JOURNAL

05/23/2001:
My vacation starts today. Kick ass!

05/21/2001:
Man, so much has happened the past few weeks. I took a trip to Atlanta about two weeks ago in order to take a customer service class for two days. I now know that I’m a dork, ‘cause I found the class really informative, but all my other classmates acted like they were in prison. We had to do a lot of group interaction, which is tough for me, ‘cause I’m pretty shy, but I made it through. After the first day, my Atlanta boss took me and two of my classmates out to eat at some expensive steakhouse. I had some kind of fillet, I think. It was tasty. Then I was sort of tricked into going out with my two classmates. We went to an arcade/bar. We played lots of air hockey. I started off kicking ass, but then I pretty much blew it for the rest of the night. To be honest, I would’ve rather been back at the hotel reading. The trip back to Austin was pretty long, ‘cause I had to go through Chicago—I’m not sure why.
A few days later, Andy and Erin came into town and we recorded an awesome Quetalby session. A couple of happy poppy songs and a bunch of crazy rambling avant-garde soundscapes. On the last song, we didn’t even play any instruments. Instead, we made noises and sang gibberish and banged on furniture. I’ve listened to the tape about one and a half times, so maybe it will lose its charm, but I have a feeling it will just grow on me like “Zonk” did.
The day Andy and Erin left, Cindy’s family came into town for her graduation ceremony and Somer’s cousin, sister and friend came into town just because. So we had a full house all weekend. Then I got a big surprise because a few of my friends (some of whom I hadn’t seen in over a year) came into town. So it was super crazy. Cindy and Somer went out with their different groups on Saturday night and my friends ended up coming over. We drank some beer and reminisced about the old days.
Oh yeah, earlier Saturday evening, Xander came over and we started working on the new Hellers and Schillings project. The prog-rock album is being put on the back burner for now. Instead we’re going to make a country album. I’m pretty psyched about it. Xander’s songs sound good and he seemed to like the few songs I had sitting around. We started on the demo today. Well, I’m distracted right now, so...

05/04/2001:
I’m getting antsy lately. I’m not doing all I could do. For a long time I thought I’d live in Texas for the rest of my life, but now I’m thinking about moving. Where? I haven’t the slightest clue. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere without Somer, so I’m definitely staying in Austin for at least another year. When I do move, it’s got to be someplace cheap. Also, I don’t think I’ve really taken advantage of what Austin has to offer. I have my routine--my regular haunts--but I’m positive there is so much more to be explored: parks, museums, clubs, stores, events, etc. I know nothing about south Austin. I rarely venture south of 1st (actually more like MLK, but I do go to the occasional rock downtown). Maybe I’m just trying to rebel against my natural homebody tendencies.
Yesterday in a pathetic attempt to actually leave the house after getting home from work, I tagged along to the Highland mall with Somer and Cindy. It was unbelievably depressing. There wasn’t one single store that I’d want to buy anything from. The sales clerks oozed desperation and insincerity. I know I was just being a big baby, but I actually had to leave a store because the saleslady radiated all the things I hate about consumerism: shallowness and unquenchable greed. I don’t hold anything against her as a human being, but, as I watched her work, I was both saddened and outraged by how she had to demean herself just to make a living. It was like watching an animal beg for a treat, and I’m a part of it, too. I chase my carrot, just like everyone else. Are the things I buy worth the things I have to do in order to get money? I don’t have an answer.
Anyway, I do have positive things happening, too. Last night, I played through a bunch of lowfeeder songs. I’m really getting the itch to do some solo home recording again. Maybe put out an actual lowfeeder album. Hopefully, I’ll be taking a vacation with Somer later this month. Somer really wants to go camping and I really want to go to Fiesta Texas. Hopefully we’ll do both.