I've been a fan of theirs since high school when I fell in love with Lincoln, but last night was only the second time I've ever seen They Might Be Giants play. It was a raucous show, and their fans are REALLY devoted, so it was a good time. I missed the end of the show so I could run across town and shoot a friend's band, but before I left I got a couple of decent shots. Check out my review on Chicagoist and then click through to the full Flickr set if you're so inclined.
It's Friday, I could use a drink ... at the office.
The women at Slate did an experiment a few weeks ago where they drank at the office mimicking the frequency of alcoholic consumption on Mad Men. the results? Kinda telling.
The other day I was looking through my archives and boy oh boy could I get verbose. In the earliest days this site was only text and links. Then I figured out how to host pictures on a separate website and link them here (I never hotlinked though, I viewed that as theft back in the days when bandwidth was precious and such a thing could drain someone else's bank account ... not cool!). And it wasn't until relatively recently I would even do posts primarily consisting of videos. I think part of it is because my online mentality has evolved beyond MeMeMeMe into LookLookLook. I guess you could say I'm in more of a sharing mood.
But what effect has that had on my writing? That's a question I can't really answer. When I kick out longer pieces it still feels like me, but I definitely don't feel the drive I used to when it comes to creating longer pieces every single day. Does that make me lazy? Or am I merely adapting? I mean, if anything, my writing output has increased. I still write a great deal for Chicagoist, and I produce a LOT of stuff at the 9-to-5, so maybe I'm finding enough creative satisfaction through those two outlets? I'm inclined to think so.
What I haven't done in, literally, years is write any fiction. I don't know what that means. I think I still have stories left in me, and they dance behind my eyes every time I blink, but I never seem to have enough time to snatch them from behind my eyelids and put them down on paper.
Is there any creative outlet you rarely ever exercise anymore?
Uffie Vs. Ke$ha ... which faux-Eurotrash diva will win?
Wow, um, just wow. Now before you see these keep in mind the top video, by Uffie, is the newer of the two VIDEOS, but the song wwithin is actually something like three years old. In other words Ke$ha is totally ripping off Uffie. Or maybe since Uffie has released almost nothing since heer initial splash, Ke$ha is merely giving the people what they want?
When you're up this early, and you have plenty of time before the gym, then work, then laundry, then the million other things you need to tackle today, and you can go outside and snap a few photos in the early morning light, but you extend the exposure and forsake a trip-pod because you're looking for a new way to see what you encounter everyday, and you actually have the time to DO that, that's an excellent way to start the day.
We lost the Olympic bid! In the first round! So come (drown your sorrows / celebrate) with me at Old Oak Tap tonight! I'm DJing and plan on reaching deep in my bag of tricks for rarely spun cuts alongside the current hits in high rotation. It should be a lot of fun.
What happens when I actually stay in and go to bed early too many nights in a row? Apparently it means I can't sleep past 2 a.m.! The only other people around me that are also up? Sasha the Cat and the neighbor across the way with a dubious late night profession. (O.K., we have no idea what she actually does, but we've built up fun imaginary back story for her. Maybe I can expand on it in my head since I can't seem to sleep?)
It's weird, as it gets drearier and colder outside I actually find myself waking up even earlier. This seems in direst contrast to most folks I know who tend to bunked down when the weather changes in this manner.
For years I wasn't a morning person at all. I never have needed much sleep -- when I was working in bars and restaurants and came home at 7 a.m. I wAs still usually up and active by 11 a.m. -- but ever since I started the regular 9-to-5 I've found I generally like an early start.
This is boring. I thought I was going somewhere with this but now I realize I mistook my first thoughts to be an important prod when they instead were mere descriptors of simple fact.
I'll come up with something later to make up for this!
UPDATE: Whoops! I was up so early I forgot to turn off my alarms so it's blended squall of static and overlapping radio stations just scared the bejeezus out of GalPal. Sorry honey!
GalPal and I have a trip to Cancun coming up. I can't wait. I've never taken a vacation where I paid for everything up front and it's one of those all-inclusive deals, thus ensuring I can just enjoy myself and not worry about coming home to a big debt for good times I've already had. On the flip side I'm a little afraid it will be something supposedly fun I'll never do again. Aimless leisure and endless pampering actually seem a little frightening to me, but as even a casual reader of this site has probably figured out, I am a man on the go -- often ridiculously so -- and for the first time in my life I think I need to unplug and take a break, even if it's just for a few days.
Of course all that time spent outside by the pool or on the beach means I'll be shirtless which also means a) aircraft will need to be diverted in order to avoid the blinding glare bouncing off my chest and into the sky and b) I need to lose a few pounds so I don't look utterly ridiculous. I'm by no means overweight, but I have slid into the trap of slipping in more sweets that are necessary into my daily diet over the last few months, so I'm pulling them back out to regain equilibrium.
So what do think? Will I be able to enjoy myself? Or will I be going stir crazy and driven mad by the cheesy resort nightlife entertainment by midnight our first day there? And also, any advice from folks that have done these all inclusive deals before? We were told not to tip but that seems ludicrous. I'm a pretty generous tipper though so I need to know what's actually appropriate down there? And who do we tip? When?
This is gonna be weird, but I think it might also be awesome.
Last night I saw a ridiculously good show as fun. tore the hell out of Schubas and sent everyone home with smiles that would make even the most blissful post-orgasmic couples jealous.
Tonight I am seeing Mikhail Baryshnikov dance at Harris Theater, Miike Snow rock out at The Empty Bottle, and then various friends DJ at Sonotheque.
I just got word that Yo Gabba Gabba is releasing a compilation of all the tunes on the show including stuff from of Montreal, The Roots, the Shins, and motherfuckin' Biz Markie. Whilst I am excited about all of those tunes I am most excited that it also includes Chromeo's "Nice 'N' Clean," the perfect soundtrack to washing your hands before dinner!
I was just sent a link to the latest video off the forthcoming Flaming Lips Embryonic album. It's for "I Can Be A Frog," and it's probably the most, um, accessible of the album's 18 songs. This came on when i was driving around with GalPal last weekend and at first I thought the girl talking and making animal noises was Wayne Coyne's wife Michelle, but I've since learned it's actually Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Anyway, dig it.
I was super bummed when Ladyhawke's tour was canceled a while ago (visa issues I think?) so I was willing to brave the suckfest Perez Hilton "sponsored" that hit town last Saturday. Ida Maria had already dropped out due to sparse crowds at preceding dates, and that meant the bill was left with only one decent band.* Anyway, Ladyhawke did not disappoint, and I took a bunch of pictures. You can see a bunch off them at Chicagoist, and then check out the rest on Flickr.
*By the way, Maria really jumped off a day too early, because the crowd at the Metro was large and enthusiastic!
The other day I was looking through my archives and boy oh boy could I get verbose. In the earliest days this site was only text and links. Then I figured out how to host pictures on a separate website and link them here (I never hotlinked though, I viewed that as theft back in the days when bandwidth was precious and such a thing could drain someone else's bank account ... not cool!). And it wasn't until relatively recently I would even do posts primarily consisting of videos. I think part of it is because my online mentality has evolved beyond MeMeMeMe into LookLookLook. I guess you could say I'm in more of a sharing mood.
It's weird, as it gets drearier and colder outside I actually find myself waking up even earlier. This seems in direst contrast to most folks I know who tend to bunked down when the weather changes in this manner.
GalPal and I have a trip to Cancun coming up. I can't wait. I've never taken a vacation where I paid for everything up front and it's one of those all-inclusive deals, thus ensuring I can just enjoy myself and not worry about coming home to a big debt for good times I've already had. On the flip side I'm a little afraid it will be something supposedly fun I'll never do again. Aimless leisure and endless pampering actually seem a little frightening to me, but as even a casual reader of this site has probably figured out, I am a man on the go -- often ridiculously so -- and for the first time in my life I think I need to unplug and take a break, even if it's just for a few days.
Last night I saw a ridiculously good show as fun. tore the hell out of Schubas and sent everyone home with smiles that would make even the most blissful post-orgasmic couples jealous.
