Sickkkkkkkkk

Peja has a very lazy dad today.  And yesterday.  And probably tomorrow.  I'm as sick as a dog.

Some good friends of ours came over today, one of whom is a 10 year old boy who Peja has loved since the day she was born; he was kind enough to entertain her for the morning, and make up for me.

Jammed with Kyra and Tully last night; I drugged myself up and took my bass over.  They're going to sit in with my band during my set on the 21st, and I'm going to be on the bass (and maybe the drums -- I suggested that I could do both at the same time, but that was the cold medication talking).  They played me some material they're putting out soon -- it sounded really awesome.  I am very impressed by them and how hard they work to make a great product.

We're getting close close closer to some wheels and deals with houses and mouses and so on.

Jay.

The BANK

We went to see our friendly banker yesterday.

When we went in to get our first mortgage, Sienna was a student, a part-time retail worker, and I was an unemployed musician / stay-at-home dad.  Which, if you're wondering is actually the couple pictured on the cover of the internal scotiabank pamphlet titled "people to whom you never, ever, ever loan money."

But we got it done.  And we paid that f'n mortgage for 2 years.

And now we want to do something a bit silly.

And now we're a respectable working couple.  Sort of.

Sienna is encouraged to put money into an RRSP for me, because I'm never going to have to pay taxes.  Ha.  ha. ha ha ha.. . .

A few pieces have to fall into place.  But it's looking very interesting.

And the bank is on side.

News at it happens.

The Weez is the Way

In an interview with the A.V. Club Weezer leader Rivers Cuomo gave this great quote about the difference between heavy metal and Weezer:

It's coming, I guess, not from a place of power and fantasy, but rather an acknowledgment of, "Oh, I don't actually have a lot of power. I am a geek." Whereas metal is trying to pretend you are not a geek.

I don't put a lot of links in this blog, but this quote explains a big part of why Weezer has been my favourite band for the past 5 or 6 years.

I think the whole alternative music movement in the early 90's was about the acknowledgment that Rivers writes about, and that's how it dethroned all the bullshit heavy music -- unmasked a bunch of posing and nonsense.  The songs from that era are still consistently played on kingston's "modern rock" stations -- along side this decades rapid decent back to the posing and nonsense.  The vocal styles of Eddie Vedder, and Scott Weiland are ripped off, and those copies are copied and copied and copied, and in the 17th generation none of the honesty or irony remains. 

The Italian Accent. . .

So, I can't do a good italian accent, but I can do a comical one, and the mason that look at this sinking house for us said, as I recall in my terribly offensive accent, "itsa a nice house, itsa all done sinking, and thatsa 100%". . .  He said it would cost $8-$9,000 to jack it back up to be level.  So, the process moves on.

More importantly, Kyra and Tully have agreed to join the bill for the February 21st show -- I'm hoping to persuade Tully to play some keys and for Kyra to sing some back-up for the Barn Flyz.  When we figure out door times and ticket prices, I'll let you know.

Hope all is well with you,

Jay.

Big Fish. . .

The new KSSC basketball season began last night and my new team gave a good effort in a 26-23 loss to my old teammates from three seasons ago.  We are not the polished affair that the blue crush team fielded last season; I am far less out-of-place on this team.  

It's like the age old question of being a big fish in a small pond or a little fish in a big pond.  I think I played a solid game, only 1 or 2 turn-overs, and I didn't shoot my usual terrible percentage.  And the biggest news -- I made a lay-up!  Holy-shit!

In other basketball news, my junior basketball coaching career should be starting early next month.  At the parent council meeting last night most of the details were finalized, and Sydenham Public has kindly offered their gym if we have conflicts with the drama production.  So, I guess I need to buy a whistle. . .

A Slight Change of Everything. . .

I don't know what's going on with that gig which apparently may never have been mine. . .  But instead of Feb 7th at the Grad Club, I'd like to invite you all on Feb 21st to the Salvation Army Church on Alfred Street.  Good times will be had!

Time Machine

I'm listening to some cbc radio three action.

The track "under the sky" or whatever, just catapulted me back in time and space.

I'm sitting at my desk (just a table), on the black chair I called "the executive" that I bought from a 2nd hand shop two doors down from my dad's camera shop.  

I'm in my room at the Erin Farm.  I'm not going to school today.

It's cold.  I should go downstairs and stand by the fire box.

My feet are under the blankets of my bed at an awkward but necessary angle.

I am very alone.

I am lost.

But the song is really awesome, and my lonesome despair only makes it sweeter.  I don't think music or food or anything seems as good as when you are sitting alone in a  farm house miles and miles from anyone who knows your name.

I will go downstairs, make toast, and return to this song again.

I have no idea what will happen to me, besides the present, continued, which, aside from the music and the promise of toast, is allowing me to wallow at the angle I've always liked best.

The song is playing again.  The toast is cracked-wheat, and it's seeds stick in the cavity I'm trying to ignore as part of my plan to redefine adulthood.

I am there.  Seven years ago.  I guess I'm working on my novel today.  It will not succeed, but it's goal is foolish if noble -- certainly not the other way around.

Soon I will stop the music, return to the present.  Where I am surrounded by love and warmth.  Where music doesn't quite sound as sweet and my teeth don't ache with every bite.

The Ways I'm Not A Musician. . .

1.  I'm generally on time.

2.  When I'm late, I feel guilty, rush, and apologize.

3.  When I'm late, I'm aware that I'm late.

4.  I don't exclusively drink beer and coffee.

5.  I don't drink coffee or beer at all.

6.  I like to know if gigs are happening, when they are happening, where they are happening, and I'd like this information more than a few hours before soundcheck.

7.  When I send an Email about something, or receive an email about something, I feel like a response should happen in the next 24-48 hours.

I have many close friends who are musicians, and they certainly don't follow all these stereotypes, but damned if I don't fail them all.

There's a bit of radio silence about the gig, which I never enjoy, and perhaps a change of venue might happen.

We're going to look at a house closer to downtown tomorrow.  It costs a lot.

Hmmmm. . .

I like this house.

We've put a bit of money and a fair bit of time into making this our home.

Our local grocery store is closing.

Peja's walk to school is a bit of a killer.

There's a duplex for sale in the neighborhood we'd like to live in.

We're going to try and see it this weekend.

We're mostly hoping it smells like cat pee and is falling down.

Then we can stay in this house that I like.