Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

Archives for September 2010

28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 3

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010. 28 years, 51 weeks, 1 day.

Wednesday started before I intended it to. I awoke over and over through the night, seemingly never completely asleep.

It’s the season for it – the two weeks of fall where my allergies activate overnight. Whether dream or reality, it seemed like I was reawakening multiple times each minutes, sniffling and coughing. Once – or, maybe multiple times? – I shambled to the bathroom to swallow a decongestant, hoping it would take the edge off my misery.

I felt like miles of bad road by the time I officially “awoke,” though I’m not convinced I was ever completely asleep. For a moment I had the phone in my hand, considering calling out, but it wasn’t worth the misery of a double-hard day on Thursday leading up to my gig.

I hit my desk feeling like death warmed over. I must have looked the part too, because none of my co-workers offered any words of encouragement.

What one of them did offer was an iced coffee. [Read more…] about 28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 3

28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 2

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010. 28 years, 51 weeks.

Tuesday was a day. That’s the most positive thing about it I can muster. That, and work never reached the temple-pounding stress of Monday. I even left on time.

At home I desperately attempted to render some order to the studio. My gear had been in disarray since our house concert, with mic stands and guitars strewn through every room in the house. The back-to-back rehearsal and gig the prior weekend had scattered things even further. I was finding microphones in couch cushions and quarter inch cables under my bed.

Still tidying, from my attic window I spotted Gina walk across our driveway and up the path to our door. Having shed my work clothes I wore only underwear as I flung open the window and screen and hollered, “Be right down!”

Laundry, I reminded myself, you need to do laundry for the gig.

I barely managed to get myself into a pair of jeans by the time I hit the front door and Gina smiled, accustomed to finding me in states of half dress ever since she lived in the apartment above mine in 2001. [Read more…] about 28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 2

28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 1

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Monday, September 13, 2010. 28 years, 50 weeks, 6 days.

I woke up and immediately felt unprepared for the week ahead.

That’s not the kind of way you should feel as soon as you open your eyes in the morning. Especially not on a Monday. It should be prohibited as an emotional state.

What’s more appropriate? Maybe, “It’s morning!” possibly amending “Already?” Or, “I’m tired.” Even the old standby, “I’m hungry.”

Those are the sorts of feelings to have upon waking up. Lingering dread is more the sort of feeling you want to avoid. [Read more…] about 28 years, 51 weeks: pt. 1

Monday Music: Arcati Crisis, live @ Tin Angel

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Last Thursday my acoustic indie-pop duo, Arcati Crisis, made our fourth appearance together at the Tin Angel. It was our second as co-headliner, and first closing the show.

I think we were pretty awesome, and I have brought you video to back up my claim. Watch as we tear through “Holy Grail,” “Glam / Standing,” “Video Killed the Radio Star,” “Dumbest Thing I Could Do,” “Fisher Price,” and “Better,” all in one convenient playlist.

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Did you like what you heard? Share it with a shortlink: bit.ly/actin1009

I’ll tell you more about the circumstances leading up to the show in my “28 years, 51 weeks” posts over the next few days. Until then, just enjoy the music.

28 years, 51 weeks: intro

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It is six thirty-five in the morning, and I am on my way to work to begin raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity for two hours before doing my actual job.

I slept about three hours last night. I have eight-hundred more words due on a freelance assignment before midnight tonight and then rehearsal for the next two nights. I’ll have Thursday night to myself, unless I go out to see the show I’d like to see. Somewhere in there I have to fold some laundry and edit and upload a few gigabytes of videos for three different bands.

All that, and turn 29, on Wednesday.

Sometimes I don’t know how I’m supposed to do it – be this thing that I so desperately want to be. Like some Sisyphean Looney Toons sketch, I feel like I’m constantly plugging leaks in a giant dam only to have a new one spring for each I’ve stopped.

Can I be a successful professional in good shape with a happy marriage, an evening music career, a well-kept home, and writing gigs on the side?

Last week I tried to do it all. I was moderately successful, but it meant I was too busy to blog about it at the time. Does it defeat the purpose of being moderately successful if I don’t have time to blog about it?

Well, I’m making the time now. I’ll be moderately successful, damnit.