Moving on up!

So, after packing, lifting, and driving all my shit, I'm in my new place now. It's not that far from the other place in Colchester. I am, however, closer to the bowling alley. I'm about 5 minutes away, in fact. The "Summer of Jeff" can now officially start. I'm in a bowling league, I joined summer league ultimate (shocking, I know), and I'm soon going to join a gym. One of my roommate's family owns one, so it's not as proactive as it appears. Weddings are starting up again this month, so I'll actually have money to spend on trivial things like food and rent. Yes, the Summer of Jeff is about to begin. Stay tuned for all the sordid details. Well, as sordid as they can get at bowling league.

Sdtk: The birds yelling at each other in the woods behind my condo.

Bailout Money

So, I'm sitting here on Jer's couch writing ANOTHER blog entry. Amazing! Yes, I do sit on Jer's couch an awful lot. For those of you who don't know, I still work Mon and Tues in Middlebury. Instead of commuting back and forth to Burlington, I sleep on Jer's couch. I feel like all my years on the road has prepared me well for this.

Anywho, The Grift is in "Bailout Mode". We're trying to get some money to help stimulate the production of our CD. Having spent all our money on making the music side of things, we need more to actually get physical copies of it. So, we've set up a way for people to get digital copies of the album now, before it's released, with the option to get a physical copy later. It's all explained at this handy address: click me!

Although it doesn't say it...you can get the digital download of the album with any donation above $10. So, say, you donate $15, you'll receive the digital now and the physical when it's finally reproduced.

Also, how about that speech last night by Obama. I just liked the way he shook hands in the beginning. Respectful of the magnitude of the occasion but not stifled by the pomp and pageantry. Also, how about the "Republican Response". It's like they forgot that they've been in power for the last 8 years. For a political party that represents the interests of the more privileged sections of the country, they sure do play the victim well. My favorite was when Jindal was talking about the need for privatized health care: "We think Health Care should be between you and your doctor". I could only laugh at that. When in the past 20 years has health care been between you and your doctor without the not-so-subtle guiding hand of for-profit insurance companies. I mean, do Republicans ever actually go to the doctor?

SDTK: J.Geils Band - "Centerfold"

I'm back, Baby!

Howdy, again. So what's with the prolonged absence? Um...I don't know for sure. Let's just just say I'm happy to be back. A lot has changed since I last posted. We have a new President, I moved to Burlington, I went to Mexico, I read a book about pick-up artists, I did about 100 crossword puzzles, I bought bowling shoes, and a lot more. Of all these things, I choose to talk about my bowling shoes.
They are pretty damn sweet, huh? I found I was bowling a lot and spending $3 on shoe rentals every time. I'm not necessarily the thriftiest person you've met, but I'm close and I figured, why not? At $3 a pop, with $39 bowling shoes, after the 13th time they're free from then on! You can't argue with that math. Especially because I've pretty much bowled at least once a week since the start of 2009. I'm getting my hook down and everything. If I could get a more stable schedule, I'd definitely join a league. I think of bowling as "winter golf". Considering how long stupid winter is here, I figure it's good to have a hobby. Sure, Rockefeller, I could snowboard, but considering how iffy the banks are with loans these days, I'd rather eat.

Speaking of Rock and bowling: Thursday marks a high point in my musical career. My first gig at a bowling alley. That is, if you don't count the show in Chicago at the banquet hall that had 4 lanes in the basement. It wasn't a "bowling alley" per se. Thursday my new side project, The Schrizzz, plays at Spare Time in Colchester and I couldn't be more psyched. The only thing better might be a strip club, but I've played for strippers before...that's another story for another time...
I'll let you all know how it goes.

Sdtk: The theme music for Halo 3 as I sit on Jer's couch writing this.

Doppel Ganger

So the new album is done...sort of. We still have to mix and master it and come up with the artwork. All very important and time intensive things, but it's hard to be patient when all of my work is done. Patience, grasshopper.

Also, I'm trying to motivate to pack for my move back to Burlington. My self-imposed hermitage in Middlebury has been nice, but it's time to move back and rejoin society (read: hang out with girls). So, I'm moving up this week sometime (I hope). I've started packing a little, but have reached the point where it's a little overwhelming figuring out what to do next. I'd really like to go through everything I own and thin the herd as I go but I'm pretty much at the level of motivation where I throw everything in garbage bags, load up the trailer, and sort it all out when I get there. Is that wrong?

SDTK: La Fille D'Autostop - Das Grift

Time keeps on slipping...

That's right. Nice work, America. The Grift is in the middle of recording our new album (get ready for a shock) and we had a nice break on Tuesday to watch the returns come in. Nothing is more inspiring than inspiration. It's kind of fun to be doing something momentous in your professional life and have it dwarfed in scope by something momentous for the world. No matter how long we play in the band, we'll always get to remember the good time we were having when America stepped up to the plate and knocked one out of the park.

Sdtk: A president who once again speaks in cohesive sentences...finally.

NYC Bound

After a busy weekend, I'm headed out tomorrow for 6 days on the road. Two showcase shows with Jer Coons at Arlene's Grocery in NYC, a couple weddings and a benefit show. Busy, busy, busy. That's ok, it distracts me a little from worrying about the upcoming election and will fill my time until the new NFL season starts this week. Lots of stuff packed into this little post, but that's how it works when I've got less than 12 hours to eat, pack, and sleep before hitting the road.

Sdtk.: The clock ticking...

Suh-weet!

I just made an amazing discovery: my TV has Picture-in-Picture!!! I tried the buttons a YEAR ago when I first got cable in my apartment and they didn't work. Or so I thought. It turns out you just have to press on them harder than you might think at first. I found this out by dropping the remote on my end table and poof! up pops the magic screen. It also works with the DVR. I can now watch taped Daily Shows while keeping an eye on the Red Sox. Currently I'm watching my first Pre-Season NFL game and the Olympics at the SAME TIME!! I love it. Truly, truly love it. So much so that I'm not even mad I haven't discovered it until now.

Also, I am way into the Olympics at this point. I had to record last nights women's gymnastics all-around and watch it today.

SDTK: "You gotta be kidding me?! Picture-in-Picture?!" (Minor dance party ensues)