The National

I know I'm rather late to the party regarding The National, but I'm really enjoying them. I've heard and liked some of their songs over the past few years, but the songs I heard leading up to their newest release (High Violet) I found I really liked, so I had to buy the album. And so far I'm loving it. I might even spash out big and buy another of their albums. lol

If the player below doesn't play the show for you, here's a link to their show at this year's Bonnaroo Festival. It's pretty close to a full length show -- an hour and a half and 20 songs.



They are playing in Columbus on August 2 and I'd love to see them, but I find it really hard make myself go to stuff like this even when I want to. Social anxiety/excessive shyness sucks. (Yeah, I know I make it to the church shows, but I get so nervous about going I often feel like vomiting for weeks before the first show. It ain't pretty.) Still, I keep checking to make sure tickets are still available...I might just be able to shock myself and just fucking go on the night.

SK in short film

The film was made for the Fish Eye Film Festival competition. All films had to be 7 minutes or less and had to have some relationship with surf, snow and/or skate sports. Furthermore, feet as a theme, item or object had to fit into the film somehow.

And this film was the overall winner! Pretty cool, eh? :-)

The WINNER: Gonzales The Movie from Fish Eye on Vimeo.

eekie's SK dream

Ok, here's the dream:

Steve was riding with me between tour stops and we were chatting about various stuff and generally having a good time. Then he started making some comments about my driving. I laughed it off at first, but he kept it up and we started to actually argue. The argument got quite a bit more heated and finally I'd had enough. I pulled over to the side of the road and told him to "Get the fuck OUT!!!!" He did. Slammed the door (he was pretty pissed off too). And I drove off. But then about a minute down the road I realised I couldn't leave him there. The little bastard didn't have a phone and I was responsible for getting him to the venue (the others had left earlier to get to there and set up). I certainly didn't want to have to deal with the wrath the church if I lost Steve. And of course, I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to him. So I sighed and turned the fuck around to go pick him up.

...and then the dream faded out and that was it.


Later, when I woke up and was getting dressed, I found myself ticked off at Steve for the argument...until it dawned on me that the argument had only been in my dream.... lol. I still can't help but laugh at how angry I was at him after waking up from that dream!


In reality he was a good passenger -- yeah he hit the "brakes" a few times and did ask if I was driving faster because he was in the car (no, I was actually driving a bit slower because I didn't want to get stopped with him in the car), but there were no arguments, which is definitely a plus in my book!

At one of the rest stops Steve was recognised by a guy who had been at the show the night before. Made that guy's day which was pretty cool. I had to laugh later though when I thought I bet he was wondering where the rest of the band was. I imagine he did a bit of looking around -- I know I would have! But the others weren't at that stop (at least not then) because at the hotel that morning when we were gathering in the lobby Steve asked me "You're staying at the same hotel we are tonight, aren't you?" I said yeah, and then he said "You're ready to leave now?" Again I said yeah. And he said "I'm riding with you!" And so we left. Hey, the rest of them went directly to the venue to set up, riding with me allowed him to get a couple of hours at the hotel to just chill out before going to the venue. Even in the brief time I was around during this tour I noticed how few truly down hours they had, so grabbing them where they could was important.

Plus he got my company for several hours. How could he resist that? lol ;-)