Get into Pimpstrey's Head!

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:53:43 GMT

The Life Experience Test

Overall, you have partaken in 66 out of 169 possible life experiences.
Your average life experience score is therefore 39%.

The average score is 51%, making your experiences more than 17% of the people who have taken this test.
The average for your age group (18-25) is 45%.

Broken down by category:
Art: 12/17 (71%)
Career & Work: 5/13 (38%)
Civics & Technology: 4/7 (57%)
Crime & Disarray: 3/11 (27%)
Education: 13/18 (72%)
Fashion: 4/10 (40%)
Fitness, Health and Sports: 2/7 (29%)
Life in General: 6/14 (43%)
Relationships: 2/14 (14%)
Religion & Politics: 2/4 (50%)
Social: 7/22 (32%)
Travel: 2/20 (10%)
Vices: 4/12 (33%)

Take the test and see how YOU compare

A wild MEME appears! ATTACK ITEM POKEMON RUN

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:31:43 GMT

List ten things you want to say to ten different people, but know you never will. Don't say who they are. Disable comments. Never discuss it again.

1. You're not a people person, you make poor choices, and you can be condescending. That's why it won't happen again.
2. Why are you a bitch? To me and to others? It's uncalled for and its not funny.
3. I'm truly worried about you. You won't give up the things that are hurting you because it's who you are innately. Please learn to say no.
4. Despite your failings, professionally and personally, I do respect you as a person still. But that doesn't mean I don't blame you specifically.
5. I'll just bide my time until you make the right decision... wait a month, and I'll be there. I've read the list.
6. Someday you'll thank me for what I did. Someday.
7. If I had made the right decision the first time, I think we could have been good friends. It's too bad that won't ever happen.
8. You treat everyone like shit, and it's getting to the point where no one can stand you. I'm not sure you actually know how much of a douche you are.
9. I'm glad you're out of my hair, but I miss having you around more and more.
10. If I could choose anyone to be, I would be you. Mistakes and successes alike.

bored, meme time

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:37:06 GMT

ALBUM COVERS THAT DO NOT EXIST

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

Click a random article. Read the title. This is your band's name.

http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/?

Open and save the third picture. This is your album cover. Make it square or it won't look right.

http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

Read the seventh quote down. The last few words is your album title - often, four words will be the most catchy, but sometimes five or three works better.

Pile 'em all together in paint or photoshop, and post 3.

2009.

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:37:30 GMT

Good to go.

Rent final performance?

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:18:58 GMT

http://www.thehotticket.net/rent/

Don't have tickets to the final performance of Rent? They're showing it in movie theaters across the country. Closest one to Troy is in Plainville, CT.

(I'm posting this on LJ because basically all the people who I'd want to tell read this.)

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:29 GMT

I find it kind of funny when freshmen rant about how much they hate things about RPI's campus.
"AGHHHH I HATE EMPAC RARR RARR RARR"
"RIBS OMG NO GIRLS ON CAMPUS"
"BLAH BLAH BLAH NO OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE FUN BLAH BLAH"

I mean, really? You've been here for what, 3 weeks? Let things happen before you start to bitch!

A meme I stole from Erin and Buster.

Sun, 11 May 2008 05:07:08 GMT

List ten things you want to say to ten different people, but know you never will. Don't say who they are.

1. I always wanted to tell you I cared deeply for you. I never did. I still do.
2. I secretly wished you had died when you were supposed to, but I will forever feel terrible about wishing so.
3. Stop being so emo. You're the epitome of awesome. If I could be anyone else in the world, I would be you.
4. You treat your enemies with warmth, and you treat your friends like shit. After a while your doubts become real.
5. I'm waiting for you to slip up so I can attack. I don't see what they see in you.
6. Break up with that douchebag. There's better people out there.
7. I think I could be that guy. Too bad you're too busy fucking "Mr. Wrong".
8. Stop being such a bitch. You're not as fantastic as you think. Let other people in.
9. You creep me out. It takes a lot for me to think that. Stay the hell away from me.
10. Unlike everyone else, I think you're pretty cool. I sorta look up to you. Learn my name.

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:38:51 GMT

http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206903246

Maybe that supercomputer WASN'T a complete waste of student resources. Also, awesometastic. We need GOOD publicity here, not publicity over videogames-that-were-kind-of-stolen-from-terrorists-but-kind-of-not-but-were-removed-from-public-view.

Anyone else think it would be funny if the character's name was Anna?

Stolen from Kristie and Erin who stole it from other people who stole it from other people...

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:54:28 GMT

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. Looking them up is cheating, please don't.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. You're a man haunted by those two most terrible words, What If?

2. Don't shift your weight, look always at your mark but don't stare, be specific but not memorable, be funny but don't make him laugh. He's got to like you then forget you the moment you've left his side. Kristie, Ocean's Eleven

~~3. Remember... all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more.~~ Buster, The Matrix

4. See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?

5. ~~A wedding? I love weddings. Drinks all around!~~ Buster, Pirates of the Caribbean

6. You're familiar with the phrase "man's reach exceeds his grasp"? It's a lie: man's grasp exceeds his nerve.

7. And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.

8. ~~Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.~~ Kristie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

9. ~~You want a prediction about the weather, you're asking the wrong Phil. I'll give you a winter prediction: It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.~~ Kristie, Groundhog Day

10. There is so much to say... I cannot find the words. Except for these: 'I love you.'

Number 10 is more of a bonus. I really don't think anyone else has seen that movie.

I'm wrong.

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:42:11 GMT

Well, well, well.

What a strange, effed-up week this has been.

In no particular order:
Poor music direction. Near class failure. Angry friends. Exciting news. Trips to the hospital for more than one person. Cleaning. Computer breakage. Painful back. Painful heart. Asshole classmates. Bank account troubles. Job retraction. Scheduling conflicts. Uneventful party. Bitching... everyone. Weird injuries. Valentine's Day. RIBS day. Housing screwage. Spring awakenings. Unlikely events. Being wrong. Tragedy. Making fun of tragedy. Songs on loop for three hours. Occult discussions. Lousy food. Trying to be a friend. Union.
Excitement.
Dispair.
Love.
Death.
Choices.

And all through it all, still not knowing when I'll reach that day.

TechSunday

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:42:14 GMT

Tech Sunday is over.
Thank god.

I was honestly expecting this to pretty much not end without massive amounts of pain. Being that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING I have touched in the past week has broken, it very much surprised me that
a) none of my equipment broke,
b) none of my design broke... really
c) people didn't break
d) I didn't break mentally

I mean, sure, it was Tech Sunday, and of course some stuff needed / needs to be tweaked, but overall, I thought it went pretty damn well. I'm actually looking forward to the rest of the week because my job is a lot easier and more fun now that I have a board op.
Hopefully people like my effects.
I was so afraid of screwing this thing up. Honestly, I've never really done an entire show before. Sure, I did talent shows and stuff, but I've never had to deal with this many cues or even really making my own effects. I've been asking for quite a bit of help, which at first I felt really bad about. I almost didn't apply for sound designer for EOP because I didn't really feel qualified enough, like I didn't have enough experience. That may have been true, but the whole point of EOP is to get experience doing roles you haven't done before. And there's no better way to get experience than by doing. I've been learning a LOT, and finally the insane patch bay / mics / clearcom / board setup kind of maybe almost makes sense.

Talk Radio is a very special kind of show, done by some very special people. If Talk Radio doesn't offend you, you are also a very special kind of person. Have you considered joining RPI Players?

Other than that, the people-breaking aura seems to have worn off, at least temporarily. This is a good thing. Hopefully there will be 100% less bullshit next weekend.

And finally...
Did I strike out?

Back to the Tute, and EMPAC.

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:39:33 GMT

Back at the Tute.

Status: Awesome.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Also, say what you will about EMPAC and it's lack of actual artistic substance, but their current display is simply amazing. They're doing this lighting display on the actual EMPAC building for the next month or so, and it seems to be slightly changing every night. Last night, it was an American flag on the side of the building. Tonight, it seems to just be a solid blue coating all over the building, but there's this rotating searchlight that you can clearly see in the air. I nearly crashed my car driving down Route 7 towards Troy tonight because I kept looking at the display.
I really should grab my camera, park on the side of Route 7, and take a few pictures. I really do think it is that cool.

Don't give me that look today...

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:54:12 GMT

I'm sorry to everyone at Union that I hurt or screwed over last year. I had my own shit to work through, and I'm finally realizing that my actions leading up to and including my transfer made other people's lives harder.
Keegan, Pete C, Zach, Dana, Joey, Mountebanks, Golub House, and especially Pete F, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for my personal struggles to make everyone else's lives harder.
Please forgive me.

I know most of you will never read this, but I felt it had to be said.

Sorry.

Maybe I could be in love with someone like...

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:11:02 GMT

Alright, I'll come right out and say it.
I'm depressed.

The general plague of depression that appears to be affecting everyone I know is also effecting me. Yes, I know it's beginning to be wintertime, and yes, it is getting closer to finals, but strangely, neither of those things are really worrying me at all. Not even the prospect that I could potentially be placed on financial leave if my loans don't clear by 5 PM Friday is really making me all that sad.
Truth is, I'm pretty much just really, really lonely. People warned me about transferring to RPI from a liberal arts school, "Oh man, I hope you don't want women." and all that other stereotypical shit that people say about RPI. Sure, Union was 55% women, but being that I wasn't getting any action there and was still doing pretty well mentally, I didn't think it'd be much of a problem.
Well, it's a problem. I'm really starting to feel down about it, too. Seems to me like every other person on the planet who doesn't have an awkward social tic or otherwise spend all day playing videogames has had some sort of a meaningful relationship at some point in their lives. Hell, even the ones that do spend all day and night writing code seem to have had a girlfriend at some point. I've even gone to random parties where I've seen ugly guys with acne that looks like it's going to pop off their face then start doing a song and dance routine lay it on thick on women who are way, way out of their league-- and it working.
And the whole time I'm thinking: What the fuck? What the fuck are they doing that I'm not? Am I really more abhorrent than a guy with Mount St. Helens for a face? Do I have an awkward social tic that no one will tell me about? Or am I really just that much of a dull person?
And then the conclusion, as I have just come to, makes me more depressed than I was in the beginning.
I'm not sure anymore that the depression comes from loneliness.
It comes from the fact that I don't feel like I'm good enough for anyone.

And that is a very terrible feeling.

Someone To Hold v1.0

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:34:22 GMT

This was the first version of Someone To Hold. Since then, I've made some minor lyric adjustments. You can often hear me playing the finished version in the Playhouse at about 1 AM.

Frank:
(spoken)
Susie, come over here. I have something I absolutely need to tell you.

I've never loved this way before
You are the woman that I'll forever adore
With all the time's we've had in the past three years
All the hugs and pain, all the kisses and tears

I know this is happening all too fast
I need something that I know is gonna last
Though we're only 18, I know this is what I need to be
I need to have you here with me

Will you marry me?
I know the path is twisted and long
And I won't know what's right and wrong
So please marry me!
And all through the wind and all through the cold
At least I'll have Someone To Hold...

I know this might come as a bit of a shock
Hold on for a second, let me give you the rock [ed. note: ring]
I offer this to you with everlasting love
And may God bless us from Heaven above

Will you marry me?
I know we'll have to find us the way
But let's always remember this fateful day
So please marry me!
And all through the wind, and all through the cold
At least I'll have Someone to Hold...

Susie:
Yes! I do! I will! I have!
I've never been happier and I've never will be
How strange how important two short words can be
When you say them...
Frank:
...to me!

Susie and Frank:
Will you marry me?
We'll have a wedding on top of a hill
Invite all our friends, and have our fill
So please marry me!
And all through the wind and all through the cold
At least we'll always have
At least we'll happily have
For the next ten minutes I'll have
Someone To Hold!

For Just One Day

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:15:42 GMT

And here's one that I'll post for today, even though I wrote it almost 6 months ago.

"For Just One Day"

I've been waiting outside for far too long
It's time for me to come inside
I don't know how to go that way
No matter how hard I've tried
To Hide

And I don't know all the mysteries of this universe
For all of the knowledge I've gained
There's one thing in this world I lack
And I can't have it explained!
All the things in this world that are lovely and good
I wish I could see, it could be understood
Oh, I would throw all my sins and my money away
If I could know love For Just One Day!

Random Note

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:01:43 GMT

As a random note, I've decided that while I'm home and have access to my MacBook, I'm going to upload all the varied poetry / songs that I wrote over my year at Union to my Livejournal, but attempt to backdate them somewhat to their original dates of creation. It may be a little zany but it'll make me feel good.

Pimpstrey: The Revival

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:26:24 GMT

So, here's the deal. I've been told to "start" a livejournal. However, since I already have one (and have had one for several years), this is more of a restart. A revival, if you will. I really think this is a great idea (assuming I keep up with it on a semi-regular basis) because writing down my individual thoughts at any given point in my life really seems to help when I'm introspecting before writing a song or some other creative work.

So my life the past few days: final performance of RUR, Players Party, Legends of the Hidden Temple costumes, EMT duty, and trying to get a radio.

More updates when I'm not falling asleep.

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:33:32 GMT

Epiphany

No!
I won't!
I won't remain inside this glass prison
Looking out but always staying in
And everybody sees me in clear vision
Do I sin?

Cause I don't get to make my own decisions
It's a trait that I have yet to gain
When all the folks go on with their collisions
I remain

So I go outside
And put on my pitch uniform coat
A protection against the world I know
And I walk outside
Watching the people who choose their own destiny
But not I, I don't go.

It's easier to see over than to oversee.

Moral of the story.

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 06:37:25 GMT

Finesse now. The babes come later.

The Last 12 Months

Thu, 24 May 2007 23:25:04 GMT

I haven't done a bona-fide Livejournal entry in a long, long time. Most of the stuff you'd find on here from the past year and a half are all lyrics and stuff from projects that never got finished.

Chapter 1: Beginnings

So let's see... I think the last public blog entry I wrote anywhere was almost a year ago, on my MySpace. Let's give the setting: I was finally enjoying high school, enjoying senior year, I had a car, I had friends... I had shittons of work from New Visions Health. Oh well, c'est la vie. So, really, college was the least of my priorities. It sounds strange, probably, that for a high school senior, COLLEGE, that ultimate, wonderful goal everyone works towards, was the least of my priorities. But in all honesty, about a year ago, I couldn't give a crap where I went, so long as it was far off in the future. For the first time in my life, I was kinda enjoying myself, and I didn't even want to think about going someplace else and losing all that.

It came down to the ultimate decision: University of Rochester vs. Union College. U of R had been my top choice pretty much from day 1, since I visited the college. It had the music opportunities I had wanted, some decent theater, and a good physics department... at least I hoped. Rochester had never actually shown me any of the physics labs, much like every other college I'd been to. Biology, it turns out, is a much more lucrative choice for most potential students, and most colleges like to show off their bio labs to prospective doctors rather than any other department. UR's academics were top-notch all around, so I had no reason to doubt their excellence in physics as well.

On the other hand was Union College, that sunny, beautiful campus in the middle of terrible Schenectady, NY. Union's location was actually a plus for me, being that it was only about 30 minutes away from my house, it would feel like a whole different place while I was there, but the comfort and familiarity of home was just a short ride away. And, since I've always been a homeboy, I was unsure about going away to school. My greatest fear at the time was total reboot, having to start all over again with friends and accomplishments. Unfortunately, I was going to have to face it no matter what-- but, being close to home would lessen the shock. Union's academics were also top-notch, and they were giving me a little more than anywhere else.

It basically came down to the Accepted Student's Day. I couldn't go to Rochester's because of sheer distance from my house (combined with the fact that I had used my freebie college visit miss from New Visions). I could, however, go to Union's ASDay, since it was close to my house AND on a day I had off from school. At the event, I met one of the physics professors. It turned out he was the department head, and was enthused to show me the physics department. So, instead of going on the campus tour for the third time, I showed up at his office. He showed me everything Union had to offer in terms of facilities-- the particle accelerator in the basement, the laser lab, the study lounge. I, a budding physics student, was wide-eyed at the thought of getting to use this equipment as an undergrad!

So, when it came time to make the final decision, I decided to listen to the naysayers on the 'Net saying terrible things about Rochester, and ignore the naysayers on the 'Net saying terrible things about Union. Union showed me the labs, and no where else did:
I sent my money in to Union the next week.

Chapter 2: Winds of Change

Summer went by slowly at first, then quickly. I lifeguarded at least 3 days a week. Tricia left for Florida--permanently, and we were all sad. Some more than others, it would turn out. I ran crew for BARC Theatre during the summer, recorded Justen's CD, and whiled away the hours. One by one, my senior friends left for college... yet I stayed. Most colleges begin August 25th or so. Union started September 3rd.

I'm not gonna lie, I was nervous as hell. So I did what I do best when nervous of a situation: withdraw, observe. I only really had 4 people I had talked to before Union, one of them being my roommate. I don't drink, and so meeting people was tougher than I had thought. There's some anecdotes from this period that I'll add in later. Basically, what ended up happening is that the people I hung out with during orientation only let me hang out with them for the first three weeks. Those three weeks were fantastic. They didn't drink, and so we roamed around campus, enjoying the nice weather and everything Union had to offer. We went to the gala for the new president of the college, enjoyed the fine food and the culture, the school pride... the elitism. I never felt homesick once during this period. I auditioned for the Dutch Pipers, sang the jazzy version of "Suppertime"-- into callbacks with no problems. I got into a play-- not a musical, but at least a comedy. And a damn good role(s) at that. The world was my metaphorical oyster.

Everything started falling apart around 3rd week. Callbacks for the Pipers were terrible. Auditioning as a tenor 1, the guy who showed up to teach us the tenor 1 part of the alma mater was stoned, drunk, eating a large burrito, and couldn't give a shit. He taught us the harmony twice, only twice, and then said "That should be fine, you guys know what you're doing..." and ran off to quell the marijuana-induced munchies, courtesy of Sandella's. Being that I already knew the harmony from choir-- a different harmony, I committed an EPIC FAIL during the portion where I was supposed to sing, by myself, the harmony against the other potentials on other parts.
Unsuprisingly, I recieved the "Thanks but no thanks" email an hour later.
It turned out that that was the firts audition I had been completely rejected from, ever. And my confidence fell apart.

At the same time, my "friends" started selectively telling me when they were going to meet to eat meals and hang out. I would leave IMs with the one girl who I thought had my back, and never get a reply. Cell phone calls were to no avail. I summed up part of it in the song I wrote, "Spinning Sideways":
"Midnight rides to Wendy's / Wasn't around for that / Cross-dressing trip to Friendly's / Wasn't around for that / Fun times up to 'Toga / Didn't give me a second look / You know your friendship's in the shitter / When you find it all out on Facebook"
Nothing sucks more than sitting in your room alone all night because your friends said they weren't doing anything, only to find fresh photos uploaded to Facebook of the events of that night.

I needed to find new friends, so I turned to the guys on my hall. Richmond 1st floor, you guys are great, but I don't have much in common with most of you. In fact, it turned out that I didn't have much in common with most people at Union. Union College students are mostly athletes who wanted to go to a good D3 school. Being that I don't watch ESPN, I have nothing to talk about when they're talking about NCAA Basketball and the Yankees. Which is basically all the time. Also, everyone drank, completely defeating my idea of hanging out with people who didn't drink. By the end of Fall Term, I had great friends from Richmond 1st floor, but nothing to do anymore.

Winter term came after a month-long vacation filled with boredom but plenty of songwriting. Winter term was only okay, and at the end, I realized I needed to transfer.

I put in my applications at the end of Spring Break.

So now I'm here, and I've announced that I'm leaving Union. My future is uncertain. Now I'm back to the ultimate choice: RPI or University of Rochester. Do I correct the mistake of a year ago and pick URochester, or do I forge ahead and go to RPI? Right now, it's looking like URochester, but I haven't gotten in there yet or gotten an aid decision.

And that's the story of The Last 12 Months.

And I could never rescue you
All you ever wanted
But I could never rescue you
No matter how I tried
All I could do was love you hard and let you go

No matter how I tried
All I could do was love you
God, I loved you so
So we could fight
Or we could wait
Or I go...

More Stuff

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 04:03:44 GMT

What happened to me over the past year?
Something sinister and terrible, I fear.
I've never realized before tonight
And that fact has caused me quite a fright.
My friends have left me, there's no one here!
All because of my failed gambit during the past year.

Who knows why things happen the way they do?
Who knows about things I fear are true?
No one's sure, and no one knows,
No one's sure, and no one knows.

A year has passed since that fateful vow,
Changes are subtle, but I'm not sure how.
They've become more like the people the were,
More so than the way they are, for sure.
My world is different, I know now
With no heed to the solemn vow.

Who knows why things happen the way they do?
Who knows about things I fear are true?
No one's sure, and no one knows,
No one's sure, and no one knows.

My reality is changing, it's energy is spent
Even my faithful clock sounds different
How do you stay sane when the world around you changes
And there's no way to slow it down to figure it out?

Who knows why things happen the way they do?
Who knows about things I fear are true?
No one's sure, and no one knows,
No one's sure, and no one knows.

Haiku of the Day

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:38:45 GMT

The sweet sounds of fall
Conquer summer's scorching heat
May it rest in peace.

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:37:30 GMT

What happened to the world I knew?
Everyone else has changed into
Some other people that I don't know
And I fear my friendships were all for show.

Matt's gone crazy, McColgan's a liar?
And apparently I'm someone's heart's desire
Other people also have become quite deranged
Am I the only one who hasn't yet changed?

And as much as this conundrum's left me quite perplexed,
I have to wonder... is my mind next?

Blindness and Sight

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 04:51:36 GMT

Audrey:

He's blind
Blind to his beauty, his inner beauty
Unwind
If he only realized just how cute he'd
Make sure that he'd never be alone again
Cause in the end, no one likes to be alone.

Billy
He's blind
Blind to his own skills, his god-given skills
His mind
He struggles along, I watch him, it kills
I wish he'd know, he'd never be without again

Audrey and Billy:
Cause in the end, no one likes to be alone

All:
Just open your eyes to the beauty within
You gotta realize, it ain't a mortal sin
A person like you, could never ever fall
Just open your eyes and see just how tall you are

Jay:
I'm blind
Blind to my own life, my newly given life
Don't bind
Myself to all the pain and all the strife
I've gone through my years always looking out
Now through all the tears, it's time to finally shout
I'm ready to accept that maybe it's cool to be me
No longer blind, I can finally see!
I can finally see!
(He can finally see)
Yes surely,

All:
Jay is finally free!