Intentions

I fully intended to make a post about how January went. It was going to be a January in Review type post. Then the inauguration happened and I got thoroughly depressed. I want to say that I'm out of the that funk but I can't. Severely bummed. There's so much work to be done. I'm so proud to have friends who go out and protest any chance they get. Who make art and music and are defiant. They are resisting and I wish I could be right next to them. Work life didn't really help at all as most of my co-workers are young white women who are uncomfortably happy with life right now. I'm thankful that I get to be on the team with the only people of color in the store. There's definitely some comradery back there. So, that is pretty much my year so far.

I decided to start a new blog. I named it after my pop zine and I'm probably going to abandon this one. I'll be posting about music, upcoming events, past events. It's basically going to be the same old same old as this blog. I don't know why I feel the need to do this, but I'm doing it. I'll probably be back to bitch and complain mostly. Separate the negative from the positive. Anyway, here's the link: Pansy Pop.

Lazy Bones is semi-retired. Later!

Four Years Later...

No, I'm not making any dang resolutions this year. No way, no how. I'm only here because I saw that a friend started a new blog to separate her business life from her personal. It inspired me and reminded me that "oh yeah, I have a blog too....?" I guess it's nice to have. Though, I hadn't felt a need to document anything here anymore. However, looking back at old posts has me kind of missing this. Reading old entries about our friends and adventures has me feeling a renewed sense of appreciation for what I have and how far I've gotten.

I have a driving permit. I have one! I thought that would never happen, but here I am with a driving permit. So very much has changed and I didn't document one bit of it. It kind of bums me out. I suppose you can count the few Instagram pics I take now and then, but they're definitely not enough. Living in the moment is something I try very hard to do. I'm not always successful because I'm spending too much time looking for the right filter or trying to take a shot/video that's not all blurry or with my finger on the lense. It always turns out that I'm not happy with what I shot and post nothing at all and missed a great performance or something really funny or cool happened and I was too busy looking at my phone.

So, maybe I'll use this as a place to store memories. Both, precious and wretched. I don't know, maybe even start writing about music again? Who knows! The next 4 years are going to be from what I can tell, nightmarish. I'm going to need a place to put stuff. Good and bad. I loathe posting anything personal on Facebook and Tumblr is so Tumblr. Whatevs, I just want a nice quiet place to put my thoughts and it might as well be this blog. I'm not saying that I'm back, but I'm sure glad I have something to come back to.

(Photo above was taken on Christmas Eve. That's Garfield and he's sitting on little baby Jesus. He looked like an angel)

Charlotte Richardson Andrews: YELLOW HAIR, FAR AWAY STARE: an interview with ind...

Charlotte Richardson Andrews: YELLOW HAIR, FAR AWAY STARE: an interview with ind...: In the early Noughties, when I was a wide-eyed babydyke and falling in love with every girl I met, I discovered Jamie Babbit’s 1999 cult ...

This is just so wonderfully done. It also reminds me of a conversation I had last night with my bandmate/lifemate. We found out that one of our newest acquaintances was only 17. We were attending a decent sized music festival in the older part of town called the Fulton Mall. It was a huge success and there were a lot of people there to watch some of Fresno's more famous bands. The conversation was about how he felt we are just getting way to old for this. He continued to explain that he didn't want to be a thirty something "dude" trying to act young by playing in bands that no one cares about. I'll be honest, it kind of stung. Are we really too old for this? I asked "What are we SUPPOSED to do?? Settle down with children? (OUT OF THE QUESTION!) Buy a house? With what money?? Work mundane low paying jobs until we die!?!" So when I happened upon this interview with the wonderful Rose Melberg, I couldn't help but feel relieved. She's currently CURRENTLY in 7 bands. Seven bands!! She is my hero and I love her and will continue to admire her forever and ever. I CAN keep doing this and fuck anyone who talks shit. I'm going to keep making music and if my partner wants to quit, that's just fine, but I'm going to carry on doing what I love to do. Now if I can only get over my severe laziness....

Oh brother.

Well well well. Looks like I've found my way back to this lonely little blog of mine. I'm not even sorry this time around. I just don't have the will to keep this going sometimes. I'm busy! Kind of. Look, I MUST spend an hour (or sometimes more) on Tumblr and other social media sites. That's just what I do with my spare time. I'm not even thinking about ways to update here. I suppose I should just delete this blog all together, but I kind of like knowing that it's around. So around it will stay and rarely it will be updated. So here's an update.

The Mr. and I found a nice little apartment. It's a quad-plex and we live in the very back above the garage. It's been 3 months now and I'm really happy with it. I do however miss his family. We lived with them for many years and I really got used to a loud household. I also got used to cooking large quantities. So our meals have been weird. I miss our little nephew terribly. He's lived with us since he was two years old. He just turned nine last month and I completely forgot to call him for his birthday. I felt wretched and called him a few days later. I kind of wish I hadn't because he couldn't understand why we weren't living with him anymore. I asked him to give the phone to grandma because I was about to lose my shit and go into ugly cry. Other than the separation pains, everything else has been pretty cool. The dryer from the laundromat we used in the neighborhood melted my underwear. It was awful, but an excuse to go out right away and buy new ones! I really love where we live and it's so much closer to the places we find ourselves a lot these days. Work still sucks, but I've got to keep working if I want nice things. I'm still working two jobs.

It really started to wear me out. Working two jobs and playing in a band was getting hard. So we decided we're not going to be playing very often anymore. Few and far between is the way we're doing it these days. Our last show was a real bust and we all went home feeling extremely shitty. The sad truth is nobody wants to see us anymore and we've over stayed our welcome here. We're going to work on recording and booking shows outside of Fresno. Not so much touring, but taking our shit on the road. So much has happened since we started and we've met so many wonderful people. Said people started some brilliant bands and some have already broken up or are moving to another state soon. It's only been a few months! We just need a little break from "the scene" or whatever it is. We're going to go out and support. Support the venues, promoters and bands. We've even entertained the idea of moving to Portland or northern California. I think we belong up north. No, I KNOW we belong up north. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I wish I had the time/patience to sit here and write about all the crazy shit that's happened these last few months. Fuck that, I wish I could remember half of it! I'm going to make an effort to maybe write it all down in a diary of some sort. Then I can type it up on here or something. Because there has definitely been some craziness that's gone down. Yes, that's just what I'll do. I have a lot of free time when I'm using the public transportation system. I'll get myself a little notebook and write as I wait for the bus. Sounds like a plan! Next time there will be photos too. I've taken a lot of photos. I will however end this with a video of our dear friend Taylor aka Control Noodle doing a cover of one of my favorite Hunx & His Punx songs. Taylor is one of the many talented friends/musicians that has moved out of Fresno and you should really check his stuff out. We were all very sad when he left, but we are all so very happy for him and we will miss him dearly.

"It's just crew shit"

So yeah, this is totally happening tonight and I'm losing my mind with happiness. If you aren't familiar with 924 Gilman Street in Berkley, CA, it's basically the place where bands like Green Day, AFI, Operation Ivy and countless other rad bands have played. It's legendary! And we're gonna play there with our south valley soul mates Tyrannosaurus Zebra. It's insane and I just can't help but feel overwhelmed by the love we've received from our friends in the local music community. The fact that said friends are traveling to catch this is incredible. I'm not even really sure what else to type. Words escape me and all I can do is feel. I feel good, good about everything.

Meh.

Too depressed/lazy to update. Lot's of stupid stuff happening. Whatevs. February needs to stop acting like a dick and be over already. That is all. If March is just a pinch better than February, I will be pleased.

It's Monday.

And this is happening on Friday!

Yay! I'm really excited about this one. Actually, I'm excited about all of our shows. Even the ones that we don't belong on, and I by that I mean the ones that seem like really hardcore punk lineups and then us. They are interesting but fun in the end.

I'm also really excited about the new button designs by Missy Kulik! We finally ran out and I requested another batch. They are mega rad. I can't wait to show pictures of them. Ralee from Tyrannosaurus Zebra asked about a demo or something and we realized we had nothing to hand out. So, we decided to take the In The Garage tracks from our bandcamp and just put them on a cd already. It was fun making the covers with my handy dandy markers. I've already printed out about 20 more sleeves. They should be ready for this coming Fridays show. I found it shocking how fast they disappeared out of my hands. I didn't really think anyone would want them.

Also in the works: Possible pro recordings, a trip up north with Tyrannosaurus Zebra!, and new songs.

Personal life? Got demoted at my job and losing hours at my second job. I suppose it's been kind of depressing, but I can't seem to dwell on it. There is just too much to be worried about to be dwelling on that alone. Still have yet to find a new apartment. That's going to be fun... NOT! So I guess there is good stuff going on, but there is also bad stuff. Oh well. I suppose that's all for now. If I feel the need to update yet again, I suppose I will.