What I got:
Progresso vegetable soup (3 cans)
Cajun trail mix (walnuts, honey roasted nuts, pretzels, other nuts - 2 packs)
Morning Star Vegan sausage patties
Campbells Gumbo soup (3 cans)
Pepperidge Farm's German Whole Grain Bread
Click Bar
Gatorade 1 Gal
Barilla whole grain Pasta
Del Monte 4 pack Fruit Cup
electrolyte chewable tablets (forget the name)
Skippy's low fat Peanut Butter
What I ended up forgoing:
2 for 5$ pepperoni pizza sale
TGIF's honey chicken wings
EL Fudge Stripes
What is happening to me? Oh yeah. Marathon dreams. And I want to live forever.
I also swam today. 50 laps. 2 10 lappers, and 1 20 lapper. I'm getting stronger, and my arms feel more conditioned. It feels good.
Friday, January 30, 2009
This week in Summary
This week in Summary:
Cast of characters: roomies
Jon Mizrachi
Allison Francis
Jenn Pelly
Julie Hill
Laura Butler
Molly
Kevin, Laura’s friend
College sweetheart
April and Jozelle
Adam Sullivan
Mark Yodice
Michael Flynn of Slow Runner
Saturday, Jan 24 - Ran today. Played a show at the Perch Café. Allison Francis and Julie Hill both played solid sets. I especially like Allison's Massapequa a lot. It’s such a sweet song. And Julie did a version of somewhere over the rainbow with the looper, which was really, really cool. On request, I played Midnight for Allison, the Astronaut for Julie, and Natalie (on ukulele) for Jenn Pelly. Also was happy to see Adam Sullivan come, and later see Mark Yodice, April and Jozelle come too. And Molly stopped by too, which was really excellent. I haven’t seen that chestnut in a while. She told me she’s moving to Portland in a couple of months to go to school there, and I was happy for her. Sweet night overall.
Also remember talking to Allison about the band Stars. Michael Flynn introduced me to their EP a while back, and I loved them from the get-go, but actually don’t know too much about any of the stuff they released the last 5 years. I remember going to T.T. and the Bears in Boston with my college sweetheart, and how we saw Stars perform. It was so sweet. There were a few people who came to see them, and most people were around the bar area, but by the end of the set almost everyone in all of T.T.’s was watching Stars. So good.
I also remember I tape recorded their set, and told Allison about that later in an e-mail. I will record the tapes being played into my laptop using my mbox. I’ll probably do that with the other tapes I have too. I know somewhere in my tape collection also is a tape of Belle and Sebastian, when I was obsessed with them oh so many years ago.
And by the way, T.T. means ‘penis’ in Tagalog, the official language of the Philippines. So I chuckle like a 9 year old every time I think of or hear about T.T. and the Bears, because in reality I’m hearing it in my head as ‘penis and the Bears’.
Sun – Ran today. Had the official meeting with roommates to figure out all the moving stuff. At night, saw Laura Butler perform at Café Mojo’s in LIC. Fabulous performance, and On A Day as Cold as You is a great song. Met her friends Pedro, and this really nice guy named Kevin, who is one of Laura’s yoga students at The Matrix in Astoria. Kevin is quite the Star Wars fanatic, and I told him about my co-worker Frank.
Mon-Wed – Did treadmill on Wednesday. And sang main vocals for ‘to my better half’ on Tuesday. Everything else all a blur. Somewhere in that blur, I remember looking at the sky in Astoria, and it was beautiful. There was one star shining, surrounded by darkness. And then a plane came out of the East and look like it flew into the star.
That’s kinda how I was feeling. How in reality we are all alone, like that star. And when a friend or lover comes, it’s like they intersect us…but the reality is we are all hundreds of thousands of miles away from each other.
Thur- Worked on ‘to my better half’ during lunch break, then posted it up on myspace 30 minutes after midnight.
Saw an apartment with Marie around 28th St and Ditmars. I liked it mucho, but other roomie has to see it too.
Afterwards, went to the Buddy Project to see Jon Mizrachi in action work on finalizing the mixes for the upcoming EP. He was using the same equipment that was used on one of my songwriting heroes Sufjan Steven’s album Come On and Feel the Illinoise. That was awesome enough. Also played the piano there a little bit, and wish I brought my mbox and laptop.
I think I’m going to make the Britney song into a piano ditty. Or at least for the myspace version.
juan-flores
Cast of characters: roomies
Jon Mizrachi
Allison Francis
Jenn Pelly
Julie Hill
Laura Butler
Molly
Kevin, Laura’s friend
College sweetheart
April and Jozelle
Adam Sullivan
Mark Yodice
Michael Flynn of Slow Runner
Saturday, Jan 24 - Ran today. Played a show at the Perch Café. Allison Francis and Julie Hill both played solid sets. I especially like Allison's Massapequa a lot. It’s such a sweet song. And Julie did a version of somewhere over the rainbow with the looper, which was really, really cool. On request, I played Midnight for Allison, the Astronaut for Julie, and Natalie (on ukulele) for Jenn Pelly. Also was happy to see Adam Sullivan come, and later see Mark Yodice, April and Jozelle come too. And Molly stopped by too, which was really excellent. I haven’t seen that chestnut in a while. She told me she’s moving to Portland in a couple of months to go to school there, and I was happy for her. Sweet night overall.
Also remember talking to Allison about the band Stars. Michael Flynn introduced me to their EP a while back, and I loved them from the get-go, but actually don’t know too much about any of the stuff they released the last 5 years. I remember going to T.T. and the Bears in Boston with my college sweetheart, and how we saw Stars perform. It was so sweet. There were a few people who came to see them, and most people were around the bar area, but by the end of the set almost everyone in all of T.T.’s was watching Stars. So good.
I also remember I tape recorded their set, and told Allison about that later in an e-mail. I will record the tapes being played into my laptop using my mbox. I’ll probably do that with the other tapes I have too. I know somewhere in my tape collection also is a tape of Belle and Sebastian, when I was obsessed with them oh so many years ago.
And by the way, T.T. means ‘penis’ in Tagalog, the official language of the Philippines. So I chuckle like a 9 year old every time I think of or hear about T.T. and the Bears, because in reality I’m hearing it in my head as ‘penis and the Bears’.
Sun – Ran today. Had the official meeting with roommates to figure out all the moving stuff. At night, saw Laura Butler perform at Café Mojo’s in LIC. Fabulous performance, and On A Day as Cold as You is a great song. Met her friends Pedro, and this really nice guy named Kevin, who is one of Laura’s yoga students at The Matrix in Astoria. Kevin is quite the Star Wars fanatic, and I told him about my co-worker Frank.
Mon-Wed – Did treadmill on Wednesday. And sang main vocals for ‘to my better half’ on Tuesday. Everything else all a blur. Somewhere in that blur, I remember looking at the sky in Astoria, and it was beautiful. There was one star shining, surrounded by darkness. And then a plane came out of the East and look like it flew into the star.
That’s kinda how I was feeling. How in reality we are all alone, like that star. And when a friend or lover comes, it’s like they intersect us…but the reality is we are all hundreds of thousands of miles away from each other.
Thur- Worked on ‘to my better half’ during lunch break, then posted it up on myspace 30 minutes after midnight.
Saw an apartment with Marie around 28th St and Ditmars. I liked it mucho, but other roomie has to see it too.
Afterwards, went to the Buddy Project to see Jon Mizrachi in action work on finalizing the mixes for the upcoming EP. He was using the same equipment that was used on one of my songwriting heroes Sufjan Steven’s album Come On and Feel the Illinoise. That was awesome enough. Also played the piano there a little bit, and wish I brought my mbox and laptop.
I think I’m going to make the Britney song into a piano ditty. Or at least for the myspace version.
juan-flores
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday - Jan 23rd - Williamsburg, or Astoria...
This is where the roommies and I decided to focus on searching for an apartment. Of course, if we see a good deal, we see a good deal...but February is going to be a little carazy, I think...
anyway, I took care of someone close to me who is sick from a 24 hour virus. And afterwards, I worked on music. So it was a good day in general.
anyway, I took care of someone close to me who is sick from a 24 hour virus. And afterwards, I worked on music. So it was a good day in general.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
i've got a little crush on someone.
I can't say who it is, but I'm in that weird head space where I'm starting to envision if her name goes well with my last name, and if we propagated our species, wondering if our offspring will be dope. or undope.
But I've chosen to not start anything anytime during 2009. There's just so much I want to do, and achieve, and experience, that it wouldn't be fair for my honey-in-waiting. And there's still a lot of things I have to work out personally about myself. But each day, hopefully, I'm getting closer and closer to the person who i want to be.
Maybe New Years 2010 is the day I make a move. But that would be repeating my past a bit, since I also officially started going out with one of my exes on the first day of the New Year years ago. So I would be making a cliched move. But then again, I would be a little bit wiser, and have a little bit more life experience.
Yet I still think in many aspects I can be really selfish, and definitely get lost in my own world, to the detriment of those who love me and who I love. And I've got demons. And boy, they try to pull me under when the opportunity arises.
I wrote a song that touches on it a little bit:
"it's the truth I'm ready to face
i've broken things with battered wings
upon touching you, no light escapes
the angels and demons in my head"
I don't know. I wish I could decipher God's will, but I can't. The only thing I know is that I'm capable of loving unconditionally, to the point where it hurts me. But I'll do it anyway. That's becoming more and more of my nature. And I embrace it, even if there'a possibility that the embrace burns me in the end.
--------------------------
I went swimming tonight during my 2nd attempt to go to astoria Sports Club. the first attempt sucked lemons; I ended up going there around 6:30 ish to run, but I forgot my lock and shorts to run in. So I had to go back.
But the 2nd time I went to ASC, I got to swim, which was great. I did a total of 50 laps (3 ten lap workouts, and 1 20 lap workout), so i know I'm going to be sore in the upper body tomorrow, but afterwards my left knee area felt so much better, that I was so happy that I did it. So i've decided that after a long run, I'll try to hit the pool the day after, just to loosen my knees yet still build endurance. I think that's a good strategy. We'll see if I'm in great running condition on Saturday...I've asked Laura Butler if she would be into running with me on Saturday, since she's the running vet who ran marathons and whatnot. Maybe I'll just slow her down, maybe not. But I'm readying myself to run.
But I've chosen to not start anything anytime during 2009. There's just so much I want to do, and achieve, and experience, that it wouldn't be fair for my honey-in-waiting. And there's still a lot of things I have to work out personally about myself. But each day, hopefully, I'm getting closer and closer to the person who i want to be.
Maybe New Years 2010 is the day I make a move. But that would be repeating my past a bit, since I also officially started going out with one of my exes on the first day of the New Year years ago. So I would be making a cliched move. But then again, I would be a little bit wiser, and have a little bit more life experience.
Yet I still think in many aspects I can be really selfish, and definitely get lost in my own world, to the detriment of those who love me and who I love. And I've got demons. And boy, they try to pull me under when the opportunity arises.
I wrote a song that touches on it a little bit:
"it's the truth I'm ready to face
i've broken things with battered wings
upon touching you, no light escapes
the angels and demons in my head"
I don't know. I wish I could decipher God's will, but I can't. The only thing I know is that I'm capable of loving unconditionally, to the point where it hurts me. But I'll do it anyway. That's becoming more and more of my nature. And I embrace it, even if there'a possibility that the embrace burns me in the end.
--------------------------
I went swimming tonight during my 2nd attempt to go to astoria Sports Club. the first attempt sucked lemons; I ended up going there around 6:30 ish to run, but I forgot my lock and shorts to run in. So I had to go back.
But the 2nd time I went to ASC, I got to swim, which was great. I did a total of 50 laps (3 ten lap workouts, and 1 20 lap workout), so i know I'm going to be sore in the upper body tomorrow, but afterwards my left knee area felt so much better, that I was so happy that I did it. So i've decided that after a long run, I'll try to hit the pool the day after, just to loosen my knees yet still build endurance. I think that's a good strategy. We'll see if I'm in great running condition on Saturday...I've asked Laura Butler if she would be into running with me on Saturday, since she's the running vet who ran marathons and whatnot. Maybe I'll just slow her down, maybe not. But I'm readying myself to run.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Jan 21 - My jacket keeps bleeding feathers
My beloved black jacket is the warmest jacket ever. It’s like I’m wearing God’s love. But every time I sit down or make a sudden move with my jacket on, feathers keep bursting out of my jacket at all different places. Like my jacket is a battlefield, and little artillery shells explode on the surface, resulting in a series of feather explosions.
But enough about war, and rumours of war.
Today was decent. I’ve been enjoying my car commutes to work ever since I got the Ender’s series CD audio books by Orson Scott Card, and Speaker of the Dead has been blowing my mind. It was a great read two years ago, but even better as an audio book.
Marie has some bang chung, this Vietnamese specialty food they serve during Tet. She told Steve and I that this was made by her relative’s friends who are awesome cooks in Chicago (but don’t remember if she said they were chefs or not.) Anyway, it tasted pretty sweet, although I have to say my favorite, favorite Vietnamese dish is Goi Quon, which is out of this world. It rivals kare-kare in the hierarchy of food awesomeness in my life.
So I had a little of the bang chung, and also had rice and some Wisconsin beef jerky that Marie had extra pieces of. While I ate, we all watched two episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Then I helped out with her lab project for an hour, before I ended up going back to my room to work on April.
For April, I re-sequenced some of the drums, and re-tracked those drums, and the other instruments on the file, and then recorded 4 takes of main vocals and 1 take of all the harmonies. It’s getting there; I think tomorrow during my lunch break I will work on compiling the main vocal takes, and after work (but before running?) I will add a harpsichord part using Miroslav to give it a little bit more of a chamber pop feel. It still needs 2-3 more different instruments for it to be fully ready for Saturday’s release to the myspace world, though. But I think I will find it tonight and tomorrow, and perhaps on Saturday morning.
But enough about war, and rumours of war.
Today was decent. I’ve been enjoying my car commutes to work ever since I got the Ender’s series CD audio books by Orson Scott Card, and Speaker of the Dead has been blowing my mind. It was a great read two years ago, but even better as an audio book.
Marie has some bang chung, this Vietnamese specialty food they serve during Tet. She told Steve and I that this was made by her relative’s friends who are awesome cooks in Chicago (but don’t remember if she said they were chefs or not.) Anyway, it tasted pretty sweet, although I have to say my favorite, favorite Vietnamese dish is Goi Quon, which is out of this world. It rivals kare-kare in the hierarchy of food awesomeness in my life.
So I had a little of the bang chung, and also had rice and some Wisconsin beef jerky that Marie had extra pieces of. While I ate, we all watched two episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Then I helped out with her lab project for an hour, before I ended up going back to my room to work on April.
For April, I re-sequenced some of the drums, and re-tracked those drums, and the other instruments on the file, and then recorded 4 takes of main vocals and 1 take of all the harmonies. It’s getting there; I think tomorrow during my lunch break I will work on compiling the main vocal takes, and after work (but before running?) I will add a harpsichord part using Miroslav to give it a little bit more of a chamber pop feel. It still needs 2-3 more different instruments for it to be fully ready for Saturday’s release to the myspace world, though. But I think I will find it tonight and tomorrow, and perhaps on Saturday morning.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jan 20 - Inauguration Day - tear ducts working brilliantly
Inauguration Day. This is what our HR director sent to our whole office:
“Good morning,
From 11:30 AM through 1:00 PM, the televisions in Conference Room No. 2 will be tuned in to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, if you'd like to stop by during your lunch break. No food or beverages should be taken into or consumed in this newly refurbished conference room. “
It was a sweet inauguration My boss boss (or boss Squared) was even at the conference room, which I found amusing. Funny…I pegged him as a free market capitalist/social conservative. But then again he’s from California.
Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman with 2 other musicians I don’t know )their names off-hand) played a beautiful tune which I recognized the melody from. I think it is an early 20th century American composer who composed it. I kept thinking “how the hell are their instruments gonna survive the coldness of Washington at this moment? The weather would probably warp their instruments’ bodies…
I had tears in my eyes a bunch of times during Obama’s inaugural speech. I remember hearing one of his speeches back in April on a political podcast I download once in a while..and it brought me to tears, how eloquent, and beautiful his speech was to his supporters. I think it was then that I believed he had the power to help change this country for the better.
Yet he comes in during one of the worst times to be a president in all of American history. He, and we, all have a daunting task of getting ourselves out of this mess. But I hope we do. Especially when I start having little kiddies of my own.
And I hope.
----------------
Later that day:a synopsis
Went to Target. Bought my lunches and breakfasts for the next two weeks.
Picked up Marie from the airport. While listening to the audio book of Speaker of the Dead, by Orson Scott Card. Steve was there to meet us when we arrived at Astoria.
Jon sent me 24 Lives today, besides a few things here and there, I really liked how he mixed it. It’s a fun song, that 24 Lives.
Worked out on treadmill for 45 minutes. My right side of foot didn’t hurt this time, but my left knee is starting to feel a little weird pain, which is not normal. I didn’t run the treadmill as hard as yesterday, but still it was a workout.
When I came home, Steve was already helping Marie with her plethora of lab work, and I offered to help, after I took shower. But I could only help a little before sleep started to kick my ass. Oh well.
“Good morning,
From 11:30 AM through 1:00 PM, the televisions in Conference Room No. 2 will be tuned in to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, if you'd like to stop by during your lunch break. No food or beverages should be taken into or consumed in this newly refurbished conference room. “
It was a sweet inauguration My boss boss (or boss Squared) was even at the conference room, which I found amusing. Funny…I pegged him as a free market capitalist/social conservative. But then again he’s from California.
Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman with 2 other musicians I don’t know )their names off-hand) played a beautiful tune which I recognized the melody from. I think it is an early 20th century American composer who composed it. I kept thinking “how the hell are their instruments gonna survive the coldness of Washington at this moment? The weather would probably warp their instruments’ bodies…
I had tears in my eyes a bunch of times during Obama’s inaugural speech. I remember hearing one of his speeches back in April on a political podcast I download once in a while..and it brought me to tears, how eloquent, and beautiful his speech was to his supporters. I think it was then that I believed he had the power to help change this country for the better.
Yet he comes in during one of the worst times to be a president in all of American history. He, and we, all have a daunting task of getting ourselves out of this mess. But I hope we do. Especially when I start having little kiddies of my own.
And I hope.
----------------
Later that day:a synopsis
Went to Target. Bought my lunches and breakfasts for the next two weeks.
Picked up Marie from the airport. While listening to the audio book of Speaker of the Dead, by Orson Scott Card. Steve was there to meet us when we arrived at Astoria.
Jon sent me 24 Lives today, besides a few things here and there, I really liked how he mixed it. It’s a fun song, that 24 Lives.
Worked out on treadmill for 45 minutes. My right side of foot didn’t hurt this time, but my left knee is starting to feel a little weird pain, which is not normal. I didn’t run the treadmill as hard as yesterday, but still it was a workout.
When I came home, Steve was already helping Marie with her plethora of lab work, and I offered to help, after I took shower. But I could only help a little before sleep started to kick my ass. Oh well.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Jan 19th - My Day in the form of 6 Haikus.
I had run today
But didn’t work on music
Looked for apartments
Williamsburg,Greenpoint
I still love Astoria
It’s adorable
Marie’s flight cancelled
The weather is a biatch
It snowed all day long
Got In the Garden
There’s distortion on the drums?
He didn’t call back
Forty-five minutes
My workout on the treadmill
Playlist – so and so
Foot ached afterwards
Dinner was Chef Boyardee
I like a Pinay
But didn’t work on music
Looked for apartments
Williamsburg,Greenpoint
I still love Astoria
It’s adorable
Marie’s flight cancelled
The weather is a biatch
It snowed all day long
Got In the Garden
There’s distortion on the drums?
He didn’t call back
Forty-five minutes
My workout on the treadmill
Playlist – so and so
Foot ached afterwards
Dinner was Chef Boyardee
I like a Pinay
Sunday, January 18, 2009
musings on snow
I love how snow makes everything outside automatically poetic
I love how the snow parachutes down like some major mini-invasion by the maker of Pixie Sticks
I love how the footprints make the sidewalks in Astoria look like one huge murder-mystery novel
I love the coldness of snow. And how the air bites with coldness and your breath exhales as if you were smoking an invisible cigarette
I love how seeing my breath is almost like an out of body experience. Or at least proof that at that moment, you exist
-----------
When i was younger I tried to make a sexy snow women by giving my snowman breasts and trying to sculpt the body. Yet it ended up looking like George Washington instead.
I love how I was so jealous of my younger brother's absolute love of his stuffed animal Piglet of Winnie the Pooh fame, that I buried Piglet in the snow for a day or two so my brother would focus on me.
I remember when I was younger how I thought the snow looked like cocaine, and that if the snow actually was cocaine we would all be cokeheads.
I love how the snow parachutes down like some major mini-invasion by the maker of Pixie Sticks
I love how the footprints make the sidewalks in Astoria look like one huge murder-mystery novel
I love the coldness of snow. And how the air bites with coldness and your breath exhales as if you were smoking an invisible cigarette
I love how seeing my breath is almost like an out of body experience. Or at least proof that at that moment, you exist
-----------
When i was younger I tried to make a sexy snow women by giving my snowman breasts and trying to sculpt the body. Yet it ended up looking like George Washington instead.
I love how I was so jealous of my younger brother's absolute love of his stuffed animal Piglet of Winnie the Pooh fame, that I buried Piglet in the snow for a day or two so my brother would focus on me.
I remember when I was younger how I thought the snow looked like cocaine, and that if the snow actually was cocaine we would all be cokeheads.
FOOD PARTY!!!!! AHHHH TOO MUCH GENIUS MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE
Why is this the best thing ever? And shouldn't the ice cream cone macking it with the custard get an Oscar?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Jan 17th - You've got to show me love
there's a remix of that song blasting from downstairs. We're on the 3rd floor, and on the 1st floor there is a bar that every weekend has a dance party like you can't believe. Well, I've actually never been into their bar at late hours; I'm usually just thinking about music or something else (most likely girls) around this time.
Today I recorded piano tracks for Laura Butler. She's someone I met at the Waltz-Astoria open mic, who writes some sweet, sweet tunes. I remember first seeing her sometime during the Summer, and struck by her prettiness combined with her wearing a summer dress (Summer dresses are kryptonite to me). She looked like a flower child from the 60s.
Anyway, we've become friends and I think back in December I even got a chance to sing for her and for her sister Megan the "Night in her apartment' song with the looper, and remember being really slutty onstage as I crooned to her, ala Bill-Murray 'Star Wars' style.
Ok. maybe slutty is not the right word. how about...mildly? flirtatious? Actually, it was probably super flirtatious, because i've been told that I'm a big flirt in real life by several close friends and exes ...so if I even caught myself onstage being like "wow, jf, you are flirting", then that means I was FLIRTING.
Alright. Enough self-assessment for tonight.
I showed up at The Buddy Project arond 1:30, and played some sparse piano for two of her songs. Kieran Kelly, her producer (and soon to be my producer for the 2nd EP for 2009) said the recording takes were awesome, and Laura seemed to like it too, so I was happy with that. We finished the session around 2:30.
After the session, we shot the sh%t a little bit with Kieran. which was so cool. Laura said she took this Steinway Piano factory tour, which is only blocks away from her place. And she made it sound so intriguing that I'm dying at the chance to go with some peeps perhaps next week.
I walked Laura back to her place once Kieran kicked us out, and it was nice to talk to her. I thought perhaps her sister Megan would also be at their apartment once we arrived at her door (I was kinda hoping she was there), but alas, she wasn't there. Her friend from the midwest was though, and he had to go to the bank, so we walked again towards the studio, and they were telling me about their running experiences and schedules (laura has run both marathons and half-marathons, which is d-o-p-e.)
When I got back home, I remember working on music a little bit, but then starting to feel really, really tired from lack of sleep. So I went to sleep for 3 hours, then Gerge-Foreman grilled the Buffalo wings from yesterday. While eating said wings, I watched It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Which is a great show.
I'm tired as I'm writing this, but I promised my great friend Greg Fine that I would work on adding some of my tracks to his music before the morning..I think I'm going to sleep, and then work on it. Or maybe work on a little bit of it.
we'll see how I hold up in the next 15 minutes.
Today I recorded piano tracks for Laura Butler. She's someone I met at the Waltz-Astoria open mic, who writes some sweet, sweet tunes. I remember first seeing her sometime during the Summer, and struck by her prettiness combined with her wearing a summer dress (Summer dresses are kryptonite to me). She looked like a flower child from the 60s.
Anyway, we've become friends and I think back in December I even got a chance to sing for her and for her sister Megan the "Night in her apartment' song with the looper, and remember being really slutty onstage as I crooned to her, ala Bill-Murray 'Star Wars' style.
Ok. maybe slutty is not the right word. how about...mildly? flirtatious? Actually, it was probably super flirtatious, because i've been told that I'm a big flirt in real life by several close friends and exes ...so if I even caught myself onstage being like "wow, jf, you are flirting", then that means I was FLIRTING.
Alright. Enough self-assessment for tonight.
I showed up at The Buddy Project arond 1:30, and played some sparse piano for two of her songs. Kieran Kelly, her producer (and soon to be my producer for the 2nd EP for 2009) said the recording takes were awesome, and Laura seemed to like it too, so I was happy with that. We finished the session around 2:30.
After the session, we shot the sh%t a little bit with Kieran. which was so cool. Laura said she took this Steinway Piano factory tour, which is only blocks away from her place. And she made it sound so intriguing that I'm dying at the chance to go with some peeps perhaps next week.
I walked Laura back to her place once Kieran kicked us out, and it was nice to talk to her. I thought perhaps her sister Megan would also be at their apartment once we arrived at her door (I was kinda hoping she was there), but alas, she wasn't there. Her friend from the midwest was though, and he had to go to the bank, so we walked again towards the studio, and they were telling me about their running experiences and schedules (laura has run both marathons and half-marathons, which is d-o-p-e.)
When I got back home, I remember working on music a little bit, but then starting to feel really, really tired from lack of sleep. So I went to sleep for 3 hours, then Gerge-Foreman grilled the Buffalo wings from yesterday. While eating said wings, I watched It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Which is a great show.
I'm tired as I'm writing this, but I promised my great friend Greg Fine that I would work on adding some of my tracks to his music before the morning..I think I'm going to sleep, and then work on it. Or maybe work on a little bit of it.
we'll see how I hold up in the next 15 minutes.
Jan 16 - 2nd show of the year /driving while falling asleep
I brought my MacBook pro, guitar, mxbox, and ukelele into the office; thankfully very few people saw me bring the guitar and ukelele or else I would have aroused the curiosity of the masses at the office. And I don't want to do that. I just want to focus on work and then during my lunch break work on music.
Lunch break was sweet. The last 4 days i have been bringing the laptop and mbox into the kitchen/rest area, and going into my corner to mix. And by the time I had to leave lunch break, for modern masterpiece I re-eq'd guitars and vocal, and added the "underground water pad" sound which I felt blended in with the song perfectly.
I went straight to the library after work, to drop off some books and the audio CD Book of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Marie introduced me to Ender's Game a couple of years ago, and I've been a fan of the Ender Series ever since. So I picked up a few more Ender's related CD audiobooks - Ender's Shadow, and Speaker of the Dead. And I'm happy to say that I'm embracing my Orson Scott Card geekdom/fandom fully. When I heard Ender's game was being made into a movie, I had a joygasm.
Since I got to cool beanz around 6:30, I decided to keep working on modern masterpiece. I brought in my keyboard to add the piano part, and remixed the vocals a little bit, because alot of the levels, even with compressions, were so drastically different from each other (like one word it would be really soft, and then the next couplw of words after that it would be really loud, and vice versa). But I was able to pull off a mix before people started arriving for the show.
The show went well! The PA at cool Beanz isn't really a great-sounding PA, so we did our best to make things work. And it was Cat's birthday (Cat is someone i met a while back at cool beanz when i used to go to their open mics) , so a lot of the people there were in a festive, yet-eager-to-listen-to-melancholy-music mood(which is what Michael Korb and I are really all about). A lot of Cat's friends, who are her Marist college buds, were really sweet; hell, one of them even had a Metroid t-shirt on, and we started to talk about gaming (awwww yeah......awwwwww yeah......AWWWWWW YEAHHH!!) Cat brought cupcakes, which I did not get a chance to try (weakness) but brought her boyfriend, who seemed to be a fine fellow. It turns out they both play instruments, but did not meet each other at some band-related event in Marist.
Michael Korb and I traded sets during the night. Damn. Every time I hear him play, I am just amazed at his musicianship,and song-writing. Both his sets were solid and , I was happy I got to hear him play Circles, which is my favorite song of his. He also played this newer song (or at least a song of his that I've never heard)and it blew my friggin' mind. To quote Teen Girl Squad, Michael Korb was 'sooooooooooooooooo good'. Or 'Grood....i mean, good and great'.
my set list
(1st half)
We Would Last Forever
Modern Masterpiece
Natalie
Kneecaps
Buttercups
(2nd half)
Sally Song - Nightmare Before Christmas Cover
Tag (Jon Greco request)
To All Indie Stars I had Crushes On In College
24 Lives
She Wants (Cat request)
and before the end of the night, I played the Britney Spears song, to honor Cat's 2nd request. Ahh..Britney.
It was nice to see some familiar faces once again :) Jon Greco updated me on his life; he's going on tour playing bass for a punk band, which is so phresh. And I got to see Jaime and her boyfriend Ed (who I embarrassingly kept calling John the whole time I talked to him), who met at music education college and we even talked about our respective instruments, and how we all know the Preddice dynasty (the best Long Island music dynasty EVER.) And about the trumpet. oh man...my sweet, sweet trumpet days of the 7th and 8 grade.
*reminiscing*...
Afterwards, we went to the Applebees near Smith Haven Mall. Long Island, represent!
Stasia was eager to learn the ukelele, so I showed her a couple of chords after the show was done, and i let her borrow it while we waited for a half an hour at applebees. She picked it up really fast, and most likely I think she is going to get a uke for herself....I think...
I just got buffalo chicken wings (which i've been craving), and only ate a couple of them while I immersed myself in conversation all around. Topics discussed included The Marist Poll, Joe Broome's girlfriend who is going to Germany, pad thai, and....i don't remember anything else. Oh yeah, a classmate of Cat's, who went to high school with her, was also in Applebees and had his stomach-stapled (not at Applebees, but at a hospital) and lost 150 lbs. That's pretty dope. And all dope about people wanting to change their lives for the better.
Phil Minissale, super-talented blues player/singer-songwriter, met up with us at Appleebess, having just come from seeing a Wood Brothers concert, which he said rocked. He also told me about a couple of shows he's doing next weekend at DC and Pennslyvania, which is also dope. It was nice to see Phil, since he's a good guy, and we need more good guys in this world.
Word to your mother.
I was a little confused though on the lady who was with Michael Korb. I kept wondering if they were going out or not; the only info i gathered was that they knew each other from high school, and lived as roommates here and there. They seemed actually very in sync with each other, but I wasn't sure if Michael introduced her as his girlfriend when we 're-met' before the show.
I have a terrible, terrible memory. It's almost like if it isn't music, information that gets sent through my brain leaves fast. F*ck.
When I left Applebees, it was around 1 sum sum. And i struggled to stay awake after 30 minutes of driving; it was really, really bad. I remember losing consciousness, and then regaining it and freaking out that I lost consciousness...only to lose it again in 3-5 minutes. I even got woken up when I heard my car driving over the part on the right side of the highway that warns you when you are driving too close to walls enclosing the highway..all I heard was the ''gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-' and freaked out. I also remember driving on Grand Central Parkway, only to realize later that I somehow drove to the L.I.E. I took a nap around Exit 19 on the L.I.E. A 30 minute overdue nap..and drove fine afterwards home.
note: I really have to stop driving while tired. it's really dangerous to myself and to others. Im sorry, people. i'll make sure to get some coffee next time at the slightest hint of dreamland.
Lunch break was sweet. The last 4 days i have been bringing the laptop and mbox into the kitchen/rest area, and going into my corner to mix. And by the time I had to leave lunch break, for modern masterpiece I re-eq'd guitars and vocal, and added the "underground water pad" sound which I felt blended in with the song perfectly.
I went straight to the library after work, to drop off some books and the audio CD Book of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Marie introduced me to Ender's Game a couple of years ago, and I've been a fan of the Ender Series ever since. So I picked up a few more Ender's related CD audiobooks - Ender's Shadow, and Speaker of the Dead. And I'm happy to say that I'm embracing my Orson Scott Card geekdom/fandom fully. When I heard Ender's game was being made into a movie, I had a joygasm.
Since I got to cool beanz around 6:30, I decided to keep working on modern masterpiece. I brought in my keyboard to add the piano part, and remixed the vocals a little bit, because alot of the levels, even with compressions, were so drastically different from each other (like one word it would be really soft, and then the next couplw of words after that it would be really loud, and vice versa). But I was able to pull off a mix before people started arriving for the show.
The show went well! The PA at cool Beanz isn't really a great-sounding PA, so we did our best to make things work. And it was Cat's birthday (Cat is someone i met a while back at cool beanz when i used to go to their open mics) , so a lot of the people there were in a festive, yet-eager-to-listen-to-melancholy-music mood(which is what Michael Korb and I are really all about). A lot of Cat's friends, who are her Marist college buds, were really sweet; hell, one of them even had a Metroid t-shirt on, and we started to talk about gaming (awwww yeah......awwwwww yeah......AWWWWWW YEAHHH!!) Cat brought cupcakes, which I did not get a chance to try (weakness) but brought her boyfriend, who seemed to be a fine fellow. It turns out they both play instruments, but did not meet each other at some band-related event in Marist.
Michael Korb and I traded sets during the night. Damn. Every time I hear him play, I am just amazed at his musicianship,and song-writing. Both his sets were solid and , I was happy I got to hear him play Circles, which is my favorite song of his. He also played this newer song (or at least a song of his that I've never heard)and it blew my friggin' mind. To quote Teen Girl Squad, Michael Korb was 'sooooooooooooooooo good'. Or 'Grood....i mean, good and great'.
my set list
(1st half)
We Would Last Forever
Modern Masterpiece
Natalie
Kneecaps
Buttercups
(2nd half)
Sally Song - Nightmare Before Christmas Cover
Tag (Jon Greco request)
To All Indie Stars I had Crushes On In College
24 Lives
She Wants (Cat request)
and before the end of the night, I played the Britney Spears song, to honor Cat's 2nd request. Ahh..Britney.
It was nice to see some familiar faces once again :) Jon Greco updated me on his life; he's going on tour playing bass for a punk band, which is so phresh. And I got to see Jaime and her boyfriend Ed (who I embarrassingly kept calling John the whole time I talked to him), who met at music education college and we even talked about our respective instruments, and how we all know the Preddice dynasty (the best Long Island music dynasty EVER.) And about the trumpet. oh man...my sweet, sweet trumpet days of the 7th and 8 grade.
*reminiscing*...
Afterwards, we went to the Applebees near Smith Haven Mall. Long Island, represent!
Stasia was eager to learn the ukelele, so I showed her a couple of chords after the show was done, and i let her borrow it while we waited for a half an hour at applebees. She picked it up really fast, and most likely I think she is going to get a uke for herself....I think...
I just got buffalo chicken wings (which i've been craving), and only ate a couple of them while I immersed myself in conversation all around. Topics discussed included The Marist Poll, Joe Broome's girlfriend who is going to Germany, pad thai, and....i don't remember anything else. Oh yeah, a classmate of Cat's, who went to high school with her, was also in Applebees and had his stomach-stapled (not at Applebees, but at a hospital) and lost 150 lbs. That's pretty dope. And all dope about people wanting to change their lives for the better.
Phil Minissale, super-talented blues player/singer-songwriter, met up with us at Appleebess, having just come from seeing a Wood Brothers concert, which he said rocked. He also told me about a couple of shows he's doing next weekend at DC and Pennslyvania, which is also dope. It was nice to see Phil, since he's a good guy, and we need more good guys in this world.
Word to your mother.
I was a little confused though on the lady who was with Michael Korb. I kept wondering if they were going out or not; the only info i gathered was that they knew each other from high school, and lived as roommates here and there. They seemed actually very in sync with each other, but I wasn't sure if Michael introduced her as his girlfriend when we 're-met' before the show.
I have a terrible, terrible memory. It's almost like if it isn't music, information that gets sent through my brain leaves fast. F*ck.
When I left Applebees, it was around 1 sum sum. And i struggled to stay awake after 30 minutes of driving; it was really, really bad. I remember losing consciousness, and then regaining it and freaking out that I lost consciousness...only to lose it again in 3-5 minutes. I even got woken up when I heard my car driving over the part on the right side of the highway that warns you when you are driving too close to walls enclosing the highway..all I heard was the ''gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-' and freaked out. I also remember driving on Grand Central Parkway, only to realize later that I somehow drove to the L.I.E. I took a nap around Exit 19 on the L.I.E. A 30 minute overdue nap..and drove fine afterwards home.
note: I really have to stop driving while tired. it's really dangerous to myself and to others. Im sorry, people. i'll make sure to get some coffee next time at the slightest hint of dreamland.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Jan 15 -Finishing Modern Masterpiece
Is just another step for me to healing my heart from the Sad times
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
January 14th - The Weeping Willow
I wanna sleep underneath the weeping willow
As it cries all night, quietly
Its tears all around me
I’ll sleep there so soundly
Until I’m allowed finally
To wake and be happy again
To wake and be happy again
- Grandaddy,
The Sophtware Slump
The song Weeping Willow, by Grandaddy. Such a beautiful melody. I remember hearing this song a while back, when this album came out, and it hit me straight in the heart.
I have good memories with weeping willows. I remember kissing one of my ex’s under one, when we started going out. It was really dark, and I believe it was Summer. Fireflies everywhere. The willow surrounded us, like we were trapped in a mystical fire that couldn’t hurt us. It was magical.
As it cries all night, quietly
Its tears all around me
I’ll sleep there so soundly
Until I’m allowed finally
To wake and be happy again
To wake and be happy again
- Grandaddy,
The Sophtware Slump
The song Weeping Willow, by Grandaddy. Such a beautiful melody. I remember hearing this song a while back, when this album came out, and it hit me straight in the heart.
I have good memories with weeping willows. I remember kissing one of my ex’s under one, when we started going out. It was really dark, and I believe it was Summer. Fireflies everywhere. The willow surrounded us, like we were trapped in a mystical fire that couldn’t hurt us. It was magical.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Jan 13 – I can’t get up
to run. I set my alarm at 6:05, hoping to get up at 6:10, stretch for 15 minutes, and then run to the smokestacks and back. But I was so comfortable when I woke up, and it was dark outside, so I ended up going back to sleep.
Ugh. Weakness. I knew it would be hard for me to run later. And I did . I didn’t run today when I said I would. And my body is even fine right now. No pains, aches, and whatnot.
I brought my laptop to work so during my lunch break I can work on 24 Lives, and compiling the best of the best from my vocal recordings. And when I got home from work, I ended up working on it, but got distracted when Marie said she cooked some awesome chicken wings that she and Steve marinated the night before. So I succumbed like the weak bastard I am, and the 15 minutes I allotted to myself to eat became an hour and a half when I decided to watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia with both of them.
Always Sunny in Philadelphia – possibly the best sitcom on t.v. right now besides the Office? Perhaps…
Well, I went back to editing my tracks, and started to think what kind of instrumentation I could add to fill in the verses a little more, but then got super-tired about an hour into listening and listening and listening to my voice. So I gave up and decided to work on the 2nd chorus and 3rd verse tomorrow.
I also thought I might be able to hit the gym and run for an hour on the treadmill, but it was way too late when I thought I was near finished with editing. So I left that goal of mine today slide.
I am a backslider. And that feels bad. But I hope to accomplish my goals tomorrow. At least I backslid for music, and not for something else.
Ugh. Weakness. I knew it would be hard for me to run later. And I did . I didn’t run today when I said I would. And my body is even fine right now. No pains, aches, and whatnot.
I brought my laptop to work so during my lunch break I can work on 24 Lives, and compiling the best of the best from my vocal recordings. And when I got home from work, I ended up working on it, but got distracted when Marie said she cooked some awesome chicken wings that she and Steve marinated the night before. So I succumbed like the weak bastard I am, and the 15 minutes I allotted to myself to eat became an hour and a half when I decided to watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia with both of them.
Always Sunny in Philadelphia – possibly the best sitcom on t.v. right now besides the Office? Perhaps…
Well, I went back to editing my tracks, and started to think what kind of instrumentation I could add to fill in the verses a little more, but then got super-tired about an hour into listening and listening and listening to my voice. So I gave up and decided to work on the 2nd chorus and 3rd verse tomorrow.
I also thought I might be able to hit the gym and run for an hour on the treadmill, but it was way too late when I thought I was near finished with editing. So I left that goal of mine today slide.
I am a backslider. And that feels bad. But I hope to accomplish my goals tomorrow. At least I backslid for music, and not for something else.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Jan 12 - somebody's got a case of the Mondays.
and it's me. Mondays are not the funnest time in the week. Except...
FREE Healthy Valley organic Cereal Bars at work!!
They are so ridiculously good. I'm usually not a corporate shill, but I am proud to say my company makes these little bad-asses. My favorite is the French Vanilla bar. It's like someone playing one of your favorite songs...in your mouth. And then reciting your favorite poem in your ear. It's that good. Shoulder massage by female superstar you think is awesome.
("Gather the faces of woman" to jf's ear)
(Cucurucurru...paloma... in Jf's mouth).
( A little to the left, Paz Vega. Awww yeah. That's it.)
and SCENE.
FREE Healthy Valley organic Cereal Bars at work!!
They are so ridiculously good. I'm usually not a corporate shill, but I am proud to say my company makes these little bad-asses. My favorite is the French Vanilla bar. It's like someone playing one of your favorite songs...in your mouth. And then reciting your favorite poem in your ear. It's that good. Shoulder massage by female superstar you think is awesome.
("Gather the faces of woman" to jf's ear)
(Cucurucurru...paloma... in Jf's mouth).
( A little to the left, Paz Vega. Awww yeah. That's it.)
and SCENE.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Jan 11 - When you seduce them one by one with witty lines.
I ran today. Running shoes were awesome, and my right foot side doesn't hurt too much. I just ran from the front of my apartment to the Con Ed smokestacks on 19th ave, so back and forth it was about 3.8 miles. The snow and ice wasn't fun to run on, and I was a little scared that I might trip and splatter my brains all over the pavement, but I ran as much as I can, anyway. I am concerned about my left knee, though. It started to feel really sensitive, and now when I move it dramatically, I hear a 'click' which probably isnt good.
After running, my best friend Marie marinated some chicken wings, after reading the Hooters recipe for hot wings. I then fried it, and afterwards put the buffalo sauce on the wings to see if it is any good.It was pretty good, but I think we'll try to put more of the hot sauce in the buffalo sauce next time.
At 8:30 I arrived at the studio, and recorded vocals for '24 Lives. It went really well, and I'll have a bunch of stuff to work on for tomorrow, and Tuesday. Goal is to get this song done at my end and give it to Jon Mizrachi on Wednesday. This will happen. Oh yes, it will happen.
After the session, we went to Pathmark so I can pick up recycling bags, and chicken wings. I also picked up some cereal (Honey Kix!!! holy canoli). and Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies. That was pretty it for today. Nothing crazy. Just good solidity of getting goals accomlished...
- j to the F
After running, my best friend Marie marinated some chicken wings, after reading the Hooters recipe for hot wings. I then fried it, and afterwards put the buffalo sauce on the wings to see if it is any good.It was pretty good, but I think we'll try to put more of the hot sauce in the buffalo sauce next time.
At 8:30 I arrived at the studio, and recorded vocals for '24 Lives. It went really well, and I'll have a bunch of stuff to work on for tomorrow, and Tuesday. Goal is to get this song done at my end and give it to Jon Mizrachi on Wednesday. This will happen. Oh yes, it will happen.
After the session, we went to Pathmark so I can pick up recycling bags, and chicken wings. I also picked up some cereal (Honey Kix!!! holy canoli). and Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies. That was pretty it for today. Nothing crazy. Just good solidity of getting goals accomlished...
- j to the F
Jan 10 - Modern Masterpiece
modern masterpiece - a father's love song
by jf
When God was a boy, he made the Earth
but all the people that came were so imperfect
God had grown tired of all the ugliness
So he made you his modern masterpiece
just because he was wide awake
he said "I will make you my modern masterpiece"
he took all the stars
put 'em in your heart
and when it beats, new constellations
new constellations are born
as your mother beams
it is you she sees
most beautiful child of creation,
with no hesitation
at all
Cuz he made you his modern masterpiece
the smile went out from the Mona Lisa
she said " I can't compare"; she got so envious
Cuz he made you his modern masterpiece
the ceiling fell down from the Sistine Chapel;
I think it gave up - when it saw you enter the light
and with all his might
he gave you the night
already the sky has been blinking
like flash from a camera, in awe
Over time you'll see
what you mean to me
you won't need divine intervention
just my attention
and love
------
Cast of characters:
Marie
Jeni Nielsen, her friends Rachel and the others whose names i
forgot
The trio of Kristyn, Samantha, and Jeanie
Julie Hill
Jon, Krista, and Ruby Preddice
Dave March
Today I donated platelets at 1 PM. 1st donation of 2009. Before I left, I had to get Marie to let me borrow her keys so i can duplicate it because they somehow fell out of my key chain. Worse key chain ever.
The platelet donation wasn't too bad. The needle going into my right arm wasn't as painful as I was imagining it in my head. I also didn't have any problems with vein pressure this time, which was a big problem last time. Awesomeness.
I read Tagalog vocabulary lists while being drained, because one of my goals is to have full conversations in Tagalog by the end of this year. Here are some words that I'm recalling from what I learned yesterday:
wood - kahoy
Peace - kapayapaan
naawa - to have pity on
kaunlaran - development, progress
kapighatian - loneliness, misery
kasalrian - independence
kasinungalian - falsehood; lies
At 4:30-5ish, I had an early dinner with Jeni Nielsen and her friends at Krystals at Woodside. I also was waiting for the sweet trio of Kristyn, Samantha, and Jeanie to show up,but unfortunately one of them got in a small fender bender since it was snowing, and they couldn't go. Que triste. It's all good though. Everyone is ok.
Kris's voice is so sweet on the phone. Hearing her is like immersing yourself in a vat of gnutella chocolate.
I met Jeni, her friends Rachel, and two of their other friends who I for some reason cannot remember their names (I'm super bad, Seth Rogen - style, with names). It was their first time trying filipino food, and they liked it (except for the squid thing..I should have advised them not to get the squid.) We got and shared
1. some kind of sinigang (Filipino beef vegetable stew)
2. kare-kare ( my favorite - oxtail peanut butter stew with vegetables)
3. rice with milkfish and egg (it was breakfast for one of them).
4. the squid thing (i've never liked it)
5. lumpia shanghai (fried spring rolls with meat and vegetable)
6. monggo (mong bean stew with beef)
They liked everything, and especially liked the kare-kare. I am trying to convert everyone into being kare-kare fans. They even liked the shrimp paste (baguong) that you eat with the kare-kare. I really don't like that stuff, and thing it should be banned from being eaten because it's gross.
I want to make kare-kare vegan-wise, so I can spread the kare-kare love to some friends (and romantic interests) who are vegetarians or vegans. My mom taught me how to make it, but I have a major problem remembering directions on how to cook food. I guess I just have to do cook more.
F^*k.
Our dinner was sweet. Good conversation. All of them except for Jeni were going to this "tasting" party in Forest Hills where you put some kind of nut from South Africa (I think?) in your mouth, and it supposedly makes everything you taste afterwards really sweet. I was intrigued, and curious. Also, Jeni mentioned in passing about having the hots for some young director who was a friend of theirs, and totally wanting to invite this director-dude to some kind of breakfast event they were hosting. Go Jeni!
We then had brazo de mercedes, the Filipino egg-custard cake. It is so good, i want to wrestle Hulk Hogan and some bears at the same time thinking about it.
When I went back to apartment, i was in a writing mood. Julie invited me to hang out and play ipod playlists, but I was feeling a little zapped from the donation, and there was no way I could have mustered the energy to subway it, then walk from St. Marks to her friggin' place on Ave. C and 6th on a cold, snowy day. Sorry, Jules.
...
A long time ago when I was at Berklee, I had this melody and lyric idea in my head, which I titled Modern Masterpiece. I remember playing it to Glenn at my dorm room, and he liking the lyric idea. But I could never finish the 2nd verse. So I kind of buried the idea in my head for all these years.
Until Jon and Krista Preddice had their baby. I have known them for a long time (supposedly, back in high school I sang a song that i dedicated to Krista in front of her boyfriend at the time, thus........... earning the ire of her boyfriend at time.) They both make up two members of the Long Island band Miles to Dayton, which is this wonderful group that sings really sweet harmonies, and write good songs. Dave March, Krista's brother and also a member, played bass on my upcoming electropop EP.
http://www.myspace.com/milestodayton
Jon and all the members of Miles to Dayton have backed me up in past shows, and once in a while I have played keys for them in their shows. Jon especially almost always willing to play cello with me when i'm around town, and he raises the bar when I play 'She Wants'. It was and is always a fun experience playing with them, and I treasure the musical moments. But more important is that they are good people, with great hearts. The whole lot of them.
Well, when Jon and Krista had their young one, I was super-excited :) I'm such an ass though and decided not to call them, because I'm sure they received a ton of congratulations from all their friends and family members (they have a ton of friends and family members). They were positively overwhelmed, and I didn't want to add to the stress. So I ended up just facebooking them congratulation comments and leaving comments on their picture pages. Wow, I am a nerd. But I also was super happy for them. I knew their kid is going to grow up with two wonderful parents who couldn't be more right for each other. Like the definition of ying and yang. And that she would be truly loved and adored and they will have a happy life. and she will grow up,surrounded by music. And probably will be this musical genius too.
So it was in that frame of mind that I started resurrecting the song modern masterpiece...and yesterday, after getting home eating Filipino food, I worked on it and finally finished it. Almost 8 years in the making.
I'm putting it up a demo of it on myspace by the end of this coming week. It's for Jon and Krista especially, and to all new parents everywhere. and one day, God willing, i'll be able to sing it to my future little one and to my future love-of-my-life.
- jflo
by jf
When God was a boy, he made the Earth
but all the people that came were so imperfect
God had grown tired of all the ugliness
So he made you his modern masterpiece
just because he was wide awake
he said "I will make you my modern masterpiece"
he took all the stars
put 'em in your heart
and when it beats, new constellations
new constellations are born
as your mother beams
it is you she sees
most beautiful child of creation,
with no hesitation
at all
Cuz he made you his modern masterpiece
the smile went out from the Mona Lisa
she said " I can't compare"; she got so envious
Cuz he made you his modern masterpiece
the ceiling fell down from the Sistine Chapel;
I think it gave up - when it saw you enter the light
and with all his might
he gave you the night
already the sky has been blinking
like flash from a camera, in awe
Over time you'll see
what you mean to me
you won't need divine intervention
just my attention
and love
------
Cast of characters:
Marie
Jeni Nielsen, her friends Rachel and the others whose names i
forgot
The trio of Kristyn, Samantha, and Jeanie
Julie Hill
Jon, Krista, and Ruby Preddice
Dave March
Today I donated platelets at 1 PM. 1st donation of 2009. Before I left, I had to get Marie to let me borrow her keys so i can duplicate it because they somehow fell out of my key chain. Worse key chain ever.
The platelet donation wasn't too bad. The needle going into my right arm wasn't as painful as I was imagining it in my head. I also didn't have any problems with vein pressure this time, which was a big problem last time. Awesomeness.
I read Tagalog vocabulary lists while being drained, because one of my goals is to have full conversations in Tagalog by the end of this year. Here are some words that I'm recalling from what I learned yesterday:
wood - kahoy
Peace - kapayapaan
naawa - to have pity on
kaunlaran - development, progress
kapighatian - loneliness, misery
kasalrian - independence
kasinungalian - falsehood; lies
At 4:30-5ish, I had an early dinner with Jeni Nielsen and her friends at Krystals at Woodside. I also was waiting for the sweet trio of Kristyn, Samantha, and Jeanie to show up,but unfortunately one of them got in a small fender bender since it was snowing, and they couldn't go. Que triste. It's all good though. Everyone is ok.
Kris's voice is so sweet on the phone. Hearing her is like immersing yourself in a vat of gnutella chocolate.
I met Jeni, her friends Rachel, and two of their other friends who I for some reason cannot remember their names (I'm super bad, Seth Rogen - style, with names). It was their first time trying filipino food, and they liked it (except for the squid thing..I should have advised them not to get the squid.) We got and shared
1. some kind of sinigang (Filipino beef vegetable stew)
2. kare-kare ( my favorite - oxtail peanut butter stew with vegetables)
3. rice with milkfish and egg (it was breakfast for one of them).
4. the squid thing (i've never liked it)
5. lumpia shanghai (fried spring rolls with meat and vegetable)
6. monggo (mong bean stew with beef)
They liked everything, and especially liked the kare-kare. I am trying to convert everyone into being kare-kare fans. They even liked the shrimp paste (baguong) that you eat with the kare-kare. I really don't like that stuff, and thing it should be banned from being eaten because it's gross.
I want to make kare-kare vegan-wise, so I can spread the kare-kare love to some friends (and romantic interests) who are vegetarians or vegans. My mom taught me how to make it, but I have a major problem remembering directions on how to cook food. I guess I just have to do cook more.
F^*k.
Our dinner was sweet. Good conversation. All of them except for Jeni were going to this "tasting" party in Forest Hills where you put some kind of nut from South Africa (I think?) in your mouth, and it supposedly makes everything you taste afterwards really sweet. I was intrigued, and curious. Also, Jeni mentioned in passing about having the hots for some young director who was a friend of theirs, and totally wanting to invite this director-dude to some kind of breakfast event they were hosting. Go Jeni!
We then had brazo de mercedes, the Filipino egg-custard cake. It is so good, i want to wrestle Hulk Hogan and some bears at the same time thinking about it.
When I went back to apartment, i was in a writing mood. Julie invited me to hang out and play ipod playlists, but I was feeling a little zapped from the donation, and there was no way I could have mustered the energy to subway it, then walk from St. Marks to her friggin' place on Ave. C and 6th on a cold, snowy day. Sorry, Jules.
...
A long time ago when I was at Berklee, I had this melody and lyric idea in my head, which I titled Modern Masterpiece. I remember playing it to Glenn at my dorm room, and he liking the lyric idea. But I could never finish the 2nd verse. So I kind of buried the idea in my head for all these years.
Until Jon and Krista Preddice had their baby. I have known them for a long time (supposedly, back in high school I sang a song that i dedicated to Krista in front of her boyfriend at the time, thus........... earning the ire of her boyfriend at time.) They both make up two members of the Long Island band Miles to Dayton, which is this wonderful group that sings really sweet harmonies, and write good songs. Dave March, Krista's brother and also a member, played bass on my upcoming electropop EP.
http://www.myspace.com/milestodayton
Jon and all the members of Miles to Dayton have backed me up in past shows, and once in a while I have played keys for them in their shows. Jon especially almost always willing to play cello with me when i'm around town, and he raises the bar when I play 'She Wants'. It was and is always a fun experience playing with them, and I treasure the musical moments. But more important is that they are good people, with great hearts. The whole lot of them.
Well, when Jon and Krista had their young one, I was super-excited :) I'm such an ass though and decided not to call them, because I'm sure they received a ton of congratulations from all their friends and family members (they have a ton of friends and family members). They were positively overwhelmed, and I didn't want to add to the stress. So I ended up just facebooking them congratulation comments and leaving comments on their picture pages. Wow, I am a nerd. But I also was super happy for them. I knew their kid is going to grow up with two wonderful parents who couldn't be more right for each other. Like the definition of ying and yang. And that she would be truly loved and adored and they will have a happy life. and she will grow up,surrounded by music. And probably will be this musical genius too.
So it was in that frame of mind that I started resurrecting the song modern masterpiece...and yesterday, after getting home eating Filipino food, I worked on it and finally finished it. Almost 8 years in the making.
I'm putting it up a demo of it on myspace by the end of this coming week. It's for Jon and Krista especially, and to all new parents everywhere. and one day, God willing, i'll be able to sing it to my future little one and to my future love-of-my-life.
- jflo
Friday, January 9, 2009
January 9th - rewatching The Diving Bell and The Butterfly- play by play- dont' read this if you haven't seen it
it's devastatingly beautiful.
My favorite line:(32:15) "Hold fast to the human inside of you, and you'll survive."
Henriette is a beauty bombdiggity. She reminds me a little bit of one of my singer-songwriter friends, Alli Collis. I really liked it when she lost her cool and started lecturing to Dauby. Soo good.
And the guy who put the Russian snow hat on Bauby. He's pretty awesome. I liked how he is introduced, with the toy motorcycle that he catches off the table. And then when he starts reading the alphabet is soooo good.
"Two things that aren't paralyzed: my imagination, and my memory".
Mon dieu. The actress who plays Claude Mendible, the girl who takes dauby's dictation, is beautiful. Maybe even more beautiful than Henriette? hmm...
Wait..the girl who plays Empress Eugenie, wife of Napolean III...she's friggin gore -jizz. WTF, French cinema people? What are you trying to do to me?
Bauby's monologue, when he starts dictating to Claude, is so good..and then when his friend started to read Honore de Balzac to him....gives me the chills. Perfect music, perfect emotion, perfect scene.
The scene afterwards, where the dudes install the telephone...I was laughing too, before he started laughing. I wonder if that makes me a bad person.
Holy vegetarian cow..Marie is like the hottest cougar I've ever seen in cinema. The French are even beautiful when they get older. That's just not far.
Put
whoa...Bauby's ex-wife is maganda too. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, it's not fair..
oh shoot...I remember seeing her in a French movie year ago when I was in Paris. She played this French pop star.....the funny thing is, the movie didn't have any English subtitles, so the friend I was with (who also didn't speak French) just sat through the whole movie, watching without really understanding what happened.
C'est La Vie.
That meal scene, where he dines with Claude. Damn...I totally want to do that in real life. It has to be with the right bombdiggity muffincake, though.
I liked how he got all pensive in the dinner table right after..he's such a good actor.
His interaction with Marie and the priest is a great scene. I love how the background looks..
The next scene that introduces him going to Lourdes, with one of his girlfriends and her flying hair, is awesome..it's so simple, yet that's how I feel sometimes when my windows are down in the car, and I'm blasting music. I feel like a 20 sum sum actress in a French movie going to Lourdes. C'est magnifique.
That's funny too, with the whole "I can't make love with her watching". I used to have this picture of a painting of the Savior in my bedroom at my rent's house, and I sometimes would really resist my adolescent hormonal bombs as much as I could because of the pic. You never want to do anything naughty if Jesus is watching you. Or I think that's how I rationalized it..did it work? I would say, about half the time. Sometimes I would just turn the picture around.
oh my...when Princess Eugenieand Bauby...anyway....I think one of new wishes in life is to travel back in time to 1870's France and make out with a French socialite. This is totally plausible.
Wow..the whole part about Bauby talking to his dad over the phone...priceless...
And Claude's gift to him on the boatride. "Jean-Do, I don't mind you dragging me down to the bottom of the ocean...because you also are my butterfly..."It's a heart melter for singer-songwriter boys. Oh..if only someone only said that to me. Then I would be like "You stole that from that movie, you algebra major!"...
Damn...that scene with Ines and Celeste...I'm glad they kept it in. It's such a truthful scene. Celeste's face, when she spells out his wishes, is one of the most beautiful moments in cinema. It's like every letter, her heart gets pummeled, pounded to the ground..but what can she do? She loves him....and so does Ines...
oh man...when he starts to sing...and what happens afterwards...I love the last couple of minutes or so of the movie, when the voices become dull, and the cinematography is breathtaking...I do have to comment though on the last song choice, while the ice caps were reassembling;the song blows chunks. What up, genius filmmaker? I hate your film now.
I'm only kidding, Mr. Schnabel. Your movie was awesome. Thanks for blowing my fi&*ng mind.
My favorite line:(32:15) "Hold fast to the human inside of you, and you'll survive."
Henriette is a beauty bombdiggity. She reminds me a little bit of one of my singer-songwriter friends, Alli Collis. I really liked it when she lost her cool and started lecturing to Dauby. Soo good.
And the guy who put the Russian snow hat on Bauby. He's pretty awesome. I liked how he is introduced, with the toy motorcycle that he catches off the table. And then when he starts reading the alphabet is soooo good.
"Two things that aren't paralyzed: my imagination, and my memory".
Mon dieu. The actress who plays Claude Mendible, the girl who takes dauby's dictation, is beautiful. Maybe even more beautiful than Henriette? hmm...
Wait..the girl who plays Empress Eugenie, wife of Napolean III...she's friggin gore -jizz. WTF, French cinema people? What are you trying to do to me?
Bauby's monologue, when he starts dictating to Claude, is so good..and then when his friend started to read Honore de Balzac to him....gives me the chills. Perfect music, perfect emotion, perfect scene.
The scene afterwards, where the dudes install the telephone...I was laughing too, before he started laughing. I wonder if that makes me a bad person.
Holy vegetarian cow..Marie is like the hottest cougar I've ever seen in cinema. The French are even beautiful when they get older. That's just not far.
Put
whoa...Bauby's ex-wife is maganda too. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, it's not fair..
oh shoot...I remember seeing her in a French movie year ago when I was in Paris. She played this French pop star.....the funny thing is, the movie didn't have any English subtitles, so the friend I was with (who also didn't speak French) just sat through the whole movie, watching without really understanding what happened.
C'est La Vie.
That meal scene, where he dines with Claude. Damn...I totally want to do that in real life. It has to be with the right bombdiggity muffincake, though.
I liked how he got all pensive in the dinner table right after..he's such a good actor.
His interaction with Marie and the priest is a great scene. I love how the background looks..
The next scene that introduces him going to Lourdes, with one of his girlfriends and her flying hair, is awesome..it's so simple, yet that's how I feel sometimes when my windows are down in the car, and I'm blasting music. I feel like a 20 sum sum actress in a French movie going to Lourdes. C'est magnifique.
That's funny too, with the whole "I can't make love with her watching". I used to have this picture of a painting of the Savior in my bedroom at my rent's house, and I sometimes would really resist my adolescent hormonal bombs as much as I could because of the pic. You never want to do anything naughty if Jesus is watching you. Or I think that's how I rationalized it..did it work? I would say, about half the time. Sometimes I would just turn the picture around.
oh my...when Princess Eugenieand Bauby...anyway....I think one of new wishes in life is to travel back in time to 1870's France and make out with a French socialite. This is totally plausible.
Wow..the whole part about Bauby talking to his dad over the phone...priceless...
And Claude's gift to him on the boatride. "Jean-Do, I don't mind you dragging me down to the bottom of the ocean...because you also are my butterfly..."It's a heart melter for singer-songwriter boys. Oh..if only someone only said that to me. Then I would be like "You stole that from that movie, you algebra major!"...
Damn...that scene with Ines and Celeste...I'm glad they kept it in. It's such a truthful scene. Celeste's face, when she spells out his wishes, is one of the most beautiful moments in cinema. It's like every letter, her heart gets pummeled, pounded to the ground..but what can she do? She loves him....and so does Ines...
oh man...when he starts to sing...and what happens afterwards...I love the last couple of minutes or so of the movie, when the voices become dull, and the cinematography is breathtaking...I do have to comment though on the last song choice, while the ice caps were reassembling;the song blows chunks. What up, genius filmmaker? I hate your film now.
I'm only kidding, Mr. Schnabel. Your movie was awesome. Thanks for blowing my fi&*ng mind.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
january 8th - karaoke madness
to celebrate Ariele Gonzalez's sweet, sweet birthday... At Planet Rose, on Ave A btw, 13th and 14th st. It was a surprise party. Marley made a photo scrapbook for her. She's a talent, that chestnut. Matt, Marley's brother, was there too. So I know two people at the place...but as the night progressed, I met mostly everyone else. i really dug one of Ariele's friends, who I am forgetting his name, but is tall, and wasnt afraid to dance. I kept thinking in my head, I wonder if Danny Katz would like him...probably...
Ariele was super-surprised, which was so awesome :) And then we got her to party, which was even awesomer. She and Marley did this one song right before I left, which I'm totally forgetting what the song was, but they stood on top of the seats at the place like that movie with the girls who dance on the top of the bar..what was it? Coyote Sweetheart? Fox Good-Looking? I can't remember.
I also do have to mention one of Ariele's friends, who I didn't introduce myself to (i'm sorry), but the two songs that he requested were Guns N Roses songs, which was super awesome. Not so much the Guns N Roses songs, but that he picked them. Like he loves them so much, he picked those two songs to sing, out of the thousands in karoake lists..that's fu*@ing devotion.
I sang Take On Me,and I Want It That Way with a bunch of cool new people I met (like Kristine, who I found out from the Facebook that she's a HUGE Backstreet Boys fan.) And holy fuzz, you can say that I Rocked The Casbah. Not sing in on the mic...but rocked it. I think I hurt my foot again though, while jumping and flailing and dancing . Damn it, I don't think I can run for another couple days now. Ugh.
But seriously: What's up with that friggin' annoying song from Grease the Movie (Paradise on the something something) polluting the karaoke airwaves? it feels like Sweet 16 Summer Mania all over again. Although that Frenchie from the movie..she moves through my dreams like a beautiful ghost from...Grease the Movie.
Oh, and before I went to Planet Rose, I went to Barnes and Nobles to get a present and card for Ariele (which I forgot to label the present and sign when I was at PR. Weak. Hopefully they still have it). As I was about to leave the building, I see freaking Maryann Leone just standing bout 10 feet away from me. I don't think she saw me. I said out loud "Maryann Leone", and she looked right at me, mouth agape, and gave me a hug. Then we chatted for 10 minutes or so. She is going to this super hippie/meditation yoga trip in April, which is pretty dope. And she's been liking all my facebook comments and whatnot, which I thought was odd that she brought it up, but it's all good. And it's only all good because she HAS a nose ring.
Holy cow I am going to collapse. I only had two hours of sleep the night before, which sucked cow tittie. no I am about to get 4 and a half hours. Whoo hooo!!!! LIFE!!
- jf
Ariele was super-surprised, which was so awesome :) And then we got her to party, which was even awesomer. She and Marley did this one song right before I left, which I'm totally forgetting what the song was, but they stood on top of the seats at the place like that movie with the girls who dance on the top of the bar..what was it? Coyote Sweetheart? Fox Good-Looking? I can't remember.
I also do have to mention one of Ariele's friends, who I didn't introduce myself to (i'm sorry), but the two songs that he requested were Guns N Roses songs, which was super awesome. Not so much the Guns N Roses songs, but that he picked them. Like he loves them so much, he picked those two songs to sing, out of the thousands in karoake lists..that's fu*@ing devotion.
I sang Take On Me,and I Want It That Way with a bunch of cool new people I met (like Kristine, who I found out from the Facebook that she's a HUGE Backstreet Boys fan.) And holy fuzz, you can say that I Rocked The Casbah. Not sing in on the mic...but rocked it. I think I hurt my foot again though, while jumping and flailing and dancing . Damn it, I don't think I can run for another couple days now. Ugh.
But seriously: What's up with that friggin' annoying song from Grease the Movie (Paradise on the something something) polluting the karaoke airwaves? it feels like Sweet 16 Summer Mania all over again. Although that Frenchie from the movie..she moves through my dreams like a beautiful ghost from...Grease the Movie.
Oh, and before I went to Planet Rose, I went to Barnes and Nobles to get a present and card for Ariele (which I forgot to label the present and sign when I was at PR. Weak. Hopefully they still have it). As I was about to leave the building, I see freaking Maryann Leone just standing bout 10 feet away from me. I don't think she saw me. I said out loud "Maryann Leone", and she looked right at me, mouth agape, and gave me a hug. Then we chatted for 10 minutes or so. She is going to this super hippie/meditation yoga trip in April, which is pretty dope. And she's been liking all my facebook comments and whatnot, which I thought was odd that she brought it up, but it's all good. And it's only all good because she HAS a nose ring.
Holy cow I am going to collapse. I only had two hours of sleep the night before, which sucked cow tittie. no I am about to get 4 and a half hours. Whoo hooo!!!! LIFE!!
- jf
Jan. 7th - The Bell and The Butterfly ; 1 JF major accomplishment
So far, it's been the best of the year. But then again, it's only been 7 full days and nights since the advent of 2009?
All the characters were solid, and essential, and it was poetic. It sort of had the same pacings and a few similarities to one of my other favorite movies that I can't watch casually, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But it was unique in so many ways. When I think about it, I like the movie more. It's more than likely a future buy for me to add to the most awesomemest DVD collection ever.
Oh, and what's up with all the woman being super beautiful in that movie? Every main character was drop dead gorgeous, but georgeous in the more old school sense of the world. Like, they would be gorgeous even if it was the 1920s..or 1400s...or 3rd century B.C. yadda yadda yadda.
Then again, it is France. France is a country filled with beautiful people; i know that from experience.
Oh, and tonight marks the first time ever I have ever written a song, finished it, and arranged it and threw it on myspace within the same day...so congrats to me!!! I have goals this year, and I accomplishing them!!
Oh yeah...
All the characters were solid, and essential, and it was poetic. It sort of had the same pacings and a few similarities to one of my other favorite movies that I can't watch casually, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But it was unique in so many ways. When I think about it, I like the movie more. It's more than likely a future buy for me to add to the most awesomemest DVD collection ever.
Oh, and what's up with all the woman being super beautiful in that movie? Every main character was drop dead gorgeous, but georgeous in the more old school sense of the world. Like, they would be gorgeous even if it was the 1920s..or 1400s...or 3rd century B.C. yadda yadda yadda.
Then again, it is France. France is a country filled with beautiful people; i know that from experience.
Oh, and tonight marks the first time ever I have ever written a song, finished it, and arranged it and threw it on myspace within the same day...so congrats to me!!! I have goals this year, and I accomplishing them!!
Oh yeah...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
January 6th - She was such a pretty girl
- the version being co-produced by Jon M and I...is being mixed gradually...and it sounds really beautiful.
I hope when people listen to the new album, they will feel a little more beautiful.
because we all are a beautiful bunch.
On a side note, I shaved my moustache, my beard, and my soul patch. I feel like I look like a 5 year old kid, wearing that burger king hat , with a toy silver cowboy pistol in his right hand.
oh man...those were the days.
- jf
I hope when people listen to the new album, they will feel a little more beautiful.
because we all are a beautiful bunch.
On a side note, I shaved my moustache, my beard, and my soul patch. I feel like I look like a 5 year old kid, wearing that burger king hat , with a toy silver cowboy pistol in his right hand.
oh man...those were the days.
- jf
Monday, January 5, 2009
Jan 5th. My toothbrush has super-powers.
It's this Sonic Care toothbrush I bought for a ridiculously insane amount, but I don't mind it because it brushes for me. I can't wait till everything's roboticized. The power of the vibration as it cleans and cleans and cleans my mouth is inspiring. I want to wrestle a Yeti with my fragile hands after I brush.
Waxing on about brushing I guess is my way of trying to forget the trials and tribulations of today. I didn't have a good work day today, and when i went home, I was uninspired to make any music. But I was inspired to listen to the tracks that Jon Mizrachi and myself worked on last night. He sent it to me today while I was at work.
Jon programmed totally different drums to Pretty Girl, and it's so good. It's probably my favorite drum programming of his in my whole E.P. that we've been working on. But I guess I'll just have to wait until I can share it with everyone. Besides, we're still fine-tuning the song.
Darn it. I already broke 5 resolutions. I think rather than try to maintain resolutions, I should just set goals for myself. I think it will be helpful, especially once I start running again on Wednesday. I think I figured out that the pain thagt I have is Plantar Fasciitis, which is caused by worn shoes. And boy, were my Target shoes worn, indeed.
I guess that's it. I've got to start planning for my next track to upload to myspace...
- jflo
Waxing on about brushing I guess is my way of trying to forget the trials and tribulations of today. I didn't have a good work day today, and when i went home, I was uninspired to make any music. But I was inspired to listen to the tracks that Jon Mizrachi and myself worked on last night. He sent it to me today while I was at work.
Jon programmed totally different drums to Pretty Girl, and it's so good. It's probably my favorite drum programming of his in my whole E.P. that we've been working on. But I guess I'll just have to wait until I can share it with everyone. Besides, we're still fine-tuning the song.
Darn it. I already broke 5 resolutions. I think rather than try to maintain resolutions, I should just set goals for myself. I think it will be helpful, especially once I start running again on Wednesday. I think I figured out that the pain thagt I have is Plantar Fasciitis, which is caused by worn shoes. And boy, were my Target shoes worn, indeed.
I guess that's it. I've got to start planning for my next track to upload to myspace...
- jflo
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sun, Jan. 4 - no run today, but mixing with Jon
I couldn't run today. The right side of my foot is still in pain. When I talked to the guy who sold me shoes yesterday, he said I should probably take a week off. Well, I'm not willing to take a week of, but I'll try for Tuesday.
I did walk around with the new shoes though. And i added that Nike + contraption to it,and tested it out while I waited for Steve and Marie to come from Michaels. It seems like it works well; Steve said it's pretty dope.
When we drove to Pathmark, I waited in the car and read more about Katipunan, the organization responsible for freeing the Philippines from Spanish rule in the late 19 century. It is really interesting..like for one example, there was a female version of the Katipunan, mainly the wives and sisters of Katipuneros, and when the Katipuneros would have their secret meetings in the back, of the house, the ladies would be singing and dancing in front of the house so Spanish authorities and their cohorts, when passing the house by, wouldn't notice anything strange. I thought that was awesome.
I went to Jon Mizrachi's afterwards. We worked a lot today, and got a lot of things done in 2 and a half hours. We worked on The Best I Can a little bit, but he mostly did all the revisions yesterday.
We did work on Pretty Girl a lot. He changed the feel of the song a ton, with a very different drum tracks, but it sounded great. He ended up keeping the original vocal take I did (which was the rough one), modified the bridge a little, re-added part of this guitar track I originally had on a different take of Pretty Girl, which was on the 1st and 2nd verse, mixed in the new piano take I did at The Buddy Project, and threw this really cool reverb effect on the end of the bridge, where I go "Oh, how I miss Her".
We then worked on Means to An End. Jon brought down the pianos, brought down the strings a little bit but increased the viola part that Caleb did during the instrumental after the bridge (which was beautiful), increased the main vocals at certain spots in the mix, and brought up the guitar part in the end. We'll see how it sits....
The last thing we discussed was which was the last song that should be on the album...there's 3 choices - 24 lives, Merry Go Round, and In the Garden. I'm not sure which one I want to add as the last one. I'm going towards 24 Lives, since it's the most developed, and I just need to rewrite 1 line, and redo the vocals. It's also a little bit diverse from the rest of the tracks on the EP ,in terms of the feel...but I really do love In The Garden...i just don't know if it's ready yet. Also, people don't believe me when I tell them it's not an instrumental..
oh well...we'll see how it goes. Till then, I'll be biting my elbows.
I did walk around with the new shoes though. And i added that Nike + contraption to it,and tested it out while I waited for Steve and Marie to come from Michaels. It seems like it works well; Steve said it's pretty dope.
When we drove to Pathmark, I waited in the car and read more about Katipunan, the organization responsible for freeing the Philippines from Spanish rule in the late 19 century. It is really interesting..like for one example, there was a female version of the Katipunan, mainly the wives and sisters of Katipuneros, and when the Katipuneros would have their secret meetings in the back, of the house, the ladies would be singing and dancing in front of the house so Spanish authorities and their cohorts, when passing the house by, wouldn't notice anything strange. I thought that was awesome.
I went to Jon Mizrachi's afterwards. We worked a lot today, and got a lot of things done in 2 and a half hours. We worked on The Best I Can a little bit, but he mostly did all the revisions yesterday.
We did work on Pretty Girl a lot. He changed the feel of the song a ton, with a very different drum tracks, but it sounded great. He ended up keeping the original vocal take I did (which was the rough one), modified the bridge a little, re-added part of this guitar track I originally had on a different take of Pretty Girl, which was on the 1st and 2nd verse, mixed in the new piano take I did at The Buddy Project, and threw this really cool reverb effect on the end of the bridge, where I go "Oh, how I miss Her".
We then worked on Means to An End. Jon brought down the pianos, brought down the strings a little bit but increased the viola part that Caleb did during the instrumental after the bridge (which was beautiful), increased the main vocals at certain spots in the mix, and brought up the guitar part in the end. We'll see how it sits....
The last thing we discussed was which was the last song that should be on the album...there's 3 choices - 24 lives, Merry Go Round, and In the Garden. I'm not sure which one I want to add as the last one. I'm going towards 24 Lives, since it's the most developed, and I just need to rewrite 1 line, and redo the vocals. It's also a little bit diverse from the rest of the tracks on the EP ,in terms of the feel...but I really do love In The Garden...i just don't know if it's ready yet. Also, people don't believe me when I tell them it's not an instrumental..
oh well...we'll see how it goes. Till then, I'll be biting my elbows.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Running shoes. Check. Moving out. not fun.
A bunch of significant things happened today: my roommates and I decided we would try to move out of the apartment by February 15th or march 1st, and I bought running shoes..
About the apartment: well, our lease is up in February, and due to reasons I dont' want to get into, we do not want to renew our lease. I am all for still living in Astoria, especially in the Ditmars area, but my roommates are not so keen into that. I would be into living in Fort Greene, Park Slope, Williamsburg, and parts of Bushwick. Woodside too. But I'm not sure if one of my roommates is even 100% into moving with the other two of us. My friend Megan I heard is up for moving in with us (the only caveat I have with her is she is a HUGE Jack Johnson fan. Not that he's bad or anything...but that does scare me a little bit).
And about the shoes. I finally bought a decent pair of running shoes, which I heard should be replaced every 400 miles or running or so. I went to Sports Authoriy near my place, and after an hour of trying on shoes, ended up with the Nike Air Max Turbulence, which felt pretty good on the feet and had all these cool little technological features on it. You can also use Nike +, which is this feature where you can connect your ipod to this contraption you put on the bottom of your Nike shoe, and it's basicallhy a pedometer, which is awesome. Or something to that effect. Don't know too much about it yet, but will try it out tomorrow morning!
I also got running socks - 4 pair for 15 moolahs. And these protein drink shakes endorsed by Michael Phelps. Hell, if he endorses them, then you know it's good, right?
Other things:
The moon was so awesome tonight. It looked like the Body of Christ.
I think I'm going to put out the a capella version of batang bata (Apo Hiking Society's famous song) as my first song out of 52 songs on myspace. I have to add a couple more things to it first though...
I'm tired as heck. I'm going to sleep. i have a big day of working on mixes with jon Mizrachi and also running and working on new track.
About the apartment: well, our lease is up in February, and due to reasons I dont' want to get into, we do not want to renew our lease. I am all for still living in Astoria, especially in the Ditmars area, but my roommates are not so keen into that. I would be into living in Fort Greene, Park Slope, Williamsburg, and parts of Bushwick. Woodside too. But I'm not sure if one of my roommates is even 100% into moving with the other two of us. My friend Megan I heard is up for moving in with us (the only caveat I have with her is she is a HUGE Jack Johnson fan. Not that he's bad or anything...but that does scare me a little bit).
And about the shoes. I finally bought a decent pair of running shoes, which I heard should be replaced every 400 miles or running or so. I went to Sports Authoriy near my place, and after an hour of trying on shoes, ended up with the Nike Air Max Turbulence, which felt pretty good on the feet and had all these cool little technological features on it. You can also use Nike +, which is this feature where you can connect your ipod to this contraption you put on the bottom of your Nike shoe, and it's basicallhy a pedometer, which is awesome. Or something to that effect. Don't know too much about it yet, but will try it out tomorrow morning!
I also got running socks - 4 pair for 15 moolahs. And these protein drink shakes endorsed by Michael Phelps. Hell, if he endorses them, then you know it's good, right?
Other things:
The moon was so awesome tonight. It looked like the Body of Christ.
I think I'm going to put out the a capella version of batang bata (Apo Hiking Society's famous song) as my first song out of 52 songs on myspace. I have to add a couple more things to it first though...
I'm tired as heck. I'm going to sleep. i have a big day of working on mixes with jon Mizrachi and also running and working on new track.
what a sweet January 2nd. Jon's family, and Cool Beanz and whatnot
I first started the day by running, and had to stretch twice because of the day before.There was soreness on my legs, but the right side of my right food was in absolute pain. I definitely have to get rid of the Target running shoes Ive been running with, and buy a new pair of good running shoes.
I met up with Jon and his family...I was so excited to see them! Especially their new addition to the family :) It was so great talking with them, and meeting RF, who I think looks like a perfect cross between Jon and Krista. Dave arrived later at the apartment too; supposedly he was borrowing Jon's jeep, but I think he just wanted to be near his new niece.
Teen Wolf was playing on their tv. I haven't seen that movie since I was a child, so it was funny seeing a scene with Jon and being like "holy cow...I remember that part where Michael J. Fox had to comb his wolf hair!" I then said something about - didn't MJF have to sink these two free throws in the end without his wolf powers? Jon affirmed it, with his great chuckle.
Jon, Dave, and I went to a place called Avocados which literally was about a third of a mile away. I had a pretty good steak burrito. But still, it's not as good as Ana's Taqueria in Boston. I dream about that place when I am awake.
After we got back to their apartment, Jon and Dave started to tell me about one of their really good friends's adventures in the dating world. Which was absolutely incredible. I don't want to divulge, even though i'm sure I'm the only one reading this fart of a blog. But the details were spicy, provocative, and uniquely amazing. I hope the best for their friend, though.
Fast forward to the night at Cool Beanz, in Saint James.
Their mics at the place weren't working, which was not good, and I couldn't get my mic cable attached to my looper to work, which also sucked lemons. I'm glad I brought my Shure Beta 58B mic, since that was a lifesaver at the place. I used that as my main mic.
The place was ridiculously packed. I couldn't believe it.I think combined with all the other artists who brought people, it was the most people I've ever seen in this medium-tiny coffeeshop.
We broke the show into 2 sets, so if people couldn't stay for the whole thing, they had a choice to leave. I played:
1st set: 1. Bed of Nails
2. Horses that look like Charlie Sheen
3. Britney Spears song
4. Here We Are
5. Buttercup (uekelele song).
2nd set: 1.The Astronaut
2.Midnight
3.Second Wind (for Ralph)
4.Kneecaps (ukelele)
5.I want it That way - Backstreet Boys Cover- (ukelele)
I was actually really happy about The Astronaut, since it was the first time I've ever played it out. I did make a faux pas when I got into the bridge or whatever you want to call it on the song, but whatever. Its all good. I ended up playign the rest of the song smoothly (or at least smoothly in my head).
On Midnight and the Backstreet Boys cover, Laura Boitano and Sarah Gottlieb sang harmonies with me, which was so awesome!!! We pretty much totally winged it, but I trusted their music and singing skillz, since they both have had experience in singing in public settings. And they were such good sports about the whole thing too. I really liked how Laura's voice sang in unison with my voice a lot of the time, but still sounded really good, and how Sarah went after the high harmonies like nobody's business...and was great at it!! I am so happy they showed up and sang with me!
Also, I do remember getting into this "argument" with Joli during one of my sets about how Philly Cheesteaks are not all that (which is true.) She defended her position passionately, but I think if there was a taste test between which was the better cheesesteaks, Philly or the ones I had in Boston, 8 out of 10 people would choose Boston.
About the other performers: They were all unique and great and inspiring in their own ways... let me talk about them, eh?
Michael Korb is one of my favorite singer-songwriters in all of New York. Great songs, great music ideas, plays the guitar a thousand times better than me, and has a great voice (think a darker, grittier Jeff Buckley). It was great to hear him after almost a year of not hearing his music live. We're actually doing a show together at Cool beanz on Jan 16th, so that should be fun :) All his songs were gorgeous, though I especially loved his 2nd set.
http://www.myspace.com/michaelkorb
Joli Ienuso is a spoken word poet who I've heard perform a bunch of times at the open mics at Cool Beanz back in the day, and it's to see her progress in her artform, both stagewise and poetically. She is so passionate about her poetry, and her poetry has all these depths to it,that you just get drawn in to her essence when you hear her peform.
Francis Rimando and Charles Lannak are these two young singer-songwriters who I met at a Cool Beanz open mic about a month or so ago run by Ken Machin. Francis's voice and phrasing reminded me a little bit of Morrissey, but still unique enough to forge his own thing both stylistically and musically. I liked his originals, which had really good melodies, and he is a really good performer to watch, as he melts himself into his music. I actually never heard Charles perform before, but was really impressed by both his voice (vulnerable, sometimes childlike), and his lyrics. He only played one set, but you can tell he's got a lot of talent. I especially like his first song a ton; it was really sweet and honest and a little vulnerable..and I remember laughing a bunch of times during the song, which is always a good thing.
Corey Balsamo is also a young,super-talented singer-songwriter I've met first from Cool Beanz, and have played with him at a couple of gigs here and there in Long Island. Really solid songs, memorable melodies, and his lyrics are really mature and cohesive, even though he only 18 years old. He's also a really good performer and seems really comfortable in front of a mic, which puts everyone at ease. Corey's going to be in a monster in a couple of years, if he keeps up with it.
http://www.myspace.com/coreybalsamo
Ok...so here are my shoutouts:
Jarett, it was so great seeing you after a couple of years!! At first I didn't recognize you, but it all came back to me now (sorry i'm referencing Celine Dion). And thank you for coming to Saint James when the next you have had to drive 12 hours to Indiana.
Marci Geller, thank you for coming!! It was really sweet meeting you in person, and I've heard alot about your through Long Island musicians I respect greatly...thank you for coming down, and for the encouragment!
Ralph Suarez and Anthony...dudes, you guys are awesome!! It's so great to see both of you, and too bad we couldn't hang out afterwards...but I'll be there during your movie premiere Ralph, wherever it may be!!
Jamie, oh my gosh I haven't seen you in a while too!! Thank you for staying throughout the whole night, and for introducing me to your boyfriend John!! he seems like a really good guy, and I happy for you!
Stasia, you are so sweet. Like, ridiculously sweet. Thanks for telling me about Geneseo, and filling me in with your life.
Andrew Bilello, it was nice to see you!! When I get another night together in Cool Beanz, you're on it :)
Jon Greco, Jon Greco, Jon Greco. I always love seeing you, wherever it may be :) Thank you for taking pictures, and just for being yourself! You always make me smile when I see you :) You've got a good heart.
Jill B, it was so sweet to see you too :) Whenever you are ready to perhaps play a few songs on two on a night in the future similar to tonight, do let me know :)
Ariel, it was nice meeting you in person :) Good luck with all things Buffalo :)
Cool Beanz, thank you!!! And sorry for all the freaking sand all over the place from the parking lot..
I met up with Jon and his family...I was so excited to see them! Especially their new addition to the family :) It was so great talking with them, and meeting RF, who I think looks like a perfect cross between Jon and Krista. Dave arrived later at the apartment too; supposedly he was borrowing Jon's jeep, but I think he just wanted to be near his new niece.
Teen Wolf was playing on their tv. I haven't seen that movie since I was a child, so it was funny seeing a scene with Jon and being like "holy cow...I remember that part where Michael J. Fox had to comb his wolf hair!" I then said something about - didn't MJF have to sink these two free throws in the end without his wolf powers? Jon affirmed it, with his great chuckle.
Jon, Dave, and I went to a place called Avocados which literally was about a third of a mile away. I had a pretty good steak burrito. But still, it's not as good as Ana's Taqueria in Boston. I dream about that place when I am awake.
After we got back to their apartment, Jon and Dave started to tell me about one of their really good friends's adventures in the dating world. Which was absolutely incredible. I don't want to divulge, even though i'm sure I'm the only one reading this fart of a blog. But the details were spicy, provocative, and uniquely amazing. I hope the best for their friend, though.
Fast forward to the night at Cool Beanz, in Saint James.
Their mics at the place weren't working, which was not good, and I couldn't get my mic cable attached to my looper to work, which also sucked lemons. I'm glad I brought my Shure Beta 58B mic, since that was a lifesaver at the place. I used that as my main mic.
The place was ridiculously packed. I couldn't believe it.I think combined with all the other artists who brought people, it was the most people I've ever seen in this medium-tiny coffeeshop.
We broke the show into 2 sets, so if people couldn't stay for the whole thing, they had a choice to leave. I played:
1st set: 1. Bed of Nails
2. Horses that look like Charlie Sheen
3. Britney Spears song
4. Here We Are
5. Buttercup (uekelele song).
2nd set: 1.The Astronaut
2.Midnight
3.Second Wind (for Ralph)
4.Kneecaps (ukelele)
5.I want it That way - Backstreet Boys Cover- (ukelele)
I was actually really happy about The Astronaut, since it was the first time I've ever played it out. I did make a faux pas when I got into the bridge or whatever you want to call it on the song, but whatever. Its all good. I ended up playign the rest of the song smoothly (or at least smoothly in my head).
On Midnight and the Backstreet Boys cover, Laura Boitano and Sarah Gottlieb sang harmonies with me, which was so awesome!!! We pretty much totally winged it, but I trusted their music and singing skillz, since they both have had experience in singing in public settings. And they were such good sports about the whole thing too. I really liked how Laura's voice sang in unison with my voice a lot of the time, but still sounded really good, and how Sarah went after the high harmonies like nobody's business...and was great at it!! I am so happy they showed up and sang with me!
Also, I do remember getting into this "argument" with Joli during one of my sets about how Philly Cheesteaks are not all that (which is true.) She defended her position passionately, but I think if there was a taste test between which was the better cheesesteaks, Philly or the ones I had in Boston, 8 out of 10 people would choose Boston.
About the other performers: They were all unique and great and inspiring in their own ways... let me talk about them, eh?
Michael Korb is one of my favorite singer-songwriters in all of New York. Great songs, great music ideas, plays the guitar a thousand times better than me, and has a great voice (think a darker, grittier Jeff Buckley). It was great to hear him after almost a year of not hearing his music live. We're actually doing a show together at Cool beanz on Jan 16th, so that should be fun :) All his songs were gorgeous, though I especially loved his 2nd set.
http://www.myspace.com/michaelkorb
Joli Ienuso is a spoken word poet who I've heard perform a bunch of times at the open mics at Cool Beanz back in the day, and it's to see her progress in her artform, both stagewise and poetically. She is so passionate about her poetry, and her poetry has all these depths to it,that you just get drawn in to her essence when you hear her peform.
Francis Rimando and Charles Lannak are these two young singer-songwriters who I met at a Cool Beanz open mic about a month or so ago run by Ken Machin. Francis's voice and phrasing reminded me a little bit of Morrissey, but still unique enough to forge his own thing both stylistically and musically. I liked his originals, which had really good melodies, and he is a really good performer to watch, as he melts himself into his music. I actually never heard Charles perform before, but was really impressed by both his voice (vulnerable, sometimes childlike), and his lyrics. He only played one set, but you can tell he's got a lot of talent. I especially like his first song a ton; it was really sweet and honest and a little vulnerable..and I remember laughing a bunch of times during the song, which is always a good thing.
Corey Balsamo is also a young,super-talented singer-songwriter I've met first from Cool Beanz, and have played with him at a couple of gigs here and there in Long Island. Really solid songs, memorable melodies, and his lyrics are really mature and cohesive, even though he only 18 years old. He's also a really good performer and seems really comfortable in front of a mic, which puts everyone at ease. Corey's going to be in a monster in a couple of years, if he keeps up with it.
http://www.myspace.com/coreybalsamo
Ok...so here are my shoutouts:
Jarett, it was so great seeing you after a couple of years!! At first I didn't recognize you, but it all came back to me now (sorry i'm referencing Celine Dion). And thank you for coming to Saint James when the next you have had to drive 12 hours to Indiana.
Marci Geller, thank you for coming!! It was really sweet meeting you in person, and I've heard alot about your through Long Island musicians I respect greatly...thank you for coming down, and for the encouragment!
Ralph Suarez and Anthony...dudes, you guys are awesome!! It's so great to see both of you, and too bad we couldn't hang out afterwards...but I'll be there during your movie premiere Ralph, wherever it may be!!
Jamie, oh my gosh I haven't seen you in a while too!! Thank you for staying throughout the whole night, and for introducing me to your boyfriend John!! he seems like a really good guy, and I happy for you!
Stasia, you are so sweet. Like, ridiculously sweet. Thanks for telling me about Geneseo, and filling me in with your life.
Andrew Bilello, it was nice to see you!! When I get another night together in Cool Beanz, you're on it :)
Jon Greco, Jon Greco, Jon Greco. I always love seeing you, wherever it may be :) Thank you for taking pictures, and just for being yourself! You always make me smile when I see you :) You've got a good heart.
Jill B, it was so sweet to see you too :) Whenever you are ready to perhaps play a few songs on two on a night in the future similar to tonight, do let me know :)
Ariel, it was nice meeting you in person :) Good luck with all things Buffalo :)
Cool Beanz, thank you!!! And sorry for all the freaking sand all over the place from the parking lot..
Friday, January 2, 2009
The water was cold. -
About 42 degrees in Coney Island, although what really hurt was the wind chill (3 degrees) , and the overall temperature outside (20 degrees).
I ended up going with Harry George, who i met at the Waltz open mic. He met me around 11:50 or so after my 3.7 mile run. We ended up going upstairs where I still had to get all my things ready as he waited and talked to Marie for a little bit (actually, it was more like 20 minutes - I am still pretty bad with time).
So we left Astoria around 12:15 or so, and BQE'd it to Belt Parkway and arrived at Coney Island around 12:50. Parked in the Keyspan stadium where they house the Brooklyn Cuclones, the Double AA baseball team. And we walked to the boardwalk, where we saw a ton of people all gathered up in one section on the boardwalk.
They started to move towards the beach, and so did we. We ended up jogging a little to the beach where everyone else was, and already saw some people (mostly 20-30 somethings)strip all the way to their bathing suits. And everyone started to wait.
We saw Adam Sullivan and his girlfriend Stacy right in front of us, which we were trying to rendezvous with, so that was pretty luckly. They started stripping and I took pictures.
Then the whistle blew. Like it was a track meet.
Many ran towards the water as if it was a suicidal charge. Screaming, whooping, hollering. Kinda like how they did all those battles in Braveheart, when the "uncivilized" Scots ran straight into the English army and beat the f$ck out of them. Now replace the English Army with the water, and the charging Scotsmen with brave New Yorkers. But don't replace the somewhat nudity, since the NYers donned bathing suits, and all the Scotsmen wore kilts (and supposedly wore nothing under there.)
Then the majority of them came out. Cursing, as if it were a bad idea to go into the water during the Winter. I don't know how they came to that conclusion.
I taped Harry, Adam, and Sarah charge into the water. They got out pretty fast afterwards, and ended up a little dazed and confused (WHADUP Matt McConaughey!). I congratulated them on job well done; they didn't say much...they just wanted to put on their clothes.
I looked around. And saw a bunch of ladies sans bikini tops. I felt like an idiot for seeing them, but they seemed to be barechested for a thousand days. And it seemed like they weren't in any hurry to throw a towel on their top.
I think they were European.
On that note, I decided to jump in.
I had my panda hat on, but Sarah told me to take it off, so I did. Then I disrobed, wearing nothing but my swimming trunks.
I gave my camera to harry, and he started "documenting" me. That's when i charged the water too, like the lone plane run by a fu@king crazy Dennis Quaid as he entered the mothership in Independence Day. Is it just me, or did anyone else think that movie was whack?
Then I hit the water. And dove into the nothingness.
This wasn't that bad, I thought.
Then I realized my whole body started to hurt.
OK, this sucks.
So I got out of the water, and screamed like a little girl. But as I was footsteps out of the water, I went back in again.
My body started to become numb. I automatically felt tired. I lifted my head up from the water, and started to retreat again.
That's when it happened:
ONE MORE TIME!!! ONE MORE TIME!! shouted the crowd who I guess was observing me the whole time.
I was walking out of the sand, and though I couldn't see faces (I'm pretty much blind), I heard the chants.
It was like an encore after nailing a big musical performance. I couldn't say no.
With all my remaining energy,I ran (or thought I ran) back to the sea, and thrusted myself into the water.
Once I got my head out of the water, I heard this huge cheer. I got out, and all these guys were saying how awesome that was.
I couldn't really think or reply back. I'm pretty sure my body was in shock. I couldn't feel my toes, my hands, my legs. yet for some reason, I wasn't cold for what seemed to be a couple of minutes without a towel or anything to keep me a little warm.
I struggled to put clothes back on. They had to help me. Note: never bring running shoes to Coney Island new years swim when they are double tied and tight. It was a major hurdle getting them on. I thought I might have had frostbitten toes, which would have not been cool. It was even a struggle to walk back to the car, although I'm sure I didn't help myself by running and not stretching afterwards before we went to Coney island.
So that was it. Harry George taped the whole thing. I guess I'll check it out, and perhaps post it. But I'm a little embarrassed about my body, though. Male body issues, you know.
The one thing I learned about myself today: I am easily, easily swayed by public opinion. Or public chanting. Please don't get a group of people to start chanting my name to do something, because I might just do it. Sarah mentioned if the group chanted "kill that person", I would have probably killed whoever that person they were referencing. Which would be good if it was like an oppressor/Hitler type of person, but bad if it was something like a Claudine Barretto or one's 3rd grade teacher type.
And will I do it again next year?
You bet the Constitution of the United States, I will. Care to join?
- jf
I ended up going with Harry George, who i met at the Waltz open mic. He met me around 11:50 or so after my 3.7 mile run. We ended up going upstairs where I still had to get all my things ready as he waited and talked to Marie for a little bit (actually, it was more like 20 minutes - I am still pretty bad with time).
So we left Astoria around 12:15 or so, and BQE'd it to Belt Parkway and arrived at Coney Island around 12:50. Parked in the Keyspan stadium where they house the Brooklyn Cuclones, the Double AA baseball team. And we walked to the boardwalk, where we saw a ton of people all gathered up in one section on the boardwalk.
They started to move towards the beach, and so did we. We ended up jogging a little to the beach where everyone else was, and already saw some people (mostly 20-30 somethings)strip all the way to their bathing suits. And everyone started to wait.
We saw Adam Sullivan and his girlfriend Stacy right in front of us, which we were trying to rendezvous with, so that was pretty luckly. They started stripping and I took pictures.
Then the whistle blew. Like it was a track meet.
Many ran towards the water as if it was a suicidal charge. Screaming, whooping, hollering. Kinda like how they did all those battles in Braveheart, when the "uncivilized" Scots ran straight into the English army and beat the f$ck out of them. Now replace the English Army with the water, and the charging Scotsmen with brave New Yorkers. But don't replace the somewhat nudity, since the NYers donned bathing suits, and all the Scotsmen wore kilts (and supposedly wore nothing under there.)
Then the majority of them came out. Cursing, as if it were a bad idea to go into the water during the Winter. I don't know how they came to that conclusion.
I taped Harry, Adam, and Sarah charge into the water. They got out pretty fast afterwards, and ended up a little dazed and confused (WHADUP Matt McConaughey!). I congratulated them on job well done; they didn't say much...they just wanted to put on their clothes.
I looked around. And saw a bunch of ladies sans bikini tops. I felt like an idiot for seeing them, but they seemed to be barechested for a thousand days. And it seemed like they weren't in any hurry to throw a towel on their top.
I think they were European.
On that note, I decided to jump in.
I had my panda hat on, but Sarah told me to take it off, so I did. Then I disrobed, wearing nothing but my swimming trunks.
I gave my camera to harry, and he started "documenting" me. That's when i charged the water too, like the lone plane run by a fu@king crazy Dennis Quaid as he entered the mothership in Independence Day. Is it just me, or did anyone else think that movie was whack?
Then I hit the water. And dove into the nothingness.
This wasn't that bad, I thought.
Then I realized my whole body started to hurt.
OK, this sucks.
So I got out of the water, and screamed like a little girl. But as I was footsteps out of the water, I went back in again.
My body started to become numb. I automatically felt tired. I lifted my head up from the water, and started to retreat again.
That's when it happened:
ONE MORE TIME!!! ONE MORE TIME!! shouted the crowd who I guess was observing me the whole time.
I was walking out of the sand, and though I couldn't see faces (I'm pretty much blind), I heard the chants.
It was like an encore after nailing a big musical performance. I couldn't say no.
With all my remaining energy,I ran (or thought I ran) back to the sea, and thrusted myself into the water.
Once I got my head out of the water, I heard this huge cheer. I got out, and all these guys were saying how awesome that was.
I couldn't really think or reply back. I'm pretty sure my body was in shock. I couldn't feel my toes, my hands, my legs. yet for some reason, I wasn't cold for what seemed to be a couple of minutes without a towel or anything to keep me a little warm.
I struggled to put clothes back on. They had to help me. Note: never bring running shoes to Coney Island new years swim when they are double tied and tight. It was a major hurdle getting them on. I thought I might have had frostbitten toes, which would have not been cool. It was even a struggle to walk back to the car, although I'm sure I didn't help myself by running and not stretching afterwards before we went to Coney island.
So that was it. Harry George taped the whole thing. I guess I'll check it out, and perhaps post it. But I'm a little embarrassed about my body, though. Male body issues, you know.
The one thing I learned about myself today: I am easily, easily swayed by public opinion. Or public chanting. Please don't get a group of people to start chanting my name to do something, because I might just do it. Sarah mentioned if the group chanted "kill that person", I would have probably killed whoever that person they were referencing. Which would be good if it was like an oppressor/Hitler type of person, but bad if it was something like a Claudine Barretto or one's 3rd grade teacher type.
And will I do it again next year?
You bet the Constitution of the United States, I will. Care to join?
- jf
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Years Day!!! Thursday, in the year of Our Lord, 2009.
new word of the day - ROMCOM. Short for romantic comedy. This is a genre of movies, A.K.A "chickflicks", which are these awesome movies that are purposefully derived to make a good amount of females (and some guys - a.k.a. - me) cry during saccharine or stupidly sentimental moments. Examples are: When Harry Met Sally (ROMCOM with simulated sextalk), Titanic (epic ROMCOM with super awesome destruction at end followed by ROMCOM moments),Transformers the cartoon movie (ROMCOM sorta with awesome destruction at the end followed by ROMCOM moments), all Ben Affleck, Matt McConaughey movies where they are the lead 'actors' and have a lead 'actress' who is super famous.
ROMCOM is brought to you by Uhh Yeah Dude. The best podcast ever.
--------------------------
it's 8:21 in the morning. I had a great night yesterday at The Waltz-Astoria in...Astoria.
It was an open mic too, so I got to play a little. I played:
Streetlight (piano song)
Natalie (Natalie Portman song on ukelele)
kneecaps song (ballsack song, according to Michael Lesley - also on ukelele)
Julie Hill was there, to celebrate happiness for the New Year. She played 3 beautiful piano and vocal ditties (she is a terrific piano player). I asked her to sing harmonies with me while I played Kneecaps, and I made her laugh like....a 3,239 times during the song (I counted). Kinda like the last two times we ever played it together.
http://www.myspace.com/julieshanahill
Pedro and Song, the hosts and owners of the waltz were as gracious and lovely as ever...and they had a great announcement too about their life that they shared..which was so awesome.
After the open mic, we ended up around the piano, singing beatle songs and whatnot as I played the piano man of the evening, and counted down the new years as Pedro blasted the Times Square countdown on the radio.
Then we did the whole new years thing. And we ended up singing more songs as I tinkled..I mean, tinkered on the piano.
Which got me to thinking...it's kinda weird when people you don't know very well hug you and kiss you on the cheek when it's new years. I guess I'm down with it? Oh well. I guess moreso it would be this equation:
REPLACE 40-40 Y.O. average looking woman you don't know with
21-30 Y.O. female(s) you have a slight crush to(some a little more severe than others)
with the hugging and the kissing on cheek. Heck...hugging and the kissing on the lips would be sweet too.
warning: TANGENT alert (I am A.D.D.)
--------
That is actually making me reminisce about one of my exes. We officially started going out an hour after the dropping of the ball on New Years (back in the day) after we hung out on my house rooftop, looked at stars and constellations, and after her saying"I've never seen a shooting star before".
I kissed her after like an hour into the New Year. Right after I kissed her, no joke...she said she saw a shoooting star.
F&@k. I'm a walking, breathing ROMCOM. Well, at least my much younger days are. if I were myself in the future who had a time machine to go back to, I would beat the F@* out of my younger self. Like it owes me money. (stupid Dave Chapelle reference).
-----------
I also met a bunch of other sweet strangers, who aren't strangers anymore. I say HOLLA!!! to Bennett and his girl (is it Ashley) who played a Hank Williams and Iron and Wine song. Later Ashley sang God Bless the Child, which someone I figured out how to play as she sang it. Thank you to my younger self! You're not so bad anymore.
I also met some other cool people. Alan who played classical guitar, Dan who played a Jackson Brown song and earlier accompanied his teenage daughter as she sang beautifully. The two or three women who were a little drunk and hugged and kissed me (see above). Don't know their names, but that's all good. To me, at least.
And....
it was all you can eat food for 15$ (drinks were separate). I ate like I was practicing for the hot dog eating contest in Coney Island.
Speaking of Coney Island...and prepping...
The Polar Bear Club annual New Years Day swim is like in 4 hours!!! Ohhh yeah!!!!!! Gotta get ready!!!!
- j-bizznitch to the max.
ROMCOM is brought to you by Uhh Yeah Dude. The best podcast ever.
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it's 8:21 in the morning. I had a great night yesterday at The Waltz-Astoria in...Astoria.
It was an open mic too, so I got to play a little. I played:
Streetlight (piano song)
Natalie (Natalie Portman song on ukelele)
kneecaps song (ballsack song, according to Michael Lesley - also on ukelele)
Julie Hill was there, to celebrate happiness for the New Year. She played 3 beautiful piano and vocal ditties (she is a terrific piano player). I asked her to sing harmonies with me while I played Kneecaps, and I made her laugh like....a 3,239 times during the song (I counted). Kinda like the last two times we ever played it together.
http://www.myspace.com/julieshanahill
Pedro and Song, the hosts and owners of the waltz were as gracious and lovely as ever...and they had a great announcement too about their life that they shared..which was so awesome.
After the open mic, we ended up around the piano, singing beatle songs and whatnot as I played the piano man of the evening, and counted down the new years as Pedro blasted the Times Square countdown on the radio.
Then we did the whole new years thing. And we ended up singing more songs as I tinkled..I mean, tinkered on the piano.
Which got me to thinking...it's kinda weird when people you don't know very well hug you and kiss you on the cheek when it's new years. I guess I'm down with it? Oh well. I guess moreso it would be this equation:
REPLACE 40-40 Y.O. average looking woman you don't know with
21-30 Y.O. female(s) you have a slight crush to(some a little more severe than others)
with the hugging and the kissing on cheek. Heck...hugging and the kissing on the lips would be sweet too.
warning: TANGENT alert (I am A.D.D.)
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That is actually making me reminisce about one of my exes. We officially started going out an hour after the dropping of the ball on New Years (back in the day) after we hung out on my house rooftop, looked at stars and constellations, and after her saying"I've never seen a shooting star before".
I kissed her after like an hour into the New Year. Right after I kissed her, no joke...she said she saw a shoooting star.
F&@k. I'm a walking, breathing ROMCOM. Well, at least my much younger days are. if I were myself in the future who had a time machine to go back to, I would beat the F@* out of my younger self. Like it owes me money. (stupid Dave Chapelle reference).
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I also met a bunch of other sweet strangers, who aren't strangers anymore. I say HOLLA!!! to Bennett and his girl (is it Ashley) who played a Hank Williams and Iron and Wine song. Later Ashley sang God Bless the Child, which someone I figured out how to play as she sang it. Thank you to my younger self! You're not so bad anymore.
I also met some other cool people. Alan who played classical guitar, Dan who played a Jackson Brown song and earlier accompanied his teenage daughter as she sang beautifully. The two or three women who were a little drunk and hugged and kissed me (see above). Don't know their names, but that's all good. To me, at least.
And....
it was all you can eat food for 15$ (drinks were separate). I ate like I was practicing for the hot dog eating contest in Coney Island.
Speaking of Coney Island...and prepping...
The Polar Bear Club annual New Years Day swim is like in 4 hours!!! Ohhh yeah!!!!!! Gotta get ready!!!!
- j-bizznitch to the max.
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