[via ...etc]
Monday, December 21, 2009
Scattershot recollections and random observations.
Scattershot recollections and random observations.
Monday? Really? REALLY?
Monday? Really? REALLY?
- My first set for 1994 night at The Burlington was a blast. I was supposed to close the night after Flosstradamus' set but I am really glad they decided to just keep going since there was NO way I really wanted to follow their super-fun set.
- It doesn't fell like the holidays yet. I still haven't done any Christmas shopping.
- My Sony Vaio laptop isn't recognizing or charging my battery at all. This is so annoying. I'm never buying Sony again but does anyone have a clue what might be causing this?
- I complain about always being busy, always on the run, and always having to be somewhere doing something but I do realize I'm a very lucky guy leading a pretty interesting life. I never take it for granted.
- My company holiday party was a lot of fun this year. I attribute it to not being new and a bit in shock when all the employees were gathered in a single space -- like I was last year -- and actually mingling with lots of the fun folks I work with.
- I regret missing last night's #cookieswap since it sounds like it was a really good time.
- I regret missing Gina's birthday party last night since it sounds like it was a really good time.
- My interesting life that I never take for granted? Sometimes I just have to put it on hold, bunker down with GalPal, and recharge the batteries while watching movies on the couch instead of going out ... and that's a move I don't regret.
Friday, December 18, 2009
I am so proud of all of you.
I am so proud of all of you.
This is making me think a) Marcus' description of me as Rahm Emanuel might prove prescient and b) I could probably actually do a good job if elected. I certainly couldn't be worse than the current mayor...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tankboy in '11!
Tankboy in '11!
The people are speaking, and I'm listening. Vote early, vote often.
I will make this city great again.
The people are speaking, and I'm listening. Vote early, vote often.
I will make this city great again.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
On Big Red Coats, cats, and spectacles.
On Big Red Coats, cats, and spectacles.
Do you know how difficult it is to type at 6:22 a.m. when a cat keeps jumping in your lap and then trying to sit on your keyboard? It's bad enough she was obviously searching for stuff online all last night -- as evidenced by the "TTTTTTTTTJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ" search term in my browser's search field, so you'd think she'd at least offer me a brief reprieve, right?
Wrong.
It's cold again. The 30-ih degree temps from a few days ago gave me a false sense of hope and prematurely lifted my mood weather-wise. Now we're back in "I'm going to freeze the fuck out of your face and then physically and repeatedly punch you whilst trying to rip off your ears" weather. This also means I've abandoned even trying to look stylish, instead option to sheath myself in The Big Red Coat in vain hopes that it might sufficiently shield me. The Big Red Coat tries and tries, displaying a truly valiant effort, but the wind and chill seep in around even The Coat's usually adequate fortress. Compounding the problem is the fact that I've been stuck wearing glasses recently due to a piece of debris -- finally removed by my eye doctor yesterday -- that's been irritating me. So not only am I frozen while outside, the second I step indoors I'm blinded as my glasses totally and completely fog over.
The whole ensemble make me look like I'm ten years old.
And that's the state of my world at this moment in time. How's yours?
Do you know how difficult it is to type at 6:22 a.m. when a cat keeps jumping in your lap and then trying to sit on your keyboard? It's bad enough she was obviously searching for stuff online all last night -- as evidenced by the "TTTTTTTTTJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ" search term in my browser's search field, so you'd think she'd at least offer me a brief reprieve, right?
Wrong.
It's cold again. The 30-ih degree temps from a few days ago gave me a false sense of hope and prematurely lifted my mood weather-wise. Now we're back in "I'm going to freeze the fuck out of your face and then physically and repeatedly punch you whilst trying to rip off your ears" weather. This also means I've abandoned even trying to look stylish, instead option to sheath myself in The Big Red Coat in vain hopes that it might sufficiently shield me. The Big Red Coat tries and tries, displaying a truly valiant effort, but the wind and chill seep in around even The Coat's usually adequate fortress. Compounding the problem is the fact that I've been stuck wearing glasses recently due to a piece of debris -- finally removed by my eye doctor yesterday -- that's been irritating me. So not only am I frozen while outside, the second I step indoors I'm blinded as my glasses totally and completely fog over.The whole ensemble make me look like I'm ten years old.
And that's the state of my world at this moment in time. How's yours?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tragedy strikes!
Tragedy strikes!
Yesterday, mere hours after I shared with you how difficult creating year-end lists could be, my tankPOD Touch randomly ate a bunch of music, including some of the songs I had been fiddling with on my songs of 2009 list. I've been adding and deleting tunes over the last two weeks and was nearing completion, and the list has morphed so many times I'm not 100% sure what was missing.
Auuuuugh!
In other new I have to go see Andrew Bird play in a church tonight. And tomorrow i have to see Metric in a sports bar. Life truly is rough.
Do you wanna smack me yet?
Yesterday, mere hours after I shared with you how difficult creating year-end lists could be, my tankPOD Touch randomly ate a bunch of music, including some of the songs I had been fiddling with on my songs of 2009 list. I've been adding and deleting tunes over the last two weeks and was nearing completion, and the list has morphed so many times I'm not 100% sure what was missing.Auuuuugh!
In other new I have to go see Andrew Bird play in a church tonight. And tomorrow i have to see Metric in a sports bar. Life truly is rough.
Do you wanna smack me yet?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Year-end listing is hard to do.
Year-end listing is hard to do.
I remember when I was a wee l'il music writer oh so many years ago, year-end lists excited me to no end. I loved making them and i loved reading them even more in hopes they'd uncover music I missed along the way.
Fast-forward 15 or so years and the glee is gone. Partially because so much music flies at me each and every day, I very rarely come across a gem because someone else noticed it and I missed it the first time around. This doesn't mean I'm smarter or more attentive than I was back then, it's just that the volume of music flow has increased so dramatically I feel like I'm gasping for air most of the time.
As for my own lists, there is SO MUCH good music out there it's hard to winnow it down. At the same time there is SO LITTLE truly GREAT music out there either, forcing me to swim through miles and miles of notes in order to find the bands that put them together in a way I find most pleasing.
Any way, it's Monday, it's dreary, and I'm gripe-y. What else is new?
[Old school photo from simpler days via Leafblower]
I remember when I was a wee l'il music writer oh so many years ago, year-end lists excited me to no end. I loved making them and i loved reading them even more in hopes they'd uncover music I missed along the way.Fast-forward 15 or so years and the glee is gone. Partially because so much music flies at me each and every day, I very rarely come across a gem because someone else noticed it and I missed it the first time around. This doesn't mean I'm smarter or more attentive than I was back then, it's just that the volume of music flow has increased so dramatically I feel like I'm gasping for air most of the time.
As for my own lists, there is SO MUCH good music out there it's hard to winnow it down. At the same time there is SO LITTLE truly GREAT music out there either, forcing me to swim through miles and miles of notes in order to find the bands that put them together in a way I find most pleasing.
Any way, it's Monday, it's dreary, and I'm gripe-y. What else is new?
[Old school photo from simpler days via Leafblower]
Friday, December 11, 2009
This is reason 67,980 why I love Lady GaGa.
This is reason 67,980 why I love Lady GaGa.
Who else would put on a performance like this for the Queen of England?!
[Photo via Mail Online]
Who else would put on a performance like this for the Queen of England?!
[Photo via Mail Online]
Thursday, December 10, 2009
An obvious progression of events.
An obvious progression of events.
Of course this:
Would spur this:
And ultimately lead to this:
Of course.
Of course this:
Would spur this:
And ultimately lead to this:
Of course.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Happy birthday GalPal!
Happy birthday GalPal!
Everyone, please join me in wishing the one woman on earth who can actually put up with me a happy birthday!
Everyone, please join me in wishing the one woman on earth who can actually put up with me a happy birthday!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Borked.
Borked.
Technology has revolted against me today. My computer crashed and refuses to play nice. My cell is working only when it feels like it. My Sloan pictures from last night took waaaay too long to transfer so I didn't have time to edit them.
It's been a tough day.
So come see me DJ with Lizz at The Burlington tonight and tell me it'll all be O.K.
Technology has revolted against me today. My computer crashed and refuses to play nice. My cell is working only when it feels like it. My Sloan pictures from last night took waaaay too long to transfer so I didn't have time to edit them.
It's been a tough day.
So come see me DJ with Lizz at The Burlington tonight and tell me it'll all be O.K.
Monday, December 07, 2009
White noise, and other stuff.
White noise, and other stuff.
My alarm in the morning is like a sonic bomb. I have the radio set between stations with the volume way up so at the desired time and abrupt explosion of static wakes me up. It's loud, it's crude, it does the trick.
Holy hell, is that show outside? And not just a little snow? Oh well, it's only an 8 minute walk to the train. And thank god I don't drive or depend on the bus for work any longer, otherwise I'd have to pad another 30 - 45 minutes into the morning's commute. Also, and I was saying this to tease some recent transplants to Chicago yesterday but it really is the truth, if it's snowing you know it's reasonably warm, otherwise the snow wouldn't be able to form.
I have to charge my camera battery. Tonight is a show I've been excited about for months. Sloan is at Lincoln Hall. It's all ages so I'm a little worried about shooting the band since the kids tend to be less than accommodating to photographers -- they're so excited they don't want a second of their view obstructed and often don't believe I'll really be out of their way in a minute or two -- but in the end who the fuck cares? It's Sloan! If all I get to do is watch and listen to one of my absolute favorite bands in the whole wide world than so be it.
O.K., let's get this day into gear!
(Also, I recommend clicking the pic for a bigger dose of Pickle the Kitten.)
My alarm in the morning is like a sonic bomb. I have the radio set between stations with the volume way up so at the desired time and abrupt explosion of static wakes me up. It's loud, it's crude, it does the trick.
Holy hell, is that show outside? And not just a little snow? Oh well, it's only an 8 minute walk to the train. And thank god I don't drive or depend on the bus for work any longer, otherwise I'd have to pad another 30 - 45 minutes into the morning's commute. Also, and I was saying this to tease some recent transplants to Chicago yesterday but it really is the truth, if it's snowing you know it's reasonably warm, otherwise the snow wouldn't be able to form.I have to charge my camera battery. Tonight is a show I've been excited about for months. Sloan is at Lincoln Hall. It's all ages so I'm a little worried about shooting the band since the kids tend to be less than accommodating to photographers -- they're so excited they don't want a second of their view obstructed and often don't believe I'll really be out of their way in a minute or two -- but in the end who the fuck cares? It's Sloan! If all I get to do is watch and listen to one of my absolute favorite bands in the whole wide world than so be it.
O.K., let's get this day into gear!
(Also, I recommend clicking the pic for a bigger dose of Pickle the Kitten.)
Friday, December 04, 2009
Where is 1990 - 1999?
Where is 1990 - 1999?
Lizz and I already have this spread hanging by our desks at work. Click the image to see the larger original page and read the high-larious descriptions.
Lizz and I already have this spread hanging by our desks at work. Click the image to see the larger original page and read the high-larious descriptions.
First Friday = DJ Tankboy at The Old Oak Tap!
First Friday = DJ Tankboy at The Old Oak Tap!
Winter is finally baring its icy fangs, and by this time next month we'll probably all be hunkered down on our couches under piles of blankets, so let's get out and get social while the weather is still reasonably tolerable.
Tonight, Friday December 4, I'll be spinning tunes both new and old in the cozy environs of The Old Oak Tap, enjoying sips from their massive beer selection, and probably stealing a few bites of one of their burgers or some of their delicious fries (they've got a slow burn that's absolutely awesome).
The most important factor in the equation, though, is you. I'd like to see the smiling faces of friends, acquaintances, and well-intentioned strangers. The holidays are fast approaching and, what can I say, I'm feeling comfort in the goodwill and good company of my fellow humans.
Hope to see you there!
Tonight, Friday December 4, I'll be spinning tunes both new and old in the cozy environs of The Old Oak Tap, enjoying sips from their massive beer selection, and probably stealing a few bites of one of their burgers or some of their delicious fries (they've got a slow burn that's absolutely awesome).
The most important factor in the equation, though, is you. I'd like to see the smiling faces of friends, acquaintances, and well-intentioned strangers. The holidays are fast approaching and, what can I say, I'm feeling comfort in the goodwill and good company of my fellow humans.
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Location, location, location?
Location, location, location?
I can't even tell you what a joy it is to get up in the morning, walk across the hallway, enter a room dedicated to being a home office, sit at a real desk, and start writing right away. Due to space issues at our old place my desk had to be put in storage and when I wrote it often either sitting on the ground at a low table or on the couch with my laptop in my lap. Near the end I actually started writing posts on my iPod Touch and then transferred them just because it was easier that way.
I can write anywhere -- up until just a few years ago I still sketched and wrote in black bound sketchbooks, collecting short story ideas and constructing mini-narratives around character ideas -- but I have to admit that I do like having a space just for writing first thing in the morning. It's so much easier to just reach into the back of my head and pull out ideas when I'm not thinking "Man, this laptop is kinda burning my lap," or "Hold on, let me write that thought down, right after I contort myself to slide under and fit at my writing station, erm, the coffee table." At the same time, I came across those sketchbooks mentioned above while unpacking and realized that came up with a lot more spontaneous fiction ideas when I just jotted them down whenever and where they struck me, so maybe it's time to add that method back to my routine.
How about you? Do you have dedicated writing spaces? Or do you always compose on the go? Or are you like me, doing a little of both, but preferring one over the other depending on what you're writing?
I can't even tell you what a joy it is to get up in the morning, walk across the hallway, enter a room dedicated to being a home office, sit at a real desk, and start writing right away. Due to space issues at our old place my desk had to be put in storage and when I wrote it often either sitting on the ground at a low table or on the couch with my laptop in my lap. Near the end I actually started writing posts on my iPod Touch and then transferred them just because it was easier that way.
I can write anywhere -- up until just a few years ago I still sketched and wrote in black bound sketchbooks, collecting short story ideas and constructing mini-narratives around character ideas -- but I have to admit that I do like having a space just for writing first thing in the morning. It's so much easier to just reach into the back of my head and pull out ideas when I'm not thinking "Man, this laptop is kinda burning my lap," or "Hold on, let me write that thought down, right after I contort myself to slide under and fit at my writing station, erm, the coffee table." At the same time, I came across those sketchbooks mentioned above while unpacking and realized that came up with a lot more spontaneous fiction ideas when I just jotted them down whenever and where they struck me, so maybe it's time to add that method back to my routine.How about you? Do you have dedicated writing spaces? Or do you always compose on the go? Or are you like me, doing a little of both, but preferring one over the other depending on what you're writing?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Goodnight Keith Moon...
Goodnight Keith Moon...
I shared this via the Twitter last week, but if you don't follow me there, perchance you missed YOUR chance to read Goodnight Keith Moon!
That reminds me , I've got to find my copy of Moon that GalPal has been wanting to read for a while now. I saw it just the other day while moving boxes!
I shared this via the Twitter last week, but if you don't follow me there, perchance you missed YOUR chance to read Goodnight Keith Moon!
That reminds me , I've got to find my copy of Moon that GalPal has been wanting to read for a while now. I saw it just the other day while moving boxes!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
I'm gonna miss our old neighbors' sense of humor...
I'm gonna miss our old neighbors' sense of humor...
Forgot to post this before we moved, but we discovered this on GalPal's iPhone while she was connecting to our Wi-Fi in our old apartment last week...
Forgot to post this before we moved, but we discovered this on GalPal's iPhone while she was connecting to our Wi-Fi in our old apartment last week...
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