Dumps.

I want to be stripped of all those things that prevent me from fulfilling my potential and get me to moments like this, where I sit in bed and engage in a staring contest with the glare of a Macbook. There are so many things I could and should be writing right now, but can’t because of yearning.

There are fewer low moments than the slow burn of returning to my routine. The romantic in me wants to say I miss New York, though I felt the mood coming on well before I boarded the bus.

That’s my other problem, being the romantic. I’m far too easily swept up in the moment. I make that eye contact, get smitten, and then get crushed by news of “she’s seeing someone” and/or distance. Then I curse myself for having that feeling, fleeting as it was, because it’s silly and wholly unfounded. Then I beat myself up for beating myself up, until I find myself here, yearning and loathing and yearning again.

Then I remember “this too shall pass,” and most likely turn something on that will turn my mind off.

The Walkmen Shovel Snow

One of The Walkmen’s new video is for a track called “While I Shovel Snow.” Which is funny since I the album “You & Me” got me through that rough winter of 2009. Two years later, it looks like they’ve put another album out (and had one more in the interim that I missed).

Also, I’m tired of snow. I never complain about winter but enough. Tired, tired, tired. I want it all to go away.

This song is gorgeous, though.

Note: Way for Pitchfork’s embed code to suck a dick. Here’s the link instead.

Should I be regretting these pants? Because I don’t.

Seriously, I kinda like them.

And now, a bonus picture of Zoe being adorable.

Dwayne MacDuffie Passes Away

Dwayne McDuffie has passed away.

Comic book fans will no doubt be aware of McDuffie through his work in animation and comic books. Notably, he was a co-creator of DC Comics’ “Milestone” line, an effort to bring minorities more exposure in the super-hero Universe. Though the line eventually folded, characters such as Static endured and set a standard for ethnic awareness amongst a largely whitebread industry that resonates to this day.

It would be no exaggeration to say that as far as portrayals of race and race representation are considered, McDuffie dragged the industry kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

In addition to his work with Milestone, McDuffie was a cult favorite for his production work on the animated “Justice League Unlimited” series, as well as many other critically and commercially successful DC Comics direct-to-video animated features. He also had stints writing “Justice League of America” for DC Comics and “Fantastic Four” for Marvel Comics.

News broke through the blogosphere and Twitter, with many creators expressing their condolences. From all accounts, he was a gentleman with an unparalleled work ethic and vision.

No cause of death has been released as of this writing.

Crank File: Presidents Day & My Broken Ass

I think it’s some bull that we’ve had 44 Presidents and yet only get ONE SINGLE DAY off for Presidents Day. If the Founding Fathers could see how we desecrate the position with a measly three-day weekend, they’d pee on us…accidentally, of course, because they’d go to the bathroom outside. Because that was like hundreds of years ago, and putting them in our shoes is about as intellectually dishonest as you can get.

Adding to my crank file this morning: as I was walking to work I slipped in front of a house whose residents haven’t seemed to pick up a shovel in weeks, nor do they know what “rock salt” is or where to purchase it. Unfortunately I didn’t hurt myself enough to sue, only to bruise my left arsecheek something fierce. So every time I shift in my chair, I feel a sharp pain.

I regret their laziness, and having to come in to work today.

Did I mention that I’m going on about only three hours of sleep? Well, I’m going on about only three hours of sleep. If that.

Someone Please Decipher This Dream

A few weeks ago, I had a dream that I was in a band called Iron Maiden. I say this because even though they were called Iron Maiden and their songs were all the same songs as the real Iron Maiden, the members of this band clearly were not Iron Maiden.

Got that?

We’re lying in a field, the five of us. The group is four Brits and I, all of us sporting that stereotypical metal dude look that was so prevalent in the 80s. We were there to be part of a festival in Troy and had expected to be given a prominent spot, but were still waiting to be told when we were going to play.

I kept asking a guy, presumably our band’s leader, when we were going to play. I was getting impatient.

“Keep your pants on, mate! We’ll get on there!”

He then mocked me for asking when we were going to play. I told him I didn’t think it was inappropriate for us to ask where we were on the bill.

He said “just having a piss with ya, mate. We’re headlining so we won’t be on until later.”

Having calmed down, I said I was going to go and do some shopping and would meet up with them again in about fifteen minutes. When I came back, they were gone and onstage with somebody else playing guitar in my place.

“Hey!” I screamed once I got onstage. “What the f*** is this?!”

Our leader, who was also the lead singer, laughed and said “thanks to ____ for filling in!”

We played the rest of our show and when we were done, I told them I was quitting the band.

Again, we were not THE Iron Maiden. We were simply another band that happened to be called Iron Maiden.

WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS DREAM MEAN?

Cat Empathy

Was trying to get some writing done and getting nowhere, mostly due to a downturn and a case of what they call “the blues,” I guess. At this point my cat decided she’d had enough of me feigning progress.

When I’m hitting my lowest of lows emotionally, this cat suddenly and inexplicably becomes uber-affectionate.

Thanks, Zoe. You’re a damn good kitty and a comfort for this complicated human.

 

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A Quick Word About the Grammys

Nobody should be shocked that musicianship seems to take a backseat at The Grammys.

I don’t know if it’s getting worse, per se. Like you I’m appalled at most of the performances and nomination lists. I mean, if you thought the five nominees were the best five albums of 2010, you don’t listen to much music…and you probably don’t like music all that much in the first place.

Which is the whole point.

The Grammys isn’t about music and isn’t supposed to be. On paper it’s going to award the “best music,” but in reality it’s a system that’s set up to ensure nominees that will maximize the number of eyes on television sets.

How else do you explain an awards show in 2011 that features Tom Petty amongst its performers?

The Arcade Fire were able to sneak through and be the Grammys token “see, see?! there’s some legitimacy!” award. It’s not as if they’re hurting for attention or recognition, however. That’s not to slam them, either. I loved “The Suburbs” and I’m glad given the other nominees that they won. But the fact remains that it was actually a very popular album with a lot of buzz around it, and it sold very well. This is not an unknown dark horse at 50-1 with a fat jockey on its back beating Secretariat, it just looks that way because they have somebody onstage banging on a bicycle.

Even other acts that people said “now there’s real music” I take issue with. Mumford and Sons are a perfect example. Rarely have I seen a group more overrated and uninspired, but they jam with old-timey instruments so that makes them different. To my ears it’s fratboy bluegrass devoid of passion and soul while desperately trying to carve a niche as indie by throwing the word “fuck” into their first single. Yet you’d think, given the reaction on Twitter, that they had showed up to save the Grammys from Justin Bieber;  playing the same exact chords in the a manic rhythm creating a wall of sound that nearly obscures their inability to write a proper song arrangement.

They’re Muse with a banjo. But I digress.

I can’t get outraged about the Grammys, because I haven’t ever held it in any esteem. Anybody who thinks a choice was awful last night wasn’t around when Jethro Tull won the inaugural award for “Best Heavy Metal Album” (if you think you’re confused you should see Jethro Tull’s bewildered acceptance speech).

That said, I am surprised that in the last couple years they’ve gone so far off the rails of what’s even popular. Reading through the performers and nominees, I became convinced that the industry hacks that used to nominate and vote on the awards have been replaced by your grandparents and your 11-year-old nieces and nephews.

But, hey, at least Lady Gaga had that wonderful tribute to Robin Williams’ titular character in “Mork & Mindy.”

It’s Time.

Was lounging on the couch and the old bitch (my cat Zoe) decided to let me know in her own way that it was time for bed.

Why I Need a New Job

(warning: may be NSFW due to language)

So yeah, who’s hiring?