JUST SAYING THAT'S WHAT'S UP.

"Life gets so good, sometimes I want to throw up."

I am terrible with e-mails but phone calls are hard to avoid. Phone calls from great distances away are my favorite. I love putting my life down for an hour at a time, go for a walk, and tell stories to friends who are genuinely interested in the mild, mostly pleasant happenings of my life.



I was speaking to a pal recently about the everyday shit, the this and this and that and that how I really like a bunch of bands right now, I'm really stoked on music and seeing music live and dancing to good records with whoever happens to be there, and hell, I can sort of keep time now, that's nice. I learned how to play an easy Velvet Underground song on the ukulele but I can't sing for shit.



We, as always, talked a good deal about where I'll be after Chicago. We talked about surprises. A year, even four months ago I couldn't see myself finally in a place that I don't feel ashamed of or sad or always so angry. It seemed like I had gotten stuck. Started drinking too much (sorry, Mom) and being more reckless than usual. Than I moved into an apartment alone and my life just started to happen. Magically, it seems.



I have met a lot of really great people in the last few months. I have had old friends from what felt like a different lifetime be friends again, and it's great. I have been lucky to randomly meet some amazing people to ride bikes with, to cook dinner with, to listen to music with, to dance with, to be with, that I can say that I'm happy with. I am young and I am stupid and I just want to have fun for a while. It's simple. I still have my days but those days are so few and far between, it's kind of nuts. There are other things, besides this, the most important, the people. There are things like, um, a second job. A part-time gig. Don't ask me about it, I won't find out for sure until a while from now. I'm really excited and I think it's silly that someone's willing to hire me to build shit, but that's fine. I'm fine with that. I am so excited! To spend! Lots of time! Around things! That I! Actually! Want!



Guys, I'm so stoked. I want to call all of my friends all of the time now.

Today I learned that Téléphone once opened up for Television.

Safe to say my life is getting brighter every day.

Confession time? I don't like Wilco and I don't like the Bad Plus. Two perfectly likable bands with tremendously talented folks, but I don't know if I'm just not old enough or NPR enough or mature enough to LIKE them. Wilco reminds me that I'm not a native Chicagoan (oops?) and the Bad Plus reminds me of a friend who would put on one of their albums, lean back in his chair ever so slightly, and close his eyes. There would be an occasional smile flirting at the corners of his mouth and eyelids. It was great.

New Years Eve?

There are a lot of bands playing in Chicago on New Years Eve. There's only one I want to see, really, but that's already sold out. Jens Lekman. So I can swoon and stuff? I don't know. But seeing a band on New Years Eve is sort of not my style at all.

VEXED, I am.

But I am seeing Melt-Banana soon.

STOKED, I am.