Swayed

I revisited Green Day's American Idiot the other day and I forgot how much I like it. I can say with no apprehension that it's a good album in the story it tells and how it tells it. Back when the album first came out, I was less kind to it, but mostly because I was too easily swayed by other's opinions.

Back in high school I was totally a follower. I liked what I liked sure, but I also was totally into whatever my friends liked. This went double for a few specific girls, but it was true in regards to my male friends as well. No one in my social circle were huge fans of Green Day to begin with, and when the new album came out I liked it, but came to "dislike" it once I found that my friends didn't really care for it. This happened with a lot of stuff from those days, and I have to wonder what I would be into now if I didn't put so much stock into my friend's opinions.

These days I try to keep an open mind, and when a friend weighs in on something, I try not to hold that to whatever that something is. So I can say I like American Idiot (I'm not a big fan of the videos that accompany them aside from the Holiday video), the Smashing Pumpkins had some Metal in them, and I am completely justified in liking whatever the hell I want.

Booze, Bands, and getting sick

Well now. Where to begin? I guess I should start with last week. Last Friday the band and I headed to San Jose to record our 2nd set of tracks and our first with Kendra. We spent three days recording drums, guitars, bass, and vocals and just hanging out in the studio and shooting the shit when we weren't working. Sunday we wrapped up with the promise of finished tracks within the week.

On Monday I had to leave musicland and go back to the real world. Work was looming over my head and I wasn't looking forward to it. Ultimately though, things were alright. I finished the last of my computer training (so I thought anyway) and when I went down to the floor I felt a little better about it. So that was cool.

Wednesday I had work, then band rehearsal, and then I hung out with folks for a Cinco De Mayo party. There were margaritas involved. I got really drunk.

Thursday I woke up with a hangover and I still had class and then plans to jam with Matt and Max (RUN AMOK). I pulled myself out of bed and was able to do all of it, but may have over exerted myself at the jam.

Friday (yesterday) was the final round of the Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands at DNA Lounge. I woke up achy and with a sore throat. Still, I got to the studio, we loaded up, and we got to DNA. We got all set up, I took a nap in Jim's truck, and we went on at around 9:15. The audience seemed to like us, and we rocked pretty hard, but when I got off the stage, I crashed big time. I had used up pretty much everything I had on stage. Now I was all achy again and we still had a few hours to go before the judging. Ultimately, we came in 4th place.

After the judging I got a ride back to the studio where my car was waiting. Sarah came with me on the drive home, and I tried to sleep as soon as I got in. See, I had work today at 6am. I was feeling really sick, so I knew I wasn't going to make it, but I still had to call in to let my boss know. This happened at 5am. Until then I tried to sleep. I thought I'd just fall in bed and lose consciousness, but I actually couldn't fall asleep from 12:45 when I got home all the way to 5 when I had to call. I finally slept for a bit after that, but I was kind of a mess.

Now I'm getting a bit stir-crazy from just sitting in my apartment all day.