A Few Months & A Few Things
Hey There,
So I’ve been gone for awhile and for that I have to say I am sorry. Not that many people ever even read this blog, but it feels good to just say it. Or, type it, as the case may be.
The past few months have been weird. My dad died in february (laughing and rollerskating, just as he would have liked it I think). His whole estate and all that has been left up to me, his only heir, and I get to deal with it all. I’m an only child and I am used to doing everything by myself, but this is a lot. I am kind of proud of myself for being able to take care this, ok I have a lawyer for all the legalese, but still. I think he would be happy to see me take charge.
I started making and selling pierogies. It’s actually taken off and I find that bizarre, because if you would have told me I would be doing this at this time last year I would have thought you were insane. I mean come on, fucking pierogies? And I sell at least 30 dozen a week at a farmers market? And I now own a pop up tent to sit under when I sell? And a propane burner to make samples? And I deliver all over the city? Craziness.
I got back into booking bands too. I picked up a few nites of booking when I ran into my friend Joe at, of all places, the hair cuttery. He’s such a nice guy that he didn’t laugh in my face when he came upon me wearing the stupid cap thing you have to wear for highlights.
Michael Jackson died. I find that bizarre as well. Like most people my age, I grew up listening to tracks from Thriller and Off The Wall. In fact, when we got our very first VCR, one of the tapes my dad got from a buddy was The Making Of Thriller and that got me interested in moviemaking. I ended up going to film school because of it I suppose. People have these odd reactions to Jackson. My one friend Derek hopes he rots in hell, others praise him like he was Jesus reincarnated. Did he molest those kids? I tend to think no. People who have ridiculous money like that are walking targets, and who is going to be believed: the kid or the rich eccentric pop star? There have been rumors now around the internet that the kid is now old enough to speak and he says his parents made him do say the things.
That court case destroyed anything that was left of Jackson’s career. His odd choices of having kids in a round about way, his goofy living conditions, plastic surgery addiction and overall secretive ways didn’t help. But I have a theory as to why he was the way that he was. And since this is my blog, I’m going to lay it all out for ya.
Michael was a working professional at the age of 5. That is the age you start school. But Michael didn’t start school, he started singing in studios and dancing on tv. It was his life, and the only one he knew. His father, while I don;t know for sure, seemed like he was really hot on pushing those kids to make cash and didn’t give them time to just be kids.
Growing up in the spotlight doesn’t help when you go form a cute kid to a pimpley teenager, which Jackson did. He had a decent transition but I think the self consciousness never left him, and between the plastic surgery and the media, with the fact that he was under constant pressure, I think he snapped. When people have a mental break, it usually occurs sometime in the late teens-early twenties. This seems when he first started becoming weird. Combine that with the fact that when you are that huge of a star, no one tells you no, well, you get MIchael Jackson.
I really feel bad for his kids, who seem like regular kids, which is funny considering that they aren’t, but Jackson did go out of his way to keep them out of the spotlight. I also am annoyed at all these people who are crying and performing at the memorial because none of them would touch him or his career publicly after the court case. Where were they when Jackson might have needed them? Nowhere to be found, for sure.
I don;t mean any of this as a huge fan, because I am not. I grew up with the music, I won’t deny it, but he was just a guy who could write a great song. He’ll be missed and I hope his kids don’t end up in People magazine.
Finally, this month marks the 1 year anniversary of getting my car, of which I call Rover. Rover is a 97 civic hatchback and it is awesome. I love being able to drive myself anywhere without begging for rides or taking the bus/train/trolley/el. People kept telling me I would really love it, but I didn’t get it until I actually bought the car. Awesomeness.
I do have some plans for this blog in the upcoming year. New tags will include thoughts on band management, promotion and all sorts of other stuff. Plus, more updates. So check back, I promise I will try and be here.
