i am trying to think of where i should begin with this one...
i mean for real, this was one rollercoaster of a weekend. i guess the most logical thing to do would be to start from the beginning...
so we played a show in davenport, iowa. this was a five and a half hour drive that followed my day of parent teacher conferences. so exhausted and slightly under the influence we make it to the Red Stone Room. this was an upscale bar that was pretty new and littered with a mix of people. it seemed weird to have live music, especially the kind we play, but we did it anyway. you really thought waiters would be coming out to serve dinner. it had nice wood everything three huge video screens and a fancy club-like bar. you know the kind where the surface is so shiny you can see your drunk mug lookin' back at ya'?
so we play the show, some people seem into it, others hear it as background to their conversations. after we get done we are approached by a guy who was really complimentary of the set, but critical of my friend becky's movement as a bass player. "your bass parts were great, but you didn't move." of course this didn't sit well with me, because i bought this asshole a shot. so i told becky he should kick him in the nuts. she held back, and i proceeded to get weird on him. this was a tactic i used to get out the way of the bully. this guy was much taller than me and i was provoking him so i left him with this very strange reply, after he mentioned something about Burger King:
"Burger King? Burger King? Where I am from we don't have Burger King, we have Princess Land! What you call a Whopper, we call BEDTIME!" boo yah!
so yeah i couldn't believe was still able to stand. i had one and half hours of sleep, seven and half hours of work (two dedicated to parent/teacher conferences) and the limit of alcohol my body could take. so yeah mission accomplished, billy! seriously "BEDTIME!" ugh i'm an idiot. luckily nothing happened, and we proceeded to hit the towns of Davenport and Rock Island.
The next day I was TIRED!
somehow still made it in time to clean up the bar at Eastside... after bartending i caught up with some friends at a party, and then i got magically called away to a late night wiffleball game where i pitched up a homerun to my pal benjamin, he knocked the hell out of it, later i wandered the streets with a pleasant transient soul...
Sunday i am awoken to my friend jarrett telling me the cardinals and cubs game we were to attend was cancelled after the sudden death of relief pitcher Josh Hancock. Josh had pitched against the Cubs the night he was killed in a car accident. His car was heading down Highway 40 when smashed into the back of a tow truck that had been in the left hand lane helping another motorist. he was 29.
So with the game being appropriately cancelled i decided at the very last minute that i was going to go visit my family for dinner. good idea on my part. we had a nice dinner, watched some episodes of entourage, and then discovered the greatest piece of technology since the toaster. simply put, Wii.
holy shit! this is the most amazing piece of hardware. it is wireless and deals with all directional movement. if you are playing a golf game, you swing the controller like a golf club. if you are playing a baseball game you swing the controller like a bat. so my mom and i played a bowling game. it was like the real deal, complete with sweeping gutterballs and shattering strikes, my mom was responsible for the latter. she beat me three times in a row. i kept having to say i had to go, but Wii just pulls you back in for three or four more games. it is as addicting as my need for diet coke...
all in all a good weekend, but this week leaves me with a lot of work to do... what am i doing to myself?
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
I am playing the Mean Girl
Often I think my friends get tired of stories about my students. but man kids say the darnedest things... okay that was bad... but here is an exchange with one of my students today (names have been changed for the sake of privacy). I find Lisa digging in the sand by herself away from her friends. Keep in mind Lisa is 3 years old:
Billy: (okay this name isn't changed) Hey Lisa what are you doing?
Lisa: I am the mean girl.
Billy: Why are you the mean girl?
Lisa: Well... I am playing the mean girl.
Billy: Why can't you play the nice girl?
Lisa: Because I have to be the mean girl until I die in green. And then after that I will be born the nice girl.
Billy: Okay...
Some kids say cute, funny things like "calapitter" instead of catepillar. others blurt out things their parents say when they get angry like "god damn it!" (with perfect intonation). while a few, like Lisa, create fantastical worlds where they are one character then die, only to be reborn as another characther. their minds are complex and they see things we don't, like ghosts...
i have had students have full conversations with bathroom stalls, corners of rooms, and hallways... this phenomena is similar to a dog barking at nothing, or a cat staring for hours at nothing... so kids in general are cute, imaginative and creepy...
another recent development with my students, is that they are slowly catching on to the fact that my last name is schuh (shoe) and indeed that is funny, but they have decided to change my name to funnier, sometimes rhyming, words. here is a brief list:
Billy:
- Boo
- Poo
- Poop
- Silly
- Silly head (this one actually hurts my feelings)
- Pencilface
- School
- (fart sound)
- Goo Goo Gaa Gaa (my favorite)
Now granted these names haven't stuck, but i have been going through this my whole life, and i have yet to hear any original material... this might be a challenge for somebody...
Billy: (okay this name isn't changed) Hey Lisa what are you doing?
Lisa: I am the mean girl.
Billy: Why are you the mean girl?
Lisa: Well... I am playing the mean girl.
Billy: Why can't you play the nice girl?
Lisa: Because I have to be the mean girl until I die in green. And then after that I will be born the nice girl.
Billy: Okay...
Some kids say cute, funny things like "calapitter" instead of catepillar. others blurt out things their parents say when they get angry like "god damn it!" (with perfect intonation). while a few, like Lisa, create fantastical worlds where they are one character then die, only to be reborn as another characther. their minds are complex and they see things we don't, like ghosts...
i have had students have full conversations with bathroom stalls, corners of rooms, and hallways... this phenomena is similar to a dog barking at nothing, or a cat staring for hours at nothing... so kids in general are cute, imaginative and creepy...
another recent development with my students, is that they are slowly catching on to the fact that my last name is schuh (shoe) and indeed that is funny, but they have decided to change my name to funnier, sometimes rhyming, words. here is a brief list:
Billy:
- Boo
- Poo
- Poop
- Silly
- Silly head (this one actually hurts my feelings)
- Pencilface
- School
- (fart sound)
- Goo Goo Gaa Gaa (my favorite)
Now granted these names haven't stuck, but i have been going through this my whole life, and i have yet to hear any original material... this might be a challenge for somebody...
Sunday, April 15, 2007
a mix-mesh of the undercurrent
so there are floods of doubt and confusion coursing through my life right now, so the next few lines won't be coherent chronologically, but to me it will be a linear line of thought...
sometimes no matter how arresting the person next to you on a carved surface is, you must maintain your position...
maybe these dizzy spells and body aches are the sign of the end to be. which would be very disappointing, because i think i'm just starting to get my life in order...
sober conversations may alter perceptions, but atleast they are worth looking forward to...
even as the walls close in i know this is the right path, one step at a time, one step at a time...
...
sometimes no matter how arresting the person next to you on a carved surface is, you must maintain your position...
maybe these dizzy spells and body aches are the sign of the end to be. which would be very disappointing, because i think i'm just starting to get my life in order...
sober conversations may alter perceptions, but atleast they are worth looking forward to...
even as the walls close in i know this is the right path, one step at a time, one step at a time...
...
Friday, March 30, 2007
his name was patrick
the other night a former student of mine invited me to a candle light for the anniversary of his brother's death. as you may or may not know i teach 3 to 5 year olds so this story is all the more tragic. my former student was five and his brother nearly a year old when he passed away. needless to say i was already close to this family, but after this tragedy took place i would become a little closer.
a year ago, i got the news from the head of school in the early evening. she told me simply that patrick had passed away and that the family was going to need a lot of support. i was in shock because the baby was in my class that day. he was crawling around full of energy, full of life. by that afternoon he had died. it was said that SIDS was the cause, and i cannot see how that reason could give any parent understanding. sudden infant death syndrome. that is just an acronym, not a cause of death...
regardless the family had an incredible year trying to move on, trying to wake up, trying to put one shoe on at a time, trying to put their clothes on and get going with a day that no one else in their lives would experience. constant reminders through out the house in toys, clothes, spaces, and pictures. patrick was only on the planet for a short time, but his impact was immense.
it is said that one of the greatest tragedies for a parent is to see their child die. i believe it. the following days afterward, patrick's father would make his way over to the school, exhausted from lack of sleep and overwrought with emotion. he would come over and sign his son (my student at the time) in and out. just getting back to a routine. trying to keep some part of his life consistent.
both parents were incredible through this whole situation. they did everything they could to make sure their five year old was going to make it through all of this. michael was a bright student and emotionally was very aware of his surroundings. which i think helped him cope better with his brother's death.
the vigil was beautiful, a small tree was planted in the front yard and several candles were placed around the young trunk. about twenty people from around the neighborhood attended, and each talked about the young boy known as patrick. some spoke about the parents, and others commented on the support of the neighborhood. which i think is the big picture of this event.
columbia over the past ten years has torn up huge segments of earth to make way for upscale homes and shopping centers. these new developments may attract families, but they won't attract entire neighborhoods like the one on Anderson Ave. (where patrick's family resides). this neighborhood pulled together and helped out the family. brought dinner over, bought clothes for the family for the funeral, mowed the lawn, took michael out, and provided a solid foundation for support.
this family would not have healed over this past year without those people, and the vigil was there way of saying thank you. it really makes you take a step back from your own life and realize what is important, what is necessary, and in the grand scheme of things how small we really are...
a year ago, i got the news from the head of school in the early evening. she told me simply that patrick had passed away and that the family was going to need a lot of support. i was in shock because the baby was in my class that day. he was crawling around full of energy, full of life. by that afternoon he had died. it was said that SIDS was the cause, and i cannot see how that reason could give any parent understanding. sudden infant death syndrome. that is just an acronym, not a cause of death...
regardless the family had an incredible year trying to move on, trying to wake up, trying to put one shoe on at a time, trying to put their clothes on and get going with a day that no one else in their lives would experience. constant reminders through out the house in toys, clothes, spaces, and pictures. patrick was only on the planet for a short time, but his impact was immense.
it is said that one of the greatest tragedies for a parent is to see their child die. i believe it. the following days afterward, patrick's father would make his way over to the school, exhausted from lack of sleep and overwrought with emotion. he would come over and sign his son (my student at the time) in and out. just getting back to a routine. trying to keep some part of his life consistent.
both parents were incredible through this whole situation. they did everything they could to make sure their five year old was going to make it through all of this. michael was a bright student and emotionally was very aware of his surroundings. which i think helped him cope better with his brother's death.
the vigil was beautiful, a small tree was planted in the front yard and several candles were placed around the young trunk. about twenty people from around the neighborhood attended, and each talked about the young boy known as patrick. some spoke about the parents, and others commented on the support of the neighborhood. which i think is the big picture of this event.
columbia over the past ten years has torn up huge segments of earth to make way for upscale homes and shopping centers. these new developments may attract families, but they won't attract entire neighborhoods like the one on Anderson Ave. (where patrick's family resides). this neighborhood pulled together and helped out the family. brought dinner over, bought clothes for the family for the funeral, mowed the lawn, took michael out, and provided a solid foundation for support.
this family would not have healed over this past year without those people, and the vigil was there way of saying thank you. it really makes you take a step back from your own life and realize what is important, what is necessary, and in the grand scheme of things how small we really are...
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Mastodon...Megazilla...For Fuck's sake save your Blog entry...
okay so i wrote out this HUGE!!! blog about my experience at the Mastodon show, and wouldn't you know it, i messed up on one of the tags, and when i went back to plug in the entry it erased everything... it has taken me two days to recover, so i will try this again, and hopefully with the same energy, here it goes:
The other night I went to see Mastodon, Priestess, Mouth of the Architect, and Megazilla at the blue note.
when writing out concert reviews there is a simple set of guidelines one must follow:
1) Who you saw
2) Where you went
3) Try to avoid introducing a band as "my friend's band" when you do this it immediately puts that band on a grading curve. For example:
Last night i went to see my friend's band Toxic Waste Dump. They were pretty good. "Pretty good = horrible" sorry that is how it works. Also if you describe a band as "really nice people" first, also not a good band.
with all of this said.
The first band of the evening was Megazilla. i have seen this band numberous times but not on a sound system as big as The Blue Note. the duo has played in smaller venues, basements, art spaces, etc. but they certainly took advantage of the modest 1000 person capacity Blue Note. Did i mention these guys happen to be friends of mine. But lets take them off of the "Friend's band" grading curve. it would be unfair, because their perfomance was loud and they were tight. Corey "MegaCoCo" Cottrell explains that Megazilla is basically "a kick drum and amps" and he is right. Joey "MegaJoJo" Hook, plays the kit with six arms and a driving kick that layers very well with Cottrell's eight string bass. The songs are heavy but precise. The two have great chemistry, most likely because the two are off-stage lovers. okay that part is not true, but the two had previously played in a five piece called Grand Canyon, which, like most Columbia bands, met a premature end.
The most impressive thing about Megazilla's performance was the amount of people who were captivated by their show. during the quiet parts of songs there was not a single voice. All eyes were on these two creating a great warm up for the eventual headliners Mastodon.
Mastodon, has had lofty and genuine comparisons to Metallica. i have never seen metallica, but good christ the music is there. i am not a stranger to metal, but i'm not season ticket holder to the genre either, but this was a fantastic performance. these guys treat metal as an actual art form. there are no silly poses, or overdone costumes. these four just step up to their instruments and play. this is what other metal bands should strive for. yes the subject matter of their songs are considered "dark" and "heavy" but they don't need to look, dress or act that way.
The other night I went to see Mastodon, Priestess, Mouth of the Architect, and Megazilla at the blue note.
when writing out concert reviews there is a simple set of guidelines one must follow:
1) Who you saw
2) Where you went
3) Try to avoid introducing a band as "my friend's band" when you do this it immediately puts that band on a grading curve. For example:
Last night i went to see my friend's band Toxic Waste Dump. They were pretty good. "Pretty good = horrible" sorry that is how it works. Also if you describe a band as "really nice people" first, also not a good band.
with all of this said.
The first band of the evening was Megazilla. i have seen this band numberous times but not on a sound system as big as The Blue Note. the duo has played in smaller venues, basements, art spaces, etc. but they certainly took advantage of the modest 1000 person capacity Blue Note. Did i mention these guys happen to be friends of mine. But lets take them off of the "Friend's band" grading curve. it would be unfair, because their perfomance was loud and they were tight. Corey "MegaCoCo" Cottrell explains that Megazilla is basically "a kick drum and amps" and he is right. Joey "MegaJoJo" Hook, plays the kit with six arms and a driving kick that layers very well with Cottrell's eight string bass. The songs are heavy but precise. The two have great chemistry, most likely because the two are off-stage lovers. okay that part is not true, but the two had previously played in a five piece called Grand Canyon, which, like most Columbia bands, met a premature end.
The most impressive thing about Megazilla's performance was the amount of people who were captivated by their show. during the quiet parts of songs there was not a single voice. All eyes were on these two creating a great warm up for the eventual headliners Mastodon.
Mastodon, has had lofty and genuine comparisons to Metallica. i have never seen metallica, but good christ the music is there. i am not a stranger to metal, but i'm not season ticket holder to the genre either, but this was a fantastic performance. these guys treat metal as an actual art form. there are no silly poses, or overdone costumes. these four just step up to their instruments and play. this is what other metal bands should strive for. yes the subject matter of their songs are considered "dark" and "heavy" but they don't need to look, dress or act that way.
Monday, March 19, 2007
i have returned... with what exactly...
so i went to austin, texas with my band, and it was hella fun... we played some good shows and saw some good shows. we spent time with friends and drank with them.
i had some very good meetings and got some great advice from new and old friends who own fantastic labels...
i think what i came back with is a fresh perspective on everything i am doing. i was really down on myself for coming off too business like sometimes, but after meeting some of the people i met, i am nowhere near that level. i am simply trying to get columbia on the map, and help bands i love get their music out to as many people as possible. it would be nice if this was my full time job, but it is not... not right now. i don't think this is a foolish pursuit... but time will be the best judge.
so after travelling 14 hours in the minivan with five other people (austin to columbia), i had to get up and motivate myself to face the onslaught of 20+ children and their needs at 8 am... it was a lot today, mondays are always difficult, they are out of routine, out of sync, and of course not feeling well... so after 8 and half hours i came home and fixed my computer, had some dinner and worked out for the first time in a week. austin was fun, but i paid for it... i think i am still recovering from friday night's partying...
i'll have a SxSW tour diary in MOVE magazine in the next couple of weeks...
i recently read a very good book called Attention. Deficit. Disorder. by Brad Listi. Brad contacted the band's myspace site and we traded his LA times Bestselling book for our cd... i read it in the van to and from austin, and normally this isn't the type of book i would read cover to cover, but i kept identifying with the main character. anyway i am going to write him a letter at my earliest convenience. the main character goes through so much personal tragedy, i'm curious to know how much of Mr. Listi's own personal demons are intertwined in the character. i know that sometimes the songs i write have very cryptic lyrics, but they are always connected to me somehow... anyway i highly recommend the book.
it is time to rest my head full of worry... good night to you all as well...
i had some very good meetings and got some great advice from new and old friends who own fantastic labels...
i think what i came back with is a fresh perspective on everything i am doing. i was really down on myself for coming off too business like sometimes, but after meeting some of the people i met, i am nowhere near that level. i am simply trying to get columbia on the map, and help bands i love get their music out to as many people as possible. it would be nice if this was my full time job, but it is not... not right now. i don't think this is a foolish pursuit... but time will be the best judge.
so after travelling 14 hours in the minivan with five other people (austin to columbia), i had to get up and motivate myself to face the onslaught of 20+ children and their needs at 8 am... it was a lot today, mondays are always difficult, they are out of routine, out of sync, and of course not feeling well... so after 8 and half hours i came home and fixed my computer, had some dinner and worked out for the first time in a week. austin was fun, but i paid for it... i think i am still recovering from friday night's partying...
i'll have a SxSW tour diary in MOVE magazine in the next couple of weeks...
i recently read a very good book called Attention. Deficit. Disorder. by Brad Listi. Brad contacted the band's myspace site and we traded his LA times Bestselling book for our cd... i read it in the van to and from austin, and normally this isn't the type of book i would read cover to cover, but i kept identifying with the main character. anyway i am going to write him a letter at my earliest convenience. the main character goes through so much personal tragedy, i'm curious to know how much of Mr. Listi's own personal demons are intertwined in the character. i know that sometimes the songs i write have very cryptic lyrics, but they are always connected to me somehow... anyway i highly recommend the book.
it is time to rest my head full of worry... good night to you all as well...
Saturday, March 10, 2007
okay okay i now have a computer...
so now i don't have any excuse to update this...
here is what i know... as of the past couple months i have contemplated many changes in my life. we are talking big time transitions. i am not renewing my lease, i don't know where i'm going to live, but i know that i am looking for a month-to-month thing. so that should cause an ample amount of stress on my life on top of the other things...
but to counteract all of that i am working out on a daily basis (well 5 out of 7 days to be exact), and i am addicted to it. that's not necessarily a good thing but it gives me a routine, and i feel a whole lot better.
i will say lately my patience has run out on a lot of things. i realize i live in a community that i absolutely adore, but the members are all in transition in their lives. which of course effects everyone else. i have sort of isolated myself because i have issues i am trying to deal with. i think the big part of all of this, is that i feel like there are certain expectations of me that shouldn't be put on anyone. in my position i feel like there is no room for error, people just expect you to continue being this person that met five years ago, five months ago, or five minutes ago. and sometimes its just too much. i think the goal of anyone living here is to try to make the positive changes for yourself without hurting other people...
with that said i have hurt people in trying to continue on this path of music. i feel horrible about that, especially when you see that individual in public and there is this nonexistent look in their eyes. i can quickly dismiss that as eighth grade behavior, but that's not it all (and i have had to convince myself of this) it is much deeper than that. (i guess you all know who i am referring to at this point) but even though i know that the decision to leave a great relationship was for the best, the imprint is still there. the feelings take a long time to heal. i wish i could say something that would heal, but everything has already been said, and you have to move on...
which i have, and i maintain my singlehood for good reason. its just not my time to have a very involved relationship, other than the whole label and band thing...
speaking of... i will be in austin all next week for sxsw. i am excited and nauseated at the same time. i have had so much advice about going down there and having a plan of action. i already do, and i just want to take my time and soak in the festivities. the band has four activities:
- wed. 3/14 - IODA opening day bash with black angels, apostle of hustle, etc...
- wed. 3/14 - that night we are doing a daytrotter session.
- thur. 3/15 - we are playing right after the texas rollergirls. roller derby, texas style!
- fri. 3/16 - we will sit down with XM radio for an acoustic session...
on top of this i have various meetings with distributors and other labels. so i will be busy.
well i have vented enough, and i hope to get back to a more noteworthy installment in the next day or so...
here is what i know... as of the past couple months i have contemplated many changes in my life. we are talking big time transitions. i am not renewing my lease, i don't know where i'm going to live, but i know that i am looking for a month-to-month thing. so that should cause an ample amount of stress on my life on top of the other things...
but to counteract all of that i am working out on a daily basis (well 5 out of 7 days to be exact), and i am addicted to it. that's not necessarily a good thing but it gives me a routine, and i feel a whole lot better.
i will say lately my patience has run out on a lot of things. i realize i live in a community that i absolutely adore, but the members are all in transition in their lives. which of course effects everyone else. i have sort of isolated myself because i have issues i am trying to deal with. i think the big part of all of this, is that i feel like there are certain expectations of me that shouldn't be put on anyone. in my position i feel like there is no room for error, people just expect you to continue being this person that met five years ago, five months ago, or five minutes ago. and sometimes its just too much. i think the goal of anyone living here is to try to make the positive changes for yourself without hurting other people...
with that said i have hurt people in trying to continue on this path of music. i feel horrible about that, especially when you see that individual in public and there is this nonexistent look in their eyes. i can quickly dismiss that as eighth grade behavior, but that's not it all (and i have had to convince myself of this) it is much deeper than that. (i guess you all know who i am referring to at this point) but even though i know that the decision to leave a great relationship was for the best, the imprint is still there. the feelings take a long time to heal. i wish i could say something that would heal, but everything has already been said, and you have to move on...
which i have, and i maintain my singlehood for good reason. its just not my time to have a very involved relationship, other than the whole label and band thing...
speaking of... i will be in austin all next week for sxsw. i am excited and nauseated at the same time. i have had so much advice about going down there and having a plan of action. i already do, and i just want to take my time and soak in the festivities. the band has four activities:
- wed. 3/14 - IODA opening day bash with black angels, apostle of hustle, etc...
- wed. 3/14 - that night we are doing a daytrotter session.
- thur. 3/15 - we are playing right after the texas rollergirls. roller derby, texas style!
- fri. 3/16 - we will sit down with XM radio for an acoustic session...
on top of this i have various meetings with distributors and other labels. so i will be busy.
well i have vented enough, and i hope to get back to a more noteworthy installment in the next day or so...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)