Saturday, October 31, 2009
Unrepentant Bragging
From the Sorry State Records website:
Manipulation: Demo Tape
$3.00
IF THIS ISN'T THE BEST DEMO OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS I WILL GLADLY EAT MY HAT. Seriously, Chicago's Manipulation is a new hardcore supergroup featuring members of Chronic Seizure, Pedestrians, and Civic Progress, and they have blown me the fuck away with this demo... so raw, urgent, and in your face. This is like the perfect mix of atmopsheric, Discharge-inspired hardcore like Invasion and Destino Final mixed with the raw, battering aggression of bands like Deathreat. Fuck... I just can't say enough good things about this. 7 songs on a pro-printed tape... get this now because you WILL hear about this band and mark my words they will be the hot shit within the next year or so.
Also my show's going well.
I'm feeling pretty full of myself right now.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
All Aboard the Poop Pants Express! Toot Toot!
My head is exploding like a soda bottle, except instead of soda it's snot. So I spent the day reading a text book about the Early Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages, and falling in and out of crazy medieval nightmares. In one of them I got somebody pregnant and had to deal with the consequences. That one wasn't medieval, just a nightmare.
I've learned a lot. Remember Charlemange, that character you immediately discarded after completing 10th grade world history? The reason he is important is because he completed the official joining of Church and State, thereby creating the beginning of Western European culture. Now everyone in Western Europe was subject to the same rule of law, and personal edict of shame. It's important to remember that as late as the 800 A.D.s, Western Europeans were brutal, stupid, ugly and illiterate. After Charlemagne, they were still all those things, but Christian as well. Charlemagne made Latin the international language of the Church and scholarship, assuring everyone would have a personal relationship with God in a language they did not understand.
What we think of as The Dark Ages are really the beginning of culture in Europe. Think of how much darker it must have been before that - you'd have people eating people, shoes made of sharp rocks that you have to step on, and daily testicle slammings, probably. I'd give recorded examples of their depravity, but they were all destroyed by the Holy Catholic Church in order to rid the world of Paganism.
In one of my medieval nightmares, I was in a dark monastery, caught between an Arianist, someone who believed that Jesus was entirely mortal, and a Monophysist, someone who believed that Jesus was entirely God. Tempers flared, and you could cut the tension with a knife. I woke up in cold sweat, yelling, "The Nicene Creed!". Jesus was of both substance. If only they'd drafted that creed sooner, so many pointless lives could have been saved.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a healthy day where I learn nothing.
I've learned a lot. Remember Charlemange, that character you immediately discarded after completing 10th grade world history? The reason he is important is because he completed the official joining of Church and State, thereby creating the beginning of Western European culture. Now everyone in Western Europe was subject to the same rule of law, and personal edict of shame. It's important to remember that as late as the 800 A.D.s, Western Europeans were brutal, stupid, ugly and illiterate. After Charlemagne, they were still all those things, but Christian as well. Charlemagne made Latin the international language of the Church and scholarship, assuring everyone would have a personal relationship with God in a language they did not understand.
What we think of as The Dark Ages are really the beginning of culture in Europe. Think of how much darker it must have been before that - you'd have people eating people, shoes made of sharp rocks that you have to step on, and daily testicle slammings, probably. I'd give recorded examples of their depravity, but they were all destroyed by the Holy Catholic Church in order to rid the world of Paganism.
In one of my medieval nightmares, I was in a dark monastery, caught between an Arianist, someone who believed that Jesus was entirely mortal, and a Monophysist, someone who believed that Jesus was entirely God. Tempers flared, and you could cut the tension with a knife. I woke up in cold sweat, yelling, "The Nicene Creed!". Jesus was of both substance. If only they'd drafted that creed sooner, so many pointless lives could have been saved.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a healthy day where I learn nothing.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I Have Some Shows
My sketch show, "Endangered No More!" goes up at the Gorilla Tango Theatre on Novermber 6th and 13th. It's a comedy written by me, performed and directed by friends of mine. My musical group, Manipulation, will be playing with Condominium on September 26th at the Albion House, and then in Elgin a few days later.
If you want to know more, ask me.
I have to say it's been a good summer. I seem to generally well liked by people I like, and I found a youtube video where a guy pukes on the news that makes me endlessly happy.
If you want to know more, ask me.
I have to say it's been a good summer. I seem to generally well liked by people I like, and I found a youtube video where a guy pukes on the news that makes me endlessly happy.
Friday, August 21, 2009
No More Joking Around
I've been delivering all fluff and no heavy stuff, and I am sorry. Here is an actual post about my day.
Yep, it was as hard as I thought it would be
I jetted out of class early today so I could meet Kyle and we could go pick up the boys. Today was going to be their last day of daycare, so we wanted to pick them up and take them immediately to Frog Hollow - so they could meet their new daycare classrooms.
All day long I thought about it - actually about how I could get out of it. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do it - because as I sat in class all day, every time I thought about it, my eyes welled up with tears. Once we reached daycare, I moved fast. I hadn't seen the boys since Monday morning because of school, so I kept my mind focused on getting them. I moved directly to Tyler's room, and Kyle went to Connor's room. Tyler met me quickly, actually with disappointment. He was hoping to go to Frog Hollow with Daddy, and didn't understand that I was there to go there with as well. Because that conversation involved me assuring him 500 times that we were going, and that kept me even more distracted.I then moved to their cubbys - which is when I really had to hold back the tears. There were their tiny lockers that they had throughout their time at daycare - where they kept their spare clothes, their blankets, their toys for sharing day, had time out, and hung their coats. They are simple, wooden, open lockers that are just big enough to hold their whole lives. As I grabbed all of the items out of their cubbys, I just shoved them in bags as fast as I could. I caught glimpses of the notes that teachers had left in there, telling them, and us, goodbye. Connor's teacher even got him a present of Matchbox cars. There were more clothes than I ever remember bringing, just because I never brought them all at once - it was a collection of the years. Water bottles, sunscreen, and even diaper cream that I brought years ago. All there for us to take home.All of their artwork had been taken down off the walls for us to take home, and Tyler's class all signed a card for him. A going away card from 4 year olds. They had a party for them today too.Luckily Tyler ran out of the daycare, as he usually does, which meant I had to chase him out into the parking lot so I didn't have to say goodbye to anyone. I'm horrible at goodbyes, and usually end up avoiding them at all costs. I know I shouldn't - but I turn into a big blubbery mess when I have to tell someone goodbye, which actually even surprises me sometimes since I try to be this iron constitution of a personality.We finally left, and I didn't look back, because I couldn't. I didn't even unpack their bags until just a few minutes ago and found this card...
Staci took care of Tyler for a little while, but spent most of her time with Connor. She had Connor the day he started, and they immediately bonded. "Staci" was one of the first names he learned to say after Mommy and Daddy, and for what I know, he could've said her name first. He sat on her lap during the day, and would also go to her when he wasn't feeling well. She was his mom at daycare.
Although I know Frog Hollow will be beautiful, and a much better Preschool opportunity for them, saying goodbye just breaks my heart.
Lit'l Russellers, you will forever be remembered by us. Your kind hearts, and taking care of our children when they were having good days, or driving you crazy, will never be forgotten.
Yep, it was as hard as I thought it would be
I jetted out of class early today so I could meet Kyle and we could go pick up the boys. Today was going to be their last day of daycare, so we wanted to pick them up and take them immediately to Frog Hollow - so they could meet their new daycare classrooms.
All day long I thought about it - actually about how I could get out of it. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do it - because as I sat in class all day, every time I thought about it, my eyes welled up with tears. Once we reached daycare, I moved fast. I hadn't seen the boys since Monday morning because of school, so I kept my mind focused on getting them. I moved directly to Tyler's room, and Kyle went to Connor's room. Tyler met me quickly, actually with disappointment. He was hoping to go to Frog Hollow with Daddy, and didn't understand that I was there to go there with as well. Because that conversation involved me assuring him 500 times that we were going, and that kept me even more distracted.I then moved to their cubbys - which is when I really had to hold back the tears. There were their tiny lockers that they had throughout their time at daycare - where they kept their spare clothes, their blankets, their toys for sharing day, had time out, and hung their coats. They are simple, wooden, open lockers that are just big enough to hold their whole lives. As I grabbed all of the items out of their cubbys, I just shoved them in bags as fast as I could. I caught glimpses of the notes that teachers had left in there, telling them, and us, goodbye. Connor's teacher even got him a present of Matchbox cars. There were more clothes than I ever remember bringing, just because I never brought them all at once - it was a collection of the years. Water bottles, sunscreen, and even diaper cream that I brought years ago. All there for us to take home.All of their artwork had been taken down off the walls for us to take home, and Tyler's class all signed a card for him. A going away card from 4 year olds. They had a party for them today too.Luckily Tyler ran out of the daycare, as he usually does, which meant I had to chase him out into the parking lot so I didn't have to say goodbye to anyone. I'm horrible at goodbyes, and usually end up avoiding them at all costs. I know I shouldn't - but I turn into a big blubbery mess when I have to tell someone goodbye, which actually even surprises me sometimes since I try to be this iron constitution of a personality.We finally left, and I didn't look back, because I couldn't. I didn't even unpack their bags until just a few minutes ago and found this card...
Staci took care of Tyler for a little while, but spent most of her time with Connor. She had Connor the day he started, and they immediately bonded. "Staci" was one of the first names he learned to say after Mommy and Daddy, and for what I know, he could've said her name first. He sat on her lap during the day, and would also go to her when he wasn't feeling well. She was his mom at daycare.
Although I know Frog Hollow will be beautiful, and a much better Preschool opportunity for them, saying goodbye just breaks my heart.
Lit'l Russellers, you will forever be remembered by us. Your kind hearts, and taking care of our children when they were having good days, or driving you crazy, will never be forgotten.
Pushing On
I have the internet at my house now! You'll be privy to all my deepest yearnings once again. I can't think of anything the world needs more than to hear my unedited verbal drool.
Let me catch you up on what's happened in the last few months:
Let me catch you up on what's happened in the last few months:
- I rediscovered Elfudge cookies and overindulged to the point of dizziness.
- I accidentally started a running joke in which I am a stalker-rapist.
- I've bounced back from innumerous rejections of all kinds.
- Bought shoes I was unsure of, gave them a chance, now I am sure of them.
- Got internet at my house.
As you can see, it's been a pretty wild time!
I miss everybody, and I hope this two-dimensional exploration of idiocy called a blog fills the gaping void I left in your life.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Me In a Tornado
http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=14601&from=hp_video_1
Also the first show of my new band is the 19th. Demos will abound.
Also the first show of my new band is the 19th. Demos will abound.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
There's been a lot of clamor for a new blog post. I tried to say no, that I'm working on a masterpiece, but the clamor clamored on. I try to dissuade the clamorors with calls for patience and decency. They proved un-shut-up-able, just wouldn't stop clamoring. Clamor clamor clamor clamor.
Everything I was excited about kicked the bucket. Except the band. Manipulation is recording July 12th. It should be cool. We're doing it with a guy who formerly hated my guts, so we'll see if he remembers me or not. My guess is he will, but will have to pretend he doesn't since we're paying him. Score one for Scott. The reason he hated me is fuzzy. The Breaks recorded there, and I think I did something notably incompetent during that session, and then did it several more times after he explained to me how to stop. Like, plugged my guitar into the wrong place or something. Either way the frustration grew until there was murder behind his eyes. Time for round two.
It's stayed pretty cool and damp here, like a cave. But that's fine with me, because I don't need it to get miserably hot. It's like working in an ok office that's boring instead of working outside.
Drop me a line sometime, everybody.
Everything I was excited about kicked the bucket. Except the band. Manipulation is recording July 12th. It should be cool. We're doing it with a guy who formerly hated my guts, so we'll see if he remembers me or not. My guess is he will, but will have to pretend he doesn't since we're paying him. Score one for Scott. The reason he hated me is fuzzy. The Breaks recorded there, and I think I did something notably incompetent during that session, and then did it several more times after he explained to me how to stop. Like, plugged my guitar into the wrong place or something. Either way the frustration grew until there was murder behind his eyes. Time for round two.
It's stayed pretty cool and damp here, like a cave. But that's fine with me, because I don't need it to get miserably hot. It's like working in an ok office that's boring instead of working outside.
Drop me a line sometime, everybody.
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