For a guy who lives on his own, I have next to zero concerns since I'm not paying for my residence at all. But I do have to pay for gas, phone, credit card, food, and things like that. I also owe my sister money for the car I bought. Yet I gave my money to the Lord, trusting that he'd provide for me, and thus I was left without enough money this month to pay for the few bills I owed, and I started wondering if I was going to last. However, dad just now gave me $300.00 and I never saw it coming. I thought the Lord deserved credit for that, so I'm posting it here. He's a reliable fellow and I'm thankful for it!

AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR A MUSIC LIST!
Last night on TV I saw one of my F*refly coworkers sing the National Anthem at a basketball game and I started thinking, "If I went to a game, who would I want to hear sing the National Anthem?" Hence this list. Rating is based off of the singer's voice since there's a large vocal range in the National Anthem and it's usually a solo thing with no backing music.

#30 Zack de la Rocha from Rage Against The Machine
He's not much of a singer but I do like his voice. He could rap/monologue/shout the anthem, heh.)



#29 Kurt Cobain from Nirvana
(he's...not available though)


#28 Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips
(he'd be weird.)


#27 Aaron Gillespie from UnderØATH


#26 Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand


#25 James Hetfield from Metallica


#24 Björk Guðmundsdóttir
(This one is for Kristen)


#23 Ben Kowalewicz from Billy Talent
(he'd be weird too.)


#22 Thom Yorke from Radiohead
(oh wait, they already covered that...)


#21 Lacey Mosley from Flyleaf
(this one's embarrassing.)


#20 Jeremy DePoyster from The Devil Wears Prada


#19 Jack White from The White Stripes


#18 Regina Spektor


#17 Cove Reber from Saosin


#16 Andrew Bird
(I'd rank him better on the list if he could bring his instruments and loop pedals along)


#15 Mike Herrera from MxPx


#13 Eugene Hütz from Gogol Bordello


#14 Tom Waits


#12 Fabio Lione from Rhapsody of F*re


#11 Win Butler from The Arcade F*re


#10 Nathan Willett from Cold War Kids


#9 Craig Owens from Chiodos


#8 Christian Lindskog from Blindside
(especially if he's allowed to scream)


#7 Reese Roper from Five Iron Frenzy


#6 Dustin Kensrue from Thrice


#5 John Cooper from Skillet
(sorry, Andrew)


#4 Dave King from Flogging Molly


#3 Till Lindemann from Rammstein
(oh creepy creepy)


#2 Matt Bellamy from Muse
(especially if he can bring his guitar/piano)


And the number one person I'd most want to hear sing the National Anthem is...
#1 Colin Meloy from The Decemberists!

I ate him!

I often point out that some people are just really awkward, either socially or just in general. But it struck me today that I'M really awkward! I mean I knew that already, but it just didn't occur to me that a lot of the times when I think somebody else is socially awkward, it might be simply because I'm socially awkward and don't know how to deal with them like a normal person. As opposed to Bethany who actually knows how to have a conversation with pretty much anybody.

oh well.

To continue my superhero comic strip or start on my superhero graphic novel? Both are nigh-completely planned out and organized, but I don't suspect I can handle both right now. I'm think I'll continue the superhero comic strip due to the fact that it's "easier" (in some aspects), I already started it ages ago, and I'm not convinced I can draw well enough for a graphic novel. Not for the style I want anyway.

We're making a new menu for the café! This one features wraps, fancy burgers, pitas, additional sandwiches, and collateral damage! So remember to swing by The F*refly Café next week and try out our new foods! =D

I think this picture is beautiful.

And now it's time for my Top 10 List of Best Albums I've Heard! This is hard to determine since there are so many factors to consider. Some of these are favored above others only by a fraction if anything. It's hard to say overall since they each offer differing content. Oh well, lists are fun so...To the list!

Number one! Just kidding, that's not how these work.
#10 - All's Well That End's Well By Chiodos

It took me a while to get used to Craig Owens exceptionally high voice and funny scream, but their music is just good. I don't even know how to explain it, it's not really catchy or anything. It's just really darn good! If somebody came up to me and said, "Hey Fatso, why do you like Chiodos' music so much?" I wouldn't even know what to say. After calling them something meaner than fatso, I would probably just imitate the apple jacks commercials from the 90's and say, "I just...do!"

#9 Absolution by Muse

This album is incredible, it really is. The reason it's not ranked better on the list is because it's not entirely in the style(s) I most enjoy, and it's loaded with choruses that will get stuck in your head. Is that a bad thing? Nope. But for me it often means the album grows old faster. As for style, well that's just a personal preference, some of the slower quieter songs just aren't my favorite. But Muse definitely knows how to make music and I would wager they're better musicians than most of the bands on this list. ...or at least Matthew Bellamy is. =D

#8 Silence by Blindside

I really like this album. I think it takes some getting used to at first, just like any Blindside album, because their music is a little more all over the place rather than just following the melody or playing four chords repeatedly. But that's one of the things that keeps it fresh. (Bethany, you can have "keeps it fresh") It's also quite admirable because not only do they have to come up with vocal melodies but they also have to come up with complimentary instrument melodies as well. That's tough. Anyway, once you're used to it, this is an excellent hardcore album.

#7 Brother, Sister by mewithoutYou

Not only is this album really good but it's also unique. There isn't another like it, not even amongst mewithoutYou's other works, really. Brilliant poetic lyrics, talented instrumental work to back Aaron's well-known reciting style vocals, and this album more than their preceding two has more singing. Though Aaron isn't the greatest singer (I like that about him) he really pulls it off in this album using his own style. It's great. (It even features a melodica!)

#6 The Anti-Mother by Norma Jean

I'm right at home with music like this. It's very angry and very heavy. But since I'm an artist as well (I guess, heh) I don't want a bland album filled with nothing but pounding guitars and a constant monotone scream, I do enjoy some variety in my angry music, lol. So while Cory Brandan screams his brains out (eww brains) the album also features some turbo singing (including guest singers from The Deftones, Helmet, and Saosin), and some delightful guitar melodies. If you're an angry music hoser that grows weary of straight monotone screaming like As I Lay Dying (sorry Charlie), then stop scaling the high horse and go fight The Anti-Mother!

#5 Drawing Black Lines by Project 86

My beloved Project 86, probably my favorite band overall. Each album of theirs is unique even from each other, and this one isn't an exception. It's my favorite amongst their stuff because I've enjoyed it the most. Even if I get tired of it, I've found I can go back later and it's fresh as a daisy!* It's also a nice change of scenery from other music because the bass is outstanding. I don't know who did the editing but they brought out the bass lines and I'm glad they did. The album doesn't offer much in the way of vocal melodies, but that means it won't get tiresome, at least not for a long while. That's one of the reasons I think I can come back to it again and again. Beauty.**
* (omg strange brew reference!)
** (omg another strange brew reference!)

#4 Lost In The Sound of Separation / Define The Great Line by UnderØATH

I can't decide which album is better. UnderØATH has undergone so many changes and up to this point I'm not that enthusiastic about them. But upon reaching these albums, they easily hit my list of favorite bands. Both albums are very solid and they each have a very solemn and sober mood amidst the chaos and screaming. And although there is indeed chaos and screaming both in guitar and vocals, there is also some delightful singing throughout it all. Both albums go out with an epic ending, which leaves me every time thinking, "Whoa. That was intense."

#3 The Great Depression by Blindside

Blindside again. This album never ceases to astound me. As titled, it is seriously depressing but at the same time it's beautiful. It took quite a few listens to get used to but after learning the songs, it captivated me. For one thing I'm quite impressed at its depressing mood. (its depressing is impressing, ha!) I reviewed it here once before and I believe I said it was kind of a journey listening to it, and rightly so as Blindside took a trip to Africa beforehand, which inspired their music for the album. It wades you through all this beautifully written poetry of doom and gloom, and then ends with the song When I Remember, which might be the most beautiful song I've ever heard. It's had me in tears more than once because after all the depression there's hope and joy. I think this album is Blindside greatest moment. But perhaps they'll outdo themselves in the future?

#2 No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical by Showbread

Showbread is weird, man. This album took me about five full listens before I even liked it, but heavens did it pay off in the end! Andrew liked it instantly but I was slow. One of the reasons it takes a bit of work is because the album follows no patterns or familiar roads. It's unique and it's all over the place. One moment they'll be screaming, the next they'll be singing with music so simple it could be directed towards children. Yet, the more I learned the songs and what to expect, the more I realized just how much fun this album can be to hear. For one thing, because of its constant twists and turns (seriously I think everyone in the band has ADD) the album never gets old! I've heard it a hundred times and I'm still not tired of it! If one of their melodies gets stuck in your head, you needn't worry because that melody only plays for 15-30 seconds in one song, then they move on to something else, heh. If that's not enough, it also has a BEAUTIFUL song "Matthias Replaces Judas" featuring Reese Roper (from Five Iron Frenzy) and it also has a song about Evil Dead, so there you go.

#1 Fury of The Doorknobs by Decaying Lawn!

Just Kidding. The REAL number one iiiisss....

#1 Vheissu by Thrice!

My word #1 was hard to choose, especially between these top three (Decaying Lawn excluded.) Vheissu is yet another one that I didn't like at first. Everybody kept talking about how good Thrice was, so I forced myself to listen. At last, one of the songs caught on. It was Moths To Flame. After that I got ahold of the album itself and that's when everything exploded. It was like I gained new wisdom to realize just how fantastic the album is! The first song is a little punkish, almost like their old style, but after that it's new grounds all the way, a complete change of style for Thrice. My favorite thing about this album is the passion. At one moment there will be a swirl of piano, guitars, and perhaps background synths as Dustin Kensrue sings along, and then after it all builds up to the end, he lets loose and starts shouting as the instruments back him up with the most epic melodies. And Dustin doesn't have a shrieking or wailing scream, he just shouts it out and he does extremely well. He is all that is man. =D The album ends with Red Sky, which seems to be liked by most people even if they haven't gotten into the rest of the album. It's an all around great song. Lastly, I'd like to point out that the guys in Thrice are super talented musicians, making use of creative timing and difficult instrumental work. If I were to put anybody on this list in a talent show against Muse up there, it would probably be Thrice. They know their stuff.



THE END!

I forgot I went to the Whit's End building in Colorado! Too much Mount Rushmore made me forget I suppose. ...or the fact that it wasn't that monumental. But it was still Whit's End!

I ought to be updating this more often. I can't be like the masses and sink into facebook oblivion. That's for the fat people. Comics are a lot of work, man. Like to create a whole graphic novel yourself would take approx. five hundred years. You couldn't even do it in a lifetime. That's why I admire guys like Hergé, Goscinny & Uderzo, and Doug TenNapel. And Alex Ross. Oh my goodness. I want to do it though. I shall become immortal.

I might get a new job. Flippity fwang! That'll be an adventure. I just can't STAND the people I work with!! Just kidding. Mom can't really offer me the hours I'd like right now. And I need school moneys!

Is there a word for the act of having done improv? 'Cause improved is already a word. Improv'd? "Jazz is supposed to be improv'd?"

I was thinking I'd write some big thing about Ecclesiastes but then I figured it would be meaningless.

You know what's painful? Waiting for a girl to get ready for any sort of event you're looking forward to, be it a dance (I don't think I've ever looked forward to a dance, but I WAS anxious to see the girl), or a wedding, or even just dinner. I suppose it's always worth it in the end, particularly if the girl feels good about herself as a result, but pacing around anxious for the occurrences to come, with nothing to do since you're all ready to go and nothing else sounding enjoyable except perhaps for mindless time killers like video games--it can be maddening!

Hi, we're brother and sister!

My F*refox, which supposedly had hit its final update, just installed more updates. o_O


I've never been a fan of workbooks. Like for Sunday School classes and Bible studies and stuff. Why can't we just read the Bible and talk about it? Why do we have to fill in the blanks and write down what we think about the questions in the book? I don't want to hand write my answers and then tell people what I wrote, I want to just say it. Formalities and procedures also annoy me at times. Lets just be friends discussing God's word, not coworkers in a business meeting. =þ I'm sure it's all fine and nothing to complain much about, so long as people are growing. I just like it better without that stuff.

I would love to fast-forward my life right now too. Although at the same time, at least emotions and difficult situations keep my life unboring, eh? Hmm.

Hrm. I've hit the last update for F*refox 2. Now no more updates will be given until I upgrade to 3 and FF2 won't offer anymore phishing protection. ...not that I'm incapable of recognizing a phisherman but still. I don't want to upgrade to F*refox 3 yet frowny face!

Tomorrow I will own a car. And I will love it. And it will be the Buick I used to have. But this time it has a CD player. =D


I'm also getting an electric organ. Some guy I don't know is giving it to me. Does this make him an organ donor?

Our old Computer Place building burned down a few days ago. Actually it looked like it exploded judging by the way the garage door was ripped off its hinges, the metal walls were bent out of shape, and the debris was scattered down broadway quite a few blocks. Now they're suspecting arson? A mystery! I should apply the abilities I've learned from watching Monk and Psych to find out who set it ablaze!

My wrist is still busted but the good news is, we can do some cool things!

Ouch. Punisher: War Zone got super bad reviews. Apparently the movie is a punishment to watch. No pun(isher) intended.

I didn't do anything cool today, sorry. =(

Oh wait, yes I did, but you don't get to know what it is! I worked out some music for one of my songs. And it's really long so I played guitar and sang almost all afternoon so my fingers were fretting (haha!) and my voice was checking its watch. I don't know why it thought we were on a schedule. How presumptuous.

This picture is hilarious.



Just kidding, it's not funny at all. This facebook status made me laugh though...
"Federico is playing barbie princess land adventure on his game girl."

I just inadvertently discovered that my mom has a twitter account and has even updated it once.

Now I feel kind of weird inside. o_O

Fast forward.


dang.

I might be getting a once 800 dollar violin for free. O_O

It's used and might need the strings replaced but my brother-in-law Mr. Ben said I could have it if I want and I've been dreaming of getting a full size violin for quite the times now! I'm so a synonym of stoked! =D

P.S. I'm currently using the gmail theme that changes according to the current weather in your location...and the theme just changed to a bunch of snow. I panicked and looked outside. No snow, but it's REALLY foggy out. Now I'm nervous. =[
...Also, that theme is kind of creepy. o_O

I forgot to mention that we had a private Talk Jonny show at the café last Sunday! It was super great. I think mom should let us host heavy bands there more often. ^_^

For today's invention exchange, I've created the Burger Sub! A very long, very large slab of ground beef, laid to rest within a full loaf of toasted french bread, and decorated with typical hamburger stuff. Hooray!

You know, from human standards, people can get away with just about any kind of dreadful treatment towards other humans, so long as those in power come to an agreement that the afflicted people aren't actually thought of as "people." Abortion's accepted so long as the unborn child is considered a mere fetus (although I'm not sure how they justify things with the new president's ways) and back in the days of slavery the slaves weren't people, but merely property. It's easy! ...and a really pathetic cop out.

I've now seen two burning cars right by the exact same carwash. It's rather peculiar.
Quick, get some quarters for the fire!

First burning car

Second burning car

For today's invention exchange, I have created the Caramel Breakfast Sundae! A rare combination of bacon, egg, caramel, and vanilla ice cream! Unstoppable.

We went to Food Pavilion today and they were having a food drive, so there was a larger delivery truck parked out front. Inside the truck were about 3 or 4 guys with a giant flat screen TV playing some fighting game.

Nobody will mess with me when I'm wearing D'mitraustin, my expensive Russianadian hat and Oblivion, my 8 foot long scarf!

I didn't dress up at all for Halloween, but that doesn't mean I was n*ked it just meands (typo left because it amused me) that I didn't wear a costume. I'm a Jehovah's Witness now, you know! ^_^



(P.S. not really.)

So I ordered some Simply Spray fabric dye. It's beauty! But I also found that cutting things out of cardboard is not for happy times. Even with a box cutter it's a pain.

Anyway, this was my experiment with the spray and it turned out decent, even on a dark shirt. I'll probably write a mewithoutYou line or two on there and maybe inscribe their name on the front with some swirly things if I can get something besides cardboard with which to mask that won't allow paint to seep through. No way in that land of fat people am I going to cut fancy letters out of cardboard. ^_^

Holy Bible, Batman!


I finished reading the ENTIRE BLOOMIN' BIBLE last night! That's kind of a huge accomplishment for me. Me, the guy who almost never reads books unless it's REALLY interesting, finished what is probably one of the hardest of them all. PACHOW!!! One chapter at a time and it only took me six years, lol. Oh dear. Well if I can do it, anybody probably can, so you should all do it. It's beauty.

See, here's the lovely black widow that was about to attack my van...I had Bethany kill it with a 2x4.


And then here's our new McDonalds. It's a bit drafty inside and you have to find a place to sit amidst all that rubble, but they have better service now. ;)



In other news, The Happening really wasn't that bad as far as cinematography and stuff was concerned. It just had a really really really terrible story. =P

So after not being impressed with the movie, I watched to special features hoping they could explain themselves and found this...

Everything bad about the movie was because of George Lucas.
Bugging Spielberg to make a 4th Indy movie: Muchly George's idea
The interdimensional alien mans: George's idea
The son of Indy, who originally was originally going to be a daughter: George's idea
The original title Indian Jones and the Saucer Men: George's idea

Everything good about the movie was Steven Spielberg's idea.
NOT wanting to make a 4th movie in the first place: Steven's idea
Trying desperately to say NO ALIEN MANS: Steven's idea
Turning the daughter into a son: Steven's idea
Making sure the movie actually had a decent title: Steven's idea

So now Spielberg's on my list of forgiven people and Lucas is on my list of fat people.

hey guys, i'm an owl. =(

"All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers."

Mr. François Fénelon didn't take into account that genders are "equal" now so woman fight in the wars too! All wars are no longer civil omg nos!! =O

I'm pretty sure my mom is listening to rap in the other room. I'm...nervous. I hope she's okay. Maybe it's reggae. o_O

Gerie's gone for another eternity. I am le griefed and shall no doubt remain as such for approximately one week's time. Maybe half a week, 'cause I'm getting better at her being gone.

...also my blog looks terrible on Internet Explorer.

I'm going to see GERIE TODAAAAYY!! KAPOW ZIP PWOING FWEEP!!! It feels like I haven't seen her in 12 years! O_O

The land of the blogs is becoming a desolate and lonely place.



I don't know why I actually put time into editing this photo, but it was fun to do. Here's the original. Bop bop bop.

(click to see their full sizes, you hosers.)

Bwahaha, I was playing Street Fighter II on my cell phone tonight. Imagine the possibilities!

Boring wedding? No problem! Start playing Street Fighter II!
Slow day at work? Easy! Shoot some fireballs!
Long bus ride and you only have a cell phone? Psh! Bust out some uppercuts!
Stranded in your car waiting for a tow truck? Ha! Start trashing bozos!

We went to the Wenatchee Forest today. It was possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good, as well as archaic; extraordinary and superior!* Except for this one point when I somehow managed to kick myself in the finger (yeah, I don't know) and jammed the blasted thing. It hurts like a Tuesday smash! Other than that, however, the trip went well and the birds are still singing.

Here, have some pictures!


*(That's the definition for excellent)

There are only a few things in this movie, mostly because I only know a few things and also because I didn't feel like making a big movie. ..nor do I currently have the software for such a task.

It's kind of ironic that I've spent hours learning these moves that really don't look all that hard. ^_^

Check out our new McDonalds! Classy joint, eh? Also, VOLCANO TACO!! Cool name. MUCH better than "Frutista Freeze"

Russian Circles is so wonderful.

I got kicked out of math class today during roll call. Ouch. I made the mistake of sitting up front too. Well I'll show THEM. I'm not going back to that class ANYMORE. Hmph. ¬_¬

I've got a waitress in a box, and a cook on a skateboard, and nobody watching the front! ~Carol Bridges

Perverted people make me really really really mad.

Oooohhh, I dwank to many melonades. =_=

AAHHH I haven't done anything cool lately! Except I drew some pictures I guess. I've been too busy watching stuff. Movies waste time! Maybe I'll do something cool tonight.

Oh but Ethan was here this morning. ...I'm not sure why. o_O We had a big gun fight with Iron Man's legs. He hosed me.

Now for a poetry:
There was a guy 7 years ago
Who copied everything I ever did
He wore my clothes and talked like me
He was a very annoying kid!
I punched him in the face one day
He didn't even flinch!
But that was long ago
And I haven't had good luck since!

EDIT: AAAAAHHHHH!!!! I was just informed that school starts on Monday!! I'm gonna die. T_T

There are zeppelins of people who think that the things which are commonly said or done are cool, and therefore they do or say them too. But often times, things like that really bother me. Usually if I say something and then everybody starts saying it, I think, "Gwah! It's not cool anymore!" and then I quit saying it and start saying something else. For example I have to punish myself anytime I use the word random anymore because it's become super cliché.

But Bethany and I have spent the last two weeks giving each other words and phrases we both hate, and that's made me feel a lot better. ^_^

And now I leave you with...HERE HAVE PICTURE OF A WILD RABID STUFFED MONKEY WITH A KNIFE!! HAHAHA I'M SO RANDOM!!!