Sleep Depravity in a Holidaze Reality

I owe a couple of reviews. Well, I owe one. Mike Marshall hooded up my good friend Covert with a +1, and that was me. Few things meke me happier than free stuff. Especially I'm happy when that freebie was something I already wanted.

Before I left Buffalo this last time (b4 The Great Turkey Massacre) El Cove tole me that 'my boy' Busdriver was comin to town (w/ Daedalus & Anti-MC). Nobody (including Eric) told me ECMC was the local opener MC (backed by DJ Mark Cloud). ECMC is one the first dudes I met in the lo, and probly the closest in that city to my personal hip hop aesthetic. I missed it, but i really like EC. Probly cuz he's considered a weirdo, much like my self. I also like Mark Cloud, ever tho we've never really hung out and he spins D&B (whcih i can listen to but it really bothers some to the purists and snobs). The bill only listed DJ Mark Cloud. I bet it would have enjoyed it.

I saw some of Anti-MC and thought the grooves were cool. I was not much impressed by the technique, instrumentation, or stage presence. But the backup musician was on it, and it was funky, electronic, and live at the same time.

Daedalus stole the show. The way dude plays his fancy piece of equipment (look it up yourself) makes it entertaining. Not many play their keyboards (or samplers in this case) faced toward the audience. Anyone who has seen it will know why it is both intriguing and so hard to describe. It does not suffice to say, but none the less I will, it was musically exciting, visually enticing, and technologically advanced (he also said it was open source, so go make your own). The beat maker that took me was...impressed.

Busdriver is one of my all time favorite musical performers. Not only do i consider him to be an incredible rhymer (both freestyle and written), but his style has always spoken to me (something ECMC and I share). He seems to always be pushing some boundary since early in his appearance on the LA underground scene.

Tho a bit too rockstar for me, his stage show at Soundlab was frenetic, musical, well practiced, and filled with the enigmatic charisma I generally associate w/ Bus (tho I admit to not being an expert on such things).

But this entry is really about the VinylJunkEase: Holiday Edition. I just had to get that off my chest. I should write up the Atreyu show a couple weeks ago, but I don't owe nobody that.

The party started with a bottle of JD and 2 30 packs donated by Slate Street Cafe for holiday celebrations. Then all of us made some contributions, and solicited contributions from others. Mike gave both Lu and I some $. Lu and John picked up some booze and more beer from Quarters (which also made a contribution). I picked up wine from Quarters and Trader Joes.

When the staff started to show up the party started in earnest. Predictably, I was hit by requests for 'dance' music, which turned into 'club' music. Make some big donations and ask again.

Personal highlights include being invited out into the dance floor (the living room, as my room was/is the dj booth), and freaked into a state of arousal. I then fled back into the dj booth to catch the transition. Also there was the toast that got everyone into the living room, then i dropped "Push It". And they did.

Then there was this:



I felt bad for the poor kid, but I couldn't help but take a picture. VinylJunkEase: this ain't Vegas, so don't sleep. Especially not on the dance floor, cuz the homies got sharpies. And some smart ass is bound to take a picture. Don't get mad tho, if you wasn't there, you would never know. If you were...

Save some spillage (lots really, but i bailed before cleanup, sorry dudes), some pukage, and a runaway hardon, VJE #2 went off well. The only real compliments I got was that it was 'more' than expected, and that I'm a badass (refer back to the freakage).

"Tell 'em they call you sandpaper cuz you're so fine"

It's 6:00 am. (not really but that's when i wrote it down, all old fashioned like on real paper and whatnot) I need to take my nephew to the airport at 7.

After that I need to return the sound to its owner. After that I need to return the truck to its owner. And maybe another errand or two.

Then at 1:30 am its off to the Greyhound station.
Merry Christmas.

To your family, friends and good times.

p.s. this may be a little late, but early for a round of Prosperous and Happy New Year!

3 stories in one (what a deal!)

so I'm getting off the interstate the other day. funny how people call it the interstate now. its all freeway to californians. my brother asked me how many times i thought i might have gotten off at the lead/coal offramp. i had no idea, but we did some quick calculations and came up with roughly 2000. not that many, except that i only lived here about five years (in albuquerque, nm). who knows. now i'm wondering how many times i might have gotten off at exits in banning. ah the oddities of car culture.

for some reason, in the car i decided to tell my brother about my chocolates across america. a short story really. i really like these reese's big cup with mixed nuts. i've only ever seen them in a convenience store in buffalo (thank you holly farms) and a dollar store in las vegas, nv. then i found these hershey bars with peanut butter in a kroger's outside of nashville, tn. don't think i'll be seeing much of those either. but i did see them in a circle k here in abq. be on the lookout.

my third story is about oprah. you can really do up promotion right when the producer is also one of america's most popular talk show hosts, and can have all the big stars she wants on at one time. plus anything called "The Great Debaters" is gonna strike close to my heart.

my new philosophy:

"'Thinking' and 'out of it' look a lot alike."
Dan from Roseanne.

from busses to bats

Here's one for ya:

yesterday i planned on catching the bus into 'town.' if you don't know the pass area, there's no point in trying, but i'm a few miles from where i grew up. it's all the same area (san gorgonio pass, on I-10 between L.A. and palm springs), but you know how it is growing up. i'm from banning, and i'm staying (for the moment) with my grandparents in cabazon.

anyhoo, i almost forgot i made tentative plans with my friend larry to see him practice with his band, fires of utopia. actually, it was just him practicing vocals, while the two guitarists in attendance (mike and jay) jammed along with (larry also plays the drums, for now). mind you, this follows the previous day where i missed the bus cuz the driver was 15 mins early (last run, trying to get home no doubt). i was pissed, but whatayagonnado?

so, i get on the bus. and for the next 20-30 mins (i tried not to pay too much attention) i listened to the driver and passengers talk about the new schedule and how messed up it is (while the driver is going slow, stopping in the middle of the street, etc.). all the while, i'm starting to sketch, cuz i made plans with larry to pick me up where i thought it would be convenient for him (near practice spot, jay's crib). so of course, i get off at wrong stop. when i realize, i get mad (surprise), and start walking through peacock valley (name of development). i'm thinking i'm gonna end up walking several miles to get out to el rancho (liz and richards). and just when i'm starting to seriously ponder breaking or at least hitting something, larry pulls right up.

"how the fuck did you find me?" sometimes i just can't help my mouth. but i was happy to be found, once i chilled out a little. we went and visited with some other friends (should have gotten whole plan before making stop decision) moe and matt before practice. good to see those dudes.

went to practice. first time i met jay, seems like real cool cat. had lots of fun (worked out for a minute, hit the bag which is always good for me if not for my wrists, listened to some recordings and some vocal practice, then told some stories imagine that) and i think they sound awesome. most of my readers probly can't hang with the metal they rep, but too bad. your loss.

by the time we bailed it was almost 11pm, and we were hungry. we hit del taco, and before i knew it we were halfway back to cabazon. that's what i get for not paying attention. i planned on going to the ranch or to larry's. but he took me 'home.' very nice, except that my grandfolx had locked inside door, for which i do not have key.

so, by the time i have figured out i can't get inside the house, to get the key to the motor home (for which i also do not have a key, even though i asked for one, for exactly this type of scenario), larry has pulled away. so i sit down on the front porch and eat. at least there is the motion detector light to eat by. and i was sort of hoping they would notice the light, or even that the sherriff would come by and hassle me, cuz at least then i would have reason to wake them up. nope. so when i'm done eating, i tried knocking. then again. but i'm not comfortable waking someone up to let me in, so i don't knock loud enough. never do.

eventually i decided to go round back and lay down on lounge chair on back porch. it took me a while to get to sleep (oh yeah, i still gotta go get my stuff from back there), but finally got a few hours. woke a few times, but when it was near sunrise, i opened my eyes and saw: bats. probly 20-30 in the backyard alone. i was surprised, cuz i ain't never seen nor heard of such round here. but there they were. i just watched for a while, cuz i didn't want to disturb them. then when it was getting closer to sun up i got up and they were about gone.

went for a walk round the hood. yesterday i made fun of some dude walking with a stick ("are there roving street gangs here these days?" i asked larry). but on one of the streets there was a dog up ahead acting territorial, so i looked for a stick. if you don't know what ocatillo is, lets just say it don't make a good stick to carry without heavy, heavy gloves. nor does cactus. but i finally found one, and sure enough, the dog tried to back me off. but most dogs don't want none of a stick held with confidence. unless they're a pack.

and sure enough, down the street was a pack. and they didn't look twice at me. interesting, but good for all involved.

i got to see the sunrise, went unmolested by canines (or kids waiting for the bus), got some walking in, and by the time i got back the granfolx were up. "how did you get here so early?" "i got a ride."

The Fourth Branch

i'll tell you who needs a fourth branch: me. i would take this branch and beat these ridiculous, arrogant, country-defiling, jokes of the world until they were begging to show me they remember the exact wording of the constitution. is there anyone left in this soon-to-be godforsaken country that still believes in these assholes? if so, that person (and hopefully not people) is much sadder than the idiot that thinks he can remake the executive with a wave of his magic word wand.
NOONE HATES US FOR OUR FREEDOM! but even i hate us for our arrogance. this guy has seriously lost his fucking mind. please stand up and voice your opinion. but if your opinion is that you can remake the country in your image, you are delusional and deserve to be shot in the face. no secret service that is not a threat. but while we're at it, can you really continue to protect this one man shadow government when you know he would sell your parents to bin laden for another share of oil stock in a company he still does consultation work for?

plastic in the box

You never really know how much plastic is on your records till you have to take it all off at one time to fit more into the case. but i'm bringin back the kids records you found richard.

and i'm out...of a job

original resignation letter edited for content


(insert supervisor's name here) is not the reason I am giving my 30 days notice. But I have concerns, and quite frankly I'm irritated.

I do not think it is appropriate for a supervisor to attempt to process a crisis intervention with a direct care worker, especially one that may become physical, during that intervention. Stepping in and relieving me from the primary staff role would be acceptable, and has certainly happened. Processing with me afterward is the way we program for our clients. But giving me notes while I am attempting to intervene violates the very basic tenant of T.C.I. of avoiding over-stimulation, in this case with both clientele and staff. This is sufficient, but not the entirety of my concern.

I understand that taking on a supervisor role that did not previously exist entails the setting of boundaries. But when these boundaries immediately create an atmosphere of antagonism, we are again inflicting on our workplace what we specifically deny of our relationships with our clients.

And while I'm at it, my recent review was so mediocre it gave me pause. If after 4 ½ years I'm only just barely exceeding expectations, I'm in the wrong line of work. Writing resignation letters is not much of a contribution to the agency, but I hope people understand what's at stake. I'm not the only person at (insert site here) that feels a similar sort of concern. I may substitute at (insert other site here) if this letter doesn't make me a pariah. If that doesn't work I'll check into per diem work with Community Services. If that doesn't work I'll either move down South and find a teaching job, or move back to California. Regardless, I value the time I have spent working with (insert agency here). I have learned much (I thought), and feel as though I have made a positive impact on the lives of some of the children I have worked with.

existence is tenuous

listening to npr this morning i heard them start a year long audio expose on climate change and its effects on people around the world. should be interesting. i really meant to write up a broadcast from last week about the high incidence of sexual abuse and assault on women of native (First Nations) ancestry in this country, but it was so fucking sad i couldn't bring myself to do it.

but it was interesting that it would coincide with the day i made a big decision in my life. my head is so cloudy and i am so emotionally unstable i have decided to take a big break. my birthday is on the 28th and i have decided to go without drinking, smoking, and sex until midnight of my birthday. i may also give notice today so that the 28th is my last day of employment. but i gotta write a new letter. i should post the original though cause it's pretty hardcore and makes me laugh.



wish me luck cause i'm gonna need it.