The Thaw Before The Spring: 07/01/2009

ARKANOID!!!

Wordizzle

Sarah and I spent the night inside - watching LOTR Return Of The King.

It was a night well deserved and well needed. Popcorn was made (along

with a lot of jokes about Faramir).

Sacked out.

Soggy

The above picture represents (in a fair light) what we were dealing

with tonight at our softball game. Muddy shyzen. Fields of absolute

cow manure. The other team really weren't even that good - but

somehow, we lost 12-2. We have lost our spark - our zeal. We are

all tired and barely showing up to games.

Oh well. We'll get 'em next week. Anyone around Ottawa have any

loaded bats they want to lend us?

Tuesday's Gone

http://www.gracechurchoffredericksburg.com/clientimages/27353/creativity_com_479f8882bf3f1.jpg

Tuesday was a weird day. It made me realize how odd it
is to have a day off two work days into the week. I slept
in til about 10:30 and then woke up to an empty pad as
Sarah was out with my mom (checkin' out some weird art
downtown). I cruised youtube for a while to see if I
could dig up any hilarious videos of Norm Macdonald -
success! (look up 'the best of Norm Macdonald') At about
11:40, I got a call from my friend Steve. I don't get to
see Steve that often (even though we live in the same
city) and I took the opportunity to pop
out to Kanata and see the old poop nugget. We threw
a few lunch steaks on the barbie at his new house,
played some Rainbow Six Vegas and drank some
Lucky Lager. All in all, it was a great afternoon.

Last night, I sat around in my backyard (again as a
loner as Sarah was at Volleyball) and played acoustic
guitar on an old picnic table. There was an airplane
cresting the Ottawa skyline as a few puffy clouds
moved very slowly in the evening blue. I thought
about the fact that a bunch of us moved to Ottawa
to sort of start a community - and now a good chunk
of us are leaving. That thought hit home. Luca chased
a bug with fierce intent around the base of a tree.
I wrote a few songs.

Creativity is a fish-filled light bulb.

A New (And Stormy) Week Begins

http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/toronto_thunder-storm_001.jpg

I don't live in Toronto, but I found this cool pic and virally stole
it for my blog. I am a viral hacker. I invade your chat rooms and
virtual living rooms. I copy and paste your usernames and
passwords. You can't stop me.

Had breakfast to start off the day with my lovely companion,
Sarah, at Ada's Diner. This place has been an Ottawa breakfast
dive for eons (and hopefully for many more to come). The food
is great and CHEAP and the service is always great as Ada
herself circles the restaurant and makes sure your coffee mug
is full and that your day is bright with her smile. We sat looking
out on to Bank Street at the muddy and virtually destroyed
terrain of the landscape. The skies cracked and poured out
piss from the heavens all around us. As we tasted hash
browns cooked with a little onion and pepper, we realized
that we had it pretty good. The feeling of being indoors
on a rainy day (preferably drinking coffee) is a great and
glorious sensation.

Now for a laugh, watch THIS.

New Album

It's in the works, people. When I was talking to someone I deeply respect a

while ago, said person was telling me that you need to be '3 albums ahead'.

Well as far as Graven goes, I am fully one ahead with the one after brewing

in my mind. That 'one-after' is going to be all about cottage country and

Lanark County in the summer time. Anywhere along County Road 10 has

been something of a mystical spot for me, over the years, and I figure that

it is time to write about that mysticism and magic.

I don't know what will come of making music. I don't know if we'll go

nowhere or end up as reputable artists in a non-reputable industry. I don't

know where all of my bandmates will be in a year. I don't know if I like

being the one with all of the creative control or if I love collaborating

more.

We'll see.

Enjoy 'Valley Theory'. It's our latest and newest offering, in e-stores now.

A Bursting Scene

It gets kinda tiring doing music on your own when there are

record labels out there with teams of people who push the

artists' music for them 24/7. On that note, a little shameless

promo for me and my musical cronies never hurts and every

little bit helps. If you've never checked out any of these bands,

open up your iTunes and google windows and please do:

Graven

James & Blackburn

Meredith Luce

Dave Norris & Local Ivan

The Withering Pines

The Gentlemen Husbands

Silver Speakers

Ashley Newall

Matt Ouimet

Water Shed Summer

The rain has come down with a reckless abandon this summer.

Although it has kept things green and lush, it's been hard to

enjoy those green and lush places due to the amount of wet

slop falling from the sky. It's a real downer, at times.

Last night, I heard the rain in full force while I slept. I awoke

many times throughout the night to hear it reminding me

that it could change its rate of flow and really make noise

in the tiny alley between our house and the next one over.

I remember seeing a movie when I was a kid about a group

of children locked in a house/castle and it always rained

outside. For a moment within the film, though, the sun came

out in a piercing blindness. One of the kids ran outside to

play while the others warned him not to do so.

I can't remember what happened. It was just a weird movie.

Ill-Fated

http://www.freewebs.com/maniac21/ben10alien-upchuck.jpg

The above picture (of a lovable cartoon character named
'UpChuck') represents how I feel today. I feel somewhat
green all over and ready to vomit at any instant. I think
it is the accumulation of late nights catching up with me
(oh yeah - and beer, too.)

I'm going to try and go off beer for a while and just eat
non-fried foods. I have a feeling this will help me to live
longer.

The date is July 22, 2009. Where has it all gone?

The Woes Of An Ailing Softball Team

http://www.slow-pitch-softball.com/images/play.jpg

The season has been one of turmoil thus far, for the James
Street Juggernauts. What looked like a killer roster has
shaped up to be a bit of a struggling dynamic. After barely
beating another team out for last place in the spring
(which gave us our first real victory aside from a default
win earlier in the season), we have started off the summer
season at a repugnant 0-2. Although we only lost the
first game 5 to 4 (against a much older team), we
managed to get blown away last night by a score of 22
to 11.

I think a lot of it has to do with team charisma and fun
on and off the field. Although we have hung out as a team
many times, a lot of us don't really know each other that
well. We know each other in a sort of likeable way but
not in any sort of deep bond. We also can't hit homeruns.
Although you would think that efficient play, tight D
and a consistent rally of base-hits could help you win,
a lot of the time, it's all about the dingers in this league.
Almost every guy on every team we've played can hit
the ball out with the thunder. It's actually kinda
disgusting.

At any rate, the James Street Juggernauts press on to
finish the season with vigor and passion. With an overall
record of 2-8, we will continue to strive for the elusive
victory.

Wingdings And Summer Flings

Had a chance tonight to frequent an old school local haunt (and

when I say old school, I mean last winter). The Arrow and the

Loon is somewhere that I have come to know and love, seeing

as I've worked super close by at Ecclesiax for almost a year, now.

They always have average service but very decent food and the

owner has always recognized me (even if he doesn't remember

my name) and almost always gives me a discount.

I had some hot wings tonight (with Sarah and Dave Norris) and

I have to say - these are probably the best wings in the city for

the amount of money you pay and the product you get. The

wings are substantial (not massive because when you go

massive, you have to pay top dollar) and always covered in a

savory, tasty sauce. There is also no minimum amount so you can

order 1 for 35 cents or 100 for 35 bucks. You only need to buy

a drink (a coke or a coffee will suffice) to get in on the goods.

Sarah and I took a nice (yet bloated) walk home after meeting

our friend Dave and digested. It was a picturesque summer

night and a perfect night for wingdings. If you're gonna kill

yourself slowly, chicken wings are the way to go. Thumbs up!

Over-Reading The Putting Green

Sometimes, you don't need to put as much thought and analysis into

life as much as you do. An example of this can be found in the game

of golf. There is something that is centered around terminology

which says something to the effect of 'For as much as you read the

bumps, lines and hills on a green, there is only a straight line

between your ball and the hole'.

I found this theory to be ever true yesterday as I had the chance

to golf at The Mill in Cobourg with Sarah's dad and brother-in-law.

Putting is easily and without question the worst part of my golf

game. I've always been decent at chipping and hitting with irons

while maintaining an okay grasp of driving off the tee. Putting,

however - awful. I did find, though, that during the holes where I

four and (yes) five-putted, I was often over-thinking the lay of the

land and how to read the putt and all that crap. I found myself

improving a great deal when I just eyed up the line between my

ball and the hole and just givin 'er.

Although golf is a pretty bourgeoisie, white-collar game, it was

an interesting lesson to learn first hand. Do I often over-think

seemingly windy paths that are often a straight line from A

to B? Am I wasting time in the over-thinking process instead

of jumping out of the airplane of reckless abandon?

Who knows.

Wolfhead

I've been playing bass in a side project band for my friend Dave

Norris and Local Ivan for a while, now. I really like the shift in

musical direction in filling a gap and knowing my role. Sometimes,

when I run every aspect of artistic direction, it gets tiring. It's

nice to be able to shift gears, instrumentally, and just do what

I'm told.

Dave is a great song-writer and I've been privileged to be a part of

'Local Ivan' (his band). One of his songs (which he usually just

plays solo with an acoustic) is called 'Wolfhead' and it has been

stuck in my head for a few days. It has a lazy, summery,

sentimental feel and I love the way it flows so simply.

I don't why the song is called 'Wolfhead' but the lyrics speak of

a wolf's head that hangs over the singer, in a sort of comforting

fashion. It seems juxtapositional but maybe that's why I like it.

Artificial Blogospheric Sweetener

So I've been offline for a few days, having a laze in the shady

elms of Northumberland County. It was a sunny day this

saturday and though the beckoning of dollars and cents

called with a monk-like vigil, it was too nice a day to stay

in town.

The road needed to be hit. Sarah and I surprised all of her

immediate family on saturday and chilled out Cobourg-style.

After a 3 hour trek of cranked Wilco and Wintersleep (newly

acquired albums), cards were played and bowers were laid.

Sometimes, it's good to get the hell out of town and remind

the map that you are not a pinhead - but a living, breathing

entity of mission and vision and that nothing can stand in

the way of tires and fuel.

Friday

The above pictorial display represents me today. I need to re-charge,

rest and relax.

Unfortunately, I have another show tonight in Ottawa.

Word.

Rocked hard tonight.

No time for even a pictorial display.

It is now 5 am.

Dirty Deeds

http://www.suzannesutton.com/_borders/anguish.jpg

Sometimes, I weep over some of the stupid crap that I do.
It makes me wonder about redemption. I think about the
cyclical stupidity that I go through, in any given day or
week, and I wonder if I've gone too far.

I've laughed at people who I should have helped.

I've wasted my time and energy on useless pursuits.

I've pretended to be somebody other than myself.

I've broken the law, time and time again.

I've lived inside a fantasy world for too long.

In truth, there are some things I have done which I will
most likely never tell any living soul about because
they are so warped.

And so, if I truly believe all of this Christly stuff I preach,
I have to believe in the concept of grace -but even though
I feel relieved, I have this sneaking suspicion that all of
my malicious deeds will be broadcast on a silver screen
for all of my loved ones in the next life.

I guess, though, having things out in the open and ugly
and exposed is better than having them locked up and
decaying in a closet in my soul.
^{...it has been written...
39} One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the

Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while

you’re at it!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when

you have been sentenced to die? ⁴¹ We deserve to die for our crimes,

but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”⁴² Then he said, “Jesus,

remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

⁴³ And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in

paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43, NLT)

Dingleberry Swing

Sometimes, we need to be more like dingleberries.

Even Better Than The Real Thing

This Game Haunts My Dreams

http://quizandquizonly.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/w33.jpg

I can't get it out of my head.

So simple.

So amazing.

So 2 dimensional.

Loosen Up

Feels good, don't it?

This is a shout out for Ollie and the homies, cookin up shiznit

at Boys Camp at Summerland. Ollie - keep it real and don't

let Jim's oatmeal clog your colon.

The summer is speeding by but I think I'm slowly grabbing

on. Tonight, Sarah and I and HP are going to see Broken

Social for free in the Market (if we can get near the dang

stage). The weather is pickin up.

Baseball. BBQ. Beer.

Bussit!

Rainy Bullchet

That's right - I used the word 'chet' in a sentence.

The rain is pouring down in soupy abandon, right now.

I want to quit the bar job soon. I better get on that.

It's starting to give my soul too much weight.

Always Challenge The Challengers

I've met a lot of people in my life who like to push and give people

personal direction. Some of those people have been amazing spirits

in a dead world because comfortability is really a drug sometimes

and we all need to be 'challenged' from time to time - to have our

worlds shaken up.

But it's a funny thing about those pushers and challengers - often,

they are so good at expanding boundaries and pushing limits that

they cannot take the very same challenge when it is directed back

at them because they feel that they are on a higher plane. It's sort

of a 'do what I say - not what I do' motto. Often times, those very

people are incapable of personal change even though they spew

ultra-intelligent diatribes of mind-expansion to others.

When I think back to the roots of the word 'challenge', I think

back to a tradition that used to happen in the depths of old Iawah

lore. At evening campfires (at what was then called 'Indian

Council'), someone could contest another person who had a

known record in a certain activity. Those activities included

such manly pursuits as 'leg-wrestling' or 'arm-wrestling'. If you

issued a challenge to someone and won that challenge, you

could earn points for your 'tribe'. Mostly, though, I think of

younger boys (usually skinny) approaching bigger burlier kids

with fear and trepidation and issuing challenges.

I love the cover of the New Porns album because it re-visits

that image - the sort of underdog flexing for the fight. At times,

though, we must remember that those who spend their lives

flexing and approaching giants also need to be brought

back down to earth.

Fudge Crackers

What up?

It's time to play some rainy softball.

Who is in?

This summer is flyin' by in full throttle gearshift speed.

A Day To Clear The Etch-A-Sketch Head

http://www.toys.pop-cult.com/images/etch-a-sketch.jpg

Sometimes a day off does the mind and body good. Other
times, more than that is needed. Today, it was just what
the doctor ordered. I kinda like having a day off mid-week;
it gives me a chance to ponder while everyone else is just
thoughtlessly moving.

So far today, Sarah and I slept in, saw Transformers 2 in
the theatre (with a massive popcorn between us), ate a
pile of pasta, salad and bread at eastside's and then came
home.

I heard some bad news yesterday about a long time client
of my dad's who has recently been diagnosed with terminal
lung cancer (given 3-6 months to live). I didn't know the
client but always heard decent things about her. It must
be awful to have to leave voicemail messages for people
telling them you need to 'get your affairs in order'. I
thought about trying to find out where she is staying in
the hospital - but I shyed from it.

alone

and sometimes, we are destined to walk alone. though we
surround ourselves with lovers, family and friends, there
is often a dark night or two or three where we must bear
the horrific weight of wrestling with our own demons.
we struggle to pacify our thoughts when we show such
signs of growth and yet, in the same motion, such signs
of imbecility and ignorance like dogs returning to their
own vomit.

the lonely road is cold and often blocked with various
obstacles. though the community road is filled with foliage
so green and floral zenith, we must all venture down the
lonely road from time to time. some dwell there in
permanence - some only pass through for a short time.
whatever the case, we all must traverse it.

but the greatest truth i've ever experienced in this semblance
of a life is that darkness is only the absence of light.

for even if we feel completely alone...

we are Not.

Westport Rocks!

So the show happened...and it was good. Duck's Roadhouse was near

packed to capacity with new Iawah staff, old Iawah staff, country

bumpkins, local yokels and people who looked like they were from

the cast of Deliverance. It was awesome.

Aside from a seriously feedback-induced sound system that had

a screamy/whiny mind of its own, the show was golden. Our

friend Dave Norris started off the evening with authority and

rocked some sweet folky melodies to gathered listeners.

Graven took the stage and lit things up. The shots were tight

and the feeling was right. Even an opening song broken string

by Owen couldn't hold us back. Afterwards, the Ducks

after-party posse headed to my buddy Joel's cottage and had

a massive diesel fuel bonfire. I stayed up with a few friends

and watched the sun rise for the first time in years.

All in all, it was a glorious weekend in the country.

Here We Go

It's time to get tricky.

Westport - get ready.

The Day Of Her Birth

26 years ago, on this very day, she was born.

Happy Birthday Sarah.

Here's to a few more trips around the sun.

Big Weekend A-Comin'

I don't know who this guy is...but he sure as heck reminds

me of Westport. Sarah, myself and some friends are headin'

up that there way tomorra'. Should be a pip-teddy squeal-

bunny of a tyme, thar. I'm gonna high-falute my root-toot-

tootin' rock band and smash some bottles on tha barrr!

Yeee-HOOOOO!!

Happy Crappy Canada Day

It's over. Another year of too many people in the streets of

the nation's capital, passing out, puking in garbage cans

and taking off their puke-covered clothes. I had to work

tonight so I actually missed most of the action but when

I came out on to Elgin Street after my shift, the hoards

were gathered watching the fireworks above parliament.

One thing I noticed about these fireworks (that everyone

goes ape about) is that they are not really all that exciting -

IF you are sober.

A friend called me after my shift and asked if I wanted to

meet him at a pub on Elgin but in a tired and unenthused

state, I thought 'everywhere on Elgin will be packed - and

I have a car with me and won't be able to find a spot' so

I declined. What a buzzkill.

In fact, Sarah and I came home and watched a re-run of

Just Shoot Me online.

Hooray for Canada Day.

Last night was a great set at The Rainbow (especially

considering our regular drummer was replaced by one

of our guitarists Paul) and a good time was had. We

could have used more practice and a better sound guy

but people had good things to say.

On to the next one.

The Thaw Before The Spring

Friday, July 31, 2009

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Monday, July 20, 2009

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Friday, July 17, 2009

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Monday, July 13, 2009

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Friday, July 10, 2009

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Monday, July 06, 2009

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Friday, July 03, 2009

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

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