Mail to G-RockYou know, when I first started doing this journal, I sometimes went out and did things just so I could have something to write about. I thought my endless paragraphs of introspection were just so dumb. But now, I really hate writing about things that happen around me. I'm feeling much more pensive and I don't enjoy writing about me a lot more. Well, having said that, I suppose I'll run down the events that transpired once I left work yesterday.Well, first, before I left work, I talked to Nora. She's doing better. She was recently mugged in London, but seems to have recovered nicely. She's since moved out of her place into some new digs. I'm hoping she comes to New York when she's through there, especially if James decides he doesn't want to get a place in Brooklyn.
Anyway, about yesterday: First, it was at least 90 degress outside, so the inside of the Grey Ghost was about 120 degress at least. I drove over to Best Buy in Crystal City in hopes of finding the new Pavement CD, Terror Twilight. I wasn't sure if it'd be there, since Pavement's label, Matador Records, recently reverted to independant label status. Much to my surprise, there was a little card in the cd's that said "Pavement: Terror Twilight- $9.99" Unfortunately, there were no cd's there. That's a pretty tough price to beat. So I asked around but the people were extremely unhelpful. I don't know if they sold out of them or if they just didn't come in, but I was infuriated. I was on a tight schedule, since Matt gave me his key and I had to be back to let him in, and I was just sitting around wasting time. Defeated and despondent, I left. Accross in the Mall was Borders Books, so I ran into the music section, and there were about 7 copies of the cd, for $13.99. I know it's only 4 dollars, and I know I'd normally have no problem paying 14 bucks for a cd, but when I just saw a sign for it for 10 bucks, that pissed me off. And I know how much Borders overcharges for things like cd's. I bought it anyway, but it still stung that I payed 40% more at Borders.
The cd itseld isn't as dissappointing as I thought it might be. It's rather short, only eleven songs, and I think only one runs well over 4 minutes. Also, this is the first album where they got a real producer, and it shows. That's not necessarily a good thing, though. It's produced well, but it kinda took away some of the Pavement sound. There's not as much edge to the music as there used to be. The songs are still distinctly Pavement, but in a lot of places it sound a heckuva lot like Radiohead. That's not coincidence, since the producer also produced OK Computer. While I love Radiohead, it sounds weird on a Pavement album. I've only really listened to the album about twice, so I don't have much to say. The first song, "Spit on a Stranger," is probably the cleanest song they've ever made. I think it could been a lot better if they handed smoothed out the rough edges. "Carrot Rope" is a very catchy song. Lately when I listen to music, I try to imagine that whatever I'm listening to is by some no-name band, just to see if I like it because of the music or the band. With Pavement, it's definitely the music. But that fact that it's the band also legitmizes some of the cheesier moments. It's really a sound that can't be duplicated, largely due to the vocals I think. An interesting side note: The liner notes say "Rehearsed in Lexington, Virginia," my college town. No big deal, but the town is so small and it's nice to see it on something like a Pavement cd. I also just get kind of a kick knowing that I've been at the drummer's house, where the practiced, a few times. My little brush with the stars, if you will.
While I'm talking about recent cd buys, the new Luna cd, The Days of Our Nights, finally arrived over the week I was gone at my aunts house, from the UK. Luna was recently dropped from their US label, Elektra, so their album wasn't released here. I suppose it was worth the 20 or so bucks I paid for it.I haven't listened too it too much yet. In a lot of places it sounds like their first cd. Some place it's a little funky. But I really like their slow, spavy cover of Guns n' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine." They're playing here in DC at the end of July. Unfortunately, i won't be hear. ah well.
So anyway, I went out to dinner with Nicole last night. I constantly pointed out the various people who were staring at her breasts. And there were quite a few. Besides that, it was a pretty pleasant evening. It's so nice to be living in the city, where cool places are just a short walk away and I don't have to worry about driving anywhere. We chatted about the same old stuff, like her life, lots about my life, Rodzilla, more about me, more about Rodzilla, and some little bits about her. I like going out with Nicole cos we can talk about me about as much as I want.
When we got back to Matt's place, he was still on the phone with his girlfriend. When Nicole and I left about 3 hours before, he was on the phone already. They were in a heated argument over a matter of 15 minutes and a bowl of Ramen Noodles. Apparently, to Matt's girlfriend, these represented much bigger problems in their relationship. Matt had called earler in the day to see if she wanted to go to dinner, so he was waiting for her to call when he got back. since he hadn't eaten all day, he put a bowl of noodles on the stove, and called his girly while they cooked. He said he was just going to eat the noodles and he'd be over in 15 minutes. That's when all the shit started. she got really pissed off, saying she had to go to the store, and she didn't want to wait, etc. Matt said she could just go to the store, or he could meet her there and they'd go together. This too was unacceptable. Eventually, after about 15 minutes, they sorted things out. Then about 10 minutes later, she called back, and they resumed this silly argument for another, oh, 3 hours. She even admitted that if he had just said that he'd be over in 15 minutes and not mentioned the noodles that it woulda been ok. It was just those cursed noodles. The worst part was listening to two future lawyers argue. All sorts of heated debate, twists of logic, citing precendents set in previous conversations, listing preovious favors done... it was all very ugly. So long story short, they broke up. Around the time Nicole got back, I had a feeling they were gonna break up. Especially when I heard Matt say "I really try but you do these things and it make it quite difficult for me." That seemed a ver odd thing to say, particularly the word "quite." I was in the other room, and I actually just mouthed "quite" to myself. Who talks like that? I certainly couldn't imagine telling Rodzilla that she makes anything "quite difficult" for me. It's a common word, but it sound weird when spoken. I have no problem seeing it written, but it sounds so formal. It just seemed really weird. But the whole situation was bizarre too.
Anyway, after that, Matt and I walked Nicole to her car and then we went to get dinner, since Matt was clearly not going to eat at his girlfriend's house, and his Ramen was now stone cold and soggy. I actually wanted to take a picture of the bowl of noodles, but I discovered that my camera was somehow broken. That sucks. I know I lost at least one picture. Hope it wasn't anything important. Probably just pictures of some people at the bar in Lexington last week. I kinda wanted those though. Damn.
Anyway, Matt continued his tirade on how absurd the whole thing was, and I had to agree. In all fairness, his (ex)girlfriend is a really nice person, and I enjoy hanging out with her. But things like this just don't sit too well. And other things, like telling Matt he can't hang out with a female friend he's known longer than he's known her, and getting pissed off at Matt for going to Jed's graduation, are really just unreasonable.
So on our way back to Matt's building, there were two gay men making out. It's a very, very gay area, particularly matt's street and building. That doesn't bother me, but I'd never actually seen two men making out. Sure, I've seen little pecks here and there, but never an all out tongue-fest, with ass grabbing and back rubbing. But i just took it in stride. Of course, when we entered the building, we were walking behind a young blond girl who had also just passed the kissing couple. I took the opportunity to smack Matt in the ass. I thought that was pretty funny, but Matt responded with a shocked look and a "What the Hell are you doing!?" The three of us got into the same elevator, and I knew exactly what Matt was thinking. I'm sure that the default assumption in the building is that two men entering the building are getting ready for some hot gay action. That's what I would assume anyway. So when Matt asked me if I was going to call Rodzilla later, I knew exactly what he was trying to do. I normally don't like talking when there's a stranger in the elevator, and I don't think he does either. But he made sure to enunciate clearly and project so that the woman would here him. He kept saying things like," Are you going to call her tonight?" "When does she have to work." I just played along. But when the woman was on her way out of the elevator I said effiminately, " I'll call her later. I already told you that, you silly nilly!" I thought that was pretty funny. It's just so weird to be in a place where you're naturally assumed to be gay. It's kinda funny. I feel like I have to do things to let people know that I'm not. And walkind around in a tight white t-shirt like I was on monday doesn't help. I'm not saying I have a problem with gay people, it just's a matter of not wanting to be perceived as something I'm not. But at times I feel like I'm living some sort of weird "Bosom Buddies" experience. Although it'd be a lot funnier if Matt and I actually had to dress up as women to live in the building. YEAH!
uh....
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