I guess you could say I’ve been on a rare “hot streak” these past few weeks. I got a new job at Nordstrom, that I absolutelylove!Not only that, but they’ve already promoted me from sales associate to “stylist”. Which is more or less the same thing, except that my business comes mostly from appointments, I get a slight pay raise, and my own iPhone. Pretty pumped about that. I’m legit now.
Secondly, for those that read this blog every now and then, you may remember a post a did a few months back titled Maybe? In that post, I described the X Factor audition process I went to, and told you guys I’d update you when I hear anything. Well….it’s been a few weeks. The live taping will be at The Sprint Center in KCMO on June 8th and 9th. If you can, you should go…………..
This is some much needed inspiration to get me started today. Love you darling.
(Source: looblue, via fuckyeahmercury)
In a goal to keep up with my tumblr, I am going to try and make a few posts a week. Instead of the sporadic once in a while thing. That being said, today I have a favor to ask all of my followers. All three of you. I hope you all will heed the call, I know I am.
Antennas Up, as you well know, is a great band that I spent two years of my life playing with. We went on some great tours, played some great shows, and had some great times together. Now, their newest album “The Awkward Phase” is getting ready to “drop” as the kids are saying. I was there for the inception of this album. It’s been two years in the making, and I can tell you after hearing it…it’s definitely been worth the wait. Not only is it easily their best work, but dare I say…one of the best albums to come out of KCMO in quite sometime. They are assuredly on to bigger and better things, and I wish them all the best of luck. That’s where you come in.
The have started a “kickstarter” page to raise money to get them promoted on national radio. You can find the link to their page, right here. Trust me when I say that you will be glad you did. You can pledge so many different amounts, and all gets you a sweet prize…the album. Again, I don’t usually do this unless it’s for a good cause. I hate asking people for things. But, this is something we can all get behind. A great local band looking to take it to the next level. Won’t it be great one day for you to look back when these guys are selling out arenas around the world, or playing Coachella and saying to yourself…”Man, I am glad I gave to their kickstarter”?? Won’t it? Also, this may be for a bit of a selfish reason too. I do have vocal cameos on two of their tracks. Definitely a career highlight for me!
In closing, I implore you to not be an asshole, and just help somebody out who needs it. This isn’t charity, but an investment on awesomeness. If you stopped going to Starbucks every morning for one week, you’d have more than enough to help them. Do I sound like an animal shelter commercial yet? Good! That’s all for today folks, please help a great band, and my great friends achieve their dreams.
Much love
-B-
My child has is five months old today. I can’t believe that sentence really. Not so much the part about five months have passing ..(although it came and went rather swiftly). No, what I can’t believe still, is that I am a dad. I still get weirded out when I’m talking to other people, and this comes out of my mouth: “yeah, my kid is five months old”. I mean…my kid. I am still shocked that people keep leaving me alone with her, and that I haven’t caused her some sort of irreparable damage. But, so far I haven’t. As crazy as it all is though, I can’t imagine my life without my little peanut now. I love her dearly.
One thing I will tell people about being a new parent is this: you don’t know anything. Seriously…you don’t. What I mean by this is when it comes to baby things, everyone has their opinions, and I do mean everybody! Most of them mean well, and some of them are just trying to let you know how awesome of a parent they are, by telling you all about their homemade, gluten free, cloth diaper, baby utopia. But the bottom line is, not even the super momsknow everything. Do whatever works for you, and try not to lose your sanity. I almost have several times.
You see, a couple of nights ago my kid was sick or something. I don’t know exactly, because she can’t FUCKING TALK! Regardless of what it was, something was assuredly bothering her. How do I know this? Because for almost four hours straight, from 1:22am till around 5:33am…(I know, I watched the clock) she just screamed. You start to feel exhausted, helpless, and broken. You just want to know what the HELL TO DO!!! Nothing worked, and I mean nothing. Rocking, walking, swinging..etc. She was upset. As frustrating as it was for my wife and I, I couldn’t help but think about she felt. She can’t tell us what’s wrong, and she’s still a human being. It’s like having an itch just out of your reach. No matter what you do, you just can’t get it. Such was our plight that night.
At that point, you start to second guess everything you’ve been doing for the past five months. Are we rocking her too much? Are we feeding her too much? Is she uncomfortable in her bed? Why doesn’t she have any hair yet? The bottom line is…you just don’t know. It’s all about trying new things. What works for some, might not work for you. It’s tough not knowing. Like I said, you feel completely lost and helpless. But, that’s alright. Everyone feels that way sometimes. When she finally did go to sleep, and I picked her up to take her to day care, she opened her eyes, looked at me, and smiled the biggest gummiest grin I could imagine. My heart melted, and by the time I got home that night, the previous night was all but forgotten.
Why do you care about my five months of parenting? Chances are, you probably don’t. I know I don’t tend to care about things like that myself. Truth be told, I was up at 5am this morning feeding my kid, and I got her all day long. So, it’s more like a stream of consciousness, making myself feel better, tired kind of thing. Either way, that’s what I have been doing lately. I hope I don’t bore you guys too much. Last year, my subject matter was probably far more interesting to you. That being said, I gotta go. Someone is getting hungry. I hope I am feeding her right. :)
-B-
I don’t usually say this publicly, but holy shit. My wife is pretty amazing. She is like super mom or something tonight, I wish I had her mojo sometimes. I could not do this “dad” thing without her. My kiddo was screaming for hours straight, and I suddenly realized that perhaps I was an unfit parent. Then, momma bear swooped in and made it all go away. Jesus Christ. These nights are the toughest. And with that, I’m out.
It occurred to me that I haven’t updated this thing in quite a while. For that my fellow tumblrs, I sincerely apologize. There actually has been some cool stuff happening lately. A lot of which I cannot address at this time directly. I mean, I guess I can….but I don’t want to chance breaking the rules. Trust me…this will all make sense soon. So, as per the guidelines laid out to me, I will address them indirectly as best as I can.
Two weeks ago was the first time in two years that I haven’t been at the SXSW music festival in Austin TX. Two years ago was an especially memorable one for me. It was my first time going, and I got a chance to play on the official showcase. Something that a lot of my other friends in bands still haven’t had the opportunity to do to this day. As great as that was, last year was no joke either. It started out in Springfield MO with my good buddies in Ha Ha Tonka, and ended somewhere in a drunken blur. You can read all about last years adventures right here.
To say I missed it, would be an understatement. Looking back on these old posts, and seeing pictures of me an the AU boys, always brings a smile to my face. As a matter of fact, next month will mark the one year anniversary of the last time I performed onstage with anyone. Not only that, but it will mark the one year anniversary of finding out I was having a child. Even more insane. I won’t forget that phone call as long as I live. But…I digress. While most of my friends in the music “bizz” were getting an assault on all senses in the craziness of SXSW, I was doing something else music related.
My mother-in-law made me aware of a competition that the local Kansas City Fox affiliate was having a few weeks ago. It was a video submission competition for the Simon Cowell singing extravaganza “The X Factor”. You submit a video of you singing a song, and then the Mix 93.3 DJ’s, as well as the people who work at the station pick the winners. Winning got you an early audition spot in front of the “X Factor” brass, and a better chance at winning 5 million dollars. Right? Right. So on my day off three weeks ago, I sat up my cell phone as sang my best rendition of “Edge of Glory” by the one and only Lady GaGa. You can watch the video here if you so chose.
Honestly, I sent it in and expected nothing at all. Truly. I was just really trying to take my mind off of the fact I wasn’t partying at SXSW this year. But, something crazy happened. I got a phone call at work three days later, and wouldn’t you know it….I won the damn thing. Technically, there were three winners. But, I’d like to think I was the first choice. Either way, I drove up to Kansas City the following week and got in line with the rest of the hopefuls. The whole time hoping that no one I knew would see me.
To say I looked, and felt out of place at these auditions would be the understatement of the century. I wore a flannel shirt, skinny black jeans, steel toed red winged boots, mirrored shades, and even grew a mustache. Think off duty 70’s era cop and then you have my look pretty much nailed down. I grew my stache for March Mustache Madness, and decided….”What the hell”? If they truly are looking for someone different, then why try to change for these guys? Well…maybe it worked.
All I can say at this point is my audition went way better than I planned it. Instead of only taking one day, it ended up taking almost three. That’s where this whole “what can I say about it” thing comes into play. I wish I could tell you everything that happened, but I am not allowed to talk about anything beyond that. All I can say is this: keep your fingers crossed for Topaz. Maybe something will finally work out for me. Even if it doesn’t, it was a pretty crazy process. So if FOX asks you, you were never here. In a few weeks time, I’ll be able to tell everyone anything I want to. Until then, it’s back to work and business as usual. I’ll keep you all posted.
-Until next time-
-B-
Gonna go ahead and say a big “fuck yeah” on this one.
(Source: fuckyeahmercury)
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FYI Kansas City people: you might be seeing my face or hearing my voice today. That’s all I can say at press time. Just keep those eyes and ears open. More specifically, watch Fox 4 today. Thank you.
Totally wasn’t aware that there was a porn community on tumblr. Suddenly, I have a renewed interest in it.