Sentimental Valium

July 1st. An important day of the year, as I will now demonstrate.

July 1 Birthdays
Jamie Farr (1934)
Deborah Harry [of Blondie] (1945)
Fred Schneider [of The B-52s] (1951)
Dan Aykroyd (1952)
Carl Lewis (1961)
Pamela Anderson Lee (1967) is she still considered "Lee" or just "Anderson" these days?!
Liv Tyler (1977)

Important July 1 Occurances
1847: U.S. Post Office issued the first adhesive stamps.
1863: The first day's fighting at Gettysburg began during the U.S. Civil War.
1867: Canada became an independent dominion.
1909: Edison began commercially manufacturing his new "A" type alkaline storage batteries.
1943: U.S. Government began to automatically withhold federal income tax from paychecks.
1963: U.S. Postmaster introduced the five-digit ZIP code. (ZIP stands for "Zone Instant Post" for those with a life-long curiousity.)
1979: Sony introduced the Walkman.
1980: "O Canada" was proclaimed the national anthem of Canada. (And that remains the only words I know of that song. Kristi--you need to teach me the rest of it!)
1991: Court TV began airing.
2005: Sandra Day O'Connor retires from the Supreme Court.
2005: tr0y moves. Again.

Today marks the 24th time I have moved in my 31 years of breathing. I could be off by a couple, depending on the number of moves the family made that I can't remember or am not aware of. One could also argue that each year of moving during college doesn't necessarily count as a legitimate move. Regardless, I've moved more than I like. I won't spend this post complaining about the hells of packing boxes or coming face-to-face with loads of crap I don't remember owning and don't truly need.

Instead, I point out this recent move to accentuate a point: I'm restless.

I hope that one day I'll grow up and will find some kind of contentment where I am. I'm not unhappy. I'm not hating my job or relationships or life generally. I just notice this pattern in my life and I want to figure out how it might be tempered a little.

I look forward to the new house–and the new roomie. His name is Matt. I've decided to get internet access in the new place, so I won't be limited to a couple coffeeshop visits a week to post or answer email. I've a bigger space for the studio and intend to make good use of it. Overall, this is a great move. Getting there, like most destinations in life, is hard I guess.

OK--some music:

Amy over at Shake Your Fist knows her music. Two posts in the last week have been great. She's commented about a fantastic book, Britpop! Cool Britannia and the Spectacular Demise of English Rock, and also recommending my favorite track from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Check out her June 27 post for the mp3.

I can't even begin to recount all the good music you can check out here. The June playlist is one of the site's best in a long time. It's a good random mix of music.

Gotta hit it again. I'll try and post again soon.

posted by -tr0y- @ 11:51 AM

Currently playing: "Pure Energy (Club Mix)" by Information Society.

I need the energy of a song like that today. Said simply and plainly: I am a weather pansy. I've probably mentioned it before, but I don't do well in either really hot or cold situations. That's why the decision to stay in the Midwest is so idiotic--it gets to both extremes. I woke up yesterday morning at 5:15, angry and convinced that it wasn't legal for a home to be the temperature that mine was. I was sure I would find melting furniture in the living room–piles of smoldering fabric and faux-wood. Turns out it wasn't that hot, but I did read "89" on the digital thermostat and that was enough to sustain my anger. It was equally warm this morning. I've struggled with a good solid night of sleep because of the temperature, even though I've a fan exactly 7 inches from my face the entire night. That's why I need a song like "Pure Energy" today.

To quote @m again, "There are about 4 live-able weather days in Michigan."

Speaking of @m, huge thanks on his behalf to all who came to see us at Juke's Saturday night. We enjoyed saying our name hundreds of times and pulling out a few new songs. We'll keep everyone posted on future dates.

Currently playing: "A Punch Up At A Wedding (No No No No No No No No)" by Radiohead.

I know I mentioned it last post, but I am absolutely in love with the new Klosterman book. I never want this book to be finished. It's honestly one of the best things I've read in months! Not only is his knowledge of music and pop culture humbling, but his insight into the feelings and thoughts of humans (at least single, 30-year-old men) is shockingly accurate! I want to share 5 observations, just to give a small glimpse of the book. ("youknowwho"--this is a book you would really like!!)

There is something sickeningly attractive about being in a bad relationship; you start feeding off the unhappiness. It becomes darkly interesting.

Somewhere, at some point, somehow, somebody decided that death equals credibility...I want to find out why the greatest career move any musician can make is to stop breathing. I want to find out why plane crashes and drug overdoses and shotgun suicides turn long-haired guitar players into messianic prophets.

I love the way music inside a car makes you feel invisible; if you play the stereo at maximum volume, it's almost like other people can't see into your vehicle. It tints your windows, somehow.

Men always want to make sure that attractive women are informed of the fact that they are, in fact, attractive... I guess it's the hope that–somewhere on earth and against all odds–there is a beautiful woman who has managed to live her entire life without anyone mentioning that she has a desirable physical appearance, and this singular comment will be so flattering that no other courtship will be necessary.

So many of the rock concerts I've attended have been filled with people who were there only to be there, who just wanted to be seen by other people who were there only to be there...Half the people who attend concerts only go so that they can tell other people that (a) certain shows were amazing, and (b) other shows sucked.

I read the first 50 pages one night, putting off sleep a while longer. The next time I started to read, I got this panicked feeling I would finish the book too soon–this worry the book wasn't going to last long enough!! So, like the mental giant I am, I started the book over–and read slower.

I'm pathetic.

Speaking of books, I've been debating whether or not to keep bookshelves when I move this weekend. I'm starting to wonder if bookshelves are physical proof of intellectual megalomania. The same with stacks of CDs or DVDs. Should I have those kinds of things displayed? Are those things all interpreted as my lame attempt to convince someone else that I'm smarter, more culturally aware than the average West Michigan person? Am I really that insecure? I've never intentionally thought about that, but I'm beginning to wonder if there is something deep inside me that is trying to impress anyone that happens to walk into my living room. I should just simply be glad that anyone comes into my living room at all...

New music coming in a post later today--it's been too long since I've done that.

Happy Birthday Lissa. Don't worry--this side of 20 isn't as bad as everyone warned us it would be!

Exit music: "Warning Sign" by Coldplay. (one of my favorite tracks from "A Rush Of Blood" actually.)

posted by -tr0y- @ 10:51 AM