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AARON
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One of the sweetest people I know. Very selfless. Could use a dash more selfishness. He is the musical leader of the brilliant November Foxtrot Whiskey (see definition below), and the foolish follower of his own muse. I have know this chap since I were 14. He recorded the first song I ever wrote. God, I forgot about that until I started writing this. That's pretty heavy. |
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ABSOLUT VODKA
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the alcohol used in the $2 drink specials at THE CASTLE on Monday night. Fueled many entries in the journal. |
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BACK-UP SINGER RESTAURANT GIRL
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Later for this definition. |
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BASHER, THE
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A dichotomous guy: on the outside he is a jock, on the inside he has an appreciation for art and an artistic, minimalist comic timing that separates him from his peers. Thoroughly explores a comic conceit in as few words or gestures as possible. He also drives a dope black Mustang and can play Hot For Teacher note-for-note. |
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BEAUTIFUL BRAIN SURGEON GIRL, THE (BBSG)
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A girl I vaguely date when neither of us have anyone else. She works in laboratory. Her real job is one of the many things that would make a person think she was "normal," when, in fact, she is a freak. I'm always envious of people who can pull off that dichotomy. You can do a lot more damage from the inside. |
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THE BULLY
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The manager at HPR (see definition below) goes by the same name as a guy who bullied me in middle school. The kid was younger than me too: humiliating. After we all graduated high-school, he and his father were arrested for selling cocaine. THE BULLY then later killed his father in a drunk driving accident. The manager at HPR seems like a typical, young, smartass manager who waited tables far too long. I don't deal well with authority figures who can't outsmart me. |
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DAMON
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The most inventive, charismatic drummer I know, and possibly will ever know. We played in bands together since before college. And, like all people who've I've shared bands with: Damon has seen my ass enough times to dislike me a bit. And he's got his own attitude problems as well. Despite our differences, we've know each other for years and we keep lines of communication open. |
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EX-GIRLFRIEND, MY
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While I have a few ex-girlfriends, she is the only ex-girlfriend I have. She is one of the most beautiful and enigmatic women I've ever met. She's also a genius. But we had a very hard time of it. The freshness date on our relationship had come and gone way before we were able to pry ourselves away from each other. When we both realized that it would never end, she took the initiative to relocate to New York. For further details and explanations see MARVIN GAYE'S, "Here, My Dear." (you should listen to it anyway: it's a good fucking record) |
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EX-GIRLFRIEND SISTER, MY
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My ex-girlfriend's younger and more levelheaded sister. When I began this journal, she was overseas in England. She wrote me often, telling me of her exploits and adventures in the U.K. If it were not for her encouragement I wouldn't have pursued this journal project with such zeal. |
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FRECKLED GIRL
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A very attractive red-haired friend of mine. Someone I connect with in a liberating way. Sometimes my redhead girl fetish blurs the friendship, if only in my mind. |
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FRIEND AT ANOTHER LOCAL PAPER, MY:
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A friend of mine who works at another local newspaper that's not as good as the one I work at. He calls and emails me during the day, detailing the conversations and conflicts going on in the newsroom where he works. |
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FRIENDSHIP GARDEN, THE
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The slowly evolving courtyard located downstairs at the triplex in which I live with two of my tighter boys (and one of those boys' really cool artsy girlfriend). The two of them have a case of MANIFEST DESTINY in that The Friendship Garden, made from scraps of Historical Ebara City, grows and grows. A great place for mellow parties and cookouts. The best definition of The Friendship Garden aesthetic: "It's like the Beverly Hillbillies with Bachelors in Fine Arts." The name is sort of a joke, but it stuck. |
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HIGH, TO GET:
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Drinking. I HAVEN'T DONE ANY DRUGS SINCE 1996 (eh…ehm). At that point, heavy nighttime social drinking replaced my practice of smoking pot multiple times a day. Since then, my sister and I have taken to referring to any kind of chemical alteration as "getting high" or "getting stoned". Seriously. I swear. |
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HORSE GIRL
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A wonderful, gorgeous woman I met in June of 2000. Actually, I'd met her years ago when she lived in Tampa, but we didn't know each other well. She lives on a farm in Lithia with several dogs, cows, horses and family members. She has a lot of soul. |
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HYDE PARK RESTAURANT (HPR)
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A restaurant job I picked up the first week of September, 2000, for the benefit of supplementing the cost of my move to California. I don't plan on taking the job very seriously. I worked at the Cactus Club in Hyde Park before I went full-time at THE PAPER. But that's my only serving experience. I look forward to this job as a chance to meet some new people and flirt with new women. |
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JACK
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You Tampa folks know Jack as the big guy with the red beard and the flip-flops who begrudgingly takes your money at the door to 75% of the shows that come through Tampa. He has brought to Florida The MakeUp, Trans Am, Tricky, Royal Trux, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Guided By Voices, The Grifters...that's about 1/100 of the shows Jack's booked. Without Jack, Tampa would be a boring ass place. And man does that guy get on my nerves: Jack and I have a brotherly love that borders on antagonism. Over the past five years, Jack and I have played music together, toured together, debated, argued, yelled and acted like a couple of red-headed jerks (I still have more red hair than he does though). We've also bonded over being awkward and boorish and half the time I realize that no one understands me or appreciates me like Jack does. I love Jack. He taught me the word "impetus" which I still use all the time. |
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KAROLINA
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A female friend from Gainesville who men will cross large crowded rooms to talk to. She rarely goes anywhere without someone falling in love with her. She is also very spiritually powerful and having her on my side makes me feel like I have access to a small portion of god's (or conceivably SATAN's) army. Intermittently, one of my strongest sources for inspiration and support. |
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LITTLE RED-HAIRED GIRL
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A woman I met in 1999 that affected me to the point where every other relationship I've had pales in comparison. Maybe I'm a bit melodramatic but... |
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LOUDGIRL
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a temporary girlfriend I had that attracted me, and then repulsed me, with her extroverted nature. A growing experience. |
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MAUREEN, MY SISTER
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When we were little in Indiana, we didn't get along well. I needed a brother to fight with, but instead I started shit with Maureen. This continued during our life in Florida until Maureen joined me college at USF in Tampa. Then we became tight. My sister and I look nothing alike but are eerily similar in mannerisms, attitude and energy. People fall in love with Maureen for her forthright, loud nature, while people think I'm a dick for mine. Sexism. I think I'm objective when I say that Maureen is the most honest and real and down-to-earth person I've ever known. I've never know her to ever kook out or indulge in drama (though she did once throw her arm out of it's socket while taking a swing at her boyfriend). click here for our humorous illustrated FAMILY HISTORY. |
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McMANUS, MARK:
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A unique individual who recently moved back to Tampa from New York bringing with him what he learned about performing and conceptualizing in a real city. He's the only person in Tampa besides myself who does not think that New York is better than Florida (though I haven't been there…). When Maureen and I (fUNkRUZE) play, we often tag team with Mark: we play a song then he plays one etc. His songs and performances are about BBQ's, camping, and the animals and activities associated with camping. On the rare occasion that I get to hang out with him, I realize how intellectually lacking all the rest of my friends are. |
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MY OWN PRIVATE DJ
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A DJ guy I met through my longtime friends. He was everywhere I was for months before we ever spoke. I thought he was some hard, snobby motherfucker but it turns out he's just shy: actually very funny and reliable and a great friend. He's very handsome and every women I know has inquired about him with interest, but he can't seem to fathom that and avoids the Casanova role as a result. Whenever I catch his DJ set he goes out of his way to play all the stuff I like that my friends hate: pop R&B and hip-hop (Prince, DMX, Destiny's Child, Aliyah) mixed with everything from RATT to Aphex Twin. He's one of the few DJs who can make my circle of friends dance. |
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November Foxtrot Whiskey
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A promising local band featuring Damon and Aaron (see above definitions of them)who I used to be in a really good band with. NFW is currently, probably the most popular band in Tampa. They're grounded in traditions of blues and rock but throw in some classical music tricks, some Moogs keyboard, and some humble, sloppy, pothead attitude. Aaron has waited his whole life to have a band this good. He spent a lot of time not getting any recognition (I am very guilty of not giving it to him). Now he is a revered local talent. His girlfriend THE VIOLINIST, is an amazing musician as well. But tensions between her and Damon caused her to quit. We all thought they'd lose their shine when she quit, but they have remained amazing and unique. |
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OLDEST AND DEAREST FRIEND, MY
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This is one of the people who live in the triplex. One of the founders of the Friendship Garden. I've known him since he was 14 years old. He is a DJ. He is a Boy Scout (seriously). |
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OTHER NEIGHBOR a.k.a. THE PERFORMER
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PAPER, THE
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The daily newspaper where I began working in 1999 (as of May 2000 I am still employed there). Whereas I have hated every job I've ever had, I feel lucky to feel merely ambivalent about my current job at THE PAPER. Working there has afforded me infinite opportunities for self-improvement, meeting celebrities, learning to write. It also impresses women since almost everyone else in Tampa works at a restaurant. The head editor is the best boss one could possibly hope for in that he is tolerant when I fuck up or get in an altercation with some other higher-up who impedes my seeing my typically brilliant ideas to fruition. Even the people in the office that I don't like: EVERYONE is very smart and I learn something new every day. |
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PERFORMER'S GIRLFRIEND, THE
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Lives downstairs from me. She's pretty and smart and artistic. We smoke cigarettes together. But not much else is known about her as she is quiet and keeps to herself. She intimidated me at first if only because she understands, appreciates and is attracted to THE PERFORMER: that scares and confuses me a little though it has recently become a source of comfort. I don't feel too self-consciously insane talking with her. She couldn't possibly be judging me. |
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PHOTOGRAPHER, THE
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A recovering dork on a social upswing of remarkable momentum. He somehow finds his way through the financial forests by taking photographs while sometimes neglecting his friends for the sake of hooking up. Inexplicably, a source of inspiration for the likes of me. |
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PIZZA DIVE
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A restaurant I began working at 9/2000 to make money for my move to California. I began working at PIZZA DIVE (with my sister's boyfriend: see SIS BOY below) after being fired from HPR (see definition above). While HPR was hellish and serious, PIZZA DIVE is like waiting tables with training wheels: the 20 item menu is written ON our notepad, we merely circle the customer's order. There is no sidework, no looming, oppressive management, no horrible computer ordering system to battle. No rush. And I make as much money as I made at HPR, with 95% less stress. Regardless, working in a restaurant is still a tough transition from working in a newsroom for 3 years. |
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RED-HAIRED MakeUp GIRL, THE (RHMG):
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An adorable little mousy redhead woman I spied at the MakeUp show in 2000. Hoping to date her, I was discouraged to find that, after our first date, she found me insane and absurd. I have since been gaining her respect in very very small increments. But I still find myself intimidated by how pretty she and coming off like a concentrated version of my normal clumsy, awkward, self. |
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RICK LOOSE
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A dear friend. His strong, quiet depth is a buoy in the turbulence of all this superficial socializing. He has a great sense of humor when not weighing himself down with excessive brooding brain electricity. Check some of his brilliant artwork. |
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ROMPER ROOM
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The giant recording studio/practice space utilized and lived in by November Foxtrot Whiskey. It used to be a daycare center. The back room was once the little kid's cafeteria: you can picture 25 small children running between long tables set in rows; hands orange with artificial cheese from their regimented afternoon Cheetos feeding. Aaron and Damon chose the house so they could fill the cafeteria with instruments of all ages: three drumsets (two of the Slingerland variety), a massive percussion set-up, two Moog keyboards, four big guitar amps, two big bass rigs, two practice amps, four organs, a Wurlitzer electric piano, a P.A. system and other instruments I either can't remember or had no clue what they were to begin with. |
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SEXY JOURNALIST, THE
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A chick friend of mine who writes for a Florida music mag. Her and I over-intellectualize everything together. |
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SINGER/GUITARIST
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A music scene friend I've known for a relatively long time but never got to know; I met him my freshman year of college when I'd just discovered intoxicants and art rock and he had yet to. He and his group of friends are two years younger. It was only recently that we synched up; intoxicants being the great divide. Now however, when I see him at bars or parties, we talk and get along very well. I admire him a great deal for his sense of humor, intelligence and inhibition. His COMMONPLACE nickname comes from his post in a great local noise-rock band. Like many indie-rock dudes, he is skinny, has short dark hair and wears thick, dark rimmed glasses. |
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SIS BOY
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My 24-year-old sister's boyfriend. They began going out in High School. After High School they moved to Tampa and into my apartment in 1994. After that, they broke up for more than a year but got back together in 1999. He is a very cool guy who's still searching for a way to get his shit together. It's impossible for me not to be suspicious of any relationship that lasts as long as theirs, but they do have my blessing, because they get along famously. Better than any couple I've witnessed. |
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STONE (my cat)
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Stone is a symbol: After one of our shows in 1995, my ex-girlfriend and I found two fist sized kittens behind a dumpster at Kim Dicce's STONE LOUNGE. My ex took the girl, Missy, and Kim took the other, she named him Stone, after her club. He became one of her 13 cats. One morning after a raging fight in which we swore we'd never speak to each other again, I received a call from my ex at 6 a.m.: Missy had been hit by a car. I buried Missy while my ex was at work. We ended up getting back together in all the grief. The next day I ran into Kim and she coincidentally asked if I knew anyone who wanted Stone: he needed too much attention, she claimed, and she was spreading her affection among too many cats. I picked up Missy's brother, Stone, who is twice Missy's size but in many ways the same, and brought him to my ex. When my ex moved to New York in 1999, I inherited Stone. |
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TIGHT BOY BackToList |
See: YOUR BOY |
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VICE-BOYFRIEND
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The position one finds themselves in if a woman you know finds a full-time boyfriend while she's still attracted to you. |
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W.T.
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Writer talk. A specific way of talking practiced mainly by writers. |
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WUDDLY WUDDLY
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Excessive guitar playing. The musical equivalent of "blah blah blah..." |
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YOUR BOY
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A comic conceit created by THE BASHER (defined above): This figure of speech began in reference to anyone who blatantly wasn't someone you'd consider your boy. EXAMPLE: If you were sharing a joint while driving, and a cop pulled up next to your car, you would say to the passengers, "Watch out, there's your boy." Meatheads with lots of muscles who wear baggy pants, copious mouse in their short hair and tight shirts (often with gold chains displayed on the outside of the shirt) are referred to as YOUR TIGHT BOY. The more of a meathead someone is, the TIGHTER they are with YOU. If someone was wearing the outfit described above, but also had a mullet haircut, they would be YOUR TIGHTEST BOY. Since Ebara City is the best place to find YOUR BOYS, YOUR TIGHTEST BOYS et al, Ebara City is also referred to as YOURBOY CITY. But, the phrase is now used in many applications, not all of them meant to berate the BOY in question. |
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