I went to bed at about 8 last night in order to correct my sleep schedule, but I woke up at about 3:30, unable to fall back asleep. I guess that's a start. I showered and walked to McDonald's for a nostalgic breakfast, the same I'd always get when my uncle took me when I was younger. Not too often, though, because it's not the healthiest thing around! Blork blork blo
I came down into the TV lounge of my building to use the computer because my roommate still slumbers. I'm writing this as I listen to an instrumental of the new band I'm in on repeat so I can write for it. It shows a lot of potential, but it's not a fully developed style yet. It plays a lot on classic metal and ye olde Scandanavian fodder, but I can hear wisps of emo violence and indie-rock in the interlude. Perhaps I'll bring out those qualities with the vocals I use.
I went to the Williams Street County Fair and Expo yesterday, which was really fun. I spent an hour and a half of it waiting in line for a free customized T-shirt. However, the only color shirt in size M left was white, so I got a white shirt with an old-timey Meatwad design on it. Then I got a bunch of free stuff from Xavier, the mystical gift log of wonder. Reach in your hand, receive glories upon glories. That is, a Meatwad stress ball, a Snake n Bacon sock puppet of Snake, a book of Adult Swim postcards, some stickers, and a snazzy Zorak pen. Didn't win any of the raffles for DVD sets... or custom Mooninites Etnies....
Met a kid here recently with similar music taste. May become a friendship, who knows.
I've had a lot of aspirations lately. In the past two weeks, I've had the desire to write a graphic novel, learn to illustrate for it, make a documentary, do stand-up comedy, and become a voice actor. I wish I had the ability to just bust into one of those careers. If I really sat down and thought, I think I could possibly write some good stand-up. And if I had the ability to create characters or was given some kind of loose prompting, I could probably come up with some funny voices. Hmm.
That's So Raven is on the TV down here. Disney channel programming is not funny. I understand an eight year old kid enjoying it, but I hate when people my age love High School Musical or the Jonas Brothers or Hannah Montana or any of the other shitty sitcoms they run. The only good show the Disney channel ever had was Even Stevens. Period.
If anyone ever reads this, then post a comment. Even if it's just you, Katie. <3!
rk.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
dead cat; content / bored.
I found out that Jewel died while I was in New York City a few weekends ago. My mom called while I was there, but she didn't want to ruin my fun by telling me. I found out when I went home on the weekend of the 26th-28th. She rotted for three days underneath some long grass. She chose a shaded place. A few nights ago, I saw her silhouette in my foyer. I didn't say 'bye yet because I want to see it again. Next time I will, but only if she promises to show up every now and again.
That weekend that I found out, I came home for two things. One was the CD release show of the band that I was kicked out of for going to college, and they still owe me somewhere between 300 and 450 dollars for my cut of earnings. I don't complain about it anymore because it makes me feel like a dick, but I could definitely use that money. Even so, I went and supported. I played a song with them. I upset Matty. He was the bassist when I was the singer. Now he's the singer. People say that he thinks I upstaged him. I didn't mean to. I didn't want to upset anybody; it was a milestone evening for those guys. Hah, when I asked one of them how much the CD cost, I expected a copy to be handed to me. Instead, I was told that I could "download it online from one of them if I wanted." They all know that I hate not owning the physical record. So I had to buy one, all the while them owing me a large sum of money. I hate what money does to music. And friends.
I'm still with the band I joined here in Philly. I decided that leaving would be wrong of me considering I said that I'd be solid. I did what I originally said I wouldn't do and I meddled with their writing process and gave a speech about uniqueness without trying to offend them. If any of you guys ever read this, I mean no offense. People may like it, but I consider it boring music. However, they all sort of took what I said to heart and we're gonna try to write interesting stuff. Still, I want my dream band to come to life. NO ONE on campus seems to like my kind of music, and if they do, it's one or two bands thrown into a grab bag of Fall Out Boys and Say Anythings and Metro Stations. Philly in general seems to be, for the most part, absolutely desolate in terms of having an outstanding music scene. Few bands that I know of came out of this city, and only one local band that I know of truly stands out to me so far. They're called John Fonda.
My life is, aside from my musical aspirations and boring college courses, absolutely stable. I have a girlfriend that I care for very much and a nice, small group of people that I know here. I occasionally see classmates from high school, which is comforting. But at the same time, I'm forced to feel kind of bored. I sort of want something that really challenges my creativity and imagination. All I've had like that so far is a small film project based on displaying a space within two minutes with multiple angles. That was boring. I did jack shit in pre-meditating anything or deciding what I would do; I just filmed what I saw in my space (the Broad and South Street garden) that I found interesting. Even so, my project was probably in the top three for the receiving of classmate comments. Most other people planned their shots, even storyboarded. I feel like I can't express myself at all. I'm in a (currently) flat, undynamic band and am stuck in an entry level film course because I don't know how to use fancy cameras. Sure, other people have way more meaningful problems in this world, but this is about the worst that can happen to me that isn't absolutely extraordinary. I need to be able to think and make good things or else I'm bored and content. I'd rather be active and jubilant.
HORSE, come back to Philadelphia.
That weekend that I found out, I came home for two things. One was the CD release show of the band that I was kicked out of for going to college, and they still owe me somewhere between 300 and 450 dollars for my cut of earnings. I don't complain about it anymore because it makes me feel like a dick, but I could definitely use that money. Even so, I went and supported. I played a song with them. I upset Matty. He was the bassist when I was the singer. Now he's the singer. People say that he thinks I upstaged him. I didn't mean to. I didn't want to upset anybody; it was a milestone evening for those guys. Hah, when I asked one of them how much the CD cost, I expected a copy to be handed to me. Instead, I was told that I could "download it online from one of them if I wanted." They all know that I hate not owning the physical record. So I had to buy one, all the while them owing me a large sum of money. I hate what money does to music. And friends.
I'm still with the band I joined here in Philly. I decided that leaving would be wrong of me considering I said that I'd be solid. I did what I originally said I wouldn't do and I meddled with their writing process and gave a speech about uniqueness without trying to offend them. If any of you guys ever read this, I mean no offense. People may like it, but I consider it boring music. However, they all sort of took what I said to heart and we're gonna try to write interesting stuff. Still, I want my dream band to come to life. NO ONE on campus seems to like my kind of music, and if they do, it's one or two bands thrown into a grab bag of Fall Out Boys and Say Anythings and Metro Stations. Philly in general seems to be, for the most part, absolutely desolate in terms of having an outstanding music scene. Few bands that I know of came out of this city, and only one local band that I know of truly stands out to me so far. They're called John Fonda.
My life is, aside from my musical aspirations and boring college courses, absolutely stable. I have a girlfriend that I care for very much and a nice, small group of people that I know here. I occasionally see classmates from high school, which is comforting. But at the same time, I'm forced to feel kind of bored. I sort of want something that really challenges my creativity and imagination. All I've had like that so far is a small film project based on displaying a space within two minutes with multiple angles. That was boring. I did jack shit in pre-meditating anything or deciding what I would do; I just filmed what I saw in my space (the Broad and South Street garden) that I found interesting. Even so, my project was probably in the top three for the receiving of classmate comments. Most other people planned their shots, even storyboarded. I feel like I can't express myself at all. I'm in a (currently) flat, undynamic band and am stuck in an entry level film course because I don't know how to use fancy cameras. Sure, other people have way more meaningful problems in this world, but this is about the worst that can happen to me that isn't absolutely extraordinary. I need to be able to think and make good things or else I'm bored and content. I'd rather be active and jubilant.
HORSE, come back to Philadelphia.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
In school
This is the first time I've posted onto this since I've come to school. I'm in Philadelphia attending Temple. I'm majoring in film and I just decided recently that I'm minoring in philosophy. I joined a band here. They're basically typical metalcore, but they have potential. I'm hoping to create a vortex of uniqueness within their ranks sometime soon.
I still want to start my dream band; it'd be a cross between the screamo or emo violence from the late 90's like Saetia or like Circle Takes The Square type stuff, really fun and silly stuff that is heavy and lighthearted at the same time like Heavy Heavy Low Low, and then I'd play keyboards over all of that. The whole band would have vocal duties and it would be absolute equality. We'd create music for us, to everyone. For example, every member will ideally get a mic or share them. Between songs, we'd all talk as if just conversing with a group of friends. Maybe even just talk to each other. We'd write music. It wouldn't have genre rules like "you can't put this there" or "you can't use this riff" or whatever. Yes, I'd like it to embody the qualities set forth by those other genres, but it'd be its own thing above all. Everyone loves a good breakdown and everyone loves a nice interlude... that kind of stuff would stick. Everything else just happens. And like I said, I'd play keyboards, which I've grown to love. I'm no guitar man and I just attack drums. The keyboard is just right in front of me and I can do anything I practice enough. So far, I only really know a few chords, a few scales, and two HORSE the band songs. It'll be a learning experience. Anyway, I'm done rambling about that for now.
Speaking of HORSE, I saw them on Friday night at First Unitarian. It was the best I've seen them yet. It was the first time for me at that venue and I love the room. No flashy colored lights and no cigarette smoke. No barriers, no security. Short stage. Energetic yet reasonable kids. Clean bathroom. Sitting space. It's great there. But yeah, the best I've seen them yet. Heard a couple songs for the first time live: Hyperborea, Seven Tentacles and Eight Flames, Octopus On Fire, and Kangarooster Meadows. It was great. Erik signed the shirt I bought with this neat "Lord Gold" text and his face on it. And I was the kid that brought the Sharpie; a good handful of kids got their stuff signed thanks to my ingenuity. It made me feel good. The sweaty walk back to the subway felt fantastic in the cool air. I'm so sore right now. My neck, back, thighs, shoulders... I hurt all over. I leave no other band's show that damaged unless my band opened for it. Still, I get much more hurt being in HORSE's crowd than I do flailing onstage.
It's very late. Or early. And I'm not tired at all.
I still want to start my dream band; it'd be a cross between the screamo or emo violence from the late 90's like Saetia or like Circle Takes The Square type stuff, really fun and silly stuff that is heavy and lighthearted at the same time like Heavy Heavy Low Low, and then I'd play keyboards over all of that. The whole band would have vocal duties and it would be absolute equality. We'd create music for us, to everyone. For example, every member will ideally get a mic or share them. Between songs, we'd all talk as if just conversing with a group of friends. Maybe even just talk to each other. We'd write music. It wouldn't have genre rules like "you can't put this there" or "you can't use this riff" or whatever. Yes, I'd like it to embody the qualities set forth by those other genres, but it'd be its own thing above all. Everyone loves a good breakdown and everyone loves a nice interlude... that kind of stuff would stick. Everything else just happens. And like I said, I'd play keyboards, which I've grown to love. I'm no guitar man and I just attack drums. The keyboard is just right in front of me and I can do anything I practice enough. So far, I only really know a few chords, a few scales, and two HORSE the band songs. It'll be a learning experience. Anyway, I'm done rambling about that for now.
Speaking of HORSE, I saw them on Friday night at First Unitarian. It was the best I've seen them yet. It was the first time for me at that venue and I love the room. No flashy colored lights and no cigarette smoke. No barriers, no security. Short stage. Energetic yet reasonable kids. Clean bathroom. Sitting space. It's great there. But yeah, the best I've seen them yet. Heard a couple songs for the first time live: Hyperborea, Seven Tentacles and Eight Flames, Octopus On Fire, and Kangarooster Meadows. It was great. Erik signed the shirt I bought with this neat "Lord Gold" text and his face on it. And I was the kid that brought the Sharpie; a good handful of kids got their stuff signed thanks to my ingenuity. It made me feel good. The sweaty walk back to the subway felt fantastic in the cool air. I'm so sore right now. My neck, back, thighs, shoulders... I hurt all over. I leave no other band's show that damaged unless my band opened for it. Still, I get much more hurt being in HORSE's crowd than I do flailing onstage.
It's very late. Or early. And I'm not tired at all.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
jewel
My cat was taken to the vet this week after progressively throwing up more and more often over the course of two or three months. It used to be only once or twice every two weeks or so, but now it's to the point where it's once or more per day. The vet initially suspected hyperthyroid to be the explanation, but after some bloodwork, it became clear that it was not the case. The only evidence of any kind of problem in the bloodwork was a high white blood cell count. So, there's something wrong, but they don't know what. If what she has isn't figured out through normal testing that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars, then she'll be put to sleep. I've lived with this cat since I was seven years old. I'm almost eighteen, and the thought of her exiting my life is like losing a family member. She can barely climb stairs or even stand for long periods of time. It's gonna be hard for me; I've never lost a pet before. If she's in pain, it's probably best, right? I hope so. I feel really young and small as I write about it. I feel seven again because now is the time that I must appreciate her fully. I never appreciate anything until it's in danger of leaving my life. I hate that.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
hmm
I'm content with my life for now. I don't have anything profound to write. I need to remember to do it when it's actually on my mind. I'll write a note.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
may twenty fifth
I ate an Arby's feast and I'm very full. Our last day of high school was Friday and summer has officially started. In three short months I'll be departing for film school. I'm really excited to be able to start a creative career. This summer we're hoping to do at least two big projects and one music video.
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