| Seriously... |
[07 Sep 2007|04:51pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 embarrassed |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Eddie Holman - Hey There Lonely Girl |
] |
Is it bad that as every year passes, I'm embarassed about who I used to be?
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| *busy being a typical LJ user* |
[20 Aug 2007|08:02pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 drained |
] |
Maybe it's because I'm tired, but I really don't think I belong here anymore. I don't know what I'm doing and I just want to leave or shut my brain off and function as a robot until this year blows over and maybe the next. I try not to be too negative, but for the first time in awhile...I don't feel like being me.
When you're so often unappreciated, it's hard to appreciate yourself.
|
|
| Album copies are in...tell me if you want one. |
[26 May 2007|11:11am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 hungry |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Luther Vandross - Power of Love/Love Power |
] |
My album's been duplicated and received...so now I have a box full ofmy CDs. For those who don't know, it's an R&B/Hip-Hop album entitled "Birthday Party." If anybody wants one, let me know...you're entitled to a free copy as long as you seriously PROMISE me you're going to listen to the whole thing, though I am open to contributions of $4 or so just to somewhat cover costs.
Also, if I give you one, some feedback about which songs I should be distributing to radio stations, etc. would be greatly appreciated...it's important.
|
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| I think I may retire from karaoke... |
[10 Dec 2006|01:36am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 pensive |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Wham! - Last Christmas |
] |
That's right, folks...I think I'm done. Maybe I'll go out on occasion, but I think I'm finished doing this junk on any sort of regular basis. I'll likely finish out 2006 but 2007 will not be a year for karaoke. I know this may sound a bit melodramatic, but it actually means more to me than one might think for more than superficial reasons.
It's something I've been mulling over for a little bit now...haven't really talked to anyone about it, but I feel that the time is right now for me to go. I said to myself, once I hit 200 I may quit...and I have indeed reached that milestone. I have documented 200 different karaoke songs that I've performed over this year. I've actually done a few more than that, but now I'm 100% sure I've hit 200.
Here's the deal...since I've started doing karaoke, I've had a lot of fun, met some cool people, got a good amount of attention from people without having to change anything about myself, and generally gained more confidence in a number of areas, even outside of my abilities as a musician. But, there are a few reasons I want (maybe even need) to stop. First, on a practical level, it's time consuming. It's time I could be working on my music or even just doing inane crap that makes me happier at this point, and it's time I'm not sure I have anymore. Second, on another practical level, I'm going to start doing serious work on my album soon (it's going to be my final project for grad school), so aside from having to take time to write and record, doing karaoke is wearing out my voice pretty well. I don't need the practice as much anymore, so singing as much as I do may actually be hurting me and screwing up my voice. I used to be able to hit ranges that I'm struggling with now because I think I've blown out my vox somewhat. My vocals need a rest and it's just not worth it, I've decided. I need my voice in good shape on recordings and for when I start doing shows...both of which are far more important than karaoke. I don't care about the attention anymore and I don't have anything to prove anymore to myself or anyone else (anyone else at a bar, at least), which brings me to my next reason...
Some people (I'm assuming the people that usually see me when I go might care) may suggest I just come and hang out if not sing. I really doubt I'll do that. I'm having less and less fun when I go now. I'm not a bar person, period. I never was, and that didn't change this year. I don't drink and I don't smoke. Pretty much everybody, at every venue I go to, does...it's just not an environment I generally enjoy. I'm definitely not saying that there's anything wrong with people that do, but I have a hard time hanging around all that smoke. There are lots of great people at Pockets and the like, but I don't really feel like I belong there nowadays. I had good fun at karaoke, but I'm not having the fun I used to, so it's better I just stop going. The thrill is gone.
This year has been amazingly bad on the romantic front, and at this time of year, I'm going to get quite testy about it. What's this have to do with karaoke? Well, it goes like this...I never planned on meeting anyone at a bar. I always thought bars were crappy places to meet people, and my mind was not changed. I did, in all honesty, hold out hope that I'd meet someone special and worth my time, but it's rare that a girl peaks my interest nowadays. While I know Alan's been telling me that could happen when I was barking up other sorts of trees, the reality is that I haven't found jack in the year+ that I've been hitting the scene. Something tells me that if someone comes along for me now or anytime soon, if at all (at Pockets, Big Daddy's, Silver F'n Slipper, or any of those places) it will be a Christmas miracle. I don't want to play around anymore and I don't want to waste any more time. I have not found anybody at karaoke, and in the end, it damn sure hasn't helped me get anybody outside of it. On that note...girls...you don't mean shit to me, you see...sorry to disappoint any of you who might have been looking for an ego boost from me. If one of ya wants to step up and let me know why yall shouldn't be dead to me after this year, feel free. I'd love to have my positive attitude restored. Otherwise, please excuse my frustration because I'm really tired of the bullshit I've been dealt out over this long set of months. But, I digress...
Anyway, those are my reasons. I'm not stone dead set on this, but it really does not look likely that anybody will see me at karaoke after 2006 ends except for special reasons. I think this is the right decision for me. Anyone who wants to talk to me is very welcome to contact me, just don't count on me to show up on Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday at Pockets or anywhere else to chat. I would love to talk to anyone from karaoke that's interested in being part of my life...if you're reading this right now, it's likely I consider you a friend and with my deepest sincerity I hope that we still talk or hang out.
I'm hoping that no one reading this thinks I'm being pretentious and assuming yall care about what I do or if I do things like go to karaoke or not, but just in case anyone DOES, I'd like them to know what's up. But that's the dealy, yo. I'm grateful for everything that karaoke has given to me this year and it really has helped me a lot as a person...it really has done much me in ways that stretch beyond the act of singing, and I love each and every person that's reached out to me in slightest bit. It may seem silly, but karaoke has helped me be more who I want to be and means more to me than people realize, so it's tough to do this...but I feel like I'm making a good decision, with a perhaps dorky, but real tear in my eye.
So...that's it then...if you actually read all of this, thank you.
|
|
| What's been going on... |
[25 Aug 2006|09:21pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 restless |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Enrique Iglesias - Heroe |
] |
So, in summary:
- I went to Chicago, went to my cousin's wedding, sang at my cousin's wedding reception, met family for the first time in conscious memory, had a good time. Pictures are here with commentary.
- I went to my friend Titus' wedding in Jacksonville, sang Luther Vandross during the procession, everybody there was great, had a good time. Pictures are here with commentary
- Finished my summer classes, statistics and project management and junk, that was thrilling.
- Parents have been talking about sending me to the Philippines to record and sing because apparently they and my Filipino family think I can be a star there and it won't be that expensive except for the plane ticket. Dunno if that's something I really want to do, but I'm considering it...really depends on where my life is heading and if I have anybody special to keep me around here.
Other than that...it's been same old same old except I'm not so busy because school/work hasn't started yet. That'll change in a couple of weeks...
|
|
| Weddings and such... |
[02 Jul 2006|02:49pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 contemplative |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby |
] |
So this month is going to be a month of firsts for me...
First first is that I'm going to be going to Chicago on 7/14 for my cousin's wedding...which means that's going to be the first time I've ever left the state of Florida since I came here as a small child with no established memories from California (and the time I went to the Philippines which I don't remember...maybe that happened earlier or later I'm not sure of my baby time line but it's been a damn long time)...so, that streak is going to be broken with a stop off in Tennessee en route to Illinois in what will be my first flight on a plane in over two decades. While in Chicago, my family and I will be visiting the Baha'i House of Worship...now that's something.
Also, this going to be my first time in conscious memory that I'm going to be meeting many members on my Mom's side of my non-immediate family...I rarely see anyone outside of my Mom and Dad in my family and if I do they usually don't care too much about me with some exceptions (if they're not deceased of course). It's a rather bizarre feeling...having all these people blood-related to me and they're complete strangers.
So, at the wedding I'm going to be doing a reading and singing a few songs at the reception and hopefully keeping myself from being reminded of how frustrated I am romantically right now. I need to pick some tunes out...I really could use some suggestions for good songs to sing at a wedding...seriously...does anybody have any?
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|
| First song of 2006... |
[25 Jun 2006|12:55pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 accomplished |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Van Halen - Beautiful Girls |
] |
Alrighty, a sore index finger, an electrical shock, and hours of work later, I've completed recording for another track...so here it is:
Terradog - Let It Go
Of course, any mixing suggestions, comments, etc. are welcome and appreciated. Hopefully I can get even more done with this summer giving me reasonably more time...I need it...when I get tracks down it makes me feel a lot better about whatever may be going on. It kind of sucks how I feel most motivated to do this when I'm preoccupied but maybe it's God's way of pushing me to get to work :P
Edit: For the benefit of people like Ben I'd like to note that this song is not rock and/or roll but more along the lines of the hip and/or hop, to give a heads up to those who were expecting different.
|
|
| I really hate American Idol, but... |
[27 May 2006|12:43am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
restless |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Huey Lewis & The News - I Want A New Drug |
] |
Okay, so this crap is coming up soon. That Tallahassee Fox 49 American Idol baloney. As much as I disdain American Idol and everything it stands for, I'm actually thinking of trying this junk when the Tallahassee contest rolls around. As much as I do and love karaoke and since various friends and strangers keep bringing up the "Idol" subject, I figure maybe it's worth a shot. Even if it's kind of gross, American Idol is still karaoke when all is said and done, right?
I don't really have much desire for the "guaranteed" real deal Idol audition shot that they offer (though to be honest I've been mulling over trying out for the real thing, depending on how convenient to me it would be), but 10 songs in a recording studio is something I could definitely use and cannot afford otherwise at this juncture in time and I suppose when one wants to break into music, sometimes they have to take whatever they can get. This is, of course, if I even get "selected" from the pile of e-mail applications that Fox 49 will sift through. Not sure how tough the competition would be from that point on and how I'd stack up...if anyone has experience with that, I'd like to hear about it.
|
|
| Boring life details just because... |
[10 May 2006|11:32am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 calm |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Michael Jackson - You Rock My World |
] |
School has ended...and started again. Even if my one class is a total kick in the pants 8 books to read pain in the ass, it's still only one class and it looks like I'm going to finally have a good amount of free time for now. So hopefully I can really ing on the song writing...mayyyybe even play some video games and catch up on some movies. My Playstation is probably upset with me for neglecting it. Lately, it's been telling me that I'm not the dork I used to be and how I used to care more about it. I tell it I've been busy but then it just starts crying and insisting that I don't like it anymore and thinks I want to buy an X-Box or something. It needs to realise, I have to go to work...it doesn't seem to remember that I have to PAY for those precious games that it likes so much. And yeah, I DON'T always want to spend all day with it, I need some me time...sorry, I AM an independent person. Anyway, I should get somewhat of a vacation out of this summer.
|
|
| Tired...of...crap :P |
[21 Mar 2006|12:30am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 frustrated |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Robert Plant - 29 Palms |
] |
Since I have about an hour or two free here at work, I might as well update this silly thing. Not much is really going on with me...kind of the same old story it's been all semester...work all day, go to school, stress about romance, karaoke...that kind of stuff.
Mostly stressing about romance...not that this is anything new, but girls are confusing as hell and upset me. I'm getting tired of playing the game and losing because I keep going after the difficult options. It's not like I have an "attracted to things I can't have" mentality, but I only seem to become interested in those who, for any number of reasons, present a serious challenge. It's not like they're out of my league or anything (not that I believe in the "league" system...as far as I'm concerned if they have that attitude they can shove it up their be-hinds because if anyone treats me like I have to meet THEIR whorish standards, they're not worth a damn fraction of any of MY valuable time and energy...they should be living up to MY standards, not the other way around) but just situationally...the scenarios are tough when it comes to the females I seem to really be attracted to...they always have a loser boyfriend...or worse, are married/engaged...then there are other situations that I'm not going to discuss here. I dunno, I'm pretty frustrated right now and upset with the whole gender. Maybe I'm just too picky...but I really have to be careful...I guess there's a balance to be struck?
|
|
| Valentine's Day...bah humbug. |
[14 Feb 2006|09:16pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 sick |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Quarterflash - Harden My Heart |
] |
Oh boy, it's Valentine's Day...just in case Christmas and New Year's Day wasn't enough to remind you that you're lonely and that girls are stupid and upsetting (and frustrating for that matter), here comes Valentine's Day to kick you in the sack for the 3rd time of the new year.
Valentine's Day sucks even more when you're sick (I was getting paranoid with everyone getting sick around me a few months ago, but I was spared at the time...I guess it's my turn now)...which I am...stupid freezing cold weather...stupid frail human body...stupid mucousy sore throat that keeps food from going into my body peacefully. American Idol is stupid too, while I'm at it. The people on it are such emo wussies. Way more drama than I ever like to see at karaoke.
In other news, the WWE house show that rolled through Tallahassee was pretty darn good...alot better than the one in 2003, where half the wrestlers didn't put much into the show. I have more respect for most of the wrestlers that were there. I was very happy that Chavo Guerrero ended up performing (he pointed at me because I was wearing my Los Guerreros "Cheat 2 Win" shirt *marks out*), am very mad at Shawn Michaels for no-showing (and voting for Bush for that matter), and I confirmed my suspicions that Chris Masters is on steroids after seeing that he has ALOT of backne. Not very "Masterpiece" at all...unless of course I missed all the pimples and bulging veins on the Statue of David's back.
Now it's time to figure out what to eat that's not soup that won't make my throat angry...
|
|
| School is to-morrow! |
[08 Jan 2006|05:23pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 alright |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Tarkan - Bu Gece |
] |
So I started working out...and I'm not going to quit this time, I swear. I'm gonna be frickin PRIZE by the end of this year...girls are gonna be like "Oh Adam, damn you're sexy, I want to do dirty things to you" and I'm gonna be like "Sorry ladies, I don't know you very well and I can't in good conscious have sex with you or even let you touch my goods. Plus you might have VDs or something and that's not cool" and they're gonna be like "fuck you" and I'm going to be like "yeah I know you want to" and it's going to be awesome :o
In other news, I don't know where any of my classes are and school starts tomorrow...hahahahaha...damn I hate FSU for moving my department to the stadium. Just my luck, I live RIGHT down the street from my department then they go and move it to the dumb stadium, in an area where there's no student parking no less. It's going to be super crazy and upsetting...oh well...c'est la vie. Here's hoping to a good semester anyway ^o^
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|
| Hello 2006, I hope you didn't get wasted. |
[02 Jan 2006|04:16pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
hungry |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Michael Jackson - Speed Demon |
] |
Well, here's my first post for the new year...not like that's really that significant. Though, it IS an election year, and I'm always excited about those, even if it's just midterms...I'm really pumped for the televised debates! New governor...Katherine Harris is going to get her face wiped all over the electoral floor statewide (so I can change my voting registration to Tallahassee now that I don't have to vote against her in Sarasota)...I'm pretty hopeful this year (then again I always am but it's been terribly disappointing, to say the least, this decade...and with no paper trails...well, we'll just have to see how badly they can rig it this year I guess).
ANYWAY, I might as well start fresh with my life while I remember to. Now's as good a time as any to set goals for myself. I wouldn't call these resolutions because resolutions are dumb, but I DO have a few goals I want to set, so me...pay attention to these:
- Be more social...2005 was a good start, but you still need to work on it
- Seriously work out and build some muscle (your ass is getting big too so do it)
- Record enough material for an album and start doing shows
- Practice, practice, practice dammit!
- Don't let school and other unimportant things monopolize your time too much
With that said, I've completed 3 of my 5 goals for my holiday break, so I feel good about that. I have clean laundry now, and a haircut...on that note...
How's it look? It's a little short, but it will grow to my preferred length as per usual...and then some...and then girls will stop liking me because my hair looks funny.
I also cleaned the hell out of my apartment...cleaned that damn death trap of a closet and organized it...it's safe to go in...and I also organized every cabinet and my fridge...so I'm pretty happy about that...I definitely feel confident enough about my apartment to have female guests (because guys don't give two shits) over. So...anyone and everyone is welcome to come over and visit me in my little box now...and please do I'm lonely T_T
I still have yet to get a car wash...which I think I will get tomorrow since it's raining today and a carwash while it's raining seems silly. Also...I need to work on music! Ugh...I just hate programming drum machines so much...anyway, if I didn't grab you on the phone yesterday, happy new year homies.
|
|
| Materialistic Chirstmas Stuff |
[22 Dec 2005|02:29pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 awake |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Selena - La Carcacha |
] |
Hahahahaha...my present wrapping skills are unparalleled in awesomeness.
See? Behold my flawless execution of folding, slightly ripping, and covering up open spots with more pieces of wrapping paper. I used a lot of tape too...because I'm that damn good. If you ever receive a wrapped present from me, feel blessed that you were able to see what a real wrapping job should look like.
So yeah I got my shopping done last night and feel pretty good about it. If anybody wants to buy me a present it's still not too late (actually this is more a list for myself of things that I need to get later on when I get another paycheck):
- A tea kettle
- A new electric razor
- Kodansha Furigana Dictionary
- A Mandarin Chinese dictionary
- A spatula that doesn't suck at flipping eggs
- A griddle
- An egg ring
- An X-Arcade USB adapter
- A DVD full of MAME roms from some site
- We <3 Katamari for PS2
Okay, I better eat lunch before I have to go open doors for furniture people...
|
|
| Crazy Grade Release Wednesday! |
[21 Dec 2005|01:08pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 dirty |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Skid Row - 18 and Life |
] |
Ugh, water's out...Tallahassee Utilities is doing some crazy crap with machines and shovels and stuff outside, so that probably has something to do with it...I need a shower I feel dirty :\ I hope I don't have to go to the bathroom anytime soon...I already used my one alloted flush this morning when I woke up. Then I guess I'll have to go shopping or something then use a public restroom...which is okay, but I'm not a big fan of them. Especially the ones that have urinals but no dividers between them. I hate those for a couple of reasons. One, I don't feel comfortable having my junk easily visible to anyone in the men's bathroom, so I have to basically mount the damn thing and take my pee. Two, I don't really want to see the dude who's taking a leak next to me's penis...which I sometimes see out of the corner of my eye because there's no dividers if I look anywhere but straight up at the ceiling the whole time ~_~
Anyway, I haven't done this in awhile...I know nobody cares, but here are the first grades I have received from grad school ever:
Chinese Music Ensemble: A
Desktop Multimedia: A-
Intro to Project Management: A-
Japanese III: A-
Teaching Oral Communication: A-
Alright, straight A's...well...A minuses...except in Chinese Ensemble...but if I get anything less than a straight up A in there that basically means Haiqiong wants to fight me...and it doubly doesn't count for anything anyway since it's an undergrad class and I'm registered for 0 hours in it. Japanese doesn't count either I don't think, since it's undergrad as well. So yeah, I'm in concordance with these grades...I pretty much deserved the minuses because I didn't care as much as some of the other overachievers in my department. I can definitely live with a 3.75 GPA...though THAT doesn't really matter anymore since grades don't matter much in grad school unless you're in danger of failing or going to go for a doctorate, neither of which apply to me.
I'm really disappointed in the amount of comments I've been getting since I started writing in this thing regularly again, btw T_T
|
|
| Okay I feel better...I love music. |
[20 Dec 2005|11:24pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
calm |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Eiffel 65 - Move Your Body |
] |
Alright, I'm feeling not so upset anymore. I stole a midi file from a Japanese website of Itsuka no Merry Christmas by B'z and made piano/vox only version of one of my favorite Christmas songs and that made me feel a lot better. So, if anyone cares to hear me sing in Japanese, here it is:
Adam G Wright - Itsuka no Merry Christmas
My vocals are, and have been for the past few days, a bit raspy...I'm hoping it's just the weather or something and not permanent.
P.S. - Jaimie, I'm sorry for getting so mad about it, just please try to understand and please don't do it again...for your own sake.
|
|
| Screw this. |
[20 Dec 2005|04:38pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
frustrated |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
B'z - Konya Tsuki No Mieru Oka Ni (Alternative Guitar Solo ver) |
] |
I've decided that I'm just going to stop caring about people and what they do. Nobody wants me to care about them and I'm tired of caring. Just as well, not like anyone reciprocates with me. It's better that way...I don't have to get upset anymore, which is good, because I don't have anyone to talk to about this shit anyway.
|
|
| Official Holiday Break: Day 1 |
[19 Dec 2005|01:45pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 relaxed |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World |
] |
I am delighted that my apartment has not grown mold this year with all the window condensation going on...I guess running the ceiling fans really does help. If those little sporey bastards try to invade again though, I have my headache inducing bleach to greet them with...so bring it bitches. I still need a nice Christmasy air freshener though.
I'm so relieved it's breaktime now...my mind is still in slight disbelief...stupid grad school has conditioned me to feel like if I'm doing something I enjoy I'm wasting time...but I don't have any work to do...not even tutoring work...it's great! Oh wait...I have to figure out what I'm buying people for Christmas...shit.
With this free time in place, I remembered eBay existed and starting buying cheap CDs from it again...I'm still waiting for that damn Selena - Ven Conmigo CD...actually no I'm not, the stupid whore stole my money and didn't send it and said he'd give me a refund...which he hasn't yet...and it's been two months. I'm going to have to call this damn guy on the phone and harass him, and if I get no action, then it's negative feedback time (I wish there was something more satisfying to do aside from that...stupid eBay). But I DID get my Billy Joel - An Innocent Man CD within a few days of paying...and I hope to get the Gap Band, Marvin Gaye, and Edwin McCain CDs in the same fashion.
I need to get a real job and buy a house so I can stop worrying about square neighbors bothering me about my music and guitar/bass playing. This MA degree better be worth it when I get out.
|
|
| Fugicles |
[17 Dec 2005|04:32pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 meh |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing |
] |
My damn electric razor broke...I need a new one or something, because I can't really shave the area over the keloid scar on my face very well without it. On second thought, I'd rather just not have the dumb scar at all...stupid ugly looking red piece of itchy sensitve crap...I liked you better when you were a mole. Maybe I should go to the doctor again and have him stab my face with more steroids.
I hope I can get a haircut soon...okay I guess not much else to say...I don't know why I wrote in here but I did it so there's no going back now.
|
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| Alright, new song, cool. |
[16 Dec 2005|02:23pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
accomplished |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Billy Joel - Uptown Girl |
] |
New song is completed...I'm convinced it's going to be the Summer hit of 2006 >_> It was intended to be a kind of a softy guitar 2000 era pop rock song, but it ended up sounding more like a softy guitar mid-1990's era pop rock song reminiscent of Pearl Jam that I have a feeling Ben may appreciate, because I accidentally sound like Eddie Vedder in the thing at times.
Terradog - Your Boyfriend
As always, any sort of mixing advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated. It's supposed to sound a tad rough, though, so if anything sounds a bit imperfect, then it's on purpose. I'm going to go take a shower now because I smell.
Edit: Chris suggested that I add more compression...upon another listen, it turns out he was right...so I added more compression. That means...the like...two people who've downloaded the song should download it again, because a more updated version is up now.
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