For all of you who know me well, you want to slap me for my subject line. I suppose it is time for an update. Right now I'm sitting at work after 6:00, why am I still here? I don't know, for some reason I just want to stay here until the show tonight. My life has become consumed by music as of late, tonight will be my 3rd concert night in a row. Sometimes I feel like it has become my identity and yet it is my escape from reality.

Life has been good, but I have been very contemplative as of late. Yes, I do say this in every blog I write, which is one of the only reasons I do blog, besides the obligatory concert list (I will give additions at the end of this blog) Some things in life just really hit you, and can bring such happiness such as looking at the night sky during a modest mouse set, eating to full capacity at an Atlantic City casino, finding out that you have someone in you that you never expected or getting to know someone who you never thought you would.

I really don't know what the future holds; lately I've been having flashes of clarity bonded with confusion. Anyway, beer Thursday is over at work and I'm going to head out, but before I do I will give you the shortest concerts reviews.

Swell Season – Good band – Great Movie – Awkward lovers

The Magic Numbers – Amazing vocals

Rufus Wainwright – Amazingly different

Fiona Apple/Nickel Creek – Never thought I'd see either of these two in concert and I definitely never thought I'd hear the bluegrass version of Criminal….

Download Music Festival
    Modest Mouse – Awesome set
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Would much rather see them in an intimate venue
    Guster – Good set as usual

Mute Math – Most energetic show I've seen in a long time, awesome

Mute Maths Drummer – ¾ of the awesomeness (word?)

Damien Rice – Liked his left microphone, loose the trumpet distortion mic please – great show overall

Added shows to my list of concerts:

Matt Pond PA – Paradise Rock Club – 9/27/07
Fionn Regan – Lizard Lounge – 9/28/07 or John Vanderslice/Bishop Allen – Middle East Upstairs
New Amsterdams – Knitting Factory (NYC) – 10/20/07 (this show is a maybe)
David Bazan – TT the Bears – 10/27/07
Sufjan Stevens – Brooklyn Academy of Music – 11/03/07 (so excited, it should be a very interesting show – look at the description http://www.bam.org/events/08SUFJ/08SUFJ.aspx)

Well, I'm off home and then to the Middle East for Cloud Cult – I need to catch up with a lot of you soon – sorry for the distance, it happens when you are 1,500 miles away.

PS - Weakerthans - Reunion Tour = Great

This is why I'm poor…..

Today Ticketmaster was having a sale on tickets at the B of A Pavilion and Tweeter Center for $10 tickets. I couldn't resist. Today has to be the day of the most purchased tickets for me. Concert schedule for the rest of the year – I'm sure I will make additions to this list.

Swell Season – Brattle Theater – 07/25/07
Nickel Creek and Fiona Apple – B of A Pavilion – 08/17/07 ($10 Special)
Download Music Festival – Tweeter Center – 08/18/07 ($10 Special)
    Modest Mouse
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs
    Guster
    Band of Horses
    Necko Case
    Wolf Parade
Mute Math – Paradise Rock Club – 09/04/07
Damien Rice – B of A Pavilion – 09/05/07 ($10 Special)
Cloud Cult/Land of Talk – Middle East (Upstairs) – 09/06/07 (need to buy….3 in a row? we'll see)
Rilo Kiley – Avalon – 09/21/07
Mountain Goats - Middle East - 09/30/07 (need to buy)
Magnolia Electric Co/Watson Twins - Middle East - 10/01/07 (need to buy)
Stars – Berklee Performance Center – 10/19/07
The Weakerthans (Last stop on their reunion tour!!!!!) – Paradise Rock Club – 11/01/07

This is why I'll never be able to afford another vehicle…..
 

This is my attempt at keeping this blog from dying. It is really on the verge. I'm sure quite a bit has happened since I last placed pictures on this site. I think I will spare us all the recap. Okay, maybe a little recap. This summer has been like no other, I've dined in China Town, swam in the ocean, walked to many shows and worked full time at a real job. The last part is definitely the most different of them all. I am still enjoying my time at BuyerZone, the days can grow long at times, but I do feel like it is a good fit for me right now.

A movie will come to life on Wednesday, when I go and see the stars of Once (The Swell Season) perform at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, I'm excited. It really is a movie that I had been waiting for to be made; we'll see how the live performance is.

I would have added more pictures but a new camera + slow computer = a sloth. It is amazing how many pictures you can take on a stretch of a quarter mile. Who knew that I would almost fill a 2 gig memory card?


It really was a beautiful day in Boston


I spy the red line


Sad Boston, well more sad WV


There is still discontent that I feel in my life, I long for times for when I longed for other times. Nostalgia always consumes me. Why? I hope that someday I will find somewhere that I feel as home. I want to make my home here, I really do. I just don't know what I can do to make this so.

On August 4th I will be back in one of the areas that has spurred much of my nostalgia, this will be the first time I have ever visited the Tetons without staying at least 3 months. I wonder what difference a short time will make. I guess I will find out in a couple of weeks.

So, for all of you who don't know by now – I have acquired a Nikon D80. I have yet to explore Boston with it. I'm excited to really see what it can do when given the chance. I really just wanted to make a quick blog to test the quality of how photos look on myspace. If they don't really look well, I think I may have to find another blogging program.

 

 

Today was a very long day – so many things could have gone better, but I guess we have to have these days to appreciate the good days. There is nothing like Thai food and the touch of someone's lips that can make the day seem so much better.

 

 

Last night I saw a band I never really thought I would see – Suburban Kids with Biblical Names. They were awkwardly awesome – I really enjoyed their short set.

 

I'm still getting a hang of dark lighting with my new camera and I didn't like any of the shots without the use of flash.

 SKWBN - Great Scott - Allston, MA - 05.01.07

 

I am looking forward to wearing shorts again. One of my goals this summer will be to walk from my apartment to the harbor. I don't really think it is a far fetched goal – I think I will do it soon.

My days are running into one another. The months are starting to feel like weeks. I feel like I don't have enough time to do everything that I would like to do. I don't really know what to do to remedy this situation - I already stay up late and wake up early.

 

 

It doesn't feel like a month has past since I blogged last. My 9-5 has been filled with excel spreadsheets, bulk mailings, editing e-mails and tracking campaigns. BuyerZone is still going well; I still don't feel completely comfortable yet. I hope that will fade in time.

 

 

I bought a new scanner/printer –

Have my card 

 

 

I am still receiving $120.00 each month from MBTA in the form of free T passes. I was surprised when both of the T passes that I was supplied continued to work after my departure from Circles Inc. I'm not complaining - I hope to have an infinite supply of train rides – that would have made it worth while to work at Circles right there. I do miss the people from my previous employer. It has been quite a few weeks since I have seen anyone from there. I'm hoping that will change soon.

 

 

I have entered my kick it in the ass health stage. I believe it was the change in weather that spawned the health conscious person to come out of me. I knew that he was always there only hidden away, covered in delicious food.

 

 

Everyone is talking about weddings. I want it to stop. Jen who sits behind me talked about weddings with Jeffrey for a good 20 minutes as soon as work started. I guess I am at the stage where everyone is settling down, starting a family and doing taxes together. I am not against marriage in anyway. I just believe that a lot of people rush into marriage, what is the hurry? There are so many things that I would like to do in my life, marriage is one of them, but I'm……so young? Maybe I am just scared of marriage. I am using marriage into my sage way of a picture of Cloud Cult at the Middle East Upstairs with a very pregnant and yet beautiful cello/keyboard player. I wanted a painting – my bid of $150 wasn't enough. I spoke to Craig Minowa outside of the mens room. He grew up in Owatonna and went to school in Mankato for a year – I found that funny. Cloud Cult makes me happy.

 Cloud Cult - Middle East Upstairs

 

 

I've had the pleasure of seeing some great musicians at Tufts University this past weekend. Tara's roommate Julie had very lovely senior recital where she delighted our ears with the harpsichord, piano and Marimba. The following day Tara had her final Chamber Singers performance where they performed Bach's B Minor Mass. It was a very relaxing and empowering two hours of vocals as well as an accompaniment of a 22 piece orchestra. I wish I was more musically inclined.

 

 

I think I am going to buy a Nikon-D80 soon. Does anyone else have a suggestion of a better quality camera around the same price?

 

 

I should sleep, but the dishes are piled up.

What kind of a life would it be if you were to wake up everyday and go to a Decemberists show? Well, that is what my life was this past weekend. I saw The Decemberists perform a good majority of their songs between their set on Friday and Saturday. Molly and I ventured to the Avalon across from the green monster. The shows were quite a bit different from one another which were a very good thing. We were in the middle of the crowd on the first night, swaying as the mariner's revenge played and on the second night we were standing above the crowd off to the side, but one of the best views in the place. It wasn't bad for getting there during the opening act -- great luck. My Brightest Diamond opened both shows -- very lovely and powerfully voiced girl.

My Brightest Diamond (It was weird seeing her with Sufjan and now solo) 

The Decemberists on Friday

The Decemberists on Saturday

 

Life was lonely last week; Tara was in Spain singing her heart out during the day and salsa dancing at night. It was great to see her again; you never really realize how much you miss someone until you don't have communication. Congratulations again to Tara for being accepted to the OT graduate program at Tufts.

 

I want this - Nikon D80, does anyone want to donate? You can't tell too much from my pictures, but these were the only few that didn't have lines through the pictures, or you can actually make out the figures. My camera is fading fast……..sad

It is funny; they say that the people with mild depression are the most self aware. Does that mean that only happy people are ignorant? Sometimes I don't believe I will let myself be completely happy, content will never be an emotion I will feel. I hope that this statement is false, but my gut feelings say it is true. Is it part of my personality? Perhaps. Maybe it is the lack of sleep and good eating habbits that are bringing my spirits down or maybe it was the migraine I had during work today. I guess I will never be able to pin my emotions to one thing, which may be a good thing.

 

Things in my life are going well, I really do enjoy my new job, and I just need to feel comfortable with what I am doing. It is by far the most responsibility that I've had in any job I've had so far, and I like that. Is it the words of Mr. Smith that bring me down? Maybe. I need to get more sleep.

Three days in a row. I think this is a new record. Perhaps I just have more time on my hands since I'm not just waking up and going to work, I actually have time to breathe and think.

 

I went to Lucky's with some of my old colleagues from circles. It was strange being there hearing all the gossip and feeling out of touch. It is funny how so much of my hostility for that place has drained from my body. It was strange crossing the summer street bridge and walking to Park Street, it was just like getting out of work at my normal time, but different…..much different. I really feel like I've moved on, I'm ready. I don't know what it is about walking in the city at night that brings out my emotions. I believe that is when I feel the loneliest. I don't know why.  

 

Thoughts of the past and the future keep running through my head. Questions have been arising of past situations, makes me feel things again that have been pushed away. I don't know if that is a good thing or not.

 

Sleep is needed soon……

So, today was my first day at Buyerzone. Getting out of the car reminded me of my first day in elementary school. I bought new clothes, my stomach in knots, thoughts of people not liking me running through my head. My nerves were settled after meeting with a few people, the CEO Sam is one of the nicest guys. I believe that I will enjoy working there. It is strange moving to a company that actually cares about their employee's opinions and wants us to improve the company. Molly and I were embarrassed today as we were introduced to the whole company and had to give a little background introduction. I think that it will be a great fit for me, it is eerie how quiet it is in the office though, and especially coming from the chaos that is circles. I had a good pad Thai lunch with a few co-workers; it is amazing how much one job can feel from another. It is nice having a good friend at work as well, yes Molly, you.

 

I had to shovel my car out of two feet of snow ice. I hate how all the snow here changes to ice, just be snow, okay? Luckily it was much easier getting out this time than the last snow storm we had. I can't wait for it to warm up so I can explore the coast more; I'm excited to see all of the beaches in the summer. It makes me sad that I won't be exploring the hundreds of mountain lakes though…..sad.

 

I need to discover more music; does anyone have any good suggestions? Jon? Blair? Jered? I'm looking in your direction.

It seems like most of my blog entries start with it has been awhile. I need to change that. I believe my spirit for typing was crushed by my former employer. I feel the desire to actually communicate online with people again.

 

It was great having Stacey and Danielle spend their spring break with Molly and me. I hope that we showed you enough of Boston……there is still plenty more to see. I hope that you had fun despite the blizzard and toilet clogs.

 

Yes, I have a new job. A new chapter will be written tomorrow which will be my first day at Buyerzone.com. I will be a Marketing Associate; it only took 8 interviews, writing samples and my transcript to receive my offer letter. I'm excited to actually have my opinion be heard. I will finally be on normal hours 9-5 Mon-Friday, and not to mention being on salary. I couldn't have asked for more. Molly was officially hired a verification specialist, we will drink Gatorade together in the break room. You have no idea the relief of not having to dread call after call which is the life of an SP. I will miss my colleagues; I think it was worth working there just to meet them. Speaking of colleagues, thank you for letting me crash at your place on St. Patty's day Evan. We will have to have a rematch of Scattegories soon. Sean, Crystal, Evan, Heather, Kate, Tammie, Ian, JC, Margo and Melissa, don't forget me. I don't want to lose touch with you guys, even though I have crawled out of my cubicle.

 

It is funny when inanimate objects can have such a big impact on morale and choices made. When entering the Great Scott to see Kevin Devine, Tara and I received the best black hand stamp………..

 

and I did.

 

Of course I have more concert pictures to share. I have only uploaded the headliner for these shows; unfortunately too many shows have happened for me to mention everyone. There have been a few pretty good opening acts, but fair is fair. I can feel that I am getting tired already, I think all the sugar and garlic from my homemade hummus is wearing off.

The One AM Radio at Coolidge Corner Theater

The New Amsterdams at ICC Church.....weirdest concert experience to date.

Kevin Devine at the Great Scott

This is also where I saw Bright Eyes the week before, (no camera) great show.

 

Badly Drawn Boy sitting in front of me at the Somerville Theater smoking a fag.

 

I am excited for more shows to come, the Decembrists x2 on Friday and Saturday of this week. I'm very excited to see them back to back; we'll see how much the show changes. I am also going to see Rocky Votolato and Owen on the 31^st a few blocks down the road at the Great Scott. I will also be sitting in the front row of the Mezzanine to see Ben Gibbard on his solo tour. I don't think there will be a better seat in the house then the two sitting on my night stand.

 

Tomorrow will be a new start. I need to change. I need……something, I don't know what. I am going to cook much more for myself, I'm looking forward to being able to actually cook dinner in the evening for myself or perhaps have a brew with friends after work. I need to go workout at least 3 times a week, at minimum, it isn't worth having a gym membership if I don't. Spring needs to be here, now! I am sick of seeing ice on the sidewalks; I need to see green grass. I apparently need a lot of things, or perhaps I just want them. I really do think that I have everything that I need. I'm just always selfish and want more; there must be something that can be improved.

 

I miss Tara, she is across the ocean right now singing to strange Spanish men. I hope that they find your luggage…..I'm sorry that had to happen to you. I know that it won't keep your spirits down Tara. I can't wait to see you when you return.

 

I need to get sleep to be refreshed and awake to begin orientation. Wish me luck.