For some reason, my phone gets an awful lot of wrong number callers. It must be easy to confuse with other numbers, I don't know. But, once last year, getting a wrong number was possibly the most amazing thing ever.
I was in my apartment, just walking around doing lord knows what, and I get a call. I look at the ID number. My phone simply lists the phone number that is calling, meaning that number is not in my phone. But, seeing as how I know many people and it just might be someone I know, I pick up. I hear this:
Unknown: Hey man, what's up?
What a vague greeting, no? You don't realize these things normally, but saying something like "What's up?" is so uninformative. If you're not familiar with the voice, you have no idea who's talking to you.
So, I respond.
Me: Hey, nothing much. What's up with you?
With that response, I was hoping to find out an important detail that could lead me to discovering the identity of this phantom caller. He responded:
Unknown: Oh nothing.
Strike. I hit nothing. I hit an "Oh nothing," to be precise. So, I tried once more:
Me: Whatcha doing tonight?
Specific. Challenging. There was no chance I wouldn't get information out of this answer. And I was right:
Unknown: I'm just about to head to Toon's with Tiffany and John.
Ding! I know I do not know this person. I know no Tiffany, and I know no John. At least, no John that knows a Tiffany. And, more importantly, I do not know anyone who knows them both at the same time. I also do not frequent Toon's, which told me that I not only did not know this person, but that they were in San Jose. Just like me. It was then time to hang up. Or was it? I got a strange idea in my head right then, and that idea was, "Don't hang up the phone." And I didn't.
Me: Cool, cool. Can I come along?
The answer to this question would tell me if they thought I was still someone else.
Unknown: Sure man.
They did.
Me: When were you guys gonna head over there?
Unknown: We're gonna be there at like 10.
Me: Cool. I'll see ya then.
I was content. I made people think that I, as another person, would meet them somewhere in town. I was satisfied. But then, it hit.
Unknown: Cool. Oh, can you also give Mark a call?
It was further confirmed that I had no knowledge of the man on the other end. How could I turn down a perfect opportunity like this?
Me: Sure. Should I tell him to meet us there?
Unknown: Yeah, that would be fine.
Me: Cool. I'll see you guys there.
Unknown: Yeah.
Me: Later.
Unknown: Later.
I hung up the phone feeling... powerful. I slept well that night. And, since I may have ruined Mark's night, I hope he did too.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
I never thought this would happen
Last night there was an open mic night hosted by my dorm buildings Hall Government. I usually play at an open mic night, because (a) most of my friends are in the Hall Government or associated with it and like to see me play, and (b) I get to play my music. I love playing music. It's so much fun, so energetic. I don't care if people like it or not, I just love to play.
For those who don't know, I play acoustic ska music with an emphasis on comedy. I have been called an "Acoustic Skamedian," which I think is pretty funny.
I realize that ska music isn't necessarily the best way to make money, but, then again, I don't really care about making money. Sure, making money through music is cool, but it's definitely much more satisfying to play your own music for others to hear and spread it around. Ska is the best genre I know, and I love to play and sing to it.
I've been doing the solo ska thing for a couple years now, since 2007. I've played a couple open mics before that, and it's always fun. I did once get paid, but it was a payment reserved for another performer who didn't come and my friend who was running the whole thing didn't care and wanted to give me money. So, I took it!
Like I said, there was an open mic last night that I played at. This other guy, Tyler, also played their too. He has been playing the other open mics for a while now, and I just liked him ever since he played Blink-182's "Fuck A Dog" in front like 200 students last semester. That's amazing. Tyler's dad, who is always at his open mic performances, is a promoter and I've heard him talk about how Tyler's band has a record deal and is getting big. Tyler's a talented guy, so it doesn't surprise me.
Last night, after I performed and Tyler performed, the dad comes up to me and says that he wants to hire me and have me open up for Tyler's band next month.
Again.
Last night, after I performed and Tyler performed, the dad comes up to me and says that he wants to hire me and have me open up for Tyler's band next month.
He wanted my contact info and told how much he liked what he heard and my personality and stuff, and I just started flipping out in my head. It was insane. I gave it to him and he said he'd call me and we'd finalize it and that I would get PAID. Oh my god. Actually get paid for performing. This is what any artist starting out strives for. To start getting out there and making money so they can further promote themselves and get noticed even more. That's AWESOME.
I still can't believe it's happening. Here's my music MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/mrawesomemusic
I need to get my guitar fixed. This is going to be historical.
For those who don't know, I play acoustic ska music with an emphasis on comedy. I have been called an "Acoustic Skamedian," which I think is pretty funny.
I realize that ska music isn't necessarily the best way to make money, but, then again, I don't really care about making money. Sure, making money through music is cool, but it's definitely much more satisfying to play your own music for others to hear and spread it around. Ska is the best genre I know, and I love to play and sing to it.
I've been doing the solo ska thing for a couple years now, since 2007. I've played a couple open mics before that, and it's always fun. I did once get paid, but it was a payment reserved for another performer who didn't come and my friend who was running the whole thing didn't care and wanted to give me money. So, I took it!
Like I said, there was an open mic last night that I played at. This other guy, Tyler, also played their too. He has been playing the other open mics for a while now, and I just liked him ever since he played Blink-182's "Fuck A Dog" in front like 200 students last semester. That's amazing. Tyler's dad, who is always at his open mic performances, is a promoter and I've heard him talk about how Tyler's band has a record deal and is getting big. Tyler's a talented guy, so it doesn't surprise me.
Last night, after I performed and Tyler performed, the dad comes up to me and says that he wants to hire me and have me open up for Tyler's band next month.
Again.
Last night, after I performed and Tyler performed, the dad comes up to me and says that he wants to hire me and have me open up for Tyler's band next month.
He wanted my contact info and told how much he liked what he heard and my personality and stuff, and I just started flipping out in my head. It was insane. I gave it to him and he said he'd call me and we'd finalize it and that I would get PAID. Oh my god. Actually get paid for performing. This is what any artist starting out strives for. To start getting out there and making money so they can further promote themselves and get noticed even more. That's AWESOME.
I still can't believe it's happening. Here's my music MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/mrawesomemusic
I need to get my guitar fixed. This is going to be historical.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Un-Relationship Story
Before I start, let me just say that I have had NOFX's "Take Two Placebos and Call Me Lame" going through my head all effin' day. I love that song. Go listen to it.
START OF POST
I wanted to make a new post, but nothing interesting has happened to me recently. So, let me recall an interesting story from my past. Let it be known, I don't care about the person I talk about in this post at all. I'm going to use her real name, and I don't care if she finds out about this.
In my sophomore year of high school, I had an English class. And, in this English class, there was this girl with glasses named Amy. She was Spanish, I think. I never really knew her too well. I was not interested in this girl, and she did not get that memo.
One fine day, which, by the way, was a Thursday, this black girl in the class comes to my desk and gives me a note. The note is not from her, but from the Amy. She already had people working for her. I used to have the note on hand, because the whole experience that this note started was unforgettable. But, basically, this note said that she liked me and would like to hang out with me and stuff. It wasn't crazy or anything. It didn't say stuff like "I want to have your children and run around covered in twigs and berries" or anything. Just a normal "Hey, I like you" letter. Hey, that's alright.
So then, after the class was over, the Amy comes to my desk and says, "So, what did you think of my note?" I, trying to be as nice as possible while still retaining some form of rejection, say, "Oh, I thought it was nice." This relationship is off to a perfect start, no? She asks me my opinion of the letter and what I think and all this while I'm wondering why she's so interested in me. She mentions going to a movie, and I just react like someone who doesn't know English and just nod my head to everything she says. She asks for my number, and I begrudgingly give it to her, because I couldn't think of a nice way to say "no" right then.
The weekend comes, and I'm doing my homework. Trying to. I've had a problem with doing homework for a long time. Homework has this way of making me do the exact opposite of what it wants me to do. It's like going to a movie and then, as you're about to enter the theater, you turn around and drive home.
Back to my point. I'm doing my homework Sunday night. It's 11:30 PM, which is like the equivalent to 1:30 AM in college time. This means I was tired, and I was probably gonna go to bed as soon as the homework was done. It was due the next day, so it had to be finished. Then, the phone rings. I pick it up, and it's Amy. She's says hi, and I say hi, and then she says, "I want to talk to you." Yes, she wants to have intimate conversation at 11:30 at night. That's understandable. Just let me go and kill 20 people with my bare hands and I'll be right with you. Maybe, in her mind, high school kids never went to sleep, and so her request didn't seem so demented.
Anyway, I say (nearly verbatim), "Um, I'm doing homework right now and I really don't have time to talk." I would think that was a polite way of saying no, no? Amy says, "Oh, uh, ok." I then say something about seeing at her at school and the phone conversation ends. Hey, it's not my fault she had uber-awful timing.
So then, the next school day comes and the next English class comes. I sit through it, doing what a sophomore English student does. Then, the same black girl comes over to my desk and gives me a note. And, may I add, she does it angrily. She throws down the note and walks away. Not exaggerated or anything, but up until that point I did not know what an angry note-handing looked like.
I read the note. It's from Amy, again. And, she was super pissed. Ah, this explains why her black friend was angry at me! I just thought it was irrational anger... oh wait, it still was. I wish I knew where this note was, it was so fantastic to read. I couldn't believe how amazing it really was. I'd scan it and post it for the world to see! She asked me what was wrong with me and why I couldn't give her the time she deserved. She said she was trying to be nice and I was being an asshole. She said that if I couldn't be serious about it, she no longer wanted to be with me.
She broke up with me. Amy broke up with me and we were never in a relationship.
I'm sitting there, and I'm reading this note, and a feeling of "WTF" comes over me. This was even before I knew the term "WTF." I basically have no reaction to it. How am I supposed to? Do I go to her desk and say, "Hey, you're a fucking idiot and you don't know what you're talking about?" I probably should have. I fold the note, put it in my pocket, and show it to all my friends as soon as class is over.
So, that was my first official relationship, and it never even happened!
NOFX - "Pump Up the Valuum". Buy it, enjoy it, love it. See you next time!
START OF POST
I wanted to make a new post, but nothing interesting has happened to me recently. So, let me recall an interesting story from my past. Let it be known, I don't care about the person I talk about in this post at all. I'm going to use her real name, and I don't care if she finds out about this.
In my sophomore year of high school, I had an English class. And, in this English class, there was this girl with glasses named Amy. She was Spanish, I think. I never really knew her too well. I was not interested in this girl, and she did not get that memo.
One fine day, which, by the way, was a Thursday, this black girl in the class comes to my desk and gives me a note. The note is not from her, but from the Amy. She already had people working for her. I used to have the note on hand, because the whole experience that this note started was unforgettable. But, basically, this note said that she liked me and would like to hang out with me and stuff. It wasn't crazy or anything. It didn't say stuff like "I want to have your children and run around covered in twigs and berries" or anything. Just a normal "Hey, I like you" letter. Hey, that's alright.
So then, after the class was over, the Amy comes to my desk and says, "So, what did you think of my note?" I, trying to be as nice as possible while still retaining some form of rejection, say, "Oh, I thought it was nice." This relationship is off to a perfect start, no? She asks me my opinion of the letter and what I think and all this while I'm wondering why she's so interested in me. She mentions going to a movie, and I just react like someone who doesn't know English and just nod my head to everything she says. She asks for my number, and I begrudgingly give it to her, because I couldn't think of a nice way to say "no" right then.
The weekend comes, and I'm doing my homework. Trying to. I've had a problem with doing homework for a long time. Homework has this way of making me do the exact opposite of what it wants me to do. It's like going to a movie and then, as you're about to enter the theater, you turn around and drive home.
Back to my point. I'm doing my homework Sunday night. It's 11:30 PM, which is like the equivalent to 1:30 AM in college time. This means I was tired, and I was probably gonna go to bed as soon as the homework was done. It was due the next day, so it had to be finished. Then, the phone rings. I pick it up, and it's Amy. She's says hi, and I say hi, and then she says, "I want to talk to you." Yes, she wants to have intimate conversation at 11:30 at night. That's understandable. Just let me go and kill 20 people with my bare hands and I'll be right with you. Maybe, in her mind, high school kids never went to sleep, and so her request didn't seem so demented.
Anyway, I say (nearly verbatim), "Um, I'm doing homework right now and I really don't have time to talk." I would think that was a polite way of saying no, no? Amy says, "Oh, uh, ok." I then say something about seeing at her at school and the phone conversation ends. Hey, it's not my fault she had uber-awful timing.
So then, the next school day comes and the next English class comes. I sit through it, doing what a sophomore English student does. Then, the same black girl comes over to my desk and gives me a note. And, may I add, she does it angrily. She throws down the note and walks away. Not exaggerated or anything, but up until that point I did not know what an angry note-handing looked like.
I read the note. It's from Amy, again. And, she was super pissed. Ah, this explains why her black friend was angry at me! I just thought it was irrational anger... oh wait, it still was. I wish I knew where this note was, it was so fantastic to read. I couldn't believe how amazing it really was. I'd scan it and post it for the world to see! She asked me what was wrong with me and why I couldn't give her the time she deserved. She said she was trying to be nice and I was being an asshole. She said that if I couldn't be serious about it, she no longer wanted to be with me.
She broke up with me. Amy broke up with me and we were never in a relationship.
I'm sitting there, and I'm reading this note, and a feeling of "WTF" comes over me. This was even before I knew the term "WTF." I basically have no reaction to it. How am I supposed to? Do I go to her desk and say, "Hey, you're a fucking idiot and you don't know what you're talking about?" I probably should have. I fold the note, put it in my pocket, and show it to all my friends as soon as class is over.
So, that was my first official relationship, and it never even happened!
NOFX - "Pump Up the Valuum". Buy it, enjoy it, love it. See you next time!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
OMG, A HEADER
I have just made and added a brand new header to my page. I took a while, and I sacrificed homework time for it. But, it got done. And, may I say, it is absolutely fabulous.
Now my blog is too legit. Too legit to quit.
Now my blog is too legit. Too legit to quit.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Once, I was driving from Long Beach, CA to my home in Redondo Beach, CA. I was coming home from seeing some friends and local bands perform at this place called DiPiazza's.
As I was driving, I started looking around a bit and noticed a Hancock billboard. I started thinking about what Hancock was about, a poor, homeless, alcoholic superhero. I then began thinking about homeless people in general. I then began thinking about the homeless population of the area that I was in. Then, I wondered how much of that population had seen that billboard that day.
Woah.
As I was driving, I started looking around a bit and noticed a Hancock billboard. I started thinking about what Hancock was about, a poor, homeless, alcoholic superhero. I then began thinking about homeless people in general. I then began thinking about the homeless population of the area that I was in. Then, I wondered how much of that population had seen that billboard that day.
Woah.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
My first official story ever. On this blog. Ever.
Earlier last night (around 9:15), I decided to go to Best Buy and buy the new Jason Mraz CD. I heard a song of his on the radio today while helping to prepare a costume for this theater production I'm in, and was like, "Yes, Jason Mraz. I will buy your CD." I was also probably going to buy a DVD. I say probably because there's an endless amount of DVD's I should own but have yet to purchase.
Anyway, I head over to the Best Buy. I look through the CD's trying to figure out if they alphabetize solo artists by their first name or their last name. Apparently, they do both. I find Jason Mraz's name and We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. is not there. Great. My reason for coming to Best Buy had just been shattered. So, I had to buy something else.
I head over to the comedy CD section because I haven't bought a comedy CD in quite a while. I don't even remember the last time I did. There's a bunch of CD's I already own, a bunch I did not want to own, and few I want to buy. I picked up a CD by this guy Mike Birbiglia. I had not heard of him that much before, but I recalled hearing good things about him. Having not heard his comedy before, I decided this would be the first part of my purchase.
I head up the escalator to the DVD section, for I knew I would not walk away from this Best Buy without at least one DVD in my hands. I notice immediately the "Hits for $6.99" sign, and look under it. I see a couple I'm interested in, but Fracture is the film that catches my eye. When such a good movie is available for less than $10, it must be mine. I decide it will be the second part of my purchase.
Slightly more down the row, I see Pineapple Express. It is the "Unrated Edition". I then take out my iPhone and look up the Wikipedia entry on Pineapple Express. Because I am the type of person that needs to own the best version of a movie out on DVD.
Say a movie called Hat is out on DVD. Then, say that there is a 2-disc unrated edition of Hat. Now say there is a 3-disc unrated edition of Hat with a bonus digital copy. I'm buying that version.
So, the Wikipedia entry for Pineapple Express says that there is an "Unrated Edition" and a "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition", so my mission becomes trying to find the "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition" in the store, otherwise I'm not buying Pineapple Express. I go to the Comedy section to see if there's any more copies of it, and if the "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition" is any of the ones amongst those copies. I scan across from M to R, an back to M and back to R. I look up and down at least twice before I finally hit the P's. I guess there aren't many films that begin with the letter P. That or Best Buy is slacking off. Anyways, once I hit the P's, I find one last copy of Pineapple Express. And guess what? It is the "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition". I decide it will make my purchase a trifecta.
So then, satisfied with my choices for the night, I head to the down escalator. I just randomly look around while on my ride, and then I look to the upper right. I see two tables with video games piled on top of them. On those tables I see paper signs. The signs read:
"Any game with these stickers (example of the sticker in question) is 50% OFF"
My head is frozen in place. I already have one CD and two DVD's. This purchase is already going to be a pretty penny (even though one of the DVD's is only 7 bucks). I ask myself, "Should I travel upstairs and see if there is anything worth purchasing one those tables?" The chances are slim that will find anything that is (a) worthy of being purchased when it has been marked down so much and will (b) work on the one console I own. I think it over until I'm nearly down the escalator, which means I thought it over for a while. Then, I decided. I'll take a chance.
I reach the bottom floor, do a U-turn, head back up the up escalator, and head over to the 50%-off video game tables. I skip over one table, because none of the games are for Xbox 360. I go to the second table and spot some 360 games. I have minimal interest in the 3 games I initially see. I skip the NCAA and MLB-themed games because I am not that into sports. And I don't have much interest in SEGA Superstars Tennis. Then, a game catches my eye. I pick it up. I have never seen this game before. I have never even heard the name before. But I pick it up still. I read the title:
Viking: Battle For Asgard
I turn it over. The following is the paragraph on the back describing the game's plot. I have not changed any of it. There is not much else on the back of this game to help it sell. This paragraph is the only thing that stands between me buying this game or throwing it back on the pile. This is what it said:
"You are Skarin, a rage-fueled Viking warrior hell-bent on revenge. The goddess of death has resurrected a legion of demon warriors to overrun mankind and begin the apocalypse. Wage all-out war to annihilate the enemy and free the Earth from the grip of the Underworld."
I'll start playing it on Tuesday.
Anyway, I head over to the Best Buy. I look through the CD's trying to figure out if they alphabetize solo artists by their first name or their last name. Apparently, they do both. I find Jason Mraz's name and We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. is not there. Great. My reason for coming to Best Buy had just been shattered. So, I had to buy something else.
I head over to the comedy CD section because I haven't bought a comedy CD in quite a while. I don't even remember the last time I did. There's a bunch of CD's I already own, a bunch I did not want to own, and few I want to buy. I picked up a CD by this guy Mike Birbiglia. I had not heard of him that much before, but I recalled hearing good things about him. Having not heard his comedy before, I decided this would be the first part of my purchase.
I head up the escalator to the DVD section, for I knew I would not walk away from this Best Buy without at least one DVD in my hands. I notice immediately the "Hits for $6.99" sign, and look under it. I see a couple I'm interested in, but Fracture is the film that catches my eye. When such a good movie is available for less than $10, it must be mine. I decide it will be the second part of my purchase.
Slightly more down the row, I see Pineapple Express. It is the "Unrated Edition". I then take out my iPhone and look up the Wikipedia entry on Pineapple Express. Because I am the type of person that needs to own the best version of a movie out on DVD.
Say a movie called Hat is out on DVD. Then, say that there is a 2-disc unrated edition of Hat. Now say there is a 3-disc unrated edition of Hat with a bonus digital copy. I'm buying that version.
So, the Wikipedia entry for Pineapple Express says that there is an "Unrated Edition" and a "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition", so my mission becomes trying to find the "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition" in the store, otherwise I'm not buying Pineapple Express. I go to the Comedy section to see if there's any more copies of it, and if the "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition" is any of the ones amongst those copies. I scan across from M to R, an back to M and back to R. I look up and down at least twice before I finally hit the P's. I guess there aren't many films that begin with the letter P. That or Best Buy is slacking off. Anyways, once I hit the P's, I find one last copy of Pineapple Express. And guess what? It is the "2-Disc Unrated Special Edition". I decide it will make my purchase a trifecta.
So then, satisfied with my choices for the night, I head to the down escalator. I just randomly look around while on my ride, and then I look to the upper right. I see two tables with video games piled on top of them. On those tables I see paper signs. The signs read:
"Any game with these stickers (example of the sticker in question) is 50% OFF"
My head is frozen in place. I already have one CD and two DVD's. This purchase is already going to be a pretty penny (even though one of the DVD's is only 7 bucks). I ask myself, "Should I travel upstairs and see if there is anything worth purchasing one those tables?" The chances are slim that will find anything that is (a) worthy of being purchased when it has been marked down so much and will (b) work on the one console I own. I think it over until I'm nearly down the escalator, which means I thought it over for a while. Then, I decided. I'll take a chance.
I reach the bottom floor, do a U-turn, head back up the up escalator, and head over to the 50%-off video game tables. I skip over one table, because none of the games are for Xbox 360. I go to the second table and spot some 360 games. I have minimal interest in the 3 games I initially see. I skip the NCAA and MLB-themed games because I am not that into sports. And I don't have much interest in SEGA Superstars Tennis. Then, a game catches my eye. I pick it up. I have never seen this game before. I have never even heard the name before. But I pick it up still. I read the title:
Viking: Battle For Asgard
I turn it over. The following is the paragraph on the back describing the game's plot. I have not changed any of it. There is not much else on the back of this game to help it sell. This paragraph is the only thing that stands between me buying this game or throwing it back on the pile. This is what it said:
"You are Skarin, a rage-fueled Viking warrior hell-bent on revenge. The goddess of death has resurrected a legion of demon warriors to overrun mankind and begin the apocalypse. Wage all-out war to annihilate the enemy and free the Earth from the grip of the Underworld."
I'll start playing it on Tuesday.
OMG, I have a blog.
Greetings fellow internet viewers. I am Peter Awesome.
Now, it's very likely that you're asking yourself a very important question right now: "Why am I reading this?" I just want to let you know that I don't know.
Recently, I deleted an account from another blogging-esque website which I will call LiveDiary.com. When I wrote an entry on LiveDiary.com, I discovered that many, if not all, of my entries were negative in tone and contained an overuse of words that began with "f". I grew tired of giving off the impression that I was angry at the world. That is why I created this.
Here, I will do pretty much the exact opposite of what I did on LiveDiary.com.
On this blog, I intend to write about experiences of mine. But not just any experiences. The experiences I record here are ones that I find funny, unique, or just incredibly senseless. I've found that in the short time I've been on this planet, quite a few things have happened to me. I've also found that for many of them, when I tell people about them, they laugh. I like that. And so, here we are. I am here to recount my stories for your enjoyment.
Please, enjoy the good things you see here. Thank you.
Now, it's very likely that you're asking yourself a very important question right now: "Why am I reading this?" I just want to let you know that I don't know.
Recently, I deleted an account from another blogging-esque website which I will call LiveDiary.com. When I wrote an entry on LiveDiary.com, I discovered that many, if not all, of my entries were negative in tone and contained an overuse of words that began with "f". I grew tired of giving off the impression that I was angry at the world. That is why I created this.
Here, I will do pretty much the exact opposite of what I did on LiveDiary.com.
On this blog, I intend to write about experiences of mine. But not just any experiences. The experiences I record here are ones that I find funny, unique, or just incredibly senseless. I've found that in the short time I've been on this planet, quite a few things have happened to me. I've also found that for many of them, when I tell people about them, they laugh. I like that. And so, here we are. I am here to recount my stories for your enjoyment.
Please, enjoy the good things you see here. Thank you.
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