page7diary

Monday 2nd April.
Alarm goes off at 5:51am, allowing me to hit the snooze button and get out of bed properly at 6am. Brush teeth, do a piss, get dressed, drive to work. Approx 40 minute drive - listened to The Battle of Los Angeles - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. (Note - it is NEVER too early for Rage). Start work at Cooper Electrical (warehouse for fuses, high voltage equipment, mining equipment etc) at 7am. Pick orders for clients all day, as well as pack them into boxes for despatch. Real brain workout (NOT). I like it though 'cos the day goes quick, and we listen to the radio all day good and loud. Lunch at midday - 2 chicken schnitzel sandwiches on brown bread (no butter) with lettuce, tasty cheese, carrot and BBQ sauce. I pretty much have this for lunch every day as it is my favourite. Can of coke too. Drink water all day, but splurge on a can at lunchtimes. Truck arrives for parcels at 5pm, knock off at 5:15pm. On the way home, listen to The Dirty Boogie - BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA (cracker CD - get it if you haven't already). Stop in at Coles to pick up spaghetti sauce and a bottle of coke. Home around 6pm, straight out the back to play with the dog (Lucy) before shitting, showering, shampooing and shaving. Checked my emails, then cooked up a storm. Watched Friends at 7:30pm, then The Micallef Pogram (see Favourites page) at 8pm. South Park is repeating the very first episode (Cartman gets an anal probe) so I am on the computer typing the diary entry. Plan on having an early night, but going to check Qantaa schedules for flights to and from Surfers for my Easter jaunt. That's about it - not the exciting rock star type shit going on, but I'm happy to vege out and do very little when we aren't playing - recharge my batteries for when we go back out on the road.

Tuesday 3rd April
It's 10:25pm and I've just walked in the door. I started the day poorly by forgetting to put the alarm on, and only the dog barking woke me up at 6:15am. So, I was late for work. Work today went so slow - it was no good. I've had a slow leak in my rear drivers' side tyre, so went to a tyre shop today and had it repaired - there was a 2 inch screw embedded there. Cost me $12 and I misssed my lunch half hour. Worked until 4:30pm then drove to UNSW at Kensington to see Chad the soundguy. Officially, I was just over there to say hello, but unofficially, I went to pick up a copy of the video he took when the Porkers played there a month or so ago. (I will deny this when asked, and no, you will never get to see it!!).
Okay _ I'm back. Buffy has already started so I have to dash away (it's ads now). Okay, so straight from work I pick up the video (listened to Live Midnight Oil CD to work, then A Man's Not a Camel - FRENZAL RHOMB on the way into the city) then head to Foz Studios where I meet up with Janelle (sis) and her boyf, her friend Peta, then most of my old band Jellybean Jam (Andy, Rochelle, Jojo and Lukey - Mk V etc) to have a beer then go and watch a taping of Pepsi Live featuring Blink 182. That's right - free Blink!! Buffys' mum has a tumor!! Oh no!!
Anyway, it was at Fox Studios in a place called CityLive, which was a little venue with lots of people in it. Bumped into Simmo (drummer) from the Mad Dash too. Basically, they came out and did an interview for the TV which we couldn't hear, then played. They did All The Small Things, then because of some error, they did it again. True story! They then played two new songs (one might be called Rock Show, not sure the other one) and they were pretty cool. Then they said "bye", and that was that. Not bad for free, but it's hard to start getting into a show then it finishes. Anyway, the hook is well in, and I am keen to go to the show tomorrow night at the Entertainment Centre - I'll have to see what I can scam. So after that, had a beer (schooner of the black) then drove like a madman home to make sure I was here in time for Buffy, which I am. SO it is bed straight after Buffy _ I have brought in the bins, fed the dog, had a shower - all is good. Hope tomorrow goes quicker.

Wednesday 4th April
As you can see, I went to the Blink182 show tonight. And as you can also see,
1 ticket costs $42.55. So how much did 2 tickets cost me? $30!!! Woohoo!! I
have been a fan for many years now of just turning up to gigs and seeing what
is about. So I asked the scalpers and they were no good this time, but some
kids had spare tickets and went into a bidding war to sell them to me. And the
best offer - 2 tix for $30. Too easy. So me and Jojo (from Jellybean Jam) got
in for $15 each. Coolness!! Fun show too. Basically the same set as the live
album, and way funny too. Had 2 schooners of Tooheys Old for dinner.
Anyway - the diary. Awake at 5:52am (alarm - check!). Drove to woke listening to Foo Fighters Faves (I have a CD burner on my computer and make lots of "car tapes" but on CD, so whenever I say Faves, that's what I mean - my faves) which was marvellous. Today was much better - went quickly like normal - but I was in trouble for being on the phone too much. I was calling my manager to try and scam freebies for Blink, calling Jo to organise where to meet her, calling my mate Adam to tape Angel for me, calling my sister to say to feed the dog cos I won't be home etc. Also called my mate Adrian for his birthday. Anyway, got told that we can't work overtime anymore so today was my last 10.5 hour day for a while at least. Left work at 5:30pm, and listened to At The Drive In (I love their CD - have a listen if you can) anddrove to my friend Eamonn's house to vege out before going into town. Watched Seinfeld (episode when George is wearing a toupee) then went into town to get a park on Harris St and stroll on over to the Ent Cent. Got home at 11:50pm, had a shower, and then entered in today's diary shit, and checked my emails (31 new ones - gone now!!). As I have to get up at 5:52am, and it is currently 12:40am, it is time to go. Catch y'all tomorrow.

Thursday 5th April
Up at 5:55am today. Listened to my Wrapped In Plastic CD today on the way to work, as well as Melbourne ska band 99% Fat. They're good value (hey Cam!).Very tire from last night, but still a bit hyped and that got me through to about lunchtime. After that, however, walking death. Of course, witht the dickhead boss at work saying "no overtime" we worked at our normal rate, then half the storemen left at 2:30pm as they start at 6am. Left with only new guy, old guy and me, I went hard on the computer and shit, but decided to leave at 3:30pm - even though the boss asked me to work back to help. Fuck that - need sleep!! . Listened to At the Drive In again on the way home - must change CD's in the stacker!! Plus, I wanted to get home as I promised to make my specialty for tea tonight - MEXICAN!! Fair dinkum, my middle name must be Sanchez or something it is so yummy. So I'm in the middle of cooking when I discover there is no rice so I bolt up the shop to get some (as you do) and have returned. Of course, preparing the feast was interspersed with doing a load of washing and hanging them out, shower, shave, diary entry, feed the dog, bring in the bins - ahhh domestication. What sort of life did you think rock stars' lead?
Anyway, after tea I'm going to my friend Adams' place to watch the Angel episode he videoed for me (see yesterday), then watch the unofficial (I don't know what you're talking about) live Porkers video from UNSW that I picked up on Tuesday. Haven't seen it yet - will unofficially review it tomorrow. Found out today that I might be working Saturday as well - 6am start! So much for no overtime!! I could do with the funds, so I'll do it, but I could also do with a sleep in - let me tell you!! Alright - dinner's ready - catch you tomorrow.

Friday 6th April
Why can't I get sleep? Up (as usual) at 5:55am, then to work. Listened to Live Pantera CD to help fire up. Worked 7am to 5pm - no break. Oh man. So much for the "no overtime" eh?! Then went to my friend Laurens' place to get changed to go to Penrith Leagues club for a few beers with the work lads. Not too keen on going, but went for a while. Stayed there until about 10:15pm, then the 54 kilometres home saw me here and in my pyjamas (shorts and NSW State of Origin jersey) at 11:20pm. Listened to my Limp Bizkit faves CD on the way home to keep me awake. And the best news - I start work tomorrow at 7am. On a Saturday. I can't believe I said yes. The money will be very handy, but I so need a good sleep. Supposed to go to a mates' 30th tomorrow night, then go to Newcastle Sunday morning (leave about 10am) for Porkers rehearsal. Just going over all the songs on the new CD that we didn't play live on the last run, plus maybe an oldie, and who knows - maybe a new track or two???????? So no sleep in for another week - fuck. Not a very eventful day as all I did was work for a lot of it, so sorry to bore you with the details.
Oh yeah - that unofficial Porkers live footage. The sound quality isn't the best - but the vision is awesome. There are about 4 different camera angles and it is very well done (I reckon). So that was cool. And this weeks' Angel episode was a cracker too. It is now 11:40pm - time to check my emails and go to bed. I'll attempt to spice things up for tomorrow's entry. Just make shit up, probably.

Saturday 7th April
Deja vu. Up at 5:55am - yes, I know it's Saturday, but I was at work by 7am. Today we rearranged our area, plus caught up on some excess work. Listened to At The Drive In (again) on the way to work which was indeed pleasant. Knocked off at midday which certainly didn't hurt, and drove home listening to my Dead Kennedy faves. Ooh yeah. Arrived home with every intention of having an afternoon nap, but it is now 4pm and I am still fixing my website (if you didn't notice). Played with the dog, brought the bins in, washed up, brought the clothes in from the line and cooked lunch before I sat at the computer - still, I've been here 2 hours now. After this diary update, I AM going to nap. I am heading to a mates' 30th tonight. Won't go for long as rehearsal tomorrow means I don't want to drive for 2.5 hours each way hungover. Plus, I'd better revise some of the shit we haven't played in a while (professional all the way!). I am still thinking about going to see KISS tomorrow night too - I really can't afford it, but maybe I could fluke another cheap seat like Wednesday night. We'll see. Anyway, nap time. I am the weakest link. Goodbye.
It's now 1am. Have returned from my mates' 30th which was okay. Got to see some folks who I haven't seen in years, so that was cool. I did have that nap this afternoon from 5pm - 7pm. Must have been tired, 'cos when Janelle woke me up (I had asked her to) I didn't know why she did. Anyway, bed now as I am up for rehearsal tomorrow. Get to sleep in to about 9:30am - can't wait!!

Sunday 8th April
Did I mention that my car seized a couple of times driving home last night? Yeah, well it did. So at 9:30am I called the NRMA to try and repair it before my drive to Newcastle. $85 and a new ignition module later, I was on my merry way. As usual, everything is sweet in a band, and today was no different. We get to the rehearsal studio, and no-one was there. So after 30 minutes if waiting we go to Rob's for an accoustic jam - which turned out quite fruitful. Friday week we are playing a couple of "unplugged" tracks on Triple J (20th April - around 7:30pm I think) so we went through them. That was way cool - even though I don't really like playing accoustic guitar at all. I'll leave the track selection as a surprise I reckon. Also talked about tracks to play on the upcoming run. Again, I'll leave it as a surprise, but I can say there will be plenty different from the last tour. So I drive home, get bak home around 7pm (a 3 hour tour - a three hour tour) and die. Very tired. Talked to my friend from Surfers whom I will be visiting regarding transfers etc, then was in bed by 10pm. Oh - plenty of CD's listened to today for such a long drive. Listened to Helmet faves, Soundgarden faves, Wrapped In Plastic, 99% Fat, Blink 182 LIVE, and my Limp Bizkit faves. Oh yeah. Didn't go to KISS - couldn't be arsed.