thegthang simple

There was Joy for everyone

Christmas time has come and gone, and now a day away from New Years Eve is upon us.  Quite literally there was joy for everyone this Christmas.  I kissed Shannon farewell at the gates of Delta in LA to begin my trek back to NY for the holiday season, where I remain while writing this post.  I am stranded on a dial up connection as is my friend Tim, tis the only drawback of the holiday season. 

This Christmas I received several gifts.  My dad got me a 20 gig iPod with the Monster Mobile car adapter for the wonderful LA traffic.  One of my money gifts was my new hard drive, a Maxtor 250 gig DiamondMax Plus 9 .  I also got some other tech stuff such as an on line adapter for my ps2 (I know it took me forever!), a few games such as GTA San Andreas, Call of Duty..., Def Jam Fight for NY (why?).  I got a few needed mod accessories for my PC, never enough blue LED for my rig!  I also got some sweet clothing necessities from American Eagle as I love their underwear!  I got a few sweet DVDs to add to my collection of screeners, and some other stuff (you get the gist). 

I've yet to do the gift exchange with Shannon, that'll wait til I return to the warmer of coasts, but she will enjoy her gifts, very much so.  Well hopefully this post will upload on this archaic dial up, otherwise I've wasted more time than needed on an update. 

Happy New Year to all, and warmest regards to any involved in the Southern Pacific disaster. 

Happy Holidays

Tis the eve of Christmas, and near the dawn of  new year. I would like to send my regards to all celebrating this time of year.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

End of the fantasy football season this week as well.  I got shafted Tim's league, but I should win my money league.  Of course now I've jinxed myself. 

I call it a rock show

Just a quick update about the Almost Acoustic Christmas.  The Killers played the best set of the night, but Muse stole the show!  If you have not seen this band live do yourself a favor and try and see them.  There aren't many chances left in 2004, but it is a must see.  This band is UNBELIEVABLE!  4 of the other bands at the show couldn't get off the Muse dick, including Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, and Interpol!  The lead singer of Jimmy Eat world saying "I look like bullshit doing a solo after Muse..."  "How fucking great were they?" 

I might be a bit jaded as the sound in the Universal Amphitheater is among the best in the US, but Muse sounded great.  Keane did a great set that does not include any guitars, not even bass.  The Shins came out ultra hyped but their set was okay.  Franz Ferdinand did a great job and was one of the best acts of the night.  Other than Muse, the only other band that really went off was Taking Back Sunday who tore shit up. 

Modest Mouse came out and wasted about a half hour of my time, to be followed by surprise guest Gwen Stefani, gentlemen, I am a convert.  Not so much for the music but she was pretty damn hot on that stage, and the entire crowd was into it. 

After Gwen Stefani it was truly lights out performances.  Franz Ferdinand followed by the Killers, followed by Interpol, closing with Jimmy Eat World.  This was two hours of absolute beautiful live music.  The Killers were just ridiculous, and have been each time I've seen them.  Interpol was pure brilliance as I've suggested before, and combined a great mix of old songs and new stuff.  Jimmy Eat World came out to perhaps the most ovation of the night, and proceeded to play their "greatest hits." 

Okay, not as quick as I had hoped, but there is just so much I want to say about this concert.  Hands down, the sound at the Universal Amphitheater is the best, as were the performances. 

See Muse!

Almost Acoustic Christmas, Night One

Getting ready to head out to Universal City and attend KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas, Night One.  If you are not able to attend the show I highly recommend heading over to the KROQ web site and watch the show with their webcast. Tonight is an awesome line up and this is a great opportunity to see it.  If anyone can capture the stream (I'm having problems with my video card) it would be great if you would do so and upload it to your favorite torrent site!  Suprnova is just the first that jumps out a me.

Hopefully I'll have some updates from the show in the next few days.  Here is some more show info for tonight:

The KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas is this weekend at Universal Amphitheater.  Doors open at 4pm with the first band hitting the stage just after 5pm so make sure to get there early and give yourself plenty to time to park and walk to the venue.  Please read below for set times.

Saturday, Dec. 11th Set Times
Saturday, 11 December
Doors 4pm

5:10 The Music 
5:40 Snow Patrol       
6:10 Keane      - brilliance
6:40 The Shins 
7:10 Taking Back Sunday - enough said
7:40 Muse      
8:10 Modest Mouse - yeah, ok? 
8:50 Franz Ferdinand   
9:35 The Killers  -  This band is awesome
10:10 Interpol    -  Buy it, steal it, just get this music!
10:50 Jimmy Eat World - My Friend Tim loves this band, and he knows music!

Where will it end?

Coffee price hike!

By the way, my roommate is currently having his identity stolen by some jerkoff scumbag.  He is at the point where he has to go to the DMV to get a new license and license number, as well as get in touch with Social Security and have his SS number changed.  What the fuck is that all about?

Long week even longer.  Great show on Saturday though.

Everybody's Working for the Weekend

What a long, grueling week it has been so far.  Still only Wednesday.  The longest week of a very quick 2004.  But I've got on this pulling to this weekend.  The KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, Night One.

                                                     

Hopefully now that I've posted my week will speed up.  I guess there is always a lag in time when the holidays start rolling around. 

Several More Weeks Until Christmas

What a time for a much needed restful weekend.  It was a well deserved weekend.  Saturday I headed with several others to Old Towne Pasadena for a night of revelry.  We hit up the ever so trendy and popular Villa Sorriso and represented the private bar to the fullest.  This was perhaps the night of the giants, as there were tall people all over the place.  Most chicks were even pretty tall.  It's rare that my 6 foot frame is one of the shortest in any place.  The night went well and the drinks were potent, as usual.  At around 11:30 the dance floor was packed (an outside dance floor no less) and a light rain began to fall.  This was perhaps one of the most lucid "dance floor" events I have ever experienced.  I was of course on the second floor watching from the privacy of the private bar, but painfully hot women dancing in falling rain is something to see.  I don't even want to discuss the rest of the evening, I'm caught up on my memories.

Sunday was pretty laid back.  Lots of NFL to watch, and movies to catch up on.  Got to settle in my warm bed and watch "House of Flying Daggars," which is pretty good.  If you're into "Hero" type movies, this is a must see.  I should preface my 'warm bed' comment on the grounds that LA is extremely cold these days.  Actually the coldest November on record and perhaps even December when all is said and done. 

Are you kidding me?

Barry Bonds pulls a Gary Sheffield, lubes up with the CREAM

Barry Bonds admits to nothing.  He apparently used some "cream."  Maybe for dry skin, or a rash on his ass, or in place of Icy Hot.  Cream.  We all need some cream in this world, but the kind Bonds was using didn't 'rule everything around me, CREAM get the money..."  Or maybe it did.  I was hoping that in the wake of the Giambi information that we'd get some other players to honestly admit to steroid use.  But I guess not.  What a fucking farse this cream shit is.  Who the fuck really beleives this garbage?  Of course Bonds does have alot to loose, the homerun record, and an asteric.

I gotta stop this rant before I tear this blog down.  Maybe post on this in the morning with clear head.  At least Bonds kept true and also lied in front of the grand jury. Nice one there Barry, way to inspire the kids.

Giambi admits use of illegal substances

Giambi admits use of steroids, report says.

Not that I am a New York Yankee fan, but if this report is accurate, one of the suspected steroid abusers from the BALCO case has stepped up.  And I can not stress stepped up enough.  Jason "the incredible shrinking" Giambi has reportedly testified to using banned substances during four seasons, one of which includes the injection of human growth hormone for at least one of these seasons.  Giambi should be commended for his admital, and perhaps will sway other other baseball stars who are involved in the BALCO case.  I know Gary Sheffield took a hit with his admonishment of using cream that he "didn't know was steroids" (give me a freaking break, what a lop), but Giambi has brought full fledged steroid abuse to the table.

Not that this testimony will make any other players feel the desire to come clean (I love puns), but it is about time this issue is addressed.  Especially in regards to national role models.  As an avid gym goer, I have seen many younger people start to dabble in performance enhancing drugs.  Due to their age as well as maturity level, many pass the buck off to professional athletes and feel that if it is acceptable for the MLB, it's perfectly fine for them.  I've seen this in both LA Fitness as well as 24 Hour Fitness, and especially in the muscle gym I currently call home.  Major League players are role models, and they have to act like it.  Lying on the stand and touting the effects of steroids is improprietely wrong.  Yes, steroids can give you one hell of a great looking body, but I can't begin to describe what they take away.