Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Gross eye juices

Yup just got it done. Luckily I have a good eye this time that I can use to blog with. The surgery went really fast. Just gonna chill and do whatever with the parents tonight... maybe go walking around beautiful Saskatoon, then off to the doctor first thing tommorrow to have the dressing removed and the unveiling of the new eye.

Thank God it's all over now.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Thanks for letting me quit

OK ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT

SASKBLOGS GET TOGETHER
*************************************************

July 22, 2006 Saturday - Regina
We would start out at about 1pm with a barbecue in Wascana Park. Kids, and Everyone of course, will be welcome. After the barbecue we could head to the Rider game (if enough people express interest, Stephen might be able to line up some discounted tickets). After that we could all head out for supper, or do another BBQ and then head out to a pub for some drinks.

The option of a Saskatoon meet has also been discussed, but we would like to have one big meet as opposed to two large ones, but we’ll see what everyone has to say. Saskatoon dates that have been discussed include June 17 and August 19.

If most people would prefer a Saskatoon meet on July 22nd, we could possibly change it up.


*************************************************************

I know I'm definetly gonna try and be there. I'll be the one trolling for booty.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I will be going in tommorrow for my second eye surgery. So if you're in Saskatoon tommorrow night and want to see something really gross... leave a message here.


Wish me luck.. I'm taking a LOT more drugs this time (think I'll bring some of my own... anyone know any heroin dealers?).

Monday, May 29, 2006

Okay

So once again I'm spreading the buzz around that I'm thinking of quitting this blog. Again why? Just not really liking having so many people see what my life is doing. But sometimes I want the world to know something, like a party or a gig or maybe some congratulations to someone for a job well done. So this thing is gonna stick around, but I wouldn't expect much if I was you guys. Move me to your "visit every 4 days or so" pile.

Also to advertise the following.

WANTED

Enthusiastic bass player looking for :
- One (1) and only one guitarist and one (1) drummer in the Weyburn to Regina area. Must be quite proficient and good at what they do. Must be able to play in time signatures beyond 4/4 and 3/4. Must have good, dependable stage rig and instuments. Must have love for and desire for experimentation musically and beyond. Must be enthusiastic, imaginative, resourseful, dedicated and fun. Previous performing act experience and/or ability to sing is a definite asset but not necessary.

This will be a "from scratch" band. I'm shooting at a sound in the area of such bands such as Rush, Tool, Muse, System of a Down, Pink Floyd and Queen. Although I'm totally open to whatever happens when we finally get together. 90-95% of the material will be original compositions.

The application/selection process is going to take forever, but it will ultimately build the band with the best chemistry and dedication. What's going to happen is, if you want to apply, e-mail me at jeremy.pilon@gmail.com and I'll get the ball rolling. I'll send you a list of things I'd like to apply, maybe some questions. I'll do the same stuff I ask you to do. I'll then e-mail all applicants the answers to these e-mails, including mine. We'll listen, maybe come to some ideas of some groups together and do some jams. This kind of intermingling will continue with different jams and ideas coming together untill I and we come to a final product.

Successful applicants will have arrived on time having already eaten.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Musical Changes

So as I'm sure you've surmised from my blog entries of the past couple monts, I've been putting alot of work into my music. Music has always quite naturally been an antidepressant and therapy for me. So I've quite naturally moved to a more musical path. Several things I have on the go or desire to start doing include :

- New use of effects. Just bought a kick ass Beringer bass effects processor. It's got a shitload of effects and is rack mounted. Hoping it will really improve and change my style. I know... I finally went digital. But for the cost of this studio quality setup, I would have 2 more pedals. Pretty easy choice.

- Signifigant change in setup - With the switch to effects, I've also decided to finally do a long overdue overhaul of my setup and gear. In the audio sense, I'll be reworking my amp, in conjunction with the effects and making some physical changes to my guitar to make it sound better (bridge replacement likely), In the physical, I'll be switching to a new rack case. Although I bougt one today, it's one rack space too small for my gear. The winning rack will feature a full hard cover setup and wheels. I will also be organizing, cleaning and updating my gig box. It will now include more tools, first aid supplies, stationary supplies in addition to extra cords and my metronome. Since I no longer will have need for my pedals, they will come out of the box. This should all make my gear easier to use and transport.

- Work with Old Skool - we have a webpage being built, more shows coming up and I'm working harder on songs to improve my playing. I've also been singing more and am considering approaching the band with the idea of doing originals (and since some of the members read this ... waddya think?) We curretly do only Covers.

- WMD - Although I haven't started this one yet, I'm stoked to start. Planning on perhaps calling Dave and Vic tommorrow night to start working on it. Originals ...prog metal.

- "Rob"ject - Linger guitarist Rob has agreed to work on a body of work with me. Original Experimental, Heavy shit.

- The Winnipeg Project - Dulcet/Kleinbottle guitarist Mark, Linger guitarist Rob and I are planning on a weekend in Winnipeg to work on an album in a weekend project that we've had on the backburner for oh... 3 years. Mark wants to get started in the next couple weeks. Original Jam Band stuff.

- Acoustic Duet Project - I've got a few female singer/guitarists in mind that I would like to do one timer or even semi-regualr coffee house acoustic shows with. I've already dropped a hint to one person, another and I had discussed something of the sort like almost a year ago and the last will have no idea. Original material and covers

- "Scott"ject - Talked very breifly to Scott about this. Tried to connect it with the "Rob"ject... not sure if it's gonna take tho. Should be heavy, experimental Originals

- Dulcet Reunion - this one keeps coming back to me. But I was recently contacted by former Dulcet drummer, Trevor about doing a quick one night reunion thing. I'm pretty warm to the idea. Usually did covers, but we had some great arrangements and we might hit some of our very few originals. I know I wouldn't mind trying "SOS (Untitled #2)", "Perfect Eggnog", "Ditch the Bitch" or "The Environment Song" again.

- Totally new and much improved warmup/practice routine. I'd like to build a structured warmup and also a structured practice routine that would allow me to improve the songs I know, increase my technical knowledge and enhance the amount I play. I've already gotten well into the planning stages with cards printed and structures sketched out.

- Studio - I want to build a practice / demoing studio. I may have to build it in my current place simply so I can afford it and I can keep the dog. But I would like a bigger apartment and a dedicated room.

- Students - I would like to begin taking students in the fall. Again, this poses some difficulties in finding teaching space (perhaps I could offer them through Cleo... hmm).(Jeez that just got me thinking of doing a whole STUDIO there... hmm).

- "Frankenamp" Rebuild - This one is finally coming to light. Something I've had on my mind for a long time was to gut this old amp. put the electronics in a nice new cabinet, put a new speaker in and use it for acoustic gigs and a practice amp.

- Change the strings on my bass and acoustic (well I'm GONNA).

- And sorta finally, the big one. I'd like to start hand building a band that has a certain set of attributes that I like... a band that I would term "Perfect". Naturally, I think all the preceeding projects are leading to this, and I just like the idea of having an ultimate goal to reach. I've got it envisioned... perhaps I'll put it down in writing.

So there we go. I've got a few other things in mind, but I'm not too sure how much of it I'm really gonna do yet. Also, I've got to get more stuff up on the Rechargeable Future page, which is slow, but still running, it's a project I don't want to ignore, life has just got into the way recently.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Storm's a Brewin'

Yup... there's a zinger of a storm a brewin right now. I'm supposed to head back to the 'rents house to finish my laundry, but I'm concerned that I might get wet and feel alive for a change. Stupid heat.

So instead I'm using a computer during an impending electrical storm (moron).

Well off I go. Andrew's addicted to Rush now... another soul! Mwah ha ha!

Monday, May 22, 2006

superredkneckfragalisticexpialadoicious

Well... what a weekend. I really can't beleive it's Monday and I'm not dead. Honestly.

So worked Saturday, got home, ran to Murray's to help load, came home quick, shat, showered, shaved and got ready. Rolled out to Stoughton. Got to the Legion there where we were greeted by some guy who really needed to get our picture right then. If you ever see those pictures, I'm still tying my tie in them. Real professional.

So we had a quick beer, set up, did a few songs as a soundcheck and ran to the bar for the steaks and beer that Murray had been talking about all week. Alfredo decided before we got to the bar that the barmaid was likely to be in some trouble if the kitchen was closed. The kitchen was closed. Well we had to drag the little guy off that poor girl, but luckly Murray knows how to read and noticed that we could cook our own steaks at the bar (welcome to Saskatchewan... what'd I say about redknecks?). So Linda (with a "Y") cooked us some great steaks (thanks!) and we were full of beef for the show.

We walked in to 7500 floating cowboy hats. The place looked like a fuckin George Straight Impersonator Conference. Luckily, they enjoyed the music and the booze (4 - 40 oz bottles in a half hour to be precice). Once we got good and warmed up we had a great time too. The band will be paying a dear price for throwing 5 or 6 new songs into the set list that I'd never played before. Linda (with a "Y") even SPECIFICALLY TOLD ME at the last jam that we "don't do the Elvis songs." Who did Blue Suede Shoes? Oh yeah Roy Orbison.... yeesh! But it all went great, I had a great time and I can't wait for the next gig (a home town charity gig at the Cancer Society Relay for Life).

So after the show I got home at an early 4 AM and was at work promptly at 7 AM. Get home, catch a nap and the phone rings "I'll be there in 20 minutes, we're going to go party in Carlyle". Thanks Steph. Needless to say, keeping awake on the car ride home last night was a little challenging.

But here it is, Monday. Gonna call some friends, clean some house and maybe, just maybe walk my dog.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Off to Stoughton

So I'm playing my first true live gig in about 2 years tonight. Anyone who's in Stoughton and likes redknecks should show up to the Legion around 9:30 and witness the rock.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Finaly

So about 4 years ago I bought these shoes. They sort of look like bowling shoes. In the years following I've sort of kept my eyes out for clothes to match these kick ass shoes, but never really found anything.

Well yesterday I went to the Salvation Army to look for a new getup for my gig this weekend (always gotta have some sweet clothes for a new band). I was thinking along the lines of what I wore in Dulcet towards the end of high school. Shirt, tie, pants, all in bright primary colours. Now that look was an accident, we went in looking for leisure suits and came out with an equally stylish look. Well yesterday I went in and there it was... a chocolate brown suit. Well, long story short, I got a pretty bitchingly stylish getup for $4.00 (if you spend any more than $10 on a good gig getup, you've wasted your money). Sure it needs to be altered (especially the jacket, the guy who wore this thng must have been as wide as he was tall), but it's cool, the right colour and cheap as hell.

Anyways, if any of you'se are in Stoughton on the 20th (this Sat.) there's a cabaret that we're playing at. How much, where, and all that jazz? Damned if I know. I'm a bass player for hire, I'm not doing much managing with this band (although it could start soon). Anyways hope to see you there.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Sorry about this... just... indulge me ok?

Chuck Norris needs a monkeywrench and a blowtorch to masturbate.

Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chuck Norris has 72... and they're all poisonous.

If you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble, you win. Forever.

Chuck Norris once bet NASA he could survive re-entry without a spacesuit. On July 19th, 1999, a naked Chuck Norris re-entered the earth's atmosphere, streaking over 14 states and reaching a temperature of 3000 degrees. An embarrassed NASA publically claimed it was a meteor, and still owes him a beer.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is based on a true story: Chuck Norris once swallowed a turtle whole, and when he crapped it out, the turtle was six feet tall and had learned karate..

The Chuck Norris military unit was not used in the game Civilization 4, because a single Chuck Norris could defeat the entire combined nations of the world in one turn.

In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Chuck Norris could use to kill you, including the room itself.

When Chuck Norris goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.

Chuck Norris once challenged Lance Armstrong in a "Who has more testicles?" contest. Chuck Norris won by 5.


OK OK I'll stop.... but I don't promise I won't pick this up again.....
I put a 2006 dime under new cement today in the South West corner of the swimming pool at the leisure center (the one built in 1967). So if the internet and this blog persist for many decades or centuries, search out the spot should it exist, show this post and see if you would be allowed to extract it. Then make me famous, and bury me right. On the moon. (I want a bagpiper and a 12 string guitar at my burial, I assume there will be air on the moon by that time.)

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Public Service Announcement

Ok, so I know over the year + I've been doing this that I've said some stuff to put me at outs with people and the like. But never have I said something that could risk my very LIFE. But today I will, for the safety of my family and my community.

I have reason to beleive that my mother is a deadly ninja.

No really, I looked at the facts, and it all adds up. Let's explore shall we.

- The gaze of death - Now I know most mothers have gazes that can cut steel, but my mom's can slice through diamond. I've actually felt my heart stop from some of her gazes. Don't beleive me? Call her fat and see what happens.

- Dad - My mom is about 2' 3" and my dad at just over 9'10" is terrified of her. Add to that his military training, and why else would he be afraid of her? Because her hands are lethal weapons.

- Spoon handling skills - The woman can kill or seriously maim anything she sees with a wooden spoon from as far away as 50 yards. Again don't beleive me? Call her fat while she's cooking.

- She can't cook - Ninja's are notoriously bad cooks.

- Plus last week on the way back from Saskatoon, she kicked some guys head clean off. Didn't even break a sweat either.

Be warned!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

To all the commenters to yesterday's Post:

Sure you can look at all the NEGATIVE points of girls... but they are a HELL of a lot of fun too. No really they are.

Like:
- Fun to cuddle with - I'm a cuddler, I'll admit it, and guys just don't do the trick.
- They smell nice
- they're pretty... all of e'm, there isn't an ugly woman on earth... well my sister Michelle is the exception that proves the rule at least
- they're really cute when you bug them, embarrass them or say something gross.
- they're generally good dancers
- they smell nice

So you can see why I'm interested... plus I'm a 24 year old heterosexual male, I am not gonna spend the rest of my life walking my dog and waking up alone.

A swing and a miss

Nope, no good, guess she's not as availiable as I thought... oh well... next.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

I Started the Ball Rolling

Yikes. Never thought this day would come. Actually got the ball rolling on asking out that girl I was talking about yesterday. Working on the introduction right now.... here's hoping everything else is in place... if not well I'll just drink alot or something. You know whatever works.

Had a decent day today. Started getting bummed out then kinda did the empowere thing and said "FUCK NO!" If I keep letting the past control me, I'll never move on. I have to accept what is here now, and work to change what I can (holy crap ain't that some 12 step shit?) Anyways, I'm working on it.

In other news... I really don't have any... but I've sent some e-mail and have been doing some stuff, so maybe in the coming days I will have some news. Who knows.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Feelin' Fine

Not that that might not change tommorrow... but today I feel fine... even though I was throwing up at 2:10 this afternoon.

Now, I know how delicate these good days can be. I used to work with this just chronically depressed gal and she'd come into work all smiles and bright eyed, "I'm having a good day" she'd say. Ten minutes later, she'd be in the staff room in tears... no real reason that I could see. So we'll tread lightly ok?

One of the reasons I was feeling so much better today is that I somehow got someone else in my head. She doesn't know I'm interested, and frankly I'm not even totally sure she knows who I am, but just having that to think about you know like "how can I introduce myself" and the whole..."how compatible would we be" was enough to keep my mind off that which was depressing me, and positive enough to make me feel a little better.

Now I suppose you're wondering why I was throwing up? And how the hell could that be part of a good day? Well, I'll tell ya. Michelle brought back some Cuban cigars from Mexico (of all places) so her, Andrew and I sat on the back porch of mom and dad's and smoked e'm. Tobbacco is notorious for making me ill, I love the taste and smell, but it don't like me. Oh well.

What else? What else? Well, I've been listening to 10,000 Days at work on the PA after closing. Now if you haven't had the chance to listen to Tool blaring over a pool PA, well you just suck. Not only is the album crazy good, it's pretty wild in a facility like that.

Now I'm gonna go make myself some KD.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

I Bought a Watch

Thought it would make me feel a bit better. I needed a watch, and so I bought one that had all sorts of features I knew I'd like (including a freaking FLASHLIGHT). Well, it's cool and handy and all, but I still feel like shit.

It's starting to affect my health a bit I think. I've been on this slump a solid 3 days now... if I still feel this way when I go to bed tommorrow, I'm gonna go see the doctor about some counselling or something, I'm just not coping with this right now.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

saskatoon

Went to S'toon today, had to see the eye doctor AGAIN (only 3-6 more times this year). Didn't really help boost my spirits much. I'm not a big fan of eye appointments, never have been, and I know my parents are really having trouble letting me handle them myself, my mom just naturally gravitates into the exam room with me. I know she just cares, she's worried, she wants to know what's happening, she's supported me this far and wants to finish this novel of my eyecare that started 24 years ago, but sometimes I'd like to be able to talk to a doctor one on one. I son't know, I do like her being there, but sometimes I feel like I'm still 12.

Thought alot today about life, about how terrible I felt last night, about this year and how hard it's been. I don't know the answers. I know I do have good days. This Saturday was alot of fun, and like I said yesterday, it's been my friends and family that have really buoyed me up (and continue to do so thanks Danny, Rhonda, Dave, Anonymous (Corey maybe?) and my arch-nemesis/best friend, Michelle). I dunno. I just really feel like shit lately. I'm gonna try and look ahead here, I've got a whole 7 more months of 2006 to look forward to. A long summer, reunion of one of my favourite bands I've played in, well paying job and God only knows what else. Does this mean I'm gonna be happy? Nope, hell I'm depressed just writing this, but I do want to try, I think I'm gonna have to find some help with it is all.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Love / Hate

It happened again tonight. I knew I'd run into her, but I'm never really mentally prepared to deal with it. Within seconds of catching sight of her, I'm almost useless. She always cheerfully says hi and all I can do is spit out a quiet hello and turn away. It's been 6 months since she left me and yet I haven't healed at all, and the pain seems to get worse by the day.

The worst of it is the conflict as far as I can see. I struggle with being lonely, distaste in my posistion in life and everything else, but the conflict in my mind between love and hate is often more than I can bear.

Never in my life was I as happy as I was when I was with her. She showed me a world I'd chosen to ignore. She showed me love, compassion and friendship. I was utterly devoted to her, to the very afternoon she walked into my apartment, woke me up and told me she didn't want to see me anymore.

But the dark side of the relationship persisted too. She was often cold, cared little about how I felt about the things she did, was unable to commit to the simplest or most important things and finally in the last week she was unfaithful and took my trust for granted in the most painful way. The pain that I felt the night she told me was unimagineable and I wonder if I will ever forgive her for what she did.

So now I live day to day with this conflict. The pain seems to get worse, perhaps time heals all wounds, but I regularily think that I may soon have to seek out professional assistance, because I find more pain each day. Of late, only the thought of my family and friends has kept me going, gotten me out of bed, prevented me from doing something that I should not.

Shawna,
I love you
I hate you
I miss you