I carved some pumpkins yesterday. It was awesome! I bought two pumpkins last week and then I picked out two patterns off the Internet and then drew them on the pumpkins and proceeded to cut it up. The cuttin' was done over at my Grandparent's place. It took me back to the old days. I love it. IT was great! I felt like a family again. It has been such a long time. The patterns I picked had one scary pattern and one not so scary pattern. I really wish I had a digi cam to post the pics. I did get some film pictures taken. I'll post them once they are developed and scanned.

I rented "The Shinning" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and bought some candy. Should be a fun Halloween. Some friends are gonna come over and we are gonna all hang out. I can't wait. I'll let you know how it went.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 16:22

No performance by Prince on Saturday morning. Just a dance party. There were a good number of people there but not in the usual numbers that there has been in the past. The dance music was really lame again. The DJ needs to be taken off of the table. DJ Bother Jules needs to be back in charge of spinnin'. To give you an idea of how bad it was the DJ played "Ice, Ice Baby" Yeah it was that bad. Prince showed up for a little bit and did his usual walk through and left 5 minutes later. This was about, oh - 3:45 AM. I couldn't take it anymore after that and I had to go home.

I was hoping for a performance, as I am every time I go there. Oh, well. Maybe next time.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 15:58

Well, I had a fun morning. I cleaned up a sloppy mess of paper work.

My name was still the owner on an old truck that I had traded in to a dealership for my new truck. Well the new owner of my old truck (You still with me?) apparently has been blowing stoplights and getting tickets for it. Well since my name is still on the title of my old truck. Yup, you guessed it. I get the tickets and the warrants for my arrest cuz they have not paid for their offenses.

So I waited in lines to find out I was in the wrong line, filled out papers to be told that I didn't need to fill out this or that paper. Finally I got a telephone number of who I was supposed to contact about transferring the title. Then I took care of the summons for the violation and any further violations that would have some how come my way from the new owner of the old truck. Then I called the number and with a flick of a switch they removed my name from the title of the old truck. Blam all done.

Whew, I am done with it. What a pain in the ass... But really when I think about it, it really wasn't that big of a pain in the ass. Just think about the really big super BS paper work that people get tied up in. I bet my little mess is small beans to the serious stuff some people are in.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 13:27

Two of my best friends have taken on a new adventure. They decided to get engaged! So a big congrats out to Mike and Nicole!

It was a story book engagement. When I told people the story of how Mike proposed they cried.

Mike lives in Red Rocks, Nevada and Nicole still goes to school in St. Cloud. Nicole took a plane to see her cutie-pie in Red Rocks this last weekend. And when Mike picked her up at the airport, upon her arrival he was dressed in a three-piece suit and holding a ring in one hand and a sign in the other that said, "Nicole will you marry me?" There were some 300 people waiting in the arrival gate to see what she would say. Many offered Mike their own hand in marriage but Mike politely refused and said he was taken. Many confirmed Mikes actions by asking if she was a good looking girl and were shown how beautiful she is when they saw Nicole in Mike's arms after she agreed to marry him with tears in her eyes.

When she said yes the people all around them cheered in approval and happiness. I would have loved to have been there to see that happen. A song comes to mind when I think of their engagement and it will now forever. That song is called "The Arrivals Gate" and is written and sang by Ani Difranco.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 11:05

Well, to recap the weekend I offer the following report. Friday's events were well planned out. Go to Friday Night Skate (FNS for short, thought of by my comrade Allen) and have some fun by meeting new people. Then go to Paisley Park and watch Prince perform. Here is how the evening's events unfolded. Got to the FNS and there was only a skeleton crew of skaters. My friends and I sucked it up and figured it might be fun still. We wanted to bail by the time we got to the Metrodome, which is 15 minutes into it. I am not sure why we kept going from there but we finished the skate and made no new friends. It was like haning out with the band people from school. They were aall really nice but they were just geeks. No offense, it is just how I felt. Decided the only way to salvage the Friday Night was to go to my house and hang out. About 1:00 am I contemplated leaving for Paisley and decided against it. I think the reason why was something about not wanting to stay up that late. So we stayed up till 4:00 am playing playstation and conduction general foolery. Found out on Sunday I missed a performance by my favorite 5'4" musician from MPLS. Read about the show here.

Saturday, woke up at 12:00 and got ready for a wedding in Stillwater at 4:00 pm. By 3:15 pm we were on the road and wrapping the wedding gift in the truck. Found the best gift. A huge hotdog shaped condiment dispenser that screamed "Get your hotdogs! Get your hotdogs here!" when you press this button on the top of it. After you press the button and during the screaming this door flips open and reveals the condiment dispenses. It is great. The wedding was cool. Not to long but still formal. The reception was great. The best food I have ever eaten at a wedding reception. Then the dancing floor was cleared and a 12-piece band hit the stage. It was fun. I got some dancing in. On the way home from Stillwater, Dana and I picked up a movie called "Keeping the Faith" and we watched it later on that night. It was a good movie.

The last Sunday will be know as Laundry day. I hung out in the morning and did laundry and played Guitar and Bass. After that was the extent of that day. I did go and check out a new snowmobile that my parents bought. Finally there will be something to do at the cabin other than get bored. I think next weekend will be the same events. I have another wedding to go to. October seems the month to get married.

Anyway, I have a question for you. I need DVD movie suggestions to rent on Halloween. Mail them to me.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 11:19

Have you ever listened to a song that you have heard a million times? A song that you knew was a beautiful song and then say to your self; "Damn, this is a beautiful song." like it was the first time you realized that it was a beautiful song.

OK, I'll stop saying "beautiful song" in the same sentence, twice.

Anyway, I am sitting here at work and I am listening to "Purple Rain" off of the "Purple Rain" Soundtrack by Prince and The Revolution. Which, by the way was one the best bands in the world from one of the coolest cities in the world. MINNEAPOLIS, MN. This song is truly great.

Do you remember 1984? 1984 is the year "Purple Rain" the movie came out. I do not remember exact details from 1984 but I do have some memories from that time period. I was only nine years old. I remember watching "Purple Rain" the movie with my parents on ShowTime about a year after it was out and my parents told me to close my eyes during certain scenes of the movie. I am sure you know what scenes they were. My sister and I used to have a baby sitter from down the block that would come over and baby sit us during the summer months off of school. She was way into Prince and The Revolution. I didn't think much of it at the time but thinking of it now it was pretty cool.

I think Prince is one of the few artists who has more unreleased material then released. The shear number of songs Prince has in his personal collection that he composed and created blows my mind. I wish I had access to his vault. Not to steal, but to listen to. It would probably take me 6 months, with no break just to listen to all of the songs. But I would do it. It would be so worth it. I do my best at collecting all of the released and unreleased songs by Prince that I can. I have live songs, studio songs, songs recorded by him with a tape recorder. I have extended songs of studio released songs. I have live recordings of concerts I was at where I can hear my screaming voice. I am not sure why I am so infatuated with collecting these songs. I do know I enjoy the music he makes. In fact I enjoy all sorts of music. I do not enjoy listening to all music but I do respect all music. Even music I do not enjoy. I think it is the thrill of the collection. It gives me satisfaction to find something you were looking for or something you did not even know it existed. It gives me satisfaction and appreciation for the knowledge that I have of these songs and their existence and limited accessibility to the general public. Prince has made love songs, rock songs, pop songs, rap songs, ballads, techno songs, orchestral songs, country songs, the list goes on and on. Imagine how much creativity flows from that man's brain. He doesn't sleep. He lives music. What a life? That would be fun.

I think I am gonna go to Paisley Park tonight. He has concerts and parties ever Friday night. Sometimes the parties suck but when there are concerts there it is a blast. I'll let you know how it was.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 11:06

I bet if you could go back to 1961 and ask any 25 year old United States citizen if they cared about their current president that 9 times out of 10 you would get a yes answer. I wonder what the answer would be today. It feels like that yes answer would not come up as frequently.

I know there are 25 year old United States citizens today who care about politics and such but I bet they care so much about it that they are probably a political science graduate going into teaching or heading off to Washington DC on the next bus there. They care so much they are almost fanatic about it. I think that back in 1961 you had more of a spread out general and genuine care for politics within United States citizens. Today people are so sick and tired of all the trash that is related to politics that is being shoved down our throats from the press, radio, TV, and movies. Who isn't sick of hearing about Ventura, Clinton, or Monica L.? Who was sick of J.F.K. back in 1961?

I wish I cared as much about politics as the people did back in 1961. But today, I don't. Politics today are not as they were and it will be different in the future as well. I am appalled by it all now. I know it is important how our country and cities are run but my stomach can't stand it. Rock the Vote has made it's impression on me. I have to do something but what do I do?

I used to wonder why people voted for The Pink Panther. When I was a kid one of my friends told me his Mom voted for The Pink Panther. I was like cool; I want to vote for The Pink Panther. Instead, I think I'll vote for Nader.

I bet Clinton is laughing his ass off when he shakes the hand of the new president after this up coming election.

Oh and another thing, why are they never any women candidates? OK, we will cover that topic next week.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:41

In case you missed it last weekend checkout this eratic breaking of ground.

Radiohead does SNL: the national anthem & idioteque Enter the site and then go to the news and presto. Instant ground breaking.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 20:31

Here's the deal.

Today is Friday, October (none the less) the 13th. I am not superstitious. I just like the buzz of it all.

Can you hear it? Its like that buzzing you used to hear in your Grandma's kitchen, coming from the refrigerator.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:44

Mike mailed me another story. Read away.

Subject:
Story #3
Date:
Thu, 12 Oct 2000 20:30:25 CDT
From:
"mike keegan"
To:
jolson@mn.rr.com

Tuesday we were working at the gym, cleaning and organizing thing. Josh
decided he wanted to go do a quick climb in Zion and he invited me to go
with him and George! All I was going along to do was clean after the leader
aided the pitch.

Josh chose 'Touch Stone' an eight pitch mixed, part aid part free, climb.
Josh linked the first two pitches into one pitch and then did the same with
the third and fourth pitches. He lead the 5th pitch and then it was Georges
turn to free climb the next few pitches. The only problem was that the
route was harder than we had expected. George was forced to aid mid-pitch
because the intagraty of the rock wasn't as good as we would've hoped (the
sandstone was very gritty). As the pitches went one George was forced to
back-clean his gear because we didn't bring enough big stuff. The only
pitch that went completely clean was the last and we ended-up topping out in
the dark. After searching around for the rap anchors for about twenty
minutes we decided to rap the route in the moonlight! We only had one
headlamp!

The first rap was off this super small sapling, but was luckily very low
angle! It took 9 raps in all to get to the ground and most of the raps were
around 200 ft! Once we got down to the ground I hurried down to the road in
an effort to catch the last shuttle at 10pm! In all the route took around
twelve hours total!

Hope you enjoyed it. I definately learned a lot!
-Sometimes the road leads to dark places. Sometimes the darkness is your
friend. JB-
M.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 21:14

He looks down to the bank statement on his table and reads the bottom line and thinks about its impact. The impact that it will have on the months before him. "Damn", he says. "I need to make some money." He thinks to him self for a while and then throws away the idea of becoming a cube farm occupant. Instead, he thinks about doing what he loves, doing what he is good at, doing what people enjoy him doing. At that moment he packs his bags, grabs his two child size guitars, jumps in the car, and heads west bound. West bound to the "Land of 10,000 Lakes"

While driving he invents a string of words to use in combination to excite. Some strings he likes and some he doesn't like. The ones he likes he plans on using on the crowd to entertain them. He knows it will make no sense but he also is fully aware that the crowd will love it. Crowds are like that. You ever listen to a concert and the performer screams out a word like Sex or Drugs and the crowd instantly eats it up and spits it back out by screaming in acknowledgement? Same thing applies here, however he plans on saying something other than Sex or Drugs.

He hits Wisconsin and starts to finally think about a set list for the show he is about to give. By his first gas stop in Wisconsin he comes to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what he plays in the set. The people will love it anyway. "I'll just play the same set I played 5 months ago"; he rationalizes to the audience in his head. The audience screams in acknowledgement cuz they don't care what he plays, just as long as he is up on stage with a mic in front of his mouth.

The moment comes where on stage he is about to say the string of words he came up with on the drive from NYC. He knows what the crowd will do, he has seen them do it before and he is about to see it again. He raises his hand towards the lights above him with his pointer and pinkie pointed up in true rock style and spurts out the concoction he concocted. A smile is drawn by his lips that concludes his satisfaction as that crowd screams in acknowledgement.

"Remember the Goat!"
posted by Jeremy Olson at 10:25

From the mouth of M. Doughty, I bring onto you the word:

Boobies
posted by Jeremy Olson at 01:06

So this radio station in Boulder, Colorado wants to give away a house in Breckenridge, Colorado for some promotional gig they have going on. For one year, rent free.

How cool would that be?
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:07

Here is the latest installment from my friend Mike.

Subject:
Story #2
Date:
Mon, 09 Oct 2000 22:56:13 CDT
From:
"mike keegan"
To:
jolson@mn.rr.com

Today went, Andy, George and I, went climbing in Black Velvet Canyon. This
canyon in a place that I've never climbed in before.

They chose a route that weighed in at 5.10b and started with a 5.7 off-width
pitch. I got to lead the first pitch and then Andy took over for the
second. This pitch started 15 feet left of the top of pitch one and the
crux starts out the pitch. The 110 ft pitch starts out moving over a series
of three small roofs with a combination of crack and face holds.

When I started the pitch Andy and George were already at the top and I was a
little nervous. I mean, I don't usually climb 5.10's and George seemed to
have a tuff time with it. So on my first try my feet skated on me below the
second roof and I fell below the first. I swung back into postion and
started over. This second try I used more hand jamming and was successful!
Once over the roofs, and past the crux, it was just a lot of sustained 5.8+
crack climbing! What a great pitch!!!

There was still more climbing above us but George tweaked his already
injured finger so we rapped off and hiked out. The memory of that stellar
pitch lives on in my memory though. Maybe the next time I'll lead it!?!?

I hope you enjoyed story #2...........................
-The journey is the destination-
M.

PS- I do hope you'll make it out here. I'm still living in my tent
though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Jeremy Olson at 23:00

So I took that drive to look at the leaves change color. My folks needed some help up at the cabin so I made the trip up on Saturday. Telling my self that it would suck to be up there but knowing they needed the help was the motivation to do it. I figured I could check out the leaves. Drove back later on that night. It gets too boring up there to endure the time with my folks. There are many reasons why I no longer live with them and Saturday at the cabin reminded me of one of the many reasons.

Fall is an interesting time of the year. My anticipation for snow grows and thoughts of snowboarding soon occupies most of my time.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 14:23

With the wonders of the internet in mind I bring the following direct to you.

KVSC St Cloud State University's College Radio Station can be heard live from the following link. Click on the KVSC link under midwest stations.

Click here to view nibblebox's info on KVSC.

nibblebox provides this great and wonderful wonderment. They stream a lot of other college radio stations across the nation as well. Check em out.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 14:04

So I have just come up with a good idea. I have a good friend who lives out in Red Rocks, Nevada and he is a professional climber. He is an old roommate of mine. He sends me adventure stories and I thought I would share them with you. Here is the first one.

Subject:
Adventures story #1
Date:
Fri, 06 Oct 2000 11:15:26 CDT
From:
"mike keegan"
To:
jolson@mn.rr.com

On Cat in the Hat: We didn't start start the route until 2:30, but its a
5.7 climb so everything should move quickly. Well, things did move well,
but we were both slow at the belays and as a result the climbing didn't go
as fast as we would've liked. Simon lead the second pitch and it took him a
while so I started to get anxious. I knew we didn't have too much day light
left, but I just took a deep breath and let that anxiety melt away. As a
result I enjoyed the climb much more. The lead all the classic pitches
(pretty selfish of me, but they're the harder pitches).

We topped out as the sun was going down and made our first two rappels in a
good amount of light. The last two raps were definetly in the dark though
and as a result of the darkness we had a hard time following the trail back
to the car. It should have only taken us 30 minutes to get back to the car,
but as fate would have it 45 minutes was our real time!

What a great route though! Its too bad that Simon's leaving tonight!

Good Luck with the shit!
-I took off for a weekend last month, just tryin' to recall the whole year.
JB-
M.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 20:43

Happy Friday to one and all.

This glorious day is way over due this week. I should charge Friday a late fee.

OK, I'll let it slide this time.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 11:20

Sometimes I come across things that mean so much to me. To describe how much it means to me is too difficult. Instead I would much rather show you.

posted by Jeremy Olson at 20:19

OK my dear, here you go.

This is my formal power plug for my good friend dirkmk01

Click on her name and see and read all the insightful and inspirational aspects to a beautiful person. For without Kari in my life I would never be such an expert at spelling the word periferal. And yes I know I didn't spell it right. I spelled it left. Deal with it.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 19:30

People say you should kill you TV. I say leave the TV alone, just don't watch Network Television. ABC - CBS - NBC - MTV - CNN - TNT The list goes on and on. Leave the TV alone so that you can watch what you want to watch. Watch DVD Movies or VHS movies instead. You can choose what you want to watch; you can push play, stop, or rewind and fast forward. Pick out the movie from the rental joint and boom you're the program directory. If anything should be killed the radio would be the first on my list. You have no control over the radio other than what station you listen to.

Ohh - Ohh, Non-Profit college radio stations, that is what we should listen to on the radio.

OK, check it out:

Radio K: The University of Minnesota's College Radio Station

KVSC: St. Cloud State University's College Radio Station.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 10:05

Now, I know you can "Walk the Dog". Yes, we all know you can do the "Around the world". But, can you "Execersise the Hard Drive"?

Sometimes I really hate my job but other times (when there is stuff to do worth doing, like exercising SGI Irix 6.5.5 HDs remotely from over 1000 miles away) I really like it.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 12:00

Last night, my sis and her boyfriend, Jay were to come over and watch "High Fidelity". Jay showed up and Jen didn't. Still, I am not sure why she did not show up. Anyway, Jay stayed and hung out. We ate some dinner and talked about the new Radiohead album. We had a good discussion about the topic. Afterwards we jammed on the bass and guitar. That is one thing I want to do more of. I need practice with other people and I am getting bored playing bass with just myself all the time. All and all it was a good time. Too bad my sister wasn't there. Kinda funny how when you're a kid the last person you thought you would want to hang out with is your sister.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:13

Sometimes, somethings just grab a hold of you and pull you in. The National Anthem has done just that.

"Everyone just stop here"
posted by Jeremy Olson at 23:40

I found an interesting opinion today. Tanya had this to say about Radiohead's new endeavor named after the world's first cloned human.

I am not sure that I agree with this point of view. But however much I disagree with what this person has to say I do feel it is good to walk on both sides of the sidewalk and listen to what people have to say. Stimulate the brain, you know - get the wheels rollin'.

Read it and get your wheels rollin'.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:52

Playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater II really, really late felt like a good idea at the time. When I get home tonight I think I might take a little nappy poo. Come to think of it I still think it was a good idea. Allen and Darren came over and helped me check of the list of level goals. Hanging out with friends and doing nothing is something I have missed since college. We had a good time.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:18

Oh, I cannot wait. Radiohead's Kid A comes out tomorrow. Looks like I'll be taking a drive during my lunch break tomorrow to pick it up. I so enjoy looking forward to things. Release dates keep me going. I must admit that I did cheat. I have listened to it already. Come on, who didn't sneak a little peek under the tree? I sware I did not listen to more then a quick run through. My money will still go towards purchasing the album.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 11:39

Yesterday I was sitting in the living room looking out the sliding door / sliding window and was struck by the fact that the changing color of the leaves is taking place. This big ass tree that has always been there but never really paid too much attention to was just there saying "Hey look at me Mutha T-Rucker. How you like me now?" From that tree these vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges were reflecting a glow into my living room.

Around this time of the year I always tell my self that this will be the fall that I take a trip to Duluth to watch the leaves change color. My trips back and forth to UMD used to give me the opportunity to see the changing colors. But since leaving there I can only hope to plan a trip to watch the colors. Somehow every year fall seems to pass me up before I make that trip. I usually feel like I missed the changing colors. This year I do not feel like I missed the changing colors.

Thank you Big Ass Tree, I do see you now and I do like you.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 08:47

So you want to know what I am listening to and watching?

You never thought of asking me what I am listening to and or watching? Well think about it. And while your thinking about it I'll tell you what I am listening to and or watching. That way it will be there waiting for you when you do think of asking me.

The following is the displayed format of how I will inform you of what I am watching and or listening to. The information may not be shown but will be displayed if available. As time goes on the comments will probably not be as lengthy as it is now. Maybe it will, based on my mood.

************************************************************************
Artist \ Track Number and or Song Title \ Album Title \ Format \ Rating out of 5 stars

Addition comments
************************************************************************

Various Artists \ High Fidelity Soundtrack \ CDR \ ***

New mix of good tunes from a great movie. The songs are geared towards a "break up" theme so the tunes are somewhat depressing. Made the CDR last night and I am glad to have it. Instant gratification. Want it, have it.

Casey Casum's Top 40 \ KDWB \ FM \ No stars

It was on the bathroom radio and I was in the shower before I realized what station was on.
Note to self: make sure music doesn't suck before I get in the shower.

Random Artists \ KVSC ST. Cloud State's Sound Alternative \ FM \ ****

Gotta love public college radio, no matter what they play.

John Cusack, Todd Louiso, Jack Black \ High Fidelity \ DVD \ ****1/2

Great movie, Come on it's John Cusack. In an over saturated sea of romantic comedies High Fidelity offers a realistic story of love. Break up turns into romance turns into life. A must see in my book.
posted by Jeremy Olson at 20:41

Hello and greetings this is just a exercise in reaching out and touching someone.

Hope you dig it!
posted by Jeremy Olson at 19:14