There's this cookie in my room

There’s this cookie I’ve been holding on to for about two weeks now. Had it since I left for Chicago. I just ate it a few moments ago.

I’m in my new room in my new apartment sitting on my new bed. Lots of new things. Man was my move a bust, complete disaster. The woman whose studio I was supposed to be subletting in midtown east turned out to be a crazy. I should have listened to my sister. She advised me of the psychotic ways of older woman with frazzled hair and four cats. I didn’t listen.

Anyhow, the cat lady is in the past. I now live in Long Island City, two blocks from six different trains and only one stop from Manhattan. I like it. How I ended up here is anyone’s guess. I was in a jam, needed a place fast. I gave my old roommates notice of my departure, was smiling all the way, and then bam - I found myself sleeping on the couch, having to move my stuff out to make room for the new roommate, the new me. It was bad.

So the new apartment, new neighborhood, new bed and new me are mixing things up a bit. I now order fresh direct because the local food store consists of Gabe’s Food. They have a little bit of everything and a lot of nothing. I am on my second day of getting up extra early in order to work out before taking a shower and going to work. I like it. However, most of my work out routines last seven days - 10 days tops. I’ll keep you posted.

I need to buy new work shoes because my current ones are starting to smell. Need to buy new work pants because my current ones are getting holes in them, and I need to buy new work socks because I can’t find half of them. I have this mental block when it comes to buying work clothes. I hate work clothes. But, being that the new Dave has a little more sense than the old Dave, he realized that he is spending on average 40 hours a week in his work clothes (not including the time commuting), and given the fact that there’s 168 hours in a week, of which a minimum of 35 hours are spent sleeping (aka no clothes), then one could come to the conclusion that 168 minus 35 equals 133. And 40 divided into 133 equals approximately .30. Bam. Thirty percent of my week is spent in my work clothes. I really need to buy more work clothes.

While on the topic of work clothes, I have to say how uncool I feel in them. Button down shirt, dress pants, belt...Tuck in your shirt, don’t tuck in your shirt but wonder if people are going to talk about your untucked shirt. Black socks, black shoes. Brown belt, brown shoes. Iron. Everything must be ironed. This whole work clothes situation can kill a man. Makes you common, predictable. I know what you’re about work clothes. I see you.

I believe it to be my duty to take pictures of my new apartment, and my new room, and of course my new bed. I will take them and post them. I will do just that. Just remind me.

If you’ve heard about the Virgin Festival (.com) then you’ve heard about the massive dance/electronica tent. I helped build that lineup. Being the electronica connoisseur that I am, I was able to get Holden, RJD2, 2 Many Djs, Diggers and Cox under the same tent. Tiesto is in too, but that wasn’t my call. I would have left him out. So I’m not sure if I want to film the dance tent or if I want to invite a bunch of friends, get them a bunch of artist passes and take a bunch of drugs. I’m still sitting on that one.
But I really need to make up my mind soon. If I decide to go with the friends route, I will have to inform them. People are busy these days. They need notice. Fuck. Work or no work? Film or friends? Friends or film? Both? Nah that never works.

Been super busy.

Shit.
It's been a long time since I've posted.
I was trying to stay with it daily, or even every other day. Just hasn't worked out.
I have a ton of pictures and reviews from Lollapalooza.

The girl I stayed with turned out to be SUPER cool,
and a BABE.
Her friends were really awesome as well.

I should be in my new apartment by now but the shit hit the fan and now I'm totally screwed, sleeping on the couch of my old apartment.
Funny how things work out.

I have a wedding coming up and need to buy or borrow a sharp suit.

My friends are calling me and I just haven't been returning calls.

I've stayed late at work the past three days and STILL can't dig myself out.

Being stressed out blows.

It started to downpour on my way home tonight.
I decided to walk it.
It felt refreshing to just get soaked and laugh in the rain.
Like a kid again.

I've included a clip below from one of the bands I really enjoyed at Lollapalooza.
Give me about a week, maybe two, and I'll have a short 10 minute film about the festival posted.
(I'm sorry if the file is very large. I have no time to compress it right now.)

Bye.

10 minutes 34 seconds

That's how much time is left on my current download.
I have work again tomorrow.
Mon-Fri. So monotonous.
Life would be so boring if you didn't have other interests, other goals.
I think about these people I work with.
The lifers.
How do they do it?
I guess it's just a different breed.
I went for a skate today.
It was nice.
Contemplated smoking a joint but overpowered the urge.
I'm trying to get my motivation back.
If I had it my way, I'd stop smoking entirely.
Well that's not entirely true. I'd smoke like once a month.
Ohh, giddy. 4 minutes left.
Two of my work associates were fired in the past 10 days.
Corporate said 'They weren't the right fit.'
My boss asked if I was OK.
I was thinking of going to the Mets game today.
I called my dad to see if he wanted to go.
He said no. Said he is old now. He has a daily routine. And me calling him out of the blue asking to go to the Mets game would pull him out of his routine. Stun him. Potentially give him a heart attack. Leave him dead on the floor. Quivering.
He did mention he was looking forward to his birthday (July, 28).
I'll have dinner plans made by Friday.
My mom called to remind me about her retirement dinner on August 8th. Not even 60 and retiring. She was a teacher. Broke her heart I never finished all four years of college.
I think college is a bit overrated though.
Kinda like training wheels.
I'm getting more and more excited about moving into my new apartment.
My current living condition has become stale.
I used to move my bed around. Rearrange my shelves every 4-5 months.
I ran out of different configurations last cycle.
I can't wait for the new energy.
Download complete.
Good night.

Citay, Psychic Ills, Vetiver play Tonic NYC

Last night (Thursday, July 20) the scene for me was Tonic with Vetiver, the Psychic Ills and Citay.  With the downstairs closed, Tonic reminded me of one of those trailers you had when your high school was overpopulated.  Small, hot, awkwardly intimate.

Citay started the night with jam band filler.  Their set quickly became background music; Something to tap along to while waiting for the bartender to notice you.  The only songs that were enjoyable were the ones the lead singer didn't participate in.

The Psychic Ills took the stage next.  
Take your friend who likes to see how long he can go without sleep and throw him on stage with your other friend who always had the better chemistry set than you, and what you have done is just mirrored the insanity that is the Psychic Ills.  It wouldn't be appropriate for me to continue with this review without mentioning the sexy female bassist who was melting the hearts of both boys and girls alike.  
So, what about the music?
The Psychic Ills will be the next big thing, just not this minute.
Dins, their most recent release should have been a four track EP versus a complete record.  Anyone whose listened to their full record will tell you how the whole thing blends together in a hodgepodge of noise.  It's the occasional stunner like January Rain that peeks your interest, makes you realize there's something there.  The live performance was the same as the album.  If the Ills would take the time to shape each individual song instead of blurring them all together they'd probably avoid getting swallowed up in the tidal wave of sound they produce.  I've put the Psychic Ills on hold for the next year until they mature a bit.

Ahh, and now Vetiver.
"People were coming up to me saying I look Amish, I thought they said honest."
That's how Andy opened the night.  He does look honest.
There's a certain warmth wrapped around Vetiver's songs.
Oh Papa came first.
It's unfortunate that such a beautiful song was lost by background chatter and the sounds of people settling.  Approximately four songs later Vetiver picked it up with You May Be Blue, and from that point on we were cruising.  We dropped our trousers for Red Lantern Girls, a kid in the front screamed for the brake down and Andy responded with "Holy Guacamole."  Vetiver has the ability to take a rather placid song and infuse it with a seven member liveliness.  This is what makes seeing them live so great.  They have the gift of knowing what you want to hear, when you want to hear it.

Craig's List & Marshalls

I decided to take my hunt for a place to crash during Lollapalooza to Craig's List Chicago.
I posted a brief description about myself under "Housing Wanted."
These were a few of the responses I received...
--
Steve lastnamewitheld
to hous-183174229--

generous guy here with big house in lincoln park

we might be able to work things out where i wouldn't need any rent

let me know if interested

$teve
--
(This is beyond shady. Work things out? What could he possibly be implying? Maybe water his plants? Take out the garbage? He even signs his name Steve with a dollar sign.)
--

Hi, are you still looking for a place?
I might be able to accomodate you. I am about 3 blocks from Grant Park. Let me know.

Thanks!
Yin
--
(This was the one. I'm not sure if it's my thing for asian girls or that her apartment is three blocks from the festivities, but I'm excited about this one. I wrote her back, then we talked on the phone. She said she thought this would work out but that she had to first clear it with her roommate. I'll update you tomorrow. Very excited about this one!)
--

I received seven other responses.
All seemed like very cool people.
I decided not to respond and keep my fingers crossed about Yins place.
I like the idea of crashing with a complete stranger.
It mixes things up. Adds a little adventure, a twist. Who knows what I'll walk into.


Today was a funny day all around.
People started to call me about my Marshalls back to school ad.
Appropriately busting on me.
The Internet ad is funny. I haven't seen the one in the newspapers or the stores yet.

My day went something like this...

(audio required)

[video malfunction. will try and post later today.]

Music:
Oasis - Wonderwall
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Another Morning Stoner
Mazzy Star - Into Dust
Thom Yorke - And It Rained All Night
Royksopp - Remind Me


P.S. I'm looking for a place to crash in Chicago during Lollapalooza. Know of an apartment?

Coney Island is an hour away...eh forget it.

I was trying to make it to Coney Island yesterday for the Village Voice Siren Fest but instead found myself unable to leave my roommates room, taking full advantage of his AC unit.  
However, the day wasn't entirely lost.  
I did manage to leave a deposit on my new apartment.  
I also spoke about the band Vetiver with one of my other roommates. We started to get giddy over the thought of his/their upcoming show at Tonic on the 20th.  He/they will be doing an in-store at Other Music the same day around 8pm.  
I ended the night by eating some mushrooms and watching the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with yet another roommate.

Perhaps more interesting than my night is the thought of how entertaining having seven roommates can be.
Why is it that you always realize these things the moment before you lose them?
Anyway, after Charlie and my shrooming, I headed upstairs to write down the things I'll be taking with me.
I thought about if I'll keep in touch with my old roommates, my friends for the past two years...

--

I found this clip of Aaron. (He's the one whose AC filled room kept me from the Siren Fest. )
It was taken about 10 hrs in, on our way to Bonnarro.
He's completey blacked out; borderline dead.
-
In order to fully understand the video below, you should know this picture was taken about five hours earlier.



Vodka and Vitamin Water =






Background Music:  Chordettes - Mr Sandman.