Man oh man, I hate being ill. I haven't been so sick probably since I had pneumonia in middle school. Yesterday I took off of work so I could try and recuperate, and although I do feel somewhat better today, good enough to go to work and not waste my time, I still am pretty miserable.

The one odd thing about it is that since I've been sick I haven't felt even a little stressed out or depressed. Weird. It's like my body is saying "Hey man, we've got more serious shit to think about."

Recently I had a run-in with an asshole on the street, and it might be a bit presumptuous for me to call him an eco-fascist but it certainly seemed that way. Lord knows how I hate eco-fascists. It sort of went like this:

I went to Willie's to pick up some beverages and some snacks, and on the way back home my foot got caught on a plastic bag from Dollar General, which is most definitely not on my block. I tried to get the bag off my foot, but before I could get a hold of it it flew of my foot and went down the street a few steps. Some guy saw this, and said something to the effect of "Hey, you know there's a trash bin right here." If I don't like eco-fascists, I really don't like the ones who misplace their vitriol.

Of course, this prompted me to walk side by side with him to the trash bin, all the while being "lectured" by this fuckhead while I give him nasty looks like "Do you even know what the fuck you're talking about?"

I really really wanted to be a smart ass to him and say one of the following:

"Why don't you say that to the guy who went to DOLLAR GENERAL which is not between my apartment and Wilson Farms?"

"Didn't you see me try to pick up this bag that ain't even mine?"

"Why don't you mind your own damn business, shithead?"

"*Drops Bag* There you go, there's another one for you to pick up."

"*Punch in the head* Fuck off, jerk!"

Of course, I ended up just looking at him like he was (and is) and idiot, and went home to eat my snackies and drink my Diet soda.

Some people..........

After many years, I have to finally stop ignoring the part of their work that I don't like. I love The Bends, and OK Computer, and they will always be two of my favorite albums, but I'm not all that happy about the direction they've taken since then. I think some of it is very interesting music, in an academic sense. Some of it is pleasing, some of it is not. Thom Yorke is wasting his vocal talent on manufactured bleeps and bloops. His solo albums are borderline unlistenable.

Now some people really like the "new" Radiohead. They are more or less unaware, or uninterested, in the rock music they've made. I don't HATE them, but I can't call Radiohead my favorite band any longer.

The crown now belongs to a band from Manchester, England called Doves. I'm sure I've written about them before. Anyhow here's an Amazon link, in case you want to sample:

I can honestly say that I enjoy their entire body of work. They write some very fascinating, diverse songs. Like earlier Radiohead, I never get sick of Doves. There isn't a lot of music out there that inspires me anymore, but they always deliver. In fact, they are in studio now working on a new album, which I cannot wait to hear. I am 100% convinced of how good they are, and am fascist intolerant when it comes to divergent opinions on this.

Someone also has introduced me to a band from Athens, GA called Of Montreal. I have read about them, and a thousand other bands, in SPIN but never gave them a serious listen until recently. Having listened through two of them albums, The Sunlandic Twins and Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? I have to say I really enjoy them.

Bands have been increasingly looking to the 80's for inspiration for some reason......the glam, the synths, the artificial percussion, everything. I think introducing New Wave concepts into rock music is an appealing idea, but most bands overdo it, succumbing to the over-the-top indulgences of New Wave, and the 80's in general. Of Montreal pulls it off quite nicely, actually, for my tastes. It is candy coated, but it won't rot your teeth completely. The songs sound very pleasing to a fan of indie rock.

I'm told some of their earlier albums have been very Dance-Pop, and some of you might like that. I don't, and I won't listen to it, so you'll have to decide on your own whether or not that part of their discography is worth a damn. What I will say is that they are a very creative, motivated group. I can appreciate that.

Enjoy your weekend bitches!

Luv,
Jason

Thank you peeps for wishing me a good birthday, and especially e:Ladycroft who gave us a very, very nice gift.

Went with Jerry to Faherty's, with one of the bartenders being the ex's best friend, but she was really cool with me. She said I did nothing wrong to her friend so she isn't mad at me. Good.

Now, I'd like to say that I didn't go and make a whore of myself last night but yeah I did get a little mouth nookie at the bar. That's always nice.

Time to go to Pitts! Watch for us on TV on Sunday! We'll be at the US Open.

And e:imk2 - take some freakin vitamins for that hangover!

But we got home at 2 AM. OUCH! I am so tired right now and don't know how I'm going to get through the day without nodding off.

There seem to be very little hotels available from July 9-13 in the city proper. Is there something going on at that time I am unaware of?

Jason