The geezer

First tattoo

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 18:15:27 GMT

This is on my right arm, above the elbow. from the bicept all the way around the back of the tricept.

It didn't feel like the kind of pain I expected. It was like someone tearing a hole in your skin every 5 seconds with a hot poker. It's like someone pulls pliers out of a fire and pinches you...over & over again for an hour. They claim you get into a trance and stop feeling bad after a while. That's a lie. This picture isn't EXACTLY how it looks. The really tiny black dots aren't there. And I put a black rectangle around it as a kind of frame.

The story of this coming about is really weird. We were hanging out with some friends from DC here, when we inadvertantly got on the topic of tattoos. Murphy asked what I'd get if I did, and I said "it's kind of lame, it'd be from a pinhead gunpowder lyric book." and he was like "the guy on the hill?" I took it as a sign that he guessed it so easily. since there's about 12 things one could get related to pinhead gunpowder before this one. and he also thought it was a good idea, so that sealed it. I've had it in the back of my mind for 2.5 years, so it finally kind of accidentally happened.

I think the process of tattoos is so cool. They make this li'l photocopy of what you want on a weird paper where the ink can transfer to your skin. Then they ink that image into you. that's how they did it to me anyway.

what's actually really weird is natty & Zeb & I and tom in new york all got some at the same time. we called tom afterward and we're like "you'll never guess what we just did!!!" and he was like "i got my tattoo tonight." neither of us knew we were doing this. weird.

Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:51:39 GMT

When I'm at the grocery store, I get whatever's on sale.

Onyon means "hello"

Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:33:47 GMT

Dongs of Sevotion is one of those incredible records in the Sandinista! tradition. It's super long and might not blow your socks off at first, but really grinds its way into your psyche and commands that you listen to 1 or 2 songs repeatedly all night once in a while.

For anyone who is confused: no, I am not trying to adopt a 7-year-old boy. However, I am going to take it as a big compliment that some of you took Natalie seriously when she said that. No one was trying to really trick anyone. I feel actually bad now that everyone's hopes got up. So maybe I should get on that procreation agenda sooner then?

I threw up Saturday night for the first time since December 2002. I slept and woke in a feverish daze, moaning and catching random scenes from the first season of Arrested Development. What a surreal (albeit painful) way to spend an evening. I can't remember the time before the 2002 event, but I'm pretty sure it was in late 1999 on the side of Frenchline Road when almost at my dad's house driving there from Lansing. ...and then several times at his house.

things change

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 02:51:41 GMT

Lots of kind of unexpected but good forward-moving things are happening.

1. My mom and stepdad bought a new house after being in the market for one for about 2 days.
2. We asked Dean to move out tonight and he's going to. I've never done that before.
3. I'm getting a cell phone tomorrow. The major impetus is leaving Natalie out in the cold for 1 hour today without being able to reach her or her me. Said I'd pick her up at 2:30, lost track of time doing math and didn't show 'til 3:40. I suck. Anyway, my brother in law works at T-Mobile and we're gonna get a 2-person dealy with unlimited talking to any T-Mobile buddies. So, hey, anyone on T-Mobile? I get pretty much unlimited minutes after that too cuz we're supposed to have 400, but hey, my brotha-in-law hooks me up.
4. Well, I changed the cat litter just now, which is, you know, technically a "change". I think they are happy.

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 02:50:49 GMT

I thank you 3 for the wonderful New Years tapes. I thank you Jamie for hooking me up!
Did I tell you though? My new years was pretty sweet. I saw the best fireworks of my life ever. It was 30+ minutes of intensity over the Delaware River while I stood on the shore. And it was not too cold and this lady said "Do you want this super huge hot chocolate? My husband doesn't want it."

I have to wake up early tomorrow for school. I haven't had to do that for a very long time.

I've been grumpy a lot the last few days.

My favorite new band (local band) is Farcial Hoodwink. I can't wait to see them at the West Chester place that packs the high schoolers in.

Pottery started back up tonight and I'm off to a flying start.

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:04:26 GMT

Progress has been made toward burning waste vegetable oil instead of diesel fuel for the purpose of transport. Dave is a genius. And it's really, really fun to work on nerdy mechanical stuff with someone else who's also obviously WAY into it. Rented bad movies and watched them and Freaks and Geeks with Miranda and Jordan.

Now I'm home and The Max Levine Ensemble is about to play in my basement. Radical.

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 04:09:22 GMT

There is no snow in my future.
I'm beginning to loosely plan a bicycle trip through Spain for next summer.

a bag full of new pants

Fri, 31 Dec 2004 02:42:02 GMT

Saw Life Aquatic. Loved it.
Saw A Very Long Engagement. Liked it.
Hung out with mom & dad, had christmas, watched 9 inches of snow fall.
I'm glad to be home! I've been lounging watching Nup's Gilmore Girls dvd's and visiting Roo and generally having a realll good break.
Natalie loved the tack boxes I made her!
Sometimes there's so many details I could go into, but why?
If you see that Breeders head to toe 12" on ebay, hands off, it's MINE.

I'm mixed up

Tue, 21 Dec 2004 04:04:36 GMT

Hey, I made a tape for the party (I'm sorry, I can't make it, but I'll send tapes). I lost my flyer, so how many copies are we supposed to bring? I'll send that many plus stamped envelopes for however many we're supposed to get in return.

Mon, 20 Dec 2004 13:28:30 GMT

I made the best sounding recording of my life yesterday (with also 2 sundays ago). It's 5 songs totalling about 11 minutes. 16 tracks on one inch of tape and it cost us $315 when all was said and done. Expect 3 of them on a split 7" real real real soon. I think we're possibly looking for another band to do the other 2 on another split with, which wasn't originally the plan but whatever.

I miss you guys.
I can't get over that everyone goes to FBC and Alladins and I never ever can.

It is finally winter here. Philadelphians will tell you it's been "sooo cold" for a few weeks, but no, it's finally now just barely cold. There is ice on the ground for the very first time.

I watched Groundhog Day until about 1:30 this morning then woke up at 7am for no reason. I love when this happens.

I won a RAD superchunk poster on ebay.

Bryn Mawr college has a cafe in their library called "the lusty cup" and I think that's stupid.

Fri, 17 Dec 2004 06:16:02 GMT

There are 108 users on livejournal who list "abe froman" as an interest.

I set up my dad's old stereo he just gave me in the office and blasted the first Pixies record tonight. Now there is no second pair of speakers for the kitchen downstairs, but oh well. This is the same system I used to jam Thriller on when I was 5. Tight.

I see some soldjahs in here
where they at!? where they at!?

some complaining that turned into a very long plea for roomates

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 06:18:55 GMT

woops, almost forgot some rants to get off my chest:

I want new roomates. I seriously need at least 2, hopefully 3 new roomates to stage my very own coup. Dean...oh Dean...he makes very "loud love" at all hours of the day. IT IS SOOO ANNOYING AND TOTALLY GROSS AND TOTALLY HORRIBLE! I have grown to slowly hate Dean over time. It started small, now it's big. Does anyone who knows us both read this? Who knows. I doubt it. It all started when he...well, it all started when he didn't have rent money in time to move in and didn't have any security deposit and was 6 hours late to move in and then when we left to go get some other stuff called at the exact wrong most inopportune moment possible because he was on the sidewalk with all his crap and wanted to get in...at 6pm....when he said he'd be there "in the morning." Just a general complaint is that he has to CONSTANTLY "one-up" you in every single conversation you ever have with him. If you saw a cool band and had a good time, he saw a much cooler band several years before you were in middle school and he's way cooler by default so shut up. It's not so full-force as that, but it gets soooo tiring hearing the same crap about the same bands over & over & over again. But really I started getting really mad when he moved in and constantly left his HUGE bike in the living room. right in the way of anyone who wants to walk from the front door to the kitchen, or even move near the entrance/exit to the stairway. in other words: THIS SUCKS. I constantly hit my leg on it. when i hit it, I have to pick it back up. I just have to deal with it, and I HATE it. if all 4 of us left our bikes laying around, there would only be bikes laying everywhere. And you'd think bringing it up a few times and being very clear and thorough about how it needs to change would be enough for anyone to deal with their own bike. but no. guess where the bike is today. you guessed it. We had a house meeting MORE THAN TWO MONTHS ago about this, and it was decided we'd make something for bikes in the back yard and he'd use it, and "could I please leave it out here for a couple more days until that's done." Well, no one even ever brought up the issue of getting supplies and/or doing ANYTHING about this ever again. IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM OR MY RESPONSIBILITY! I don't want anything to do with it. I put my bike in the basement and I love doing that because I know it's safe, I know it's dry, and it's just the best. Well, for some reason Dean just can't do that. He just can't take it up to his room either. We would have a back porch room for all 4 bikes, but Dean's ice cream crap that he never uses is taking up that precious space. URRRGGHHH!!! and don't forget the loud sex. that's the icing on the cake.

The other one is a christian and I'm fine with that but I'm not fine with having to answer the door and it's jehovah's witnesses that ask "is zeb home" and "oh, we were supposed to come over today." WHAT!? no jehovah's witness is ever SUPPOSED TO COME OVER to my house. And there's pamphlets around sometimes. the kind I would usually put on the fridge or the wall as a joke. Did I mention he's totally pro life??? And he doesn't vote. He says "I can't vote for bush because I'd be authorizing murder." i.e. the was in Iraq. But, the kicker is, he can't vote for kerry because he'd, yup, also be "authorizing murder." ...because kerry's pro choice. aHHHH!!! Yes, Natalie and I would like to be able to have whatever conversations we'd like to have whenever they come up, including how fervently pro choice we are. but nope, not in this house. Our own house, that is. no, he can't vote, but what is the only tv he watches? what's the only radio he listens to, or print he reads? you guessed it: politics. ARRGH!

and then there's just run-of-the-mill stuff like they're just plain loud and annoying guys. need to wisk some hot cocoa loudly in a pan while laughing and/or listening to music? why not 1 or 2 or 3am? it's not like anyone has school or work at a normal time the next morning. popcorn, tv, sex, whatever...it's all loud loud loud loud loud.

and neither one really cares that they live with cats when it come to, say, like not leaving the front door open. or not locking the cats in the bathroom all day for hours. ARRRRGHGHH!!

I'm glad I had this little talk.

woah the thompson gunner

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 05:54:07 GMT

Welp,
once again
I will be in Michigan for a couple of days
but not really get to see any of you
my ole friends

I kind of tried last year
but it didn't work so well

...aside from whining: I put a new shower curtain up today. and a few shelves for shampoo/soap 'n' such. yesterday I hung a spice rack and some hooks to hang the teapot and cast iron skillet on the exposed brick wall behind the stove. and tonight I also set up my dad's old stereo in my office. home improvements are my thing.

Tom Petty will stab you

Wed, 15 Dec 2004 06:25:29 GMT

I found the raddest thing on the internet ever last night.
Yes, it is the interactive skymap at Sky & Telescope magazine.
And yes, I am a nerd.

before I forget...

Fri, 10 Dec 2004 05:25:12 GMT

This Friday through like the 13th EVERY SINGLE PLANET IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM will be aligned IN ORDER in the sky. Most are visible with the naked eye but some you'll need a telescope or binoculars. This will not happen for another 400 years. Also, don't forget the annual super rad meteor shower we're about to get.

Fri, 10 Dec 2004 05:22:06 GMT

One time I recorded the movie Rushmore onto an audio tape and listened to it on tour driving in the van. We were in Gainesville on the coldest day in its history (not really) and I sat in the van listening to Rushmore waiting for 3 HORRIBLE bands from Connecticut finish their sets so I could play at 2am.

Of course we rocked. We always rock.

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 19:01:37 GMT

Rabbit rabbit.

There is a mighty gale bashing a mighty limb of a mighty tree into the hopefully-mighty side of my house.

I'm off to see a physicist lecture on...something.

Tue, 23 Nov 2004 22:35:43 GMT

The Rock + Christopher Walken = hilarity. Rent Rundown and get silly TODAY!

I am sad I did not see the Dead Milkmen. I am sad I did not make myself see the Dead Milkmen. I will tell you that Eat Your Paisley is on my all-time top 5 or 10 list, and why, but I will also have to add the footnote now that I had the opportunity and did NOT see the Dead Milkmen.

Kimya Dawson is a superb lyricist and a smart lady. Her travel companions are pretty frickin' sweet songsters too. I'm glad I got to see them twice on their tour: their first and last US dates.

I have pottery tonight. I'm so excited!!! Last week was the first class and I slipped right back into my true clay-slinging professionalized form of old. I made two perfect straight-up cylinders which will serve as cups right out of the gate. Then Saturday I returned to make big companion dinner bowls. You know how people do portraits, like two-dimensional, of people? I want to do 3-D clay portraits of my cats.

Little Wings did NOT show up to Friday's show. I broke a string 1/2 way through my set. It pretty well sucked.

Natalie and I bought a 1991 Ford F-250 extended cab diesel truck yesterday. We are pretty crazy kids. It will be a veggified touring and horse-towing vehicle, you just wait & see.

to the shower!!

Thu, 18 Nov 2004 21:55:14 GMT

I semi-randomly called my friend Greg on the phone the other day. He was really glad I called and we talked for a while. It was awesome. But he had to go cuz he had to go to work at his job delivering stuff on his bike. I got an email yesterday that he was shot by muggers on his way home after that shift. He's ok. The bullet went through his cheek, down his sinus, and is lodged in his throat. But he's ok. Well, ok meaning he's going to live and eventually be fine. Not bad for being shot in the face. I'm not making light of this, I'm pretty freaked out, I just don't know how to handle this information.

I wish so bad I could go visit him.

Tue, 16 Nov 2004 18:26:02 GMT

Little Wings
Lee Baggett
Babe in the Woods
The Complete Strategist
Friday, November 19
@ MIKE SCHMIDT
1122 E. Palmer St. in PHILADELPHIA (fishtown)
8:00PM until the midnight hour
$5 for traveling performers of songs acoustics!
e-mail HERBIE@ARCYNIC.NET

In other news: a kid's mom just emailed me so she can order a bunch of records to give to him for christmas.

Tue, 26 Oct 2004 19:24:45 GMT

Well, I shall now tell you of an event taking place tomorrow's eve (that is the evening that is possessed by tomorrow rather than the eve of tomorrow, which is today's eve) which will feature yours truly performing amplified guitar pieces with my 2 rhythm-wielding cronies and we three will be doing something called "warming up the audience" for some anarchist "ska-punks" from England that call themselves Citizen Fish. Hmmm, I guess I'm done, in one sentence. This will be Citizen Fish's only US date I'm told.

duhhh

Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:36:56 GMT

I have a cold.
I might be a math teacher too, in addition to physics.
I mean, physics without math is like taking literature if you can't read.
I have a new black stocking cap I stole from Path Mark today.

happy belated _____

Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:45:56 GMT

One thing you might want to do is look at this thing I finally made that I said I would make like 1.4 years ago: http://www.bitterlikethebean.net.

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 15:16:14 GMT

Extrapolate what you will:
I go to grad school now.
I'm studying thermodynamics
and also the art of teaching li'l snot-nosers how to learn said dynamics
I guess it all makes sense because I have such a dynamic personality
goo!

I saw Kimya Dawson and this dude last night.
the dude was SWEET
exactly what I wanted to hear...or to have exist really.

our chemical lives

Wed, 09 Jun 2004 14:02:32 GMT

I took something to help me sleep.
I woke up still way-groggy.
I just had a cup of coffee with sugar to spruce me up.
What's wrong with this picture?

Went to Books Thru Bars again last night.
'twas sweet. I always want to write letters to the prisoners when I send them books. But I never think of anything good to say. Sometimes they're really heartbreaking and write about how they lost their families and everyone hates them and they're stuck in prison and all they have are books and/or Jesus Christ. Whenever I go there I really appreciate my freedom to walk around and see birds and feel the air. Go figure.