| done with fun |
[Feb. 26th, 2015|06:13 pm] |
sorry to be like this dudes but it has recently come to my attention that having my life splayed out for the world to see in all it's glorious goriness is maybe not the wisest choice. i have always been a brutally open book. i think it's rad. smart? probably not. on the brite side, i am not deleting this journal, just making it "friends only." i am pretty liberal about meeting new people so just say "hi" in the comments and we can keep in touch. stalkers are totally welcome. if you are not an lj user, i think you may have to sign up to become a friend, but it oughtn't be that difficult.
some potentially heavy stuff to follow. don't miss out!
***EDIT***
um, psyche? for now, most of the past is still locked but i am trying to keep my future open to public ridicule. read on!
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| Multiple last hurrahs |
[May. 11th, 2008|08:50 pm] |
The new 9 to whenever starts tomorrow. As a loose end that needed tying tied itself, I found myself with a few extra days that seemed ripe for adventure. My friend Bernadette was riding the same wavelength and we decided that the now famous Bagby Hot Springs would be a fine destination.
( Little did we know how badly we'd need that soak. ) |
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| Redwood Fabulous |
[May. 9th, 2008|12:50 pm] |
Back from a rough week in Fresno. Emptied an entire house into a dumpster. I was able to save a few memories and am contemplating starting a reoccurring post in which I scan in some of the weird stuff I came across during the last days of 2107. I was also able to grab (and transport back to PDX) the two things I wanted most from that house:
A painting my maternal grandmother (who died before I was born) made of The Avenue of the Giants.
And...
A beige and orange bench from the old Hollywood Lanes which is surely worth more than the $40 I paid for it thanks to The Big Lebowski's growing cult status over the years. |
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| You're never gonna get back to the rad days |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|07:16 pm] |
File this one under: could be worse or getting down with the upswing.
Back when the winter sucked I kind of panicked and applied for all kinds of jobs. Now that spring is settling, the film work has picked back up and I realize the importance of storing your nuts for the cold months in this town. Still, a regular paycheck could maybe ease some stress and allow me to take on a car payment, get health insurance, and accomplish other stupid grown-up stuff like that. Well, when it rains it pours and it looks like I now have two pretty impressive offers coming in this week. I need to watch my words because neither is on the table, but I feel pretty good about things. The issue now is trying to decide which one to take! Not a bad position to be in but I need some advice, bros!!!
OK. #1. Pretty rad ad agency. Super cool folks. Still getting their legs so I would start as a project manager for not a ton of money (but enough!) and hopefully move into a more creative position as the company grows. If I end up having to relocate down the line, I would theoretically have the experience to manage almost anywhere. Bonus: they are very music minded and are maybe building a recording studio and implementing a residency program in which rad bands would be paid big bucks to record original music for spots - and I would help curate!
#2! Music director at a music licensing place. Surrounded by music and musicnerds 24/7? Free trips to CMJ/SXSW/international conferences. The company is not super cool (their formula is basically working with bands before they hit or well after they've peaked) but it would be my job to help make them cool. I would be one of four department heads and have my own staff of four. Downsides include no creative outlet, ever, and as far as I can tell, no real way to parlay that experience into a career elsewhere. They just received a chunk of venture capital, but if the business fails, where does that leave me? Along those same lines, I would have stock options, so if the business booms (which it seems to be doing), cha-ching! We haven't discussed salary yet, but I am assuming it will be in the same ballpark as the other.
Unless you guys can sway me one way or the other, it really is a pretty even split. The ad agency had my vote until this morning when my cousin got me all hopped up on stock options. Still, I think I'd be happier being surrounded by creativity and ideas than around mediocre-ish bands and the MTV reality shows that license their music. Or option #3: F. the 9 to 5.
In other news, somebody entered her terrible twos over the weekend!
Also, that Thurston Moore post I hinted at in my last entry ended up here. |
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| Falling for Spring |
[Apr. 16th, 2008|04:15 pm] |
Bored silly at work. This particular one may be the dumbest one yet, three separate, yet identical, instructional videos for the IRS - one in Korean, one in Mandarin, and one in Vietnamese. How did I end up in this boat?
That said, looks like another boat is coming in. Who knows if that ride will be any more enjoyable, but at the very least it will be different. I had a third interview with this ad agency in which they basically said they were trying to create a position for me. Seems like it might borderline on dumb for the first little while but that will give me a chance to dangle my feet before diving in, I suppose. A real nine to fiver? Can he do it?
Semi-hilariously, since panicking through the cold months and putting feelers all up in everybody's business, several other options seem to be blooming. There is an offer to tour manage another rising indie rock band, but I think those days are maybe behind me. Another offer from a music management company is tempting, but also terribly risky; not sure if that's a basket where I should be storing what little eggs I have. More promising is some attention from a music licensing joint, but unless they hop to it, I may not be on the market when they come a-knockin'. And on top of all that, the film work is rolling in again so I am far less worried about that corner of my world.
Um, what else? Oh, I ended up at a house party on Monday night in which Thurston Moore played. That needs to be it's own blogpost. Note to self.
Pictures from Calgary are up at www.ashodsimonian.com - you may have to scroll past a video by a ska band that I've been a little obsessed with lately. Yeah, ska.
Don't read this wrong, there is still some supergross stuff happening in my life and the lives of those close to me but those black clouds can F off. |
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| saddlesores |
[Apr. 7th, 2008|05:17 pm] |
It's hilarious what a mess I have been lately. I feel like I have spent the last few months curled up in a fetal position while the world just kept kicking away. For the first time in my life, my thoughts are so clouded and confused that I can hardly make sense of anything. In a moment of panic, I made this blog friends-only, which was probably a reasonable move but I hate being reasonable and I am still trying to convince myself to dive back into the embarrassing world of Bloglandia. Unfortunately, I feel like there is a lot I have to say (and am clearly afraid to) before I can go on blabbing about curling in Calgary or slumber partying in Battle Ground. Things seem to be blooming this Spring, so I am hopeful that the dark days are behind. This is some of what has been happening to me as of late.
1. Many of you know my Dad passed away in October. I had been bracing for that moment for thirty some-odd years and thought I handled the blow as well as I could. What I was not prepared for was the magnificent emptiness I would feel six months later. I wish I could explain it. My Dad and I were extremely close, but still, I never in a million years thought that his passing would make me feel absolutely alone in the world. My friends have been awesome, but it's different, you know?
2. My whole family has kind of crumbled in the process. We've all been shaken from our foundation and were warned not to make any big decisions for at least a year. As we were picking up the pieces, my mom went and sold her house - our house - with no plan in place for the future. She thought the house would be on the market for 6 months to a year with the state of things but it sold the day she listed it as she put it up for the PRICE OF THE LOT. EXCLUDING THE STRUCTURE. In the following weeks my future was altered daily. I was moving back to California, maybe renting or selling my place here. Then my mom was going to move into a condo in Portland. Everyday there was a new plan. I was looking at jobs elsewhere, pricing properties, etc. Then one night, my sister came home to find the front door open and my mom nowhere to be found. There was a huge puddle in the kitchen. Then she saw my mom's dress in the corner, and a shoe. She started panicking and that's when she saw my mom's wheelchair was still in the hallway. 911 let her know that my mom had spilt a pot of boiling water on herself. 2nd degree burns on 17% of her body and no skin on her palms. She spent a week or so in the hospital and is now at an assisted living facility for 90 days. The kids all think it's best that we move her into a continuing care home but she is stubborn and keeps talking about moving into a studio apartment in Fresno. At some point in the next little while, I have to go home and clear her house out for the new owners but what do I do with everything? Yard sale??? Ugh. And my poor mom!
3. And then there's the lovelife. Double-ugh. Literally. Again, I was braced for the break-up so everything seemed fine, but as time went on, I was just reminded repeatedly what a mistake it was to let that girl go. She has since cut me out of her life completely - no phonecalls, no IMs, and she has de-friended me across the internet. I still tell myself it was for the best, and really, I think/hope it was, but every day it is painfully obvious how nice it was to have her love and support. The second one was a breath of fresh air, just what I needed. Many called it a rebound but I don't think I've met a radder girl in my life. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to hold onto that one either, and what's worse is that it never got to a point where breaking up seemed to make sense, so I'm stuck pining away - wishing I could have met her when my life wasn't such a wreck. Still, maybe it was just never meant to be. Hooray for baggage. I'll have to see if I can unload some of that at the yard sale, as well.
4. Financially, I've never been more screwed. It's just one thing after another. I won't go into it too much but the freelance life in Portland is pretty brutal over the winter. Kind of my own fault for pretty much taking the 2nd half of last year off, but whatever. Stuff is looking up, I think/hope, so I am trying not to worry about it too much. My property taxes just went up and I had to sell my van and I wracked up a good amount of debt over the winter so it's going to be awhile until I pull out of this tailspin. That said, I have had a few interviews and job leads for full-time positions at pretty rad places and there is at least one that looks like it might pan out, but still, I have been looking pretty vigorously for four months now so I don't have a lot of faith that there is something in Portland for me.
My latest approach to all of this is to just let things happen and try not to stress too much about changing the course of my life. And to smile. It is pretty embarrassing to be such a Debbie Downer all the time but this is just the hand that I have been dealt. I am hoping that putting all of this out there will be a little like putting it all behind me and maybe I can focus some on how beautiful life is right now. I just crossed my two year mark in PDX, which means it's raining cherry blossoms in my front yard. Not long before I can pull the patio furniture out of the garage and fire up the BBQ. Spring fling? Summer lover? Fall, stay far, far away.
No need for sorries or it'll get betters. If it weren't for friends I'd've never made it this far. Thanks all. |
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| forever young |
[Feb. 29th, 2008|09:38 am] |
once every four years i get to wish my friend karilyn a very, very, very happy birthday and i am excited to finally have the opportunity to do it again. it will be hard to top the last one in which my band, panty lions, performed one of my favorite shows ever complete with accompaniment from members of the jim yoshii pile-up (on exercise bikes), fivehead (providing interpretive dance), citizens here and abroad (adding pint glass and tabletop percussions), film school (contributing utter wastedness) and geez, who else?!? hilarious times, i tell you, hilarious times.
karilyn is in india (or is it dubai, now?) so i thought i would search the internet for a little nugget of something to send her way and look what just got posted today? a sleeping states daytrotter session that we recorded back in september!
i dedicate every flubbed note and wonky chord change to my dear friend karilyn on her 8th birthday!!! |
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| superfuckable |
[Feb. 19th, 2008|09:27 am] |
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tantalizing new interview and photo at the hottest new blog on the web: hot mess magic. |
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| a yawn you could crawl into |
[Jan. 31st, 2008|02:15 pm] |
my thoughts exactly. |
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| on a dock on a dark day |
[Jan. 29th, 2008|06:26 pm] |
ok. i wasn't gonna cuz i look pretty tardalicious (at 1:02, 1:15, 1:21 and 2:03) but whatever:
overall, i think it turned out far better than i was expecting. i'm hoping i can say the same for the new death cab album coming in the spring, which oddly, i am kind of excited about. |
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| fucking drugs |
[Dec. 23rd, 2007|08:46 pm] |
i transcribed this myself after hearing the bad news. it was hitting me hard and i wanted to know exactly what it was saying. i think it was saying this:
"you tell the speakers that you might
you tell the speechless that you're fine
bless me with your presence, you fool
give me meaning, tell me, tell me
smoggy sunsets are the best, my starling
secrets kept in pockets pockets pockets
don't let me down don't let me down don't let me down...
why can't you find what you came for?
raise the stakes you fool, just raise the fucking stakes you fool"
van haler and other jams can still be heard at www.myspace.com/nocello
if you happen to take the time, the scorching guitar parts are from a young fellow named jordan beyelia who is no longer with us.
the stuff they say about burning brite, it's all true.
blue christmas just got alot bluer. |
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| a boombox and a bathtub |
[Dec. 9th, 2007|01:08 pm] |
my best music of oh-seven list (complete with youtoobage):
#1 - barr "summary" (i can't believe this didn't make ANY of the year-end lists i've seen so far.)
#2 - panda bear "person pitch"
that's all i have.
had i not played in this band, it would have also made my list :
sleeping states "there the open spaces"
and i've only recently come around on this next one. late bloomer. still not sure if it'd hold up in the long run but i'm digging it rite now.
menomena "friend or foe"
i was surprised that follow-ups to past favorites by animal collective (05) and sunset rubdown (06) totally blew. i'm already jonesing for april, when both the breeders (02) and silver jews (05) release new albums.
*****EDIT***** oh! and radar bros (05) in january!!!
feel free to post yer faves in the comments. |
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| hot bottoms |
[Nov. 4th, 2007|11:21 pm] |
i am posting this hot on the heels of the last cuz it's on my mind and i'm afraid this week will get away from me before i can send you these goodies.
on tour, my pal chuck in austin hooked us up with a handful of cdrs which featured various episodes of this american life. i was no stranger, but out on those open roads, and after hours and hours of listening to indierock in the van, they sure hit the spot. i'm pretty addicted and you should be, too. this is one of my favorites:
BREAK-UPS. (link stolen from the yellow stereo)
isn't the girl from the phil collins segment pretty much the cutest thing ever? i did some stalking and found this other great little project of hers:
4 MINUTE JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.
mike burnett, if you're reading, you gotta check that one out.
other episodes of t.a.l. can be gotten at www.thisamericanlife.org and erin just bought me season one of the tv show (which i didn't even know existed!) on itunes. i also didn't know you could buy itunes presents for people. that's a neat little thing!
furthermore! n.p.r., home of t.a.l., just launched a pretty badass music site. my two favorite things so far are:
carrie brownstein's blog, in which she tries to figure out what kind of music creepy people who carry cats/parrots/lizards on their shoulders listen to.
and
project song, in which an artist (in this case, stephin merritt of the magnetic fields) has two days to write and record a song based on an image and a phrase provided. pretty neat stuff.
anyhoo...i hope your week is real boring so that you can check all this stuff out. |
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| country singles |
[Oct. 3rd, 2007|03:38 pm] |
in miniatureapolis at the moment. tour is fun. there are some photos up at www.ashodsimonian.com
see you. wouldn't want to be you.
jk. |
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| twilight at chapman elementary. |
[Sep. 20th, 2007|11:10 pm] |
portlanders, it would behoove you to go check out the swifts this week before they head further south. it's pretty dope.
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ashod's journal
