write to the Canadians. No, not the hockey team. What's better? A healthy paycheck! Who wants to see Tom Jones?! I can think of one person! Maybe two. But one person!

Oh, Internets

Heh heh heh.

Music For 2/17/09

For some odd reason I feel like I'm back in the 90's. It's not a bad thing. Particularly 96/97ish when I made my move to the home town back in the 3rd grade. I keep getting flashbacks of going to Clairemont (or is it Montclaire?) with my dad while he played basketball with his friends and going to the barber shop asking for a flat-top (because that was the only haircut I knew at the time) and eagerly waiting for "Do Wah Diddy" to come on the radio. I know that I'm remembering a time of innocence that was slowly escaping my grasp, but why? Am I finding myself in a sort of happy place like that again? Where, despite all of the chaos surrounding my life at the time, I was in a state of contentment wherein one of the worst things that could happen was Sam not picking up my action figures? I'm in that time frame, but at my current age with some sort of maturation. It's almost as though it's all a dream. Maybe it's because I've been going back to my childhood interests like basketball and oldies stations while driving my dad's truck. Maybe it's all the John Darniell/Franklin Bruno that I've listened to lately (they both lived in that area in the early 90s). Whatever the case, I hope it continues. Anyways, I guess this turned into a lead in for today's song(s). I hadn't intended it this way, but I remembered Mr. Darnielle has "Short Song About the 10 Freeway," "Chino Love Song 1979" and "San Bernardino." Those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head, there are probably more. I didn't really think "San Bernardino" was in any way closely related to my own life and I couldn't find "Chino Love Song 1979," so "Short Song About the 10 Freeway" will do the trick. If I find any others, I'll throw them up here later.

The Mountain Goats

Short Song About the 10 Freeway

086806033992

Do we look like a drug store? What kind of camera shop sells pharmaceuticals? Or cigarettes? Or sun block?

What's the bar code today? Is it:

A) Kodak Gold 200 ASA Film, 24 Exposures priced at $6.99
B) Kodak Gold 200 ASA Film, 36 Exposures priced at $8.99
C) Kodak Gold 100 ASA Film, 24 Exposures priced at $5.99
D) Kodak Gold 100 ASA Film, 36 Exposures priced at $6.99

Casbah

At the Casbah last night I watched a band called Get Back Loretta. We'd gone to see Louis XIV, but due to some sort of tour they were going on, they opened the show. Mike, being slower than molasses getting ready, made sure we missed them. We all believed they were the headliner, but apparently they were a late addition to the ticket. GBL, while being a typical modern day alt-rock band, were not a bad show. For a $6 event, it wasn't bad, though the two openers prior to GBL and before LXIV were just synthesizers and robot people. Not real robot people. I wish.

844755090479

What the hell happened to our broom? They want a clean store and they take away our broom. Then they get on us for not sweeping the floors. That broom was my baby. Sure it barely had any bristles left. And maybe it didn't do the best job in the world at sweeping, but I was using that broom for two years. Then they replace it for a day with some fancy broom with a full set of bristles and take that away from me the next day. Where's 'ol blue? It's raining today, so I doubt I'll have many customers. It's also windy as all hell, so I'll be picking up celebrity photos from the floor every five minutes. Yep. Gonna be a good day.

What's the bar code today? Is it:

A) Panasonic CR-V3 battery listed at $14.99
B) Micro-fiber cleaning cloth listed at $1.99
C) 60 minute Mini-DV listed at $11.99
D) 4 pack Alkaline AA batteries listed at $6.99

Music For 2/15/09

Christ. The performers are outside the store. I'm at work and I need my face thoroughly rocked off to drown out the pedestrian jokes. Here's 30 minutes of Birdmonster:

61452451

This final semester is hell. For convenience sake and to have four-day weekends, I opted to enroll in a class called "Modern Fiction." While that would normally sound like a good enough class to take, the professor is as complete idiot. I've had a class with her before, so I knew how much I'd want to stick a drill into my skull, but I elected to take this specific class anyways. Her deal is that she's some moronic woman who happened to get a degree, but even the dumbest members of the class could teach it better than her. "I've read this about 40 times and I didn't catch that!" Well, that's because you're an idiot! She got her degree in French and Modern Literature or something like that, so rather than attempting to branch out, she reads the same material (that she doesn't have a grasp on), teaches the same books over and over and when forced to branch out, chooses the most popular novelists that she can work with from different regions that nobody cares about. So now? I'm sitting here at work reading the crap novel for class that is as boring as sitting in her class. Buchi Emecheta's The Bride Price. It's written as though a Jr. High Schooler wrote it. Example? Gladly.

She had been brought to Lagos from Ibuza to be married to her husband, Dogo. "Dogo" is a nickname given by the Hausas to any tall person. Uzo's Dogo had been a driver in the army during the war against Hitler, so had come into contact with lots of Hausas.

The novel is riddled with misspellings, grammatical errors and words that aren't even real. You can say "well, you're not such a great writer yourself," and I say to you that I already know that. But I'm not shoveling my crap at you for any sort of profit. I won't be celebrated in my time or any other for my writing abilities. I won't be forced down the throats of any students, nor will I claim any sort of prizes or awards for my pen. So just because this woman is Nigerian and writes about how girls don't like having to be paid for then all of a sudden she's a brilliant author? And of course all of the folks in the class are going to eat it all up and love it because it's "diverse" and the popular thing to do is accept everyone because they're coming from a culture that we're not accustomed to, so everything they do must be spectacular and all of a sudden because they're writing in English then it's bonus points because they're breaking out of their native tongue? Yeah, whatever. Some class.

PK8X10

Whilst at work I've decided not to title these things anymore. Now I'll just scan bar codes and use those as titles. You can guess what they are if you'd like. I realize that using a bar code as a title is still a title. When I say "I've decided not to title these things" I mean I've decided not to give them formal titles with those fancy things you call words.

Globetrotters were fun. I got a ball and some fancy sweat bands with HG logos. Sam, next time I'm home you wanna "shoot some hoops?" It's a shame I'm working tomorrow. Le Nozze di Figaro is being performed at UCLA tomorrow at 2. Grandparents brought me enough food to feed an army. Or at least a hungry Andy for a few days. SDMoA membership renewed. Is it bad that I take the quarters from our "take a penny, leave a penny" box? It's not like my laundry's free. Haven't been home in awhile. Need available weekend. Plans must be made with people worth seeing. Missing pants. Holes in pants. Need new pants to lose. Pantaloons.

It's Time

Which one is it going to be?

Music For 2/13/09

Martha & the Vandellas

Nowhere to Run

The Ronettes

Be My Baby

The Supremes

Baby Love

Happy Birthday!

This day one year ago I began my online writing experience. For those of you who've been with me the entire time, I thank you for your loyal support and following. I'd say that I couldn't have done it without you, but it'd only be half-true. Let February 13th be designated Around the Gills Day! International Holiday! Everyone gets it off, and all must go without pants for a 24 hour period. And really, since Tomorrow is Valentine's day, you'd just be getting a head start, right? No? Ok.

I told you you'd be thoroughly disappointed.

Music For 2/12/09

No particular theme today, just good music.

Nick Lowe

What's Shakin' on the Hill

The Coasters

Poison Ivy

The Remains

Diddy Wah Diddy

Friday XIII

Tomorrow should be fun. Work 10-4, Globetrotters, drinks with the editor of the school paper's "tempo" section (who might be able to get me a position as a photographer, meaning free shows and the use of lenses worth more than my life!). And I guess the rest of the weekend will be just fine and dandy. Ma's coming down to visit and maybe a midnight movie.

UPDATE:

I guess Ma's coming with the grandfolks too! Yay! Free food and lots of it!

No Idea

"Oh, that's right, California doesn't allow smoking indoors. You've banned everything good, like Jesus."

My dreams sometimes surprise me. Mini-opera/ballet competitions that prompt lines like the one above? What's next?

Music For 2/10/09

Buddy Holly

It Doesn't Matter Anymore

The Big Bopper

It's The Truth Ruth

Elvis

Heartbreak Hotel

Custom Calculator or Mouse Pad $11.99

Complaints be damned, I'm still gonna use the internets at work! If the store's clean and absolutely no one is coming in and there be nothing to do, why not? Have you seen this store? There's barely enough room to stand! Certainly I'll cut it out when folks drop by, but whattaya expect me to do this entire time? I'll read if I've got a book that's interesting, or homework if I have any. And look, if you're gonna complain about employees using the internet then just tell 'em direct! Don't gimme this crap where ya talk to the co-worker and tell 'em to write a note tellin' us not to use the web. Jeez. All this malarky just makes me wanna quit again.

Lessons

Ever hear the phrase "A Jack of all trades, but a master of none"? I get tired of feeling like that, so I've been forcing myself to branch out and actually put forth the effort to learn the things that I always say I'd like to do. This all started about a week ago when I couldn't identify some historic and huge people that I enjoy listening to and should have known. I felt like a fraud and beat myself up when I proved my own stupidity of all things great. Since then I've been on a mission. I've been brushing up on some different things, looking in to other stuff that I've always wanted to learn as well as simply doing things that I wouldn't normally do.

UPDATE:

Oops. Wrote this in class at 11ish and only saved it as a draft. It's now 6:17

Stay Tuned

Friday is a special day. Not only do I go to see the Globetrotters, it marks a day that will go down in history (eventually). Does anyone know what that day is? No? Oh. Ok. Well, you'll all see what it is soon enough. Then you'll be thoroughly disappointed.

Seaport Deli

Used to be before I quit a year ago that at the Seaport Deli you could get an employee meal for $4 that included half a sandwich, soup, chips and, for $1 extra, a drink. Thinking it was the same, I went over there today for the first time since I've been back and paid $6.50, got less than half a sandwich and a drink. I'm pissed. I can understand if that were the price with the chips and soup included what with the economy the way it is, but $6.50 for something I ate in two bites and a generic 16 oz. soda with no refills? That's highway robbery! What the fuck? $6.50?! I'm so mad about this. I only had $10 cash and I was thinking I'd at least get a hearty meal out of it, but no, I got shit and bricks. Fuck you, Seaport Deli. The deli that isn't even a deli. Man. Fuck. Really? $6.50?! Gha! Fuck.

Music For 2/8/09

To make up for yesterday's music selection, which I know wasn't the best, here's some of the best.

Buddy Holly

Rave On

Bill Haley & the Comets

Rip It Up

Chuck Berry

Maybellene

The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack? They kinda suck. Don't get me wrong, they've got some catchy punk songs, and I haven't been to a show where people actually do a bit of pushin' and shovin' in a while. It's a bit of a stress relief, that one. But quality of music? Not good. Unless you like that kind of music, then they're alright. The worst part of the show? The Soft Pack went on at midnight! No Enter the Dragon for Andy. Sadness. But I guess I'm glad that Mike dragged me out as I did actually have a good time. Hear that, Sam? I had a good time listening to a band I'm not fond of and socializing. Yeah. Shut it. So, to make up for this I plan to spend the next few days cooped up in my apartment watching movies.

Music For 2/7/09

Since I'll be seeing them tonight, why not. Here's Soft Pack (the Muslims)


Right and Wrong


Parasites


Bright Side

Work

Everybody's nuts! Wait, not everybody. My boss is nuts! Aside from the desire to hang unstable objects from high places, he's got some stupid ideas. And believe me, I know stupid. When O-dog has an idea for one of his stores he's dead set in actualizing the plan. You can't tell him no, either. Well, you can, but he won't listen. He came in today and asked my opinion about his latest scheme. After saying "we need to get rid of the crystals, nobody buy the crystals" (the crystals he so vehemently rallied for about two years ago) he proposed a plan for an even more ridiculous "service." He wants to remove the crystal machine in place of an "office" wherein customers can check their email, print things, make copies and faxes. He asked me if it was a good idea. I told the man that nobody has ever asked me about copies, faxes, checking their email, or the need to print things. His defense? It'll attract customers. Oh, Mar. When will you learn?

We had a new memo the other day. I was so upset I didn't get to write this one! Had I the opportunity it would have been golden. Unfortunately there's no saved copy of it on the PC, so I'm waiting a bit to snag from our bulletin board (the inside of a cabinet) to scan it. A little taste of the memo: "When you are working alone, you are not really alone I'm always looking at the cameras." Good, but dammit, it could have been 10 times creepier if Yadzia had changed "looking at the cameras" to "watching." Yep. Anything to keep my sanity.

Ropes & Knots

While I've got down time at work I'm teaching myself to tie different types of knots for lassoing and such. And since the roof is leaking, we've got opened up trash bags on the floor to prevent people from slipping on wet spots.

I awoke with the "I hate this routine" feeling again. Being deprived of my outdoor activities is making me all grumpy again. I haven't been for a hike since school started. I think. Partial remedy? Concert tonight. And maybe Enter the Dragon at the cinema down the street at midnight. Band? Formerly "the Muslims" now "Soft Pack" and I can't really say they're all that great, but it'll be good to get out.

Harlem Globetrotters next week. Even if I have to go alone.

Music For 2/5/09

We Are Scientists

Let's See It

The Mountain Goats

The Mess Inside

Free Birdmonster

To those of you lazy mooks out there who have yet to pick up a copy of Birdmonster's first album (or have no Birdmonster in your collection and need some), No Midnight, they've done everyone in the world a kindness by putting it up on Noise Trade to download for free or whatever price you feel like paying. That price should be the retail price, but I understand that we're all either cheap, poor, starving, and/or saving and stocking up for the zombie invasion, so I won't be too offended if you download the album without paying for it. So long as it inspires you to drive great distances to see their live shows (which are some of the best things ever) and buy up loads of t-shirts, stickers and tell the guys how amazing they are, I'm ok. Do it.

Comp Lit 561, Modern Fiction

A class made of boring. A class where I could fall asleep if I had enough cover. A class that I'm currently listening to my headphones in while we watch a video. A class that allows me to write to you all and not miss a beat. Professor Edson, why do you drain all life around you? You ever so slowly crush the will to live with your blank stares, your ignorance of any and all of the material you teach, your sorry excuse for a French accent and the knowledge that such a dull, uninteresting and untrained person could become a professor of literature. Sure, it's a state school and most of the students here need help just crossing the street, but that's still no excuse to have this dimwitted lobotomy case teaching an upper division literature class.

At least Natural Disasters and graduation make up for the self-inflicted brain drilling this semester. Speaking of Natural Disasters, we're due for something big. Also, Wednesdays, don't expect much writing. Tuesdays and Thursdays? Expect writing only from 11:00-12:15 and 4:00-11:59. Other days? Who knows?

Oops. Left this alone for too long and forgot to post it. Forgot where I was going with this.

These Five

If you're like me (and you probably are) when you're looking through peoples' blogs, you tube, any site that allows it, you're probably going to peruse the comments. If it's something like you tube where a page can have hundreds of comments, you might look at the first few, or (if it's really that thrilling) several pages of whatever childish name calling is going on about whatever group, celebrity, etc. Anyways, that's not really important, so long as you read the comments on this site. More specifically, the comment left by "Carson Daly" a few posts prior. If you did check it out, and you did follow the link, you'd find quite possibly the best thing ever. In fact, everyone pales in comparison to these five men. While reading it I found myself saying aloud at various times "Wow!" "Oh my God!" "Holy shit!" "That's fucking awesome!" and a few other things in that vein. So cool I bookmarked it; so cool it gets its own post; so cool it's getting a permanent spot as a link to the left. Here it is, in case you missed it.

Music For 2/4/09

It's a late one, but here it is:

Birdmonster

Concrete Lights

Ahem

First of all, I'd like to let out a (pending) BOO-YAH! Secondly this was amusing. And because of that link, I'll post this again:

Ah...definitely a good day.

Music For 2/3/09

Scott, I don't know if you've checked recently, but some kind gentleman/woman (I'm guessing woman due to the user ID) got the Fountains of Wayne/Mike Viola concert from the 18th all recorded and on the you tubes.

Mike Viola

All Bent Out of Shape

Fountains of Wayne

Hackensack

HUZZ-aw...

So that post yesterday about my co-worker leaving on Thursday? Not happening. Apparently she had a really bad reaction to the shots she needed and she was also being guilt tripped a bit into staying by her dad, who I'm sure was relieved when he discovered she wouldn't be able to go due to the shot thing. And while this means I'll have my 4-9 schedule again and more opportunity to get out, the fact that she was denied the opportunity to aid others, something she's wanted to do since she was a little girl, just makes me feel a bit bad. To know exactly what it is you want to do in life and be told you can't do it because nature (I guess in this case the vaccination) says "no," it doesn't seem fair. What can you do? Oh well, I guess she's got a license to some freedom as she hasn't told Omar of what's happened. Though he may be reading the screen right now through his magic technological powers and obsession with spying on his employees' goings on...

It's 11:30

It's 11:30 and the 12 hours gone by this day (and the last half hour of yesterday) have been pretty damned good so far. Sure, I only got three hours of sleep. Sure, I'm tired right now. Sure, I've got class until 3:15 and I'll have to battle through unnecessary traffic in order to get to work by 4:00. But sleep and work be damned, free Grand Slams at Denny's are reason enough for me to wake up before the sun comes up. Their coffee isn't bad and though it isn't very strong, it sure was worth it. $4 for a hearty breakfast, which was the cost of coffee and a milk? Not bad at all. So while I sit through yet another God awful lecture in Modern Fiction, I can't help but smile. Not just because of the breakfast either. Go Andy. And go Andy's love of Zombie massacres.

End Of A Good Thing

Alas, I knew my schedule of 4-9 shifts only would come to an end. Ever since I returned to my station behind the counter in Seaport Village I've had it easy. My one and only co-worker, Yadzia, was quite possibly the hardest worker I've ever seen. Used by the bosses to do all of their dirty work, including the ebay page that caused me to quit last March, she's been a trooper who cleans, organizes, orders, and keeps the bosses happy with an effort that shouldn't be put into such a menial job such as this one. Why's she leaving? Because she landed herself a job she wanted in South America helping impoverished folk...or something like that. Either way, she's leaving on Thursday and being the only person left knowing the way the store is run, I'll no longer have the night shift. Six days a week, two night shifts to allow for schooling and one day where I just can't show up due to an all-day class schedule. Looks like the days of going out to the desert, the forest, the ocean etc. to rock climb, hike, sail, get fresh air will all be gone as I'll be forced to show up to work by 10 almost every day. Just when I bought myself a new pair of backpacking boots. How do I know they're sticking me at the 10-4? Seeing as my boss tried to schedule me at 10 on my 930-315 class day after I've told him about 4 times and left a copy of my schedule with him, clearly stating that I can't work Tuesdays or Thursdays until 4, and being scheduled 10-4 Friday-Sunday I'd say that I'm SOL as far as night shifts are concerned. Now I'll be left with Marci's hideous cackle that makes my ears bleed and actual work to do. Dag yo.

Music For 2/2/09

Just Guns

Off My Mind

Music For 2/1/09

Today's music has a bit of an intro. About a year or two ago my dad was telling me about a band called Nothing Painted Blue and said that if I liked the Mountain Goats then I should give 'em a listen. Well, I looked them up, but couldn't really find anything about them and not remembering their name when I made it back down to San Diego, they were forgotten for the time being. So last night at work while I was reading John Darnielle's website, digging through the archives and all that jazz, I came across the name Nothing Painted Blue. Of course, bells went off in my head and I remembered that this was the band my dad had mentioned to me. I immediately went to youtube and looked them up, finding only Mountain Goats covers of NPB's song "Houseguest." I, of course, gave them a listen. The first I gave a listen to mentioned that Franklin Bruno, frontman/singer/songwriter of NPB was playing guitar with John during a Halloween show (John Darnielle in a far too snug Batman costume = golden). What was this connection? Writings of NPB, Bruno playing with Darnielle? I followed a link to a Franklin Bruno solo song because there are absolutely no videos of Nothing Painted Blue. Reading the description (and a trip to allmusic.com) I found that Bruno was also in a band called the Extra Glenns. As it turns out, Bruno and Darnielle started their musical careers at around the same time and somehow (I haven't quite figured it out yet, though Darnielle's near-nomadic living probably means that he met him in one of his various places he called home or visited) became friends. For a period the two collaborated on a project called the Extra Glenns while they were working on their own individual music. They had only released EPs and weren't very well known, but as most things not very well known, they developed a cult following. Together they released one album, which was a compilation of their various EPs, where the collaboration was to stop. That album was released back in '02. From what I found online, the music is great! Figuring that a band as unknown as Nothing Painted Blue wouldn't be found in stores, I went to my old stomping grounds for music collection. Ebay. On their way should be three different NPB albums and I'll soon try to find the Extra Glenns on there as well. So today's selection is the one Franklin Bruno song that I found, the one Extra Glenns song that I found, and a Mountain Goats cover of "Houseguest".

Franklin Bruno

Two Knives

Extra Glenns

Baltimore

The Mountain Goats

Houseguest (the link is to the Halloween show. It didn't make the video today despite the fact that Mr. Bruno is in it because the synching is completely off, but I couldn't let you not look at John Darnielle in that Batman costume. Also, I didn't know that John smoked. Go figure.)

Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!

Given that it's Sunday, 11am(ish) and I'm not writing a brief piece or a piece on music, you can tell that I'm at work. Work time has been designated my computer writing time. Since I don't have anything else to do. As you all know (maybe) it's Super Bowl Sunday. I don't like football. I like Super Bowl Sunday, though. It's one of those days where people have an excuse to congregate in an area to watch a sporting event where the sporting event doesn't necessarily have to be the center of attention.

What's that? Andy's advocating social interaction? Preposterous! C'mon, I'm not some heartless bastard.

I know that everyone hypes up the commercials on SBS, wondering what the next hi-larious 30 seconds of their life are going to be. I don't know what'll happen this year, but I did get an email from Denny's telling me to watch the game for a heads up on what their newest deal is going to be. Could it be mouth-watering breakfast at an outrageously low price?! Oh, the suspense is killing me!

Actually, I can't remember the last time I watched the Super Bowl. I do remember watching it my Freshman year of college, getting drunk in my room with friends while my roommate's nasty socks hung from the window. But was that the last time? I can't remember. Did the Super Bowl with the commercials for Bi-Polar awareness come out that year, some year prior or some year after? For some reason that particular commercial sticks out in my mind because it wasn't something that you'd normally want to think about when watching Clash of the Roided-Up Guys Who Think They're Titans, But Are Just Highly Paid Jerks. I don't know. Maybe those socks did more damage than I thought.

Whatever the case is with the commercials, I've really just forgotten what it was I was talking about. Something about social gatherings...Super Bowl...Eh. Screw it. I'm not watching it anyways. I'm at work! Wait. When does it even start? And where are my pants?