Thursday, February 26, 2009

My Life in Boxes

As you can tell from the countdown over there on the right, my time here is growing shorter. Ticking down to take-off, that clock seems to be moving faster than any clock should. The last days, I've been boxing up the items I've accumulated over the last 34 years, and each item going into a box reminds me of some memory or some experience along the way.

And it's interesting, because I won't be taking these boxes with me. They'll go into storage, or be given to Good Will or somewhere. And like the people I've made these memories with, they'll stay here, unable to tag along. And like each item being stored away, with one more moment to hold it in my hand and remember, I've had all of these events and get-togethers scheduled to do the same thing with friends and family, and let them do the same with me.

Sure, we'll stay in touch, but things will be different. I know that. Just different.

I wonder how I'll be once I'm this disconnected, placed into a new world, all but starting over. Will I be like a plant that adapts and grows in a new environment? Or will I be a rock, staying the same, just getting rained on more and snowed on less?

I know I'm an adaptive guy, and I can be as sociable as the next, so I'm sure I'm going to have a great time, and get a lot done, and really refresh my outlook on life. But still, looking into the unknown, one has to wonder about the outcome.

I'm not trying to be melancholy here, or depressed. I just see this all as the downside to a really good step in the right direction for my life. And like my songs, it's easier to sit down and write about the sad stuff than it is to write about the good stuff.

I guess what I'm saying, while I still have a little time to say it, is that like my piano and my guitars and my bed, I'll miss you all.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Loose Change

Well, I guess while I'm pimping my friends' extra-curricular activities, I should mention Loose Change. My friend John has a band that plays out from time to time. I've been to a few shows, and they're quite entertaining. Keep in mind, these guys have real jobs and families, so you won't be seeing them out playing 68 times a week. But what you will see if you catch them (up in Ward, or at The Duke, or wherever else they might be playing), is a group of four guys who genuinely have fun playing music.

Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/loosechangernr

And if you get a chance to see them live, buy them a beer and tell them I sent you. :)

Race Walkers

There's an independant film called "Race Walkers" that was made in Denver that features several folks from around town that's having a screening at the Mayan next Monday.

For some info, check out http://casa-films.ning.com/forum/topics/race-walkers-screening?page=1&commentId=2477724%3AComment%3A21682&x=1#2477724Comment21682

You can also check out other info about the film and the studio here: http://www.yogadogstudios.com/films/racewalking.php

In case you didn't notice, the producer on this film is my good friend Matt (El Mattarino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing) Arnold.

This'll be my last night in town, so if anyone wants to come down and join us, the flick starts at 7, and anyone there by 6:30 should be able to get a seat.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Workshed's Big Bash

I would like to start by thanking everyone who made it to the party last night. It was a great CD release party, full of fun and good times with friends and family. Complete with door prizes (someone left theirs here, by the way), we had a very nice turnout, and everyone had a good time. Even the ones who slept through most of it. :)





Band recap:

Workshed handed out free (yes, FREE) copies of its debut CD, Optimism is for Suckers to everyone who made it by last night.




After some discussion and socializing, an announcement was made..... the band was breaking up. We'd reached the pinnacle of depression (confirmed by several guests listening to the music at the party), and since there was nowhere further to safely go, the decision to split up seemed the best choice.

Shortly thereafter, the band reformed as The Infinity Cycle. Delving into the realms of experimental music, and pushing the limits of musical ingenuity, a debut single was released on MySpace.

http://www.myspace.com/theinfinitycycle

Needless to say, the attending crowd did not know how to react. Reactions ranged from mild amusement to outraged mob riot (complete with torches and pitchforks and angry yelling).

I suppose the music was just too ahead of it's time.

So the band broke up again.

And then reformed again, this time as Trans-Pacific Soul Train.


The band released two more singles on their new myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/transpacificsoultrain

The fusion of funk, soul, early rap, and squareness was a source of great entertainment for all, and will certainly send the record labels into a frenzy (and possibly a bidding war) trying to sign these guys.


The crowd like this new direction of the band much more than the previous incarnation as The Infinity Cycle.




All in all, it was a lot of fun with some great people, great beer, and great food. Thanks again to everyone who stopped by for our special evening.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Leaving on a Jet Plane


Yep. John Denver had it right.



I've got a few memories of John Denver.... I remember him on the Muppet Show and visually I guess that's how I'll always remember him. But my strongest memories of John Denver (and more noteably, his music) will always be of those summer weeks spent at my grandparents' house, headphones on, listening to John Denver's Greatest Hits on the 8-track.



Today, upon finally purchasing my ticket for Hawai'i (I've had several people ask if I'd bought the ticket yet, and here's the answer), I found this song stuck in my head:

All my bags are packed
Im ready to go
Im standin here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin
Its early morn
The taxis waitin
Hes blowin his horn
Already Im so lonesome
I could die
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
cause Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
Theres so many times
Ive let you down
So many times Ive played around
I tell you now, they dont mean a thing
Evry place I go, Ill think of you
Evry song I sing, Ill sing for you
When I come back, Ill bring your wedding ring
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
cause Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
Now the time has come to leave you
One more timeLet me kiss you
Then close your eyes
Ill be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I wont have to leave alone
About the times, I wont have to say
Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
cause Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
(words and music by John Denver)

So there you have it. My bags may not be packed, and the cab may not be waiting and honking, but the reality of this is starting to set in.

On March 3rd, I'll be leaving on a jet plane.

Don't know when I'll be back again.


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Optimism is for Suckers

The much-awaited debut album by the critically acclaimed Workshed is about to be released!!!
The album, Optimism is for Suckers, will be available at a CD release party at my house on the evening of February 21st. If you don't know where I live, call me. If you don't have my phone number, well.... I guess you're not invited. :)

Who: Workshed + Workshed's friends
What: CD Release Party
Where: My house
When: 2-21-09 6pm-11pm (or 3am....TBD)
Why: Why not?
How: It's simple socailization... if you haven't figured that out yet, you should get out more

***B.Y.O.W. <---bring your own whatever. If you wanna drink or eat, bring it with ya. Thanks.***


About Optimism is for Suckers:

Depressed Pop-Star Monthlyish: Optimism is for Suckers is thirteen tracks of subtle introspection into the darker spaces of the soul, contrasted with sprinkles of poppy crappy pap.

The Toronto Hoser Review: A good five dollars worth for me and my whole family.

Miss Sue Tribune: If these guys would just write happier songs, they'd probably meet some nice girls and start making me grandbabies.

Monday, February 9, 2009

I'm an Uncle!!!

Yeah, I know you all already know about all of this, but my sister and her husband had a baby on January 30, 2009, at 5:10 am. He weighed more than an apple, but less than my car, and was about this tall (I know you can't see my hands, but trust me, they're about as far apart as he is tall). <---I'm such a guy about all of this baby stuff
After some scary moments at first, everything worked out for the best, and now everyone is happily at home.


Welcome to the family, Hudson.


I know this is going up late, but I was waiting for some good pictures.

And so it begins....

Hello all.

As you know by now, I'll be leaving shortly for the big island of Hawaii. I've decided that perhaps the best way to stay in touch with friends and family (or at least the best way for you to see what I'm up to) is through a blog. With a little practice and determination, I hope to post regularly here, using text, photos and videos, describing all of my adventures and mishaps, proudest and most embarrassing moments, and thoughts upon rambling thoughts, to be shared with all of you. Right here.

Please feel free to comment, as this will most likely be the easiest and most entertaining way to communicate while I'm away.

I know, I know.... some of you (well, two or three of you :) ) will be asking, "What about the board?" The board (<--- linky link for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about) will still be there. I have no plans to take it down. The board is more for large groups of people talking about a variety of subjects all at once. I thought about putting this on the board instead, but there would be thread after thread of stories and pictures, and I'd start being tempted to append new adventures on to older threads, and I think things would just get lost. Thus the blog. If topics do come up that require more conversation than we can handle here, then certainly we can carry them over to the board. Besides, I know some of you are a bit leery of the board (*coughcoughpaulandjencough*), and this medium might be easier to use, as you can just look and not speak up any more than you want to.

As I stated before, I intend to post regularly. I don't really know how regularly....I believe that depends in large part upon you, the viewers. If I get to the point where I feel like I'm just talking to myself, merely recording a diary or journal of my life, then I know I'll lose motivation, and eventually let the thing slide into oblivion. But if I have some input and reponse, I know I'll find the time to keep putting up pictures, music, and stories. Right now, I'm planning on a weekly update. That may become twice a week, or once every two weeks. But given the schedule I'm forseeing, I think one a week is a very attainable goal.

Besides, I'm going to miss all of you a lot, and this will be my main connection with you over thousands of miles of ocean and ±4 timezones. <---my attempt at guilting you all into responding once in a while :P So that's it! Welcome to the Cameronomicon!

****Afterword*****
So, in case you're wondering, I got the blog title from a great cult horror/comedy movie, Evil Dead 2, where they have the "Necronomicon", aka The Book of the Dead. So I thought "The Cameeronomicon" would be a cool title for the blog. Kind of a story of Cameron. According to Wikipedia though (and as we all know, the internet never lies), the name Necronomicon is taken from the Greek:

"nekros - νεκρός ("dead"), nomos - νόμος ("law"), eikon - εικών ("image").
A more prosaic translation can be derived by conjugating nemo ("to consider"): 'Concerning the dead'."

Given all of that, if you have issue with the name, too bad. I still think it fits well enough for my own tastes.