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May Sweeps That's all for now though. I have some cleaning I want to finish up and then have been invited to my friends Nate and Kim's daughter's birthday party. Party on, people. Blogging (and cleaning) to: U2 - Elevation Live From Boston |
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When I got to class, none of those concerns were true. Everybody was excited to see me. They all asked me where I was and told me that they missed me. I felt like I was on Cheers. Every time somebody else saw me, it was like, "Norm!!!!" I felt like a celebrity. It was great to be back, with things falling so easily back into place. Once all the chatting stopped and I actually started drawing, it was fitting that I listened to some of the newer U2 (of course) stuff on my iPod. This is the period where they got back to basics again, after a decade of experimenting and going in wild new directions. For me last night, after being gone for so long, I didn't even want to attempt a color piece like I'd been doing all those previous weeks. I didn't need to do the drawing equivalent of Pop or Zooropa, I needed to find the Joshua Tree that I new I still had inside. So much like U2 in their back to basics mode, I too, was back to black and white. I laughed to myself as the lyric "All that you can't leave behind" kicked in. That's what I'm doing, I thought, only presenting the stuff in my drawing that I can't leave behind, only presenting the basics. It felt raw. I felt great. I love the results. For as much as I'm excited about all of my color work, I kind of miss doing the pencil sketches once in awhile. As I started drawing, after feeling like my classmates, my art friends as I always call them, so graciously greeted me, I realized that the class, my drawing, my art, and my art friends, are some of the things in my life that I can't leave behind. Those are some of the bare essentials in my life. Last night I got back to basics in so many ways. I've been reconnected with my art for just over two years now. The friends in my class, Mike, Mark, Mara, Linda, and Don, as well as Mary and Raphael from the bar where we always go afterward, have also been in my life for that long. Funny, how some people and habits become such an important, essential ritual in our lives. I have no regrets for the time I took off from class. I had a lot of things going on during that time, between work and my friend Brandon moving away. It was a good time for me to recharge my artistic batteries and regain focus. But at class last night, I couldn't believe just how much I actually missed my friends and missed the drawing. Just like that, as if a wave of emotion whooshed over me, I realized how much I missed out. Just like my art friends, who were happy to see me and didn't let me down, so too was my art and my muse. Right there when I needed it. It never left either. I didn't leave that behind after all. And love is not the easy thing... From Walk On by U2 That's all for now. Walk on. |
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I've known each group of friends for about five years. In a lot of ways, that doesn't seem like a lot of time; but yet, that's half a decade. I'm amazed with both groups (and I have other groups of friends where I feel this exact same way), just how welcomed I feel to be around them. I feel like a part of a group that completely and genuinely enjoys my presence and company. A few of the people in the one group, pictured right, call me "Gare-Bear." It's an odd term of endearment, I know, but one none-the-less. With them, I really feel like I've been so completely embraced into the fold. I feel like they always truly like me being around. Feeling that kind of acceptance is a wonderful thing to have in life. It's something I've grown to need. Honestly, it raises me up, makes me a better person, enriches my very soul. Where both groups are concerned, I've tried to pinpoint the exact moment that I felt such a belonging, included so deeply into the whole. For the most part, I simply can't do it. It was such a normal, natural thing, that happened right under my nose, right before my eyes, but I never saw happening. It was like, suddenly, here we all are. These are my friends. This is my life now. I think of people in both groups, and realize that if I had to intentionally pick a few of them as friends, it probably never would have happened (a few people, as a matter of fact, I specifically despised, if my memory serves me well). Somehow, though, the relationships just naturally occurred. Suddenly, five years of history has happened. Five years of good times and bad. Five years of partying, hanging out, phone calls, music, laughing asses off, fun, fun, fun, intensity, drama, promotions, house warmings, bachelor parties, weddings, babies, friendship, comfort, solace, understanding, acceptance, trust, change, maturity, and respect. Five years of life. That just blows my mind. It's almost as if I didn't pick my friends, they picked me. Or maybe, life picked them. I have to tell you, being a kid who never had a lot of friends growing up, this is true blessing. It's almost something entirely new to me. But you know what? I'll take it. That's all for now. Tuesday's Playlist 1. R.E.M. - Automatic For The People 2. R.E.M. - Monster 3. Keane - Hopes And Fears 4. U2 - Live Under The Brooklyn Bridge 5. U2 - Achtung Baby |
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He started out with a handful of songs from his new album and then played all the classics that everybody came to hear. It was great. Maybe tomorrow night I'll give a more comprehensive review of the show, but tonight, I'm a little beat from the busy weekend. So for now, I'm just going to post the concert setlist, and mention that this was the first time I've ever heard him play "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," one of my all-time favorites, live. That was just one of many concert highlights. Elton John: Peachtree Road Tour Bradley Center Milwaukee 4/22/05 Setlist: Encore: Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) Encore: Your Song That's all for now. I'm beat. I need to get my ass to bed at a reasonable time tonight. |
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On Friday morning, I purchased tickets for the May 19th showing of the Star Wars Episode III. I amazed at how much technology has changed things over the past few years. When Episode I came out in May of 1999, my friends Jason, John, Mark and I waited in line overnight just to get tickets. We weren't the first people in line, but close to it. There were a few hundred people who camped out over night. It was a cool experience. It was early May, something like two weeks before the movie even opened. We had prepped ourselves with soda, snacks, food, and all kinds of games to pass the time. Unfortunately, as the sun went down, it got windy and started to rain. That rain continued all through the night, well into the next day. No matter what I did, no matter how many layers of clothes I put on, I could never warm up since I never dried off. I think we waited in line for 24 hours before the tickets went on sale. I remember finally getting our tickets, all of us going "Whoohoo!!!", and then it was like, "Shit, we have to wait another two weeks to see the movie." Talk about anti-climactic. In many ways, when we camped out over night, it was one of the most miserable experiences of my life. I was cold, wet, and had no sleep. We were all zombies. But yet, to this day, I don't regret it at all. Yeah, it was completely mad that we did it, but we did it! There was an inertia with the hype of that first movie. It's all part of the Star Wars geekazoid legend. And I'm so happy to be part of it. There's were a few private jokes that came out of that time, ones that my friends and I still bring up from time to time (all involving Billy Dee Williams and Colt 45). That was one of those cool experiences in life that you don't do every day. I'm so glad I did it with those friends of mine. We'll always have that bond with each other; we'll always be part of each other's story for Episode I. When Episode II came out in 2001, it was an odd, painless task. I found out that tickets were going on sale the day they went on sale. So that day, my friends Mark and John (both coworkers of mine), two of the original three people who waited in line for Ep I tickets with me, and I took an early extended lunch and ran to the same theater we saw the first movie in. We couldn't believe it -- there were no people in line! We walked up to the ticket office and got our tickets. Completely painless! Whoohoo! Well, last week, I found out that tickets were going on sale this past Friday. I did some recon over the week and learned that not only were they going on sale at the ticket office at noon on Friday, but also going on sale online Friday morning. When I got to work that morning, John and I decided to make the purchases for tickets for everybody right away and get it over with, making sure we got tickets. By 8:00 Friday morning, we had our tickets for the midnight showing of the opening night of Episode III. This was almost too painless. I printed off my purchased e-tickets but John screwed up on one of his orders and a few of his tickets had to be picked up at the box office. So, for old time's sake, Mark, John, and I took an extended lunch and headed to that same movie theater to get the last tickets we'll need for an opening night to a Star Wars movie. To me, there was something cool about how we did it a little different each time, but still managed to score tickets for the shows wanted. The really awesome thing for me is that on opening night, our core group that saw the first two in the theaters, will all be seeing this one together as well. To me, getting the same group of people -- all extended acquaintences of me and two of my coworkers -- together for the third time in the course of six years years speaks volumes. Doing things like this really adds to the importance of what we do in life for fun. This turns a normal movie experience into a major event. Of course, with Star Wars fans, there's never anything really normal. With this little experience, of course, there will still be waiting in line. On Wednesday May 18th, I'll be getting in line as soon as I get done with work, to wait in line for the 11:59 PM showing of Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith. I know I won't be the only one waiting in line either. We're already planning that little event! :) That's all for now. |
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Yeah, That's The Ticket |
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When I was younger, my mom had an old notebook from some town meeting or something, that she had saved through the years. There was nothing of any real importance in that notebook, except some of her uncle Fran's chicken scratchings. It was nothing he wrote for her specifically, just some directions how to get from point A to B or something like that. But just having some of uncle Fran's handwriting meant a lot to my mom. And I guess that makes sense. We place so much emphasis on famous people's autographs. Wouldn't it be equally as cool to see their doodles, a grocery list, or some dear John letter? There's something so personal, so intimate and immediate about when a person physically puts a pen or pencil down on paper. I suppose our handwriting is one of those things we have in life that are truly our own, that nobody can ever take away from us. So I wonder if someday, one of my nephews or a hopefully kids of my own, will stumble up these writings, these photos and scans, all of the doodles and drawings, and get some type impression of who I am, if not for just this sliver in time. I mean, isn't that part of the reason I journal these thoughts? To pass on my story, no matter how dull or drab it may feel at times? This is the story of my life, at this very point in time. It's the story of some guy, just trying to make his way in the universe in the early 2000s. It's about the sights and sounds of this era, this generation, granted, filtered through me. This is what I have, who I am. This story belongs to me. As I said, my mind's been all over the place today (not in a bad way either), and it wasn't my intention to write about what I just did. But, as with some of my best doodles, they begin and end in two very different places. Thursday's Playlist 1. Elton John - Greatest Hits 2. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 3. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind |
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Last Friday, I saw John Mellencamp (or Johnny Cougar for anyone over 30) in concert. I found out I was going to the show two days previous. I can't say I've ever been a huge Mellencamp fan, but I did manage to find his greatest hits somehow on my iPod. My ticket was cheap, so I went in with no expectations other than it would be something to do and a good time. Hey, if it can divert my mind off of U2, then all the better. The show was pretty much what I expected, a bonafide greatest hits show. There wasn't one song that was played that didn't get heavy radio play back in the 80s. This obviously isn't a bad thing, although it somehow felt antiseptic to me. It sounded so much like it did on that radio, that I even questioned the purpose of the show. But the audience responded quite nicely, and it was a blast just people watching at this thing. It was the typical Green Bay crowd. I saw my share of fat-bottomed girls, big hair, bigger mullets, and white trash all over the place. The audience of mainly 40-somethings seemed oblivious to the fact that this wasn't an entertainer at the top of his game. But as I said, at face value, it was a fun time and the music really did sound good. Musically for me, "Rain on the Scarecrow" and "Little Pink Houses" were the highlights. But there was something else that happened at that show for me, which was so surreal and unbelievably cool, that it ranks up there in my top concert moments of all time. Toward the finale of the show, during "Little Pink Houses," Mellencamp introduced a very special guest who was going to perform with the band. "Ladies and gentleman, the author, Mr. Stephen King." I couldn't believe it. Suddenly, on stage, at this white-trash concert that I was having more fun at than my high-brow self normally would allow, walks out my favorite author of all time. He was wearing a cut-off black t-shirt. His pale, skinny white arms made mine look like those of a bronze god. There was no denying that it was him. It was Stephen King. I could see those weird eyes, that odd overbite, that awkward, Neil Young-like body language. Up on stage, jamming on acoustic guitar and singing background vocals to "Pink Houses" was the warped mind behind my favorite book of all time, "The Stand," as well as "Pet Cemetery," "The Green Mile," "Desperation," "The Regulators," "The Dark Half," "Insomnia," "Bag of Bones," "The Gunslinger," etc. I guess King was in town for some motorcycle show or something. I know that he, Dave Barry, and a couple other authors have a little garage band that plays every once in awhile. But this was a big show for Stephen King. According to Mellencamp, this size of an audience actually scared Stephen King. I repeat: scared Stephen King. Dude, that's fucked up. I wonder in the twisted realms of his mind, if that concert experience will somehow spawn some new tale. And I was part of it!!! Hands down, it was the highlight of the night. I got home a few hours later, sat at my computer desk, and looked at my bookshelf, with the hundreds of thousands of pages that this man has written. I just sat there, scratching my head. It was such a bizarre thing. Stephen King?! He's no musician! Why should I be so excited!? But yet, it was just the coolest, most unexpected thing. At one point during the jam session, I half-jokingly screamed out, "Read page 800 of 'The Stand'!!!" With that concert behind me, just yesterday, the opportunity to see Sir Elton John this Friday night in Milwaukee has come about. Then later this weekend, tickets for another Sir, Sir Paul McCartney, go on sale for an October show. It's already been quite the concert season, in my mind, not officially kicking off until the May U2 show and then the September one. It's hard for me not to write about music as much as I do, when it occupies as much of my time (and space in my wallet) as it has been lately. That's all for now, Constant Reader. Wednesday's Playlist 1. Keane - Hopes And Fears 2. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway 3. Coldplay - Parchutes 4. Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head |
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Where have I been? My art friends must be wondering the same thing. It's been about five or six weeks since I've last been to class too. The short answer to my silence is this: I've been drained and needed some time off. At work, I've been on a pretty important project the past few weeks. My timeline was less than idealistic, not that timelines ever are. In the end, I got the project done and made our clients very happy. This should benefit both companies for years to come. Meanwhile, though, I ended up mentally tapped in the process. I've still been hitting the gym pretty hard too. After a day of mentally busting it at work, the gym workout seemed to put me over the edge physically. By the time I got home for the night, I had little energy left for anything at all, even my art and my writing. Funny how that shit happens, how things slide. Now don't get me wrong. I was glad to bust it like I did. This was good for the company but equally good for me on a lot of levels. I got lots of positive exposure. I pushed my skills to new heights. I built upon and expanded my existing bag of tricks. But I'm also glad its over. I can have some of my energy back for my personal life again. I was getting pretty burned out, and it was beginning to affect me at home. I have no regrets about taking a little time off, though, which was necessary for me to get the job done ona professional level. If anything, though, it was good to recharge the artistic batteries and give my muse a breather too. After taking those few weeks off, I'm really ready to get back into the swing of thing creatively again. The hiatus did me good. Other than work, the two strongest forces in my life these days seem to be U2 and Star Wars. If it wasn't for Bono and the boys, and a little concert I have in Chicago on May 10th, the May 19th release of Revenge of the Sith would have turned into all but an fevered-pitched obsession by now. Instead, I've practically been overdosing on U2, but still not getting sick of them! I told my friend Splash, that at this point, I should look for a new addiction, that my U2 thing is getting out of hand. He commented that at this stage of the game, U2 is like heroin to me. Why add another drug into my bloodstream? If U2 is my heroin, this Star Wars thing that is building -- hell, rumbling under the surface -- everyday is like crack-cocaine. Yeah. I got it bad. Precious. And on a musical note...Today I downloaded the new Coldplay track (and a Reveng of the Sith track) off of the iTunes music store. Coldplay is about as close to anybody who could knock U2 off of their throne for me right now. But I don't even think they'll come close! Can't wait for their new album in June though; the new single is pretty good. I think I'm going to end it with that for now... One of the things I have to do with my writing is to somehow keeps things a little more succinct so I don't spend two hours a night on this site. It's hard, though, for me to harness in all of my thoughts. We'll see where this all goes! I'm just glad to be back. (Today's post is dedicated to my friends Brandon and Splash who, whether they realize it or not, got me off my dead-ass and blogging again!) Tuesday's Playlist 1. Bryan Adams - Waking Up The Neighbors 2. Def Leppard - Vault: Greatest Hits P.S. To the March archives... When one door opens...
If you any questions, comments, or requests, you can contact me at: |
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
Open Arms
Sad Songs Say So Much
Send In The Clones
Doodles And Digital Thumb Prints
S.T.A.N.D. In The U.S.A.
Trainspotting