退屈な歌

I hate openings. I'm officially sick of doing them. While I enjoy how the day goes surprisingly fast i think working the slower midshifts would be better. I'm supposed to have the rest of the day on an opening to do whatever I want, but i'm always so tired, I just go right to sleep. Then i can't sleep at night and then feel tired for the next opening. Fuck that. yeah they can find someone else to do that crap. They're supposed to hire new people anyway. When my mornings are free I will do two things. Exercise and practice doing my hair. Two things i'm pretty much out of touch with right now. By the end of next semester I want to have a nice body and nice hair to go with it! ha. I'll also feel generally healthier anyway!

I fit into a size 1! I fit into a size 1! then I ate a burger... awwwwwww...

yeah that was a nice show of people's subconscious feelings. it only takes a little to show the unbridled passion of anyone. that and it's also fun to see someone turn into a Pokemon and evolve.

A look back on 2006.

People I met this year:
Vienne
Wei
Fangwen
Joanna
Vincent
Nana
Dongyi
Xander
Bel
Ashley
Jill
Victor
Vic
Vince
Dennis
Branton
Jules
Emma
Edeline
Rosanne
Kristina
Jeggy
Jackie
Jean
J.Ar
Josh
Mark
Daisy
... and literally a hundred or so other people that I don't feel like listing.

I'm glad I met all the people I did this year. Even the people I don't talk to at the moment, I appreciate all that everyone has taught me this year.

Let's go through some musical changes, shall we...

At the start of the year, I was full on into rock. I played the drums almost exclusively. Because of that, my rhythm came into the foreground. As the year passed, I drove myself back into the funk and r&b that was the foundation of my bass playing. As the year passed, I took out the bass again and brought my music to a totally holistic point which I am polishing now.

I spent lots of money on cymbals. My cymbal collection is worth somewhere around $1200.

I also revamped my bass setup. I completely changed the electronics inside my Jazz Bass to an EMG system. I quit playing fretless bass, but still have it in case i want to pick it up again. This year wasn't big for my upright bass either. What was in this year was vintage style electric bass playing.  With the beginning of the year's Dir en grey influence on my rhythm section playing, I think a more distinct style came out of me. Think one part Toshiya, one part Jamerson, one part Bootsy, one part Graham, shake and pour into a Jazz Bass.

This year's setup goes like this...

Custom J-Bass-------->Black Finger Optical Tube Compressor--------->Bass Micro Synth-------->Q-tron Envelope Filter--------->Tech 21 Sansamp PSA1.1------->PA/Fender Bassman 400

Recording also changed, from the Roland V system I had, I'm no recording with Pro Tools on my Macbook Pro. A big technological upgrade.

This year was also the year I finally learned how to use a synthesizer! this is contrasting to 2005 in that I was almost solely acoustic.

My favorite performance this year was the Pillows even though there was a lot of stress leading up to that gig.

This year's near death experience was that huge car accident that I don't even remember.

So how many close friends do I have? a few. I value them all. But what was different about this year? I had absolutely no close friends who were guys. In fact, I was at odds wih most guys for most of the year.

This year's girl is cute. No hot girls for me this year. And nice girls! I think I want this preference to continue onto the next year

Learning Japanese was a highlight of this year and has brought me new insight to my approach to communication

Late in the year, Ating Tao has brought inspiration and focus to my expression.

hmmmmmm... maybe I'll add to this. i'll probably put my resolutions up soon.

All I know is that 2007 is going to be a big year for me. muahaha.

I bruised my ass. I hit it on an open cabinet during a rush. My ass is so fat, I broke the hinges on the cabinet. It hurts to sit down! 僕のASSが痛い、よ！

Be the only motherfucker who doesn't quit and is still actually willing to work for their money.

Well it's been a long time since people have seen what music i've been listening to. I guess I need to put down that my 20GB ipod ran out of room. So I've had to take stuff out of my ipod. As a result, I've removed a lot of the Jrock because they were downloads that were lacking in sound quality. They are still a part of my library, and mike's as well, but they aren't that fun to listen to on headphones because they kind of sound like crap.

With that being said let's take a look at what I've been listening to!

So let me outline my normal hair process these days and the products I use.

Pre Showah Setup:

I take this time to put stuff on my sink.

- Eco-Silk Frizz Defense
- Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
- Ceramic Flatiron (plugged in)
- Ionic Hair Dryer (not plugged in)
- Run of the mill plastic comb

Showahtime:

- Get in the shower and wet my hair with lukewarm water. I turn on the hot water eventually but don't let my hair touch it.

- Wash my hair with Pureology Hydrate using about the size of a nickel in my palm. In any shampoo or conditioner, I will always make sure I get every part of my hair. After that, rinse of course.

- On a normal day, I then put Pureology Nanoworks conditioner. I use about a dime size amount in my palm because it's a relatively deep treatment and it's also expensive. Save Save Save. I leave it in for 2 minutes then rinse.

- Every 3 days, I deep condition my hair in the shower with Joico K-Pak Reconstruct. I use a little more of it than the Pureology and I leave it in for 5 minutes. I don't use the Nanoworks on these days.

Post Showah:

- After I'm done with all my shower stuff, I just lightly towel off my hair removing excess moisture. I then walk over to the sink and apply Eco-Silk to my damp hair.

- Using the comb and a blow dryer, I then flatten my hair with the comb, blow drying the wet, frizz-defense saturated hair.

- After letting my hair dry for a little, I add another small drop of Eco-Silk for use as a straightening balm. I then flatiron any stray parts in my hair. If I still have a little frizz, one more drop of Eco-Silk (yeah it's a lot of Eco-Silk. my hair is frizzy) should get rid of it. I then comb everything nicely so I can see what's going on with my hair today.

- If everything seems fine, I finish my hair with the PMS Super Skinny Serum. It adds the last note of softness and shine that I think is necessary.

All this for guy's hair that isn't even that great? Man, I must be doing something wrong. And this is just for days i want to look normal. Let's not add the hairwax and hairspray stuff for days I'm feeling adventurous.

... because if you don't look good, can't have confidence.

Add 1 part ugly Nick with bad hair

Add 1 part girl

Mix with, "You have old, tired eyes."

The end result is...

Finally, this semester is almost over. Now that I look back on it, it kind of was an extremely good and bad semester that continues to test my patience and will power to ummmmmmm just keep going???

Here's a lookback a little because I don't really even talk about what's going on anymore. Maybe some quotes and such.

"[person A], you're like a brother to me. [person B], you're like my sister. Nick, uhhhhhh... I don't know, I've never met anyone like you before!" said by [Former Perfect Stranger]

"Is there anything I can help you ladies with?" said by myself to customers at Starbucks 613

"Is there anything I can help you ladies with?" said by MAC employee to me and [a Perfect Stranger]

"Nick, you have a really nice voice. It's raw and raspy." said by [PACE Core Member A]

"Nick, I like your voice a lot. It's deep and smooth like a crooner, you know?" said by [PACE Core Member B]

"Wow, who knew the little kid in the tight jeans could get their asses shakin'" said by [40 Man Mafia Member A]

"Dude, you can write a song just from looking at a girl's eyes? Then write a song from looking into my eyes!" said by [a male member of Kapwamilia]

Ehhhhh... I've got bored of this quickly. Anyway, i cut my hair! yeah... and i didn't fuck up. my hair needed a much needed clean up!