I'm Not As Good At It As You

No this isn't an original creative blog title, but what it really is, is the title to the new S record coming out April 8th on Own Records. I put the link to an mp3 from the new album as well for those who have never heard S.



http://www.ownrecords.com/mp3s/S_SaveYou.mp3

This for me personally is some very exciting stuff. For those of you who don't know, which would probably be most of you who don't hear me rant on about her on a regular basis, S is the name of Jenn Ghetto's project. Jenn Ghetto was once a focal member of a band called Carissa's Wierd from Seattle, whose members notably consisted of Mat Brooke (Grand Archives), Ben Bridwell (Band Of Horses) and Sera Cahoone. If you have never checked them out I would say most definitely do so. I have the discography and would be more than happy to share it with anyone who is interested. My excitement for this new album exists not for an obvious reason (a new record coming out from one of my favorite artists) but more so for another reason. Jenn Ghetto hasn't released new material since 2004! This is as almost as exciting to me as if Elliott Smith were to rise from the grave and release a new album. Since the latter isn't possible, I am just going to enjoy the new S album. Fortunately for me I found the album leaked on one of my trustworthy music sites. Being that she is one of my favorite artists though, I will be purchasing the CD as well. I just can't wait 3 more weeks to hear it! Also one last exciting tid bit regarding the artists I have been talking about throughout this blog post. Carissa's Wierd is re-releasing 3 of their albums as well as getting together for a reunion show in Seattle this July! I will most certainly be there. Unfortunately the chances of Band Of Horses megastar Ben Bridwell having anything to do with this show is unrealistic at best. At least I'll be there in July to witness what truly does take place firsthand.

Kid In A Candy Store

The title to this blog describes the exact feelings I am consumed with today. For some reason I am struggling mightily to sit here in my office at work. I feel like a kid in a candy store. I am just really excited for some reason, and I am having a hard time sitting still. It could be two things. One the weather is gorgeous today, and two I just watched this live performance by The National on Jimmy Fallon last night.




Anyways, I am going to write a bit to kill sometime and to give my mind something to focus on other than wanting to be outside enjoying this beautiful day. Last night was one of those nights where you just waste a ton of time. I sat around and played Excitebike on the WiiWare for hours, and beat all 4 cups in a few hours. Looking back on it today, it was pretty sad that I played that game for so long yesterday. But seriously, the game is really addicting. Look at this video below and it will give you an idea.




So this is what I've been wasting my nights on lately. It's only going to get worse considering Mega Man 10 just came out. I believe that will be purchased tonight...



Those are just a few tid bits to enjoy. I'm going to go back to being fidgety as hell at work. Why wouldn't it rain so much this weekend that it might flood, but be gorgeous during the entire week when I have to work? Pittsburgh annoys me sometimes.

Seattle or San Francisco?

OR



So I am having an extremely hard time deciding on my vacation destination this year. What I absolutely know with certainty are two things. I am going somewhere in May, and it's either going to be Seattle (which would encompass Vancouver and Portland) or San Francisco. My brother has been working in San Fran for 6 weeks now, and maybe making a permanent transition to that market very soon. Two of my best friends Gary and John live near Seattle. This is a tough call for me. John and Gary have extremely busy schedules. John works 2 jobs, 60 hours a week and Gary is in the Navy and has a demanding work schedule during the week as well. But... I really want to see these guys and explore more of the Pacific Northwest then I got to the last time I was out there. I was hoping to branch out to Vancouver which is only an hour and 45 minutes from their house, and Portland which isn't too far either. My conflict about doing this though is their work schedules. If they can't get free time, then I will be stuck on an island off of Washington with absolutely nothing to do or transportation means to get me anywhere.

On the other hand, my brother Nick stays in the heart of downtown San Francisco. I could stay at his place/hotel and even while he's working I could just walk out and enjoy the city. So this is a tough call. I am thinking about possibly going both places. One of my favorite bands of all time Carissa's Wierd are getting together for a reunion show in Seattle in July, which I absolutely have to go see. I should have about 7 paid vacation days accrued in May, and I will have two more by July. So maybe I will use up 5 of those days to go to San Fran, and then 4 of those days to go to Seattle. I don't know why I am rambling on about this on my blog really. I think it's mostly in an attempt to talk out loud about things rather than just thinking them out inside my head. Taking two vacations to the West Coast though is going to be extremely expensive. Doubt I can afford it. Not to mention I am taking a weekend trip to Philly in early June to see The National. I think I'm going to sit here at work and ponder this some more in the meantime, while I listen to a live concert I just downloaded by Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold.

You can download the whole thing here if you're interested: http://chocolatebobka.blogspot.com/2009/07/mp3-white-antelope-two-headed-boy.html

People love to be apart of something even if they don't understand it

Sorry for the extremely long title to this blog, but I was perturbed yesterday after logging onto Facebook following the gold medal hockey game between Canada and the U.S. The first thing that annoyed me was just the hockey fans that seemed to just fall out of the sky!? Why do these people all of a sudden have an interest in watching a hockey game? It's pretty clear that the reasoning for this is that they want to be a part of something that everyone else is talking about around them. I have a hard time believing some of these people actually enjoy watching hockey, and aren't just watching it to see some "hot" hockey players as they see it or to fit in. Quotes like "Awwhhh I am so bummed we lost, but Crosby scored the game winner and is my hubby so it's all good!!" just annoy me to no end. So apparently you play for the team, when you say things like "we lost." It's also pretty clear you watch because you fantasize about fucking and or marrying Sidney Crosby. Somehow neither of these things really seem important, and the hard work put out there by team USA slips by the way side. The more I dwell on these thoughts I'm having regarding this, I am beginning to realize I'm probably just being a total elitist. However, I can't help but be critical. It's a game that I highly enjoy watching and if this fake enthusiasm for hockey must exist for a day I wish it could appreciated this much everyday throughout the nation which would in turn help the game of hockey and the NHL as a whole. Fortunately, I live in a city that has a ton of passion for hockey, largely due to the success of the Penguins and Sidney Crosby. This is part of the problem but also ends up being part of the great thing about hockey in this city. Marks for Sidney Crosby or Kris Letang because he's hot or whatever buy merchandise and go to games and so forth and annoy the shit out of me. Yet, they lead to more financial revenue for the team, and hence better talent gets put out on the ice. But, most of these people probably don't know the difference between a one timer or a wrist shot...

I am extremely grateful that I get to root for and watch such amazing talent in the best sport that exists each year in Pittsburgh. I am just over these people that would otherwise talk shit on or not care about hockey claiming to be hockey fans because the U.S. almost won a gold medal or because Sidney Crosby is hot. I apologize for the rant, but luckily not to many people read this blog so it shouldn't offend to many people anyways. BUH.