Here's the only thing that I learned in math class this past month:
Reading > Homework
The Awakening by Kate Chopin A Million Little Pieces by James Frey Lord of the Flies by William Golding* The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway* Journey to the East by Hermann Hesse* Strange News from Another Star by Hermann Hesse* The Road to Peace by Henri Nouwen*
And strictly for pleasure... National Geographic - December 1978 National Geographic - July 1985 The Authoritative Calving and Hobbes by Bill Watterson Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat by Bill Watterson
Album Update! I finally found a verse for a chorus I've had since November-ish! This song has been the source of much frustration for many months now and it is a great relief to finally have something substantial. Had it not been for this song, recording could probably be done by now. But I thought, and Francis agreed, that this chorus was too good to leave off the album. So now that we've got it, Francis and I will record the remaining drum tracks next week. Then I can do the rest hopefully during Spring Break. I say hopefully because we already have the record release date... which means I have to finish the album? The Record Release is going to be May 23 at the Dayton Dirt Collective. Save that date, por favor. More details to come.
Tentative track listing for Too Young for the Disco: 01. LOVEMACHINE5000 02. That's What She Said 03. Kinky Girl Scout Cookies 04. Orange Soda 05. Dignan 06. Bach Called - he wants his orchestra back 07. XOXO 08. Infinity x2 09. Disco = Crack 10. You're the Bomb(bay) 11. Cowboys and Indians
Scharffen Berger is by far the best chocolate I have ever had.
And yesterday I gave up to my sinful nature and bought more polaroid film. It was ridiculously overpriced. That whole situation is very sad. It's breaking my heart.
And Francis and I got our tickets. Visiting mi hermano in Germany when he's done in Iraq from June 19 - July 6 or something like that. I'm excited.
According to the Chinese Calendar, today marks the beginning of the Year of the Bicycle (or I think so, anyway). This means I can finally say good-bye to gasoline and let Pagoda take a little vacation from his hard work of chauffeuring me around everywhere. I kicked the year off with a nine-mile ride this morning with my dad and i look forward to many more leisure rides and rides to school and work and possibly Yellow Springs someday? The exercies is nice, I guess, but I think the biggest reason I like bicycling is because it just feels poetic to me.
Went to Jungle Jim's yesterday and got some tea and chocolates and curry.
Played a show last night at Stillwater with my friends Adam, Amanda, Bruce, and Greg Bogard. It was a neat time. Despite my tiredness and carelessness on stage and everyone missing Francis dearly, I still got a few solid responses... so i suppose it was a worthwhile show.
BSEP is trying to kill me.
And I had a dream a couple nights ago where Francis and Kris N. and I were in a library in Philadelphia or something. And the library had a section with all of these little glass sculptures and I was trying to be quiet and careful and not break anything. And Francis came up to me and said, "I've got your next single", and he started singing something like "The butterfly Benjamin Franklin robbed a bank, and that's why this city loves him". And I woke up and wrote down what he sang. I think I'm gonna start paying more attention to my dreams and writing stuff down and see what happens. Like in Twin Peaks where Agent Cooper solves the murder in his sleep. You know? No, huh? Well Francis knows what I'm talking about. Anyway, let's dream more everybody.
I'll Go Anywhere! I put on my Pelikan3000 Helmet today and resolved to change the world. I want to create things for people to enjoy and for myself to enjoy, too, I guess. I will start by crafting a spaceship out of blades of grass and then move on to 11th century Chinese architecture.
I want so badly to be good at something, you know?
Today was a dandy. Kite flying at Carillon, hiking, making mix CDs, grapefruit, Harney & Sons Tea, little kid birthday parties, lots and lots of rice. I find it amazing how a simple change in the weather can completely alter ones outlook. Creation is a very beautiful thing; both nature and the ability to create.
Went and saw Towhee this evening at Southpark Tavern. They were inspiring, as usual. Lately I've been wanting to play in a legit band... you know, like Towhee, or the Pomegranates, or Arcade Fire. It would be nice to be a lead guitar player or a bass player or a synth player for a dance-y band. It's difficult to write dance-y and inspiring music in a two-piece acoustic band. I guess I'm just dreaming. I suppose there's a place for everybody. As Francis puts it "I want to be Rob Withem, but I'm not... I have to live with that". Sometimes I just feel like I'm boring. As you can see, it's hard for me to articulate my feelings.
For some reason I'm thinking a lot right now. My bedtime was about four hours ago. Five hours if you count daylight savings time. Time is going fast and this is a very strange time in my life. Too many distractions.
And if any of you are wondering, recording has been at a bit of a standstill. I'm sick and nasal-y.
And I saw Brian Baxter for the first time in nearly two years. I was super excited about that. He is one of my favorite people ever and I really hope we start hanging out again.
And it's easy to waste an hour or two looking at these:
Bloomington is a super classy town. I shall certainly be venturing there again sometime soon. The Pourhouse Cafe, where we played, is a chill little cafe on Kirkwood Avenue. They cover their costs, but then all of their profits go to the needy around the world. I respect that a lot. Great atmosphere, great coffee, and a cool barista named Huck with a curly handlebar mustache. And we had lunch at this tiny Tibetan restaurant named Anyetsang's Little Tibet, built in an old house. I had the most delicious Lamb Curry and some Darjeeling Tea.
All in all it was a blast of a trip. I'm very grateful to God for wonderful friends like Francis and beautiful places like Bloomington.
And I had a crummy day today because I let myself have a crummy day and I'm realizing that everything is all about perspective.
