The Blog with No Name

Yesterday was Easter. Weird Easter too. I did not wake up until 3:15. For that, I feel bad. I think it is the first time in a long time that I felt bad about sleeping in. Anyway, I bought some breakfast (2 Nutrigrain bars and a Snapple Element). Then I worked on a paper that was due today for sociology. Next, I went alone to another concert.

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. That is my summation of the concert. Well, at least the last act: Botch. But let me start at the beginning. The first band was Teen Chthulu (sp. ?). A hardcore that played fast and furious. Rather sloppy and simple; the songs were over before they began it seemed. Still excellent band to kick it off with. The next band was Raft of Dead Monkeys. The words that best describe them is twitchy and wailing. One of the guitarists had a constant, full-body twitch going on. I guess he was really into the music. Anyway, the lead singer/bassist was really into it and was all over the place. However, I was not into it. Eventually, I got bored and very sick of their random sound (I have no idea what genre they fit in. . .is there a twitch-core?). Next up was Botch, a local experimental hardcore band. They have two albums out which I’ll get as soon as I can find them. I was in the pit waiting for them to start. They were up on stage, and I thought there would be a few more minutes before they started. Bands seem to always take their time setting up, tuning things, testing things, etc. The lead guy said a couple of words, there was a pause, and then it all kicked in. I get shivers now still remembering how the energy level shot out of the roof when they launched into their set. The pit surged forward. I was slowly squished and squeezed up to the very front, which I was happy about. The guy on my right was flailing all around; the guy on my left was screaming along with them and shaking his fists. I wish I had known their lyrics. It seemed the entire pit was screaming right along with them. All I could do was listen and “feel the groove”. The best part was at the beginning at their second song, “Thank God for the Worker Bees,” which you can get their site (go get it!). At the beginning of the song, it starts out dubbed down low with simple guitars accompanied by a distant drum beat. About twenty seconds into the song it kicks in full-bore. When this happened the pit went nuts as the stage lights flared. That was one of the coolest moments in any concert I’ve been to. Exhilarating.

I left the concert glad that I finally made it to a real hardcore show. I walked back towards Westlake Ave. where I was to catch the 17 line back home. I guess I wasn’t paying attention because I walked three blocks past it. I first realized this when I passed the strip club, Deja Vu (”Hundreds of beautiful women and three ugly ones.”). I thought to myself, “I don’t remember passing that before. . .” I looked at the street sign: 6th Ave. I was suppose to be on 9th. So I started cutting back across. I ran across I-99, hopped the median, and cut through parking lots and alleyways. I passed a couple making out in a car. . .at least that’s what I think they were doing. . .I finally got back and finally got to see my wonderful Stacey. So, my Easter ended very well indeed.

Today, I was planning on going to another concert, but, after some more thought, I don’t think I’ll go. I’ll be going alone to see two bands I’ve just seen in concert, and I’m going to another show for sure tomorrow night.

Stacey has been gone for the past couple of days and so has Dan. Stacey is gone, so I’m lonely. Dan is gone, so I have my room to myself, which is a very nice change. Actually, I’ve been kinda drowning out thoughts of Stacey with my computer and puttering around online. It passes the time quickly, and I’m not thinking about her. If I do start thinking about her, I miss her a lot. I’m pathetic I know. She gets back today. Her plane should have landed at Seatac about 45 minutes ago.

Just so people don’t get the wrong idea about my “puttering around online”, I’ve been quite busy with some bulletin boards. I’m actively involved in a mormon board, asking the Saints questions and making them work. I’m also becoming more involved in a protestant {theology board} in the “general theology” and “predestination vs. freewill” topics. If you care to see what I’m discussing or just what it is all about, visit them! I find it rather informative and makes me work. My handle is Archangel_777; if you see that person, it’s me. Other stuff I’ve been doing is chatting with friends back home (Dave Baker, Micah McGuire) and other people like Ashleigh Batton who I know from Chugiak H.S. days. Oh yeah, I also download a lot of mp3s that I find.

I saw U-571 last night with a bunch of guys from my floor. We filled up almost the entire row. It was cool. The movie was pretty good. I would recommend it. I mean it’s not spectacular, but it is worth the watch. The plot may seem kind predictable, but give it a break. There’s not a whole lot you can do with a submarine.

Tomorrow is Easter. It will be a weird Easter for me. I don’t know if I will even make it to a church. Haha, even heathens make it to church on Easter Sunday! Hahaha! Sheesh. I’m still unsure if I’m really missing a whole lot. Everything that I got out of church before I still get: Christian fellowship, growing in the knowledge of the scriptures, ministry opportunities. and times of worship. I just don’t get it all in one nice, little, neat shot on Sunday from 11 to 12:30. If anything, I have gotten more of all of the stuff I just listed. However, there is a strong push among Christians to go to church, and often I succumb to the notion that I’m doing something wrong by not going to church. I think it is wrong to assume that a Christian is “backsliding” because they don’t attend an organization housed in a building. I’m not backsliding, and I’m not going to a specific church either. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking churches. I think they perform a very valuable and necessary function for both the Christian and secular communities. Because I’m attending a Christian university, I think I’m able to get the benefits of a church outside of a church. When I graduate, I will have to find a church. Heck, I’ll probably find one long before I graduate anyway.

Enough of my rambling! Stacey just called and she’s coming over! She’s back! Yeah! Bye bye.

Tip of the day: Watch your pop tarts. They might get burnt.

I went to another concert tonight. I saw Kill Sadie (again), The Anniversary, Hot Rod Circuit, and Piebald. I’m not much in the mood to write about each of these bands. In fact, I think I’m just going to go to bed. I had a lot of my impetus kicked out of me when I got back. . .kinda sad. Anyway, you can find my review of Kill Sadie in a previous entry. Sorry,it’s short. Maybe sometime later I can elaborate. The Anniversary is a cool band from Kansas, and they rocked. Hot Rod Circuit is a cool band from Connecticut (?), and they rocked. They had a guitarist who reminded me of a mix between a chihuahua and a rock star. Very interesting little man. Piebald was an okay band from somewhere, and they rocked sometimes.

Good night.

Tip of the night: Carpe Nostrem!
Tip of the night part two: Disappointment comes often; get used to it.

Today I went into town. What was different about this time was that I didn’t have any real reason for going into town. Usually I have a reason. Anyway, I did get a couple of CDs. I got the 3rd Root EP and another CD that I realized I didn’t have and I suddenly needed. I went to the Seattle Art Musuem as well. I took a stroll through their porcelin exhibit. It was rather interesting actually. Some of the works were amazing. My favorite pieces were these simple bowls and vases that were were sleekly designed and solid in color. Nothing fancy. Even though they were made hundreds of years ago they still looked modern. I also saw these three huge tapestries that were made in the 1600’s. I have never seen tapestries like this before. They were highly detailed and brilliantly colored (although I could tell it had dulled with age). One can find new wonders in Seattle all the time. . .

I suddenly got very tired, so I think I’m going to go to bed.

Went to another show tonight. I saw Pop Unknown, Peter Parker, and some other band that I really didn’t see. My brother and I arrived at the venue a little late, so we didn’t see the first couple of songs by Pop Unkown. The rest of their show was really good. They have a nice, tight, clean set. While standing there I couldn’t help but think that this is what music was really all about. Away from the big names, big lights, big money, and big concerts. The artists are not there for the buck (but it does help), but they are there for the music. When I hear the stuff on the radio, I can’t think that they are there just for the music. I would say there are only a small small number of popular bands that got to where they are merely by their talents and their love of music. Oh well, that’s just what I think. Anyway, the second band Drew and I didn’t even stick around for. We went down to Border’s Books. We made it back just in time to see Peter Parker. They were okay. I think Drew liked them better than I did. Still the show was worth the money. I also bought Pop Unknown’s new album “If Arsenic Fails, Try Algebra”. It’s good.

I have some more to say, but it’s getting late and I have a test tomorrow.

Thought of the moment: Blessed anonymity!

Well, March has passed by and now we’re on to April. Time continues on its inexorable course. Its destination is the end, nothing else. I guess when you look at it in terms like that things look pretty grim. Luckily, I got a brighter vision of the future.

Nothing much has been happening around here. Definitely a slow night. Even the regular Counterstrike games are gone. Nobody is around, including Stacey who is in San Diego celebrating her grandmother’s birthday. She comes back today though. This evening, Kyle came up for a visit. It was really cool to see her again and catch up on some stuff. She’s very happy with her boyfriend and life in general. She’s a wonderful girl and makes me proud. I’m blessed to call her a friend.

Oh yes, new CD recommendation. If you have a hankering to buy some new music but you don’t know what, get Appleseed Cast. They have two albums: End of the Ring Wars and Mare Vitalis. The latter one is their newest ablum and the better one (but the former is excellent as well). They are one of the finest emo bands around. I read one review saying that they were the “king of emo”. There sound is similar to artists such as Sunny Day Real Estate. Brooding vocals accompanied by exquisite guitars and excellent rythm. Buy it.