Penguin http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:43:03 -0700 Fuzz.com en http://www.fuzz.com/ http://www.fuzz.com/_/images/logo/blimp.png http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Toronto-to-Montreal http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Toronto-to-Montreal#comments
grabbed the bus to Toronto with a friend Tuesday after work & got to the city around midnight.
met up with Em around 1am or so & crashed for a bit.
the next day, we all wandered around the city for awhile, met up with even more friends, & then had our faces smashed in my awesome performers at GIGANTOUR.

unfortunately, mostly due to an error on my part, we missed High on Fire. we were hugely disappointed, but Megadeth definitely made up for everything by rocking harder than ever.

Notable moments of the concert:

- getting sucked into the mosh pit & being dragged to the front of the crowd.
- losing everyone, but finding one of my oldest friends just as Megadeth started playing A Tout Le Monde
- Em finding us as they started playing Trust

after GIGANTOUR, I bussed to Montreal to party with friends there & see my friend Vero off before she left to Japan.
it was a phenomenal weekend, but I barely slept.
which is why I passed out on the train. my friend seized the opportunity & she managed to snap off a couple of amusing photos of a sleeping me.

All in all, the best five days ever.]]> Sun, 04 May 2008 17:09:00 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Toronto-to-Montreal http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/rain-sunshine-longing http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/rain-sunshine-longing#comments Right when I finished work, too ... good thing I had my umbrella

But, the one thing I was missing was someone with whom I could share said umbrella ... but ... the sun shined today.

& it's days like these when the only thing I long for are more days with sunshine. (:]]> Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:28:13 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/rain-sunshine-longing http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/sleeping-on-the-floor http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/sleeping-on-the-floor#comments it's a kind of fancy one, too. from Ikea. (:

it still has to be assembled, but pretty soon, I won't be sleeping on the floor anymore.

Even though it's going to be nice, i might miss my old spot down there ... or not ... time will tell.

in other news, I got a raise last week ... other than the obligatory raise of minimum wage going up.
I'm now making a little more than $9/hour. (:]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:26:26 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/sleeping-on-the-floor http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/early-mornings http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/early-mornings#comments I like the early mornings.
There's a quiet that hangs about & it reminds me of everything good in life.

And for some reason, coffee just tastes better early in the morning ...]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:33:39 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/early-mornings http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Some-times-I-wonder http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Some-times-I-wonder#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:40:34 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Some-times-I-wonder http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/The-Legendary http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/The-Legendary#comments I was immediately excited, but my hopes were quickly dashed when I found out that it was only for students & guests.

However, I managed to convince a co-worker (she is also a student) to pick up tickets for me.

So, last night, after years of missing their shows due to foreseen events, I finally got to witness The Roots.

It was phenomenal.
I've heard that their performances are legendary, but one does not know until one sees. I was blown away.
I was also pleased that they played a lot of their older material, like Proceed, Mellow My Man, You Got Me, The Next Movement, & more.

For a little intermission, ?uestlove, Cap'n Kirk, & Damon did an amazing cover of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War."

The encore consisted of The Seed (2.0) & some free styling from Black Thought.

I've seen a lot of really awesome shows, but this was something else.
If you ever have the chance to see The Roots perform live, take it.]]> Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:28:31 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/The-Legendary http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/That-town-you-were-born-in http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/That-town-you-were-born-in#comments
This plan was orchestrated because my brother & other members of the band I used to belong to were also going to be in town, so we decided to get together & record a few of our songs. Just for fun.

I've gotta say, though, that as much as I missed some of my old friends, I really don't miss that town. It's always the same people at the same places doing the same things. There is a certain comfort in that, but it's not for me.

Monday night (St. Patrick's day), we went downtown & caught a couple of bands playing at one of the bars, & I wasn't very impressed.
The guys were all very talented musicians, & their sound was tights, no doubt, but there wasn't anything remarkable about them.
They looked & sounded just like every other indie rock band I've come across. But, most importantly, there was no feeling in their performance.
If the artist isn't feeling the music, then the crowd certainly isn't feeling it.

It depressed me, so I left.

The next day, I stopped by the hospital & got to see my sister who had just given birth to her second child. Talk about good timing. (:
She gave birth to a 9 pound baby girl & they are both doing well.

Oh, also, I finished reading Nick Hornby's "A Long Way Down" a couple of weeks ago. It's pretty good.]]> Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:24:35 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/That-town-you-were-born-in http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/High-Spirits http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/High-Spirits#comments While not 100% physically, I definitely feel better emotionally.

It's funny how talking to one person about nothing in particular can affect your outlook entirely. In my case, it was a co-worker who really brightened my day yesterday. So, thanks to her. (:

Thanks to those who have been wishing me well. I'm feeling better, but, more than that, I'm feeling happier.

Also, last night, I listened to some Matt Good albums I hadn't listened to for awhile, and it's always nice when something that was so familiar sounds so new again.]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:26:24 -0700 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/High-Spirits http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Sickness-has-few-benefits http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Sickness-has-few-benefits#comments Friends from Toronto paid me a visit last weekend, and after partying for a couple of days, I got hit pretty hard by some kind of cold ...

Of course, I dragged myself into work, which only made things worse. I did end up taking two days off this week, which I really can't afford, but was necessary.
I'm just starting to get better ...

Two of my closest friends were planning on visiting me this weekend, but the promise of bad weather has delayed their plans.
A real shame, too. We used to play in a band, and were planning roughing in a couple of tracks just for the sake of it.

Perhaps another time ...

On a happier note, staying home for a couple of days allowed me to get started on reading "A Long Way Down" by Nick Hornby.
Quite an enjoyable read so far.]]> Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:52:59 -0800 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Sickness-has-few-benefits http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Taken-for-granted http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Taken-for-granted#comments When I start to really think about it, it makes my head reel ... I start to feel dizzy and sick.
I am, however, getting better at appreciating everything life has to give.

But, I find it difficult to show my parents the appreciation they deserve.
I moved out several months ago, and since then, my parents have been far more generous than ever.

Last night, my father had one of his friends drop off a vintage Technics stereo receiver and speakers for me ...
I'm extremely grateful, but I don't know how to show them how much I appreciate all they've ever done for me ... I'd like to send them on vacation, or allow them to retire ...
But, what can I do?
I work at a record store making minimum wage, barely getting by ...

They've given me everything, but what have I given them in return?

I guess I've given them many important memories ... happy, sad, frustrating, & comical memories.

So ... thanks mom & dad.
I love you both.
It's something I don't say every day, and I know it probably goes without saying, but I just thought I'd remind you.]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:45:33 -0800 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Taken-for-granted http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Be-Kind-Rewind http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Be-Kind-Rewind#comments Michel Gondry's latest film does not disappoint.

Admittedly, I was expecting something with far more goofy comedy, but I was very impressed by ... everything.
Gondry always seems to defy conventions ...

As my friend says, "... he's the perfect example of the modern surrealist."

Not my words, but I think I agree.

I definitely think that everyone should go see this movie. There's something for everyone.

I'm always impressed by Mos Def's acting & Danny Glover is just as awesome as always.
Jack Black never ceases to impress, either.]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:08:27 -0800 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Be-Kind-Rewind http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Music-Memory-Nostalgia http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Music-Memory-Nostalgia#comments It got me wondering if I continue listening to certain artists solely for the nostalgia their songs invoke ...

... but then I start losing myself in the music and creating new memories.

So, I guess the point is that good music continues to be good ... regardless of the tingly, nostalgic vibes.

It's sad, though, when certain songs bring back painful memories. Things you thought that you forgot, but then the song brings it all back ...

Maybe it's important to remember painful memories?

I don't know, really.

Maybe no one knows?]]> Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:22:21 -0800 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Music-Memory-Nostalgia http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Why-is-this-censored http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Why-is-this-censored#comments Having nothing better to do on a Thursday night, I ventured downtown to see what was going on. Unfortunately, my friend had finished up her set by the time I got there, but that was alright.

While we were in the club, the DJ started spinning Kanye's "Gold Digger" and I noticed it was censored.
Is it just me, or is that weird and abnormal? I've never heard any songs censored during club play.

I'm not really a fan of an obscene amount of foul language in songs, but you've gotta respect the artists' creative liberties. Honestly.
What is the world coming to?]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:49:20 -0800 http://www.fuzz.com/fan/Penguin/blog/entry/Why-is-this-censored