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| During the 40 minute talk I had with my sister tonight, I was laughing and telling her about the great time I had playing The Troubadour on Saturday night, and all the stuff that happened afterwards. Nothing magnificent or grandiose, but just fun. My sister stopped me and made an observation. She told me that for the first time in a long time, I sounded happy. It sounded like even though I don't make the money that I would like to, or have the ideal living conditions, I still was enjoying myself. Know what? I am. I am having a great time. I'm not thrilled that today was October 1st and it was 97 degrees, or that some of my accounts are being difficult at work, or that my uniform work shirt is polyester and unbreathable. Nor am I thrilled that I live away from all of my friends. But I'm enjoying myself. I've been going to alot of concerts as of late, and we're going to try and score tickets for The Pumpkins when they come into town in early December. My band is doing well, and we've collected a handsome dossier of venues we've played in the L.A. area. I'm still watching movies, old and new, good and bad, and my friends are good to me. I honestly can't totally complain. The key is to change the things you can and to control your own reality. I listen to what others say and think, and decipher what to take seriously and what not to. I control what I do or don't do. I stopped drinking for myself, at leat until I can control it. I deal with how I deal with a homeless person that I come in contact with. I'm in charge of my personal relationships and how I deal with my clients. It's not always pretty, and sometimes it weighs me down emotionally, but I've been given the autonomy to control my own life, and I'm doing it. I just happen to be enjoying it in the process. No one lives forever, and you can't force someone to like you. What my sister ultimately realized is that I've been dealing with the rough cards I've been dealt in my own way. My advice is to do the same. Control your destiny and life in the ways you can, accept the things you can't, and know when to give a damn and when not to. I know it's kinda like the AA prayer. And it's true.
I've just thrown out a nugget of wisdom. Do with it as you please.
"Sing along with the common people. Sing along and it might just get you through. Nothing wrong with the common people. Nothing wrong, even though they're laughing at you and the stupid things you do, because you think that poor is cool." - Jarvis Cocker | | |
| That's right, follks. Just a few days shy of a 3 month hiatus, I'm back. Whether you care or not is up to you.
Let's get caught up on important stuff, some quasi-important stuff, and maybe even a think or 2 that bears no consequence to anyone. Ready? Off we go!
I turned 30 back on August 20th. That's right, they let me live this long. I started talking to an ex girlfriend again, not for anything but friendship purposes, unfortunately, but my dialogue with her helped my realize that I did indeed have a massive problem with alcohol. The light in my brain finally went on, and I conciously realized that I was using alcohol to deal with boredom and depression, and it was killing my relationships with others. I am honest enough to admit that my self control as far as the whole "social drinker" thing goes is horrible. So about a week and a half before my birthday, I decided it was time to do what my father did - I quit drinking. I decided I can have a drink or 2 on special occasions, and I have had a few times when I have had booze (3 in specific), but for the whole, I quit. I'm done. Smoking will go next, and that will happen sooner than later, I'm hoping. But at this point in my life, I know what happens. I know how the getting loaded thing works out. It's hard not to do it, but I'm confident in myself. This is a decision I've made for me, and no one else. So be it.
A while ago, I was served with 2 bench warrants from the illustrious, money hungry city of Burbank. I will not go into details, but when the judge said, and this is a direct quote, that "Burbank doesn't get their money", I knew that justice was a figment on my imagination. They want my paycheck, and those thieves look for every opportunity to get it. But I'm done with that. I have to pay West Covina now, and then my fines to the State of California are paid. They can all go screw until it's time to register my car again in April and pay taxes, coincidentally in the same month. Isn't that special? Moving on.
The Olympics were here, and stayed about 2 weeks too long. I didn't care about them, I still don't care about them, and Michael Phelps still cannot out-swim a shark. Especially with all those damn medals around his neck. I think he is indeed an extrodinary athlete. No question there. But I just don't care. Know what the Olympics are? Distraction from pre-season football. That's right, ladies and gentlemen. It's officially football season again, and I for one cannot be happier. I've endured alot over the past few seasons. Between The Lakers losing to the Celtics, baseball, AND the Olympics, the sports gods have granted us all with that most hallowed time of year. And Favre to The Jets? Seriously? Just stop. Leave us alone, Bret. We get it. But hey - milk it for all it's worth. Just watch your joints and try not to serioulsy mess up your body before you really retire. Don't go out on a torn ACL or nothing like that. That's all. Aside from that...toss that coin and let's get kickoff underway.
And speaking of magical seasons, Obama and McCain have chosen their running mates, conventions are underway, and I still don't trust either of them. If it comes down to it, I'll go with Obama. But I DO NOT LIKE MY OPTIONS. Neither of them. I'm hesitant to pull a lever in November for any candidate. I'll leave the politics at that.
And now for the news that REALLY has me wetting the bed at night....
RIDDLEY.
We recorded a 4 song demo on Sunday, and after 12 and a half hours of grueling, focused work, we have some great sounding songs. Artwork will be chosen shortly, and before you know it, you can check out www.myspace.com/riddleymusic to get your own copy of NIGHTMARE BY RIDDLEY.
Furthermore, we play The Troubadour in L.A. on September 27th at the 9:50 time slot. There will more than likely be a CD release party at The CIA in North Hollywood in October, along with Peter Daly. So what I'm really talking about here, is the reality that Riddley is starting to get big and are working on becoming a household name.
That's all you need to know for now.
Metal now and forever. | | |
| Forget the Red Wings winning The Cup. Forget Obama and Hillary. This is was bigger than the sum of those all together. Got your helmet and harness on? Good. Here comes the bomb....
Riddley. July 19. Viper Room, L.A.
Drew made a video promo. Watch it and wish you lived out here.
Go to www.myspace.com/riddleymusic and click on the "videos" link. Watch. Revel. Enjoy even. Just show up. And buy a ticket from me. And no, you will not get a free ticket. It's only $12. Suck it up.
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| First of all, I neglected to mention earlier the passing of Bo Diddley and Yves Saint Laurent. One was a rock'n'roll icon, the other made fashions for women in the workplace back in the day. Although I've never worn a piece of clothing by Mr. Saint Laurent, I have listenend to any number of Bo Diddley songs, and have held him in high regard for a while. Both will be missed. Well, one in particular for me personally. Then again, he wasn't young. So may he now rest in peace. Yves was no spring chicken either.
In other mind boggling news, the Penguins managed to not only tie with the Red Wings with only second left in the game, but pulled out a win in 3 OT. You heard me. 3 OT. That makes for 2 exhausted teams going into Game 6 for Lord Stanley's Cup. I detest the Penguins, but I have to hand it to them, not only for pulling off this massive win, but doing it in Detroit. Wow. Just wrap your gray matter around that one for a few.
Finally, in strange news...I just discovered that a hand tailored suit I had sitting in the closet for years still magically fits me like a glove. I'll have to take it to the cleaners tomorrow morning, but I'm impressed this gorgeous piece of clothing still fits, and is also in good condition. Just not worn in some time. I have a wedding this weekend, and I wanted to look sharp for it, but didn't want to bother with the whole fitting process. Geesh what a pain. I did buy some new dress shirts and a new tie, but I'm elated this suit fits me. I know I'm babbling and this has no significant bearing on your life, but who cares. It's a blog. I shouldn't be writing it, and you shouldn't be reading it. Shame on both of us.
Selah. | | |
| I love movies. I mean - really love them. And one of my review sources is www.rottentomatoes.com
If you have any doubts and want an honest opinion, start there. Honestly. Just out of curiosity, and because I think they're pretty funny, here are some of the reviews of the Sex and The City movie.
"I walked into the theatre hoping for a nice evening and came out as a hard-line Marxist, my head a whirl of closets, delusions, and blunt-clawed cattiness. All the film lacks is a subtitle: The Lying, the Bitch, and the Wardrobe."
"What do "Sex and the City," ABC's "The View," and Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" have in common? Give up? They are full of babbling, only occasionally coherent, women."
"Why get the band back together if youíre not going to add some new songs to the greatest hits?"
"I felt like some sort of alien anthropologist watching this movie... I don't see myself or the women that I know in them. Not at all. Not in the tiniest degree."
Get the point? Go check out the website.
I need to pee desperately. | | |
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