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Max Weinberg

Max Weinberg
Originally uploaded by mantooth316.

Look what I found while cleaning my room...

Hutch News 2006-08-08

Hutch News 2006-08-08
Originally uploaded by mantooth316.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Things have been incredibly busy, if not a bit distressing. My head is spinning. Trying to salvage my visa application, as well as work on an essay. Not to mention move back to Europe in about twelve days.

Anyway, here is an article by Kathy Hanks that was in today's Hutch News. Thanks to Kathy for a nice story. And thanks to my Mom for everything she's done. I couldn't have done it without you.

After Harvest Festival 2006

Yes, that's Twister
Originally uploaded by mcyounker.

The three posts below contain songs that have helped me get by recently. Anyone who knows me well knows that music is a big part of my life. Even though I am not a musician, it helps me express myself in ways that I may not normally be able to.

Yes, music can be sad, but I tend not to think of certain songs as depressing. It's all very cathartic. I mope along with Morrissey or I raise hell with Hank Williams III. I don't actually do these things, yet emotionally, I feel something.

The three songs below are similar. For weeks I've felt upset and worried that I was being irrational about things. These songs helped me. Not to forget, but to understand that I was not the only one who ever felt the same way.

So join me in drinking with George, venting with Ben or looking forward with Mr. Isaak.

This round is on me.

I Believe
by Chris Isaak

Download

I believe the stars keep shining all throught the night.
I believe if we just keep trying it will be alright.
I believe that someday we're gonna find our way.
And I believe in a beautiful day.

I believe in lovers walking side by side.
I believe that someday we'll be satisfied.
I believe the angels listen, god hears us pray.
And I believe in a beautiful day.
Yeah, I believe it's gonna work out OK.

But not for me, and not for you.

I believe, I believe, I believe.
I believe, I believe, I believe.

I believe there's an answer waiting when the day is done.
I believe if you just keep searching you'll find someone.
I believe that you and I just lost our way.
And I believe in a beautiful day.
I still believe in a beautiful day.

But not for me, and not for you.
I know you tried. I tried, too.
Sometimes all our dreams just don't come true.

I believe, I believe, I believe.
I believe, I believe, I believe.
Oh... Oh... Beautiful day.

Gone
by Ben Folds

Download

I thought I'd write, I thought I'd let you know
In the year since you've been gone I've finally let you go
And I hope you find some time to drop a note
But if you won't
Then you won't
And I will consider you gone

I know that you went straight to someone else
While I worked through all this shit here by myself
And I think that you should spend some time alone
But if you won't
Then you won't
And I will consider you gone

I wake up in the night
All alone and it's alright
The chemicals are wearing off
Since you've gone

The days go on, the lights go off and on
And nothing really matters when you're gone
If you think that you feel nothing at all
If you don't (If you don't)
Then you don't (No, you won't)
If you won't
Then you won't
And I will
Then I will
Yeah, and I will consider you gone

80 Proof Bottle of Tear Stopper
by George Strait

Download

You ain't never fell as far as when you fall in love
Except the fall you take when you've been loved and given up
When you have your heart and soul rubbed into the dirt
An 80-proof bottle of tear-stopper will take away the hurt

Give me an 80-proof bottle of tear-stopper
And I'll start feeling I forgot her
Get a little loose and lose her memory
And I won't think I'm close to dying
Because it dries up all my crying
An 80-proof bottle of tear-stopper always sets me free

It ain't easy losing love although it's turned out bad
All at once you're turning off old feelings you once had
But I found a helping hand right here in my hand
And 80-proof bottle of tear-stopper will help me take 'em out

Give me an 80-proof bottle of tear-stopper
And I'll start feeling I forgot her
Get a little loose and lose her memory
And I won't think I'm close to dying
Because it dries up all my crying
An 80-proof bottle of tear-stopper always sets me free

Life changes. Wow.

So it was my birthday this weekend. I wasn't exactly in top form. I had a lot on my mind but even though we didn't do a lot (my fault for being indecisive), I'm glad that I was able to hang out with friends and forget about things for a bit.

I'm twenty four now. That's six years until thirty. I can live with that.

I think my music taste is changing again. I seem to go through six-month periods where I listen to mostly one genre and then just radically shift. I've noticed this happening for a few years, but it appears we are approaching a new era. Or maybe it's a "paradigm shift?" ;)

But anyway, when I was living in Manchester I mostly listened to electronic music (yes, I know, it's a blanket category). Not long after moving to Manchester, however, I fell back in to rap music. I hadn't really followed it very much since high school, so it was a weird bit of nostalgia. Especially living in the Netherlands, where the stuff I was listening to in '97 is still popular and being played on The Box.

Given the current state of events (read: Anarchy & Apathy), it looks like I'm moving away again. Right now it's involving a lot of Hank Williams III and lounge music (yeah, I know, but then again I've never "been normal" when it comes to music, have I?). Maybe I'm prepping myself for Ellinwood, KS? Guess we'll just have to see.

So yeah, that's about where things are. Life goes on. Roll on the Jeff Lang UK/USA Tour Summer 2006...

P.S. My friend Max has started a new blog called I Got It 4 Cheap. It's like pop culture for the ADD generation. So of course it's worth checking out...

So, where are we? Same ol', same ol'. Work and play. Pretty excited at the moment as when I went into town today I thought I might as well check the shops on the off chance that they might have the new Pet Shop Boys album early. It doesn't officially come out until next Monday in the UK, but they don't ever seem to care about release dates here in the Netherlands and just put stuff out whenever. Anyway, sure enough, they had a copy of the two-disc special edition. I'm extremely skint at the moment, but took the plunge anyway. I must say, I do not regret it.

Apart from that, I'm caught up in the hype of Eurovision. It's kind of funny as it feels like it's Europe's dirty little secret. I don't really know many other Americans who know about Eurovision apart from those who've lived abroad. I want Finland to win so bad, it's not even funny. Well, I would like Finland and the UK to be in the top two, I don't mind in which order. I don't think that's likely, but in a perfect world, there'd be no other option.

Alison, Max and myself saw "The Da Vinci Code" yesterday. It was good, but not great. I feel the first 2/3 were superior to the last 1/3. But for a summer blockbuster, it's safe to say it won't be the worst choice to see.

Can't think of anything else at the moment. For those of you who don't already know, I'm coming back to the US in the middle of July in time for the After Harvest Festival. Will be good to see some familiar faces. Until then...