Day 6

Last night. Tons more good music. Not really much else to say. What do you want to know? Seriously. I love questions. I'm out of things to write about.

Day 5

I am fundamentally opposed to country music. I hate the stuff. However, sometimes the lyrics are just perfect for describing how I'm feeling. I was at a country concert today (when I went I was unaware of the style), mostly listening because I wanted to give it a fair chance and partially because my friend thought it was good music, when the band started a song about lost love. And you know what? Every single word hit the nail on the head. I was probably more attentive to that song than I was to every awesome guitar solo I've heard all week, and I've heard some amazing solos. Hanging on every word, I thought to myself that they must have an answer for this. And you know what? After the whole sad part of the song, it ended. That's it. Really? We as mankind have had this love lost problem since the dawn of time, and the best we can do is say "yeah, it sucks"? BS! There must be a solution that isn't harmful to the self (because hitting the sauce is probably a "solution"). Whatever.

Anyways, something almost-hilarious happened tonight (or today, it is 2:20 AM). I'm camping with someone who leaves food out for no reason, probably because they're forgetful. Anyways, a raccoon comes up out of the woods and starts sniffing around their tent. All the while, my friend and I are quietly LOLing because we figure this raccoon is going to rip into their tent to get some food. It didn't happen, but we got a good laugh anyways.

Day 4

"A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance of a minute,
No more." - Laertes, 1.3.8-11, Hamlet

I've often wondered whether or not I am described by these lines. My thinking has led me to believe that I'm not, but I can't help but wonder. I have some major regrets, and some things I really wish I could change or fix, but I'm not sure I ever can. Maybe I'm not bold enough, or maybe I'm too unsure, but I've always been a romantic at heart, and I always will be. I want to be the guy that marries his high school sweetheart (which isn't gonna happen, sadly), goes dancing in the rain (even though I hate dancing), kisses a girls hand on the first date instead of her lips (which I've never done, because I can't even bring myself to hold hands on the first date), and writes those crappy sappy love songs (well, hopefully not crappy).

Anyways, tons more good music, And today's high was only like 104. As I write this laying in my tent at 12:39 AM on Saturday, it's 90, with like 70% humidity. So dang hot. Supposed to be more of the same all weekend. I kind of hope it pours, because even though that would mean it would be hard to leave, it wouldn't be so stinking hot.

Day 3

I was mistaken, today was the first official day of Cornerstone. went and saw some amazing bands and heard lots of amazing music. This guy, Phil Keaggey (I think) was just amazing. So much skill. There was some amazing violin-rock too. No cool t-shirts this year though.

Got some thinking done; mostly just sad reminiscing, but it needed to be done, I think. Maybe I just say that so I don't feel bad about thinking about it, but whatever. It keeps me in line, puts things in perspective. I just wish there were some things I could fix. And you know what? Maybe I could fix these things, but not without running a huge (and highly possible) risk of just making things worse, because right now these things only affect me. I hope. I struggle for the right words to put down here, and my brain races as I think. It's hard, and I can't adequately describe just how hard without surrendering two things I'm not really ready to surrender yet: some very private emotions, and the lies I've been telling myself. Plus, I don't want to sound like a broken record. I hope I can get to the point where I can put this stuff down, if not say it out loud.

Day 2

Well, today was OK. Supposed to be like 107 on Friday, which really sucks, but I brought my trunks so I'll probably hit the lake. A good Glenn Kaiser concert yesterday, and a good Crossing concert today (with some bad concerts, and a nice cover of Fortunate Son). I even heard a cover of Friday that was worse than the original! Been doing some thinking and talking, but have mostly been keeping my brain away from certain thoughts because I do and don't want to think about them. I'm sure it'll happen soon though, and when it does I'll just sit in a lawn chair for a while.

Well, I should get to bed. It's 1:11 Am here on Thursday morning, and the music is still going, but I've got to get up to make pancakes in the morning. G'Night.

Pre-Cornerstone

So, tonight is the night: pre-Cornerstone. I'll be glad for the thinking time, and i should be tweeting all week, but I just know what will dominate most of my thoughts, and that's kind of disappointing. Oh well. Once again, like last year, take a look at the set list and if you have a suggestion go ahead and DM it to me @leon_n_roses otherwise I'll just putz around. See you in the morning, if no other writing strikes me.

Refresh

So my brain is just a huge box of nothing right now. I think it's like a defense mechanism when I have too much stuff occupying my thoughts. I started work, Cornerstone in a week, girl stuff, gaming stuff, school stuff, future stuff... So much stuff. I want to just escape it all, you know? Good thing a refresh is coming up, where I don't have to think about anything I don't want to or do anything I'm not willing to. It's gonna be great.

Keep your mind clear, and ride the wave of life; things go better that way.

E3 & Other Stuff

So here's the skinny (felt like saying that, and will probably never do it again): I am seriously considering getting a Nook touch. A nice, no frills, long battery life ePub reader that's light and small. I still have to test one in person, but I think I will get one. Also, this week is E3, a big conference all about video games. My number one thing to look forward to? The PSVita (the official name for the NGP). Only $250! So have to get one.

Moving along, seeing as Lexa was so dang excited, I'll give a little bit more on that thing from last post. I've officially hit the weird talking stage, or at least that's what happens with me. It's the stage where I worry about every single thing I say, plus how and when to say it. It's really annoying! You want to be smooth and smart and sophisticated and all that jazz, but in your head you think you're a bumbling idiot without the slightest clue. Conversation option comes up? Conversation about said person maybe? Or with said person? Instant brain overdrive over what to/not to do or talk about. Sometimes, I really wish I could turn that part of my brain off. Too dang annoying.

Also, Cornerstone is coming up fast! Set list is still kinda sparse, but I'll find stuff to do.

Word Vomit (part deux?)

I've been meaning to post many times recently, but just decided to put it off for some reason. I always had a good reason to post too, but now I can't remember. Got finals soon, and then school is out! Then, wait for it... CORNERSTONE. Oh yeah. So looking forward to that right now. My birthday is coming up soon too (go view my amazon wishlist if you wanna get me something), not sure what's going on there. I'm gonna be 20. Ugh. Something about being an age where English style suggests you type the number instead of write it out just feels weird. Read the book Moonwalking with Einstein, very good stuff. About a journalist who worked his way (in one year) to U.S. memory champion. Fun, interesting, all that jazz. Cut my hair. Got new silver ink for my quill. And I think that's about it.

Dereliction of Duty

I've just had the thought that I've been neglecting writing for quite some time, and I've rushed straight into my pocket to write this post on my iPod. Not much has been going on lately, which is to say that I've been as busy as I usually am. I've got another guitar pedal build soon, because a friend commissioned me. I'm getting a new Camelbak (one with virtually no storage) as a backup/loaner/traveling bag, with a slightly smaller water capacity, because it was on sale for $28 and for that price I'd be crazy not to. I have once again finished The Historian and am halfway through The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, and after that I'll probably read the new Clancy. My winter trips are over and now I look forward to Cornerstone, where I may once again ask for concert requests, because I thought it would be kind of fun. And so, really, it's life as usual for me, but it's not boring.

Here's to making daily life not quite so humdrum, and to hoping your life isn't either.

Cornerstone 2010 - Final

Edit: typed up the writing that hasn't already been posted.

So, here are the scans and pictures from cornerstone 2010:

Day 1: 4:50 AM
Leaving Chicago for Bushnell. Gonna stop in Princeton to meet up with Fred, a guy we camp with, and grab some breakfast food. Forecast for today is around the 80's, nice and sunny. I'll write you more when I get there.

7:18 AM
Just left Princeton, IL, our standard stop for gas and (for me at least) juice. Two hours in to the drive, three hours to go.

4:57 PM
We just fired up the grill, it'll take a while for it to get heated. We did finish -for the most part- setting up camp. Gonna go see Glenn tonight. Should be a good show.

7:28 PM
Campfire started. Cornerstone officially kicked off.

8:12 PM
No running water.

9:38 PM
Basically, I found a seat in a packed tent. That's really what it boils down to.

12:29 AM
And so ends my first day at Cornerstone. I lay down to feedback, laughter, crickets, stars, and my wonders. I'll try and give those up for tomorrow. Goodnignt.

Already posted.

 

9:00 PM

About to see Maron, but there's something even more exciting. What's that? Running Water! Yay!

And for Cornerstone pictures, go here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052985&id=1140450369&l=03be26680e

Wayside

Hey guys! All of my pictures and writings from Cornerstone will be put up in the morning (I don't feel like firing up my scanner right now), which will be my last post on Cornerstone for this year. That got me thinking, and I realized there was that project that I let fall by the wayside, which I plan to revive. You can find the project here. After that, I thought of another project I let fall, which is my Summer Checklist. About the only things on there that I've worked on are my book and the mile run. And so, today I went for a run, and did a ton of stretching, preparing myself for those tricks I wanna be able to pull off. After that? I played Lego Harry Potter. I was pretty tired. Anyways, that's all for now. See you in the morning! 

Week End & Relational Musings

So, when all is said and done, I heard a lot of great music, met many great bands, and got three t-shirts, a guitar strap, and a good cd out of the week. A twloha write shirt, and alive shirt by the same, and the Cornerstone 2010 microphone shirt. You'll probably -if you know me in person that is- see me wearing them at some point.

Now, I don't know if this is only me, so any male readers I may have please speak up on this: why is it that between the time you decide to ask someone out and the time that you actually do so you begin to over-analyze? It's like we're looking for excuses to not follow through. The slightest inflection change starts to provoke thought. Well, not really, but you get my point, right? It's stupid! And yet we do it anyways. Wouldn't it be so much easier if you just knew? And not in the the girl drops hints so subtle you'd need an accelerometer to pick up on them (which isn't to say that girls don't believe they're being clear. We just don't understand most of those "hints") kind of way. I mean in the put-up-a-billboard-declaring-interest kind of way. Yeah, so the girl runs the risk of appearing a bit outgoing. That's not really a bad thing. On the flip side is that the girl may think that making us play the game is really fun, and if we won't play we're not worth their time. And that can be true sometimes. But better hints would be nice. At the very least.

Home

There's something about home that makes me feel good. On another note, it's raining. There's something about rain that makes me think power, peace, and relationships. Maybe I'll flesh this out a little bit later, but right now I just wanted to post off my trusty laptop. It feels good.

departure

we are leaving!!! two hours till princeton, then lunch, then two hours till chicago!!! i cant wait. need some friend and laptop time, pronto. yay home!

day 6 - end

just a few hours before i wake up and then head home. i cant wait. feel free to call or text it. its always welcome. even if i was sleeping. im always good to talk. well, sweet dreams my readers. see you in the morning.

day 6 - evening

sitting around, music filtering through. weve got a lot of camp taken down already, now its just some small stuff to put away in the morning. and then ill be on my way back home. just twelve, thirteen more hours to go. then a five hour drive after that.

on another note, xkcd.com/759 is hilarious, and 761 is amusing.

day 6 - post dinner

not much going on here. i just really wanna get home.

day 6 - afternoon

quick thought for my friend chris, who had acl surgery yesterday. supposedly, the anestesiologist gave him a bit too much, so now if he takes his pain meds the combined dosage prevents him from using the bathroom. so hes not taking his meds. thats gotta be rough.

well, not much going on here. just a lot of laying around thinking of what i could be doing if i was in chicago. such is life.

day 6 - morning

final official day here at cornerstone. tomorrow is just tear down and drive back. i kinda wish i was in chicago today, actually. theres nothing for me to do today. no bands to see or anything. in chicago i couldve hung out with some friends at least. ive got all i want from the merch tents (mostly. theres a ring i want but its cheaper online), and thats about all that i wouldve had left today anyways. oh well. ill be back tomorrow. thats enough i guess.