an update of sorts.

It's been strangely hard keeping up with my blog. I can write when I have a deadline, even if I don't have anything specific to say, I can get the job done. With the new format of Profane and columnists writing blogs instead of columns with deadlines I guess I just got in the habit of putting it off. I hate that I procrastinate. A lovely rhyme, no?
So I've been talking about moving my family to California and here's what's up. Early in May Lori, my wife, was looking around at new job opportunities, she does development work for non-profits. She isn't out of work dig? she just likes to keep her eyes open for the next best opportunity, something challenging with an orginization that does work that she's passionate about. Anyway someone hipped her to Idealist dot org and she looked at opportunities here in Minneapolis. Nineteen total, gigs showed up and half a dozen or so jobs popped up that she wasn't overqualified for and none of them payed well. On a whim she looked at San Francisco. There were nearly 300 positions open, more than 200 of them were good paying jobs that she was qualified for and she had an epiphany. We need to move to San Francisco. Apparently it's true that a lot of do-gooding socially aware, compassionate organizations are based out of San Francisco. Lori immediately reworked her resume and started sending it out to potential employers and immediately she started hearing back from potential employers.
Initially I decided to hold this scheme close to my chest. I'd thought about moving to California a few times but never very seriously and besides anytime I decide to do something big, I don't say shit to a body until it's all done but my friend Damien was in town and I just kinda mentioned that we were thinking of making the move out. Within a few days Lori had a phone interview and then an in-person interview that coincided with the Amebix show in Minneapolis. I dropped Lori off at the airport just before War//Plague hit the stage. I decided that since things were in motion I may as well let my friends know and at the time it looked like we may be out of here by the end of Summer.
The interview went well but Lori felt something was hinky. You ready for this? The company was faith based and the companies founders are right wing. Lori had serious reservations about the company and though she likely would have been hired fate intervened and the woman who was going to hire her was demoted and the position was moved from the San Francisco office to Oklahoma City.
Bullet dodged I suppose but we were back at square one. I started telling a few more friends and everyone I told was very supportive about the move. Some of our friends had a harder time with it, our neighbors, who we are very close to took the news pretty hard. Our neighbors son, Samson and our son, Gabe are very close. They're the same age and temperment and both are fond of Legos, Star Wars, Spongebob, Anime, comics...They're brothers from another mother.
Gabe too started having reservations about the potential move. The thought of leaving Samson started to bother him and his Grandparents (Lori's folks) were none too happy with the idea. Lori's folks are very close with Gabe and everyone in the realm knows that Lori's mom is very attached to Gabe. It frankly would be no love lost on my part. I've disliked the role I play as son in law for some time but if the stereotype fits...
We did our best to get Gabe comfortable with the idea. Told him about warm winters in a place where there weren't cold advisories. That one could, if one so desired, go surfing in the morning and snow boarding in the afternoon then back home for dinner. He really warmed to the idea when we told him that George Lucas lived in northern California and we'd be able to visit Skywalker Ranch. *when working with youth always play to your audience*
We decided to make a trip out in late June. This trip coincided with two more interviews Lori had set up and though we couldn't afford to bring Gabe this time, Lori and I would get to look around, get a feel for San Francisco and the East Bay and I would finally get a chance to visit a place I'd always wanted to see and bring back stories of wonder and joy to our son and further brainwash him to our side of the fence.
We stayed in Berkeley and visited San Francisco during Pride weekend. We didn't plan that, it just happened that way. We walked all over San Francisco and played around the whole time. We visited Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, UCB, North Berkeley and I have been, from that point on, smitten with the Bay Area. We'll not be able to afford to live in SF but to live in the East Bay is a serious goal of mine. I absolutely love it there, I was cool with the idea before but from this weekend forth it's been near obsession.
Now our plan on how to make this happen had sort of been in the air. We'd sell the house once Lori got a job...well that didn't sit right with me. Who's going to hire someone to work in San Francisco while they live in Minneapolis? I wanted to sell the house and go. We'll get jobs once we get there...No, we have a son and we can't just leave our lives in the hands of fate like that. It's not responsible. So Lori would continue to find work and make connections in sunny CA and I'll work on getting the house ready so that we can sell it. Finishing the never ending bathroom project, the hallway project, all the things that have needed tending to for the last three years. Just get it all done and get the house ready to sell. Every evening after work Lori and I would sit out in our backyard and discuss our next move over evening drinks (wine for her and tea for me) and a cigarette before making dinner.
Gabe became increasingly warm to the idea of moving, even telling his friends that he was going to move. Aytime I saw someone, if they asked me about the impending move my answer was always the same. "House'll on the market in two weeks and we'd be gone in two months." Well, it's September and I'm sitting here in Minneapolis bemoaning the passing of a summer that never was so...you get the idea.
Late in July there was another round of interviews lined up when some serious shit hit the fan.
Families are a very strange thing. No matter how much someone gets on your nerves, no matter how often you've been disrespected. You still need to step up when your family needs help. So we did. We stepped in and we did all we could and for three weeks all of our plans were on hold, all except for the interviews; they happened and the interviews went well by all accounts. I feel compelled to let you in on the dirty little details of the family drama but it's way too involved and far too fucking ridiculous. Maybe sometime over coffee we can chat about it. But for now, another cigarette and some more coffee and on we go.
So, what's the plan? We're selling our house, we're meeting with the third realtor we've talked to later this week to go over the process and we're going to rent a place and save up some cash while we both work on getting work out west. With the house sold and most of our gear packed up it'll be easier to up and leave when the opportunity finally arises.
I'm still working my job, no one I work with knows about this plan, I want to have steady pay coming in for as long as I can until we go. Lori is being creative with her gig for the exact same reason.
Through all of this a few things have some to light for the both of us. Even if this weren't happening we'd likely sell our house. We don't like the idea of being property owners any longer. Until everyone can afford to own a home we don't want to. We also don't like that we've accumulated so much useless bullshit in our lives. We've truly in our lives tried hard to not be consumer driven people and here we are with a home that we're paying off filled with shit that we don't need. We'd really like to simplify our lives and live our lives more in line with our beliefs. Well I'll try harder to keep you posted and I'll fill you in on the other things that have happened in the past few months that coincided with this debacle. Anyhoo. Cheers and until next time keep on truckin'.

-bot

Something stirs from the past to live once again! WAR/PLAGUE MISERY AMEBIX Triple Rock Show 5/27

Worlds collided. This show topped the one I Saw in Austin.
I made it down around quarter to five, in time to say hello to everyone and have a few hugs. A lot of wonderful people from the PE Message Board turned up for this show, Mr. Righteous, Mr. Inbred and his wonderful partner, Ms. Maygun, Herr Ruhrpott to name but a few, so I knew it was gonna be special. I ran into Mandapocolypse and got a preliminary report about the Chaos in Tejas event, I cannot wait to hear more about that. I made for the venue as War//Plague came on and they ripped through their set like gangbusters. Just top notch, really good fist pumpin high energy fuckin anarchy on the dancefloor. I'd be remisce if I didn't mention that some dude whom I don't know needs a lesson in dance floor ettiquette but a good time was had.
Another float around for drinks and a cigarette outside with friends as more people started turning up for the Misery set. Among these were folks I hadn't seen in a dog's age that helped me misspend my youth. Some of them showed up with their kids in tow, one in particular is a fella boybot is quite fond of.
Misery was in top form. I consider myself a big fan and I always love seeing Misery play but tonight was so huge, the sound was perfect and I think the anticipation for this event fueled the band and the crowd alike, everyone singing and (those who dance) dancing and just fucking brilliant. This was a perfect set from one of Minneapolis' finest. Though their departure from the stage seemed premature, they were about to play another song when the sound guy cut them off. I headed outside for another round of greetings and another cigarette when Mr. Inbred reminded me of the time and I ducked out to pick up Boybot, Mrs. Bot was called away to San Francisco for business and his Grandparents took him to his piano lesson. I must say at this point I wasn't sure I would be back to the show. I didn't know if the boy would want to head back to the Triple Rock with me and since I'd seen Amebix in Austin this past January I decided that if he didn't want to return with me it would be fine and we could perhaps rent a movie. I'd already had a splendid time and got to catch up with some lovely people and see two bands put on amazing sets.
I met Boybot at home and as soon as his grandparents left, I let him in on the secret. "The band daddy went to Texas to see was playing at the Triple Rock...you wanna go? Your pal is there." The boy's eyes got wide as saucers and we were off. Upon arrival we were greeted by Mr. Murderer who commented as boybot inserted his earplugs "Good idea...you don't want to end up with these" Bob said as he pulled out one of his hearing aids "They SUCK". My son's eyes got all wide as he thrust his plugs in with gusto. We headed straight to the back of the venue, it was packed tight and I didn't want to block anyones view with Boybot on my shoulder. I popped boybot on my shoulder and we rocked out. Amebix were absolutely electric, the energy in that room could have powered Seward, Phillips and Powderhorn for a week. A friend mentioned how he disliked reunion shows but decided there was no way he could pass this up and was pleased as punch that he didn't. I am too. It's so good to see people you don't run into often enough and we're together sharing an amazing moment none of us ever thought would happen. Rob spoke of the band spliting in 87 not knowing what they'd accomplished and feeling spent, going as far as not listening to music for some two decades. Changing their tune when, with the coming of the digital age people started sending emails to band members and letting them know what an impact Amebix had on their lives. There was a nod to Dave Eager during the set and...well there are no words for how touching that was. I wasn't close to the guy but I knew him enough to realize that he'd truly had an effect on anyone lucky enough to have met him and shared a beer or a laugh.
The whole time all of this is transpiring my son is perched on my shoulder, this was beyond a bonding experience. It was so nice to share this moment with him and judging by the look on his face he was enjoying it too.
I'd look up at him air drumming and blow on his face and he'd look down at me and pretend to spit on me. We shared a root beer and he played Area 51 with a friend just before Amebix left the stage for their encore. I love that they did that, and upon their return went into Nobody's Driving. Boybot hopped back up to watch the band and as we were closer to the lower floor he saw the crowd up close and wanted to go to the main dance floor. My son wanted to be a part of the event and he maneuvered through the crowd like an expert. It helps that he's at ground level. We enjoyed the last song of the evening together on the floor, my boy rocking out on my shoulder and I the proud father of a new Amebix fan. After their set we said our goodbyes to friends and passed Rob on the way out and let him know we enjoyed the set and he thanked us for showing up and he knelt down to shake the boy's hand, I love punks more by the day.
What a night. Thank you.

Oh and in case your curious, he just turned 8.

'Sup

We'll count this as a greeting, okay?
My name is Jeremy, I'm 34 and I live in Minneapolis with my wife and son. I volunteer at Profane and KFAI, a community radio station.
As I sit and write this my wife is wearing a pair of my son's tighty whiteys on her head I'm wearing a pair on mine and my son is complaining that he has no undies to wear. He likes boxers you see. Well the unfortunate truth is that all the underwear that's availabe are briefs. His boxers are all dirty from an adventure this weekend. His claim that there must be more clean boxers in the house is folly, so Lori brought him a bowtie. If he insists on wearing something, it may as well be a bowtie since he refuses to wear briefs. He's gotta be presentable should a dignitary decide to pop in before our son goes to bed. I have things I want to write but since my computer access is limited right now I just wanted to give you a glimpse into my daily life. Look I'm going to use this blog at least once a week. Some of what I'll write will be punk related some of it not. Most of it will be fun though. Anyway have a pleasant evening and I'll write again soon.