Its been nearly two weeks since I touched a cigarette and I find that my cravings are getting less and less each day; today I had only one peice of nicotine gum and a cigar and am feeling quiet proud of myself! I no longer doubt that I'll be able to quit; although I worry that I might go back to them again if the...
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Its early in the morning of Sunday, January 21st and all I really want right now is a cigarette. Usually at this point of the night I'd be plugging away at my epic poem and making decent progress, but not tonight. I've stumbled upon one of those 'sticky' points of the tale which always seem to trip me up for a while; this is a...
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societyspliers:
I never thought of John Hartford as doing Wisconsin music (He wrote In Heaven There Is No Beer, as well as Two Hits and The Joint Turned Brown and Granny Won'tcha Smoke Some Marijuana?). I'm not even sure what Wisconsin music is. I'd like to think it involves inspirational consumption of two of my favourite things: cheese and beer.
Country and grunge would work. I'd advise renting or otherwise viewing Neil Young's Weld DVD. It's all balls-to-the-wall rock & roll (Sonic Youth and Social D were the opening acts for the tour - damn there was a lot of great feedback!) until the encore "Roll Another Number (For The Road)." It's a country song, basically, but for this tour, at the shows he played it it has a rather grunge texture. You might find it inspiring.
Also, you need to, if you haven't already, check out The Meat Puppets. I remember (vaguely) them at a little gig in the early to mid-80s (not sure if we were on the same bill or if I was just in the audience) and thinking "I would call this music "Punkabilly," not knowing the term is used (I'm not sure if it was already in use; doesn't matter), but it can give you the idea of the sound.
Country and grunge would work. I'd advise renting or otherwise viewing Neil Young's Weld DVD. It's all balls-to-the-wall rock & roll (Sonic Youth and Social D were the opening acts for the tour - damn there was a lot of great feedback!) until the encore "Roll Another Number (For The Road)." It's a country song, basically, but for this tour, at the shows he played it it has a rather grunge texture. You might find it inspiring.
Also, you need to, if you haven't already, check out The Meat Puppets. I remember (vaguely) them at a little gig in the early to mid-80s (not sure if we were on the same bill or if I was just in the audience) and thinking "I would call this music "Punkabilly," not knowing the term is used (I'm not sure if it was already in use; doesn't matter), but it can give you the idea of the sound.
societyspliers:
I watched a show on lutefisk recently, and I believe one of the factoids on the show was that there are more Norwegians in Wisconsin and other Norhtern states than in Norway. I knew there had to be some cool music there; just wasn't sure what it sounds like. Have to check some out. I used to like Jersey Piney music. When I was growing up in South New Hersey, 2/3 of the state was undeveloped pineland, and the backwoods inbred inhabitants were known as pineys and had a blend of bluegrass, mountain music, etc they played. If you were fortunate enough to be allowed to witness it without being shot it was great.
Another example of something resembling country grunge was at a Madison Square Garden show in NYC I attended in 1992. It was an all-star tribute to Bob Dylan dubbed by Neil Young "BobFest" and Eddie Vedder and Mike McReady from Pearl Jam did a very interesting and heartfelt take on Dylan's Master of War with GE Smith on mandolin. Not actually country, but really really nice, haunting, dark yet colourful. A DVD was released of the bulk of the show (I have the rest on VHS from a simulcast I had someone record for me while I went to the show). The Masters of War is on it. Well worth checking out.
Another example of something resembling country grunge was at a Madison Square Garden show in NYC I attended in 1992. It was an all-star tribute to Bob Dylan dubbed by Neil Young "BobFest" and Eddie Vedder and Mike McReady from Pearl Jam did a very interesting and heartfelt take on Dylan's Master of War with GE Smith on mandolin. Not actually country, but really really nice, haunting, dark yet colourful. A DVD was released of the bulk of the show (I have the rest on VHS from a simulcast I had someone record for me while I went to the show). The Masters of War is on it. Well worth checking out.
"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken" - James Joyce
James Joyce is not my favorite writer in the world; truth be told I was repelled by "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man", quiet possible because Joyce and I are much closer than I would like to admit. Sometimes there is nothing quiet as upsetting and unnerving than a...
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lolablu:
Sometimes I feel like I'm very stereotypically Sicilian, but in many ways I'm not. There's good and bad to it, anyway.
Hear the trumpets! Hear the heralds who announce my comming! I come now to tell a tale of a great personal victory. A tale which begins long ago and who's cumulation was only made evident to me several short days ago.
Our tale begins with a young man in the midst of the throes of adolecence; confused, angry and possessing great skills but, sadly, unable...
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phoenixgirl:
you have an amazing way with words... 
eyerush:
I agree with your East of Eden comment on the top 100 book thread. I was a little disappointed with it not being in the top ten.
Well Christmas has come and gone and so far I've been enjoying myself immensly on break; although I'm about as restless and cooped up as a man can be. Where once I was surrounded by friends here, with things to do, I am now left with few besides my own family to hang out with. We're a close knit bunch and so this, generally, isn't...
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friedhamster:
Thanks for being the only person to not treat me like trash. Not that I expected less from the masses here but it's nice seeing a bit of support from someone. Thanks.
lolablu:
I'm sorry you're feeling lonely. I know it can be weird to be back in the hometown after you and practically everyone else has moved out.
Well its been a while since I last updated this; we're getting ready for Christmas break and, truth be told, I'm bushed. I think I'm going to forego adding a new edition of the "Tree-Splitter" this entry, and wait until I get home for the Holidays before I take to doing that. Just a matter of convenience and everything on my part; also few people...
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phoenixgirl:
i havent seen my ex in about 14 years but i still dream about him on occasion...all i know is that he got married quite a while back...i have no clue if he still is or if he has kids or what...i would love to know how he is, but i dont actually want to talk to him, ya know?..oh well, good for you for catching up!!
lolablu:
Merry Christmas!
Actually, one of my professors makes his own mead. If there was any recitation of epic poetry, though, I didn't hear it.
Actually, one of my professors makes his own mead. If there was any recitation of epic poetry, though, I didn't hear it.
Things continue to go well around here; although damn am I tired. I feel like some battle scared warrior, limping off to his tent after the first day of war. I know that it will continue tomorrow, but I crave the comfort of my bed, a good mug of beer, and the company of others. Sadly the prospect of winning glory and honor by teaching...
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hotcurry:
Thank you, hon. The poor kid is in a coma now. It means a lot to me that people are sending out nice thoughts.
lolablu:
I know the feeling! I wonder if it's the season that's so exhausting.
Things have been good around here lately; I'm finally confident that I might well be able to make it through the year in one peice. Now if Grad School just works out, I can close the book on this chapter of my life and move on. I've learnt a great deal about the world and myself, and now its nice to focus myself upon the...
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samling:
*hump hump* the class i got the 3.7 was psychopharmacology. the one on wed. is relapse prevention.
phoenician:
Interesting. 
The young prince is not quite dead but neither is life coursing through his veins in abundance. Will he be be able to resume the fight? Or will there be a far more dire turn of events?
Tune in next time - Same Wendigo Channel; Same Wendigo Time - for more bloood chilling, spine tingling Northwoods horror!
(that's how i figured the HBO mini-series promo would go)
The young prince is not quite dead but neither is life coursing through his veins in abundance. Will he be be able to resume the fight? Or will there be a far more dire turn of events?
Tune in next time - Same Wendigo Channel; Same Wendigo Time - for more bloood chilling, spine tingling Northwoods horror!
(that's how i figured the HBO mini-series promo would go)
Geez, its been a hell of a week so far. But, it doesn't matter; the week is over, its break time and I'm making bread! I love to cook, its the perfect stress reliever, and I hope that this turns out well. I'm trying ot hand at a loaf of French bread for the staff Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, the first time I've ever made a...
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phoenixgirl:
Mmmm...bread!...yum, Have a happy turkeyday!
phoenician:
Cool story. When you first started I was expecting a story about the hodag but a wendigo was quite the surprise. Also in tune with the area and lore.
Hodag:
Hodag:
All right; here's the second part of the prose rendition of my epic. It amazes me how developed the story has gotten; when I first outlined it a few years back, it was maybe a page long, hand written. In that time, things have gotten much deeper and more elaborate. Hell, to be honest, Sigismund was originally envisioned as a rather one-dimensional character; He was...
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phoenixgirl:
i havent had a chance yet, i have been so busy just trying catch up with everyone in general!
mandolyn:
It can be hard to be uprooted from the magic that your heart is rooted in. I think that as long as we look for the good things in where we are, we'll be fine.
I really can't complain about the warm ocean in November, really... and the roots of the older trees and completely breaking apart the sidewalks close to here. That's certainly some good in the sea of madness...
What about you?
I really can't complain about the warm ocean in November, really... and the roots of the older trees and completely breaking apart the sidewalks close to here. That's certainly some good in the sea of madness...
What about you?
but, yea, it is possible to ride a moose.