All Aboard
We had a little party for Sam with just us, in the midst of everyone's stomach flu-y-ness. Sam decided that that this year he would like a birthday. (Last year, he famously refused to have one cuz he didn't want to turn 4 for some reason.)
Gabe made a poster for him of a train, carrying cargo of candy and cake and ice cream and stremers [sic], which was very sweet of him, since trains are the greatest invention in the world, according to Sam.

Big Plans for Everybody
Someday, perhaps only in my dreams, the site redesign will be complete.
(hint, hint, you know who)

Now You See It
I've decided to lie again.

Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do
Heresy: As things were being swept up for the night at Fez, I heard the bartender say to a friend or coworker: "So who is this clown? Do you like him?" There, in the heart of hipness, it had to be asked? My whole world is shaken.

Also, people may have posed for snaps or gotten a scribble on their CD, but I got a one of a kind souvenir. I sprayed it with clear enamel to protect it.

I am so cool.
I am cooler still for not selling my extra Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey EPs for $70 on eBay, like some a**h**e.

I may be able to resurrect the botched recording. It will play with VLC, but I don't know how to get it out of there. QuickTime won't play it and no other audio program I have will either. There must be some sort of sound version of Graphic Converter out there.

The Successful Campaign of Corporal Bradley
Colin Meloy at Fez, 24 January 2005
1800 hrs: Depart for NYC. Drive to Hoboken. Find parking. Walk to train station. Navigate automated ticketing machinery.
2000: Arrive in NYC. Wander around 14th St. Virgin Megastore, etc.
2100: Mess Hall (Au Bon Pain)
2200: Arrive at Fez, to meet with Major Winters. Drink Bass. Annoy Colin, Carson and her parents at their dinnner table. Present gifts. Carson and Colin seem to remember me. Colin signs my Kyser capo. Meet Maj Winters and his noncommissioned officers, take seats in booth to hear Colin soundcheck while I set up iPod for recording. Begin drinking coffee.
2300: Show scheduled to commence. Begins shortly thereafter.
0010: iPod loses power, totally botches recording. Cease drinking coffee.
0300: After returning Maj Winters to his Jersey City command post, recon'ing the JC/Hoboken side streets, finding way back to highway, finally return to Camp Karaces.

Colin was in really rare form, joking, telling stories, adding asides mid-verse, playing really well, especially the seque between the California One and Youth & Beauty Brigade. Some have suggested that he was quoting other songs. He did play a Cheap Trick(!) cover at the end, which was odd, as most indie kids aren't familiar with their discography, are they?

Try Again
No show. Well, there was one (well-attended, by the reports), but we didn't risk life and limb to get there, since there's another one on Monday. A few people who couldn't get there posted some grouchy little rants on the Decemberists message board. Understandable, I guess. I would be sad too if it wasn't for Brian, who deserves super appreciation for arranging the show and my chance to see it. No matter what those irate fans in the Tri-State area say.
We'll dig out today, have Sam's birthday party, eat some venison jerky, too. And drink beers, My brother in law has a great love for beer. In a good way.

I don't think this really conveys the magnitude of snow, but it's all snow, all the time.

There Is No Justice
OK, I'm in NJ, but it looks like we're not going to the Colin Meloy solo show at Fez in NYC. We trekked across the frozen tundra of PA, but it may all be to no avail. Until Monday. Maybe we'll stick around to see the old boy then.

Things We Like This Week
Questionable Content. Cute indie-boy meets cute indie-girl story. Someday Faye and Marten will get it on!
The Importance of Being Morrissey documentary.
The tour-only EP, Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey. Truly, YOU are the quarry.

Rebel Without a Cause
In the past I've made my feelings about dopers in cycling quite clear: they should be drawn and quartered. The thing with Tyler Hamilton just makes me sick. I am sure, SURE!, that one day Lance will be exposed, plus he's a smug, wife-leaving bastard, so I despise him. I hate seeing his yellow bands everywhere (yes, I know the proceeds go to cancer research). A local store had knock-off bands in all colors, so I got me a black one.

(Head in Hands, Weeping Softly)
I can no longer live a lie. For over a year I have been pretending. The truth is I don't always post things on the dates they say. I change it right before posting, to make it appear that there is a post for every day. But this week I misplaced a slew of doodles and couldn't find them until today. So here they are, the awful truth. I won't even pretend that one was posted each day. It's just not worth the trouble anymore. But it does feel good to get this off my chest. sniff.

Also, in my last post where it says "they" it means "that old hippy". Who is actually exceedingly nice to me when I come in with stupid questions and please-give-me-a-discount puppy dog eyes.

Guitar Epilogue
I got it back today! They lowered the action, set the intonation, put the pickups at the right heights, and gave me an A-OK on the electronics. Well, the bridge pickup could be moved a little forward, then it would adjust better. I'd have to fill in the holes and drill new ones, so that's a project for later. It plays now, just fine. Plus those were the pre-drilled holes. How was I to know?

What Fresh Weirdness Is This?
I got this strange email today. On an account I never use. It must be some kind of creepy spam, right? The return address is in Greece.

Fush beshlomo
I think a bishop who doesn't give offence to anyone is probably not a good bishop.
Aim at heaven, and you will get earth thrown in aim at earth, and you will get neither.
Life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim.
What is to give light must endure the burning. The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses. Pity the selfishness of lovers: it is brief, a forlorn hope it is impossible.
Reason is our soul's left hand, faith her right, by these we reach divinity.
A philosopher who is not taking part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring.
Never a lip is curved with pain That can't be kissed into smiles again.
The apparel oft proclaims the man. If it is not right do not do it if it is not true do not say it.
Dissipation is a form of self-sacrifice.
One has not great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound.
Don't just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it. I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first.
Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.
Enthusiasm... the sustaining power of all great action.Great talker, great liar.

So, what's so bad about Birmingham?
At the end was an offer to meet a "hot chick." So that's what kind of spam it is! Several years ago I got some porn spam from "bigbutts.com." No thanks! But it always makes me laugh.

Seeing Is Not Always Believing
It doesn't get much press here (because it's boring, even with videos to watch) but I'm still spinning, trying to stay in some kind of shape. Lauran is too.

Gross
"You needed to save your bandwidth for this?"
Sure, it makes me laugh. Is it just an old Far Side that I'm remembering? Surely this is not original.

Hideout in the Pyrenees

Idiots Guide to Being an Idiot

Piece de Resistance

New Years Rx-solution
Last year, my only resolution was to get a new pair of Doc Martens. I did that in February, so I had the rest of the year to be pleased with myself.
This year I will start with contentment and then move through dark valleys of bitter depression and self-loathing. Thought I'd mix it up a bit.

Just kidding. The medicine they give me here keeps me happy all day long.

New project. Matt doesn't approve. Well, he's not being judgmental or anything, he just thinks I should work on guitar first. He's right, of course.

Steve, my online guitar tech friend across the Atlantic gave me another template to cut the correct shape, and Jamie gave me another stencil for the script logo. There's another painting on the body of this one. It was all supposed to be a secret. Perhaps I'll post it someday.