Going on 22 Hours

Today was a long day. After only about 4.5 hours of sleep, it was time to wake up and head into the city for the Autism Speaks walk. From there was a drive back home and a screening of the social network. Then a late lunch and an unintentional nap before hitting the city again. Went to AKA and picked up Titus on vinyl before heading to the TLA and seeing Tallest Man (show didn't even start until 9). Finally, and without surprise, the night ended at Llanerch. Now, before I get any closer to the 24 hours without sleep mark, I am climbing in bed.

Goodnight.

Two Concerts, Two Weekends

I have two pretty enjoyable weekends on the horizon. After about a month of staying local, I am heading back to NY this weekend. Saturday is the homecoming event day at Fordham and I am seeing Titus Andronicus that night.

The following weekend, Mike is coming here and after helping in the Autism Speaks walk we are going to see The Tallest Man On Earth (musician, not some weird side show act at the local carnival) play in Philly.

As for this weekend? Well I saw Penrose play at the docks today, got to play some video games, bought a new shirt and am hoping to tryout my dual screen setup for the games tomorrow. Not bad.

A Active Sunday, An Active Weekend

I have fallen into the downward spiral of being antisocial. My job leaves me too tired to do much all week long, and getting comfortable there has left me with feeling that 1 trip to the diner for an entire weekend is enough time to see and spend time with friends.

This weekend, however, was completely different. Kristen was up from New Orleans, and from the time I woke up Friday until right now I was with people to some degree and did a lot. Friday after being gone for work from 630 am until almost 7 pm, I was back out the door within 20 minutes to watch the Eagles 1st preseason game and hang out at a friend's house. I ended up leaving and getting back home around 1:30. Kristen ended up staying here the rest of the weekend.

I woke up Saturday morning around 10 am. An hour later it was time for pancakes and then a series of texts and phone calls to plan for the show that night. Past that I spent the next 2 hours trying to come up with a set list, once Joe came over, and memorizing more lyrics for the show. By 4 is was time to pack the cars and head out. We were at the pool from 5:30 until 11 pm. I then went back to my friend Tom's until about 1 or so. Finally got home and got to bed a little after 2:30 am. Both Joe and Kristen stayed over Saturday night.

Today I woke up and soon after Joe headed out. Kristen had already been up and showered and I showered soon after. Almost immediately after getting out we headed out the door for the diner to meet up with those that slept at Tom's. After the diner, our friends from NY/NJ hit the road and I headed back home. Not for long, though. We were back out the door at 1 pm to see, with Alex, a 1:30 screening of Scott Pilgrim (which was awesome - see it). Home around 4, dinner at 6, and then it was time for one more outing. As if two outings on a Sunday was not enough (and believe me, considering how this summer has gone - that was a lot) my sisters, Kristen and myself went out to get frozen yogurt and met some long time friends there. Finally, I called it a night/weekend around 9:30 pm. The rest of the night I spent lying on the floor reading through/catching up on some news and watching the Phils.

All in all I would say it was an incredibly solid weekend. Also, for once, the weather was pretty bearable throughout.

TSRJ Forever

It looked like it had run its course after one short year. Then it looked like the end of college and the physical dispersal of band members across the east coast threatened to close up the shop. Then there looked to be just one more opportunity for fun. Now it seems there is no end to the monster that is TSRJ.

Tonight's show was a blast. This band has not always been and easy thing and at times it can be down right frustrating. But in the end I love doing it. It's not even about the show or the music but about the people. To be able to get college friends from NY and New Orleans amongst other places all to come to Philly for a night to hang out, have a good time, go swimming, etc is just awesome. A TSRJ reunion/show is more than just the 5 or 6 of us on stage, but every one of our friends. A good amount of the people who came tonight I have barely seen, if at all, in months. Some don't even live that far, but because of schedules we just don't see each other. The band/shows get everyone back together and we always have a ton of fun.

For that reason alone, how could we ever put this thing to rest?

Breaking My Rules

I am definitely going into tomorrow's show much more haphazardly than typical. I still am shaky on lyrics for 3 of the songs. We have no planned set list/order figured out either. Also I typically run through the set in its entirety the day before a show vocally to just build confidence in my ability to sing it well and for at least 24 hours prior to a show I cut out all dairy and just drink gallons of water. This time I went through about half of the set and had mac and cheese and mozz. sticks for dinner. Maybe I am convinced I need less effort to really perform well, maybe I just am trying to take the attitude that everyone else takes coming into a show - it's a fun time, not work. Either way, I am getting a bit nervous and I'm starting to question my new methods.

I guess we will see.

400th Post!

Somewhere on this blog exists 399 posts. It's amazing that I have written that many times on here. For those of you who continue to check from time to time, I hope this has not been too dull. I don't lead an incredibly interesting life. I think I used to write more interesting blogs but my job and daily routine are so tiring that I find myself wanting to be in bed by 9 pm. I remember I used to see this in my older sister and wonder how anyone could be so inactive. Now, I find myself asking the same question but in the mirror.

I definitely was not made to work the 9-5 life. I am hoping to get involved in some things this fall. They will both make my life, and hopefully this blog, more exciting.

I spent a majority of this weekend working on a paper. A paper? Yes, despite graduating a few months ago, my weekend was spent splitting time between band practice and a paper. Feels like a standard college weekend to me. I am submitting this paper-proposal to be presented at the national psychological and legal conference held in March. This year it is an international conference and that means two things. Getting in is harder, but getting in looks even better. I am submitting research on potential jurors perceptions of risk factors that could lead a juvenile to giving a false confession. The false confession rate for juveniles is scary. It is really an interesting area and I love my research. The paper is due to the grad student overseeing the project tomorrow and then to my boss next week. Official submissions are in September. Acceptance means a huge booster to my resume, experience, and a free vacation of sorts to Miami Beach. Yes on all accounts, please.

Band practice went incredible well this weekend. After a dilemma of losing our drummer, potentially having to drop the show, cancel practice and can the reunion, we were able to enlist my drummer from high school to fill in. He came up with his kit from DC to practice with us and it was a lot of fun. It was the first time a band has practiced in there in 5 years - wow! It felt like it had been only week. The show is this saturday at a BYOB swim club party.

This is definitely a very very busy time for me right now. Work is in overdrive with assessments, this paper-proposal is a big deal, and the show this weekend is right around the corner. September is now not only looking nice as a break from the heat but also a break from the work. Hopefully, if things die down and I really feel comfortable with the day-to-day I can stick to the plan of finding a clinical setting to volunteer my Saturdays. Fingers crossed!

(As I am sure I have mentioned on here before, I always find a way to be really productive doing anything else when I have pressing work due. Today I spent my day cleaning out the pantry and refrigerator of foods we don't ever eat/were stale/had expired. Here is a picture of condiments I removed from the door of the refrigerator. This was not all of them. Yeesh!)

Wake Up!

Arcade Fire @ The Mann Center tonight. They were really solid. Thanks, Alex.

Concerts, Records, Cheesesteaks

It's too late to write a full blog tonight. The title sums up today in the most bullet-pointed fashion. It was a fantastic day. Really glad Mike came this weekend. My wallet says otherwise - we compromised and decided Mike has to come back again, but not for a month.

Goodnight.

Sleepy

This no-time-off is going to kill me if I don't start making smarter decisions about bed times and such. That is why I am going to NY tomorrow after work for a concert. Smart.

Exhaustion

I know what it means now, and it's bitter sweet. Tonight went swimmingly. We may not have gotten the sizable turnout we desired, but eventually it didn't matter. The bands were great, the crowd was great, and my ears are still ringing.

Typically after a show I am comatose and tonight is no different. Realizing I need to be awake in just over 4 hours to make it home for my job interview is scary. Wish me luck tomorrow. This is an amazing opportunity, one that I am lucky to even be considered for.

Goodnight.

I Love Spring Weekend

The spring week shirts boasting that logo are everywhere right now. Every spring weekend they print a few thousand of these shirts and toss them out at various Spring Weekend-related events. This was the first Spring Weekend where I got a shirt and it's a good one to get. I just happened to catch, of all of the ones they threw out, the color and size that I wanted. Excellent.

This was a great spring weekend. Last year, with TPBA, I had an incredible time. We played to the bigges crowd we ever had and will play for. It was incredible intense to perform in front of that many people, to be a memory of that Spring Weekend to so many, so sing for and sing with so many.

This year, after a year without a show, we out of the blue were offered a spring weekend show. Maybe it was the time off, maybe it was the new line-up, I'm not sure. Maybe it's just that it is hard to recall feelings to the degree they existed in their unique moment, but right now I would say I had more fun and felt more 'right' this past weekend than last year. Our set was followed by an incredible set by Penrose, who played again the next day. I recently was told that they estimated 3,500 people were in attendance for their set on Saturday. I can't even conceive what it must have looked like and felt like for them. And they deserve it.

That was the first spring weekend show I truly enjoyed (no thanks to MGMT), having followed and exhausting but amazing night. Sunday was pretty low key, but it was so, in a good way.

And now, with only days, or hours, left to give to this school I look at my Spring Weekend shirt, my only souvenir from my 4 years here, and have say once again, despite the bitching I might have about Fordham as a school, it has been and continues to be a place of incredible memories.

There are only 18 days until we graduate. That's 18 more chances to have an incredible day here. I hope to capitalize on every one.

Worth the money?

Every year it seems like Fordham waits to long or does not budget enough for a good act at spring weekend. This, our senior year, they managed to book MGMT. This is the most time relevant band they have booked in my time here. In the past we have had Yellowcard, Ghostface Killa, and Guster. MGMT is the closest thing they have gotten to booking a band that students are currently listening to, a band currently big.

To say that Penrose blew them away in presence, talent, and interaction with the crowd would be an understatement. This is a shame for the school because it does not bode well for them putting in the effort trying to book a 'current' band in the future. That being said, it is unfair to compare a 'band' to the musical talent of Penrose. I think it is safe to say they have a lock on opening Spring Weekend as long as Danny goes here. It is also safe to say that I'd make the trip to see them each time as well.

My voice may have been sore, my back and neck may have been strained, but I just couldnt help myself from shouting, singing, and dancing around to them. It's amazing for guys who are so young in the music scene to command the stage so well, and incredibly cool to be close friends with all of them.

(Picture today is of my backyard. Some of the guys in the apartment complex transformed out backyard into a beach/pool. The rager than ensued started around 12:30pm and at 1:45 am it is still happening. So impressed.)

365 Days. Worth It.

As of last night, the last show we played was the Friday of Spring Weekend, last year. 5 o'clock yesterday after striking out with any show options this semester and especially for this weekend, we got a gig. It's been a year since we performed live, and with a new line up, and very little notice, I was incredibly nervous.

We killed it. My head aches. My voice is shot. I am basically comatose. And above all, I am so incredibly happy.

This was fantastic.

One More Song

Made it to my first legit Penrose show tonight. So happy to finally say that. Also, killing two birds with one stone, also saw my first concert at Arlene's Grocery. Excellent small sized venue. Add in that I got a ride with the guys in the band so no transportation cost, and since I was giving them a hand with the equipment I was considered part of the band and didn't have to pay the cover charge and you can see why it was a great night.

Oh yeah, and they were face-meltingly good. So much energy!

One Moment

To maybe look at things pessimistically for a second: I don't think it is possible to have a day where literally everything goes right. I think that something doesn't play out how it was meant to, expected, etc. Maybe there's days where everything is just in the middle, but I think there is some kind of balance that whenever there's a shitty day, something good seems to happen, or whenever there's a great day, there's some moment in it that's sub par.

Today started off terribly. I have been exhausted this week with all that has been going on and have been getting very little sleep. I went to bed last night after running a full day on about four hours of sleep, culminating with helping host and perform in an open mic night.

I woke up this morning for my 10 am class, at 10:45. The first word out of my mouth was not a pleasant one. Turns out, I was able to see what time it was so quickly because my phone was still in my hand. No I don't typically sleep with my phone. What happened was, I was so tired that while I was setting my alarm on my phone I fell asleep. I woke up and realized I was almost there too. Essentially all I had left to do was flip the setting to 'ON'.

I was then supposed to meet up with my research team and head to CT for my first dyad, and get hands on training so that when I take over the Bridgeport Site on my own I will know what I am doing. I no sooner get over my missed class when I get a message saying they are leaving very shortly, am I ready? I texted back and said that I needed at least 20 minutes and that if that was too long, don't bother. The response was basically a - we'll see you next week.

Feeling really pissed I was about to get back in bed. I had already missed class and my opportunity to go to CT, so whats the point in staying awake? Phone rings. "Hey, we are going to wait for you. Hurry up!"

The trip was highly informative and extremely successful. I got back earlier than I planned and felt happy that despite my poor start, today was not a wash. Then I get an email. I had submitted my fund raising event 3 days prior and today was when I was to hear back. Leaving the office after being told 'I hope that event isn't for this semester' left me with little hope. Around 5 o'clock today I received an email explaining that my event had been approved, with the extra requests authorized as well.

I think I may have danced. No, I know I did. And then I told anyone who knew I was worried about this. It just continued to baffle me. I still, as I am writing, can't believe that it went through. It is not like it should not have, but that they basically told me that it was too late in the year to book an event.

To add to things, my good friend Tom Murphy and his band Penrose played an amazing set trying out for the opening spot before MGMT for our spring weekend and they won the competition.

And, a woman whose blog I read frequently got back to me about something I had suggested to her. There is this book that was written for kids that I think that the reason it happened, the book itself, and what the goal for it is are all so incredible. Unfortunately I don't have kids, nor am I close with anyone who does, and so knowing about something like this ends there. I wanted so badly to share this with someone who could appreciate it and read it to their son or daughter, so I sent her the information on it to this woman. A few days passed and I never heard back so I assumed either she did not care/care for it or she did not see my message. Tonight I got a message back from her and not only did she see it, but she loved it, and wants to tell more people about it!

So yeah, maybe today was not perfect, but it was pretty damn close. I'm still ecstatic about it all. And now I need to try to sleep.

Eggs In a Basket

So, today's meeting went less than spectacular. I met with Emily, in the GO office, to discuss the details of my music bash/blowout fundraiser. What followed my proposal was a list of delicately delivered reasons why not:
1.) booking that building is next to impossible with such short notice
2.) an outdoor event might present noise problems
3.) an event this size will require you to submit an expected number of students for the event
4.) with that number comes a number of necessary security guards which cost 50 dollars per person per hour
5.) you will end up losing money on the event the longer it is because of the security bill
6.) there are several other activities planned and booked around campus already for that day

There were still others, but you get the point. So I am back to square one as far as this event is concerned. This is unfortunate because the ideal situation, the event I had created and envisioned was something that would be a real treat for the student body as well as a great opportunity for our trip to get some significant donations. Now, as it looks, I have to set the bar significantly lower - bummer.

Also, one of my roommates, yesterday, along with his girlfriend, decided to take a bag of Reese's Easter Eggs and hide all of these chocolate candies throughout our apartment. As I started this I came across a few more around my room. I fear that when we move out we will still be finding them. Let's just hope no other animals find them first.

(pictured above is one of dozens of candies scattered through out the apartment. this one is on the corner of my window.)

TBD

That's what I have written down now, mentally, for the 5 or 6 things I have to figure out before I can submit my request/permission form for the event I am planning. I had the idea, for my GO trip, as a fund raising idea, to host a music bash, of sorts.

After throwing the idea out there it has developed into having it, preferably, outside and on the last day of classes. This way, students won't have papers or anything due as they might in the week prior, nor will they be jumping into studying yet for finals.

To file the permission form, however, I still need to determine:
The exact date (tentatively decided but not certain)
The start time
Duration
Venue
Name/Title of the event
25-50 word description for the weekly event news letter

A lot of this stuff I have ideal answers for, but making sure it is a happy medium between what I want and what would get approved so as to not have the event denied is where I am right now. I have a meeting tomorrow with someone within the GO office who should have a better idea of what would get approved. Fingers crossed that the end result is positive. This could be a really cool event for most of the school if it all works out.