Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in muzikman's Blurty:

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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
2:05 am	Yeah, I know, I tend to think of these things a lot... I remember someone from psychological circles once saying that we often resort to humor around others more out of ego than anything else. Today was a historic day for me. I'm finally addressing an issue that I have tried to ignore for years. It feels good, like a door being opened and sunshine pouring in... And on a slightly related note, I always found this story about Brian Wilson meeting Elvis completely fascinating: One interesting encounter took place for Brian in the summer of 1969. Having grown up listening to and imitating the records of Elvis Presley, Brian finally had the chance to meet him. For much of his professional life, Wilson had been driven to be at the top of his profession, and Elvis represented the force to be toppled if Brian was to claim the throne. Brian is known to have been one to resort to jokes and humor as means of dealing with stressful situations, and meeting such a rival was exciting yet disconcerting. Led by a number of bodyguards, Elvis strolled into the recording studio, and Brian, having heard that Elvis was a karate expert, delivered a series of pulled puches and chops instead of shaking hands. Elvis, obviously not amused, answered by saying "Hey man, don't do that". The two talked for a while, but at one point, for some reason, Brian jumped up from his chair and threw a few kicks in Elvis' direction. Elvis simply replied, "I told you not to do that", and walked out of the studio. (Comment on this)
Sunday, January 17th, 2010
10:56 pm	Gettin' it back Lately I've been feeling like I've totally lost it. My passion, my fire, my creativity. I just feel like I've been living in this vapid bubble, a stifling, mundane bubble full of predictability. I think about my days as an actor, my time spent on little stages all over the land. I miss flexing that part of me. I miss getting out there and sharing crazy ideas with other creative types. That all seems so far away and foreign right now, and I hate that. Part of me realizes it was my choice to stop doing shows, but another part of me misses certain elements, especially the people. I'm becoming exactly what I never wanted to become: a normal, everyday cog in the wheel. I'm racing towards middle age and I feel like I still have so much more to say but it's getting harder to say it. I have to get it back. (Comment on this)
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
1:03 pm	"I genuinely believe that lyrics should be really meaningful and really meaningless at the same time."- Martin Fry, ABC. (Comment on this)
1:01 pm	This is interesting (and funny) Long live outdated technologies!!! http://www.pcworld.com/article/181823/ampex_cassettes.html (Comment on this)
2:44 am	Marketing genius Took a trip to Calais, Maine today, and I noticed that Pepsi cans down there looked like this again: Of course, being the retro whore that I am, I immediately bought one. Then I got thinking about what I learned in Sociology classes at university, that soft drink companies do not market carbonated drinks, they market youth. I sort of always understood that concept, but today it became crystal clear to me. I saw a re-introduced icon from my youth (perhaps a faded youth I will always try to recapture), and I immediately snapped up a bottle and bought it. The marketing definitely worked on me. Seems Pepsi is not just content to sell to the current wave of youth, they are now trying to tap into youth that doesn't even exist anymore! What a chump I am. They got me good. (Comment on this)
2:20 am	I've been enjoying this a lot recently... Take a can of cream of chicken soup. Brand name or generic, doesn't matter. Add a can of milk and heat on medium heat. Add the following spices: Lots of black pepper Lots of chili pepper flakes A generous amount of chili powder Some cumin (not too much) Some garam masala (not too much) and a LOT of curry powder. Stir frequently. Enjoy. Great topped with crushed saltines. This tastes just like an appetizer you would be served at a fancy Thai/Indian restaurant. Love it. (Comment on this)
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
8:53 pm	Spooky, sad and beautiful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZQfnETsfqQ And I love how this video ends with 3 minutes of silence. Very fitting. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
10:59 pm	Update Okay, the Nightwaves anniversary zine and CD are just about finished. If you submitted a track for the CD, you can expect to get a copy soon. After many delays, the zine is pretty much complete. Just got to get it copied. Hope to get everything sent out within the next couple of weeks.
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
2:57 pm	D+D The other night I was watching an episode of "Freaks and Geeks" which involved the geeks playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Now, I remember all the controversy that surrounded this game back in the 80s. Seeing that I was a stereotypical sci-fi nerd back in the day, you would think that I would have been a hardcore role playing enthusiast. But I never quite got into it. Although a part of me was always very interested and intrigued. The closest I ever came to actually playing was at the back of my sixth grade classroom. One day a bunch of us had gathered during lunch hour, and a few guys were playing a game of D+D. I just kind of sat there watching them for a while, and then somehow I got involved in the game. I remember my friend Mike telling me to write down some stuff concerning my character. It was cryptic to me then and it still doesn't make sense now. I remember writing down something like "if black dragon, lf=3, if not BD, lf=6". Sounded like math to me! I remember my mom and my sister being really freaked out by D+D, and really being cautious about me getting into it. I do recall that I did persuade my mom to get me the beginner's D+D kit (in a pink box) for Christmas. Although a few months later I entered my teen years where anything the least bit nerdy was frowned upon (this being the days before it was hip to be square), so my beginner's kit was quickly forgotten about and soon sold at the flea market. I don't think the Tom Hanks made for TV movie "Mazes and Monsters" helped the stigma surrounding the game either. Funny, I remember my high school actually had a role playing club. Those were the days.
2:25 pm	A decade in review 2000: First half of the year I worked in a Photolab. Not a bad job actually. This was still back in the day when people were still using film. Digital hadn't quite caught on yet. Moved to Toronto in the Fall to study Translation at Glendon. Lived with a psycho. 2001: Back in NB. Worked in a fish plant, packing sardines in cans all day. Smelly, but the work was simple. Performed my music live for the first time ever. Studied refrigeration in St Andrew's. What a fucking mistake that was. 2002: Worked in the refrigeration field for about 6 months. Got tired of being treated like a dog. Bought my first PC. Met my future wife. ;) Released "Future Fashion". 2003: Worked at call centre, booking hotel rooms for Americans. Enrolled at UNBSJ, started Arts degree in the Fall. Loved it. Played at Pop Montreal Festival. 2004: Continued at UNBSJ. Worked for Family and Community Services in the summer. Real eye opener. Bought a Dodge Neon. Visited the North Shore with Janelle. Found out I had diabetes. 2005: Went to Toronto. Had one of the best Indian meals of my life. Worked again in the summer for FCS, not as enjoyable this time. Racked up a shitload of mileage on my car (for work). 2006: Released "Rhapsody In Black". Officially retired from live shows (have only played 5-6 shows since). Lived in the north end with Janelle. Started last year at UNBSJ. 2007: Graduated with Arts degree. Started working in the Fall as a supply teacher. Released "Reclusive Mute" album. Moved to current address on what had to be the hottest day of the year. Heard my music on vinyl for the first time. 2008: Got married! :) Excellent honeymoon in Niagara Falls. Wonderful wedding surrounded by loved ones. Released two albums: "Damariscotta" and "Europe". 2009: More supply teacher work. Shitty summer job as mall cop. Trip to Portland.
2:08 pm	End of year stuff.... Feels good to get 2009 done and over with. I don't know about you, but it certainly wasn't one of my best years. It seemed to present an exceptionally high amount of stress and bad times. Typically, as one year ends, I ideally think "hey, the new year can only be better". But this time, I'm thinking "the new year HAS to be better". I actually think I may write another entry outlining what the last ten years meant to me, and what memories I have associated with each year of the decade. It's funny because I associate the 90s with being in my 20s, and this past decade was certainly the one associated with my 30s. I still have to remind myself sometimes that my 30s are quickly coming to an end. In all honesty, I simply don't feel my age. Not one bit. I was going to do the obligatory "Top Ten" list, featuring my favorite recordings/albums of the past year but I'm not even going to bother. Yes, there were a few new acts and releases that caught my attention, but for the most part I would be really hard pressed to come up with ten new records that moved me. I didn't even buy ten records in 2009. Despite my grumbling, I will say that there were a few good things that came out of 2009. Janelle and I did manage to go on a few nice trips, which I really enjoyed. We didn't go far, but I don't think it's the length of the trip, it's more the quality of it all. Most notably I had an awesome time in Portland, and hanging out in Cumberland County was fab. :) I also got to play a fun show during the summer at a house party (although it was without question the hottest, sweatiest show I ever played). Plus, it was my huge honor to appear on a split 7 inch record with the incredible band ECT. I'm still really blown away by that one. It's funny, I tried to stay up the other night and watch the ball drop in Time Square. But I ended up falling asleep. A part of me holds my breath every year, waiting hopefully to see if Dick Clark is going to make it. The guy has seen better days healthwise. I guess I'm such a sucker for tradition. I've been watching that guy host that show since I was a kid, and I guess I fear the day when he will no longer be there. I know this is foolish, because of course someday he's just not going to be there anymore. But part of me keeps holding on, hoping and wishing he'll be there for the next countdown...
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
11:59 am	I miss the days.... ...when bands would lip synch on shows like American Bandstand and no one gave a shit.
11:56 am	"I'll tell you about punk rock: punk rock is a word used by dilettantes and, uh... and, uh... heartless manipulators, about music... that takes up the energies, and the bodies, and the hearts and the souls and the time and the minds, of young men, who give what they have to it, and give everything they have to it. And it's a... it's a term that's based on contempt; it's a term that's based on fashion, style, elitism, satanism, and, everything that's rotten about rock 'n' roll. I don't know Johnny Rotten... but I'm sure, I'm sure he puts as much blood and sweat into what he does as Sigmund Freud did. You see, what, what sounds to you like a big load of trashy old noise... is in fact... the brilliant music of a genius... myself. And that music is so powerful, that it's quite beyond my control. And, ah... when I'm in the grips of it, I don't feel pleasure and I don't feel pain, either physically or emotionally. Do you understand what I'm talking about? Have you ever, have you ever felt like that? When you just, when you just, you couldn't feel anything, and you didn't want to either. You know, like that? Do you understand what I'm saying, sir?" -Iggy Pop, during his infamous interview with Peter Gzowski on CBC TV, 1977.
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
10:33 pm	I'm excited about this. One of the greatest Canadian bands ever. First new album in 18 years!
10:22 pm	December In many senses, I never liked December. It's dreary, gray, and cold as hell. I must say, however, that I am determined this year to make the most out of Christmas and actually relax and enjoy myself. I don't want to get caught up in the rat race this year. It's going to be soothing cups of tea and cozy nights by the Christmas tree. I also get annoyed because I find at this time of the year, people get in a rushed mode. They try to cram as much as they can in before the year ends. Almost as if the thought of knowing that the year will be over in a few weeks makes people try to get as much done as possible. So December becomes a month of endless deadlines and pressure. I tend to be guilty of this myself, and it bothers me a lot. I've always been an escapist. It's basically been my life-long method of survival. If I couldn't escape, I would literally go nuts, or go on a shooting rampage. I've always had those imaginary spots in my mind to escape to...those made-up streets and buildings and cafes and cities that I need to run to. Lately I've been running to them a lot.
10:18 pm	FUCK YOU UGG BOOTS! As you may have noticed, my blurty has been spammed to death by some idiot from Ugg boots. Gee, thanks arsehole! For the time being adding comments has been disabled. Hopefully this will be resolved soon. As if I really needed one more annoying fuck-up in my life...
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
4:22 pm	Weekend Weekends are funny, aren't they? We spend all week waiting impatiently for it to come, those two fleeting days of precious rest, and then they are gone in the blink of an eye. And then it starts all over again, another five days of slogging through the week, stumbling towards yet another two golden days. And so on and so on.... Loverboy was dead right. Everyone really is "Working For The Weekend". I recently started a new full-time job which has been a real adjustment for me. So far it hasn't been terrible, but it's definitely not a "career" either. It's nice to have a steady income once again, which is something I did not have during the past two years doing supply teaching. It's been a while since I've had a regular, 5 day a week, 40 hours a week form of employment, so again, it's been an adjustment. Got a lot done on the zine over the weekend. I love that feeling of accomplishment. Most of the articles are written. Just have to finish up some reviews, do layout, and then I'll be off to the printer. I kept saying that I would have this done by late November, however now it's looking more like the second or third week of December. This whole "anniversary issue" thing has been an eye opener. I will always have a great deal of passion for Nightwaves, but I don't think I'll be doing any more print zines for a long, long time. It's a hell of a lot of work, and the truth is I just don't have the time (or the motivation) that I had when I was 27. And as any zine maker will tell you, it can be very thankless (and costly). The compilation CD has turned out very cool. I am totally happy with it. It's a real variety...everything from ambient to weird musique concrete to indie electro to synthpop. I'm going to try and post the front cover artwork on here very soon. I think too that I will probably be mailing out the CD and the liner notes in a paper sleeve....it's amazing how much jewel cases can jack up postage costs. I'm actually thinking about putting out another Nightwaves CD next year if all goes well, since reaction to this one has been so positive. I've been feeling kind of burnt out and detached lately. Kind of feeling this overwhelming feeling of "where the hell do I go from here?". Or, looking at my goals and aspirations, which have morphed over the years but are essentially the same as they were years ago, I have to remind myself "just constantly thinking about this shit is not enough". I heard a quote recently that I think is very true: "Things don't change. We change". True, but very much easier said than done. I would really love to spend a Christmas in England some time.
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
12:33 am	All day long.... ...I've had this song STUCK in my head. I can swear I hear a Poly 800 around 2:12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z6WlVfpTc0
Monday, November 9th, 2009
12:37 am