Monday, August 24th/09, 90 Glenmore Road, Toronto ONT

For those who don’t know me, I have two sisters, and I love them very much. Although, I don’t say it to them very often because that’s just the way we were brought up, close-mouthed, naive and hard-working (not on a farm, as probably expected) We just always understood love was there. They took care of me for most of my stupid years, when I was still figuring out how to tie my shoes, whistle, speak and walk properly, and then how to ride a bike and swim and other things they were doing at the time, you know, make fun of you for your purple or green hair and having acne or that time you lost your license, twice, and tell you to get lost when you need somebody to. I wasn’t the greatest brother, I liked to argue and whine and annoy when I didn’t get my way and try to infiltrate the parties they would have in our parent’s basement, their friends in-advertantly turning me on to punk music (MISTAKE) Yeah, I thought I was pretty cool, listening to The Offspring and Goldfinger. I was wrong, of course. They then moved away, while I was just entering into high school, to school and promising careers as Scientists and Web-designers, my sister Jaime to Toronto, who’s house we are currently squatting in, and my sister Jaclyn, who lives in Vancouver, and spends way too much money on me. They are both pretty amazing, my sisters, and in very different ways. I often try to wrap my head around the very separate paths we’ve chosen and worked towards in our lives, our trades, art, science and business. Who would have ever thought. My mom and dad must be baffled.

Another day off, in Toronto now, we had driven to my sister’s the night before, so we rented a rehearsal space across town for a few hours in the afternoon. We worked a few more things out, planned ahead for the return, new songs, new ideas, realized less drinking and a ridiculously good-looking merch-attendant is a good idea and pretty much a requirement at this point, that and a trailer, the kinds of things which are fun. Dan Ball suggested that we get sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon and beef jerky, even sent out a few emails and everything. He was disciplined, not badly, I wanted to make him run laps and spray him with ice water while doing so. I later thought it would be pretty legitimate, sponsored by a “great” beer and a salted meat product rather than a guitar, drum or clothing company. It makes sense. What also makes sense, is for Dan to be a butt-model, which lately, he’s been obsessing over and bragging about his perfect ass. His aspirations are true and I really do believe he’s got the talent to do so, like David Duchovny in Zoolander, different appendage, of course. Anyway, we bummed around the rest of the day and later found out that our amazing friend, Jeff Ojeda, from a Vancouver-based band called “Melody Unwinding,” was in town. You see, Jeff wasn’t up to much this summer, so he decided to take a job as a guitar-tech for an up and coming band called “The Latency” and low and behold, he had days off in Toronto when we had days off and a show in Toronto. Spectacular timing. Jeff will be a continuing role in the next few updates, let me assure you.

I would like to end this one, short and sweet, my sisters Jaime and Jaclyn are amazing, for putting up with my shit over the years. Like I said, probably wasn’t the best brother growing up, I was kind of insecure and obnoxious. They most likely have forgiven me, but I still thank them for everything I am today, for letting me stay in their houses, still be a re-occurring part in their lives, and supporting me and my “little band thing” as my grandparents and aunts and uncles would most likely call it. They come out to my shows and know that I am serious and sincere about all of it, and that I chose this over a million other things I could have pursued. Also, Greg, my sister’s husband, is an amazing dude too… I haven’t seen him so much, probably avoiding us altogether, which is understandable. We kind of drank all his alcohol and made his kitchen smell like an ashtray.