Newsessess:
- "Those
who trade liberty for security will have neither."
- Thomas Jefferson
posted on: September 17, 2001
- This week there are a couple things going
on. One of them is that I plan to finish recording Ante-Lucem bass on
Thursday, and be there for the mixing on the weekend. Another thing is
that I have to find out where, and take classes on SJU Queens campus.
(which sucks badly). I also have to finally order the rest of the
books and start the work on the classes I have. Its already past the
midpoint of September, and I haven't even started school yet. Anything
else I'm forgetting?
posted on: September 17, 2001
- There will be plenty of books written on the topic of what happened in NY at the moment and in the days after the WTC collapse. That's why I will not even attempt to write down the amount of thoughts that have gone through my head in the last days. I'm tired of writing emails about it, explaining my side of it to people etc. I have to move on:
- Yesterday Marta and I went to my company's
picnic. I had a lot of fun. I played softball (for the first time in
my life) and I scored a point in a 8-8 game. I played ping-pong
against an undisclosed boss of mine (he's only the CIO of the company)
and I got beaten badly. (the playing conditions were pretty bad). And
I finally had some revenge on the basketball court, as I was let into
the game and shown a couple moves and scored a couple points. Yeah!
Meanwhile Marta was starting to get bored, as she did not know any
people there... and I don't blame her. We left the picnic around
5:20PM and arrived home at.... 10PM. And thats because the car broke
down on us close to Tapan Zee Bridge. We had to be towed off the side
of the expressway, onto a parking lot, and then had to wait for dad
and Peter to come to us and charge up the battery. This or other way,
it was a fun fun day, and the car breakdown did not hamper our moods
too strongly.
posted on: September 17, 2001
- During the last 3 days, I was but a
vegetable. I spend most of my time in front of the TV looking at the
news about the World Trade Center collapse. I have been so shocked,
that I could not focus on anything. Work, school, music, friends,
family... This quiet anger and disappointment inside me at what
happened, keeps me very passive about anything and everything. My
school, being only three blocks from WTC, is closed until Monday, and
even then we'll see if they will be able to open it. I haven't been to
work officially since Monday, except for a little trip to the building
on Wednesday. Maybe I'll go tomorrow, but I really don't know.
Normally, 3 free days at home would mean that I could get a buncha
things done, but this kind of three days at home had me just thinking
and wasting time. There were many connections between the College of
Insurance, and the World Trade Center. Many people I know worked
there. I am still not sure if they are all ok or not. At the same time
the bridges and airports and everything was closed. And people are
kind of frozen wherever they are. On the other hand, the New Yorkers,
and others from states around, have really stepped up. People are
volunteering like crazy, helping with the rescue and cleanup, bringing
supplies. Its quite amazing. Beware, any country who decides to mess
with these people living here, for you don't even know that you might
awake a sleeping giant.
posted on: September 13, 2001
- It is still so surreal... and we all feel
more insecure. September 11, 2001 will be remembered for a very very
long time...
posted on: September 12, 2001
- Wow, so I just came back from my first
ever recording session! I recorded bass for three Ante-Lucem songs,
and actually I feel pretty good about how it came out. At first it was
becoming very very frustrating. I sounded horrible. Bass scratched all
the time. I kept re-recording the first song over and over again. But
the end result was satisfactory, I think. The other two songs went
much smoother, I relaxed a bit, started playing it softer so it came
out better. I guess overall its not bad, not very good either, but
definitely not bad. Or is it? I need to hear it when I rest up and
sober up. I have three more songs to do for Ante-Lucem's demo cd. I
hope to finish it all by next week.
posted on: September 10, 2001
- Today was my first day in an early bird
accounting class that I'm taking. The class starts at 7AM. The only
reason why I took that class is that I get to school by car with dad.
So today we left the house at 6AM. End result? I was at Pace at
6:20AM, 40 minutes early. Which kinda sucked, cause I would rather
sleep more. But then again I don't have a choice. And being there that
early will give me time to prepare for class. Today I'm at work until
about 5:30PM, then an underwriting class until 7:30 and... studio
time. That's right, I'm finally going to start recording the bass. I
want to get 3 songs done today. I'm not really 100% ready, but maybe
I'm around 90%, which will have to do today. A full report on recoding
later on today (tonight).
posted on: September 10, 2001
- My weekend was how you say? oh yea, bleh!
Well mostly at least. Saturday was like the worst day in a long time.
I was working under pressure to build a PC and I thought I fried 2
CPU's and/or a brand new motherboard by using a damaged modem. Then,
later on that day, I went to pick up the guitarist from Brooklyn, and
got lost on the way. End result? We were 45 minutes late for a 2 hour
rehearsal. Peter was pissed and didn't want to sing, so I did some
vocals, but overall I liked the sound and it was fun time playing all
this crap. Then I went to the birthday party of my cousin and
practically fell asleep at the table. I got home around 12 and went
right to bed. Sunday was a much better day. I woke up at 12 (slept for
12 hours!) and went to a studio to work on the bass for Ante-Lucem. I
came home and visited Mattias to see the cover artwork for the Ante
Lucem demo. It looks sweet! pro work, really. I'll try to have it up
on the site when I get a hold of the files. Then I went out for sushi
with Marta, Kasia, Peter and Pawel. Food was good and I got stuffed.
posted on: September 10, 2001
- Its 7PM right now, on a beautiful Friday
evening, and I am just about to get off from work and go home. I have
so much stuff to do this weekend, including pretty much a little bit
of everything I'm involved in, but the way I feel now, I think I'll
just sleep all of Saturday and half of Sunday.
posted on: September 7, 2001
- to RS:
a curious game
turned to a dream
that you would be better,
different
than anyone else
that dream came through
but are you happy?
posted on: September 5, 2001
- Today is a rather quick day, since I'm at
work for only 2-3 hours and then at school for 4 hours. Then I get to
go home and take care of stuff there. From the last weekend's vacation
I still have a reminder in form of a deaf right ear. It feels like if
someone had put a plug in my ear and I can't take it out. It sucks, I
can't focus on anything too well. Plus I'm on pain relief.
posted on: September 4, 2001
- My vacation weekend is over! 5 days went by so quickly, I wouldn't mind 2 more weeks of absolute inactivity. To sum up the last 5 days... Thursday me and my girl went to the beach for a couple hours. After that we went out for sushi, which was as great as always. Friday I've spend doing next to nothing the whole day, except for the rehearsal in the evening. Saturday morning we've set out for Lake Sebago, NY. The three days there were great, as always. This was the third year in a row that I spend my labor day weekend there. The three days were just the way they were supposed to be. We did a lot of nothing. Swam a little, played basketball, got a rather symbolic tan, and drunk lots of different kind of beer and ale.
- Oh yeah, and I saved someone from
drowning. Well kind of. I don't know if I can say that I saved her
life, because she was fairly safe. If I wasn't there, the other guy
would have helped her out. But the fact is that when I heard the call
for help I ran into the lake and swam up quickly, then all of a sudden
remembered how the lifeguards are supposed to drag someone while
swimming sideways, and that's what I did. Thank god she was calm, or
else we both would be dead. Well, I'm not much of a swimmer. But then
again, it felt great. I felt like I almost saved someone's life. Its a
great feeling. So that was my three days at Sebago. Anyways, life goes
on, and it looks like mine is up to the point where I go back to
school. (I know, I still can't believe I'm going to be back in that
building tomorow).
posted on: September 4, 2001
- Yesterday was a good day (overall). Work
went by quickly, as I got quite a few things done. Nothing major.
After work, I wanted to go running. Well I didn't really want to, I
just knew I had to. And instead I got pulled into playing basketball,
which is fun, but not a real workout for me. Shooting around and
playing 2 on 2 just isn't the same as a nice 4 mile jog/run. I guess
I'm gonna have to make up for that jog today. After that I came home,
and readied for the rehearsal. Rehearsal was good. Well, better than
average. Which is good. I mean we didn't play all that well, but at
least we played all the songs two times and didn't just mess around
and waste time. I also have an opportunity to buy brand new Korg
keyboard for half price. I think I'll take up on it. I dunno yet. So
overall, I didn't do half the things I wanted to do yesterday,
including some cleaning around my room, but it still was a good day.
posted on: August 28, 2001
- Last weekend was pretty good. I had a rehearsal, put together a new pc for someone, went to a birthday party, and yesterday went to a water park. It was cool, we had a lot of fun. I'm a bit burned, not much really, and have a tiny cold. But I'm ok. And this week I only work 3 days, taking Thursday and Friday off. I'll go to the beach and do some other stuff, all in preparation for the beginning of another semester in school. Argh.. school.. not just yet...one last week of partial freedom.
- Jake left for college. That bum. Soon
enough he'll know how much different that is from high school.
posted on: August 27, 2001
- Must...eat...sushi...
posted on: August 24, 2001
- Two quick links:
-"digitalblasphemy.com" -great 3d wallpapers
-"Papa Smurf was a Commie" - name says it all
posted on: August 23, 2001
- Today was just another day at work, so far. Later on I plan to go to my friend's house, we'll probably work on the keyboards or something.
- I'm taking Thursday and Friday off next
week (August 30,31). I'll most likely just go to the beach with Her,
or stay home and chill. After that, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday I'll
be at Lake Sebago with Piotrek, Kaska, Pawel, Jakub, and her. I love
Lake Sebago, its so peaceful and beautiful. And its prettiest when it
rains.
posted on: August 23, 2001
- I need some time off.. from everything...
well, maybe not everything.
- The rehearsal yesterday sucked. If you
don't practice, don't expect to move forward.
posted on: August 22, 2001
- The weekend was good. I did a few things, including say by by to the army boy Przem, go to my cousins house for a street holiday evening, go to the beach (well technically), eat sushi (yummy!) and watch a movie (3000 mi's from graceland). It was a nice weekend. Could a lil'bit longer as usually.
- I finally have the Ante-Lucem demo cd so I
can work on the bass. And to tell you the truth, I don't feel like
doing it any more. The music is ok, but the quality of it, and the
performance of those guys pretty much sucks. And I am to play bass
underneath that? Another thing is that I am not ready at all to
record. Ehh. Promises are promises. Gotta get it done. And then: by by
ante-lucem methinks...
posted on: August 20, 2001
- So it turns out, if I wanted to, I could
go to Poland for 9-10 days for $390+tax (flight) and $110 (passport) and
other costs up to about $200. $800-900 would do everything. I could take a
week off from work, have the passport within 2 business days, fly out
next Thursday, and come back September 3rd. Haven't been to Poland
since 1995.... Damn that sounds good to me.
posted on: August 17, 2001
- Two days ago (on Tuesday) around 10:20 PM
two people were killed just a block away from my house. One was shot
in the head, the other was chased and stabbed. Just a block away.
posted on: August 16, 2001
- I finished Wiedzmin. It was great. I wish
there was more.
posted on: August 16, 2001
- So I went to see Flytrap
at Limelight last night. I don't really know them but I got invited by
Adam, the drummer. I know Adam from his long time metal band,
"Myself Am Hell". The concert was ... so so... Guitar was
ok, and drums were awesome of course, but bass I couldn't hear much,
and the vocalist was weak. Plus its commercial style of music. Nothing
innovative, as far as I'm concerned. Everything woulda been ok, but it
was Wednesday night and I wound up getting home at 3AM. Peter spoke to
Adam few times, and afterwards told me how its time to start really
working on our music. Time flies, and you have to hurry, don't loose
track of your goals. Damnit I hope the message got through to him.
posted on: August 16, 2001
- 3 miles in 24 minutes!
posted on: August 16, 2001
- I had made myself a few promises before
this summer begun. Things I wanted to do, things I wanted to get done.
With most of the summer time left behind, I had done none of it. Or at
least not even quarter of it. Once again, I am disappointed in myself.
posted on: August 13, 2001
- Pretty typical weekend again. Sunday was again such a lazy and lost day. I guess I have to start coming home a little earlier on Saturdays so that I can still do something on Sundays.
- My guitarist finally came back from Poland, and the rehearsal on Saturday was awesome. I just wish that one day we can see how people react to our stuff. This or other way, we're doing ok. And the name of the band is "Messenger", damnit!
- Tomorrow's Monday, back to work... back to trying to figure out how to configure LDAP for NetMeeting directory properly on a new NT4 server. It's taking way too long.
- I'm finally finishing up Wiedzmin. It's a great book, and I have about 100 pages left. Too bad, I really liked the story. But, then again, so many more books are waiting.
- I really need to get a couple things done
and out of the way. I really need to clean up my room and get it ready
for a re-arrangement. I want a nice regular new bed. I'm tired of the
current setup. Orajt, goodnight.
posted on: August 12, 2001
- This is funny. BGates
as an RPG character...
posted on: August 10, 2001
- Yesterday was Jake's b-day. Wish him well!
- Yesterday, also, I had lunch with the CIO, as part of a meeting with an outside vendor. Last week COO, this week CIO... I'm on a streak!
- ...aaand last thing about Yesterday is
that we had to cancel a rehearsal. I hate doing that.
posted on: August 8, 2001
- Nothing much to say. It was a pretty
typical weekend. Some bar-time, a rehearsal, sushi (twice!) and a
little bit of basketball. Nothing interesting really. I guess... oh
well.. tomorow's Monday, and its back to work.
posted on: August 5, 2001
- What was going to be a very fun evening is
slowly turning into a depression infested disaster
posted on: August 3, 2001
- Hmm.. these days I feel like I have lost
any hope for actually ever being in a working band situation. It's not
the music's fault. Never. It's always the people. People fuck it up...
but the music keeps playing in my head, images flashing... and wishes
coming and going. I wish I could once write my own stuff in form of
small projects. I wish I had the time and motivation to do it. And to
put my own fingerprint on the music history. Ehh, what am I saying..
I'mma bum.
posted on: August 3, 2001
- The lunch today was good. I learned much
about the state of the business and it's possibilities of expansion.
Overall it was very motivational, except... I'm still working in
support instead of being on the front line. I think I'm gonna have to
edit this post tomorrow when I sober up. Meanwhile, my best friend
came over from the army. He's here for 2 weeks, and I will definitely
be drunk throughout that time. Thank You, and good night.
posted on: August 2, 2001
- I'm about to go to a lunch with the COO of
the company. Sweet deal. Just behind the owner-CEO, he is the biggest
fish in the pod. And I got invited!
posted on: August 2, 2001
- It's exactly 3 miles. Just like I hoped.
Now just to get it down to 25 minutes...
posted on: August 2, 2001
- "Don't just practice, practice
perfectly." Don't look at me I didn't come up with that one.
I don't even practice. That's why things are the way they are.
posted on: August 1, 2001
- On a better note, I changed the strings on
the bass...hmm.. sounded pretty damn good.
posted on: August 1, 2001
- Today's rehearsal sucked so bad I don't
want to try to play music any more. Instead I just want to listen to
Opeth's Morningrise while on sedatives or something. Oh yeah, and
"You will never know..." sucks as a name. Maybe it
could work as an album name.
posted on: July 31, 2001
- The rehearsal yesterday was not that bad. We were definitely out of sync, and overall the performance sucked. But it was still so good to be back in the studio. My guitar sounded great! This time I took the "metal zone" with me and the Marshall 2000 did the rest. Soon the guitarist will be back, I will get back to playing bass, and it'll be good. Or so I hope.
- Meanwhile, yesterday after the rehearsal
we've went to the bar. Aaaand I got drunk. Crazy drunk. I haven't been
so wasted in a long time, as I always try not to get into this
situation. It was bad. Today's hangover is pretty much the uneasiness
feeling in the stomach, no headache or nothing. At the bar me and
peter got into one of our motivational conversations we always have
when it comes to music. If we acted in everyday life the way we plan
to when we're drunk, we would be masters of music hehe. We always get
very damn optimistic when we talk like that. And we came up with a
name for the band. Hmmm.. "You will
never know..." interesting. Could work. When I think
about that name I want to throw up again after yesterday.
posted on: July 28, 2001
- The worst possible thing is when you are
about to have a rehearsal, and you don't look forward to it. Wasn't
playing music supposed to be about fun? Well after some conversations
yesterday I want to drop it all. I won't of course, because I am too
stubborn to give up trying to get into the music world. Well not quite
the "music world" but just, I don't want to give up music
because some fool told me this or that. Confused yet? Oh well. Anyway,
basically, I'm working with two bands, and the guy from the primary
band doesn't want me to play in the other band. He says its about the
heart, commitment to one band, loyalty to one style. Bullshit! I'll do
whatever I want to do. And what I want to do is play. I will play with
as many bands as I want to. I am not about to give up opportunities
because of someone's bad mood or personal problems.
posted on: July 28, 2001
- I love to be in this sweet mood, where I
plan things. I am good at planning. But what about execution?
- I just got Diachronia's CD... I like it..
nice black setting, with some death finish.. and interesting
arrangements. And, they're from Bielsko-Biala, close to where I lived
in Poland.
posted on: July 26, 2001
- Don't ever say "I'm sorry" to
me. Just do what it takes, so that you never have to say "I'm
sorry."
posted on: July 25, 2001
- School stuff is pretty convoluted. St. Johns really is not trying too hard on making this transition easy for us, old TCI students. To state shortly: I have to completely re-do my registration (schedule changes), and I have to pay $3500 by August 14... argh.. I can take it. But soon enough I will start that "We hate SJU!" blog.
- Things at work are going great, looks like
I have secured a part time job here at NAVG during my school year.
Sweet.
posted on: July 25, 2001
- OK. These days I'm working, or rather starting to work on the bass for "Ante Lucem" demo CD. I've been very lazy about it because I am not really part of "Ante Lucem", and frankly, 65% of "Ante Lucem" pisses me off. Why am I doing it then? I think the right word is ambition. I want to be on a CD. I want to create a decent bass line, that maybe would stand out in places. This will be my first recording ever, I wanna make a good impression. I am not a great bassist, but I have decent enough ideas to get me through this. And, I have only 2 weeks before they get to the bass. After the demo gets done, "Ante Lucem" wants to play some concerts. I have no idea how that's going to work out, but I am thrilled. I want to play concerts. I want to taste what its like. I want to see how nervous I will be. I want to see if I can take the pressure of performing on the stage. Thats it.
- Because of the commitment to "Ante
Lucem"'s bass, I have to postpone my work on keyboards for my own
band. But things look good. After the recent weekend, I calmed down,
and decided to take it easy on pushing the guys to work on the music.
Take it easy, the time is not yet here for us to reveal this stuff, or
record. For the time being, we still need to play our rehearsals, find
a keyboard player, chill out, and perfect our performance ...and write
some lyrics, damn it. Oh yeah, and where is my damn lead guitarist?
Wilku, zyjesz?
posted on: July 25, 2001
- I just got an idea for a blog.
"St. Johns U.
sucks!"
posted on: July 23, 2001
- This past weekend I went to Lake Crystal
upstate New York with some friends. The nature was beautiful,
interrupted only by the noise of the jet-skis and the not so tactful
songs of few overly emotional drunken new yorkers. It was great to be
out of the city. Water in the lake was refreshing, air was pure and
mountainous, and beer seemed never-ending. Ahhh...
posted on: July 23, 2001
Contact:
email: maciej@kupiszewski.com
Links:
New York Times
NY1
Shadowbane
art.by.Coste
R.I.P.
TCI
babelfish
What I'm currently listening to:
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Opeth - Still Life