this is where i hideout

Sunday, May 29, 2005

I've had a crazy few days. Thursday night we had a show at the Pic Pub. Didn't get home until 3:30ish, and had to get up at 6:00 for work. I felt like a zombie on the Skytrain so I went to Petro-Can and got some of that Monster energy drink and a lemon poppyseed muffin. Well that monster stuff is disgusting, but did it ever give me a buzz! Wow. And then at about 10:00 it wore off and I almost passed out. Actually I did pass out in the lunchroom. But that day all the managers and bosses went to a golf tourney so it didn't matter if I was groggy. And then I went to meet up with Char at the train on the way home because we had another show on Friday night. This one was at a church (yes, a church) for this youth thing. I was kinda uneasy about this playing in a church business, considering we're not that sort of a band, but it was good. It seemed like the kids loved it so that's alright. Then Friday night I got home and crashed. We had decided to go to Spanish banks on Saturday, which is this amazing beach along the ocean. So Jesse, Cam, Tiffany and I headed over there around noon and stayed until about 3:30pm. It was 29 degrees which is toasty for here and I got sooo sunburnt. I put some tanning oil on but I didn't realize it isn't sunblock. Hmmmm, next time. Anyway it was amazing. Then I went downtown to meet Amelia at work and it ended up that her co-workers were having a little belated get together for her birthday, which was last Tuesday. So we sat out on the patio on Granville Street and had a few drinks. Too many actually. And now it is today. And I'm off to band practice this afternoon, and hopefully to bed nice and early tonight.

Monday, May 23, 2005

"From a philosophical perspective, the universal belief in evil demons is based on the need for an explanation of the enormous quantity of moral and physical evil pervading human existence for our entire history. I suppose, too, that devils in some way serve to excuse our own evil actions and mitigate our sense of responsibility for the harm we do. Psychologically, demons may well be a projection of ourselves, the worst part of our nature or the most feared part of our own nature." (skepdic.com)

I have a real problem when people pass things off as being "from the devil", or "of Satan". I don't know why I'm thinking about this right now...just popped into my head. I don't really believe in Satan. It seems like a scare tactic, or a cop out. Some might say that it's impossible to believe in God without believing in Satan. Well I don't think that's true. I think God is in everything. As humans we make choices in life, some of them may be bad choices, but I don't think that's Satan's doing. It's just free will at work. If we make a bad choice, sometimes there will be bad consequences. Seems logical. I think alot of the "evil" in the world is purely a result of bad choices. And some of what some might consider evil, others find no harm in. Consider dancing as an example. I know of some people who might think it's evil, but I enjoy it. Am I evil? I don't think so, it's just a choice. There are many things that fit into this catagory. I don't think I need to make an exhausive list, but to name a few things that might be evil to some and not to others: smoking, drinking, (the oh so evil) pre-marital sex, the aforementioned dancing, etc... Granted every action has a reaction, and without proper care certain things may have a nastier reaction than other things, but does that mean they're evil?

The Christian people reading this might think I'm evil just for thinking about such things. I'm always open for conversation, but I'm never open to people imposing ideals on others. I hate the feeling that I might be judged by so and so if they knew about this or that. Let's start genuinely caring for people instead of fretting over what they do. I think that's a good place to start.

I hope this all made some sense, my brain is tired from the late night yesterday. So much fun though, thanks to everyone who made it out! Very enjoyable evening.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

8:00am- Wake Up. Shower. Eat. Get clothes ready.

10:30am- Meet at Tiff and Char's place in Vancouver.

11:00am- Makeup (which i disdain).

2:00pm- Much Music Interview.

4:00pm- Photo shoot for Versus magazine.

6:00pm- Eat.

7:00pm- Load in at Pub 340.

9:00pm- Show starts.

10:00pm- Bella! (for Music Waste 2005)

Sunday, May 15, 2005

This last week was uneventful. I've been getting really excited about recording lately. The passion seems to be back....all I can think about is gear and sounds and making music. I haven't actually done any yet, but I think about it a fair amount! I figure I need about $45,000 to start a decent studio (and that's just for equipment, not including instruments or a place to put it all for that matter). Now if only I could find it....

Cam, Emily, Jesse and I watched all 3 Lord of the Rings extended editions back to back yesterday. It took about 12.5 hours. I hooked up my speakers and subwoofer to the TV and it was niiccccee. We ate alot of pizza. Amelia joined us for the last segment as she had to work during the day. Good times had by all.

Today is band practice and after that, laundry. As for right now, a little more sleep.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Today I went to Deep Cove. It all started at about noon when the idea popped into my head. So I got on the bus at 12:48pm and took off to Braid Station. Then I made my way over the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge by bus, and then on down Dollarton Highway to "the Cove". It was amazing. I didn't expect what I found. It is a nice little townlike community with a main street with restaurants and such, and everything is waterfront. There's a big beach with a marina, and picnic tables and seagulls and crabs. So I decided to walk for a bit, and found a trail called the Baden Powell Trail. It is a very long trail which ends up taking you to Horseshoe Bay, about 46km away. I only went up 1.9km to a point called Indian Arm Lookout, which is basically just a huge rock way up on the mountian that you can see from. It was sweet. So so beautiful. I took some pictures that I may post when I get around to developing them. I forgot to bring water or food along with me on the hike, so I ran down the mountian after enjoying the view for awhile and went for sushi in town. It was excellent as well. I seriously would stay in BC indefinitly if I could live out there. So that was my day. Now I'm at home and quite tired from the trek, so I'm going to sit around and be lazy this evening. That is all.

Last night I was sick of sitting around the house (surprise, surprise), so I went on a bus tour. I intended on just going for a walk, but ended up getting on the bus that I usually take home, but went in the direction that I'd never gone before. We (being me and whoever else was on the bus) went up through Coquitlam, past some nice houses and parks, and over to Lougheed Mall. From there I decided to jump on the Skytrain with the intention of going over to Deer Lake. Well I ended up going to the end of the line (Waterfront Station) and walked around Canada Place. From there I went to the Shaw Tower, to see if there was actually a portal to outer space there (recall the Magical Glass Door post). Well I didn't find a magical door because there was security everywhere and they were eyeing me as I was walking around the building inspecting it. But I did find something interesting. There is a park right across the street from the Shaw Tower called Portal Park. It was built on June 26, 1987 and commissioned by a guy named Malcolm Ashford. In the park there is a large globe made out of green stones on the ground, and all kinds of old fashioned little lamps surrounding the park. Hmmmmm.....maybe on a certain day of the year, the portal to outer space opens up there! And I missed it! Damn.

Anyway then I walked all the way down to English Bay and watched some street preformer get out of a straight jacket by dislocating his shoulder. And there were a bunch of pirates on the beach. So I walked along the beach for awhile and then headed back up Denman street. I decided to take the bus up the hill on Robson because I was tired. So I did. Got back on the train at Granville and went home. It was a fun bus tour. I might do some more of those. I think maybe today I'll venture out to Deep Cove (a lovely little place in North Vancouver with water and mountians and apparently a really deep cove). We'll see.

Oh and in the off chance that my mom reads this: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!

Saturday, May 07, 2005

It has been an interesting week. I got a new job. Then I turned it down. It was a seasonal position driving a 5 ton truck, starting at $14/hour. Why would I turn that down, you might ask. I ask myself the same question. It is because of flexibility, really. I'm going to need about 4 weeks off this summer for various band related things, as well as going home for Greg's grad in June. I didn't think it was fair to them for me to take so much time off, whereas my current job doesn't mind. Although, after July 31st, the dealership is closing. They have offered me a position at one of the other car dealerships doing the same thing for the same pay. I suppose this will do for the time being (however much I dislike it).

I'm kinda stressed out about the whole situation actually. This potential tour in August is putting a strain on my financial picture. I have to start working 10 hour days in order to save up to be able to pay the bills in July and August. Brutal. As much as I love the band, it's especially hard for me to justify giving up a good job for that, because it's not what I want to do with my life. I've always been the odd man out. Everyone else wants to be a full-time musician for the rest of their lives, and I don't. Anyway, now I just hope we get that grant to go on tour, otherwise I'll have given up the job for nothing. And once that is over, it's time to do some serious job hunting.

I'm such a whiner. Sorry people. I've actually been fairly happy lately despite all this other shit. We just had a great time last night (boys nite in) playing NHL 2005 for Gamecube and drinking beer. Jesse made this killer blueberry pie for us.

And this morning I redesigned this page for Kristy-Anne, as requested. I hope it works!