sixty six

Grampa was a genius, an alcoholic, and my best friend.

Gramma was an educator, an inspiration, and could kick my ass in cards.

They were married for sixty six years.




I wish my grampa was still alive.... I'd ask him how he balanced his passion, his addiction, and his family.

My grampa was my best friend, my hero, and the love of my life.

Firk Ya!!

Tis the 2nd day of spring...
What better day to host the 2nd Annual Firkin Fest!!

I HAD to leave work early today, due to the weather being so beautiful, my bike looking so appealing, and the thought of sampling dozens of microbrews being so tempting!!!

Details: Happy Gnome (selby - in between western and dale). Time: NOW until 11pm (or close, I'm not sure). 25+ brewers pouring 50+ beers! $5 to get in the tent. $1 per ticket = 1 sample.

(taken from the happy gnome website)

Thanks to Kristina and Chris for providing the heads up on the tasting!

And thanks to Jamison for getting me in touch with your relative for hockey tickets to tonights UMD v. Denver game!

And thanks to mother earth for letting the sun shine her beautiful light, keeping us warm and happy.

Let the festivities begin. Firk Ya!!

heiruspecs (3.14.09)

just spent hours trying to figure out how to add watermarks to my photos. alas, i have not figured it out..... so go ahead a take em while you can.

show last night was dope! missed mayda..... sorry dude. cabs were running behind, and it took us a while to get to triple rock. thanks to devon for giving jen and i a ride home. and thanks to chris, for clearing up the lil "mishap" of my name getting crossed off the list....wtf?

here's some of my favorite photos from the night...enjoy!


chris

mastermind, sean, chris

sean

chris

devon

chris

devon and chris

dvrg

dessa

muad'dib and dessa

dessa

my favorite photo of chris

hockey teammates (from 10+ years ago)



Was a fun night.... got home at 3 something, fell asleep at 4 something.... woke up at 7 something, made my way to bed shortly after... and finally drug my sorry ass out of bed at about 3pm.

Can't wait till next time.

if you need a good laugh....

I don't like the idea of posting videos on my blog, mostly because it makes everything seem to load slower..... however, this is too funny not to post.

Thanks to Brandon for sharing this.

(RIP Crocodile Hunter)

St Paul's Finest (musicians)

Big show tonight.....I'm pumped!!

Mayda Miller is releasing "The Interrogation", a full length album, tonight at the Triple Rock.

(www.myspace.com/imaydasong)

Heiruspecs is headlining tonight. Chris (felix) said he's gonna add a new verse (see his blog for details).

(first ave: 12.13.08)

It's gonna be a great show. 14 bucks at the door. Well worth it (although I'm on a "list".... holla!)

minnesota public employee salaries

http://extras.twincities.com/car/salaries/Default.aspx

worth taking a look at. worth asking questions too.

more soon.

no schedule? no shit.

Just got back from therapy. Lady says I need a schedule.

I'm trying to graduate this year.... by the end of the summer.... initially I had hoped for this fall, but that got pushed back to spring, which has now slipped (past may) to summer.

Maybe I do need a schedule.

The problem I have (with schedules) is that "shit happens", things come up, sometimes it's too cold to go outside, what if I don't feel well?

What happens when I run out of excuses?

I like to study.... scratch that. I like to read, and I like to learn. I also like to do well (in school, and everything that I do). When I don't do well, I feel shitty (about myself) and frustrated (with myself). So why don't I do better? Because I've learned to get by (with high marks). And I'm great at sabotaging my future.

Therapy lady told me to write a song about it.... I tried last summer, but it didn't work out the way it was supposed to.... because I sabotaged it. Duh.

I need to get down with a schedule, or a routine of sorts. Sleep has always been an issue for me, and as much as I'd love to be a "morning person", I think I have been wired for action after the sun has set.

A schedule that I need to make and start to follow will have to do with schoolwork/studying. I need to spend a couple hours, several times a week....on the grind, nose in the books, putting stuff down and out.

I went to the Y with Nicole yesterday....it was great. I need to do that more often too. I'm trying to build my strength, so I can do a good job with Books. I've been sick the past week, driving myself (and others) mad.... and I need to focus on recovery and rebuilding.

Now is a good of time as any to start. Why wait till the start of a new month, or a new year....time is too precious to waste. And I've been wasting time, energy, money, and myself to unflattering limits recently. It's time to grow up and git er done. Or at least git er done.

pre-schedule(d)

missing my camera

So I let my boss/friend borrow my little camera while she went to Hawaii. (Note: My camera has 7 or 8 Megapixels... the link above is a newer edition). Anyhow, I've been without my lil friend (the camera) for about a week. The camera and my boss/friend will be coming back today, which means I'll likely have my gadget back in a few days. Hooray!

Do you ever feel like you want something, when you can't have it? I do all the time. And this week....it's been wanting my little camera, so I can take pictures of my day(s), my experiences, my learning, my struggles, etc.

Most of you should remember that I recently bought a sick ass camera (Nikon D60), and I love learning about it and taking pictures with it. The problem is.....lugging it around! It's not as easy to carry as a point and shoot. Now Jen and my mom are probably rolling their eyes, as I have so many bags (including 2 camera bags: a big one and a smaller over the shoulder/purse type thing). But sometimes I just want to throw my camera in my regular bag.... (life is so rough, I tell you).

Anyhow, I'm trying to find a little hard case I can put the body (of my camera) in...and then just wrap the lens + carrying case in a sweatshirt or something. But I have to find the perfect one. I've got no qualms about buying accessories online... (I had to get the camera in person though, because I felt more comfortable I guess). But looking online for a fucking camera case is hard....because there are SO many....thousands!! I've been looking on B & H photo which the site my downstairs neighbor uses. Hopefully I find something soon...(without buying a ton of other crap that I don't need). BTW...none of this is in my budget. Guess I'll have to pick up extra hours at work.

Side note: I don't like to hate on people or companies....especially not online, however, "National Camera Exchange" is the exception! I can't stand this place.... why? Because it's a bunch of pompous jerk-faces, who don't pay you any mind/attention, unless you are a white grown up, have money falling out of your ears, or are not me. I've been in there a couple times, and once they were just rude and not helpful.... the second time, they didn't even approach me!! I stood in the middle of the store, looking around for probably 15 minutes....and those haters never even came to ask "How can I help you?" They'd ask other people who came in (after me!), they'd walk right by me.... but never would they ask if I needed any help finding anything. Bastards.

I'm almost always one to say "Support your local businesses" but since they are "national" camera exchange (all in MN, I think).... and since they are stuck up ass-clowns.... I say forget em. I'd prefer to buy from a robot on the internet. At least robot-face wont discriminate against me.

That's about it for me.... I've got to study. It's felt like an uphill battle...especially with my religion homework/reading. Although, my youth studies and PIL stuff is quite overwhelming too. I just want to be done with it.

One step at a time, right? What if there's a ton of steps? Sometimes I wish my steps got me farther ahead than they do. But I suppose it's not the destination so much as the journey. Or that's what I'm supposed to believe anyway.

P.s. Upon re-reading this....I noticed one might think I'm being a hater by complaining about my lack of a little camera this week. It's not like that. I'm happy to let others borrow my camera (or other gadgets). I just need to find a little case for my big camera, so I don't feel like my photographic eye isn't blinded.

Hip-Hop Studies Diploma

Okay, my boy, Mr. Toki Wright has done something amazing. Actually, he's done many amazing things (just google his name), but his latest has moved mountains from hip-hop to the academy (something you don't see too often).

Last thursday, february 26th, Toki announced the country's first ever "Hip-Hop Studies Diploma" program, which he is coordinating, at McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, MN.

Taken from the music industry report I quote:

"Students will develop creative writing skills, learn techniques in beat production and engineering, as well as undergo hands-on experience in the art of DJing and turntablism. They will also get an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes aspects of hip-hop in the music business. Hip-hop has a monumental global impact on television, cinema, alternative media and more."

And if you think this is some kind of "easy A"... see this (also from music industry report):

"As part of the Hip-Hop Studies Diploma program, graduates will complete a final project that includes a recording project, a live performance and a portfolio that includes a business plan. This final project will bring together each of the different areas of expertise in the hip-hop business learned through the program."

To you, Mr. Toki Wright, my friend and inspiration, I say thank you for your hard work, and for your commitment to youth, hip-hop, and academics. You are an amazing man, doing amazing thing, and the twin cities community, the hip-hop community, and the larger community would be several steps behind if it was not for the love and dedication you continue to put forth.

toki and i enroute to a "masquerade ball"

food.

I've recently been on this kick to eat better food. It's hard cooking (for myself and one other), especially since we both don't like to eat the same things over, and over, and over again.

I went to Kai's boat last week, to get my study on....because sometimes you have to make a big change in scenery when stuck in a studying rut... and we made some lunch. We made pizza, which I think Kai does often, but I had never done before (unless you count english muffins with cheese and pasta sauce a "pizza").

I don't like red sauce, so I used olive oil on mine, and added some prosciutto (which upon buying it at my local co-op realized how crazy expensive it is!), some spinach, some mozzarella, some tomatoes, and a bit of black pepper. All this on top of some dough from Cossettas. Yum!

my pizza!

Cheeky Monkey Deli just opened, a block from my house! Ryan, Jen and I went there the other day for lunch. It was real tasty! Ryan got a nutella and banana sandwich, jen got a chicken and avocado sandwich, and I got a brie and ham sandwhich (on Ciabatta bread). I think our sandwhiches were each 5 dollars, which is great since i saved half of mine for dinner. And the refills on coffee are free! Hooray for a good local deli. I didn't take any pictures, because my little camera is in Hawaii with my boss Emily.

Speaking of work.... I've hurt my back, from guess what? Doing books! Sad. I went to a sports medicine doctor yesterday, who basically said that I need to start lifting weights (or quit my job), because I'm a wimp who can't life boxes of books. The doctor was a pretty serious guy, which is too bad, because I wanted to tell him all the names I made for the knots in my back (hilary, hilda, gregory, and lawrence).

Anyhow, I guess it gives me good reason to get back to the Y. I need to start doing books again (I haven't for the last couple of weeks b/c of my back), so I can stay busy and earn some money. That's all for now, I guess. I've got today to do homework, maybe take some pictures (with my "big" camera), and eventually go to the Y... sounds like a decent day. May yours be as well.