Ugh!

I spent 30 minutes standing outside of my former professor's classroom yesterday waiting to ask her for a letter of recommendation. Finally, the student she is conversing with left and I had my chance. It had been 3+ years since I last spoke with this professor, but she remembered me. Sadly, unlike the last two professors I asked for a letter, she wants me to bring her papers I wrote for her classes, and my letter of purpose that I will be submitting with my application for the Master's program. All this to get a letter. Bullshit! But I have no choice since most of my professors have retired or moved on to other schools since I graduated. I should be writing the paper now, but I'm exhausted.

Our show on Wednesday may be cancelled. Dearly Departed dropped off due to not having enough time to get their new guitarist, Jon, ready to play their older songs. I'm still waiting on word on the status.

On a lighter note, we have another show... Tomorrow night. We're playing @ Empire Disc in Garden City w/ Gracer and, well, I'm not sure who else. We were asked late last night and got a confirmation from all members just recently. So I'll try to get all of the details soon. I know it starts at 10pm.

I'm convinced that most customers suffer a mild mental defect. They never seem to hear what you are saying. They hear what they think you are saying. And sometimes they refuse to hear what you are saying. They live in denial. For example: I'll state, "We don't have that shoe in your size, but I can bring out the shoe in another color so you can try it on fir size, then I can order the shoe in the color you want." The normal response I get is, "No, I don't want it in another color." Notice how they ignored the part about 'only trying the other color for size' and 'ordering the color they want.' As for refusing to hear what they are being told, well, this one is my favorite. The customer will ask for a 9 1/2, and I'll respond, "I only have an 8 or a 13." To this I'm asked, "So you don't have 9 1/2? What about a 10?" I always want to ask, "Are you really this stupid? Did you listen to anything I just said?" Oh, people! Why must you push me closer to insanity every day?

Much to do. Later.

-Sergei xo

Song of the Day:
Burning Airlines: The Escape Engine

Ahhh... eBay!

I love eBay. New CD's are on the way. Since yesterday I bought Ryan Ferguson's (ex-No Knife) solo EP, "Three, Four," and Kind of Like Spitting's "You Secretly Want me Dead" and "One hundred Dollar Room." Ahhh... New music! I considered searching for new t-shirts, but I'll probably pick some up at some of the shows I'm going to over the next couple of months.

Remember that stop sign mentioned a few blogs ago? It's gone. Either the town is messing with me or some daring person took it upon themselve to remove the pointless sign. If it was the latter, I commend this person for his/her actions. Kudos!

WEIH website update!
I forgot to mention this last night: Sean spoke with Lee, who found the backup disc for our website. They are meeting on Friday to get the site back up. This means the old blogger will be back as well. There is now a debate over whether we will make this blog the new WEIH blogger or if we will bring back the old blogger. It's a tough decision. I've grown attached to this blogger over the past few days. What we may do is bring back the old blogger, but put a link on it to this blogger. This way, if the other blogger goes down, people can access this blog for updates. And, of course, there will be a link to the WEIH blog set up on this page. Another idea I had was to post the new blogs on both sites. That's the direction I am leaning at the moment.

I need more new music. New bands to listen to. If anyone has any recommendations, email me: exmidget@hotmail.com. Just no metal, hardcore, or pseudo-emo nonsense (basically, no bands in which the members have silly haircuts and wear fake, vintage T's with $200 jeans). Thanks!

Time to do something else. Later.

-Sergei xo

p.s. - Midgets are nature's comedy.

Song of the Day:
Ryan Ferguson - Not On My Watch

Geetars, day 1

I'm feeling rather accomplished, sitting here, sipping on my celebratory beverage. Can you guess it's recipe? If you know me, I'm sure you can. Guitar tracking began tonight and went smoothly. With Sean at the controls, and Lou out of control jokingly playing Metallica riffs in the control room to torture Sean, I recorded some clean guitar tracks for a few songs. My guitar of choice for tonight's session was my '58 Gretsch Clipper. What was extra special about tonight's recording session is that this guitar was my Dad's first guitar. It was given to him by his grandfather when he was 17. It will also be the first guitar heard on the album. I'm quite excited. I also plan to use the other Gretsch guitars my Dad gave me on various tracks. Here's the list of what was accomplished tonight. Feel free to scroll down if you don't care.

"Perfect Endings" - All clean guitars
"Channels" - All clean guitars
"Silhouettes" - All clean guitars
"A Game of Lines Crossed" - All clean guitars
"Bridge Lights" - Clean guitar during bridge

I didn't get that haircut. Perhaps I'll have time in the morning. It's not that my hair is long. I just have really thick, annoying hair. The longer it gets, the more difficult it is to control. Granted, even short it's bothersome, and most days are bad hair days. But I start to feel frustrated when its thickness becomes apparent.

Tonight we established that Lou hates the word "blog." Sean & I saying blog gets the same reaction from Lou as the one Sean & I give when Lou plays Metallica. Seriously, I hate that band. Lars is the worst drummer, and biggest moron I have ever seen. If anyone is in need of a good laugh, rent the Metallica documentary "Some Kind of Monster." So ridiculous.

Ok, I have more celebrating to do. Later on.

-Sergei xo

Song of the Day:
American Football - Five Silent Miles

Superpowers

I'm beginning to believe that one, if not all, of my family members wield superpowers. What kind of superpowers you ask? None other than the ability to always use up to the last sheet on the paper towel roll, but never need that last sheet. How do I know this? Well, every few days I come home and find paper towel roll still on the dispenser with only the last sheet remaining. Impressive, I know. How does one always make it to the last sheet without the need to get a new, replacement roll? Luckily, I have my own superpower. I have the ability to replace the roll. I like to think I use my power for good... the good of the person(s) who seem to use up the roll but never replace it.

"Airline" is funny show sometimes. I just saw a guy complaining because a ticket checker stepped on the toe of his invisible wife, claiming that his invisible wife thinks it may be broken. He demanded an ice pack for her. An invisible wife... Wow! He even bought a second seat for her. ...... Wait! Wait! Damn it!!! It was an April Fools joke played on the manager by the staff. Great, they got me too. I could erase this to seem less foolish, but forget it. It's not the first time I felt foolish. It's too bad it was a joke. Crazy people are amusing.

I need to get some sleep. I'm hoping to get a haircut in the morning. It's time to start the cycle of bad hair days again. Life was much easier when I shaved my head every few weeks.

Goodnight!

-Sergei xo

Song of the Day:
Death Cab For Cutie - Tiny Vessels

*cough

Fuckin' colds! It's in my lungs and has returned to my right ear. The sinuses are ok for now, but that can always change and often does. I'm feeling mildly feverish right now, so I despite a mild chill I don't want to put on my Owen sweatshirt. I refuse to give my sickness a warm place to set up camp. Perhaps this sickness is like the curse in The Ring. I have seven days to pass it on to some unlucky soul, who in turn will have seven days to do the same. This may be the only way to save oneself from certain death.

Today was supposed to be the start of guitar tracking. This, of course, did not happen. I left work feeling quite rundown. I faked it well over the course of the day, but I could feel the cold eating at my brain and leaving my body with slight aches. Luckily, there were external issues at hand which, with extensive bitching, helped take my mind off my internal battles. And so I continue the war for good health.

Speaking of my Owen sweatshirt, I bought it at the Asbury Park show back in February. Initially, I thought it was a T-shirt, but just before purchasing it realized it was a pullover hoodie. Though for only $20 it was hard to resist, despite it being too big. I now use it for lounging around my current living space. I considered using it for running on colder days, once I get back to running, but having a friend living next door named Owen, it seems a bit odd to run around town wearing this hoodie. Especially since the name "Owen" is spelled out in pink letters. I imagine his parents would see this and begin to wonder. So I guess it shall remain my indoor hoodie.

Ugh! I can taste the sickness in my throat.

Ok, I have to get back to reading. I'd rather take another long nap, but I have too much work to do.

-Sergei xo

p.s. Batman is awesome!

Song of the Day:
No Knife - Brush Off

The stalker

We have a stalker problem at work. A strange person has been lingering around the Journeys Kidz store and harassing some of the girls. The first time he appeared he was asking what time the store closed and when they opened in the morning, or something along those lines. Then he was spotted lingering around behind one of the dumpsters later that night, and he then followed some of the employees across the parking lot. He and his beat-up car have since been seen a few times, making several employees feel uncomfortable. Well, last night got more screwed up. One of the girls had an encounter with him in front of her house at around 3am. He must have followed her home, and possibly hung out in her neighborhood while she was out at a diner with friends. She wasn't attacked, but having some weird guy follow her down the block, park in front of her house, then try to hold a conversation with her while blocking her driveway is really fucked up. She eventually got him to go away and she pulled into her driveway, ran inside and called the cops. (This, of course, was the shortened version) So, yeah, things are a bit crazy at the store these days.

I feel like garbage. Seriously, I'm completely housed. I'm not even sure why I'm still awake right now. Damn, post-practice burst of energy!!!

Ok, I need to attempt to get some sleep.

Goodnight!

-Sergei xo

Song of the Day:
Samiam - Dull

Exhaustion & Homework

Why the hell am I so tired? My sinuses feel dry and raw, my left ear is slightly congested (is that possible?), and now my throat is getting sore on the left side. I think I'm developing another cold. Maybe the one I passed on has been returned. Damn! I was sure I called "No backsies."

I have to read "The Female American" for my class on Tuesday, but I have absolutely no energy. Seriously, I may take another nap after typing this blog. I should have started this last week, but I had the same cold-like illness on the right side of my head. Perhaps my body is fighting for balance.

I bought a couple of used DVD's today. Run Lola Run & Traffic. Only cost me $19.53 after tax. Every time I go to FYE I'm rung up by a woman with a moustache. I'm not trying to be mean, but, C'mon, how does she not notice her own moustache? It's really creepy. One good, sticky strip of tape could thin that hairy monster out. Just one strip, I tell ya.

Every week I consider growing a beard. Of course, this is because I lack the desire to shave. Then when the it starts to itch I shave and the cycle starts again.

My eyes are starting to burn. I'm done.

-Sergei xo

Song of the Day:
Sunny Day Real Estate - Seven

Who the hell added a stop sign?

I've been informed of a new stop sign that was installed at the base of the entrance ramp connecting route 27A to route 27 East. I did not notice this stop sign, despite using said entrance ramp today, which could have been bad had a cop been there to ticket me for running a stop sign. But seriously, who the hell thought it was a bright idea to add a stop sign there? The entrance ramp leads all cars into their own lane. The left-hand lane is a separate entrance lane from the main section of highway to the service road. Unless the driver in the left-hand lane decides to cut sharply into the right lane upon entering the service road, which would be absurd, there is no reason for a stop sign. I'm guessing that it's a way for cops to issue more tickets to unsuspecting drivers. A bullshit move, I might add.

So, yeah, this is day two of my new backup blog. It feels good. I'm feeling quite chatty. Not sure if this is a good thing, but, of course, no one is forcing you to read this either.

I still hate our president and vice president. Just thought I would add that. Seriously, fuck them!

I'm in need of new music. I have purchased a few new CD's over the past month or two, and they have been good for the most part. Best purchases include Kind of Like Spitting's "Bridges Worth Burning" and Doves' "Some Cities." Other albums were good, but failed to inspire me musically. I need something new to blow my mind. Oh, and I should definitely give some respect to Con Amore for their six song EP. One of the best local CD's I have picked up in a long while. Rachel is amazing. 'Nuf said.

Ok, yesterdays blog was insanely long, so I'll cut this one short. The night is still young, so I don't want to ramble on before I know how the day ends.

Later on.

-Sergei xo

Song of the Day:
Doves - Sky Starts Falling

First blog on the new backup blogger!

Ok, so it has been several months since I last blogged, and even longer since anyone has been able to read one of my blogs. I have missed my old blogger severely. Sean has been talking with our friend Lee about getting our old website moved to the new server, but things have been slow to happen. In their defense, Sean flipped his car and needed to find a new one (not always an easy task) and Lee is one of the busiest people I know. But the band site will one day be back up, I assure you.

Speaking of band related things, we're playing a show on Wednesday, April 5th with Dearly Departed, Sleeper Set Sail, and Marigold. I'll post the info when I'm not feeling so lazy. Also, the drum & bass tracks for our new album, Blueprints, are complete. I'm hoping to start recording the guitar tracks sometime this week (Sean? Yes? No?). We'll see what happens. When I first said I wanted to write a concept record, I thought, "what the fuck am I getting myself into?!?" But now I'm really excited. Some of the lyrics are still being worked out, and subtle changes will most likely be made to song structures, but the overall concept is solid, and we keep coming up with new ways to tie the album together. Not only will the album have a plot, it will have a overall tone that will weave in and out of the songs like a thread. This will allow the album to loop from the last song back into the first song. I hope everyone likes it.

As for me, well, my life has been crazy for the past several months. If I were to share all the details, I would find myself typing for the next few hours. Since it is almost 4am, I will give the super-fast edited version. For the first time in almost eight years I am single again, I am living at home with my parents and occupying my old room. It doesn't feel like my room anymore, and probably never will again. Most of my possessions are in boxes. With no where to put them, they will remain there until I move out again one day. I have almost completely paid of my credit card, which was out of control. I bought a new computer (a 14" iBook). My first laptop. I'm still excited. I have seen several shows and have tickets to several more. That's always a plus. Though I'm only taking one class, it's exhausting. Well, no one ever said Neoclassical Literature was easy. I took the GRE's finally. That sucked. I need to get my last letter of recommendation for the Master's program. If I don't get in, I'm fucked. To sum it all up: I have no idea what is happening with my life. It's a strange time. Do I feel lost? You bet. I just have to keep telling myself that even the worst days get better.

Other things I'm looking forward to: Nicole & Keith's wedding in May. I'll be going to Tennessee for the first time. It will also be my first vacation in four years (not counting bronchitis). I miss Nicole. She's one of the greatest people I have ever been lucky enough to become friends with.

I can't wait for warm weather to come again. I want to go running. It's funny, I don't even enjoy running, but I feel so accomplished when I finish. And sometimes when I run I want to keep running. I want to run clear across the country. Though I know my knees would hate me for it and most likely buckle under the pressure.

I work a lot these days. It helps me pay off my debt and will help me afford my trip to TN, as well as the gift my brother and I are planning for my mom, but it doesn't allow me to have much of a life. I don't see my friends too often. That's something I need to fix before they all forget me. Though I did hang out with Lou on St. Patrick's Day. We drank at Katie Mc's from 10pm-5am, when the bar closed. I drank so much that I couldn't speak. Drinking such massive quantities is not something I do often, but I figured I should take advantage of not having to drive for once. The 3 1/2 hours of sleep that followed only contributed to the hangover I had to deal with at work the next day. Yeah, I was completely housed.

Ok, it's now after 4am and I should have gone to bed hours ago. I don't sleep enough. I despise sleeping actually. Well, to be honest, I love sleeping. It's going to sleep and waking up that I despise. But that's a topic for another blog.

For those who have made it to the bottom of this blog...

Goodnight!

-Sergei xo

p.s. - I still hate spiders.

Song of the Day:
matt pond PA - Measure 3