Wooooop-de-doop

The roger waters concert was AMAZING! The best concert I have been to. The Who will have to put on one hell of a show to out-perform that. What I liked most about the concert was that Roger did a piece about his trip to Beirut, Lebanon. It was really touching.

I have been practicing trombone non-stop lately because of jazz. I am constantly messing around with pixie mute/plunger solos. Its so fun. I have been neglecting my guitar, and I feel really bad about it. I'll pick it up tomorrow.

Notmuch else has been going on , I took the PSAT today, what a bummer. Had to wake up early today to go to it. The test was fairly easy- except the reading comprehension. I always choke on that on tests. Bah.

Halloween is just around the corner, and I have not gotten my costume yet. I want to be Alex from A Clockwork Orange, but I dobut that will happen. I don't care that I am 16, I'll trick-or-treat until I am 90.

I found out I am going to Boston for Choir, which should be loads of fun. We will tour Berklee while we are there, which is good since I an going to apply there next year or later this year.

That is about it. I wish somebody would comment.

-Kevin

An Update in the Life of Kevin

Things have been going rather dmoothly lately. Nothing too eventful. I still wake up at 5:30-6:00 five days a week for school. Choir and jazz are a lot of fun, and I am positive my career will involve something with music. And I have just started listening to new styles of music- Classical (Tchicovsky is my favorite at the moment, I love the 1812 overture), and some Spanish style music (mariachi, flamenco, etc.). I have also started to listen to Earth, Wind, and Fire. They played a few years ago around where I live and now I regret not going to see them. But don't be fooled, I am still listening to all the rock I used to listen to. Stevie Wonder is awesome, too. Sir Duke is my favorite song of his.

I am doing fine outside of school too, I guess. My dad and I have been arguing on and on lately, but I have been able to put up with it. I saw this documentary about John Lennon today, It was really cool. Except for the part when somebody (who is not to be named) shot him. I felt really sad when I was reminded of his brutal death.

But on a lighter note, the Borat Movie is coming out soon. It should be funny, Sascha Cohen (spelling?) , the guy who plays Ali G is a really funny guy. One of my favorites.

I am going to take photos of my trombones tomorrow, so I can show them to you. I hope.

Peace and love,
-Kevin

Roger Waters Concerto: Two Days!

I cannot wait to see him! This friday, ohh yeahhh. There is a rumor going about that Nick Mason will play drums for part of it. I hope its true.

hOOt

I was hitting golf balls at the driving range today with my dad. I hadin't it a golf ball for over 2 years before today, and I was hitting great. I almost cleared the back fence with my driver, I hit it well over 230 yards. On the last shot I hit, with he very last golf ball in the bucket, I broke my pitching wedge and the head went flying out into the range (I got it back). An omen? Coincidence? Perhaps. But for now, I will play golf more often. I can't just let something like that pass me by.

I have noticed I have been blogging for over a year. I can't believe it has been so long ago that I started this, thanks to Rachel Fuller and Pete Townshend. It has been a joy letting out anger, frustration, and happiness. Along with the occasional picture and comment.

I haven't been busy lately, I just have nothing to write about. I have started school, and now I am a junior. I am 16, but I have not started driving because I am lazy and I would have to get a job to help pay for gas and insurance. I'd rather take the bus, bum a ride, or walk.

I am taking choir, and I was a bit apprehensive about going in ther on the first day. It wasin't bad after all, and now I actually enjoy singing. I am not that great, but I am at least having fun. I am also in jazz, again. It is a lot of hard work, but it is fun. I might go to New York for both choir and jazz- for choir I might sing at carnegie hall, for jazz I might play at lincoln center. Should be fun (and rather expensive- but these performances should look good on my college application).

There has been talk in my house about our family going to europe next summer since we did not take a major vacation this summer. If I do, I will want to meet Mikey, Rene, Rachel, the whole lot. My brother wants to go to Germany, Switzerland or Austria, I want to go to England (duh) and Spain, and my parents want to go to Denmark to visit the people that visited us this summer. I don't think the plans have been laid out yet, though...

Brrrrump bum bum bum bum
-Kevin

pics

Mammoth Lakes and Rainbow Falls. One of my favorite places to be.

2

Oh man, summer school is almost over. Just 2 more weeks. I have to stick it out, Bio is hard for me. Also in 2 days people from Denmark are coming over. It will be fun despite having a house crammed full of people- 7 to be exact. My brother flew home without me knowing and it was a plesant surprise. Now someone can drive me home from the bus stop, whee. Its been really hot here- 106 the other day- and very humid. Humidity is normally non existant around here, and it is not welcome. The past week we have been doing a lot of housework. We got a patio cover and my parents got tile and a new shower door in their bathroom. I got a new bed, and it feels so nice compared to my old bunk. My feet used to hang off the end, it was sad really. I am recording a song called " the heart song" and it is nearly done. I call it the heart song just because of the beat. No lyrics yet. I won't post anything until I get a few songs under my belt though. Still haven't got my congas or anything yet, I need my money back from my dad so I can make some needed purchases. It dosen't sound complete with just guitar. Its hollow and dull. Like an unsalted peanut shell with nothing inside. That will change though.

The other day, a beautiful male california valley quail flew into our window and died. I was really sad, because I had seen him (and heard him) in out back yard for a few weeks with his numerous (2 or 3) females. Poor guy. But 2 other males cane and took his place. Soon I'll see the babies running about in the back yard.

What is it with 2's?

GMAS
-Kevin

Hello, there!

I'm back. Ive been busy (as always). I am taking Biology in summer school to get ahead. I have to wake up at 5 every day, but other than that my summer has been going well. I got back form Mammoth lakes on tuesday last week, I had a blast. I need to get my ass into gear with this blog, I have been slacking lately. More later.

-Kevin.

Post number 90

Thought I would post a favorite song of mine for my 90th post.

Nobody home by Pink Floyd
I've got a little black book with my poems in. Got a bag, got a toothbrush and a comb .When I'm a good dog, they sometimes throw me a bone in.
I got elastic bands keepin my shoes on.Got those swollen hand blues.Got thirteen channels of shit on the T.V. to choose from.I've got electric light.And I've got second sight.Got amazing powers of observation.And that is how I knowWhen I try to get through On the telephone to youThere'll be nobody home.
I've got the obligatory Hendrix perm.And the inevitable pinhole burnsAll down the front of my favorite satin shirt.I've got nicotine stains on my fingers.I've got a silver spoon on a chain.I've got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains.
I've got wild staring eyes.And I've got a strong urge to fly.But I got nowhere to fly to. Ooooh, Babe when I pick up the phone
"Surprise, surprise, surprise..." (from Gomer Pyle show) There's still nobody home.
I've got a pair of Gohills bootsand I got fading roots.

Life looks better now... much better.

Wow, things have been going great lately.

First off, I had an audition for jazz. And the good thing is, I got into the most advanced jazz class at my school! I am so happy. I only played one song for the audition and my teacher said I was in on the spot without hesitation. I was (and am) so happy. And my teacher is hard to please. The band I am in only plays songs by Duke Ellington. Every year our school competes in a compition in NYC called the Essentially Ellington competition. This year we placed 4th, which is outstanding since schools around the word compete, including art and private schools. I go to a public school, so that is even more amazing. Wynton Marsalis (a word famous jazz trumpet player and judge at the competition) said we should have placed 2nd or 3rd... which is amazing. We would have played at a concert at Lincoln Center. Next year I will be flying to New York, I can't wait.

Another thing, I am going to start driving. Today was the last day of school, and I found out all of my grades, and I have a B average. So I will drive. I can't wait, I will finally be able to go to record outlet when I want to, haha. Perhaps I will get a job somewhere.

I talked with a man from the Berklee College of Music, and I asked him questions about the music production and engineering program they have there. it sounds like I will get in when I apply. He said Agoura High School was a very prestigeous school, and it is famous for its music nationwide. That would help me, he said. The fact that I have already started recording will help me on my application too. I am a skilled musician. I play multiple instruments. I have good grades. And that is what Berklee looks for. I am thinking of applying next year and skipping my senior year of highschool. I'll just get my GED (diploma based on a test). After Berklee, I want to go to London to go to a trade school, look in previous posts.

I have decided to become a mod. I like the fashon, the music, the life. I've already got 3 suit jackets, a few ties and polos. And many pairs of levi's. All I need is a lambretta, with lots of lights, chrome, badges, mirrors and horns. I need more money. I'm saving up, I have over $1,000. I want a 200 cc motor though, I am a big man.

I have world cup fever. There, I said it. I want England to win because USA is sucking hard (and I am about 1/4 english or more). We don't deserve to be there... whatever. During my spanish exam, we were actually watching spain play against ukrane because my teacher is from spain. He was going nuts, it was the happiest I had ever seen him. Spain won, 4-0. Too bad I won't see him until next year, he's a great guy. I am currently watching paraguay play Sweden.

I also got tickets to see Roger Waters in october. I can hardly wait, even though Water's voice is fucking shot.

The rickenbacker is great as ever, and my guitar chops are getting better. I love playing green onions by Booker T and the MG's. What a great song to jam to... It allows my jazz roots to show.

I appreciate all of you people wo take the time to read this and comment. Your support is priceless. Cheers.
GMaS!

-Kevin

Woah

I have just realised something. My life has started. Everything I do (in school and at home) is preparation for something in the future. All I have to say is one thing: the future better be fuckin' worth it. I'm bustin' my ass doing school work, and I hope it will have some sort of practical use in one form or another.

My God I hate preparation. May I start to live now? Oh, guess not. Not until I am 18.

Will post later.

-Kevin

I feel better now

My arms are almost back to normal.

I haven't been writing for a while. Its not just because of my arms, but I had nothing to write about.

I had a three day weekend, thanks to memorial day. On memorial day, my dad and I went out. We bought that new David Gilmore album, and it just happens to kick ass. I love it. Then we went to record outlet, where I bought "the wall" by pink Floyd, the best of the kinsmen, and A Quick One/the who sell out double album. All three of which are on vinyl, and I like em all. I saw some beatles stuff on vinyl selling for 35-50 dollars. Are they out of their fucking minds? That's basically rape (to one's wallet, of course). The thing that pisses me off about that store is that they charge soo much on beatles and Zappa stuff. And they are almost always out of Zappa stuff, which really sucks since I am starting to get into his music.

Speaking of music, I was talking to a big executive at JBL (that speaker company) at lunch. He is also a Latin bassist, and he has done a few tours with big Latin groups throughout north and south America. He said he would take me on a tour of the facility sometime soon, including the room where they test the 1,000 watt speakers at full blast. That is going to be awesome. The same guy got me tickets to NAMM, which is a huge exposition of musical equipment. That was a few years ago, and he said he would give me his pass again for the NAMM that is coming up next year. Hex a great guy, a real family man. If they have any internships, I will sign up immediately. That would make a nice summer job.

Better now,
-Kevin

Ouch

Last night, I was playing basketball with some friends and I slam dunked he ball. But I held onto the rim for too long and I pulled some muscles in my forearms. It hurts really bad, so I'll make a longer post after I put some ice on them (both of my arms.) Why the fuck do I always get hurt? I need to be less clumsy I guess.

-Kevin

Foggy saturday.

It has been very strange weather lately. It has been foggy in the morning and then it hits in the high 80's-low 90's in the afternoon. Its just too hot for me. I can't stand the heat, its so uncomfortable.

This week, out school had STAR testing. It really is a stupid test our government makes us take- to be honest, I don't really see how it directy affects me. I'm going out-of-country (I hope) for college, so I don't give a rat's ass. I'm still trying my best on it though. Normally we have half days during this testing, but since there were fires nearby student's houses in september, we have a few days off to make up for and we have normal classes afterwards. At least they're a little bit shorter than usual.

Today I have a trombone lesson. It should be fun, and I am getting the hang of what my teacher has been throwing at me lately. I have made great improvements since last year. Last year I was fourth chair, this year I am first.

As for guitar- I am getting better too. I am just learning as many chords as I can. 7ths, 9ths, diminished, minor, major, augmented etc. I'm not progressing as much as I am with my trombone because I don't get guitar lessons. My dad thinks guitar is sort of a lousy instrument to learn because so many people play it and because of that he thinks that I will never make any money playing guitar. Please- someone set him straight. He is the only person keeping me from being a great guitarist. I have the will and money, but he won't let me pay for it. I just don't get him. And as for the money-making, I don't plan to be a professional guitarist. I just want to do it on the side- a sound engineer and musician part-time.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in the U.S. I hope the weather gets beter though, it is likely to be foggy again throughout the day.

Wow, that was a looooong post.
GMaS!

-Kevin

Mondeee

Lately I have been listening to a lot of The Who's album, "A Quick One". Its really good. And I know that many people don't quite appreciate their early works, to those people, have another listen. It's really good stuff. I canactually play "Heatwave", "Don't Look Away", and a few others that I am too lazy to name.

I've been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd as well. Obscured by Clouds and Atom Heart Mother in particular. I wish I could afford a synth so I could emulate their sound. It is a pity I can't.

I'm gonna go to bed, I have a splitting headache.

KOKO

-Kevin

Sunday sunday sunday!

This week has been good. On friday, I went to Allen's house and jammed. Allen and I on guitar, and Hunter on bass. It was a lot of fun, and we practiced a song together. We had origionally planned on buying a barbecue and cooking some steaks, but Allen diddin't have a barbecue and we diddin't have enough money to buy one. So he said we'd have one by next week. Hooray!
My mom went out of town to Minnesota for most of the week, and she bought me a really nice Who t-shirt from the mall of America. Perhaps I'll post a pic.
Yesterday I went over to my uncle's house to say hi to my grandma who just had a blood clot in her leg. Shes O.K. now. Said hi to my grandpa too, and he is still recovering from shingles. He is doing much better too. Then I helped my uncle move his new tv onto his entertainment center. It looks really nice. After that, my cousin and I played computer games for a while. After that, we had a very nice dinner of fajitas.

That'll be enough for now. Smell you later.

-Kevin

Back to the bloggin' world

I'm back!

Monterey was lots of fun, I got back home on monday. The drive up was a long 5 hours. We went to the aquarium the first day, and it was really fun. I saw the otters being fed, it was pretty cool. If any of you readers go to monterey, the aquarium is a must. I also saw cannery row. Fun stuff. The second day, my highschool band played at 10:30 in the morning by the wharf. There were only 15 people there not including the band, and I was kinda angry because our band is so good and we should have been placed in a better time slot. But I am still greatful that we were invited to begin with. And there was a guy with a little monkey on his shoulder, it was pretty cool. For the rest of the day, we watched all sorts of jazz played, from choral stuff to combos to big bands. at the end of the day, the top three bands play. The winner- Beaverton Highschool, from Beaverton, Oregon played incredibly. Their trumpet player was crazy good, and they played an awesome set. When we got back to the hotel, we played pool until the wee hours of morning. Then we set out home, back on the 5 hour drive home. While we started to drive home, my teacher said whoever could answer the most questions about music correctly would win 10 dollars and a free lunch. And of course, I won. I got a free burger for lunch.

When I got back this week, I had lots of work assigned. That is why I haven't been able to blog.

Will post more today or tomorrow.

GMaS

Monterey

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while first off. I have had loads of homework.

Tomorrow I am leaving to go to Monterey tomorrow for the annual jazz festival. I think the who played there once, way back in 1967. I can't believe that was 39 years ago. I don' think I will be playing any songs because I am in a different jazz band than the one that is playing, but I will be going to some clinics and I will have the oppurtunity to talk to people from the berklee college of music. I want to find out what is necessary to be able to get into their recording school. That would be awesome. Our band will be up there from friday until sunday afternoon, and we will visit the aquarium, boardwalk and shops. It will be great fun. I want to bring my dad's digital camera, but I highly dobut he will let me. I'll try though.

I have been thinking about applying to an engineering school in London, and it seems realistic that I would be able to go there since it costs fortunes less than my brother's college per year. http://www.alchemea.com/index.php
That is the link. I think the only expensive things will be housing and plane tickets (I hope). I need to get out of southern california and move closer to the music I love. Not that I don't love music down here. I need a change in life.

GMaS!

-Kevin

P.S. The guitar is simply amazing!

My guitar!

I love it so much.

Yard Work

Today was start of my spring holiday. I woke up late, around 10:45. It was wonderful. I had my trombone lesson at 12. I am currently working ona transposition of a Miles Davis song, "So What". I am learning the trumpet solo (by miles davis of course). Its fun. After a lunch of quesidillas and cholula hot sauce (which is my hot sauce of choice. I'm going to carry it with me wherever I go from now on.), I went to my cousin'e house to help with yard work. Most of it was throwing stuff into the rented trash bin thing. Rotted logs, old PVC pipe, tree trimmings, old yard furniture and various stuff from the yard. It was hard but fun work. When I picked up a log, I found a huge lizard and picked it up. I wish I could have had a camera on me, he was beautiful. A big blue-belly. There were many other smaller lizards around too. There was one pile of logs in a corner area, and when my uncle picked up a log, a cute little mouse ran out. I felt bad for making it scrounge for a new home, but we had to get rid of the termite and ant ridden logs. After that, my cousin and I played computer games and had some lemon bars that he made. Later we watched TV. Then my dad picked me up, and here I am now. Posting this blog. I'm a bit tired now, so I am going to say goodbye. Since I have next week off, it is possible I will post every day. I'll at least try. Keep on keepin' on.

-Kevin

Good news!

My dad is ordering my guitar tomorrow. It comes back in stock on friday 14, and it should be shipped by sunday 16. I can't wait. And one more thing, I will be driving as of this week. I have this week off due to spring break. I am tired, I'll post more tomorrow. Probably pics.
KOKO

-Kevin

More pics.

More pics of the mountain and pond. Can you guess why they call it ladydface mountain? I took these from the computer room. I can look to my left and see the mountain right now. I ofetn thank my mom and dad for choosing this house in this location. It was a windy day so there is crap floating around on the pond.

Rainy, again

Its a bit rainy here. Here are pictures of my back yard and the unfinished pond that is overflowing with rain water. It took me a while to uplaod the pics, I hope it was not for nothing. Sorry for not posting frequently. Enjoy.

Out for the weekend.

Hey everybody! I am going to be out of town this weekend because I am going to Fresno for a wedding reception. It was my cousin who gat married. I will be back on Sunday or Monday. Just wanted to inform you bloggers and other viewers.

I have some more fantastic news. I just found out that some family friends from Denmark are spending 3 weeks living in my house. My old babysitter from when I was a baby is returning to sunny Southern California on vacation. It will be fun, and I want to learn about life over there. My father said she used to love rollercoasters, so I hope we make a few trips to Six Flags while she is here. She is married and has a 6 year old son who will be turning 7 while he is over here, and he said the only thing he was for his birthday is pizza. That is a good thing, we have 7 or more places to choose from where I live. We'll have to share my room, but thats ok.

GMAS!
-Kevin

Thursday.

Not really much to say. I'll just describe today with you. Hope you viewers out there don't mind.

5:25- my usual starting time. Nowadays, I always wake up before my alarm sounds. I don't know how I do it, I wake up 5-10 minutes before the buzzer goes off. I think it is because I hate the sound of that buzzer on my alarm clock so damn much, I think my body clock adapted for 5 days of the week.

5:35- Got out of bed, immediately noticed how hungry I was, and had a typical breakfast of toast with butter and garlic salt on top (Po' boy's garlic bread) and an orange. I wish I had something more, but there was nothing interesting to eat in the pantry.

6:oh- Hopped in the shower, I always shower in the morning and at night so I don't get my sheets dirty and so my hair looks good in the morning. I wish I could find my comb, though.

6:35- clothes on and ready to go. Watching an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus before I go out to school.

6:45- In the car going to school. It is really cold and the but-warmers in my moms seats are kicking in. Bless you whoever thought of that invention.

7:00- 0 period starts. Spanish class. We did some more crap that I already know. Identifying when to use ser or estar. How or feel or where you are, be sure to use the verb estar. Also did other stuff that relates to health. Estoy enfermo= I am sick.

7:50- Spanish class out. I went to the outdoor stage thingy, sat on the bench and read for a while, then went to Mr. Pickett's class.

8:40- Mr. Pickett's class starts. A girl in my class explained before class how she is on house arrest for getting drunk and hitting a cop. She is only allowed at home or at school, and even has the ankle thingy. Well, that is Agoura for you. We had a lecture about WWII and discussed the atomic bomb, Japanese internment camps, the holocaust, turning points in the war (ex. El Alamein, Iwo Jima) and the devastation the atomic bomb caused. It turns out the atomic bomb at that point in time was not that powerful compared to the ones today. The ones dropped on Japan only had a 2-3 mile radius of total destruction. But the part that was bad about the bomb was the radioactive fallout that was flung into the air after it had exploded. Radiation from the bomb can still be detected in Japanese people today. I feel really bad about that, but if you look at America's options in historical context at that point in the war, it was a good idea to drop the atomic bombs in my opinion. Not only did we save an estimated 1 million American lives, but also up to 5 million Japanese lives because we chose not to invade Japan. My teacher told us that in schools, they were training 7 year old boys how to kill Americans if we were to invade. That would have been terrible. I know, I know, you may be saying something like, "well we shouldn't have dropped the atomic bomb," and what I have to say to that is the following: It would have been a freakin' disaster having to invade Japan (or otherwise). It would be like having another D-Day invasion. Our president had to pick the lesser of two evils.

10:20- Nutrition. Didn't really do much, had a bagel.

10:40- P.E., We played hockey today. In our first game on the first play, the puck was passed to me on the face-off and I scored a goal on my first shot. It wasa pretty sweet, and I was kindly cheered on by my team mates. That was really fun. We won that game 1-0, lost the next game in a shoot out, 2-1 and then we won our last game 3-0. Goooood times.

12:30 ish- Lunch. Had some vitamin water and pizza. Allen and I discussed Friday, we were going to stock up on Dr. Pepper, Cadbury Creme Eggs and some burgers from Carl's. Perhaps a movie rent from Blockbuster. But I have to tell you a story about this pervert we saw while going to stock up two weeks ago. The week before my friend was walking home, and he saw this guy sitting by a tree. He said something like hello, the meadow is beautiful isn't it? My friend replied with a yeah, I have to go. And the guy said to stay and talk with him in a perverse manner and then my friend walked away. The week after, we saw the same guy going to rite-aid. He was staring at me with a wry pedophile grin on his face, and after we passed him I looked back and he was staring at me. Creepy. The next time I walk by him and I see him "eye-molesting me" or something otherwise perverse, I am calling the cops for sexual harassment. This guy has issues, and probably has a thing for boys.

1:30 ish- I have home study, so my dad picked me up to go home. When I got home, I watched some college basketball which was nice. I just sat around for a while.

7:45- Had dinner of pork, bean and spanish rice burritos. Yum.

8:15- Writing this post on my blog. Also chatting with friends.


Well, that is my typical day. I must go do some homework now. Give me a shout!

-Kevin

No snow...

It diddin't snow like the weatherman said it would. It was not quite cold enough, about 37 or so degrees. It did hail very hard this morning though. I went outside and it was pretty big, a little bigger than the size of a pea. It lasted for about a quarter of an hour and it looked like it had snowed. Good enough for me.

Bad news, I got my mom sick with what I had during the week. I hope she feels better soon.

GMaS!

-Kevin

Snow?

I watched the news today, and it said it is supposed to snow here in Agoura at like 2 in the morning. I don't think the snow will last, but I'll update tomorrow. I am not sick anymore, by the way. Thank god that is over.

Flu. Yuck.

I got the flu yesterday. Today was one of, if not the most, crappy day of my life. It took my 5 mins. to get up the stars just to make this post. I havn't had anything to eat for over 2 days, I just can't keep it down. On top of that, I have a fever of around 102 farenheight. It lookslike I am missing another day of school... crap. Now I have to make up work. Oh well. I hope your day was much better than mine. GMAS

-Kevin

Back

I'm back from my non-blogging state, sorry folks. I was rather busy with school work. This week went smooth, and it rained a lot. I love the rain because it seems like every day is 85 degrees and rain is a nice welcomed change of pace. I would rather have extreme cold than extreme heat. Heat makes me dehydrated and gives me headaches.

I guess that's why I want to go to an art school outside the U.S. (U.K. in particular, where it is nice and cloudy). I looked at the berklee college of music in Boston and saw they have a huge recording school but only take in about 200 students for the recording school each year so it seems like a long shot for me to get in. It is based on merit, and now I have good grades so maybe I am not far off after all. We'll have to wait and see. I don't know of many colleges in the U.K., so feel free ,my fine blogers over across the pond, or anyone else, to give me suggestions.

And about the Rickenbacker, it is supposed to come in early to mid april. I can't wait.

GMAS!
-Kevin

HEY!

guitar

the guitar I will recieve in a few months

Tuesday and the weekend.

My three-day weekend is over! noooo... I wish I cherished it more. It was very fun, on friday I hung out with Allen. We 'roll bounced' (went) to carl's for lunch after school then played video games and guitar. Saturday I had a basketball game, which we won. I had over ten points so I had a good game. My team mates finally started passing me the ball nd I only missed a few shots that I took. Later that day, I went to my cousin Matt's house. My younger cousin was having a borthday party and there were about 20 12-13 year old girls yelling and screaming throughout the house. Ughh, I had a massive headache after... On monday I went out to go get my guitar. I went to the guitar center in Northridge and they said they diddin't carry Rickenbackers. I was a little angry at myself for not listening to my mom when she said I should have called to make sure they had my guitar in stock. But on the way there, I spotted a guitar shop. We stopped there and they had a Rickenbacker 330 with fireglo brand new in the box. The problem was it wasin't the colour I wanted and it was 300 dollars more than what I can get online, and the guy selling it did not budge on his offer one bit. So I decided to go another week without a new guitar. The shop I went to is on Tampa Avenue. It was filled to the ceiling with guitars, basses, speakers, cabinets, drum sets, cymbals, records and just about anything else that happens to deal with rock and roll. All of you who are in So. Cal, I advise you to check out this store. They had huse marshall cabinets, fender heads and cabinets and even had a few vistalite drum kits.if you get off the 101 freeway going southbound, get off on tampa avenue and take a left. It is down quite a few blocks on the left side. If you see nordhoff street, you've gone too far and turn around. This place has good deals. Check it out, I almost bought a bass but my mom wouldin't let me until I had to pay for some of my new guitar.

Today was alright. Just another typical tuesday.

Keep on truckin'!

-Kevin

The Boy Who Heard Music

TBWHM is finally over. I Really loved the story and I will miss the week-by-week new chapter thing. It always made me wonder what was going to happen next week, and now it is done. I am a little sad it is over. But I have no idea if I am going to be in the method... to find out what I am talking about, go to http://boywhoheardmusic.blogspot.com/. You'll enjoy it.

Concert

I just got back from my jazz concert. We played (b band) along with our "A" band and lindero's bad at Lindero canyon middle school. That is where I went to middle school and started playing music 5 years ago I think. I met with my old band teacher, Mr. McKagan, which was very nice. I also ran into my trombone teacher and we had a chat before my gig. It sounded awful, though. We played in a huge gymnasium and the reverberation of the concrete walls sounded terrible. It was an enormous echo effect. There were no such things as dynamic levels in that gym. It was all fortissimo. I had fun though, and it sure beat sitting at home doing nothing. More tommorow, I am tired.

-Kevin

Keeping my cool...

Ok, so I diddin't get my guitar yet. I was supposed to get it last week, but my dad was lazy and decided to watch the superbowl instead. So today I did 6 hours of math homework, because my dad threatned me by saying that I would not get my drivers license or guitar anytime soon. I did it, and finished by just before three in the afternoon. He then decided to check every problem, and he yet again weasled his way out of not taking me to get my guitar. He said I was doing some math wrong, but he was corrected yet again. he claims he is helping me by checking my work, but I think it would be better if I did it myself. He is learning from my mistakes, I am not. then he wanted me to sit with him and go over the few problems I had wrong, and I simply told him that I wanted to do it myself, I do not like that tone of voice and that I was not getting the respect that I deserve. It looks like he finally saw my point of view. That is what I hope.

Now I am not even going to try to estimate when I am getting my new guitar.I am barely keeping my cool, and I hope I don't just erupt with firey anger and sailor-like cussing. I can't bottle it up forever, you know?

But on a happier note, I played that game my cousin gave me called Age Of Empires III today. It is really fun. And I watched a little olympic action today, it looks great on the new TV that I got a few months ago.

KMC (Keeping my cool)
-Kevin

Wednesday

Ahh, wednesday, the middle of the week. I was sick tuesday, I woke up with a splitting headache so I stayed home and slept. As some of you may know, sunday was my birthday. It turns out that I diddin't get a guitar because my parents were "too busy" because of the superbowl. I was very angry, because all I asked from them was a guitar. I even offered to pay for more than half of it if it was financial burden. I specified which guitar I wanted (Rickenbacker 360 w/ Jetglo) and now my dad is threatening to not give me one because, "(you) are giving me attitude". Attitude for what? YOU are the one who broke a promise and basically devistated me. How dare you. How fucking dare you. I have every right to give you attitude... My dad values a fucking (american) football game over me. That is complete bullshit. And then, worst of all, he invited family over when I was supposed to have a Bruce Lee movie marathon. Not that I don't love my family, but I had plans that I had to bail out on. I gotta go do homework. Will post soon. KOKO,

-Kevin

Jay Leno

Hey everybody! I am really happy this morning (at 6 o' clock) becuase right after school, I got tickets to see Jay Leno for my birthday! I am really excited! My trombone teacher plays in the tonight show band, so he was able to hook me up with tickets. If you can, watch it tonight! You might see me in one of the seats. Do you get the tonight show in the U.K.? Just wonderin'. KOT.

-Kevin

5 facts

Five facts about myself

1. My eyes change color. Sometimes they are blue, sometimes they are green or slighty hazel.

2. My dream car is a Jaguar XKE from the 60's. If not a car, my dream motorcycle is a pre-40's BMW without a sidecar, and my dream scooter is the ace-face's scooter in Quadrophenia the movie. I believe it is a lambretta.

3. I lost 20 pounds from simply not eating as much as I normally would. Really people, its that easy.

4. I am a big fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus. I watch it all the time now that I have BBC America.

5. Two of my favorite forms of music besides rock are Spanish guitar, and mariachi (Hugo Montenegro in particular). I can listen to that music for hours straight...

KOT, will post tomorrow.

-Kevin

Post #60

Hooray! today is my 60th post. I thought I'd celebrate.

On sunday, it was my grandfather's 90th birthday. He has been having back problems and he has recently (semi) recovered from shingles and gall bladder surgery. He was very happy, all of my cousins and I gave him an album full of photos and stuff written about memmories we had. It cheered him up, and it seemed like he had no pain for a while. He also got a video iPod. I am really jelous, he is 75 years older than me and he has an iPod. I am really out of the technology loop. I was very happy though, I got 75 dollars for my birthday from relatives that will be put into the guitar fund. I got all B's and A's so I am expecting a guitar. If not, maybe a car or some money. I hope. The car thing is a slim to none chance. Nothing much happened besides that, so I am going to bed now, I'll post tomorrow I hope.

-Kevin

P.S. Mr. Townshend's blog is really fun. Even though everyone else is smarter than me.... hahah.

Finals: Day Two

Today was much easier today class-wise. I had Spanish (part 2), Jazz, and P.E. I am nearly positive that I got an A on the spanish final. In Jazz, we sight read a few charts and did some busy work around the band room (organize equipment, clean, organize music). Later on in P.E., I found out that I diddin't have to run the mile to maintain an A+ because I did a lot of extra credit during the beginning of the year. That was nice, because I knew I diddin't have a ride home, and I would have had to walk 2-3 miles. So, I went to carl's jr (a burger joint) with my friend allen. After that, I went to his house and we played video games and guitar. He tought me a drill and some tips that allow me to play notes faster on guitar. It has helped a lot, I just practiced it for an hour and I am seeing results. I really want to give my fingers strength and agility so I can become a better guitar player overall. My fingers are aching, it seems they are getting faster and faster each time I play something. Gotta go practice some more! I'll play the strings 'til my fingers are raw.

-Kevin

P.S. My birthday is on 5 feb. I hope a new guitar arrives.

Finals: Day One

Today was my first day of finals. I had to take history and english today. I got a score of 93% on my history final which raised my grade to an 85%, and I am not sure what I got on my english final. The english final was the hardest test I have had in my life. Thanks to my finals, I got out at 12:30.

When I got home, I started to record a little on a song that I have been working on. The sound so far is not very full; there are no drums, keyboards, acoustic guitar, bass or anything like that. I'll try to go buy some cheap midi keyboard soon. As of now, I have to use a metronome. I never realised how tedoius recording can be. It took me 2 hours for 45 seconds of music. So for every 182 seconds I spend recording, I get one second of complete sound. That's a little pain, but I guess I will have to deal with it. Music that is rushed never sounds good, so I know I must be patient to get the results I want. Once I have a few finished songs under my belt (I'll probably do summertime blues as one song), I will procede to make a myspace music account so all can hear my stuff. All this sitting around has made me sleepy. I'm gonna go have a siesta (nap). KOKO.

-Kevin

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is one of the best movies I have seen in a while. I watched it today for the 2d time. Russel Crowe did a good job acting and the plot was very good. If you have the chance, go rent it.

Imagine my strange expirence

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

-John Lennon

I love that song. It has been in my head for a while and I wanted to post the lyrics for no particular reason.

I had a weird dream a few days ago, and I can't believe that I remembered it. Good thing I am going to document it. There were hundreds of thousands of people in this enormous coliseum and everything was white except skin tone and hair color. I was sitting in the very last row in the corner and I was so far away that I couldin't tell what was going on. It was completely silent and there was no back rest or anything behind me, it was just a sheer drop off. There was this guy next to me with a small vial of black dye, and he opened it and started to pour it on my perfectly white shoes. I asked him to stop it, while breaking the silence, but he gave me a puzzled look as if he didn't understand a word I said. Then he continued to pour it, so I gave him a nudge and he fell off. I looked over the edge and I saw him fall into a slowly flowing river. He quickly went out of sight, and as I looked at the water, there were thousands of bombs and torpedoes swimming in the water like a large school of fish. They swam in unison, in zig-zags, swirls and circles. It was very odd. Then I looked back into the enormous stadium and found no one there. I was very sad, and I was yelling out for somebody. Then I woke up, and I had a really weird feeling in my gut. Like when it feels like your stomach hits the ground when you break something on accident or forget something important. But then I realised I was awake and everything was ok. I made sure to remember it, which is a hard thing to do.

Sorry for slacking on the blog, I have finals next week do I have been studying very much. Leave a comment, GMAS.

-Kevin

Three-day-awesomenessss

Huzzah! I have a three day weekend due to martin luther king jr. day. On friday, my ear was hurting during jazz band (I sit right in front of the drumset and trumpets) and I had to cover my ear, But since my jazz teacher is basically a fucking jackass, he made me play or else he threatned me to fail. So I started playing, and I realised I couldin't hear out of my right ear after class. It was one of the scariest things that has happened to me and I was praying that it was only temporary. So I went home and cleaned it out and it just turned out to be all blocked up, but it was still hurting. It is fine now, I guess it was all temporary. Thank God, I've learned my lesson and now I am going to take good care of my ears. Later that day, I went over to my cousins and played computer games for abour 7 hours straight. It was weeks before I saw him last, so I was really happy to see him. On saturday, I had a basketball game. We only had 5 players, so I had to play the whole game. It was a lot easier than I had expected, but it was hard nonetheless. I scored 8 points and had over 5 rebounds. I played alright. I can't remember when, but some time during the game I got punched or elbowed in the kidney. It hurt really bad and I was pissin' blood after the game, but now I'm fine. It's just a bit bruised now. Today I just cleaned out my closet did laundry and tried out this new robot vaccum. It works well when there isn't much furniture. I told you that I got a recording studio for Christmas, but I am sorry to say that I will not have any music completed for a few weeks. I have finals to study for, and I don't have a drum machine so I can't lay down any beats. I have a few ideas recorded, but I also need a keyboard or a piano for that. Just wait until my finals are over, there will be music done quickly. GMAS.

-Kevin

Good. Veryyy good.

I don't know why, but this seems like the happiest I have been in my life. Like this year, not exact moment. There is nothing seriously wrong with my health (last year I had a sprained MCL, and I had a limp for over 6 months), I have good grades, I am going to get guitar lessons soon, I have sparked my musical career with the recording studio (I'll have some music done within a few weeks, I need a drum machine and a keyboard before I do any work), my friends treat me nicely, I've met some very nice people on the internet and I am just loving life. I know I am only going to be at this age once in my life, so I am taking advantage of it and I am livin' it up. This year has flown by, and it blows my mind to think that I am almost half way through high school. Spooky. As soon as I know it, I'll be out in the real world. I wish I could be a little kid again, when we had recess and nap time. When I was sheltered from all the bad things in the world and when life was so simple. When the biggest decisions in your mind were which crayon to color with or what disney movie to watch.Well, we haven't found the fountain of youth so I best not think about it too much. I hope this happy streak lasts forever, even though I know it won't. Ok, ok. Enough with all that happy-crappy.

This week has been very good, I am enjoying school for once. I am dropping jazz (I am still going to pursue jazz outside of school) and taking either phsycology or film appreciation for my second semester. I don't know which. I don't care too much now, I have plenty of time to think. I absoloutely love spanish, even though I have to wake up at 5:30 to get ready for it. My teacher is awesome, and I hope I have him next year for spanish II. At lunch today, my friend told me about life in Taiwan. He goes there every summer, and it sounds so nice. I hope I go there someday. I have to go now. KOKO, blah blah blah.

-Kevin

Picture

There is a picture of me on christmas day, I had to cut out some reletaves because they might be angry if I left them in. I love them, but I don't want to piss off anybody.

There is me with a jackasstic smile on my face, christmas eve.

Me an' my doc's on christmas eve. In my other earlier photos, you couldin't see my face so I thought I'd post a recent photo. My hair is a little longer though. Had to black out another relative.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!
GMAS and KOT, KOKO etc.

-Kevin

TGIF

Thank god it is friday, althought I only had four days of school, it felt like an eternity. In a few weeks I have finals, and I found out that on the 27th that I don't have to go to school. I don't have to go to school at 7, I already took my math final (so I won't go to that class), and for 6th period I have home study. That means I get friday off. Hooray, martin luther king jr. day is coming up and I get another day off. Enough about all that day off rubbish.

Yesterday night I had another basketball practice for the forst time in a few weeks. Our team scrimmaged 5 senoirs and we got killed. I am the tallest guy on my team and their tallest guy had 4 inches and about 60 pounds on me so I got "worked" by him. I still managed to get 8 rebounds and 8 points. I am still sore, it lasted 2 hours.

The other day I finally used my iTunes gift card and bought A quick one by the who and obscured by clouds by the pink floyd. Both of which I like, and I will write about one of them later. They cost 10 bucks apice, and now I only have 5 dollars left to spend. Its not enough to buy another album so I feel kinda bummed. I prefer buying songs by the album because I would have never herd the song heatwave, for example. You find songs that you never thought you'd like. I am going to go meet up with a friend and go jam at his house. I have to cut it short (once again) . I have had "Heatwave" by the who stuck in my head all day and I absoloutely love it. It is not very common to like a song stuck in your head. Well at least in my case. Rachel got a myspace, and I'm really happy. Before you know it she'll have an AOL screen name (I hope!).

-Kevin

P.S. If you do have a screen name for AOL, mine is imgoinmobile which is inspired by the song goin' mobile, one of my favorites. Keep on truckin'!

I'm back.

I finally got back from mammoth yesterday. I was up there with my mom, dad, aunt, uncle, cousin and their dog. I had 2 cousins that diddin't show up and I was kinda sad because they're really fun. The dog is named Missy, and she is one of the mellowest dog's I've seen. But sometimes she goes up to you and rests her head on yer leg with a pupy dog face asking for a scratch. I can't say no to those faces so I have to scratch her, but if I don't, she starts clawing and eventually gives up and goes to someone else. If I had a dog, I'd pray for one like Missy.

The first day I was up there, I went skiing and it was pretty fun. I had to get ski rentals because I grow too much each year so I can't have my own skis. They diddin't have boots my size anywhere so I had to cram my boats (feet) into U.S. 13s, 2 sizes smaller than what I normally wear. It was the biggest mistake of my life, and to make a long story short, my pinky toes are blue, not pink. The good thing is is that I only felt it after I was done skiing, it was so cold that I couldin't feel my feet. The mountian was groomed alright for the most part but I hit a deep patch of powder and my knee twisted pretty bad. that really hurt, but now its feeling a lot better.

The second day it was snowing really hard so we sat at home and watched Monty Python's Flying Cricus and some W.C. Fields movies. Both of which I enjoyed very much.

The third day we played monoploy all day, for about 6 hours actually. My dad and I won most games and I must say that my dad would make a decent salesman. Later that night (New Years) we went to a really fancy seafood restaraunt and I had some 30 dollar chilean sea bass. I think I found a new favorite fish. It is white like halibut, and it has a similar texture. Just succulant. Go try it viewers out there, it is the best type of fish that I have had.

Tomorrow I have to wake up at 6 in the morning for school. I know, it really does sound like fun. And for that reason, I am going to go to bed now. Give me a shout!

-Kevin

P.S. the internet access diddin't work up there so I could not make another post up there in mammoth. Sorry for neglecting my blog.