A good friend of mine was in a car accident but seems to be ok.  He was driving a van back from OIL, a conference in Pennsylvania that several of my CFC friends attended.  Apparently some of the passengers aren't ok.  Scary...

Saw Kong on Saturday night with LZ.  I thought it was awesome.  The effects blew me away.    Also had some terriyaki chicken.  booya.

Went out with Sully and Chubz last night.  Had a burger with "ff" after, at MerryAnn's (where else?).  Gotta love those "ff's."

Working on this computer-hour proposal that snuck up on us..  Then back to my prelim presentation. 

This wasn't an very exciting entry.  Sorry I'm in a bit of a rush.  I'll try to muse about something later.

Ciao

Currently Listening Stars of Cctv By Hard-Fi

Aww pelica...er...pheonix said the nicest thing about my Xanga!

dude, this is seriously the most complicated xanga i've ever seen. complicated in the sense that there's so much stuff going on. but i guess that's what having a cs degree benefits you with. just kidding. i'm sure there's more to life than making xanga pretty. like hacking into the government's mainframe.

Thank you...I've tried my best to make it entertaining.  Truth is, though, I'm a ChemE, not CS.  Ew...definitely not CS.  I've just done my fair share of web programming.

Long day...I'm mega-lo-tired.  Late night.  Watched the Illini game at PTs, then hung out w/ Cnote and ladyfriend, and LZ.  Talked to B on the phone for a bit - he wanted to make sure Daltoman wasn't really dead.  I did my best to break the news to him gently.

Heading up to Momence (Mo-mexico) tonight for the BTX500, which is basically a Bowling XTravaganza in honor of the Meister's 30th birthday.  Thing is, Meister is only turning 28.  Hehe.  Should be fun.  Me, Diamond, LZ, Cnote, mister, his ladyfriend,  SG (the greatest cousin that ever lived), and hopefully the Duder are coming too.  Should be momen-ce-tous.

Ciao

Currently Listening Arular By M.I.A.

Currently Listening Aerial By Kate Bush

Man...Friendster and MySpace are like the two most jacked-up sites ever.  I've never had to hit "Refresh" so many times just to get around.  MySpace has gotten worse lately, and like every other page on Friendster doesn't work.

Now you see why I don't use Facebook?  All these online community things are lame.

Granted, I've been using my MySpace a ton lately b/c all of the Meister's people, among whom I'm the "new guy," use it, so we've been chatting through it.  Plus my band  has a site on there, which is standard for awesome bands :þ  But it's still a jacked up service and has way too much overhead.

Now Xanga...that's what I'm talking about

Heading over to PT's place to watch the Illini game, then who knows.  Maybe sleep, maybe a Stack.  Hehe.

Having trouble w/ my Prelim presentation...I spent so much time on the document, I feel burnt out!  I can't seem to make it come together.  I need some inspiration.  Daltoman, gimmie some inspiration.

I played an old SNES game last night called Terranigma.  I downloaded an emulator and went searching for interesting old games.  It's pretty cool, but also very formulaic.  People complain about the new FF's...man the old SNES RPGs were all shameless FF2/3 and ChronoTrigger knockoffs.  I can't believe I'm writing about video games in my Xanga.  Let along 10 year old video games :)

Ciao

Currently Listening Apologies to the Queen Mary By Wolf Parade

Currently Listening King By Belly

Currently Listening Surfer Rosa//Come on Pilgrim By Pixies

Got the document finished and sent off to my advisors last night.  Now I jsut have to wait for their approval, and I can send it to my committee.  I've started working on my presentation, but it's slow-going.  I'm feeling really sleepy for some reason, even though I got plenty of sleep.

Went to BW3 last night and met some folks.  Was home by 12 and in bed by 12:30, so it wasn't anything too crazy.

Found out that the Meister was also reviewing the album I had picked, so I switched to a different band, called Lucky Mulholland.  I've been listening for awhile and I have a whole host of first impressions.   I'll listen to it for a few more days before I settle on an opinion.  But first impressions are kinda blah.  I'm just excited to get to write an actual review for something.

That's about it.  Just thought I'd get something on the board.

Ciao

Currently Listening First Impressions of Earth By The Strokes

Currently Listening Plans By Death Cab for Cutie

Sorry Adg...I deleted your comment accidentally    Just a little slip of the hand...I'm surprised Xanga doesn't give some kind of confirmation warning or something.

Making excellent progress on the 'document.'  it'll definitely be ready to send to the bosses for review tonight.  Hazzah.

Chubz and duder are back in town.  hoping to spend some QT with them tonight.  Maybe get a little TLC.  Some R&R.  Maybe some ROFL.  And, of course, some xoxoxox.

Had lunch at Subway.  Snoozeville.  I meant to bring lunch today, but I forgot. 

Oh!  it's definite about my reviewing an album for OpeningBands!  I'm reviewing: 

Haec Maiestas - Broken Streets and Empty Glass Under our Feet.  JMP, the duder there, is supposed to send me a copy of it, but I've already got a lo-fi copy from CDBaby.com .  Well, at least the first 2 minutes of song.  So I'm going through it, deciding why I dont' like it.

haha no I'm joking...I'm giving it a fair shot.  But, I'm definitely already finding things I'm not fond of.  We'll see.

Ok gonna finish up this document.

Ciao!

Currently Listening Hearts & Unicorns By Giant Drag

Currently Listening First Impressions of Earth By The Strokes

Currently Listening Broken Streets And Empty Glass Under Our Feet By Haec Maiestas

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8:21 AM (CST)

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Quick update:

Didn't do much on Sunday - just worked on my prelim and did some stuff around the house.  Spent all day yesterdy also working on my prelim.  Did some cooking.  Baked some bread.

Yes, very domesticated life I'm living here.

In more exciting news, I heard from the guy at Openingbands.com about doing reviews for them, and he seems pretty enthusiastic about getting my help.  He said I'll need to do a "trial run" review, and then I'm on staff (assuming my review doesn't suck :þ ).  He hates Pitchfork too!  Hallelujah!  It's going to be fun writing for them   For my trial review, he'll give me 4 possibles to pick from - they've all already got one review but, for whatever reason, they need a second.  I watched the Meister go through the process, and I think I'm in good shape.

This Friday night is the "BXT500,"  which stands for "bowling extravaganza/500 jello shots,"  It's a massive event put on every year in Momence (Mo-mexico) for the Meister's birthday.  His friends actually mail out fliers.  It's the only birthday affair I can think of that's actually bigger than mine   So yeah we're trucking up there on Friday, with hopefully Cnote, SG, and the Diamond (?) in tow?  I'd love to bring a few other folks, like the DUDER and Chubz who I haven't seen in awhile, so lemmie know if you're around!

So, yeah that should be fun.  As the name implies, there are 500 jello shots to go along with the bowling.  Frankly, I'll probably focus on the bowling.  Last weekend when me and Mesiter went up there, I was defacto DD when I noticed no one else was, and that worked out just fine.  hehe.  Neil, your van has no accelleration!

Oh, final news of excitement - I am now friends with Eisley, Rachel Yamagata, and Neah Lee on Myspace.  Whoot!  Oh, and the "truk."

OH yeah...Strokes album...still rocks.

Ok folks...keep on sending me emails, and I will make fun of you.

Prrrreeeow.

Ciao

Currently Listening without wax By Neah Lee

Currently Listening So Jealous By Tegan and Sara

Currently Listening First Impressions of Earth By The Strokes

Went to a cool show up in Momence - the Meistet's little brother's band, Deconstructing Jim.  Long night - didn't make it back into Champaign till 8AM on Saturday. 

Had people over last night - meister, NKV, diamond, sully, A&bf, etc etc - small NYE celebration.

Slept in today.  Overslept actually, and I really wish I hadn't.  But, what's done is done.  Been watching lots of L&O and Monk.

Happy New Year people.

Aiya...I'm so busted.  Hehe.  My New Year's resolution is to be more open about certain things, so I'm slowly going to try and do that. 

------------------

Got the new Strokes album (a week early!) - quivering with delight as I listen for the first time.  So far, so good.  I don't care what you naysayers say, Juicebox rocks.  And yes, track three is playing in the background (give it a minute to stream in - I didn't compress it b/c you can't compress the Strokes!) And, yes, I'm probably going to jail.

Wow a lot of people left nice comments in my last post.  Thanks

I'm heading back up to Momence with the Meister (our bassist) to see his brother's show.  Johnnyork's New Years show is definately axed   We're looking at some Battle of the Bands that's coming through Champaign in February, though.  Hopefully that works out - I've been dying to play forever.

I emailed a dude from Openingbands.com and will hopefully get to review some CDs.  The meister said they need folks, and I've heard a few rock n' roll bands in my time.  I can form whole sentences too.  Usually.  I go.  Place.

Not sure about New Years - if you're going to be in town, Email me!  I wanna have people over, but as of now, I don't know who's even going to be around.

I totally pulled a Rick James and mashed mud into NKV's carpet the other day.  Not his couch, though, thankfully.  They should have never given that Desi money!  Anyway, yeah I've been meaning to go over there with my spot cleaner and take care of the mess, but our schedules haven't meshed yet - NKV if you're reading this, I should be back tomorrow morning...can I come by tomorrow afternoon?  If it's any consolation, you can mash mud into the diamond's car.

Hmm what else?  KP asked how I've been - I've been good.  Trying to get work done on my prelim document, which I'd like to get emailed out ot my committee within the next few days.  I give my oral talk on the 16th, and you're ideally supposed to give then about 2 weeks to  read over the document first.  

Our band hasn't been able to practice much with everyone in and out of town, but hopefully we'll get back on track.  The house is in good shape, with most of the rearrangements and stuff under control.  Baked some bread yesterday.  Still getting fat.  But what to do?

So there's my update.  I'll try to get in touch with everyone who's come by separately.   And, yes, holy crap, this album is awesome

Ciao!

Currently Listening First Impressions of Earth By The Strokes

Hehe.  I love that Monk commercial where he goes to the gym.  There's that techno music in the background.  He goes around fixing stuff while the big guy asks for a "spot."  Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?  If you watch SVU on USA, you've got to know what I'm talking about!

That chick Monk hangs out with is totally hot.  There, I said it.  Now it's out there.

I hung out w/ the Meister and SG tonight - good times.  Out of the game...good times!

KP where you at!  Diamond where you at!  Mr. Haddiman...where you at?!

Ciao

WAAA it's a combined Law and Order Original and SVU!   Brisco, Green, Stabler, and Benson together at last...I haven't seen this one either!  Wooot! 

Shoot...missed a day.  So bad.  hehe.

Worked on my prelim all day yesterday. Went to China Buffet and Blind Pig w/ J2, then met up with Diamond, NKV, and WTC.  Stayed in today, have a lil' mal-a-la-tete.  I'll probably work on my prelim tonight since I sorta slept in today.

It looks like the New Years gig ain't happening, so I'm trying to figure out what's going on.  Maybe I'll have people over.  Anyone know anything that's going on?

Anyone head of Gametap?  I kept seeing TV commercials for it, so I went to their website to check it out.  It's a subscription service to play a bunch of old games - all the old computer systems (commodore, amiga, etc), atari, genesis, dreamcast, game gear, DOS, Windows, arcade...stuff like that.  Conspicuously missing are Nintendo games, which is what I really know.  I never had a Sega Master system or Genesis, or any of those really old systems, so I don't know most of those games.  Still, it's pretty neat.  2 weeks free, then $10 a month.  I almost did it, figuring I'd cancel before the free trial ends, but I'm pretty busy these days.  So I bailed. 

Not much else going on. Kind of a lame update, eh?

Ciao

Currently Listening Arular By M.I.A.

Currently Listening Hearts & Unicorns By Giant Drag

Currently Listening These Were the Earlies By Earlies

Currently Listening Z By My Morning Jacket

In Memoriam: the real johnnyork.

Hey is anyone around?  Things with tonight fell through, and I'm going out of my mind with boredom!  gimmie a call if you're around...

Watched "I <3 Hukabees" last night.  It was pretty cool.  I can't remember...were people naysaying earlier?  Anyway, yeah I enjoyed.  I watched Kingdom of Heaven too, which was a pretty standard big-budget epic.  Entertaining I guess, but maybe b/c just it made my subwoofer dance. 

Yeah I watch a lot of movies when I'm stuck in Champaign and everyone's gone.  That's been happing a lot more lately with my parents moving all over the place.

I think the Meister's looking to get together tonight, though, which will be a welcome change from renting movies and sitting on my couch.  Hehe.

I'm working on my prelim document now, getting references inserted.  Just taking a little break.  No, really, I actually am working on it.  I was going to go into work today, but I read that the buses around running, so I decided to just stay home.

Not much else going on.  MIA induces severe twitching.  10X more spazzed than the Streets.

Ciao

Currently Listening Arular By M.I.A.

Currently Listening Z By My Morning Jacket

Currently Listening These Were the Earlies By Earlies