"I'm your density.... I mean destiny"

So this weekend I watched one of my favorite movies. "Back to the Future" I have now subsequently watched all three of the movies since Sunday. Or rather I put them in my DVD player and went to sleep.

Now my question to you-reader-is this. How do Marty (Michael J. Fox) and Doc (Christopher Lloyd) know each other?

The movie series never addresses this issue. How in the world do a crazy senior citizen scientist and a 17 year old rocker cross paths?

My only hypothesis is this, and I've thought for quite a while about this question.

At the beginning of the first movie, Marty goes over to Doc's lab and plugs into a huge amp. My thinking is that Doc met Marty through a want ad seeking guitarists for a science experiment or because Doc was hanging around a local guitar shop and approached Marty to help him with said experiment.

Now there is another theory I have where they met through a school project, but it seems less likely. Although we do know that Principle Strickland asks Marty if he is hanging out with that crazy Doc Brown.

Another scenario which coincides with the above guitar related scenario is that Marty approached Doc to build him an amp.

These are just some of my ideas, if anyone else has any I'd be excited to hear them.

Zac

Off the grid

So a friend of mine had an interesting observation, AIM has fallen to the wayside. Which got me to thinking.

To paraphrase Steven, in high school everyone used AOL/AIM, once everyone got high speed internet and started to stay connected all the time they started to use the away message. (Brooks 2008). Somewhere along the way Tom started Myspace, and some Harvard kids started Facebook, and then the battle began for obtaining online friends. At the same time cell phones were becoming common place and eventually texting became the primary form of communication for some people.

Now this all leads me to the point that we are forever and always connected to the world around us. In some cases this is a great thing, I'll even go so far as to say that this is generally-90% of the time a great thing. If I want to talk to a friend who lives in California, New York, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, or Sydney Australia I can do that almost instantly.

Being connected to the world around you is a great thing. What is not a great thing, is being so virtually connected through cellular conversations - both verbally and non-verbally (ie. texting) - that you neglect the people around you. I understand that it's necessary to make phone calls, and to take phone calls while in someone else's company. What I don't understand is when I'm hanging out with someone and they constantly go to the phone for a text message or to answer a call.

Now like I said, I've got nothing against people who take phone calls. I do it, we all probably do it. But if you'll notice, whenever I am hanging out with you and I get a phone call that I need to take, I will get up and answer it in the other room. I won't stand around in front of a bunch of people and chat on the phone, unless I absolutely have to.

Which leads me to my next point.... I think every now and then, it's good for the mind body and soul, to turn your cell phone off. Not if you're expecting a call or anything like that, but seriously try it sometime, don't tell anyone and just turn your phone off. I did it last night, of course I ended up thinking, "I wonder if anyone called?" And no one did but regardless it felt good.

Try it some time, go off the grid.

So Steven made the astute observation that I haven't posted in a while. Well I've been busy but it's time for another post.

Somewhere along the way I thought to myself..... "Self, going to graduate school would be a great time." This was mainly with encouragement from my parents, especially my dad. Also because I want an advance degree and because said degree will help me attain a job I truly want.

So again somewhere along the way, I thought to myself working at a college in student activities or student affairs would be great. I'd get to work with students and I'd get to be around college kids and hopefully retain some reflexive youth from them.

Then I decided that wasn't for me. Yadda yadda, communication, yadda yadda, I came back to wanting to work with students. Then I thought maybe graduate school for communication. And somewhere along the way, I had what I thought was a great oppurtunity present itself to me, so I applied to UT to pursue said oppurtunity. Well that oppurtunity passed by, and I still hadn't heard from school.

So last week I emailed the head of the department to which I applied and yesterday afternoon at 5:05pm I received an email, welcoming me to the fall class of UT's College Student Personnel program.

So in summation, you're boy is going to graduate school. I can't wait. The opportunity to further my education, and learn how to enrich student lives is what lays ahead and I'm beyond excited.

"So here's to you old Tennessee our Alma Mater true...."

A look at the best bands in the universe, Zac Johnson Edition.

So I just found out that one of my favorite bands (Over It) is apparently on hiatus, or something. Although no official statement has been released, it seems pretty clear, because half the band is in another new band. Now while I'm really bummed that Over It is apparently no more, and I'll probably spend the next month listening to their records on repeat, I must say this new project they have (Runner Runner) sounds like it will be awesome. I can't wait to get somewhere that I can listen to the songs (www.myspace.com/runnerrunnermusic).

First off, it's the singer/guitarist, guitarist, and drummer from Over It - the singer/guitarist from Don't Look Down, and the Singer/Guitar player from Rufio. I don't know who is doing what. But suffice it to say, I love all these bands so I'm really stoked to check out Runner Runner.

By the way if anyone was wondering I hate the favorite band question. I think it's trite, overused, and uninformative. I have favorite bands but to single one out, I feel would be almost impossible. So after years of thinking, I have an answer to the question, "Who is your favorite band?" And my answer is without a doubt - Less Than Jake.

I could listen to anything they put out at any time and seriously be in another world instantly. I could gush for pages and hours and days even, about how much I love this band, but let's suffice it to say, when I listen to Less Than Jake I want to drive as fast as I can, as slow as I can, scream, laugh, cry, make new friends, call old friends, forgive forget remember, sing at the top of my lungs until my voice gives out, just let the music wash over me, and most importantly live. That's what LTJ means to me. Cheesy? Yes, incredibly. True? Every word of it.

Also on the favorite band list would be (insert drumroll here)

(wait pause drumroll)
And before I get to the list, let's define favorite band real quick. A favorite band is a band that you love no matter what, they can't release anything bad in your opinion can do almost no wrong. That's not to say that you can't think they released a bad album (but a bad album from your favorite band is still better than most albums on their best day.... make sense?), but it does mean you'll be there first thing Tuesday morning when they release the next one. And you always defend your favorite band, you most likely judge people if they don't like your favorite band (although you can admit that said favorite band might not be for everyone). Also you won't stand for trash talk of said band, even if you thought the last album was rubbish you still enjoy it on some level and you won't stand for people dismissing it or the band. You'll respond to any such talk with statements like, "They were a little of their game, but it's still a solid record," or "Yeah it's not as good as their old stuff, but I bet the next one kills." (note if you vehemently deny the lackluster-ness of a crappy album, then you're opinion is written off). I also think it's impossible to say a band is truly one of your favorite until they've released at least, and we're talking a minimum here people, of 2 full length albums.

(ok, so where's that drumroll again?)

Top 8 List (no particular order)(Top 8 because I ran out of steam, and because I figure if they don't come to mind immediately they aren't a favorite band)

1. Less Than Jake
2. Over It
3. Huey Lewis and the News
4. Punchline
5. Cartel
6. RX Bandits
7. Anberlin
8. Tokyo Rose

You'll also notice that only one band on said list is a band no longer making new music (Mr. Lewis and his News), with the exception of Over It, who just actually released a B-Sides album and whose current status is unclear. Also Cartel is an excellent example of a favorite band who let me down on their last album, but when the next one comes around I'll be there Tuesday morning to pick up the new album because I don't think they can let me down twice.

Also just for grins and craps, let's do a top 4 bands to watch and if they had more albums out then they might be on the list, but due to my own criteria I can't put them on the list yet as they only have one release, or rather one official release.

1. Four Year Strong (technically they have two full lengths or maybe it's a full length and an EP, but only one was released nationally)
2. Valencia (one full length and a full length from the singer that is acoustic says when they release the new album this summer they will be a band I tell everyone about)
3. All Time Low (1 EP and 2 full lengths, but again only one of the full lengths was released nationally, so they're still on the watch list, but the singer kid Alex, he's got pipes, and he does guest vocals for everyone)
4. Forever the Sickest Kids (just the one EP, but they've got a full length coming out April 29, which should be great, but time will tell)

Expect an extrapolated look at all these bands in the near future, and also a list of top 10 defunct favorite bands.

Rock, check out one of the bands listed, you might find something you like.

"Excuse me, this is my town, get the hell out of it"

Almost ran into my ex-girlfriend last night at a bar. First off that's never happened before, I've seen girls I've dated randomly but never have I just ran into an ex-girlfriend. My buddy Dave alerted me to the fact that she was there, and I watched the first half of the game, then ducked out on the quick.

It was unnerving. I'm over her, but at the same time I'm just not all that keen to see her. I have seen her since and even talked with her at length about various different things, we have a civil relationship and there aren't any truly hard feelings just the sting of a first love. And maybe if I had been prepared to the fact that I might see her I'd have been ok with seeing her. But out of nowhere, it just wasn't cool. Note: She doesn't live in Knoxville anymore, and so I never have to worry about her being anywhere I might go, I guess she was in for Spring Break. Anyway I guess there will probably always be that little bit of sting.

Anyway, emo for the decade, prepare, for immediately after I publish this I'll begin work on a my next post, which should prove entertaining for all.

The Expedition to Cumberland Ave: A Search for the Soul of a Dying Culture

Last night..scratch that a few weeks ago... after my post work nap, I traveled down to campus (specifically The Strip) in order to grab some food, and listen to some music. As I was searching for a parking spot, I realized that I didn't really need to search all that hard; and as I was walking to BW3's I realized it didn't seem as busy I as I remembered it being back when I was a frequent visitor of the Strip on Monday Nights after band practice.

It seems weird for me to start anything with the following phrase "Years ago" but I'm going to do it anyway.

Years ago, when I was playing in a ska band and living the posh lifestyle of a student lifeguard, I used to frequent a little slice of heaven known as "the strip." Now it's never been a secret that I don't drink, but that has never kept me from heading out to have a good time with my friends. Anyway, as time passed my ska band broke up, I received my Bachelor's degree, and hung up my whistle, and my friends who used to drag me to the strip moved away, and now instead, I get dragged to the Old City or to various other establishments throughout West Knoxville, with a whole different set of people.

Well last night (or whenever I started writing this) I decided that I wanted listen to some live music, and it being Monday night I did what anyone would do, and made my way down to BW3's to listen to the soothing sounds of Tall Paul. I arrived at 9:30 pm, a time when I thought Paul would be well into his first set and I could sit with some friends eat some chicken and relax.

On my way to the strip, I was mentally preparing for bedlam, not just at Wild Wings, but everywhere on the strip. To say the previous night - at Tall Paul's Quaker Steak Set - had been rawkous would be a gross understatement. When I arrived I found a much different scene than the one I had in my head. A desolate ghost town, a skeleton, a shell - of the raucous and rambunctious "side of town" that I had once frequented.

As I entered Wild Wings I sat down with Joe and Paul, two veterans of the music scene and Knoxville in general, and we began talking, which got my mind going and before I knew it I was thinking (as I sometimes have a tendency to do) about the Strip and how it was in a downturn, a spiral if you will. And I began to think why? It took me all of, 1.2 seconds to realize why. The strip has no soul. Plain and simple, there are only a handful of establishments on the strip with soul and those are slowly dying, those with the most soul are already dead.

The few places on the strip that are unique only to the strip, (e.g. Old College Inn, Tap Room, Longbranch, Sunspot) are truly great places. These places are cool, genuinely cool, like James Dean or Elvis in his prime, just plain cool, because they are unique. With very few exceptions these places are the same they've been for years. You cannot go anywhere else in the world and have the same experience. And sadly these original establishments that reside on the strip are fading fast. These places are disappearing like the sunlight when all you want is one more at bat before you have to go inside.

They are being replaced with chains; available in every suburban shopping mall, airport, interstate exit, and turnpike. Why are there 5 chicken joints (let it be known I never say joint, especially when referring to an eatery, but the connotation that comes along with referring to a restaurant as a joint is really impeccable in this context) within a 1 mile radius of one another? Why is there not one really great place to see a rock band any night of the week? Answer: Because America loves cash money and cash money is way easier to obtain through franchised restaurants and terrible terrible jukeboxes than it is through original establishments.

Sad but true. And I can't say I'm any better, every time I pass by the old O'Charley's I contemplate the start up capital and small business loan I would need to get that place off the ground with music, food, and drinks - but for me personally the risks outweigh the possible gain, at least for the moment. And at the moment, I'm not in the place to take those risks.

What I'm trying to say is that "the strip" was a genuinely cool place once upon a time, and has the potential to be that again. It's just that there's to much neon and drive through and not enough soul.

For now I guess will watch and wait as the Strip ebbs and flows again and hope that before long it will start to breathe again as only we - the old, the weathered, the long forgotten Alumni of UT and former/current residents of Knoxville - know that it can. Because it's clear that the strip will never entirely die, as sure as the sun sets the strip will be a place for people to be, even if it is with their head down in their fast food or double triple mocha lattes.

Lets all hope that a little more soul will take up resident on a stretch of Cumberland Ave. called "the strip." Because even though it's easier to die or get hurt when you have a soul, it's worth it. But that's another blog for another day.

So working a desk job has it's pros and cons. 1.a I know what I'm in for everyday, which is sometimes a pro, but more often a con. 1.b As a result of knowing what I'm in for, I can get my stuff done on the quick like. I could continue on and construct a list of the pros and cons of my work, but I'll save it for another day and another time. So like I said, "As a result..." I can get my stuff done and move on to important stuff, like cruising the interwebs.

What follows here is a list of the websites I use to help pass the time at work. Feel free to cruise them at your leisure. I don't check all of them everyday, but most of them do get at least a cursory glance at some point, during my average day.

Please note I left out the checking of my email and various social networking sites as I find those sites to be understood in the cruising of the interweb.

1. ESPN - Worldwide leader in sports, worldwide leader in awesome website. I use ESPN.com, to see what the "analysts" are saying about the Vols and Cardinals.
2. AbsolutePunk.net - All things punk rock and then some extra stuff. I've been checking this website, just about daily since I was a Freshman in college. So why should I stop know? By the way, this is where I discover tons of the bands I listen to.
3. The Daily Chorus - TDC is a new edition to my daily surfing, but it's great. Music an alternative viewpoint to the sometimes incredible bias that is AP.net. Another great way to find out about new music.
4. UniWatchBlog - "An obsessive study of sports aesthetics." These guys know everything you could possibly want to know about sport uniforms and even more. It sounds lame, but it's really interesting, even if you think you won't like it check it out.
5. Web Urbanist - Such a cool website. They do lists a lot, which I'm a big fan of. It's just really cool. Can't really explain it. Dig through the archives on the site and enjoy yourself. It's like the Discover Channel, only a website, cooler, and less popular, which therefore according to my scene point handbook makes it cooler.
6. Deputy Dog - Taken right from their website, "a frequently updated website dedicated to showcasing incredible examples of the world’s most fascinating architecture, inspirational design, phenomenal natural oddities….the list goes on...". I found this website via Web Urbanist. This site is like the Discovery Channel, that you only get on demand...or something like that.
6. Top Left Pixel - Incredible daily photoblog. If you've ever touched a camera, or taken a picture and thought "Wow that was a nice picture I just took." Go look at Sam's pictures and realize why we're not professional photographers.
7. Knowledge for Thirst - Cool website where these dudes review beverages, they haven't updated in a while, but there are tons of archives and it's interesting.
8. Coming Soon - News on upcoming movies. This website isn't an everyday visit, but it's def. cool.
9. Neat-O-Rama - Random stuff, and it's just that stuff. I just found this website, but it looks like it might quick become one of my favorites, despite it's name.
10. Wikipedia - When you just need to know stuff about stuff.
11. Internet Movie DataBase - Go read the trivia on your favorite movies, but if you want to be at all productive, maybe you shouldn't.
12. A Walk Through Durham Township - More photography, and even more examples of why I'm not a pro.
13. Magic Websites that I'm not going to tell you about, but are worth mentioning that I frequent them.
14. Pick Your Poisons - It's Vinnie from Less Than Jake's blog. I read it, not every day, but I check it regularly.
15. Steven - One of my oldest friends, Mr. Brooks has encouraged me to begin keeping up with the blogging and by checking his blog, I feel that I have to keep this one up.

So those are the sites I visit daily. Check em out. More posted as I find them.

A toast "To Hope"

{Setting: English pub early 1800's}

Friends let us raise our glasses and toast:

"TO HOPE"

Hope: An absurd disposition that our lives can be exactly what we want them to be. And as preposterous as hope is, it keeps us moving, living, loving, laughing, caring, crying, and breathing. It is what keeps our hearts beating. Hope is a fire that burns inside of us and may that fire always burn bright and hot like the sun; never to be extinguished, never to fade. So let us sing together a song of hope, with glasses raised, and hearts ablaze, we sing for hope.

I'll keep it inside I'll keep it alive As long as it doesn't fade

Here's to hope.

This is something I found on my computer that I wrote a while back. One of my few attempts at prose, which will probably wind up a song at some point. I find it poignant right now. As quite a few politicians are throwing around the term "hope" as often as "taxes" and "health care." Sit and ponder hope for a while. It's a fascinating word and as long as you have hope inside you, nothing can defeat you. Where that hope stems from is up to you, and can only be decided by you. Sometimes it's from spirituality, other times, it's simply from the love of those around you. So don't ever lose hope.

Much Love.

Lists bring order to this world we live in, but I rarely follow them

Things I'm stoked about in no particular order at all:

1. Summer and all that comes with it, even if I am working a 9-5.
2. Punchline's new record, seriously when did Punchline let you down? Answer: Never.
3. Forever The Sickest Kids new record
4. Growing my beard back
5. Being a surrogate uncle, it's kind of a wild feeling
6. Less Than Jake's new record
7. The movie "21"

8. The movie "The Bank Job"
9. Possibly getting the chance to drive across the country with one of my brothers

10. Opportunities

11. The movie The Counterfeiters Seriously going to rule, it's even foreign which gives me street cred both for knowing about it and thinking it's going to be cool
12. The New Jams (Kiss Your Ghost)

Edit: I had some pictures on here on, but I can't get them sized right and I've been messing with it for to long.

"It's been a while"

Well, I haven't posted in this in what appears to be two and a half years (and after this post it will probably be another two and a half years - I only searched it out so I could comment on Steven's blog, which I find highly entertaining by the way).

Apparently the last time I posted in it, I was falling in and out of love, in a way. My band which had helped me define myself so easily was breaking up and I had met a girl who made my heart beat a little faster.

Fast-forward. I play in a new band, which isn't defining me, but is just as important to me. That girl I mentioned, she broke my heart, and then I somehow managed to piece it back together. Since then I've met a lot of girls, some worth talking to, others not so much.

And much to my chagrin I somehow wound up in the "real world." Currently trying to fix that.

Since Steven's the only one who will read this, and that's a long shot, I'll say "What's up man? Hope all is well Alabama. Sorry I haven't responded to your email about Disney. I'll get on that."

Breaking up is hard to do

So the band is breaking up. Ben decided he wants to go to graduate school at Florida State and he needs to focus on school and his "real" trumpet playing to do that. He also feels like he has done all he could do with PO. And that's fine more power to you for grad school but apparently "real" trumpet playing translates to...."I've decided to give up playing my own music because I don't want to anymore. I'd rather play in a cover band and make money capitolizing off of other peoples music, art, and expression, than play in a band that my friends and I pour ourselves into."

I'm pretty angry about the situation. Yeah, it's time to move on, everyone's kinda working on something else now and thats great. Really just Doug Griffey who is playing with some good friends and then the douche bag cover band. Gordo is playing in his church's praise band so that counts, I guess. As for me I'm not doing anything right now and it sucks a lot.

I think the reason that I'm pissed off is because I've watched certain people throw old ideas out the window in order to make money. Fuck it, I'm not going to sugar coat it, BEN. Yeah I said it, yeah you might at some point read this and if you do, I'm not sorry. Bro, you're one of my best friends in the universe and I'd give you a kidney if you asked, we've been through a lot together but this is one thing I can't back you up on at all, I understand you need money and shit like that, but we used to hate cover bands together, you hated them more than I did, but now that's all changed I suppose. Whatever, it's your call and I shouldn't judge so I'll stop that now.

I'm ready to start something or join up with some people but I don't want to play with idiots. I want to play with people I'm friends with and I want to play some really fun stuff. I'd liken the stuff I want to play to The Movielife, Cartel, Latterman, Jimmy Eat World, Spitalfield, and The Stryder, stuff that just makes you go damn that's fun. I want it to mean something. I want it to come from inside all of us. I want it to be Agressive and Fun, Poppy yet Punishing. Aggresive Pop? Something like that I guess. I don't know.

But lately I've been focusing on school, which is working out well I got an A on my paper in History. I've been slacking a little in my 201 class cause I've yet to buy the book, need to get on that. 250 is going well I beefed a few questions on our first test but I think I pulled a C, at least I hope and it only counts 10 percent the speeches and symopsium groups are huge. Photojournalism is going well we have our first major assignment due monday I need to get on that this weekend.

Anyway to recap the band's breaking up, I really don't like cover bands (sorry to all of you if any of you read this), and I'm ready to do something new, fun, and aggressive.

Much Love,
Zac

This post brought to you by the letter Z

So those of you who know me are well aware that I do quite a few different activities on Campus (at the University of Tennessee Knoxville). Some of these activites include but are not limited to working at the Student Aquatic Center (I'm a lifeguard), Student Government Association, Dance Marathon, I also work at the campus radio station as a DJ, and I've done a few other things here and there in my tenure here at the university.

So can anyone guess what comes along with all such activites? Anyone? Bueller? No? Ah, well of course with all activies and such comes everyone's favorite activity.....ICEBREAKERS. Now I've been playing icebreakers for 10 years literally. I'm well versed in them and generally don't mind them at all; in fact I'm probably one of the few people in exsistance who enjoys them. EXCEPT for one icebreaks/name bame in particular.

This Icebreaker would be the "Animal Name Game", yes I know its a crowd favorite, but for me its just a cruel game and has been for quite awhile. My name being Zac my options are quiet limited when playing this game. I mean I could obviously go with "Zac the Zebu" or "Zac the Zebra-Fish" but its all just going to come back to "Zac the Zebra". Same goes for when, if ever the game is played with food. "Zac the Zucchini" is again my one and only option that comes to mind.

Often regarded as just "that letter at the end of the ABCs," the Z is often shunned and pushed aside for cooler letters like R, E, and C (who by the way is an arrogant prick not like R and E who are real class acts). The Z is a proud letter being home to some real bad ass words which just wouldn't be the same without the leading letter of Z. Zone what would zone be without the z? How much would it suck to not have the phrase "I'm in the zone"? And what about Zues, the mythological God of Gods also shares the Z as the leading letter in his name. And of course the Zebra and Zucchini while my only options for name games concerning animals and food are both equally hardass. And there's also the Zepplin ever heard of Led Epplin? Hell Nah, the Z made that band (not really it just fits with the rant I don't want any Led Zepplin are the gods of rock replys). And how could anyone forget Zigs and Zags and Zeniths and Zacchius the wee little man Zippers and Zoos? Who doesn't like the Zoo? And who would want to deal with Button Fly's ALL the time? Answer: not me. And what if you wanted to say you were going to have a quick nap or go to bed, but you wanted to do it with style, well my friends your options would be quite limited without the Z and the phrase "I'm going to catch some Z's" And seriously lets get down to it it takes some balls to be the last letter in the alphabet, anyone can lead it off (although our brother the A does a great job) and (anyone can be in the middle much love b-y) but it takes a special character, namely the Z to be able to hold down the end so well and with such grace and dignity.

So I guess the whole point of this was to show you how important the Z is and ask that you show it some love and respect and say "Hey Z just because you got the short end of the stick with animal and food names, doesn't mean we don't love you just the same. Thanks for all you do Z, we love and appreciate you." I'm thinking about lobbying for a holiday to specifically show appreciation for the letter Z. Anyway I just wanted to bring some light to a very seroius topic that needs some attention the appreciate and respect of the letter Z.
And with that I will leave you as I have successfully wasted enough time to now go shower and eat.
Zac

Work Work Work, New Van, Practice, Pack, Pray

That's pretty much my to do list. I haven't written in this in a while cause I've been sick busy with work. Granted for me work consists of sitting by the pool doing stupid shit and playing "high fidelity" (which is the name for the game where you make Top 5 lists of anything). Also let this be known while lifeguarding is not a strenuous job (unless your secondary duties require you to move shit which happens often) it is a draining job, seriously try sitting up right in the sun for hours at a time and not fall asleep. But really work is good I like the pool. So I hung out with my friend the other day we went to Wal-Mart and then we watched Anchorman, it was a good time. It could have been better, but whatever. I don't think she wants to be anymore than friends at the time but that's ok with me cause she's cool. Anyway tour starts on monday. I've got to get all my shit together post haste. By that I mean pack, pack, clean the new as yet to be named van, and then buy some shit. Ok that's enough, I'm going to go watch TV.

Zac

Well, just got home from a show, it was good. It was the best crappy set we've played in a while. By that I mean we didn't play terribly, we didn't play amazingly, we entertained the crowd and all is well. I have to work at 8:30 tommorrow until 6, so that sucks. We hopefully leave for tour a week from this monday. I'm excited. I hope I have someone to call back home that's not mom and dad, well I know I could call any number of people but I'd like for someone to miss me. I know it sounds really emo, but when you're gone from home and with different people everyday, the road can get lonely. I got real lonely in Jersey last summer, I think the fact that my conversations with mom and dad consisted of "yeah tour is great ok yeah I've still got money, yeah I'm eating and showering, yeah its amazing I'm having a blast, tell Josh I said hey, love you bye" It kinda started to get to me. But I wouldn't trade tour for anything, except maybe the ability to fly. But even then it would be a toss up. So that's tour, I'm going to write letters and postcards and emails as much as possible. So no new developments on the forefront that I spoke of last time. AND that's all I'm going to say about that, I don't want to talk about it to much. Anyway I'm going to go to bed.
Zac

Warning EMO post ahead

I went to Roane County today....don't ask why. Don't ask why I had a good time either. I want finals to be over. The new Fall Out Boy album is really good, I don't know if I like it as much as the first one. I think it could have been over hyped, I need to not listen to it for a few days then come back to it, like I did brand new's "Deja Entendu". Did I mention I had a good time today, even though I got absolutely nothing accomplished? Cause I did.

Shit is WEUHD!

Man, shit is weird. Plain and simple we played an unusual set tonight. Well not really, I just hate playing for an audience that is literally almost mocking us. Namely sorority girls on their senior pub crawl. It was dumb, I had a great time playing other wise. Espo you get double bonus cool points for skanking next to the dumb whores. So the other night I stayed up til 7 in the morning writing a paper for Freedom of Speech, I've actually learned a lot in that class, which is always a great thing. So technically I should be graduating college right now. I'm in my fourth year and that's what normally goes down, but I never planned on graduating in 4 years. What's after college, for most people its the real world and the real world doesn't suit me just yet. Hopefully even after I graduate I'll get into grad school and delay that crap a little longer. So on that subject I've been seeing people that I knew my freshman year like crazy the past couple of days, tonight alone I saw this girl named Katie, arguably one of the first people I ever met at UT. She is also arguably one of the coolest even though I don't really know her. I wish I would have gotten to, she was always super cool. I saw her tonight and we had that akward eye contact like I know you do you know me and then she finally said "do you remember me?" and then I said, "hell yeah I remember Katie from NC." She was floored, it was cool. I like moments like that. She's a genuine person, from what I can tell. I wish more people were like that. It's a shame I didn't get to know her better while she was in school. Well maybe somehow we'll keep in touch. Oh well, next story, Went to OCI after our show tonight to hang out with Doug, Ben, and some other people. When I walked in I was standing at the front looking for them and this douche bag frat-tastic mother fucker goes "This aint you're type of place." Now part of me wanted to go "you're right I don't pay for my friends, or use alcohol to get women to talk to me" but I didn't I simple said "yeah you're probably right and kept on walking." The more I think about that statement the more I wish I would have said something to provoke him and get into a fight. Oh well. In roughly 48 hours or so, ska weekend will be under way. I can't wait to see all my friends in bands this weekend, I Voted For Kodos, Suburban Legends, High School Football Heroes, Too Short Notice, the list goes on. I'm wicked stoked. In roughly a week, I'll be done with class for another semester. In roughly two weeks, I'll be on tour, broke as a joke, playing the music I love to genuine people who will hopefully give a damn. And that brings us full circle in the post and thus sends me to bed feeling satisfied.

This is the final countdown

I still don't understand this thing. But I keep posting in it anyway. Right so improtant information. I'm watching the patriot, Mel Gibson is about to destroy some redcoats. This movie is amazing. Anyway more information and thoughts that aren't stupid. I've only got one more paper to write for the rest of the year. I'm excited about that. It's going to be a tough paper cause its for Freedom of Speech 469 and ol' Norma Cook doesn't fuck around. By the way I need someone to educate me on the finer points of using a semicolon, because I've never understood when to use it. So the title of this post was the final countdown, countdown to what? Ska weekend, its this saturday, Ben's nervous and that makes me nervous. I just hope 2000 people come out so we can buy a van. I can't wait to finish that paper tommorrow and then destroy my three take home tests and then put the hammer down on the two finals I have. And be done with school. Although I really do like school because it gives me something other than work to do everyday. So I've been working on some new songs, they are shaping up nicely, the guys seem to like them. And that's what its all about making music that makes us happy. So a lot of people I know are graduating, I'll probably never see them again. It's weird to think that. I'll see the ones who matter. Ok so good post. That's all.

how it goes

So I've kinda gotten in the habit of posting on this thing. I don't know if thats good or bad, well anyway, the only person to ever read this is Espo, but I dont really care its a good way for me to get my thoughts out there and out of my head so thats good, so I guess I'll keep doing it.

I went to the mall today with this girl, who seems really cool. We are currently just friends seeing as how she's kinda seeing this other guy, with whom I am aquantices with...yeah weird, but I'm not doing anything other than just hanging out with her, we didnt even hug, I'm not about to step into that kind of drama. BUT She doesnt seem too optimistic about their future though and she asks me to do things with her occasionally which is fun. But I'm not going to press the issue, I'm going to just do what feels right and go with that, I'm done over analyzing things about relationships. It's to much damn trouble, (see: the commonwealth). PLUS I'm going on tour in may and I'll be gone for a month the last thing I need to do is to get into a relationship right now. As the wise philospher Rick B. from I Voted For Kodos once told me, "Yeah I've got a not girlfriend right now." When I inquired further on the matter Rick informed me that the not girlfriend is the ideal situation for a touring music. The not girlfriend can be likened to the friend with benefits. The NG is a girl you can hang out with, do things with, etc. but is NOT your GIRLFRIEND. You can call her and talk to her when you get lonely in podunk colorado but she is NOT your GIRLFRIEND. Rick went into further detail and since he is a wise man I've always taken his advice to heart.

So that's that, I'm just going to roll with it. I've got a group project tommorrow I def. have started doing much of my part. I'm supposed to talk about the Music Scene in Knoxville for no more than 5 min. Yeah so if I can't do that right now for at least 30 then something is wrong.

I'm currently listening to Aqualung, british piano rock stuff. I like it. It's chillax. I'm aslo listening to Huey Lewis and the News, Phil Collins, and Eddie Money. I like 80s pop-rock, not because its trendy to like 80spop-rock, but because 80s pop-rock albeit over the top at times is really catchy and relaxing. It's also carefree and a bit of a palet cleanser after listening to rock and roll so much.

Oh yeah, Ryan and Samantha got engaged. Crazy, I also saw this girl who I used to write songs about the other night. It was a little akward. Anyway I've written enough for now, I'm going to play my new sweet guitar.

Zac

Rock Fest

You know what I hate? Sloppy drunks, I just hate them. I can't stand it, and it's like they don't even care. It's low class. Just to clarify I'm talking about the people who get really loud and obnouxious when they are drunk. I won't name any of their names. On the other hand I have no problem at all with cool drunks, for instance my friends Jeff, Cameron, and Brad. All cool drunks, when they get drunk all they do is talk your ear off and laugh a lot. They don't scream or act like fucking idiots because they've got some alcohol in them.
I also hate pseudo-todds with acoustic guitars who think that they are cool. Along with that I hate stacys who worship said pseudo todds.
We played a show the other night at Java with My Lost Cause. I straight up fell down, like had a total wipe out. It was terrible, but I recovered well, my amp is permanatly scarred though. MLC rocked it and we played well minus a bunch of little crap that kept making me mad, like getting shocked from the mic, not being able to hear anything, my guitar feeding back, the fall etc.
I'm def. listening to Huey Lewis and the News. It's bed time I've got to bull shit some crap for a group project in the morning.

Money, Money, RAIN

So I bought a guitar yesterday, which translates to I spent to much damn money. Oh well, I'm to young and life's to short to worry about that crap. It's raining like crazy, CRAZY.