Do these glasses make me look like a bastard?

So it's almost the end of the year. A time of reflection I suppose. Also getting drunk. Maybe I'll have done both by the end of this post.

Christmas has happened. I had a good time with the folks leading up to the 25th then came back to SF and did stuff with my friends. It was all good times. My birthday happened too. Went out celebrating last night in fact. Went to Edinburgh Castle and the power went out. We were sitting in the dark by candlelight just drinking and eating our fish and chips. It was pretty cool actually. Then they had to kick us out 'cause the power wasn't coming on any time soon.

This past year has been... good I guess. There were some great moments and some weird moments and a few downright shitty moments, but the good more than likely outweighs the bad.

Highlights of this year (good and bad) include:

- Playing Slims with LS.
- Recording with LS.
- BAMC with Matt
- Halloween
- Halo: Reach coming out
- The falling out of LS
- Me "Ted-ing out"
- Run Amok getting back together
- A date ruined due to a fucker on the MUNI
- Meeting the dag back home

This list could probably go on, but suffice to say: it's been an eventful year. Maybe I'll do a new years resolution thing, maybe not. In any case, have a good one yeah?

BTW, post title is from The IT Crowd. Funny as hell comedy from those darn Brits.

KIMO'S: a recap

Man, another gig where I was sick. Had a blast though. Good times.

I was hoping to get over whatever I had by yesterday, or at least yesterday evening when I had to go. Sadly, not the case. I woke up a bit snotty and went off to class. Came back after getting some work done on campus (internet was down in the apartment last few days) and made a call to comcast to get a tech guy out here. Xander gets home and I'm still taking it as easy as possible.

When it finally came time to go, I took some Robitussin and headed to the space to grab my gear. Megan came along 'cause she needed a ride. We met Matt at the space, we grabbed our stuff and headed to Kimo's (Bar and Penthouse Lounge) for our gig with The Golden Path and Love Infinity.

Ok, first of all, the sound in Kimo's is pretty nice. The woman working sound knew her stuff, and the mix seemed decent for all three bands. As for me, I was still pretty sick. I hoped to feel better by the time we got on, and while the cold medicine helped, my head was still a bit foggy. I got some advil in me and I did feel better. Had a pint too.

So after the two bands, it was our turn, and I think we rocked it most righteously. We got Sal from The Hacks to play a song with us and he went kinda nuts and kicked over a monitor then started jumping on it. The sound woman got really pissed at him. Turned out alright though. The booking agent for Kimo's asked us back, and we made $25 bucks as a band last night.

We should have pics up soon, maybe video, so check out the facebook or maybe BAMCSF.com for the goods. Fun night A+++ would rock again.

To be thankful

Here's a list of what I'm thankful for. I do this every year.

My friends. You guys are awesome. Super Great Disco Party Biblioteca.
My family. Thanks for supporting me in the stuff I do.
My band. Thanks for bringing the RAWK.
My last band. Thanks for the good times, even if it ended suddenly.
My job. Thanks for giving me money in exchange for the stuff I do.
Foo Fighters. Thanks for being my favorite band. Still.

In particular, thanks to Mom for giving me $20 whenever I go home, Jackson for helping me through a tough day, Xander for being a kickawesome roommate (and for the porn), Jessamy for being a kickawesome quasi-room mate, Chris and Kendra for being cool band mates, and Matt for starting the BAMC.

All right. I'm thankful for these things and others. Time to go eat some good food with the family, get through a weekend at work, then ROCK THE FUCK OUT AT THE GIG AT KIMOS ON WEDNESDAY! It's the first show RUN AMOK has played in a year y'know. You should come and see us. December 1st. 9pm.

What does he waaaaaant?

I haven't forgotten about the blog I promise. I've just been busy/haven't been arsed to write anything recently. There hasn't been much going on as of late. But here we go, some stuff that has been happening in the past few weeks:

Saw Godsmack at the Fox Theater in Oakland. Kickass show.

Saw Chris's new band HELL FIRE at the Red Devil Lounge

Got a gig for RUN AMOK for Dec 1st at Kimo's

Got a sweet rehearsal space.

Got a new cell phone.

Sold some guitars.

Finally saw the Scott Pilgrim movie

I'm going to try to blog more. Be sure to check out www.BAMCSF.com for the Bay Area Metal Coalition, and my new blog at eyesearsandfingers.blogspot.com

Just a Quicky

If you need to get away from it all and just be alone with your own thoughts, the here's what you do:

- Pick up your portable music player
- Walk outside
- Get on the most crowded muni bus you can
- Turn your music up loud
- Block out everything else

Zen and the art of coming out

Nothing so pretentious, I read it on the back of a comic book I think. Now on to the post!

Today is National Coming Out Day. Part of a larger National Coming Out Week. Or maybe it's stretched to a week in order to further celebrate/raise awareness. In any case, I encourage all my readers (all 5 of you) to declare to the world something you have kept secret, in honor of those who can't. Something that is a part of you that you can't change. My declaration? I am unabashedly into Kink, Fetish, and BDSM.

A few weeks ago, in light of the recent suicides by many Queer teens, Dave Navarro, guitarist of Jane's Addiction sent out a public message encouraging people to get help if they are contemplating suicide. He urged them to keep on living because there is so much to live for. By killing yourself, you rob the world of one more open minded individual. I totally agree with him.

I'd be lying if I said I've never thought about it. I've been depressed to the point of thinking about it, but I've never taken any action. I know that the hard times will pass, and that not only do I have myself to think of, but all the people who love me and care about me. I couldn't do that to them.

I'm not famous or well known, but I hope that anyone who reads this will find some comfort and maybe some meaning from my words. Don't give up. Don't give in to Hate. The world is kind of a fucked up place. Always has been and won't change anytime soon. But there are good people in the world, you just have to find them. Taking your own life won't stop the bullies or the haters. It will make them pause and maybe think, but it won't make them stop. Always remember that no matter who you are or what you are going through, there's someone out there who can relate, and moreover someone who is willing to help.

And so I repeat: Don't give up. Don't give in to Hate. You are stronger than Hate. I believe in You.

We're living free on stolen time (on stolen time)

Figure it's time I get back to bloggin'. I'm actually now a contributor for the Bay Area Metal Coalition, which I just launched with Matt Morales. Yes, the guitarist of Run Amok. I should also mention that Run Amok has reformed! We jammed this past Saturday and it rocked. I'm totally stoked we're playing again.

But anyway, The BAMC has been created as a way to make up our lack of promoting ourselves last time we were a band. We're going whole hog and trying for a revolution here in SF. I have no idea how far we'll go, but I'm looking forward to the journey there. Tell your friends (Freeze Ray: Stops Time).

I now work in the paint department. Not too sure if I like it more than the garden department where I was previously working, but I may have to give it the edge. There's less to maintain, there's usually something to do, and making paint makes the day go by quicker ('cause I don't think about how bored I am). All in all, could be worse, I suppose.

I bought a new bass recently. An Aria Pro II series PE-200. It's a Japanese made copy of an old Gibson bass from the 70's, The Ripper. It's got a pelham blue finish that's seen better days (awesome), a chunky neck that's not too wide (sweet), and controls that I still haven't quite figured out. It's got tone to spare and MOJO for days.

Xander interns at a feminist art gallery in SF called Femina Potens, which is owned and operated by Adult movie star and bondage model Madison Young. When I found out, I was very intrigued, plus I'm a fan, so Xander went in and got me autographed porn! Madison even signed the sleeve, not the plastic, so it won't come off from *ahem* repeated handlings.

And of course, Run Amok. We have a new logo (made by me), some new jams that will become songs, and a renewed sense of purpose. Check us out yeah?