December 18, 2003
I am at work. It is a new morning. It is a new day. I drove down here because I am planning on leaving for a while to get some Christmas stuff done. I would have just left work for the day early but the deadlines are keeping me here past the bell. This is another way around it. I also could have just came in later but I keep waking up at 5:00 a.m. and I am taking a break from writing so I have nothing to do in the morning. I should read but I don't feel like doing that either. It was weird driving down here. I swore while I drove on the shoreway. My hands feel different from holding the steering wheel. I wonder what it would be like to drive to work everyday. I am guessing not good but how am I supposed to know. This is funny to me. Because of the heavy structure that I put on my life, I feel like I am on some sort of wild adventure or exotic vacation because I am driving to work. If I put creamer in my coffee, I think that I am committing this huge extravagant sin. Yeah, I could see how some people would think that I was psychotic.
posted by Thea at 8:13 AM
December 17, 2003
Congratulate me on doing almost nothing again today. It would have been a complete blow off day had there not been some annoying deadlines at work that I had to work towards. It is like being forced into breathing. I would just stop if there was not a definite reason for it. I am the baby who is being slapped for the first time. Although I am in a good mood, I am not diving full on into the holiday thing yet. Like, at work, I did not listen to my favorite holiday jams all day. I listened to the Jayhawks. I listened to the Beau Brummels. I went out for a couple of minutes after lunch time – you know, to avoid the crowds. I sang a couple of Christmas songs while I walked but it was more of the thing of me liking to sing in funny accents than me wanting to feel holiday cheer. I did not do much tonight except watch the Cavaliers. They will continue to lose. For fun, I kept on asking aloud, “Where’s Ricky?� Ricky is not here. Ricky is not coming back.
Tomorrow: more of the same. Translation = nothing.
I hope your holiday season is kicking as much as mine. That is my prayer for you. My prayer for me is that it works.
posted by Thea at 9:14 PM
December 16, 2003
How are you doing? I am OK. Generally, I am trying to relax and enjoy the holiday season. That’s about it. I am trying not to work too hard at anything. I am trying to have a good time. I am trying to eat, drink and be merry without getting fat, getting wasted or losing sight of what I need to do. So, I am taking a couple of weeks off from intentionally manic living to breathe a little bit.
After going in late this morning and leaving work early, Laurie and I went out for Indian food. I discovered the Indian version of the onion ring. I am a big fat American. Then, we went Christmas shopping. I spent money freely without an ounce of worry because money problems and existing debt are very 2004 and we are not there yet. Driving through Westlake, OH, I looked at the Christmas lights on the houses instead of paying attention to the road. I was filled with some feeling and it was not anger or disappointment. What is this unexplained feeling? Perhaps some Christmas ghost can explain it too me.
Life is fun when you are not doing anything. I know why we are a culture of lazy fat asses.
He is yesterday’s set list if you are paying attention:
Rock and Roll Radio Show for 12/15/03 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Phobia – Means of Existence – Means of Existence (Relapse, 1998)
Midnight – All Hail Hell – Funeral Bell (Outlaw, 2003)
Travis – Quicksand – 12 Songs (Epic, 2003)
The Dreadful Yawns – Hazel Eyes – Early (Undertow, 2003)
The Jayhawks – Stumbling Through the Dark – Rainy Day Music (American, 2003)
The Jayhawks – Save it for a Rainy Day – Rainy Day Music (American, 2003)
Meat Puppets – Up on the Sun – Up on the Sun (SST, 1985)
Uncle Tupelo – The Long Cut – Anodyne (Sire, 1993)
Paul Westerberg – My Daydream – Come Feel Me Tremble (Vagrant, 2003)
Graham Parker & the Rumour – Discovering Japan – Squeezing Out Sparks (Arista, 1979)
Duvall – What It Is – Volume & Density (Asian Man, 2003)
Lightnin’ Hopkins – I Got Her Letter This Morning - Patterns (Fuel 2000, 2003)
The Creation – Nightmares – Making Time the Complete Collection, Vol. 1 (Retroactive, 1999)
The Creation – Life Is Just Beginning – Biff Bang Pow!: the Complete Collection, Vol. 2 (Retroactive, 1999)
Blues Magoos – Rush Hour – Electric Comic Book (Mercury, 1967)
Captain Beafheart & His Magic Band – Zig Zag Wanderer – Safe as Milk (Buddah, 1967)
Van Morrison – Joe Harper Saturday Morning - the Complete Bang Sessions (Purple Pyramid, 2002)
posted by Thea at 9:20 PM
December 14, 2003
Aside from the minor disappoint that came with a high expectation of a big turnout and then not getting a major crowd through the door, I think that benefit show on Friday was a success. I had a good time. People told me that they had a good time. We raised a little bit of money. I guess that is all that matters. I would like to take this opportunity to again thank everybody that made the event happen, especially all of the bands:
The Dreadful Yawns
The Terminal Lovers
Viva! Caramel
The Three Quarters of the Revelers (a/k/a the Fake Revelers or the Almost Revelers)
Sleepy Kid (never to be known as the Rock Solid Motherfuckers or the Lightning Bolts Killing People or the Andrej Cuturic Experience but to be forever known as my band and thereby never being mentioned by name by me on WCSB or this radio station affiliated website again to prevent any conflicts of interest [like anybody is interested])
Joel Kaufman
Mike Uva and Hook Boy
After that night, I feel very good about rock music in Cleveland, OH. There is a lot of potential. No, there is a ton of potential. Again, back to 1998, The Dreadful Yawns are the Red Giant of five years ago. Not like they are they same kind of music or anything but every time I see them I am more and more amazed by what they are doing and equally dumbfounded that more people aren’t checking this band out. Do you remember what I felt about Red Giant back in the day? That is what I feel about the Dreadful Yawns now. Dude, I am serious. Check them out this Thursday at the Beachland. They are really fucking good.
So, after the benefit, the weekend was a blur. Joel stayed with us, two family get togethers and a stressful work party at my boss’ house and the weekend is over. Good bye weekend. Hello another week of work.
Besides the Assholier than Thou Good Times Happy Friends Monday Morning Radio Show Starring Baby Fea (Yea), I am doing the Rock and Roll Radio Show tomorrow from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. I am in a very melancholy mood. I almost cried today a couple of times after I dropped Joel off at the airport. I, while generally more happy than ever, feel like I am at another turning point in the constant series of turning points that is life. I am not dealing with change this to make it better. I am dealing with tinker with that to make it perfect. I am 32. I am adult. I know what I am doing. It is just kind of shuffling things around a little bit to make them all work better. That is what 2004 is for. The Year of the Big Shuffle. The music that I have selected for tomorrow is reflecting this contemplative mood. Hopefully, no one will drive off the side of the road and break down weeping while I play some sad jams. I don’t want to cause accidents.
I will be sharing with you in a low key fashion and playing Christmas music on tomorrow’s the Assholier than Thou Good Times Happy Friends Monday Morning Radio Show Starring Baby Fea (Yea).
posted by Thea at 9:31 PM 