Easter Weekend.

I'm home for the Easter Weekend. Hangouts with good friends, candy and gratuitous amounts of alcohol are guaranteed. Excellent times ahead. But there's one thing I keep forgetting. I'm supposed to be turning into one of those 'adult' thingies. Dad's told me to get a haircut (which I plan on doing, just not the way he probably sees it), Mom's been on my case about going to get some kind of job, even though I have no idea where I'm living yet, and then there's the whole living situation for May. Sucks, growing up.

Now, I'm in that eternal state of "I wanna play music and write songs and tour and be free from adult things like banking and desk jobs and consistent hygiene." Ok, hygiene can stay. And I suppose I'll have no choice but to pay taxes without the help of Dad's math-brain eventually. But I'm not cut out for a desk job. I have WAY too much energy, a short attention span, and an aversion to anything that makes my head-meat work. Actually, I don't think I'm cut out for any job. Music is the one thing I'm good at and am passionate about. I don't claim to be the best (like no one ever was DUN DUN DUHNUHH) but at least I know that I don't suck. Songwriting is coming to be slowly more natural, and when the band gets together, we can get a tune together in 5 minutes or less. Seriously, we're efficient.

The problem with my plan for not really working for the rest of my life is the tiny little issue of getting the band together to practice. We live a decent distance apart from each other, and it's difficult with school getting in the way. See map:

Now, note "Mom + Dad." That's where I am now. Significantly closer to my bandmates. You'd think the long weekend would be prime opportunity to have a practice or two. Well you'd think wrong if you even thought it at all. Mat (drums) just got his wisdom teeth removed (WINGS ARE SO DELICIOUS, AS ARE OTHER SOLID FOODS, MATHEW REBECCA HYLAND) and will be out of commission until next week. When I'm not in the Burls. Errol (bass)... well he's probably busy. School and whatnot. Come to think of it, I haven't asked him what he's up to this weekend. But without a drummer, the practice would be a little off. So that rules him out by association. So you see, practices are hard to come by.

"But Patrick," you might start to think, "what happens when the school year is over, and where are you going to be?" To which I will answer: "Hell if I know." Realistically, I'm probably gonna move into an apartment in Burlington, possibly a townhouse with Mat. Maybe go to Cambridge. Toronto seems nice. Ottawa would be pretty cool, there are nice people. California seems ideal. All these places and nowhere to really go - and the band's existence pretty much solely depends on where I end up living.

I have so much to think about in the next few weeks. There is a very good reason why Easter Weekend Default Plan or "D.E.R.P." as I like to call it (if you switch some words around, and misspell 'weekend') consists of hanging out with my friends, drinking gratuitous amounts of alcohol, and eating candy until I feel profoundly unwell.

Bloggity Blog.

This blog is so unorganized. I see about 5 different fonts, a bunch of nonsense hanging out in random places, and gibberish posts.

It's time I clean up my act. Fuck tumblr. Blogger, you're my one true blogging love. Easily edited, versed in helping me not fuck up, and best of all, you allow me to space things properly. I'm not sure if I'm just a moron and can't hit 'return' as well as everyone else or if there's a serious problem with my layout. You tell me.

At any rate, I've renewed my dormant love for blogging because today, I found God. Her name is Allie Brosh, and she's a hero. I can't even put her into words, so just read her blog instead. It's better than mine.

So, while I'm thinking of more things to write about, here's a scary picture:

I hope you have nightmares, and wake up cursing my name.

Love, Patrick.

Fuck You Aurora.

I wish I could write songs. I mean I do. Write them, that is. Just not well. See I put a lot of time and effort into writing songs. But I feel like I come up short all too often. Say for instance I want to write a song about a girl. She's smart and funny and cute and a total bitch - Yeah, a break up song. I have the emotions and ideas in my head about what I want to write, but can never put the words properly to paper, and end up rhyming three letter words in couplets. It's all too simplistic, and the world wants so much more from their artists these days. You know, the real ones that write their own stuff. I've never been more envious of Pete Wentz/Patrick Stump, Mark Hoppus/Tom DeLonge, Matt Skiba/Dan Andriano. Where's my Pete? My Mark? My Matt? The person I can go to - write songs with. I want to create that catchy tune that'll make everyone sing - I want my crowd to swear at and hate that bitch the song's about. Why? I want people to get my music, really dig into it.

I saw Alkaline Trio on March 6th. Amazing show. They played so much of the old stuff: '97, Nose Over Tail, and stuff from Good Mourning. But the moment that stuck out at me the most was when they played "Fuck You Aurora" - and EVERYONE there was just screaming that line. I've never known Aurora. I don't know who she is. But I hate her, and want to yell at her, and tell her how much pain she caused. It's incredible what a song can do to someone.

I want to be able to do that. Someday, I will. I'll just keep writing and working my ass off until my time comes.

Friendship.

Friendship happens when two people converge upon: "What? You too? I thought I was the only one."

- C.S. Lewis, paraphrased.

I've come to some serious conclusions. And I'll compile them here in list format for easy reading. At the end of each paragraph, I've summarized the main idea into one line.

1. Friends stick together.

This seems like it should go without saying. But in light of recent events, I think it needs to be addressed. When you have a group of friends, you decide what to do as a group - not as individuals with specific objectives. Say, for instance, your group is 5 people. If one person in the group decides on what to do, considering there are no other ideas, it makes sense to do that thing. But if everyone gets there, and only that person is having fun - it's time to leave. Group dynamics are not built upon having a leader, they're built on ties and collective objectives.

"Fuck the "Bro Code". I don't care if you're getting laid - we're bored as shit listening to this bitch talk about her puppy."

2. Friends are not judgmental.

When a friend has an issue, listen to them. Don't judge them based solely on the outer shell of the issue that you see. If someone you care about is troubled, it makes sense to be supportive. I mean, unless they've killed someone, or raped a 13 year old, there's no reason to judge someone - especially your friends.

"You did what to a goat? With a plunger? - Not acceptable. Say: That's neat, how did you get into that sort of thing?"

3. Friends see each other as equals.

Once again - this seems to go without saying. But think about it. When you're with your friends, isn't there someone who assumes they're more important? Maybe the oldest one, the one with the car, the one with the girlfriend, the one without a girlfriend - there are tons of probable situations. But they always assume their position on a pedestal, vying for attention. You want to be supportive, because they are your friend - and in some cases, you don't want to feel guilty because they happen to be your ride or something like that - but it's just really hard to worship a friend. When you're put into a situation like that, only bad things can happen, and it's best to try and work it out without kicking someone's legs out; or metaphorically taking the wind from beneath their wings.

"Just because you've got the car doesn't mean you've gotta be the boss."

4. Friends do not keep secrets from each other.

Trust is essential in any friendship. It's really hard for one to imagine their life without that person they can share everything with. It's super difficult to find that person you can trust, and when you do - you know you can put your soul into their hands. But your soul can seep through their fingers, when you start keeping things from them. It can be something as little as - "I ate your last chip", to something as severe as "I'm fucking the girl you have a crush on." If you keep things away from your friends - bad things happen.

"Secrets don't keep friends, simple as that."

5. Friends help each other.

If a friend is in need, that's your immediate number one priority. Unless of course you're dying. Then you have an excuse. Heroics aren't needed, just something to give them a boost. Or to move their stuff. Or give them a shoulder to cry on. Anything for a friend, you know?

"Bert, pass me the soap. Rubber duckie has no arms."

6. Most importantly - Friends communicate.

This is VASTLY the most important rule of friendship. When communication fails, so does a friendship. If you feel like you can't talk to your friend anymore, than why bother, right? Wrong. What's the reason you can't talk to them? Should you mend it? Is it worth it? If at one point you called this person your best friend, then rethink your position. Confront the situation head on, and communicate your problems. A real friend would not judge or overreact or veto your opinion. Just talk to them - what can it hurt to address a problem if you really are friends?

"If I'm fighting because you're fighing, and you're fighting because I'm fighting - then why are we fighting?"

In conclusion - I can't say I know everything, but I can say this: To have a friend, you must be a friend.

By the way, I'd like to make mention of something that's been bothering me. Within the last year, I lost 4 of my best friends. One to death, one to bad decisions, and two to miscommunication. When losing almost all of your close friends, it's hard to move on. It's hard to say "I'm ready to forget all those times, and leave them behind forever." When I lost my closest friend to death, he left me with some of the hardest times I'd ever face. He gave me the strength to stand up for myself, the power to do something and the voice I needed - without ever saying a word. I miss him every day - and I can't wait to see him again. The next friend I lost was someone I know I could have seen myself with for a long time. But I chose the wrong paths, and people involved changed for the worse. I just wish things had gone differently - maybe I'd not have to be writing this. The next friend I lost saw me as a screw up and immature - a failure. Not because I did things wrong, just differently than her. And since she never told me why, and I never informed her of why I did the things I did, we fell out of friendship. The last friend I lost is one I'll never forget - and never live down. I knew him all my life, we'd been through everything together - but up until recently I'd never realized I knew nothing about him. I wanted to - I really did. He was just never open. And that in turn led to the downfall of our friendship. It's been well over a month now, and I can see that things will not get better unless we both do something about it. But he's too callous to realize how much I've been hurt - and what I've been through this last year.

I'd apologize to him if I could, but I'm afraid it would come from a fist. Communication at its lowest form is knowing when you've hurt someone - and it seems like the whole world is blind to this simple idea.

To be a friend is to know what it's like to need one. I want to thank Danny for giving me that perspective. He's a hero - and a true friend.

This blog has totally not existed for like, a month.

So, internet. It seems you have gotten the best of me.

*Gets "Best of You" - Foo Fighters stuck in head*

Realistically, I'd really like to be able to remember things like updating blogs. Or have the motivation at the time of something exciting to blog about it. Here's the thing though. Ooh! Shiny!

I kicked Pete Wentz this summer, that was pretty rad. I was at the blink-182 concert in Toronto on August 8th. I just happened to see him, and since I had a message to deliver to Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy's drummer), I thought it'd be best to go through Pete, just in case I don't see Andy. So I did, and since the message was to say "Hello" and give him a kick to the shin, Pete goes "Yo! Just kick me!" So I did.

Also, the blink-182 show was so perfect. I Just saw them again last night, and WOW. Never had a better time at anything. blink really knows how to own an amphitheatre. I'm really stoked to see their next tour, because I'm sure Toronto is on the World Tour lineup. We're kind of a big deal.

The drum intro to Violence was incredible. Travis once again proved he is and always will be the best drummer out there.

The video does him absolutely no justice.

Anyways, I love the band to death, and I'm gonna go give Brad Pitt a bubble bath!

blink-182, The Joint in Las Vegas - July 23, 2009

Twitter Transcript from @mtvnews of the First blink-182 show of the tour!

mtvnews10:02pm ... the lights go down! #blink182

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... first song: "dumpweed" sooooo many people screaming, soooo many flashing lights

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... right into song #2 "feeling this"

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnewsmark flicks guitar pick from across stage, nails tom w/it. crowd singing along to chorus super loud #blink182

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnews"motherf--k, s--t, f--k ..." - t.delonge, right into song #3 "rock show" #blink182

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnews... and a prolonged handjob joke from mr.delonge #blink182

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnewsobjects tossed on stage so far: innumerable beach balls, glow sticks, bottles, one flip flop #blink#182

about 2 hours ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... songs 4-5: "Easy Target," "What's My Age Again" What's My Age I Miss You

about 1 hour ago from mobile web

oops ... song #6 is "I Miss You," after a whole bunch of dick jokes #blink182

about 1 hour ago from mobile web

mtvnewsscaled-down set tonight cuz venue's small ... not a ton of lights, but wow did they look pretty on "miss you." #blink182

24 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnewsreally great, extended jam on outro of "miss you" #blink182

23 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnews"why does it feel like all i can do up here is make dick jokes?" delonge is feelin' it tonite.

22 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnewssong #7 "stay together for the kids," song #8 "down" (with telescoping guitars, jammy outro) #blink182

15 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... songs 9-10 "always," "stockholm syndrome."

8 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 - "stockholm" is a real show-stopper, moody blacklights, gnarly shredding. they are air-tight right now

7 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... right into song #11 "first date." lets make this last forever. seriously.

5 minutes ago from mobile web

mtvnews"chuck norris masturbates to US." - tom delonge. #blink182

1 minute ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... #s12-14 "Man Overboard," "Going Away to College," "Not Now"

less than 5 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... song #15 "all the small things." tom changes the lyrics to all sorts of dirty things.

half a minute ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... songs #16-17, "Adam"s Song," "Reckless Abandon"

less than 10 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 - song 18 "Josie." bonus points for kids starting circle pit. one is wearing a neon headband.

1 minute ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... song 19 "anthem part 2" ... band finish up, walk off. "thank you guys, we'll see u in a minute" -delonge

less than 5 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... im shouting "up all night" as loud as i can, people r just looking at me weird.

1 minute ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... aaaand now it's time for the travis barker drum solo!

less than 20 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... we dont get the full "travis flies over the audience" solo u've seen on youtube ... scaled down cuz of smaller venue

half a minute ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... still, trav is KILLING it, faster and faster, harder and harder, kit spinning round and round

less than 20 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... encore: a pair of oldies! "carousel," and -- you guessed it -- "dammit"

less than 5 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... this place has been waiting for "dammit" all night ... they finally get it ...boom! pits everywhere! fists in the air!

half a minute ago from mobile web

mtvnews"you guys are so f--king cute! you're so god--n sexual! i dont know what to say ... masturbate!" tom delonge ... and with that, show's done.

less than 10 seconds ago from mobile web

mtvnews#blink182 ... that's all. house lights on. gotta go write this thing up. reviw will be on mtvnews.com tomorrow at 7am! thanks for following!

less than 10 seconds ago from mobile web

Webcomic Looking For Artist

Helen Keller, Anne Frank, Jesus, Adam West, USS, Principal Scudworth and Admiral Ackbar - Led by the one true Canadian hero, Braman - Are off to save the day once again from The League of Supervillains (formed of Darth Vader, Mewtwo, Megatron, Sylar, Mojo Jojo, HAL 9000, The shark from Jaws, The Joker, Sauron, Voldemort, Piedmon, Dr. Evil, Pennywise, Megabyte, Tyler Durden and Cobra Commander).

More heroes and villains to be added as the story unfolds, or to make appearances as cameos.

Any artists? Contact me.