Borderline Obscene

What I'd Say If You Were Listening (or, Me Talking To You Talking To Me Talking To Everyone, Everything, All The Time) or, (Self Flagellation, Fun For You & The Kids)

2011-12-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

When I was a senior in high school, I had the good fortune of having a family friend who took a special interest in me and my endeavors. As he was himself an outdoor enthusiast, much of our time spent together was in pursuit of summer outdoor activities- hiking, rafting, etc. What's more, he was (and continues to be) an elementary school teacher and so his available time for the pursuit of

Small Courtesies, Home Rule Municipalities & Me

2011-11-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

I must have one of those faces. While not consistently the case throughout my life, I have found that in the five years since my twentieth birthday I can go few places without being talked to, accosted, asked for an opinion or, in particularly concerning circumstances, fondled. Allow me to explain. I stopped at the grocery store this afternoon after walking my dog and on my way home. I've

A Very Fun Word For A Very Bad Feeling

2011-09-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have had the word 'lugubrious' floating around in my head for the last few days. It comes as no surprised. This happens to me quite frequently. A word that I do not commonly use and yet, somehow know, comes to the fore of my mind and will not leave my attention until I have sought out and mastered its definition (which, in the case of 'lugubrious' is "mournful, dismal"- a very fun word for

New Song Demo - "Road Song"

2011-09-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Another song from the weekly songwriting workshop. The week's prompt was to write, you guessed it, a road song. The title is tentative, but everything else is just about where I want it. Recorded on my MacBook Pro's internal mic with my Collings D1 guitar. "Road Song" by Cyle Talley on Soundcloud Lyrics: The rosy fingered dawn peeks out over the mountaintops Through thin and tinted glass,

A Tired & Worn Greyscale- Now In Technicolor

2011-09-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Rain has been my alarm clock for the past three days. Its gentle, persistent footsteps wandering across the roof of the house, slowly rousing me from my hibernation-like sleep patterns. That it has rained with any modicum of consistency in the southwestern Colorado town where I live is surprising. This is not a town usually associated with rain. Sun? Yes. Snow? Even moreso. Having rain

New Song Demo - "I Think You Like Me Too Much"

2011-09-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

I feel a little guilty. After all, I have completely ignored this blog for the last several months. My last post was just after Father's Day! Good G-d, I'm miserable with consistency. Though I've posted what will follow on my Tumblr and Facebook, I will, for prosperity's sake, post it here as well and endeavor not to ignore my little corner of the blogging world in the future. New Song Demo: "I

Manhood, Masculinity and Manly Men on Father's Day

2011-06-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

There is a very large willow tree that stands in front of my parent's house. It splays towards the sky and has littered the yard with its leaves for years. As the house was my grandparents home before it was my parent's, the tree and I have a lot of history. Many hours have been spent climbing, traversing and abusing it with my cousins, brother and sister. For it's part, the tree has always been

The World Is Going to Hell...

2011-05-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

...or my songwriting is. I'll let you decide after you've listened to the demo for the new song I just wrote. It’s tentative title is, “Shoulders (The World Is Going to Hell)” but we’ll see if it sticks. As for the song itself, it’s two songs written separately that I stuck together because well, they seemed to fit somehow. The first part, the “world is going to hell” part was written while

Today, I Feel A Little Like Scout Finch...

2011-05-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is good timing or the fates really are out to teach me a lesson (or lessons). I've been having my sophomore class read Harper Lee's classic, "To Kill A Mockingbird" and we've just come to the section where Tom Robinson is killed after trying to escape from prison after being convicted for rape, despite the fact that he was not guilty. The young narrator, Scout and her brother, Jem are

Short Form; Long Form; Bad Form, Peter.

2011-04-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

I have no intentions of leaving this blog to die. However, I've decided to make it the forum for "long form" endeavors- mostly because I've been having a really, really good time posting on tumblr.com over the last few days, thereby rendering it my forum for "short form"-type endeavors. Interested parties can find it here... That's all the news for now, as Garrison Keillor might say.

Everything Deliberate, Everything Delicate...

2011-04-14T23:44:00.000-07:00

I feel very strongly that you can tell quite a lot about a person by the pithy and seemingly trivial things they say- and quite a lot more than you can discern from their "statements". We feed our egos by rehearsing speeches, retorts and witticisms in the bathroom mirror while brushing our teeth but, it is my assertion that our humanity is revealed when we think that no one is listening. I was

"for chris"

2011-04-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

(Disclaimer: I do not often write poetry. It seems trite, somehow. That is to say that, while I enjoy writing it (and I do...), actually posting it for other people to read (much less saying, "Yeah," pause for a breathy sigh that proves my depth, "I write poetry." Or, perhaps even better, "I'm a poet." But, having said that- here is some poetry that I wrote this afternoon...) "for chris" i will

The Unbearable Idleness of Being

2011-03-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

My biological father, despite being a skilled craftsman, could never be mistaken for a hard worker. My intention in saying this is not to disparage his character, not by any means. Simply to say that, given the choice, he would much rather have a three or even four-day weekend than say, a six-day work week. When my mother and the man I now refer to as 'Dad' (my stepfather) first got together, I

170 Million Americans

2011-03-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually one to go around trumping my political beliefs and standings. I tend to find it boorish and rude- I hate imposing upon my friends and the people I generally feel fondly towards. This, however, is a completely different matter. A vote was held 19 February by the House of Representatives regarding government funding to public broadcasting- and the House voted in favor 235-189.

"My Baby Wakes Before Me" - New Song Demo

2011-02-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

Another week, another song. This week's prompt was to write a song about food. I, of course, don't really like food a whole lot. So, I wrote about coffee. This was fun to write and is goofy at best. I imagine that, when I do indeed settle down and have a girlfriend or wife, she'll be the kind of person who would do exactly this sort of thing to me. My apologies for the quiet audio- it's 12:44

Suddenly, A Bookworm

2011-02-23T18:36:00.000-08:00

A memory: I am five years old. I'm standing in the living room of my family's small, quaint house nestled in a modest Las Vegas suburb. Though it is ungodly hot outside, I have insisted upon wearing a long sleeve shirt and I am absentmindedly chewing on one of the wrists of the sleeves as I stare up at the wall in complete awe. Not at the wall, but at a painting that hangs on said wall. It

"The Witching Hour" New Song Demo

2011-02-13T22:40:00.001-08:00

My friends and I have restarted our songwriting workshop-type endeavors. This is my effort for this week's prompt entitled, "The Witching Hour". Lyrics: "The Witching Hour" Benjamin believed himself much better equipped to handle life's injustices with his hands on her hips the witching hour does awful things to upstanding men we know On the weekend we can forget who we are, we become

Sparkling Cider, Birthdays & The Whole Shebang

2011-02-13T00:11:00.000-08:00

It's like clockwork. Every year at this time, I write about how much I dislike birthdays, the needless celebration (not in general- just in regards to my own) and everything thereby related. But, this year, I think that I'll change my tune- if only for a change of pace. I still don't like birthdays necessarily, but I'm willing to grin and bear them for nights like this. The move to Austin and

Dance, Dance, Dance

2011-02-12T09:45:00.001-08:00

I like this. A lot, actually. I've had her song, "Possibility" stuck in my head for days and my sister heard me humming it, so she (sister) showed me the following video. Enjoy.

Fun with Seventeen Syllables

2011-02-12T00:26:00.000-08:00

RESULT: "Without meaning to, neglected writing today, perhaps tomorrow." CAUSE: We sat, Dad and I- watching the basketball game, postponing real life. PSUEDO-APOLOGY: "Eyes are full of lead, procrastination wins again- I'm sure you're distraught." Good night.

On Coffee & Anticipation.

2011-02-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

I am not a morning person. Let me just state that clearly. I am not a morning person and I never have been. It's been the source of some contention throughout my life- that it takes no fewer than four minutes to actually wake me up (were one to try), or that, once awake, it takes at least an hour for me to become fully functional with all hands on the proverbial deck, etc. My various roommates

On The Elderly & Incontinent & Sounding Like Your Parents

2011-02-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

The house I live in has this series of terrific picture windows- tall and stately looking things that, if run by at the proper speed, provide a sort of nickelodeon-type view of the entirety of the front yard. At night, these windows light up the living area with a flood of starlight that is both romantic and haunting- the lilting light hanging like a linen sheet over the furniture, the floors and

"Write, damn you. Write!"

2011-02-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot lately- both for my new job (teaching writing and literature) and for pleasure. The latter pursuit never ceases to amaze me. I do indeed actually enjoy reading. I recently reread one of my favorite essays of (possibly) all time, "The Fourth State of Matter" by JoAnne Beard (because I'm using it as an assignment in one of my classes and, during the process of working up

Gratification

2011-02-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

I have a few thoughts regarding my new job that need to be turned into blogs at the moment, but I wanted to share one immediately. My tenth grade American Literature class just got finished reading Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle". We read it aloud in class, talked about it at great length and I am now sitting at the kitchen table, grading essay questions and their modernizations of the

A Junk Punch to the Pride

2011-01-25T10:15:00.000-08:00

Regardless of who or what you (the singular you) are grateful to, I think that we (the collective we) do not feel gratitude enough of the time. True, unfettered gratitude. Not the sort that one feels after receiving say, a Christmas gift, expressing it through some pithy (though well-meaning, I'm sure) note that will be read once and thrown away. Sure, the notes are nice and of course,

Bescumber & Other Preciseness.

2011-01-23T12:36:00.000-08:00

I've turned a new leaf in my life recently, though I can't quite put my finger on what precipitated the change. Its been coming for a long time, I suspect, though it's arrival has now taken me wholly by surprise. It's this sudden strident desire to be pointed, to be exacting and precise with my language. Apparently, my friends have noticed this change in me, as I've gotten into several

Occasionally Surprised, Always Impressed

2011-01-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

I blog mostly for my own personal amusement. It's a way for me to express my thoughts in a pseudo-public forum that can be looked at by curious sorts and ignored by the vast majority of people. It's a relatively safe forum and an easy waste of time. I am, after all, 8/10ths an introvert and so blogging allows both sides of my personality to express themselves. Still, I am occasionally surprised

Short Updates, et cetera.

2011-01-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Durango. I no longer live in Austin- as of this Saturday when my cousin, Joseph (who is a damned champion, thank you) and I began the arduous, 15-hour drive between the two. We drove straight through. We left at 1 in the afternoon and arrived at six in the morning the next day (after a two-hour power nap). It's odd to be back, though I'm glad to be here. I greatly missed the

A Long Distance Out of the Way

2011-01-03T22:44:00.000-08:00

I've wasted the past hour trying to come up with a clever turn of phrase, a decent opening paragraph through which I could tell of my news and new plans and the directions in which life is taking me- quickly. Alas, I have completely failed. I started by saying that I don't know how the world works, but that sometimes I pretend to and apologizing to those who I've fooled with this (not even

I'm Not An Artist. I Just Like Making A Mess

2011-01-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

I've spent a lot of time recently painting with oils. It's a new endeavor for me and one that I've heartily enjoyed- post-getting-the-hang-of-it, that is. Here are some of the results. I'm (mostly) quite pleased with them. "I Fear That I Ought To Leave" Oil. 16 x 20 completed 31 Dec 2010 "Far Away & In Every Direction" Oil. 12 x 24 completed 31 Dec 2010

I Am Enormously Insignificant & So Are You.

2010-12-15T16:57:00.000-08:00

This sign hangs above the guitar counter at work. What pitiful cynic hung it there, I'm not sure. It probably was intended to be funny, to whatever extent a reminder of that nature can be. Most of the time, I look at it and can only give out a sigh of disbelief. Other times, when things are not quite as easy as I'd like them to be, I look at the sign and think to myself, "You know, perhaps that's

Mothers, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Monosyllabic Idiots

2010-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I fully realize that I am an elitist bastard when it comes to language. That being said, there is no need to leave comments of disparaging nature in response to this post. It's meant to be funny (sort of). I, of course, happen to find it a little sad as well- but that's just me. I realize that lingual abuse is not limited to the state of Texas. Perhaps it just seems more rampant

Several Unrelated Thoughts/Stories/Observations Before Work

2010-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

I was pulled over the other day, for speeding down 183 on my way to work. Though it's not necessarily an excuse, I was late. Let me first say that pulling over on a freeway is no easy task. Texas is a scary state, filled with scary drivers. The police officer, as per the usual, asked for my license and registration. He then asked me if I knew why he had pulled me over. I said that I supposed that

Just Because I Hate Christmas Doesn't Mean I Hate Zooey Deschanel (aka Mrs. Gibbard)

2010-12-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

I got an email from Collings Guitars today- I own one of their fine instruments (she's my FAVORITE) and so I'm on their email list wherein they send me stories, links, etc. In said email, they embedded the following video of Conan O'Brien (who also happens to be a Collings enthusiast) playing guitar with She & Him. If you haven't heard She & Him yet, prepare to be dazzled. They melted this

"Alexander David Cross"

2010-12-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before that a few friends of mine and I have a weekly songwriting workshop, yes? If not, allow me to do so now. A few friends and I have a songwriting workshop wherein we have a "prompt" a week and the three of us write a song regarding said prompt and send said song to the other two via email. This week's prompt asked us to look at this picture and create an aural representation

Sometimes, I Quote Other People's Ideas/Lyrics/Pithy Sayings

2010-12-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how the following quotes are related, but they've both been stirring around in my brain this evening and so I thought that I would share them with the anxiously anticipatory audience that is my loyal blog readers. "Because together looks good when you're alone- and alone looks good when you're together." - Punch Brothers "If ever I should die, G-d forbid, let this be my epitaph: '

After Work, A Conversation

2010-12-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

I, along with a coworker, was forced to stay later than normal at work tonight due to the laziness er... inability, er... uh, yeah, laziness of our fellow coworkers at Guitar Center. "Forced" is an accurate term, I'm afraid. We, the employees, are locked inside the store until all of our "tasks" for the night are completed. This includes "front-facing" all of the tags on the guitars (turning all

A Short Letter, Lacking Tact

2010-11-27T21:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Citizens of Austin, I regret to inform you that it is not, to my knowledge at least, referred to as an "I'll Think About It" Lane, nor a "Dawdle" Lane. A "Give Me A Moment to Change The Song or Station" Lane it is not. No, dear fellow drivers, it is known as an Acceleration Lane. It's the one we use to gain speed (also known as accelerating) in an effort to merge onto the freeway- you know,

Creative Class

2010-11-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

I've been doing some session work recently, drumming for studio recordings, demos and rehearsals. It's easily my favorite venue to play drums in because of its stringent requirements and challenges both mentally and physically. Quickly organizing the form of the song in my head, what part goes where and in what section, syncing in with the bass player and rhythm guitar and, perhaps most

The Old Brag.

2010-11-22T22:31:00.000-08:00

I recently finished reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. It is now completely understandable to me why many consider it a modern classic- it's beautiful and haunting and many other things. The language is gorgeous. The story leaves a palpable taste in the reader's mouth. I find myself thinking often of a particular line that I'd like to share with you, if I may be so bold. I may? Thank you. "

What I Talk About When Other People Talk About Masturbation

2010-11-21T22:26:00.000-08:00

There are moments when I think to myself that I'm sort of an odd duck, a weird dude, et al. I am, after all, prone to speaking in an English accent at the drop of a hat and without any provocation. There are other moments when I think to myself that, perhaps I'm not such an odd duck/weird dude after all. I am, after all, NOT prone to talking about masturbation with a group of other men I just met

The Best Feeling In The World...

2010-11-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

...is being asked who your hero is and thinking about it long and hard. Considering great politicians, artists and writers, great poets, philosophers and musicians and realizing that the answer is, unequivocally and without any reservation, your dad. Well, alright- perhaps it's not the BEST feeling in the world. But it's near the top of my list. Perhaps topped by the knowledge that though it's

The Sound of Settling

2010-11-15T22:05:00.001-08:00

Things I Learned While Hovering Over the Toilet I am not usually an obscene person. Sure, I enjoy a well-placed curse word as much as the next person, but toilet jokes have never tickled my

Frustrated groan, gasp & sigh.

2010-04-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

I cannot, for the life of me,complete the screenplay that I'vebeen working on for the last semester.Scratch that, I can't even start one.My floor is littered with 'almost' drafts-nearly twenty some.I'm very near to throwing my hands in the airand waving the white flag.

School...

2010-04-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

I've just completed a final paperfor my class regarding baseball and the american dream.Shortly after editing and placing the last bit of punctuation,I got an email on my Blackberry (I know, I'm really cool)from Fort Lewis College, the school I attend, asking me to pleasecheck their active roster of students eligible to graduate.My name is on that list.1 May is D-Day.Final paper down, a

I've been...

2010-04-02T11:31:00.001-07:00

...reading a lot of David Sedaris recently.His collection of essays entitled Naked hascemented him as one of my favorite writersof all time, regardless of genre.If you haven't read anything by him,see that you do- sooner rather than later.I highly recommend "A Plague of Tics"from Naked and "You Can't Kill The Rooster"from Me Talk Pretty One Day.Excellent, superb, terrific good.I've also been

In the Studio pt. 2

2010-03-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

For reasons that are completely unknown to me...

2010-03-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

I think thatElvis Costello looks so... cool in this picture.I think it might be the Jazzmaster and glasses,but I can't be certain.

High School

2010-03-18T01:12:00.000-07:00

I graduated high school in 2004.I moved to another city that very summerand haven't spoken to many of those people since.Not because I didn't want to, but becausethat's simply what happens after high school.People go their separate ways, branching off and findingtheir own ways to get through the world.I was recently sent a request on Facebook (ugh)to join the fan page for my old high school which

you can dance, if you want to.

2010-03-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

On a whim (and short notice),I went to see a band that is the friendof a friend of a friend- the second friend(who is an acquaintance of mine)actually built my bike (which I love dearly).Confused yet?There are two things that I need to say:1. Black Market Electric (local Durango band)might be my new favorite band here in town.They're the bastard love child of Sid Vicious & Joe Strummerand, though

( )

2010-03-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

I've been sleepwalking recently, and much to my chagrin.I can't adequately say how unsettling I find it to wake up suddenly,standing at the light switch with my fingers on ithaving been dreaming about operating a merry-go-roundor at the kitchen sink having been dreaming about an incessant needto create new rivers, lakes and oceans.I never remember my dreams.Moreover, I don't "sleep" as much as I

Because I've been meaning to get caught up...

2010-03-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

Further details about the new EP to come.

To Be Alone With You//NEWS

2010-02-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

I've tried several times to begin this by writingabout how I'm in a coffee shop at the moment, sitting ata table that reminds me quite a lot of being in Portland or Eugene.Sufjan Stevens' "To Be Alone With You" is playing on the speakers& the coffee is hitting my nose in such a way that my brain is nearly fooled.The only reminder that I am indeed in Colorado & not Oregonis that the sun is peeking

bands.

2010-02-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

Recently, I can't seem to get enough:mewithoutYouSt. VincentRay LamontagneNickle Creek (?!)The Shins/James MercerI'm trying very diligently to somehowrectify my love of noise & chaoswith my undying loyalty to pretty melodies.Also, I made a big gear purchase recentlyas I'm thinking more and more that I want toplay solo electric when the band isn't available...(picture by michael jordan)

doing things.

2010-02-22T09:57:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of February,I had two things looming on my platethat I wanted desperately to take care of.1.) Release "Lies I've Told To People I've Loved"2.) Go into the studio to capitalize on recording time I won back in September.I swing like a pendulum, in all honesty.When the pendulum is on the upswing, you'll find medoing things- seemingly frantically running about,making plans, making

poster

2010-02-17T22:43:00.001-08:00

I can't say it enough. I'm really thrilled& cannot wait to share the EP with people.

ep.

2010-02-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

I received the new ep yesterday.Pictures soon to come.I cannot adequately say just how-pleased-proud-propitiousI am about how they've turned out.I also had lots and lots of posters, stickersand promotional materials made up and receivedthose from the printer yesterday.If you live in Durango, I'm sure you'll see them around.The party, for me, cannot come quickly enough.On another, related note, I

twenty-four.

2010-02-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

Birthdays are a good time to reminisce-to reflect upon what made the previous yeargood, bad and in-between.My twenty-third year was all of those things.occasionally, all at the same time (which can be disconcerting).I'm driving to denver today to see St. Vincentplay the Bluebird Theatre- the ticket was a birthday giftfrom my roommate and I'm thrilled to get to seewhat promises to be an excellent