Not on the dole.

I've been thinking about writing a lot lately... but not doing it.  I've been thinking about doing a lot of things lately... but not really doing any of them well - a half-ass-ness approach.  The other night I could not sleep so I got on the world wide web and stumbled across and old friend's blog, and it sparked me to want to start posting again. 

Being unemployed again has surely played with my mind and my spirit.  Not being on the dole makes it that much worse... since my last employer never made me a W-2, I do not get unemployment payments/insurance.  I get to spend my savings.  I feel like I have applied for a million jobs - and almost all of them I am over-qualified for.  I have applied at Whole Foods, Jewel, Target - not to mention all of the jobs at marketing and ad agencies, design firms, non-profits, for-profits, and on and on and on.  I have networked.  I have had meetings with people who know people.  I have signed up with temp agencies and headhunters.  I have sold my CD and LP collection... which is a bit depressing, but at least I have something to sell.  And finally, I cashed in my 401k.

Maybe I'll get out of this funk and unemployment stretch by writing once again. My mind is constantly thinking of things to write about - it's just getting me to do it. Just like get exercise... my mind tells me to do it, but I have a hard time getting out the door.

Goal: be positive, think positive, write, run, bike, skateboard, find a job, smile, enjoy the things in life that are good... find happiness once again.

5of9er's Favorite Albums 1992 - 2009.

It's that time of the year... Top 10's from everyone on every subject. If you are not a avid follower of 5of9er, you might not know about my history of Top 10 albums. Before I post my Top 10 for 2010... here is a look back on the years past.

Note: I started the list in 1990, but I cannot find the first three years... and I do not want to go back and just make them up.
 

best of 2009
1. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart "s/t" (slumberland)
2. David Bazan "Curse Your Branches" (barsuk)
3. Shrinebuilder "Shrinebuilder" (neurot)
4. Passion Pit "Manners" (french kiss/columbia)
5. Tortoise "Beacons of Ancestorship" (thrill jockey)
6. Nomo "Invisible Cities" (ubiquity)
7. Method Man & Redman "Blackout 2" (def jam)
8. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenex" (loyauté/glassnote)
9. Lily Allen "It's Not Me, It's You" (capitol)
10. Rose Melberg "Homemade Ship" (k)

TRON Skateboarding?

Tron Legacy Premiere - A Light Session from ENESS on Vimeo.

A friend of mine from Chocolate Giant sent me this video. It's 50% really cool... and 50% really stupid. Not sure what else to say about it.

Veoba Post: RECORD REVIEW: OFF!’s The First Four EPs

Originally posted on Veoba.com:

I grew up a punk rock skateboarding child of the 80’s. I had an older brother that heavily influenced my life… I was completely his shadow. We spent free time skateboarding and listening to punk records, and once a week we tuned into Vinyl Rights – a radio show, which aired on KFJC, hosted by Alex Morgan. What Alex spun on his show was what became our “To Buy” list of records.

Veoba Post: 2nd Avenue Records, Portland OR

Posted originally on Veoba.com:
I spent two stints in Portland, OR and one of the constants during my time there was 2nd Avenue Records always getting a ton of my money. Like any junky needing a fix (which PDX has long been the place for that), I was in constant need of that new 7″ or 12″ and while Portland has seen many great shops come and go, 2nd Ave was always my go to. Mainly because it’s seemingly been around forever. I recently saw someone label 2nd Ave as the Toyota Camry of Portland record stores… which is not a bad reference. Now I’d never buy a Toyota (that’s for a different article), but just like 2nd Avenue Records the Camry’s reliable.