nostalgia

Had enough Michael Jackson talk for the rest of your life?

It's become obvious to me that the largest reason people are getting so caught up in the Michael Jackson story is because when we think about a life's work like MJ's, that work is intrinsically linked to our own nostalgia. We, as humans, love to wax nostalgic.

That said, the rest of this post is only for the humans out there. The rest of you are free to go.

My parents took me and my brothers to Disneyland and we saw the Michael Jackson 3-D movie Captain EO. Holy crap. Did you see that as a kid? Do you remember walking out of that theater? Do you remember what that felt like? If we watched it now, we may roll our eyes or giggle through some of it, but for the time, for the age I was, it was bigger than the universe. A seventeen-minute film costing an estimated $30 million dollars to produce. At the time it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis, averaging out at $1.76 million per minute.

Two days before Michael Jackson suddenly died I posted this status on facebook:

“Every now and then i hear a song from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album and am not surprised it is still the best selling album of all time. Today: Billie Jean. Danke Pandora.”

My parents had the original Thriller vinyl LP in their record collection. And they had a record player hooked up to the big family speakers all the way up until they moved in 2002.

Two days before he died, Pandora brought me back to our family room in Concord, CA. I was 5 years old. 8 years old. 12 years old. Then, I specifically remember my 16th birthday party. My house was packed with friends, music was playing from the CD player, kids were mingling and generally running amok. I always liked playing DJ. I had this planned all day: At the climax of the party, I stopped the CD player in the middle of a song, put the Thriller record on and set the needle to “Beat it.” It immediately changed the whole vibe in my house and the party became instantly cooler, even though we weren't bumping to the latest "cool" music. That's how classic pop works. We listened to Thriller, Billie Jean, P.Y.T. and Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ until we realized the party just can’t get any better and it started to die down.

I remember the first time time I saw the Thriller video sitting on the edge of the couch one afternoon in the mid 80’s. I probably wasn’t supposed to be watching MTV or VH1, but I was blown away. I think I was even scared of all the zombies at first.

I remember the day in Germany when my zone leader taught a 19 year-old me how to moonwalk. I could then moonwalk, for real, and it was a big deal to me. I’m pretty sure I wrote home about it. As if one of the 50 things I really wanted to do in my life was checked off, and that was simply fun for me. I started moonwalking all over my apartment, like a total goober, but I didn’t care.

MJ’s work is a large chunk of the soundtrack to my young life. A carefree, sun-kissed, dancing childhood. I know I’m not the only one, so I guess I’m not that surprised to find so many people from all walks of life are a bit caught up in his departure. In reality, I imagine they're more caught up in the memories of their own lives, but Michael Jackson, the entertainer, is the common denominator.

Why the media insists on spend hours on supposed "news" channels speculating on his cause of death, whether or not Janet tried to stage an intervention a few years back, who agrees or disagrees with who has custody of his kids now, etc, i don't know. Well, i do, but that's a different issue.

Too much kick

kung-fu + CPB work + me being really hungry for lunch can only = awesome.

When your next friend gets engaged...

...get them to do something like this for their invite.



If you need a designer to pull something like this off, I can recommend a few and you can take your pick.

My Dad

I stumbled upon this quintessential Mark Forsyth photo on facebook yesterday, just in time for Fathers Day. It looks like it was taken at a recent BBQ for his Young Single Adult LDS flock he oversees in Philly.

If you know my dad, this will not surprise you. Heed the photo's caption and the additional comments left underneath it for a chuckle at someone else's expense. (you can click on the photo to see it larger).



I love my dad.

The Genisis of Noble Slavery

We closed on our town home last Friday. I had to sign a couple affidavits saying I wouldn't operate a music business out of my home or deduct any more losses from my music on my taxes in order for them to agree to give us a mortgage.

...It didn't occur to me until I just wrote it out, but, it sure looks like I totally sold out. Only instead of cashing out for the man, I'm giving the man all my money.

I digress. So, we're homeowners. Landlords, actually, since the previous owners (I used to call them the "current owners." It's fun to call them "previous owners." In my head, I rub my hands together and snicker when I say it) aren't moving out until Monday, June 15. They gave us $300 at closing as rent. I gotta’ say, the landlord mantle does wonders for your self esteem. Just the name makes me feel like a noble. “What’s that you say, peasant? Speak up! I’m a LANDLORD!”

Jaime and I are going over tonight to get the keys and stuff. I wonder if they'll give us a tour and tell stories about different parts of the place. It's interesting to think how many stories are attached to a place that was built in 1983. I'm really looking forward to adding our own and making it even better.

Speaking of making it better, I cashed in most of my American Express Rewards points for $150 in Home Depot gift cards. I'm going to blow it all next Wednesday. Jaime and I went window shopping there last week and already know everything we want to get (to begin, at least): new bathroom sink, new kitchen faucet, paint and painting supplies, lumber and manly stuff for the desk I'm going to build for myself. So yeah, the gift cards will pretty much only pay for my desk materials and some painters tape. Sigh...

I managed to abuse my calling as 1st counselor in the Ward Young Men’s presidency and declared next Tuesday evening’s activity a service venture for the faltering Forsyth family. The teachers and priests are helping us move. It’s nice that the new place is only about 150 yards from our apartment. Should I make them carry the couch on their backs while I lay on it? After all, I am getting them them pizza and sodas. And c’mon, haven’t you heard - I’m a landlord.

Cameron's house

"The place is like a museum. It's very beautiful and very cold, and you're not allowed to touch anything." - Ferris B.

Cameron's house from Ferris Bueller's Day Off is for Sale.

Don't ask me why i know these things. Just ask yourself why you don't know these things.

"Now's the time to buy!"

Soiled Dove is back on.

The shoot was pushed a week later. May 29th will be good. Ignore my weepy post below. And come out to the show if you're around.

understandable random breakdown

was just going through this director's reel and came upon this spot. darn tootin' funny.

It was bound to happen.

It has happened. Until now, my sometimes life consuming "day job" only butted heads with my music ambitions in the sense that it was a huge time commitment, even for a "day job." It leaves much less time for writing and refining my sound then would be ideal, but "ideal" is a stupid hope for a musician like myself, and I've never whined that I wasn't swimming in time, freedom and disposable income, while I sit around and play guitar. I am grateful for my job and I'm lucky to have it. It's pretty kick-A as day jobs go (even if it does creep into the night pretty often). I've only sought for balance. In my usual foolishness, I have wanted to do/have a piece of it all.

Friday, May 29 was slated to be a great show at a great venue - the Soiled Dove Underground in Denver, opening up for Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband. I will now be in LA on a TV shoot that night, unable to return until Saturday morning. Basically, 16 hours too late to play the Soiled Dove. The thing that pains me the most is that I know people who have already purchased tickets to this show to see me. Plus, I will really miss the extra revenue of playing this show at this time when Jaime and I are trying to buy a home.

It was not a fun thing to call up the Talent Buyer at the Soiled Dove and tell him I had to go back on my commitment and he had to find someone else. I hope I haven't completely tainted my rep.

I have a responsibility to my employer and as much as it pains me to admit to my struggling independent songwriter colleagues, my priority is with CP+B (= blasphemy that may result in complete loss of respect from many of my talented musician friends). This is the first time I've really had to let a venue down and go back on my word. Let alone a stellar venue like the Soiled Dove, and a stellar show like Ryan Shupe. It stings. I'm hurting today, and I'll be hurting in LA on Friday, May 29. Maybe I'll write a song about it. When I get the time. Back to work.

Calling all good vibes.

"It's a good time to buy!"
"Time to buy now is great"
"Good now buy time is to."
"Buy to time good a it's!"

These are variations of comments with which my peers who are not in the real estate business have been kind enough to share with me recently. Still, buying a home is scary business. But it's super exciting too. It has consumed all of my conversations with Jaime recently. Last night we went on a long walk around our neighborhood. When we started the walk, I wasn't sure if I could stomach a mortgage and everything that comes with it. It was like a summer night, calm, quiet and warm, with as many stars as a suburb bordering open space can hope for. We finished by walking to the town home we like the most, less than a block from our current apartment. By the end of walk Jaime and an experiment in faith prevailed.

We’re making an offer on this place this week.

Red brick townhome, set on a hill reminiscent of San Fransisco row houses when viewed together, at night, through one eye, squinting. Hardwood floors, fireplace, basement, three bedrooms, lots of grass outside the back door, and in the same neighborhood and town we have grown to love in the last year and a half. Open space and trails a block away. Boulder is minutes away. Denver 30 minutes away. But Louisville all by itself is fantastic, regardless of the urban hubs nearby. Just needs a new main floor paint job, new kitchen appliances, and maybe a central A/C installation in the future. Fans will have to do for now.

Please send out good vibes that we get all we’re asking the sellers for.