The Cline

Odessa played Walter's last night. But they started the show differently. The dudes got up on stage and sound-checked, then they had the technician kill the lights. As Pete, Mark and Landon stood up there in the dark, Patsy Cline's Crazy began to pour out of the sound system. At high volume.

Everyone dug the shit out of it! Brian, Andrew, and several others started singing along. The song kept going. I turned to Sylvester and asked him, "Are they gonna let the whole thing play out before they start?" He said, "Man, I hope so." They did. Right as Patsy finished, Odessa started. Juxtaposition. I think it worked perfectly.

Worry

Why do I let myself worry?

Wondering

What in the world did I do?

Crazy...

dirty Words. and Heroin.

I was riding home from the Fuchs-Family-Christmas with my sister and the folks. This came on my momma's satellite radio. It was a country station. And I was like, "Whoa". Somebody tried to change it but I asked them to change it back. Nicely, I hope.

Ancient VVisdom

Read this one a while back, borrowed it from a friend. It has become one of my favorite reads of all time. There is one quote in it, in particular, that blew my mind. Tried to find it, spent thirty minutes looking for it. No dice. It was something like, "Get it out of the way when you're young. If you don't experience it until you're older, it may kill you when you do." Now, I can't tell you what "it" is, because it would seem trite, not being my words. All I can tell you is I agree completely.

-Miss quoted, but it's Wells Tower

How do I avoid being short with those I love and respect? How do I try to make people feel good about what they are doing for and with me? How can I respect others' tastes while retaining my own? This is the knowledge I am searching for. I can remember so many times in my life when I have hurt others and hurt myself. I really need to find a way to change those patterns for good.

-Neil Young

It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if you want something badly enough, it is your God-given right to have it. 

-Jon Krakauer

Check your tool positioning, set your workshift, and remember - perfection is unattainable.

-Kyle V. Fuchs

Abnormal Swimming

...the season seems to allow for some heightened reflection upon the past. It magnifies that reflection. Friends lost, relationships failed, broken hearts- maybe a combination of all of these. It can be a low down, lonesome time of year...

...keep those that you care about close. Keep an eye on the ones you love. Even with all the bullshit that comes with Xmas, flying by all the lights and smelling that fresh-cut tree scent is not that bad. Make it through it. Don't waste your time on petty shit. Look down the road and give it some gas. RIDE INTO IT. 

 -Max Schaaf

Waterworks.

A person needs to use blinkers while driving. If you don't use blinkers- while other drivers are in your direct vicinity- I hate you. I hope something bad happens to you. Not terrible. But pretty bad. You don't care about me, so...I don't give a shit about you. A person needs to use blinkers.

I like to listen to my music at a loud volume, including when I'm in the car. Always have. I have noticed that it's starting to take its toll, though. Just don't hear as well as I used to. So I don't listen to my music at high volume all of the time. Just some of the time. Moderation. Oscar Wilde.

The conflict occurs when you don't make the light. While you're taking it easy on the ears.

 On days, or hours, or lunch breaks, when you've decided not to bump jamz at an excessive level, you have to listen to your blinker as it interrupts the music you're listening to. Irritating.

When you don't make the light, and an epic jam comes on...like the one above...do the right thing. You have to use your blinker- or I'll hate you. And you have to turn the volume up. So far up that you can't hear the blinker. So far up you can't even remember the blinker is on. No worries, blinkers turn themselves off these days.

Nothing like rearranging your guts with some bass- while respecting the existence of others. Nothing fucking like it.
  

Almost Persuaded

First it was lots of drawing, movies and just plain "pretending" (cops and robbers was the shit!). Then it was bikes. And driveway basketball. Astronauts, NASA, and all things space-related. Then skateboards. Then bikes again. After that, it was weight-lifting. Then some more bikes and some more skateboards. Those two are probably never going away. And then it was music. Now, specifically, it's records. It is a fortunate thing that great records can be cheaply purchased. Money and trees and all of that.

 Once I become obsessed with something, that's it. My mom always told me, "Never get into hard drugs, Caveman. You'd be dead in a week."

I got David Houston's Almost Persuaded  on record today. I'm sure you had a great day too, and I want to hear all about it tomorrow. Really. But my day was better because I got David Houston's Almost Persuaded on record today. I mean it's not a big deal, or anything. Be cool about it.

Therapeutic.

Of course, this model is of one of the larger units. The available unit is smaller. But the basic features are the same. And here... is the bathroom. Now, the smaller ones do not have the grand soaking tubs, but then- you do not really need a soaking tub, do you?

I laughed a little (it felt appropriate). "No, of course not." Stock response.

Not what I meant to say at all, and I hated myself for saying it. Definitely not what I was thinking. What I was thinking was:



Actually, yes. I would very much like an oversized soaking tub. My greatest and richest fantasies revolve around a large soaking tub. Not an attempt at being crude- I just really enjoy a long, hot bath once in a while. It's really relaxing. And fun. For me. Honestly.

I wish you wouldn't pretend to know what I need. You don't know me- you are a stranger. I shouldn't even be talking to you.

Why shouldn't I be interested in a soaking tub? Because I'm young? Haven't earned it? Will I have earned it by the time I am forty? Will I be able to successfully climb in and out of one at that age?

Is it because I'm single? Low blow. Fuck you, lady.

Throw. It. Back.

Wise dude. But it's hard, sometimes. You know-  not to skate slow.

Look, it's not about the hit-points right now. I'm just trying to work on my swordsmanship.

Just Like a Dream

Keep an eye out for a puppet in a Deep Wound t-shirt. Also, crank dat or you're wasting your time.

Attack Mode

Ants. Uncles. Anniversaries.

On wax, for a few bucks. Memories. Drunken mistakes. Oh fucking well.

Catalytic Conversion

Seabass. Boilermakers. Petey. Big Gulps. I.O.U's. Those are as good as money. Tea and strumpets. Samsonite. Don't you go dying on me! Gas man. Worm farms. It feels like you're running at an incredible rate. He got off scot-free? No- they caught up to him a mile up the road and slit his throat. It was a good one. Those your skis? Both of em? Traded the van for it. Straight up. Been doing a little bit of boozing, have ya? We landed on the moon! Rhode Island Slut. Your hands are freezing! Got a little nippy going through the pass, huh? Just go, man. Oh...that's warm. Well come on, Cinderella, we gotta get you ready for the ball! Tell her I'm smart, and funny, and that I have a rapist's wit. Well who meets for a date at a bar at 10:30 in the morning? I just figured she was a raging alcoholic. One in a million. So you're telling me there's a chance! Sounds like a dare, Harry. It's a double-dare. That's a nice set of hooters you got there. I beg your pardon? You know, the owls. Man, this party really died.

In a Nutshell...

1. Hold a job.

2. Figure out a way to be happy.

3. Find someone to share that happiness with.

And, and...that's pretty much it. We'll all get there. Matt and Sarah got there last weekend. Congratulations, you two.

Shit I'm Hyped On.

Exquisite Destroyers. All of You.  

My Block.

My Duffle.

Top Ten Sets

1. Refused

2. The Sword

3. Converge

4. The Spits

5. Impalers

6. Municipal Waste

7. Seaweed

8. FIDLAR

9. Nicky da B

10. Torche

Honorable mention to Kvelertak, Bun B and OFF!

Dopest Non-Music Moments

- Shaking Oliver Peck's hand. Texas legend.

- Wrasslin' with Mark. People's fucking elbow.

- Free hot dogs and chips at what we thought was a shitty bar. Wrong bar, right day.

- The Spits' guitarist sound-checking during another band's set. Rude. Radical.

- Mark got a "MOM" tattoo. Por vida.

- Staring at Mike Vallely from afar. Intimidation.

- Tasting the new Lonestar Bock. Hints of fucking hazelnut, and it comes in a bigger bottle.

Being Grace

The pub crawl was packed. Didn't get to do as much drinking as I might have liked. But that's not always a bad thing. Got to see lots of friends, and that's all that fucking matters. I used to enjoy my solitude so much, but right now I just want to hang with my friends as much as possible.