I want a better place, or just a better place to fall

Weeks go by so very fast when you are working for a living. I’ve been in Calgary for well over 8 months now and so far it still doesn’t seem real. I went out for supper with my sister, her boyfriend and a friend of hers from Canmore last Tuesday. I took them to Fuel, a nice stand-by where the girls are consistently mint. I had the vindaloo, another great thing about Fuel. Who would have thought that the Earl’s kitchen could whip up such a great curry dish?

While we were eating I got talking to Alex about my job and Calgary and all of that, but I couldn’t really express how I was feeling. It is sort of like none of this is real or permanent. I don’t feel like this is what I should be doing with myself, so I just sort of go through the motions day in and out, without too much thought about where I am going and how what I am currently doing fits in with that. I have no idea what should happen to change this, or give me some feeling of purpose so I will just stay inebriated and ride it out.

Just got back from the Weakerthans. My god is John K. Samson awesome. He looks like he is constantly having a blast on stage, and I am sure he actually is. They played a really good set, I think there was just one new song thrown in there. I was wondering about this in the cab after the show, but is Showdown going to be played live ever again. I am pretty sure that Propagandhi will never play it again because John sang most of it and Jord just sort of filled it out. I also don’t think that the Weakerthans will play it, even though John wrote it, because he wrote it for a different band. So right now Showdown is floating around lost, never to be played again. That is a shitty end to a really good song. I would say that is my favourite song off of How To Clean Everything. Damn.

I spent Saturday up at Louise with Jeff and Chris. I am pretty sure that was my last day of riding for the season, which means based on the $1000 I spent on gear this year, my being out at the hill 6 times (at $60 a pop) and my average of probably 6 solid runs a day (this is probably a generous number), each run I did this year cost me about $38 dollars. I still say that was worth it. It does tell me that next year I need to make sure to get Louise and Sunshine cards. And quit being such a baby the morning after we go out drinking. I think I missed a lot of good days that way.

I don’t really have a closing thought.

Peace.

Gold teeth and a curse for this town

So I am sitting at work right now, round 10 o’clock Sunday night trying desperately to get this stupid tie-in to work. Needless to say it isn’t happening for me, so I thought a short post to give my brain a break was in order.

I spent Saturday night and Sunday up in the mountains with Brehon, Mark and Bourassa, generally being asses and annoying people. I had my first real experience riding spring conditions (read: slush) and it was awesome. With the exception of the being super out of shape (which sort of shortened most of my rides) this was one of my best days of riding this season. I am definitely going back up to Louise next weekend to watch people ride the super park. I love watching these kids throw down ridiculous shit on jumps I am scared to ride beside. It will also be a ridiculous party, and that is right up my alley.

Tim and I also picked up some squash racquets this weekend because we had nothing better to spend our money on. Bourassa came over and played a few games with us while explaining the rules. Squash is a surprisingly entertaining game, so I think we might actually stick with this. I am hoping we do at least. As my performance on the hill this weekend demonstrated I need additional lung capacity and hopefully this will help.

So that was a really short update, but I think I’m good enough to dive back into this work shit.

Peace.

PS – Mark, I forgot what I was supposed name this post, so I put up something you should recognize.

Oh yeah, it was supposed to be called “crush your skeleton into fuckin gelatin” cos we were listening to Jedi Mind Tricks on the way home. Oh well, too late now.

The guilty don’t feel guilty, they learn not to

I thought I had a post in me about all the music I have been listening to lately, but I have had a hell of a time getting it out. Perhaps this will end up being that post, but I make no guarantees.

I will start out by saying that my aural diet of late has been largely shaped by Garden State. Recognizing that I am a giant band wagon jumper because of this, I still think that was right up there with The Crow as one of the best soundtracks ever. Actually, those are really the only two soundtracks I can think of where I didn't buy it to listen to one rocking song (note: I didn't actually buy the cd yet).

So there you have it, for those of you who aren't familiar with the contents of this cd (I’m thinking most people are), it is straight-up indie rock. I got the cd off Mark and was thoroughly enjoying it, so from his music collection I got a whole shit-pile of other indie shit (the shins, belle and sebastien, interpol, and even goddamn modest mouse - a band I swore up and down I would never get in to). So I have been sitting at work listening to this music and really feeling it.

I did a little research for some other bands to check out in the genre (courtesy of www.questionablecontent.net) and picked up a couple albums from The Fiery Furnaces. That is some wacked out shit, but still highly enjoyable. Then I picked up Bright Eyes because I heard it about it somewhere. I would have to say that Bright Eyes' Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is deadly, and probably my favourite find out of all of this stuff (it reminds me of Tripping Daisy’s Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb – an incredible cd).

Maybe that’s it for the indie stuff write now, so here is a small update on what I am doing. Right now I am contemplating sending out some e-mails to folks who have been kind enough to try keeping in touch with me. I appreciate that and should return the favour, but I am so very lazy. Apparently writing for my blog is not effort, but writing e-mails are. Maybe because e-mails are supposed to stay on topic, and this obviously isn't.

Stern came through last weekend and got wasted at Aussie Rules, always a fun, expensive night. Along the way we swapped some books, with Brian hooking me up with Slaughterhouse 5, and him walking with my copy of the Bone collection. I've read the first chapter of slaughterhouse so I feel fully qualified to offer opinions on it. From what I have seen so far, Vonnegut reads like Douglas Coupland. That is all I really feel I am able to say at this point. The premise of the story is interesting, and based on the people who have recommended it, I think it will be a good read.

That was a fairly useless post, so I think I will cut it off here. Maybe the next one will be about the virtues of switching banks just to get an iPod shuffle, or wasting time at work trying to figure out how long it would take a train to do a round trip from Calgary to wherever it picks up sulphur. These are the days of my life, and the thoughts that occupy them.

Peace.

Oh ya, I just booked my holidays. June 27th to July 9th and August 8-12th. I picked them based on the fact that I wasn't scheduled those days. So if anyone is planning to come to Calgary and wants to catch me when I'm not working, now you know.

I’m paid to make girls panic while I sing

So a long while back I wrote about how I am not capable of taking peoples advice on music and need to find out about bands myself (I was talking about In Flames at the time). It is a peculiar disorder I’ve diagnosed as being a jerk. Another case occurred today at work. A while back Mark, King of Media Pirating, asked if I had any Brand New in the midst of pillaging my cd collection. I didn’t think I did at the time, but this morning I stumbled over Déja Entendu and brought it to work to give it a listen, prior to making the handoff to Mark.

It turns out this is the band Dave was telling me about (or at least I think they are), whose lead singer grew up, or went to high school with the guy from Taking Back Sunday. I am fairly confident that this is accurate as I remember Dave was quite pumped to show Mike and me that the two bands share lyrics (or did on one occasion). I’ll be damned if I can find the two songs on here, or be bothered to look it up on the internet, but I thought it was pretty damn cool at the time. I’m assuming that is why I got this cd.

So I think the point of this post was to give Dave credit for introducing me to Brand New way back when, because I now enjoy listening to them.

Thanks Dave (and Mike for allowing me to get the cd off him back then).

They’re making money but smashing trees

I picked up my ticket to Rise Against and Alexisonfire today because I was sick of missing shows and I wanted to do something about it. I am proactive. Also I was feeling flush because I got a fat $300 of my damage deposit back [note: D, if you ever read this anymore, send me your address and you will get yours]. So now that I have my ticket, I am fully expecting some other people to pick some up and come watch two of my favourite bands these days absolutely kill it.

Now Mike has said (and he is my reference when it comes to all things punk or metal) that Watch Out! wasn’t as good as the first Alexisonfire cd. I want to dispute that claim and point out the new video for No Transitory. Lots of I talk to say they can’t get into this band, but then you show them the video for this song and they can feel it. I suppose this actually sort of supports Mike’s claim, because one of the best parts of the first album was the slit throat screaming, but the wicked song structures and musicianship are still all there. I think these guys might even be on par with My Chemical Romance for the ugly band playing good music claim (actually not quite because MCR look like hobos). Still, I am excited as hell to hear them play this new stuff live.

On a completely different note, those of you who know Jon should go check out his blog. Scroll down a bit and you will be blown away, the first set of pictures are the real ones.

Keep it right.

From the bottom to the tops the only way to go now

Don’t really know what to say these days, which has resulted in less posting. I’ve pretty much been trying to stay comfortably numb in order to get through this work shit and in to the summer. It works out sometimes, but the rest of the time I just end up feeling like shit for most of the day.

Yesterday on our way back from Kananaskis I saw a ton of people biking along the river. I am actually disgusted with myself for not heading straight home to get my bike and hop on there. I suppose I had company, which is a decent excuse. In case anyone is wondering we definitely showed Rob the worst time ever this weekend and I don’t expect him to be back in Calgary any time soon. Can’t say I blame him either. This week is supposed to be ludicrously warm (I am definitely not sure if you can say something is ludicrously warm, because it just doesn’t seem to work), like damn near 20 degrees. This is awesome and I am hoping it stays like this for good now, although I was told at work that there will be a large storm in May because there always is.

In other biking news my Nunu is still on Evan and Amy’s balcony, which I’m sure isn’t really what they are looking for. The reason I left it there is that we have a no bikes in the apartment rule (dumbest rule ever) so I need to leave my bike in this bike compound, which offers questionable security, and hope that my lock will hold out. This would work great if I had a lock that couldn’t be cracked open in 15 seconds. As such I am currently researching bike locks in an effort to find something I can feel comfortable using. I haven’t found that yet.

It turns out DL Incognito is going to be in Calgary on the 14th, with DJ Dopey and some other guys. I loved DLs first album, and while I haven’t got around to getting his newer one, I am confident it will be worthwhile. The issue I am having is that this is the same night Hot Hot Heat is playing at the University. I have limited experience in going to Hip-Hop shows, but I have found that bar a few artists who take it seriously (k-os, J5, classified) lots of rappers just throw their beats on a minidisk and rap over that. I am hoping that DL wouldn’t so that, but I haven’t heard anything about his live show. On the other hand, I have heard good things about Hot Hot Heat and how much energy they put into their live show. The things that scares me about them is the probability of them playing a set of all new stuff. This wouldn’t work for me with this band because it takes me a while to get into their songs. This may end up being a game-time decision. Or possibly I will just skip both in the hopes of saving that money.

I think Rob was the one who made the comment this weekend that my room looks like a bomb exploded. That is true and now I am going to fix that.

Peace.

...Or maybe Yoplait was trying to inspire me

Apparently Mitch Hedberg died yesterday. Hopefully that is just some bad April Fool's Day joke. For those who have yet to experience him here is some of his material, in highly inferior written form.

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I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.

I wrote a letter to my dad - I wrote, "I really enjoy being here," but I accidentally wrote rarely instead of really. But I still wanted to use it so i crossed it out and wrote, "I rarely drive steamboats, dad - there's a lot of shit you don't know about me. Quit trying to act like I'm a steamboat operator." This letter took a harsh turn right away...

I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.

An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see an "Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order" sign, just "Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience."

I never joined the army because at ease was never that easy to me. Seemed rather uptight still. I don't relax by parting my legs slightly and putting my hands behind my back. That does not equal ease. At ease was not being in the military. I am at ease, bro, because I am not in the military.

I use the word totally too much. I need to change it up and use a word that is different but has the same meaning. Mitch, do you like submarine sandwhiches? All-encompassingly...

I got my hair highlighted, because I felt some strands were more important than others.

I got an ant farm. Them fellas didn't grow shit.

I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.

Last week I helped my friend stay put. It's a lot easier than helping someone move. I just went over to his house and made sure that he did not start to load shit into a truck.

I bought a doughnut and they gave me a receipt for the doughtnut...I don't need a receipt for the doughnut - I give you money and you give me the doughnut, end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario that I would have to prove that I bought a doughnut. To some skeptical friend, Don't even act like I didn't buy a doughnut, I've got the documentation right here...

2-in-1 is a bullshit term, because 1 is not big enough to hold 2. That's why 2 was created.

This shirt is dry clean only. Which means...it's dirty.

I played golf...I did not get a hole in one, but I did hit a guy. That's way more satisfying......you're supposed to yell 'fore' but I kept thinking there ain't no way that's gonna hit him.

My friend said to me, "You know what I like? Mashed potatoes." I was like, "Dude, you have to give me time to guess. If you're going to quiz me you have to insert a pause."

I went to see a band in New York. The lead singer got on the microphone, and he said "How many of you people feel like human beings tonight?" Then he said "How many of you feel like animals?" And everyone cheered after the animals part. But the thing is, I cheered after the human being part because I did not know that there was a second part to the question.

I have a cheese-shredder at home, which is its positive name. They don't call it by its negative name, which is sponge-ruiner.

The next time I move I hope I get a real easy phone number, something like 2222222. People will ask, "Mitch, how do I get a hold of you?" I'll say, "Just press two for a while, when I answer, you'll know that you've pressed two enough."

I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.

And finally: The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall.

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So there you have it. Dude has 2 cds out and if he isn't around anymore those are solid gold and everone should check them out.

Peace.