Trapped in the Closet

I have just spent the last five and a half hours in a closet.
Not just any old closet, mind...a closet the size of a pillbox that hasn't been properly tended to in a few years.
I know...I need to be flogged.

It's immensely difficult to maneuver in such a poorly-constructed closet, so I procrastinate as long as possible so as to avoid muscle cramps, stiff necks and avalanches of doom.
But today I was feeling rather tenacious, as a result of feeling like a waster prior to it.
I dove into the miniscule square of despair, into the old jumpers, plushies, handbags and cobwebs.
It was a dark and dismal journey I tell thee, definitely not for the weak of heart.
I managed to eradicate the out-of-date styles and funky items I have scarcely worn and replaced them with my clothes of mod, retro and indie nature that have not had a permanent home base unitl now.
But, we ran into a bit of a snag when I tried to accomodate my clothing into the space on the rack designated for them.
This particular area when stuffed to the brim would only be able to accomodate a large peanut.
Determined as I was, by some force from above, I managed to fit all of my clothes on the rack.
Mission accomplished.

But due to the stupid closet, I had scrapped my other plans for tonight.
Argh.

Booze and Bose Speakers

Felt like saying that I am greatly enjoying my Bose soundsystem at mo.
Bose has always been my favourite choice for my sound system needs, and I must say that I have been rather spoilt by them.
This partiular one was in a box for ages, and now it's properly hooked up to the computer.
The sound is liquid gold!
There are two surround units, a touch-sensitive volume controller with multiple jacks and a kicking subwoofer.



The quality is superb, and I haven't even gotten it up to maximum volume in fear that the walls will crumble!
I kid you not.

Am now playing a party bag of choons that I want to hear on such superior sound as well.
It has blown me two steps back!
If any of you are considering any such soundsystem, go for it. Now.
You will not regret it!

I would love to have a massive, massive house party right about now.
I greatly tire of attending parties and the like where they spin proper cheesy shizz on the speakers, if at all.
I would defo have a party if the people I knew were not so...disapproving of such things...to say the least.
Anyway, there would be frantic tuneage, gratuitious amounts of booze, drunken nuggets of wisdom...

Perhaps if I do have a party, I shall invite you.
:P
x

Stop Me on the Way Down

I know that I said I'd be back to promptly post a review and etc, and I realise that I have not yet done so.
I assure you that I don't do this too often...say I'm going to do something and not do it at all, but I have been extremely tired recently, due to gratutious amounts of partying.
I will get to posting the aforementioned items, I swear. Sometime...
You love it you slags...

Moving on, loads of things have happened since my last enrty.
It all involves weddings, drunken escapades, epic mate drama, causing riots at Mexican resturants, losing at tournaments of a game with the abhorrent name of "corn hole", hammered dentists, walk-a-thons, video game parties and living on an average of four hours of sleep.
It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it...

On the writing front, I've joined a literary website where I have uploaded some of my poems in hopes that some scout might see them and find a place for them.
I would love to be published!
I do have aspirations in writing.
If you can't tell at this point that I never take my writing cap off, simply read a couple of my posts and prepare to be textually assulted.
It is one of the essential supertheories I have about the dismal state of this particular blog.
But anyway, one of my goals is to write and have published a romantic comedy novel, and I would love to write a memoir of short stories and essays.
Perhaps this website could be a vehicle in doing this?
One never knows.

Right, in an effort to make up for my recent sub-par posts and seemingly empty promises, I shall post a list of the choons I have been listening to recently.
And possibly in the future, I shall make them downloadable, so as to attract potential readers that might be appreciative and comment.
Another story for another day...

1. Heartbeat - Late of the Pier
2. White Lies - The Dirty Secrets
3. Cavorting - The Courteeners
4. Human - The Killers
5. Never Miss A Beat - Kaiser Chiefs
6. Hurt Me Badly - Accidental Superhero
7. Strength in Numbers - The Music
8. The Tears - Robots in Disguise
9. Private Affair - The Virgins
10. She's A Weapon - Twisted Wheel
11. Aeons - The Presets
12. Start Again - Electric Soft Parade
13. Crawl - Kings of Leon
14. Propane Nightmares - Pendulum
15. Talons - Bloc Party
16. Something Is Not Right With Me - Cold War Kids
17. The Cycles - AutoVaughn
18. Lucio Starts Fires - Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
19. Education Pt 2 - The Metros
20. Death - White Lies
21. That Kiss - The Courteeners
22. Sugarbaby - Morningwood
23. The Shock of the Lightning - Oasis
24. Artbitch - CSS

I might possibly add more as they come to me of course.

Laters.
x

Would you stop talking?

Alrighty...so am here and haven't posted for a bit.
This was partially due to the fact that there was a massive wind storm that knocked out the electricity for a day and the tinternet for two.
It's one thing to choose to not go on the internet, but another to not be allowed to.
I felt like some sort of 21st century freak clawing at cables and silicone.
But it was resolved (thank God) and we are back up and running.

What new has happened?
Oh!
Remember all the discrepencies from hmv.co.uk?
My last parcel finally arrived in the post! I was chuffed to bits and shall post a review soon(ish).
The Sunshine Underground are fucking quality and need to be heard!

I shall also post a new playlist of sorts (fuck the embedding, as I hate the thirty seconds garbage) with some new choons I've been having a listen to.
But for now, you must wait, my pretties...

Sphinx
x

Insight

I feel rather disconnected from my body today.
Partly because I am disappointed in myself for various reasons, and partly because of severe lack of sleep.
It's disconcerting really, knowing that lack of sleep causes so many health issues and shortens life spans.
Huzzah for this?
Thanking you, but no.

Anyway, I did have a very nice day yesterday.
It began leisurely, as I decided to give up on some of the things I was meant to do in the day and opted for the opposite side of the spectrum.

I went out with my bros to run some errands in the city.
We drove with the soundtrack of CSS, which is amazingly sexy.
It feels like night music should feel like.



Tracklisting:
1. CSS Suxxx
2. Patins
3. Alala
4. Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
5. Artbitch
6. Fuckoff Is Not The Only Thing You Have To Show
7. Meetimg Paris Hilton
8. Off The Hook
9. Alcohol
10. Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
11. This Month, Day 10

I highly reccomend this record! It's amazing really.

Moving on, we stopped into a square of salvation which humans call a record store.
It's one of the only local ones left in the city, which is well depressing.
But this place is ace, as they carry a load of titles that the conglomerate chains refuse to for unknown reasons.
I had a list of things to search for, and strangely I found a lot of them.
This particular store also carries some imports, indie records and vinyls!
The last time I was there, I had picked up the Lib's Up The Bracket on vinyl, and it sounds fucking mega on the phonograph!
Anyway, the title I was looking for was Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division.
I've been on a hunt for years, as most places carry the greatest hits or don't even bother carrying Joy.
I did indeed find Unknown, but it was the deluxe collector's edition.
Seeing as am so skint, I asked the bloke behind the counter if they had the regular.
He said they hadn't had it in stock, but they could order it in for me.
He did say though, that the deluxe was worth it, as it features a live show recorded in '79 in the Factory, Manc.



Tracklisting:
1. Disorder
2. Day of the Lords
3. Candidate
4. Insight
5. New Dawn Fades
6. She's Lost Control
7. Shadowplay
8. Wilderness
9. Interzone
10. I Remember Nothing


If any of you that might be reading know anything about Joy Division, you would know that thay were a dynamite live band.
Really truly underrated.
The guy behind the counter said that he was all over Joy when they were on the scene, and he would follow them in magazines and buy bootlegs.
I'd be all over Joy as well, had I been alive at the time!
Ian Curtis was an amazing individual, and it really is a tragic life he led.
The guy also said that he has all the vinyls and albums.
I decided to scrap eating and got the deluxe edition instead. ;P
Apparently my bros were surprised that I was talking to the guy in the shop, as they said they were mean.
O.o

We left the little slice of heaven and went to a local farmer's market.
Picked some fresh veg and tasted some tasty things.
We then went to the grocer's for the essentials, and I was able to finally meet this man who is a refugee from Darfur.
Speaking with him for ten minutes was a life changing moment.
I can't really explain it, but this guy really just puts some things about life into perspective.
He really provided a welcome insight into the lives we live, and how things should be, but that we have to accept the way that they are.
It blew my mind.
I really could just sit and listen to him talk.
From the brief time that I met him, I can say that he is a philosopher of our time.
Man.

After that enlightening experience, we went for a quick sandwich and finished our shopping.
Driving home, we listened to CSS's new album Donkey, which is also dead cool!
The evening did putter out though, as we watched two films that were right tankers, but oh well.

It really was a welcome day, though.
:)
x

Dead Cells

We have all survived the LHC Experiment!
Though, on the negative side, we are now all in the matrix...

Muahahahahahahahahahahahaha....





Shit, are you still there?

It's the end of the world...as we know it?

Here I sit, in bed at 2AM.
I felt like posting something, despite the fact that I can hardly see from being so sleep deprived.
My arms are actually falling asleep (pun intended as well) as I am situated in a rather awkward position next to the cat.
I am pleased to inform you all (whomever you are) that my ISP has resumed their service to me, after I was told that they were to come tomoz and physically take the adapter out of the cable box.
I really don't understand why they play these games with me.
One would think that a small locally-owned ISP would be on top of things and friendly.
Not so.

The weather outside is getting very nice.
It's feeling more like fall, and I love this.
My birthday is fast approaching, and it just seems to me that the good things happen when it's this time of the year.
Holidays, birthdays, Christmas, gigs, new albums, creativity, temperature, etc...
Not to mention that I plan on concocting a holiday plan sometime soon........
*suspense*

I haven't really got too much to say.
But as I said before, I felt like posting.

Oh, supposedly there is to be a massive scientific event in Switzerland tonight/tomoz morning where they are using a LHC to search for the Higgs boson, which has yet to be observed.
It's finding would teach us more about the planet and the universe, and possibly about the existence of other dimensions.
Sounds ace, yes?
There is a catch, though:
It could create a black hole that would consequently destroy the planet.

That's a little sweetheart, innit?

Instead of freaking out, I look at it as nothing to fear.
If it works, then great. We have amazing discoveries.
If it doesn't, oh well.
If it doesn't make a black hole, yay...we can continue on our run.
If it does make a black hole and destroy us all, I have faith in God's mercy and compassion and we get the eternal reward early!
lol

Come tomorrow, I know that everything will be status quo and that we won't be wiped from existence.

Moving on from such dismal talk about the end of the world which seems rather cliche to speak of it occuring in terms such as those...

I realised that I hadn't said anything about my weekend.
It was ace, actually.
Saturday was my Mama's birthday, and she was invited to a dinner with her brother and sister. (my aunt and uncle, yes, though I feel rather estranged from them...more in another post, as I don't want to get into it right now)
We drove in (to my hometown, where I spend loads of time...tis about a two hour drive) with the dogs in the car, and went immediately to dinner.
Though I was sour on this arrangement, as they had called Mama up and said "We have reservations at 7..." when our cousins (whom are married and are as close to me as my own brothers) said they wanted to take her out.
Then we also got wind that Uncle H was going to be there with Aunty B.
These people I do not enjoy spending time with.
Like I said, now is not the time.

But this was also at a resturant that none of us had wanted to go to...
We got there with much undeeded drama, and had a very strange, tense and awkward dinner.
I just hoped for Mama to have a good time.

After this, we returned to our cousin's pad (which is my centre for crime when in the area) and tucked in for the night.
The next day was Sunday, and we all went to church.
After this was their fall picninc, which we attended.
But guess what...UH and AB showed up, despite the fact that they left our church...
Regardless of that, I had a nice time being outside, relaxing, listening to Ukrainian jams, talking and frollicing...
The picnic would down at about 8PM, to which we returned to HQ for a film and some pizza.
A very nice weekend indeed. :D

Though I have the insomniatic mindset to stay awake when I am rediculously tired, I must depart.

Hope you survive the Large Hardon Collider Experiment... :P
x

Internet Service Providings

So here I sit on the tinternet.
Nothing out of the ordinary, yes?
Yes.

But, my ISP has cut service to me.
It's their fault really, that they refuse to adhere to regular billing schedules.
Though does anyone realise that I am still using said providings?
This is due to the fact that I have a secret wireless network in addittion to the normal one the ISP knows of.
So they've cut service to one, but the other still functions!
FAIL.

I love it when I fuck with the system...

My Friend Jon (Fratelli)

Alright folks, here is the promised gig review post.
*excitement*
*party*

Got a bit of a late start for the evening (as was talking to someone important!!) though finally made it to the venue in good time.
I listened to Costello Music on the way there, so was well pumped!

I was a bit nervous about getting three tickets, as for some reason this particular gig had been announced for quite some time.
It was being sponsored by a gum company...though don't know why.
We managed to gain entry into the shockingly packed building.
I have been to this particular place four times, and I had never seen it so full!
It warmed my heart, in a way.
I went to the merch booth and picked up an ace Fratellis shirt and assumed the position of death.
Looking round, I noticed not only volume in terms of people, but cool people as well.
There was a bloke in a trilby (wearing it improperly lol) that kept staring at me to the point of where I fort I had summat on my face, and they were just generally looking like enjoying themselves that night.
It began in only a couple of minutes, and the support called Electric Touch played an amazing set.
The lead is from the North of England, though the band is based out of Austin, Texas.
From what I saw and heard, they have got potential.
This was a surprise, as am always wary of there being a well dodgy support...though these blokes didn't disappoint.
Check their myspace out for some choonage!

During their set however, I was having a right struggle with one of my fookin earplugs! It was getting rather frustrating, and after I had struggled for twenty minutes with it, I had felt a tap on my shoulder.
Trilby-incorrector Man had handed me a packet of new plugs.
Was very appreciative!
I even forgave him for his error in headwear... :P

After the Electic Touch finished, they went to the merch booth and were selling their albums. My bro went over and got one and their autographs.
Said they were top lads as well.
I would have gone over and said hello, but I was afraid of losing my position for the Fratellis.

Then a second support band came on, called the Airborne Toxic Event.
I saw a woman with a fiddle and I almost ran for the hills, as I don't really dig women in bands...despite the fact that I want to be in one...
They began playing and fackin blew me away!
They have a unique blend of progressive, post-punk and indie style.
The woman in the band I even fort was cool.
She came down into the crowd and danced with me at one point.
Their tunes have a palpable depth to them. The lead writes the lyrics, and one can just tell that they're from experience.
Their myspace is here.

After their set, they too went to the merch booth to say hello, and my other bro got the album autographed. He kissed the woman's hand as well.
Rock and roll...

Though finally the time came for the Fratellis!!
They played a blinding set of half-and-half tunes from both albums.
I defo think their songs sound better live too!
They have got really great stage prescence and energy.
The crowd was moshing and body surfing before we knew it.
I even got kicked in the face during Mistress Mabel...
I did go particularly mad during the choons off Costello Music! I too had done my fair share of causing the havoc...
They had played an encore as well!
They had finished with being extremely pleased at playing a great gig, and hopefully they shall return soon enough!

x

PS Apologies for the abrupt blog ending...perhaps I shall edit it later and add some photos for your viewing pleasure.
:D

Flathead

Tonight I am seeing the Fratellis at a gig.
It's a great venue and hopefully there will be a great crowd.
A full report when I recover!!

Sphinx
x

The Other Boleyn Fish

Last night I watched the eagerly-anticipated film, The Other Boleyn Girl.
The historical novel written by Phillippa Gregory was a fantastically brilliant read, in which her unique voice paints the past and makes it come alive in vivid detail.

When the film was released, I looked at it skeptically, as I didn't like the actresses they chose, nor did I think it was going to compare to the book.
But I decided to rent the film anyway, to see if it was indeed worth anything.

Though the costumes were ace, the film BLEW.
I do not reccomend it to anyone.
It drags on, there were several details that were changed, and they didn't need to be and they painted the two Boleyn girls with the wrong emphasis!

It makes me angry.
Read the novel.
End.

Jesus of Ruthenia

I haven't posted in a while...not like anyone cares, but oh well.

Anyway, this past weekend I went camping.
Funny thing was that I didn't even know I was going until two weeks prior to it, and I didn't even know what we were going to do at said place until the night before we were set to leave.
Apparently my family and I were going to go to a monestary for a sort of spiritual retreat type thing.
We were going to be camping with some people we know from another church and church events.
My cousin and his mate were also coming last-minute, so was chuffed about that.

We began the day early, and the night before we boarded the dogs (I feel bad doing that, as they seem to be sensitive poochies), and we were set to pick another girl up at yet another church.
Driving the the grounds didn't take too long, and when we got there, I noticed two large icons outside the entrance of ICXC and OY.
This excited me personally, as most of the time when we attend things like this, all of the people are Latin rite and have no clue about the East.
But this was going to be an entire event with Eastern people!
There is a difference, though.
I am Ukrainian-Greco Catholic.
My family immigrated from Ukraine and etc, and other Eastern churches have the same.
Such as Romanian and Bulgarian.
But back in the day, Ukraine was not officially a country, but rather an empire with different districts.
During that time, people immigrated to the states and they identified with their regions instead of a country that was not yet established.
It would be like saying that I am Southern when I live in the United States.

So they established a Byzantine church of the Americas if you will, which we call Ruthenian.
It has all of the same Liturgical traditions, but there is no heritagal tie involved.
They also have different chants and tones.

Let me just say that I can't fucking STAND their singing.
Apparently it has been a feud between Ukrainians and these Ruthenian-Ukrainians-in-denial.
It's just horrid!
It's like they lament everything in the slowest time signature known to man.

But don't get me wrong. I love them...just not their chants!

That being said, we went to the campground and set up our tent by the family we were meeting.
It brought back memories for me, as the last time I went camping with this particular tent, we were at World Youth Day Toronto in 2000.
(Which I will tell you about at some point, as that was brutal! lol)

The grounds were very nice and massive really!
It was set up in such a way where you could wind round and find little shrines and altars.
I got a schedule and saw that they had various Divine Liturgies throughout the day, also vespers, matins and akathists.
!!

How cool. No Masses and rosary recitation, but Liturgies and akathists!
We went for a little tour of the grounds, and went inside their religious goods store.
It was packed with Eastern items! (yes, I still could not fathom all of the Eastern-ness...)
I looked round and found a medal of OY (the Blessed Mother) which I will get blessed and put on the same chain with my cross, and as I was looking at their amazing icon selection, I found one particular icon that jumped out at me.
It was OY and ICXC (Jesus) in traditional format, but it is so very unique the way He is holding her face.
It stopped me in my tracks.
If I can scan it into the comp, I'll post a picture, as it is truly special.

Having gotten these, we then were going to attend a mini-lecture on the Eucharist, but unfortunately we missed it as we went to eat some lunch.
I really liked how things were very laid back and at everyone's own pace.
What we did was went back to the campground and relaxed.
We sat round and talked, some of them played some American football (bleurgh) and we just sat and waited until Divine Liturgy later on in the day.
The Liturgy was held outside, as was everything else, and I was pleased to see a high attendance of Eastern people, of whom were participating.
Though it was rather difficult for me, as the singing and chanting distracts me to such a degree in which I get angry.
I simply cannot sing with them.
And when I can't sing, I can't pray.
It's screws with everything.
But anyway, I managed to survive.

After this, we went to dinner in the same place and enjoyed.
All the while my cousin's mate (who is actually good mates with me) was having a difficult time, as it's hard for him to get round easily, and there was a lot of walking.
Not to mention that it was inhumanly warm outside, and he had just had his galbladder removed.
We kept telling him not to come! But he didn't listen to us...

We were able to spend more time having fellowship by the tents until the Parastas began at the cemetery.
I did not wish to go to this, as it is too fresh with my Tato's death.
But even still I went against my will, and as I was doing so, the cranky mate decides to take a wizz in front of everyone.
Not only were there very young kids around, but the family we were with are somewhat traditional.
And this is also a religious retreat.
Yikes.
I ran out of there as the father of the family went to talk to him.
Now, I know that he is massively sensitive. And steeped in controversy.
Hence the running.
Apparently he wanted to engage in a fight with the man, but thank goodness he decided against it.
No one really needed his drama during this time!

We were at the parastas when we saw a parishioner from our parish (which was nice! someone from the other side of the mountains!).
We all walked together in the candlelight procession to the outside chapel to have an akathist.
Now this was nice.
I didn't have a problem singing the akathist, as their notes were hardly any different.
After this was done, my brothers, cousin and I attended an adult social...not really to socalise, but rather to get their free pizza...

The social was more a meeting for their youth group, and all they talked about was finances.
It was mega boring, but I had my pizza and couldn't complain.
As we were sitting there, some kid in the back got up to leave and tried to be very cool whilst doing so.
He saluted everyone and bowed, and as he walked out the door, he tripped and fell.
No one took any notice.
And for those reasons, it was one of the funniest moments EVER.
I began laughing so hard to the point of not knowing where I was.
I was trying not to disrupt the meeting, so it was incredibly difficult!
All four of us were laughing so hard that we had to leave...

We returned to the campground for what we call "the bonfire storytime."
Which is essentially a group of people seated round a fire (which incidentally we were not allowed to have at this particular ground) telling bits and pieces of a random story.
It is good fun really.
Let's just say that this particular one involved a storyline of LeBron James as the pope, Polish kobassa being very heavy, little men in cardboard pants, salt-block hats, decoys, marshmallows, air fresheners, Boston cream pies, Barack Obama being reincarnated as various things and swelling to epic proportions...

We went to bed in the tent (very cosy) and were awakened the next day by Liturgies being chanted (no comment) over the speakers.
We had a leisurely morning and afternoon, and we lazed about.
There were confessions going on, and then we went to a lecture on the Jesus Prayer (!).
At 4PM there was the biggest Liturgy of the weekend, in which their eparchs were present, which would be like us having our Patriarch present. (of which they have none, as they are directly under the Pope)
It was again outside, and I survived it once more.
What was very nice was that one of our priests concelebrated Liturgy, and I of course know him!
Also, the priest from our parish and his family came!
I was amazingly relieved to see them!
We spent the rest of the afternoon with them all, and had a little dinner party at the tents with everyone.

My bro found grass in his pie...another seriously amusing moment...
You had to be there then.

We played frisbee, chatted and etc.
Then it was time for another candlelit processesion, but we were set to leave that night, despite the fact that we all wanted to stay another night and actually could.
As they all went for it, we dismakkified the tent and packed up.

A nice time was had by all.
And we hope to go again next year, though we will be significantly better prepared.

And cheers to you if you've gotten through this entire post!
You deserve a rice krispy treat.
x