The Double Entendre


What a surprise! I wasn't on my way to or from work listening to college radio when I discovered a few great indie bands. First is Stars, I love their dancy sound but even more, I relate to the songs on a level where some of the lyrics are as if they narrate events that actually happened in my life. Weird in a good way. Mellowdrone and Low are just good down-tempo groove music with substance. CoCoRosie remains in continuous play. By Your Side is nice and Raphael and Werewolf still receive a repete. Blur is alright. Chin Up Chin Up is awesome to me. Their songs All My Hammocks Are Dying, Collide The Tide...amazing! On the indie.rock side Circa Survive and Fiction Plane are worth checking out. Somehow I'm shamelessly falling for a few indie.electro/dance acts that might be in the iPods of some of the attendees to this year's Pride. Datarock is very catchy and almost too obvious. All of their songs are filled with double entendres and innuendos but danceable. Hundred Hands is a little more reserved but you can get the message. Overdose of indie-progressive musica.

Speaking of jobs [,100 words ago,] another promotion looms in the balance. Basically a 'slam dunk' as one of my supervisors calls it. I'm just getting comfortable in my cubicle, after weeks of contemplating if I should personalize it as the older women have, I finally changed my wallpaper and customized my desktop. Major overhaul. . .I know. I guess I'm moving into an office, but there isn't a door so is it considered an office? It will also be shared with the Safety Coordinator but he's pretty cool [and never there].

There were also a few Office Space moments last week. I was approached 4 times[!] by different managers who all informed me of the exact same situation in close proximity, I'm talking less than minutes after each other. Pretty hilarious. Everyone thinks they work at Dunder Mifflin and compare their work environment to The Office. I'm in the same unoriginal boat. Quite a few interesting characters pass through and quite a few people aren't aware that the cubicles aren't soundproof. . .at all.

I'll leave you with some of my own memorable quotes from last week that serve as double entendres.

'I don't have a problem being gay' [after explaining I'm not]
'I have a problem with drugs' [after asked if I do them]
'I'm gonna shoot one off in your mouth' [don't ask]
'Nobody can screw like you' ['erecting' a wall with a co-worker, blurted in front of the General Manager]

good riddance

The Genius of Gondry

The French aren't that bad. I first heard the name when I saw the surreal commercials for a company within the trailers at the theater for Lacuna, Inc. Then I went to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and put two and two together. The 108 minute film has probably taken 1620 minutes of my life because I've seen it at least 15 times. I currently wish I could undergo the memory-altering procedure but that's another post all together.

Then, when I was a fan of Kanye West (he's almost in my good graces after hearing Us Placers and Stronger. . .almost), I learned Michel Gondry directed the Heard 'Em Say video and it was visually stunning. Making The Video on MTV gave some insight on the animated pianos, dominoes, and such. I began to do my research and YouTubed Beck, RadioHead, Bork, and White Stripes videos and became a fan of Gondry's genius imagination. As far as video direction, Spike Jonze isn't far behind. I'd see commercials such as for Gap and Smirnoff and know they were created by Gondry.

Then came The Science of Sleep which is one of those pieces of work that will be with me for life, again another post. The magic, the imagination, the dreams, and the dialogue were brilliant and intriguing to dissect. Nothing is off-limits and Michel pushes creativity to the edge. Every detail is thought out and original such as the plastic water.

I love Michel Gondry and wish he was a part of Paris, Je T'Aime along with Gus Van Sant, who directed the amazing Elephant, and the Coen Brothers.

I cannot wait for Gondry's upcoming films, Be Kind, Rewind, with Jack Black, and Master of Space and Time.

CoCoRosie! I am taken away with their music. It is, to say the least, way out there but also captivating. I heard Japan on my way home from work on the local college station and I was hooked. More to come...

The Inspiration

"Crappy bands inspire us, they give us inspiration not to suck!"

It is my experience that crappy people can inspire me. I've had some pretty bad examples to follow. The people in the position of guidance and responsible for little things such as advice, support and encouragement have failed...miserably...tragically...unfortunately. I've come to realize this over time and at this point it shouldn't matter. I'm old enough and maturing, finding my place on this planet. But the fact is, these people have done their job in inspiring me not to fail myself and those I care for. They are everything I wish not to be, an inspiration.

I get most of my inspiration from great music. Dios (Manos), Let's Go Sailing, Tmonium and Say Hi To Your Mom is recommended listening. I credit the college radio station 88.5 here in Atlanta for discovering them. Georgia State University students host the shows and you can discover some great bands amidst the Contemporary Japanese and Broadway sessions. XM radio's XMU is also a great place to find some great indie music like Elbow.

I was planning to go to Big Day Out, a concert promoted by the alternative radio station here, 99.7. Plans were nixed. It would have been my first concert and its loaded with tons of independent acts. I'm sure it would have been a fun, memorable day and would have served as my birthday celebration. As it stands now I plan to be renewing my car registration and downloading music.

Speaking of birthdays. To me its like my very own New Year. I take a look back at where I was last year and see if I'm better off, the same, or worse than I am now. Last year I just quit my job as a flight attendant and started working for my dad. The pay was good and exciting in the beginning. Later on it became lonely and I didn't like flying from city to city sleeping in (very nice) hotels alone. The job I have now is far less glamorous but the pay is about the same but I wish I stayed in the air.

Around this time last year I was starting a relationship with an amazing person...one of the best I know. Things didn't work out but I thought I would break my record of being a relationship for more than 12 months. Maybe next time I'll slow things down a bit. Now I plan on going 12 months without someone, we'll see.

Taking it all into account, I can say I'm a little better off than I was yesteryear. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm getting there. I'm not who I want to be, but I'm getting there. The inspiration not to suck. The inspiration to prove you wrong.

An old Chinese proverb says, 'success in the end, erases all of the mistakes along the way'. Do you agree? I do not.

The Loss Of Self & The Tangent Filled Life

Laura Veirs! One Sunday morning around 3am I found myself on my way to the only thing that seems to be going right, the only thing I seem to matter, the only thing in which I excel effortlessly and just so happens to be one of the many things I'd rather live without, my job. Recently receiving a quasi-promotion with a pseudo-raise and awarded Employee Of The Month amongst the underachieving, conspiracy theorists who always need $1, further confirms I can do a hell of a lot better. Not only career-wise but also in the 'people' I choose to pursue relationships with.

In compliance with The Tangent theme, Rushmore, from my favorite director Wes Anderson who coincidentally directed one of my favorite movies I feel the urge to mention, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, the quote 'with friends like you, who needs friends' comes to play here. Written a letter authored in crayon by a straight faced character who was just informed his chapel partner was spreading rumors that said character's mother gave him a hand job, its just humorous to me...you have to see it. If this is what friendship is, I'd rather do without it. I'm sure you are justified because how could you trust me? I'm a liar right? No. I'm conflicted right? No. I'm human.

Laura Veirs! I heard Don't Lose Yourself on the college radio station here, 88.5 early on my way in to take a nap at work. I really like it. I learned not to throw 'love' around because it doesn't come back...most of the time. You can find it in my flash/mp3 player along with the band, Phoenix. They can change your mood, Phoenix is pretty upbeat and happy even when the subject doesn't seem so.

With everything that's been said, I still cherish what 'relationship' I have...with both of you. I'd really love to prove you wrong, I'd really appreciate some type of friendship in the living future. I'll leave it up to you, I'm not the victim, I'm the victor. Is that right? I'm guilty I should say, of lying.

And Laura Veirs is cool listening. Feist is nice too, I like her voice, its beautiful. Brazil is pretty cool and even though I only heard one song, 31 Knots is a band worth checking out. Along with Let's Go Sailing.

That is all.