Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Timothy J. Farrell's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, November 30th, 2006
3:41 am	They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn Heyheyhey, Tim, walking like a robot, talking like a robot, making projects like a robot, will be a projectbot for the next 2-3 weeks, in trance with certain musical sounds as he finishes his work. There is so much of a reward on the horizon coming around Sunday December 17- January 9. I am currently gonna clean up a bit and wait for the real snow to start to fall. The kind where it's so late at night and you actually hear the snow falling. One of my favorite things to live for, like the scent of oil on a mitten after pumping gas in the winter, or rubber tires buring on a fire, or like when it is very quiet in a room when you are with someone, and the only thing you hear is the heartbeat of the friend. I hope everyone has little things like this to look forward to that happen on mediocre days that looking back, even by that sundown, are actually quite wonderful. I miss so many people, but I think that is a good thing. Current Music: Bob Dylan- Blood on the Tracks (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, November 26th, 2006
4:05 am	I'm supposed to exist and such I'm having a uniquely American kinda personal struggle going on lately, wish I had a pen pal to explain or understand, but I do not feel there are enough qualified candidates. I saw The Black Keys' live again (the 5th time), which usually means there is an adventure. This time, it involved me getting on an El train that got stuck for a hearty 30 minutes as I neared the Vic. The weather was balmly, not nearly as challenging as other Keys' shows. Before this show, I had literally been through rain, sleet, snow, black ice, a couple of electrical storms, a pouring rain, 100 degree heat, some near death, and other insanity to see them. This was relatively tame by comparison. Which is not how I would describe the show necessarily. Coincidence or not, Champaign remains the best show, one where I nearly died on the way spinning out on black ice on the way there, met Patrick Carney, and got to spend the night with the lady of my dreams afterwards. So this had a lot to live up to. That said, it was an amazing show. "Elevator" and "Strange Desire" off the new record particularly scorched and they are arguably the greatest live band on the planet right now (2-piece or any amount). I'm not a fighter, but I'll argue with anyone on that point. I only wish I almost died on the way there and got to spend time with a special lady after (not a particular anyone, no worries). Those two events are almost the same thing, depending on your interpretation of death. Nearly dying is probably one of the most amazing feelings. Oh, I also would have crapped my pants if they played "Meet Me In The City" live to end the show. Who knows if that day will ever come. The Keys may be on a bigger label, but more importantly, it looks like they'll stay in the same tax bracket. I can't remember where I was going when I started this post, but I don't think it was in this direction. It would have probably been more self-loathing and frustrated. No need. I should be thrilled about the break that is finishing up. I got to see the Black Keys, record two new songs, play drums 4 days in a row, helped take care of some goldfish, slept in, drove a car, rode some trains, ate some great food, ate a burrito with all different kinds of salsa on it, got freaked out and disappointed, made some people laugh a bunch, fell in love with a band on account of the music video for their single, went bowling with a dear good friend, and had the happysad realization that a special one and a half handful of people I love dearly were not in the state of Illinois or even this country during this week. Like the Bulls digging out of an early season slump after the annual Circus Trip, I need to do the same over the next 3 weeks. 3, it's always been the magic number. Do Re Mi. Me Myself & I. Guitar, Vocals, Drums. Take care of yourselves in case no one else will. (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
12:24 am	Long Time No Write And it might be awhile again. But the past few days have been kinda sad and stressful when the two days before that were mighty awesome. I have studies to attend to. The moral of the story is I think I am a terrible RA. I think if RA's were presidents, my presidency would be most like Jimmy Carter. I remain a pretty awkward cat when things get serious. Needs to be improved upon. But I think things will be pretty good. Frustration with technologies reached a peak earlier today. I recognize the inherent contradiction in that statement as I type in this online journal on a computer and the two best parts of my day involved a telephone. My Grandpa Lou turned 86 today. He's a wonderful man. I owe so many wonderful people wonderful personal letters. Hope to hop on that soon. I guess I just wasn't made for these times. But that's avoiding the problems and blaming all other surroundings and large amounts of people. It's all my deal. I like that it's turning to hoody weather. The most important day upcoming is September 12. I am hopeful for myself and that should be enough to have hope for everything else. Rock and roll. Current Music: Bob Dylan- Trying To Get To Heaven (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 27th, 2006
10:50 pm	No Sleep Till Brooklyn All the days of living have finally made me a little bit tired and pained and sick. I will feel lighter and good by Friday I think. I just want to brush my teeth and sleep. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, June 18th, 2006
7:28 am	The Black Keys and Life As Always For the 4th time in my young life, I got to see the Black Keys play a concert. And for the 4th time, they blew me away. They've blown me away once outside in the rain (Lolla last year), twice in the hothotheat (today and Lolla), once in the heavy wind (today), twice with snow and ice on the ground (at the Metro and in Champaign), and always bring a quality rock my socks off show. And like always, not because of the Black Keys, but in spite of them, for the 4th time seeing The Black Keys, I am lost and confused and in many confusing directions in lust and love and friendships. I have spent too much time away from LJ to properly try to share Europe, Liverpool, England, Leicester Uni and the start of summer with the old LJ Cybergang. But basically, I am having some of the best days of my life in spite of my emotional confusion. I had what I considered to be a quality talk with Mark Sticky Munns and Jessica Meyer last night at RotoFest. I think they're wonderful people in this town and hopefully I'll see them both around more. I saw other different people in various arrays from high school. Some positive feelings, some neutral feelings, and a want to wish maybe I worked the system a bit more back in the high school days. I am learning more about myself and others everyday. Not getting mugged in Rome or not getting stranded overnight in Prague and not missing a flight from Paris to Greece despite being mega-late and sleeping in buggy beautiful bungalows on the Greek island of Ios and negotiating your way through an entire term on the island of England with basically only one friend (Cassie Duke) who you did not know would be such a great friend and actually is one of your favourites now; I can't remember what i was saying but all these events and getting yelled at by a ticket-taker in German or being offered drugs in German and all these things tend to take away some of the worries and fears of rejection from the opposite sex. Also, guys and girls, I would recommend listening to alot of Oasis (the albums Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory?). They will put further swagger and thirst for life back into your bones and have you kick up goodness when you thought it was gonna be a boring or lonesome day. The songs mean nothing and everything all at once, but so does the swagger they contain. I love The Beatles and learning more of their back story in Liverpool furthered that, but I can also agree that it's not a stretch or lie to say that Definitely Maybe is probably the best album ever made in Britain, even if it did it by ripping off The Beatles (And Rolling Stones and The Clash and The Stone Roses and all other great bands). The point is, once I figure out what I want to do, I think it can all be fairly easily done. The problem of choice overwhelms me at times (I agree with Einstein). Maybe that is why I like going to work everyday now, because I wear the same shorts and cycle of 3 identical work shirts. Despite the new confidence, i still do not know what I ever want to listen to on my iPod. It takes so much time. Working backwards, the week was great: The Black Keys, seeing the lovely Jesse Perez again and meeting her lovely friend Tory, helping to manage all the great staff at Pirates' Cove, having a slumber party with Uncle Rob and including numerous fake drunk dials (I was honestly blowing a .00000000 though like back in the high school days, I was accused of otherwise), bowling with some of my favourites, had Solarelectric's best practice yet, saw some great NBA playoff basketball, enjoyed some quality World Cup action, got to hang out with Elaina and Shanik at the same time, sang some karaoke, heard some new jams and loved some old ones, played kickball with a fun bunch and just generally feel like I'm making progress. I guess it is better to be trying to do too much along the way than not have anything to wake up for in the morning. Trite and cliche as that may be, I'm truly believing it these days. All that said, it would be incomplete (maybe even a lie) to say I don't feel something is missing. Like everybody, I'm pining for a little bit of romance, but I think it is my own fault for being too picky or thinking too much or confusing my own heart and brain and soul. I have to accept that although I am far from perfect, I generally have a kindhearted bunch of parts making me up so I should never screw up that bad. People, at least though's I really care about because I think they generally care the same about me, are gonna embrace me and stay with me no matter what. Maybe i just want too many people on my side. I think it's a decent side to be on with a positive view ahead, one that withdraws and refuses negative things, and wants to create something better. Without sounding too hippy-dippy, I basically wanna be an artists whose canvas is the whole world. You know, like everyday is a work of art and the end result is....Luuuuuuuvvvvv. I think everybody's pretty wonderful. With that, the pining seems so insignificant and I'm just gonna try to keep going full-speed ahead every morning but at my own pace. "I'm feeling supersonic, give me gin & tonic, you can have it all but how much do you want it?" How can one ever argue Oasis songs are about nothing? They're about everything and everybody all at once. I am about everything and everybody all at once, too. (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 9th, 2006
10:03 pm	The world is birthday cake, so take a piece but not too much Old Journal friend, it has been so long since I've written in you. I must have a nap before early breakfast tomorrow so I will have to keep it short. The past two nights, I have had seperate amazing talks with two different people from two different places. Both resulted in me staying up until the dark sky turns bright again. They were both such good talks and I wish there could be so many more like them. That said, on this second nite, I cannot help but worry if my passiveness is just making myself wonder more or makes the 2nd talker wonder more too. I could never be a thief. I wish people didn't have to leave. Current Mood: Curious Current Music: Birds of the Morning (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, March 17th, 2006
1:47 pm	March 17 It is St. Patrick's Day and it is time to get a Ploughman's sandwich. I am mega-hungry. The Lollapalooza line-up is pretty exciting to me. I have to buy a ticket soon before they cost even more. March Madness has been wild thus far and my bracket is already falling apart. That's what I love. I hope it all falls apart when UConn loses to Illinois (maybe it won't). There was drunk singing in the middle of the blocks yesterday. The song was not for me and that's okay. I hope the leprechauns strike. I hope Mark Prior is making starts well before I come home in late May. I wish I received the e-mails letting us know about class cancellations or reschedulings. I feel somewhat hurried and panic again about planning spring break and meeting in strange parts of the world. The English are cocky but I sometimes like that. Oh man, today is also Clover the Dog's birthday I bet. I miss the Komalas oh so much. Time to eat a sandwich and see things differently. Current Music: Jimi Hendrix- Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 7th, 2006
6:08 pm	Second Wind My mom gave me some good news from home when I called on Sunday. I am trying to convert that into positive, productive, and caring energy here. If you are in America and have access to a television, I recommend watching it (I do not encourage TV all that often) on Saturday night with the channel tuned to NBC's Saturday Night Live. The Arctic Monkeys are set to play on American TV as they get ready to start their sold-out US tour. There you go, America. I am anxious to see and hear what you think and wish I could see it for myself. It may not be Ed Sullivan and 1964, but I feel genuine excitement, not just about the Arctic Monkeys, but about other things, too. There are many layers to my onion, but I think my stinky main layer is goofball. But underneath, you might find some romance too. Anyone who reads this, I probably miss you for at least one reason. Current Music: Jeff Buckley- Lover, You Should've Come Over (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, March 2nd, 2006
7:32 pm	Addendum In the time of the last post, it turns out the London, Wargate, & Norwich dates of Mock Orange are cancelled anyhow. I will post their announcement here, then start a movie script of my life, probably played by Ben Stiller (happy-go-UNlucky-go-sad-get-happy-again) and get Mock Orange to do the soundtrack. Tomorrow is 3/3. I should have a good day. "MAD PROPS AND CANCELLATIONS THE REMAINING EUROPE DATES ARE CANCELLED. apparently it is very hard to get glass for a chrysler in france. we want to thank everyone who came out. it was so much better than we expected. and if you live in valencia and see someone wearing a THE BAND APART shirt...stab them. ok ok, dont stab them. its never cool to stab someone. but if you see someone wearing a THE BAND APART shirt in valencia, just realize that is one lame dude and that this agression will not stand (renauld h burns). heres a shout to the guy in dresden that stole our video camera and a triple awesomeness shout to the shiny winner in valence that smashed our windows and took all of our stuff. we hope you enjoy all the cds that you cant really sell and the clothes that are going to be too small for you. because joe`s passport was among many things stolen, he will be spending tuesday at the US embassy in paris instead of playing in london. for the record, we are really bummed about cancelling london." Here's to shiny winners. (Comment on this)
7:03 pm	The Man Inside The Bushes I have had trouble convincing people to go see Mock Orange in London with me this week as well as Norwich tomorrow nite. I also have trouble trying to pay the cost of traveling both ways on rails for nearly 40 bucks American. It makes me sad and according to their latest post online, they've had a video camera stolen and their van burglarised on two separate occasions on this Euro Tour. They are my band and in my current (Eng) land, and I probably will not get to see them. In spite of the set backs, I hope their tour is going well. I will at least write an electronic letter to them soon. Lollapalooza pre-sale tix sold out in 34 minutes today so I will have to pay more when the next tier comes out. But they are expanding it again this year to be 3 days (August 4-6) with 8 stages. The line-up announcement comes in a few weeks. I received a hilariously good package from Donna Goodman and Amy O. this week, complete with a pig catapult!!! I cannot wait till someone tells me "Sure, Tim, do-da-la, when pigs fly!" Then voila, whip out the catapult and I'm in like Flint. My American friends (mainly female) have a habit of being very immature and hilarious at meals. To really raise (or lower---depending on your vantage poit) the bar, I left dinner one minute before them and hid out in the bushes near the front door of the main Digby building, waiting for them. I saw one of them out the door as I peeked up, so I popped back to hiding, waited for the noise of the others, and heard voices. At which point I jump out of the bushes with hands flying up yelling "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" As it turns out, it was about 10 British kids walking back to their houses, including the tall beauty named Emma that I haven't talked to very much at all. I quickly apologize to the group in the moment, and one bloke says "You got the wrong group" and some of us laugh hard. Does this make me doofus, creepster, funniest man in the world, a mixture, or something I haven't even considered yet? I decided it does not much matter, and to be fair, no one probably cares that much. It is just a funny story for now. It is 4 weeks or so till Spring Break, I need to get cracking on planning that, getting some of my papers done early, and I have roughly that time to cement myself as legend (sometimes pronounced LEG (as in body part) END (where something stops)) here. I am generally having fun if nothing else. My friend, neighbor, and quasi-bandmate Jimmy said nice and true things tonight. I hope his date goes well tomorrow, though it means just Tom Morgan and I practicing (maybe we'll find one other guy from green block to come along). The new Yeah Yeah Yeahs single and B-side are good news to me, though quite different from the first LP. I am excited to hear the full she-band, and Q Magazine's review compares it to Siamese Dream, which only adds to my excitement. I'll have to get the live skinny from Alex. Fun things happen everyday. I hope things are going especially well for my friend across the ocean, particularly Chris Finn. March is Madness, but sometimes it makes life spicy good. I wish I could trace anonymous comments--- especially when they are heartwarmers. I usually live happy-go-lucky, so I especially might as well in a place where I will only be for 7 more weeks (with 5 weeks away in between). Well, as long as I am me and my actions do not get me deported. Current Mood: Happy-Go-Lucky Current Music: Mock Orange- Live At Schuba's 8/28/2004 (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, February 24th, 2006
10:15 pm	Drum and Bass and Arctic Monkeys Basically, a whole lot of drum and bass, some Arctic Monkeys, and people around here have been keeping me going at the night time lately. Unfortunately, my work ethic is at an all-time low. I think I will have lots of lyrical ideas for Solar Electric when I return and should write down is fragmented form while they happen. Tomorrow, I must get back on the ball and begin to start papers as well as plan the front leg of Spring Break. I owe some people some electronic messages and I think I will go on a City Center bus ride alone tomorrow afternoon. It is okay to go drum and bass, heart attack loco, but I also need to quietly think and digest things sometimes. Though it was at a wild and crazy student union dance, a few people said some nice things and passed along nice things that other people have said that make me feel better than I have about myself lately. I am trying to partcipate more and not feel so outsider, though I think that is a role I will play forever, at least slightly. My manner of dress has gotten me called the following: Tango Man Where's Wally? (Equivalent of Waldo, but of course) Orginal Dutch I cannot think of others right now. If I had 10 pense for each picture snapped of me over the past few months, it would pay for some of the records I want to pick up this weekend, or a good train ride or something. Regardless, as much as I thought it not reflective, some of my old-fashioned American wholesomeness has been noticed by certain Englishmen and Englishwomen. Current Mood: Drum and Bass Current Music: The Soledad Brothers- Teenage Heart Attack (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006
6:33 pm	Andy Miller must think I'm some sort of international playa It is time to clean up a bit, take some deep breaths, think positive thoughts, and go rest for tomorrow. Confidence is a key to comfort which is a key to happiness which is key to confidence and comfort and three thousand other intangible feelings and thoughts and abilities that I love about myself and others. I am sorry if any confusion resulted from my most recent LJ post. I watched an incredibly exciting football (soccer) match tonite betweenst FC of Chelsea and FC of Barcelona. Barcelona won and it was incredible. Soccer is amazing when I watch the whole way. I miss college basketball season, the NBA, and will miss Opening Day of major league baseball. This will be okay. I received a very nice letter in the post from Meggers today. Andy Miller informed me that I had got mail and knew it was probably from a girl. One of the only other times he has talked to me was when I got mail from Amy B-berger a few weeks ago. He is a funny quiet leader-type of a guy that I wish I could talk to more. As my subject suggests though, he probably thinks I've got ladies in not only different area codes, but different hemispheres and continents. It is only funny to me because 1) it is not true and 2) he hasn't explicitly said something like "Tim, you're a pimp/ladies' man/legend." Let the record show that as of now, I do not support intercontential playa-participating. Charlie from "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is a character I relate to most of the time. I enjoy the Arctic Monkeys more each day. Tomorrow is new and I hope to be improved. Current Music: The Unicorns- Jellybones (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, February 20th, 2006
9:29 pm	Honey Bees and Stingers I acted like an idiot tonight. An absolute idiot. It is amazing the range of human emotion one can go through in one 12-hour span if he wants to: Excitement and hope and fated things in the laundry room, general faith in humanity in psych class about Carl Rogers, continued excitement and falling in hopeful teenage love at dinnertime, going to a few pubs and realizing no good is going to happen, going to a few more and getting hope again from a honeybee costume, to feeling crushed near the dancefloor, to being young and frustrated again, dancing like a yelling idiot with bad found sunglasses on like there is no tomorrow, to total dehydration and a sense of lost hope on the subject. England is a very good country sometimes and Emma is an amazing name that I learned. So many jars of honey in this world. Current Mood: Yearnin' Current Music: Bob Dylan- Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, February 19th, 2006
5:19 pm	Trying to Be Healthy This weekend, on a bus trip to York, I met an older man who I aspire to be like someday and a happy crazy little boy that I hope would be like my grandson someday. They were strangers like me, but were both so funny. York was a beautiful town, even without very many Vikings. Clifford's Tower was especially amazing to me: it is a lookout/protection tower built so long ago on a steep hill that would probably be the greatest sledding hill of my life. Down the street from it, there was a takeaway kebob/burger/pizza place called Ali G. I saw beautiful swans, happy dogs, pigeons fly on top of ladies, and some creepy looking statues at York Minster Cathedral that look like the Burger King king in their most recent advertisements. Also, she may not have been an authentic viking, but there was a viking lady in a crafts tent. If she is a Viking, she must be the most beautiful Viking I have seen yet in my life. A few blocks too late, a friend helped me figure out something to say to her, as simple as "I like your tunic" and see if it would have mader her day, just made her laugh, or whatever it would have done. Dang. I am trying to walk a fine line here at school between being funny and being a wiseass too much (it happens at my home Uni sometimes, too). I had a few good jam sessions this week and worked on some drumming by myself once as well, which I enjoy. I am starting to dream in British as well as American the past few weeks. I am remembering these dreams more vividly and with more frequency than at other points in my life. I guess I live here now. I have been away from the couple of other places I have called home for over one month now. What else can I say? I am trying to get healthier, get stronger, feel better in spirit, body, and mind of late. I have genuine hopes that everyone else is feeling well wherever they are right now. Though Peter and I have not heard from each other lately, I am particularly happy to read about him finding some happiness in his place lately. On this island of contradictions surrounded by an ocean of contradictions connected to an entire world of contradictions, I think I am the biggest one sometimes. Current Mood: Shrugs Current Music: Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 14th, 2006
11:20 am	Well there can't be love, for there is no true love (sung Jack White hysteria style) Whats does your personality rate from 1-10? by morning_prayer Your first full name Your personality rates a 5 your best quality is youre nice to everyone your worst quality is you get depressed sometimes this is because youre unique Quiz created with MemeGen! Current Mood: MOR Current Music: The White Stripes- One More Cup of Coffee (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, February 11th, 2006
8:28 pm	This is why I am so hungry in this country The amount of schoolwork has been low stress so far and I am laughing at nearly everything on a daily basis. That burned energy translates into extra hunger. With two French students, I watched my first rugby match this afternoon (France v. Ireland). It is as if American football did not have whistles and huddles. Brutal and fast, it is quite an amazing sport, though I do not know if I like it. France was up 43-3, but a late rally by the Irish made them nervous and France won 43-31. There are things to read tomorrow and a Quaker meeting to attend in the morning, so I should definitely get myself to sleep now. Current Mood: Laffy Taffy (Comment on this)
Friday, February 10th, 2006
9:24 pm	Dropping science like when Galileo dropped his orange This website is amazing: http://www.moire.com/beastieboys/samples/index.php I spent a heavy amount of today absorbing it. This site helps break down everything that went into the record that is Paul's Boutique. It is mind-boggling. Hidden amongst so many pop culture references, there are hidden political messages and stuff, or at least that is what I found out today. Certain bands I will always love like I did in prepubescent days and one of those bands is The Beastie Boys. I am on a huge B-Boys kick for the first time in quite awhile. They have grown up a ton in 20 years, as have I. And when you go back to the first two records, some of the stuff is so overly misogynist playboy life that it either had to be 1) a complete joke OR 2) if true, they were doing it on purpose just so they could apologize for it later in life OR 3) they had a ton of fun all those years back. None of this ultimately matters, because I do not know what they lived and what they are living now. The music is still exciting and fast and dense and heavy and chill and funny and I love it. This is sort of a lame update considering the lack of updates of late and where I am in the world. More to come later. Current Music: Black Keys- She Said, She Said (Comment on this)
Sunday, February 5th, 2006
6:57 pm	Super Bowl XL I am listening to a BBC on-line broadcast of the Super Bowl (let's go Seahawks--- Seattle= the capital of grunge rock (Sasquatch rock)). I have watched every Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXV, where the Buffalo Bills' Scott Norwood missed a field goal wide right to make me cry and write a letter to Coach Marv Levy (the closest my beloved Bills would get to winning the Super Bowl despite making it to 4 in a row). Life is okay, if not a little bit dull the past few days. But my mind will not let this boredom last. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, February 2nd, 2006
7:34 pm	Spicy Chow Mein This spicy chow mein has fixed (momentarily) at least the great hunger I have been feeling everyday since I've entered the country of England. It is the kind of good meal that can make me spill the most honest naked beans to anyone I encounter. This combined with a small shelf full of food makes me psychologically feel better. Some of my natural traits and tendencies are unwanted here, or at least I do not know where and with who and how to use them. Everyone is fun and looks good on the dance floor or at the pubs or at house parties, but the British disappear during the sober afternoon and my natural favorite place of outside in the relative British sunshine. I am trying to stop using worthless adverbs (truly, very, alot, honestly---always gotta be honest anyhow, and maybe a few others). I read a wonderful book about Pavement called Perfect Sound Forever, loaned to me by British neighbor Jimmy. We talked more than usual on account of a class we have together where the lecturer did not show up. I am supposed to visit Windsor and its castle this weekend. I bought a 3-disc collection of Johnny Cash's Sun Records recordings. He performs a song called "Sugartime" which is the melody and song nicked for one of my favorite old commercial jingles---Pizza Bagels. Sugar in the mornin', sugar in the evenin', sugar at suppertime and on and on and on with honey, pizza, any item, tangible or intangible, that you'd like. I got a funny postcard from Elaina a few days ago. Then Meaghan's letter arrived the next day. I hope I get to see her soon plus at Spring Break but who knows. I might get to see Alex at Spring Break, too. It could be awesome. I love my art history seminar tutor in the way that she treated us incredibly nice on the first day, got to know our names and where we came from, but still knows her stuff plenty well. She is a sweet lady named (Dr) Angela Smith and I wish that she did all the lectures, too. I miss my drum kit and the one I found down the road here is rubbish. No cymbals except hi-hats that look like they were hit by a dump truck then rolled back over with a cement mixer. The kick pedal is completely busted. Sticks on various surfaces of my room will have to do for now. This post will have to do for now, too. I hope this spicy chow mein good feeling and openness carries into tomorrow. I wish myself and my existless valentine were seeing Oasis in Nottingham on 14 February. Alas, the show has sold out and the American dollar does not go so far. I do not know if eleven days is enough time to find a British sugar mama that is that much rock and roll. Wishful thinking is a necessary way for me to live. Happy-go-lucky is a fair outsider evaluation of my spirit and I can usually be both. Oh, I also went to a Quaker meeting last Sunday morning after getting puked on at a house party on Saturday nite. I liked how things worked there. Maybe I am do for a Late Bloomer growth spurt. A bit of mass to the old skinny arms could be nice. Whatever happens, I'll craft some good from it. Current Mood: Spicy Chow Mein/Happy-Go-Lucky Current Music: Johnny Cash's Sun Recordings and Pavement B-Sides (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, January 26th, 2006
6:39 pm	Anticipation has a habit to set you up for disappointment Orange Tango is an interesting British fizzy drink (fizzy drink= sodapop) that smells like Sunny Delight but does not taste like it. Has anyone in this world read much Samuel Beckett? We are starting with his work "Endgame" in post-modern writing. I am outmatched in that class, but am going to try and enjoy it and bring my A-game. Because of a seemingly light class schedule, I am in the habit of staying up fairly late, waking up at 8:20 A.M., throwing a bouncy ball at my American friend's Amanda's window across the way in Black Block to wake her up for breakfast, getting hot breakfast which I always hope features Hoopios (what the lady called the Spaghetti-O's they serve at breakfast) and hash browns, and then go back to bed for a few hours with strange dreams and frustration at my lack of energy. Where is my motivation, I got no motivation. This morning, I had a strange Back to the Future type dream where I was helping my brother get the timing right to arrive at the optometrist's office at the perfectly right time for him to meet the love of his life and future wife or something. I think we got the introduction right but I did not sleep enough more to know if the love happened. Cassie Duke and I are becoming better friends all the time and we help make the other American students laugh a bunch. The Arctic Monkeys' debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (I think that's a bad album title-Strike One) sold 118,501 copies on its first day of release Monday in the UK. I was the one in that figure. They are a pretty good band that sound alot like The Clash or The Libertines. The New Musical Express has given the record a perfect score and already ranked it the 5th best British album of all time, ahead of Revolver, Rubber Soul, London Calling, OK Computer, The White Album, My Generation, (What's The Story) Morning Glory, Paranoid, Kid A, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars, Let It Bleed, Exile On Main St, Up The Bracket, Zep II and IV, Parachutes, Hunky Dory, and The Specials (though they compare the climate and attitude of The Specials 27 years ago to Arctic Monkeys now) amongst others. I love the hype of the British rock and roll press. The album has a terrible cover sleeve of a guy smoking a cigarette (Strike Two) and these kids that are rock kings now are 19-20 years old. But the record is good rock and roll that gets better with each listen. And like it alot or a little or not at all, it is crazy to fathom that a true rock record can top the charts in America anymore (both the singles chart and album chart!!!---by a debut record!!!). The internet built the hype for A-Monkeys as they posted demos online as they waited to sign a record deal and the excitement volcano built. From listening to this record and The Libertines' Up the Bracket (another band adored here a few years ago---the other biggest band since Oasis thing---which has since gone to The Arctic Monkeys as Pete Doherty struggles continue), I love how dense lyrically the Brit garagepunkrock is. It is almost like hip-hop the way certain ideas come. And The Arctic Monkeys, kinda like Kanye West back in the States, if I am understanding parts correctly, sort of reflect an attitude of being honest and not faking a gangster, street-thug, or tough guy thing. They have songs about fancying girls and wanting to dance with them, songs about how things change when the sun goes down (like me being told to avoid Victoria Park after dark--- more men get raped/mugged there than women legend has it), and turning down the street life of prostitutes, pimps, thugs yet understanding its appeal socioeconomically, much like America's Kanye West. Maybe I am making too many inferences and giving the artist's too much credit (particularly A-Monkeys), but that is my evaluation right now. The record comes out in the States in February (the 21st I wanna say) and I'd recommend checking it out. Not because it will be the 5th best British record you'll ever here or even the 5th best record of the past couple of years. But just to see and hear what Britain feels so strongly. It sounds alot like American garage rock that has been around for years and years from hard-working bands who will be fortunate to sell 118,501 records in their entire career. It is a good, fun record. What a world. Our dollar is worth nothing here, but my dollar store hat has taken this part of campus by storm. I am having a hard time telling if a few people actually like me or if they are making fun by talking to the funny American. Two occasions come to mind. Some soccer fans at a pub called The Old Library waved to me on a walk on the street and had me come in and watch some soccer with them. First, they took about 10 or 12 pictures of me with cameraphones and digicams. I am going to go back. They were just friendly overall (even if they just laughed at my orange get-up). Also, I danced a few dances with this British girl named Elly at a cheesy discotheque called Zanzibar's on Monday night. Dorm blocks are kind of like gangs around here. Chants were shouted against other dorm's chants on the free Beaver Bus to the nightclubs on Monday night. It is wildly cool, as are many other things here. Friday is nearly here, and this particular one means another birthday party and no class, though I promise to read Beckett, hopefully more of the Cash autobio that I am loving (thanks to Alex), and just write or think some more. Solitude is good sometimes. "Cheers" or "Cheers, Mate" seems to have infinite meanings and applications here (Good Day, Hello, Excuse Me, Thank You, You're Welcome, What's Up, No Problem, No Worries, plus more I am sure) so I will end this with a universal "Cheers, mate" to all of you. Cheers, Mate. TJF Current Music: The Strokes- Red Light (7 Comments |Comment on this)