everyone must find their place
Poker out in the boonies tonight. I saw at least two deer, and a bundle of bunnies.
I buy in for $10. Right off the bat, I start making money. People start complaining. I'm making money left and right. I'm up $10, $15 at one point. Then, I start declining. And declining. I end up even again by the time I have to go.
People need to start calling me and we need to start hanging out.
That sentence sounded far more pathetic than I ever want to sound.
I am an american aquarium drinker
Everyone keeps posting their Top Ten lists from 2004, so I guess it's time to write up my own.
Fair warning: I didn't buy all the good albums from 2004 (there's so many, I'll probably get caught up mid-2005), so this list will have to be just from my own personal collection.
I would highly recommend checking out both of these lists as well:
http://www.questionablecontent.net/top10.php
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2004/
So, without further ado...
Gregory's Top Ten of 2004
10. Loretta Lynn: Van Lear Rose
Yes, that's right, a country album. From a 69 year old country singer. So why is it on my list? Two words: Jack White. White's producing of this album takes what might have been another copy-cat country album into a country and rock classic. Unless you are completely turned off by the concept that the singer has a southern accent, I highly recommend this album.
Also listen to: The White Stripes: Elephant (2003), Liz Phair: Exile In Guyville (1993)
9. Green Day: American Idiot
I can't believe I have a Green Day album on this list. Trust me, it's not because I heard their single (the worst song on the album, the album opener cleverly titled American Idiot) and ran out and bought the album. I bought it after I kept hearing recommendation after recommendation from people I actually respected. And I ended up finding in it a rather good album. Not the rock opera brilliance that many tried to find, but still, it is an actual punk album. In 2004. None of this fake punk that keeps getting pumped out of Mtv, but guys who actually are to America like the Sex Pistols were to Britan: vocal complainers who played good music about it. I might not agree with their politics, but it's still a good album.
Also listen to: The Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols (1977), The Beastie Boys: To The 5 Boroughs (2004)
8. The Futureheads: The Futureheads
"It's like a capella only with guitars and drums." That's what I keep telling people. And then they stare at me blankly. It's four guys, Brits all, singing harmonies on very poppy guitar songs. It's fun. It's catchy. It's something I never thought I'd hear, and then I never thought it'd be something I'd like. But it is.
Also listen to: Weezer: Weezer (1994), Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (1983)
7. Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse
Okay, I love Sonic Youth. I really do. I love distorted guitars, I love Kim Gordon's voice and writing, and I love long songs with guitars that keep going and going. This wasn't my first Sonic Youth album, and when this album came out, I snapped it up quickly, and was very happy to find my Sonic Youth still in full form. This music isn't for everyone, but it is one of the Youth's most accessible in years.
Also listen to: Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (1988), The Wrens: The Meadowlands (2003)
6. Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
No Top Ten list for 2004 is complete without this album. Sure, it's a bit silly, but sometimes silly is fun. It's a throwback to the fun of 70s guitar pop, but yet it still feels like it exists in the 21st century. And "Take Me Out" is really one of the greatest singles ever made. Turn it on, turn it up, and let British men sing happily to you about love.
Also listen to: The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow (2003), The Clash: London Calling (1979)
5. Interpol: Antics
This is the album that has recently put me in love with reverb. Huge, expansive guitars, pushing drums, and a syncopated voice saying things like "Can't you see what you've done to my heart/and soul?/This is a wasteland now," and you've got at least this listener hooked. Also check out their debut.
Also listen to: Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights (2002), Radiohead: The Bends (1995)
4. Wilco: A Ghost Is Born
Wilco is simply amazing. They blow my mind everytime I put on this album. Granted, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is (arguably) better, but I'm the type who falls in love with long, emotive guitar solos and the sort of heavy lyrics that Jeff Tweedy presents me here.
Also listen to: Weezer: Pinkerton (1996), Velcro Mary: Goodbye Cowboy (1998)
3. Modest Mouse: Good News For People Who Like Bad News
Okay, I'll admit, I hadn't even heard of Modest Mouse until this album came out. That's right, I am one of the uncool who became Mouse fans because of their sell-out album. However, in my defense, I have since purchased The Moon & Antarctica and Lonesome Crowded West, so I am well-steeped in the days that Mouse was cool to like. And in Modest Mouse's defense, Good News is a really good album, no matter what indie hipsters like to say. Just because the local pop station got a hold of a great single doesn't mean that the album can't be good. I defy you to dislike this album.
Also listen to: Modest Mouse: The Moon & Antarctica (2000), Sparklehorse: Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (1995)
2. The Fiery Furnaces: Blueberry Boat
This album is 74 minutes long, and it will grab your attention for every second of it. It's an indie/pop/rock opera, or something like that. Good albums have a way of making themselves indescribable. I can't imagine how anyone could dislike this album. It's dense enough that it will last a thousand listens (and trust me, I've tested it), but it's also accessible enough that you can pick it up and like it.
Also listen to: Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002), Mogwai: Young Team (1997), Radiohead: Hail To The Thief (2003)
1. The Arcade Fire: Funeral
If you've been around me at all recently, you've heard me raving about this album like crazy, and with good reason. Simply the best statement of what it means to grow up in America in 2004. The music is, just simply, too amazing for me to even talk about. It's guitars, it's drums, it's violins, it's pianos, it's cellos, it's this guy singing that's amazing, it's this girl singing that's amazing...just listen to this album, I'm telling you.
Also listen to: Radiohead: OK Computer (1997), Sparklehorse: Good Morning Spider (1999), Mercury Rev: All Is Dream (2001)
Feel free to make fun of or support my choices in the comments below.
heat seeking missile freak
Poker tonight.
5 dollars in, I go ahead in for 10. Dealer Call, usually Hold 'Em or Omaha.
Play it easy the first few, basically put nothing in, get nothing out. Then I get a flush. I forget to draw money off anyone, and I end up with a small stack. Then I make a couple boneheaded plays, go down to around 3. Then I pull my head back in the game, make a couple huge plays, and I make it back to even. Glance at my watch. I have to go home. I was so close to actually making some money.
In other news, apparently I have actual contacts. I love throwing names around.
it's for your own good, it's for the neighborhood
This all reminds me of a story:
Back a while ago (last May, I think), I worked at McAlister's Deli. Now, at McAlister's Deli, I was what one might call the Butt of All Jokes. The managers had entire structures set up for making fun of me. A great time of my life.
One of their favorite things to make fun of me about was a series of imagined crushes they imagined me having. Every single new girl they would quiz me about, asking every question they could think of to ask me until they got some hint from me that possibly I thought she might be cute. Then, every time she'd walk through the door, here would come the hilarity.
Then one day a cute, short, happy, black haired, girl, walked through the door. Instantly, Perky became the new focus of the Gregory's Crush jokes. Sometimes my managers would schedule us to close together just because they knew how much fun they could have while I was out on the floor trying to put up chairs.
Fast forward a few months, and I mention to Perky that I'd love to go to her graduation. A week or two later, I receive in the mail an ornately lettered graduation announcement, right next to a wallet-size senior picture of their little graduate.
Later that week, Perky and her mom come into the store, order some food from me, and sit down. I make small talk to them at the booth as I can, and then I get them their last drink refills before they leave, and I smile at Perky and tell her goodbye as she's walking out the door. As I turn back around, I see Perky's mom talking to Joe, one of my managers. I look at them quizzically for a second, and then, shaking my head, I move on to working again.
Perky's mom grabs my attention as she says good bye, and I wave goodbye to her. As she shuts the door behind her, Joe yells from the office for me to join him. He closes and locks the door behind him, and tells me to empty out my pockets. I, confused, comply. He then asks for my wallet, takes everything out of it, searches through it, all but pats down my pants. At this point, I'm near irate, and I say Joe, what in hell are you doing? He stuffs my cards back in my wallet, hands it back to me, and informs me that Perky's mom had asked him to see if I was keeping her graduation picture in my wallet.
'In my wallet? Why would I do that?' He calls their house, and leaves a message informing them of my lack of keeping her picture in my wallet, and I go home at the end of my shift not sure whether to be angry, amused, or offended.
I've mostly turned my emotions into offended by the following night, and I confront Perky as she walks behind the counter to clock in.
"What was with your mom yesterday? What, does she think I'm your stalker?"
She looks up at me, and grins. "You are my stalker, Gregory!"
Now at this point, you might still be wondering why Perky's mom thought I was stalking her daughter, but you'd be missing the point of the story.
The point is, over my computer in my room, I have a big magnetic whiteboard. Still on it, from last May, I have her graduation picture next to a handwritten quote in red Expo marker - "You ARE my stalker, Gregory!" - Perky
I'm not sure what made me think of that.
my eyes are covered by the hands of my unborn kids, but my heart keeps watching through the skin of my lids
I got:
Star Wars Trilogy DVD
Return of the King: Extended Edition
West Wing: Season 1 which I'm going to trade out for S2.
I'm really quite happy. And I'm ready to get my life moving again.
And if the snow buries my neighborhood, and if my parents are crying, then I'll build a tunnel from my window to yours--yeah, a tunnel!
Just found out a guy I know online knows a guy who's in The Arcade Fire. I think I should just leave that to blow your mind and we'll go ahead and move on.
Work today was suprisingly fun. I like having consistant work to do, and I like the people I work with, and, darn it, I like my job. I actually do.
Christmas Eve. Am I excited about Christmas? I dunno. I guess I'm hoping to get RotK: EE, because I'm going to die if I don't see it soon (hi, my name is Gregory, and I'm a geek [hi Gregory]), but, honestly, I was as excited to get Sports Night from Ash last night, and I'm as excited about Wilco and the Flaming Lips in Febuary, and I'm just as excited about the next time I get to go out with my friends, and I'm as excited thinking about certain aspects of my life that I decide not to share with you all. That's right, I'm mysterious. But, my point. Let's start a new paragraph.
What's so great about Christmas? Well, I'm happy right now. Is it related to Sports Night? Yes. Is it related to aspects-of-my-life-I-choose-to-not-share? Yes. Is it related to how cold it is outside these days? Oh, yes. Is it related to Christmas? I'm really not sure. I guess I just, for the first time in a while, like the way my life is going. Which is encouraging.
Now let's just see if I can keep up this enthusiasm for life the next time I have to go out there and see the people I've been less than enthused about seeing recently, and hope that I can carry it into people that I want to be enthused about me.
In other news, everyone should go and buy Sports Night: The Complete Series. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but there's always that geeky, yet instantly likable guy in every good TV show, right? I always like to think that I'm that guy.
hold on, you risk exciting me...1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
I SAID 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' TO LARRY SPRINKLE!
More later; first, my mother's delicious Shrimp Creole.
well i gotta friend who's a man
Got up at about 10. Watched House 1.6 on my computer, then got out of bed.
I'm kinda fuzzy about what happened between then and 3.30, but I know something must have happened, but still, once it got to 3.30, I went to work, and had loads of fun until 10.20, when I got off, and headed over to Ashley and Jenni's until 11.
Then I came home. Watching the Sports Night pilot.
Now I'm in my room. I'll prolly watch Huff 1.7, and then get to bed.
Work at 10.30.
I'm not particularly looking forward to Christmas, but I don't seem to be as bummed out about it as most people.
EDIT: By the way, I'm now allowing anonymous comments on my blog, so if you've been waiting for forever to post to my blog, but haven't been able to because you don't have a Blogger account (although I can't figure out why you don't!), then now's your time. Just make sure you sign your name. Unless you're Steven Allison. In which case go the heck away.
i carved your name across your eyelids. you prayed for rain, i prayed for blindness. if you still love me, please forgive me.
I'm a sucker for girls with unusually pitched voices. Also girls with bangs. Often both at the same time.
Work today was good aside from elbowing Christy Hubbard in the shoulder.
I am not distraught.
you don't know where, and you don't know when, but you still got your words
Nothing like being dissed, or maybe dissed, or, from all accounts, you weren't dissed, but you feel like you were dissed. What a great feeling.
House is still a great show. The scene tonight, with him (that would be Dr. Gregory House) playing piano in the middle of the night is so close to my own experience, it's not even funny. It's like dude was written based off of me. Of course, most viewers of the show hate the guy, so what does that say about me?
Mikey Richie is teh rockness.
I was cashier today, but I hardly did any cashiering. I figure, if I'm down on the end, and I'm getting customer after customer, and I'm getting no baggers, and meanwhile Slacker #1 and Slacker #2 are in the middle of the lane, and pulling NO ONE, and just sitting there, I'm better off just closing down and bagging for the people and like, and who cares about Slackers #1 or #2. They can deal.
In related news, I love making unilateral desicions, and when the Customer Service people ask me about it, they agree with the decision I already made.
Evie's reading The Corrections. I guess I should go ahead and pick up About A Boy sometime soon.
drive my car into the ocean
Quote of the Day/Week:
"I am not going to whore myself out for Wilco!"
Work today was not terrible. In fact, it was downright fun at times.
you're not going home, you're not going aaannyyywhhheeerrrreee
Interesting day today. Started kinda slow, but it got sort of cool near the end. As I look back, I'm not sure why I say it got cool near the end.
Well, I guess: we had a family from church over for lunch today, and they were fun, and someone kept commenting on how funny I was, which totally ruins the moment, but it's still nice to hear at times. Also, everyone noted how slick and awesome I looked in my black suit with a striped white shirt.
So, I guess that's it. I'm so vain that it took compliments to bring up my day.
Work in the afternoon tomorrow, hopefully with more cool persons than just the one.
her name is yoshimi, she's a black belt in karate
Today, I woke up at 6 AM. Then, went back to sleep. Then, I woke up at 6.15. And got ready for work. 7 AM is an insane time to start work at Teeter. You'd think it'd be slow...but no. Of course, everyone else assumes it will be slow, so people come through my line with the biggest orders I've ever seen. And then, of course, we either have no baggers, or it's Robert, which is worse than not having a bagger, and the situation just degenerates from there.
On the upside, I have to get moving fast, and so by 12, I'm moving faster than the human eye can see. I literally bagged a paper bag order, from, mind you, a fast cashier, as it was coming down the line. I had everything in the cart before the cashier could ask her 'Debit or Credit.' I had more people commenting on my speed today than in a while.
In related news, and this is really only interesting to people who know both me and Mark, but some random lady asked today if Mark and I are twins. Actually, the exact question was, "Are you and he twins, or just brothers?" Tres confusing.
Talked to Eva for a bit after work. Once again, I will continue my tradition of saying nothing more about the topic.
Went to a party tonight, it was slightly interesting at times.
In other news, WILCO AND FLAMING LIPS FEBUARY 2ND AT OVEN'S!!
Aaaand, now I sleep.
we sail today
Whatshername came into Teeter today.
In case Whatshername is reading this, no, I don't mean the title as a slight.
I must say, though, the most interesting thing about Whatshername appearences is the reaction it gets from one of my co-workers. It's quite fun getting a five minute lecture about what I'm doing wrong. No, I mean that, it is fun.
Oh well. That was the big fun thing in my day. Apparently it wasn't a very big day. Not, and I say this in case Whatshername is reading, that Whatshername's appearence doesn't make for a big day. I'm just saying that nothing earth-shattering happened. Not that five seconds of talking to her isn't earth-shattering.
I'm rambling now.
sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
Rather inconsequential day today. Really nothing more to say than that. A fairly wasted day, aside from some TV watching I got finished and some more practice with the guitar.
Watching The West Wing Season 1. We've gotten as far as the 3rd of 4 discs. It's rather good. I don't think it's quite as good as later seasons, but it's nice seeing the first season.
I'm working tomorrow from 12.15-8.15, and then I'm working Saturday 7-2. I'm going to see about getting some sleep tonight.
blame it on yourself, you never took the chance, when you still had one
Okay, I'm going to write what might be a long blog post. I'm going to do one of those things where I just talk about random things and it makes for a cool little thing. Sorry I can't think of a more definate word than 'thing,' understand that it is late and my thumb- and third finger-nails are killing me and it is serious hampering my thought processes.
I was reading through my blog today, and it really struck me how happy I am that I've been doing this. As many bad memories occured while I was writing this blog, it does make me happy to go back and read them. Maybe it gives me a sort of power over the memories.
People from my past keep popping up in my life again. I'm reacting to each in very different ways. I'm not sure if I have a game plan as to how to deal with these people. In fact, I'm pretty sure I don't have a game plan. What I'm not sure about is whether or not I need one.
Remember me talking forever ago about the one girl in my life who understood me? I just remembered today that I was talking about Ashley.
Perky's away messages are a continual source of amusement. I need to see her one of these days. It's one of those cases where it's killing me, but there's nothing I can do about it.
Chip and the rest of the band played a talent show tonight. They tell me they want me joining the band. Well, Chip says that. The others didn't really say anything. The thing is, I want a band that does things in a particular way, and I really don't think that me, at 18, trying to run a band of other teenagers is going to work out very well. I have extremely specific ideas, and I want to be able to tell people 'play this' and then just do it. I don't want free flowing ideas until I have a group of people who are thinking the same way I am, and I don't think I have that here at all. I should find out tomorrow how the talent show went.
Thing is, the band I want, I don't want us ever playing at a talent show. The band shouldn't be about talent...it's about music. If I can create the music I want and it turns out to be the simplist thing to play, that's perfectly fine with me. But I'm not sure how to convince other people of my ideas about music.
There's a girl at work who is very cute and I want to ask her out, but I know I never will not because I fear rejection--rejection's a fact of life, and if you can't live with it get out of the game--but because I'm the sort of person who misses the moments that such things happen in. I can't just walk up to her in uniform and ask her for her number. Oh, sure, it can be done. People've done it before. But I can't. I don't do that. What do I do? Honestly, I don't know.
I'm throwing myself into my music. Seriously, I've never put so much into it. I need people who know how to play instruments and I need them in front of me. I think something good could happen.
The problem with me right now is I feel that I'm in a holding pattern. I can't move things along with anyone in my life. Either they don't pay enough attention to me to let me change what's happening, or I don't see them enough, or I'm too scared, or the other person simply eludes me. I feel like I'm in a TV show that's gotten to its fifth season and doesn't know what to do with its characters anymore.
everyone's a little queer, why can't she be a little straight?
"Was that your girlfriend?"
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"She was staring holes into you."
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
"She's cute."
"I know."
you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear voices singing
http://www.velcromary.com/xmas04.html
Just go. And download. And listen.
You'll thank yourself for it.
can I get another amen? there's a flag wrapped around a score of men.
Pastor Blair came and talked at our church today.
He's organizing a mission trip to Uganda for next August.
In related news, I might be going to Uganda next August.
in an ordinary world
The wedding was good. The wedding was sad.
My goodness, my insane love life is confusing.
wake from your sleep, the drowning of your tears
A friend of mine, his oldest sister is getting married tomorrow. It's all come as a bit of a quick thing. She's moving a state and a half away. Right away.
He sung a song for her at the rehersal dinner tonight. It really killed me.
It's...it's sobering. You think about how much he'll miss her, you think about how much you'd miss your siblings when they get married. Do I take my brother for granted? Kevin's 20. Graduating from college in the spring. With any luck, he'll meet a girl between now and then, and be married early '05. He's planning on moving a state and a half away once he gets married.
I dunno. She met this guy in August. We've known about the wedding for two months. It comes at you fast.
Kevin could be gone quickly. He could be not gone for a while. I could be gone quickly. I've always talked about moving up north. Will I? I dunno.
But it comes at you fast.
Two things I know:
1. I've got a wedding to go to tomorrow.
2. I'm listening to Radiohead again
Two things I don't know:
1. How likely me crying at the wedding tomorrow will be.
2. How depressed I'll be after a day of Radiohead.
on holiday!
I am the King of Cashiering. The Guru of Groceries. The Sultan of Swiping. The President of Produce. That's right, baby. First Place In Top Performers This Week. First place, baby. I've been working there five months, and I'm the best cashier. Oh yeah.
In other news, my cousin Charlie (she's a girl) just started working at EB Games. You know, they sell video games. Now, Charlie knows nothing about video games. Let me stress this: NOTHING ABOUT VIDEO GAMES. So why does she have the job? Because she's hot. Because she's the dream of every loney teenage video game geek that comes through that door. And so she stands around, does random, PAish things for the people who KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, and, in general, is paid for doing nothing but be hot.
she's an extraordinary girl
So my car broke down. Ugh. Looks like it'll be easy to fix, though.
American Idiot is still good. I picked up that and Who Killed...The Zutons? today. The latter album is interesting. I haven't listened to it enough to make a determination.
Everyone say Happy Birthday to Perky real quick before it's not her birthday anymore.
drain the pressure from the swelling
I picked up Green Day's American Idiot today. It's actually rather good. I mean, aside from the first track and most of the lyrics. The album's a solid 7/10. Listen to it if you're feeling a little low on the punk meter recently. It's definatly not better than The Clash or the Sex Pistols, but what can you expect? They're American Punks. But at least they're real punks, or at least as close as you can get in 2004.
absorbing back down to dirt like a sponge
Today I worked in Floral. No, I don't know why. The women there apparently loved me. I just do my job as well as I can and people appreciate it. I can't make this stuff up.
Other than my work today, I can't really think of anything interesting that happened to me.
I need to go out sometime. Maybe I'll ask that girl.
Medication
I think I'm becoming addicted to Tic Tacs.
every move you make
Yeah, so I was right, about today rocking. No, you can't know why.
Amanda and I had all the kooks come through our line tonight, it was terrible.
Work early tomorrow.
who cares, man? you're supposed to be thinking about what I'm FEELING here!
There's really nothing new since I posted last. Sorry I lead such a boring life.
Monday should ROCK.
you're never getting the berries from my blueberry boat
You ever watch the first few episodes of a TV show, and it really hooks you, and you're excited, and you watch every week, but, then, you're out of town one week, and then the next episode is dumb, and then you sort of just don't watch it the next week, or the next week, or the next?
Then a couple months later, you see an ad for it, and you tune in, and the show tries REALLY hard to make you care, but, you find yourself really not caring at all anymore.
About the show.
Well, it's a metaphor. I'm using that as a metaphor.
For what?
Yeah, I'm not telling you.
but then she like another guy, i fall down dead she never see the tears i cry
Work was rather annoying and boring and stupid today until right before I left, then it was great for about half an hour, and then I went home.
Daytime would be easier to handle if I didn't have to talk to anyone but the CSMs and customers.
Pretty boring day tomorrow, it's looking like. Maybe some Halo with Calvin and Phil.
