Saturday, April 24, 2004

I Don't Understand "Texas" Music

Really, I just don't get it. It's nothing special. I have seen both Jerry Jeff Walker and Robert Earl Keen, the monsters of Texas Music, and I have left both shows very unimpressed.

Perhaps it wasn't the right venue. I saw JJW at the San Antonio Rodeo, complete with amazingly cheesy revolving stage, and I saw REK at Vanderbilt's Rites of Spring, with the place in a decidedly damp mood after the afternoon's downpour of rain.

Maybe both are past their prime. These guys are old. REK looked like he could have cared less about the show. JJW just looked half dead.

Perhaps it was the uninspiring music. I think that unless you now every word by heart, these shows aren't fun. Like I said about REK; he didn't look very happy to be there. That doesn't translate well for the audience. At least the guy on before him, Matt Wertz, gave it his all.

Anyways, give me Two Tons of Steel anyday for my Americana fix.

Au Revoir.

Monday, April 19, 2004

I HAVE CONQUERED EBAY
Here is an hour by hour account of my first experience winning an eBay auction...

2 pm: I see that a vintage ZZ Top t-shirt is for sale for $20. Being an absolute ZZ Top freak, even to the point of suggesting that we play "Just Got Paid" at a church retreat, I feel the shirt is well worth the $20.

3pm: Check the shirt again. No one has bid yet. I am excited.

3:05pm: I realize that the shirt is probably too expensive for the average bid-stealing jerk. I am feeling better about the auction.

3:30pm: I try to sign up for a free service of Auctionsniper that Jessi told me about. Keeps telling me that my account doesn't exist. I know for a fact that this is a lie, since I am signed into eBay as I attempt this maneuver. Much cursing the internet follows and I decide to do it the hard, honest way.

5pm: I go to dinner. Still no bidding. I am picturing me walking around campus and people going "Man, what an awesome shirt."

5:25pm: I rush back to my computer to place a bid since I will be in the studio for an undetermined time. I put my maximum bid at $30. I am the first bidder.

7pm: I return from the studio to find that I am still the only bidder. I can see the shirt fitting tightly over my huge muscular arms while I am hanging out with Dusty Hill.

8:16pm: I return from playing basketball to see that I am still the only bidder. only 50 minutes remain in the auction.

9pm: I sit glued to my computer screen, refreshing every 10 seconds. I have not been this nervous since last night when I did the same thing with a Van Halen t-shirt (see yesterday's entry)

9:05pm: I am now the proud owner of a vintage ZZ Top "El Loco" t-shirt. Much rejoicing. I only had to pay $20. I start singing show tunes cleverly changing the lyrics to reflect my newfound love of eBay. I pay the guy. The shirt is mine. The shirt is MINE.

Tomorrow the cycle repeats with the bowling shirt. Let's keep this winning streak alive, baby!

Gracias.

Sunday, April 18, 2004

WHY I HATE EBAY

Because I always get outbid at the last second. It's not like I'm not willing to pay the money, just some creep who waits until it says 2 seconds left always beats me. There should be some rule that says that you have to bid at least once in the hour before the auction ends to have a shot in the last second. I have never won anything on Ebay...ever. It is really frusterating. I see all these happy people winning crap from ebay on commercials, how come my experience doesn't drive me to sing show tunes? Is everyone so goshdarn happy with this system but me? Today, I found this great vintage Van Halen t-shirt. NO ONE BIDS ON IT BUT ME IN THE 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THE AUCTION ENDING. One min left and I'm the only bidder. 30 seconds left I'm the only bidder. 20 seconds left some jerk ups it by 50 cents. I rush to up it, only to have to sign in (damn you security features) I manage to get my bid in. I think I've won. NOOOOOOOOO. some dude, never bid before, ups it and wins. I DESPISE YOU, s_beck1. I hope the shirt shrinks in the wash and the iron on transfer peels off...all things that would not happen had I won this auction. This same thing happened to me when I tried to buy an Epi Mandolin during x-mas break. price stays steady for 6 days...last minute the thing's price goes up $150, after only increasing $50 in the previous 6 days. WHY???? Currently I'm in the bidding for a gold lame smoking jacket ($5), 1950's bowling shirt ($1) and a 1950's leather jacket ($1). I have no doubt I'll get screwed over yet again at the last minute. But I'll keep trying until I win at least one thing. Seriously, why would anyone want a men's small bowling shirt be me, and me alone? I think I'll be the jerk and wait until 2 seconds left to bid... I'll do it Ebay. Which means being a douche and ruining the dreams of a young college student who's only goal in life was to buy a vintage Van Halen shirt. Because I spent all day reading Dante's "Inferno" I know there is a special circle in hell for people like that, and it's called "YOUR SHIRT IS GOING TO SHRINK AND YOU'LL BE TOO FAT TO WEAR IT YOU JERK."

Thank you.

EBAY STRIKES BACK

I think just to taunt me, EBay sends me an outbid notice this morning. LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ALREADY. This isn't over, Ebay, it's not even close to over.

Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Monday, April 05, 2004

CD's I Never Gave a Chance That I Am Listening To Now:

I dunno if anyone else does this, but I'll buy a cd and then listen to the first song, deem it sucks, then never listen to it again. I have decided that this is grossly unfair of me and I'm seeking the repay the injustice I have inflicted on these artists who had this misfortune of having crappy opening tracks.

1. Lake Trout - I bought this thing in January. I got pissed that it sounded just like Ok Computer from the get go. Now I'm listening to it right now, and it's not half bad. Not original, but not half bad.
2. The Shins - I know everyone is all crazy over the shins. I'm not. A decent band, but nothing to get excited about. Listened to them a few hours ago, still not totally impressed.
3. The Walkmen - Ok, this was a mistake on my part. I listened to the first Walkman cd, thought it was unremarkable, and forgot about them. Then I heard a lot of hype about their new cd so I bought it but didn't get into it right away. Now I love it. It's awesome. Go buy it.

Time for the NCAA championship, gotta go!