MONDAY FEBRUARY 12TH 2001
It’s been more than two weeks since I last wrote. I’ll start from the beginning…of the end. The plan was to leave after the Super Bowl party at Kelly’s house. I watched the first half here while I packed my suitcase then I walked to Denny’s down the road to eat with Wayne and Duane. I told them all about how I didn’t look forward to driving the van across the country…especially with the fat bass player that agreed to fill in. By the second half of the game I was relieved to find out that he’s not the “real deal”. He backed out. Matt contacted a fellow named Dave that he had played with before and he was in. Talk about short notice! Who’s talking about it? Anyway, by the time we got to Kelly’s house the game wasn’t worth watching. The Ravens won. This is the lowest point in the NFL since I’ve been concerned. It took Kelly forever to say goodbye to his hot girlfriend. By midnight the 5 of us were in the van and on the road. Dave should be a stand up comedian. Many a story were told. After I had been driving for about 14 hours Dave made me let Kelly drive. The van still slid all over the icy Wisconsin road. I felt I should’ve continued driving but instead I slept not expecting to wake up alive…I didn’t expect to wake up dead either…In Fargo we ate at the “Wild Taco”. I was blamed for any foul odor up to that point because I had beef jerky. The nickname “Rocket Man” didn’t last long. The last couple hours were tough. It felt like a week. I woke up as we pulled into 4 Bears Casino.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14TH 2001
Back to work! I am definitely not interested enough in Tom’s “gigs” to quit my framing job. Yesterday Josh and I were supposed to meet with that prickle head but he canceled. I went to The Sutler to see Josh’s girlfriend, Robin, sing. By coincidence Dave, the bass player I had spent every day with for the past two weeks, was there to see his friend Dan, the guitar player that was too awesome to play with us, play with another act. I envied all the acts playing original music that night. FUCK cover songs!!! FUCK money!!! The only reason Tom exists in this book is money. Of course I don’t find that to be too healthy. Anyway, Ross was supposed to be here tonight when I got back from framing but he is stuck in Chicago without his medicine. That is bad news. Brad had the highest ranking in his Marine training thing. He tells people what to do now I guess. Oh, I’ve stopped being retarded about Joani. I didn’t try to…it just happened. I guess it’s because I am constantly thinking about what the hell I’m going to do when I tell Matt to shove his music business. I also think about the way Ashley looked when she watched me play drums at “Graham Central” a few weeks back.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16TH 2001
I have a date with Ashley tomorrow night! Just as friends of course. I’ve got somewhat of a handle on my negative attitude about the music business. I should get as many experiences out of it as I can until it makes me crazy. Ross is here. I’m setting things up so we can record stuff. I wish I had it done already. It’s hard to find time. I closed shop tonight…I open in 7 hours.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17TH 2001
Tonight I went to “Goten” with Ashley, Gigi and her fiancé, Ross and Heather and others. I offered to pay for Ashley being that she was my pretend “date” but luckily we got separate checks. There is nothing there…so nothing needs to be said. I took frame orders all day. Madness! I look forward to working with Norah tomorrow. She’s a very cool Canadian lady! I don’t think I’m ever going to see Joani again. She rarely works. Ross is coughing up a lung…or a kidney in the other room. I shouldn’t joke, he’s really sick. I finished Ender’s Shadow tonight. Unexpected bouts of crying. No I didn’t cry. Bean did. Good book…corny ending. I’ll never find time to write all about North Dakota so here it is: Indian reservation = casino = drunk old Indians gambling = no one pays attention = what’s the point? Two free meals a day! Josh the alarm clock. Kelly the chump cheating on his hot girlfriend. Tom the prickle head making Matt confiscate the van keys because we drove to a music store without asking. My near decision to sell the van and go back to school. My decision not to stay the two extra weeks to avoid a fight. Sleeping on the floor at Zandra’s, a lady we met at a bar, when we had no place to stay. Shitty gig!
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18TH 2001
Dad’s favorite Nascar driver died in a crash today. Dale Earnhardt. Shit. I don’t feel like writing. I worked all day. There were so many orders I only had time to frame one thing. I went to practice drums after work and I couldn’t believe what I found. My kit, rearranged and retuned! I’m assuming Matt auditioned a new drummer. I nearly packed ‘em up but I still have to record Ross’ songs. Cody hung out tonight. He’s funny. How good of a friend is Newbold?
MONDAY FEBRUARY 19TH 2001
Dear Diary…Is it possible to ask a girl out, have her say “yes” and get rejected at the same time? It sure is! I got my framing certificate today! I didn’t pick out very cool matting but it should look okay. My raise was only $1.00! Anyway, this is what happened: Even though I was as nervous as could be, I asked Joani to go see a movie with me on Wednesday night. She said okay and I got her number. Before I had a chance to get nervous about going on a date, she graciously told me that she is not interested in dating at this point in her life. I hope she goes. She’s so wonderful. I was in a great mood when I went grocery shopping with Ross and Heather tonight. It’s just good to know that I don’t have to wonder about Joani anymore. People have told me I look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo before and my hair is to the point where it is starting up again.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20TH 2001
Well that’s about it for the band. I’m officially out…and I’m not too upset. I’ll miss the van. I slept until afternoon then spent the entire day helping Ross record a song on my VS1680. I left a message for Joani to call me and was surprised that I was nervous. I guess it’s because I want her to like me…and I know she doesn’t want a boyfriend…and I don’t know what in the hell I’m talking about! Pretty girl = me nervous. I went with Newbold to see a shitty blues band in a shitty bar on Murfreesboro Road. If I hadn’t asked about the new drummer I probably wouldn’t know that I’m out. So is everyone else. I’m letting his new band use my set to rehearse with. It’s pretty funny actually. Actually I’m probably just trying to hide my anger. New Dave Matthews Band this week!
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21ST 2001
Joani canceled and I’m glad. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was really cool but I doubt it would’ve been worth missing church or losing sleep before class. Maybe we’ll do something another, more convenient time. I framed all day. I’d like to mention David Eller more often and the respect I have for him but I probably won’t. Ross was wired this evening. He’s pretty out of it. I got Valentines candy from mom a week late. Better late than diarrhea. What’s next?
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22ND 2001
A day indoors. My plan was to put drums to 3 of Ross’ songs but Matt’s band was using my drums again. I called Kelly to see if he knew about the lack of a band. He didn’t. Nice. He said nice things about my drumming but I still want to steal his girlfriend. I helped Ross put 2 more songs on my VS1680 then Erik and some dude came over with guitars. Erik left the dude without a ride so I took him to the rehearsal space where we rocked out for a bit then I took him home. He wasn’t too good but I had a better time jamming tonight than any time playing there with Matt.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23RD 2001
More music enjoyment! When I got home from a long day of framing there was a message from Josh inviting me over to jam. I took my new sticks and made some loud noise. I left at midnight because tomorrow I open at 9am and close at 9pm! I look forward to playing more with Josh before I move. Good times!
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24TH 2001
My alarm was set for 7:55am. It wasn’t until 9:07am that I realized what it was. At noon I came home and slept for two hours. This time when the alarm went off I thought it was my Dream Theater T-shirt and I couldn’t figure out why it was making such a sound. Ross’ friend Spirit is in town from Memphis so Heather called me at work and asked me to meet them at Krispy Kreme when I got off. I got there first. The only other people there were Joani and her parents! We chatted for a bit. I learned that they live in the same small town in Michigan that Grandma and I went to last summer to set up the Frutiger Family Reunion that is to take place at El Rancho Stevens in July. What is fate telling me? Nothing! It’s just making it hard to think of things other than how to approach the future. Newbold invited me over to Marty’s to watch “Scary Movie”. I was curious to see if he would admit to his shittiness but he just got shittier. The ONLY reason I left my drums set up is so I can record Ross’ stuff tomorrow and Tuesday. Well Matt’s gay band will be in there all day on those days. So now my drums are in my room here. Heather went with me to get them in the heaviest downpour in years. She is upset with Ross and his friends smoking up the apartment. I haven’t had a real talk with Ross since he’s been here. Actually, the real Ross isn’t here. He is behaving very oddly. I hope the kidney transplant allows him to rationalize again.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25TH 2001
Oh the beautiful, beautiful SUN! I just couldn’t stay inside and set up my drums. It felt like summer! I headed out to get a haircut. When I got back I had the same amount of hair and 7 new Star Wars dudes! I went into OfficeMax and talked to Mr. Swanger. He and Mrs. Smith intended to respond to my Montana letters but, of course, didn’t. By the way, not a day goes by where I don’t think, at least for a second, what it would be like to run into Nicole. Would she recognize me? Would I recognize her? The reason I haven’t written this before is because it is insane! So, I got some toys, ate lunch out in the courtyard and began to set up my drums as a bunch of Ross’ pot head friends irritated Heather. Cody and Amber came over for a bit. They’re pregnant! Well she is.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 26TH 2001
Somebody left the store angry with me today. It was only a customer. A shitty, shitty customer whose frames weren’t ready. “But you’ve had them for two weeks!” We’ve had many orders for two weeks. “But I took off work to get them and I never get off work!” Congratulations but you can pick up your frames anytime after you are called. I apologized once which I let it be known I thought was more than enough. “Get a manager!” Anyway, Joani helped me fit the order quickly so the lady would be serviced. I like Joani. “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” I plan to record Ross’ songs tomorrow. I have to get the key from Matt because he changed the lock to the rehearsal room. Wonder why? Brad wrote me an email the other day. He’s blowing things up and getting screamed at. I plan on driving out to San Diego with Chris soon. Only to visit? I plan on going to Toledo next weekend.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27TH 2001
Day off…but I went in anyway. I knew they needed help and I was in the area to buy the new Dave Matthews Band CD. I’ve only listened briefly but I like what I’ve heard. I drove back and forth across Nashville all day. I got the key from Matt then I had to go back to get the mic cables. Nothing has been recorded.
