Wow, Reading. Never Would Have Thought
So after my last blog, I spent the remainder of the weekend working on the design and layout of my new website BJNrock.com. This site is a culmination of tons of new work that I have done this past summer for three different musical groups. The groups include Ember Coast, Storytyme, and Les Ballets African. The reason I put this site together was to give people a look at the other end of my photographic expressions. I wanted to be able to show the many different directions I can take my work, and by doing that, soon enough I feel like it will pay off. So I worked on this project for over 100 hours time, and that doesn’t include the obvious time I put into the actual photographs. It completely dominated my whole week last week until the moment I launched it on Monday. You can see it now if your curious, its at http://www.BJNrock.com . Please take some time out to appreciate all my new work. There are close to 150 new pieces up and I put every bit of myself into the work as a whole. I love hearing feedback too, whether bad or good. I also made updates to the design of BJNart.com, found at http://www.BJNart.com for you laymen. Oh, and one more bit of business, if you are reading this, comment at the end. It is really easy and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when people do. It only takes two seconds. OK?
OK, now for a crazy story…short, but crazy. So the first week I was here my roommate Ben and I were trying to find a place to live still and we decided to go check out this part of London called Camden Town. When we got off the tube we were immediately approached by this crazy looking lady who started asking us if we could help her. She said that nobody had stopped for her and she had been trying for a while. Now being a nice guy, I decided to see what it was she needed help with. She was extremely grateful I said I would stop, all the while saying, “God bless you! God bless you for stopping!” She then proceeded to take her hat off and show us a huge gash in her head that looked pretty fresh. She said that she had been hit in the head by someone, who knows really what had happened, but I know this much for sure, she was crazy. Really really crazy. She asked us if we knew where a woman’s shelter was, and we both had no idea, so we weren’t much help. Then she asked us if we had any pounds we could spare, and neither of us had that either. Again, not much help at all. At this point she started yelling at us. Yelling at us, when we were the only ones that actually stopped and listened. As we walked away the sweet crazy lady had turned into the princess of darkness, screaming obscenities at us as we walked on in disbelief. Yea, wild story, huh? Just remembered that, thought I would share.
So I have begun reading since I’ve been here. For all you people who know me, you know that I am NO reader. I never have BEEN a reader. Never WANTED to be a reader. Never THOUGHT I would be a reader. But now, I AM a reader, and I love it. As my best buddy Allen so eloquently put it, I have just recently become literate. I started reading my first book about 2 weeks ago. The book is called “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, and let me tell you, if you haven’t already heard about it, you will. This book rocked my socks off to say the least. My one fear at this point is that I will never learn to love another book for as long as I live, due to the fact that this book is perhaps the best book ever written. Now, I am definitely no authority in this field, but I could not stop reading this book. Well, in the end I had to stop, because I finished it, but, that was such an awesome feeling that I decided to combine it with the feeling you get from having a beer. Now you might be saying, “He celebrated finishing the first book he ever read all the way through by having a beer? That crazy bastard!” And I would then respond to your inner monologue with this simple reply, “Yes, yes I did. And yes, yes I am crazy.” So now I cannot stop telling people about this book and I think I might be getting a bit annoying with it. But, I don’t seem to care, so I’m not going to stray, I’m just gonna keep it up. Now I have begun reading the second book I have ever read. This reading thing is way under rated. This next book is known to many as “The Celestine Prophecy.” And if your name is Allen Banick, and your reading this right now, isn’t that a weird coincidence. You see, my friend Allen is in Cameroon West Africa (the armpit of Africa as he puts it), and he has just finished reading the same book. This book is a doozie ladies and gents. It is about this manuscript written some where around 600 BC that was recently discovered in Peru. The manuscript describes the history of human evolution, and more specifically the next levels that the human specie will come into, in terms of their evolution. The manuscript refers to these levels as insights. One of these insights is being aware of energy fields, and at one point, being able to actually visually see them. Now this is mind boggling to me, and quite interesting at the same time. I have been having dreams about it ever since I read the first 100 pages. Anyone who is curious about the meaning of life should check this book out though. A word of caution: I have yet to finish this book, so as of right now, my opinion of this book means little. Also, having recently become literate, my opinion should be questioned outright. OK.
Now for a word about dental care; People over here need it. No, but seriously, they do. Seriously. I have recently been downgraded to using a regular toothbrush again after a few years of living the high life, similar to that of the Queen, with a Sonicare Elite 7300. For all of you who have never used a Sonicare Elite, you are missing out on one of the best experiences of your life. In all seriousness, this has been one of the toppers of my whole life. The subsonic bursts this thing can contain within its minuscule head are astonishing. Now, as I said before, I have been downgraded to a regular toothbrush. This is due to the fact that when I went to charge my poor “out of work” Sonicare Elite, I didn’t plug the charger into a converter first. Big, big mistake. You know, in London they have one type of toothbrush…a crappy one. Hard, not soft, bristles. This is something I hope none of you ever have to experience. My brother has been kind enough to dust the cobwebs off his scammer past and buy a new Sonicare Elite for me. You see for you inexperienced “Corporate American Bastard” scammers, you first take the newly bought charger out (which is now your working charger), put the broken charger in the box, and return the newly purchased Sonicare Elite with a charger that doesn’t work. Now to avoid some other person getting this broken charger accidentally, eventually taking its toll on you psyche, when you return the broker charger, you kindly inform them that the charger didn’t work. School is now out.
Now for a story of this weekends drunken rants. On Sunday morning I attended what some might call mass, and others might refer to as a huge strip club and bar. Now that comment might have caught you a bit off guard, but to me it made perfect sense. You see, I found myself at this place called The Church. This is the sorta place you should avoid by any means. The “so called” fun begins at around 11:00 am. You show up at the front door, pay 6 pounds to get in, and buy a bag full of beers for yourself that you promptly tie to your belt loops, as to not stand out in the crowd. Now, this place is extremely packed, even though it is 11:00, and I doubt any of the people here have said any sort of prayer in the last few years. Funny, they still gather to worship at the church though, but instead of God and The Bible, its booze and strippers. Full of mostly Kiwis (New Zealanders), Auzzies, and Saffers (South Africans), this place had quite an eclectic look at the subcultures that dominate the London area. So after a few hours of this, I had experienced enough. I left and came back to my flat in Shepherds Bush to continue drinking for some reason. Still trying to figure that one out. I took a coveted “Beer Drinking Shower,” and then got ready to go out again, for the second time in one day…all before 5:00 pm. So now I found myself at a bar called the Walkabout. This place is a trip as well. Full of mostly the same types of people (actually, most of the people there had actually been at The Church earlier that day), they play all American music here except for one song they play at least 5 times a night. I’m not sure what its called, but you all know it I’m sure. “We live in a land down under.” Nuff said. And for some reason, these people can’t seem to get enough of this god damn song. You think that after they went through the 80’s, like us, they might have written some new music. But no, not the case. This is the only song they have ever written (aside from that Kyle Monoge chick.) I stayed at this place way to late. At one point I thought of looking at the time, and by now I was completely trashed. Beyond trashed actually. I thought it would be somewhere in the realm of 11:00-11:30, but in actuality it was only 7:30. That’s right kids. Trashed on a Sunday night at 7:30, after spending the earlier part of my day at church. Weird day.
This weekend coming up is going to be one of the best times of my life, I can already feel it. My best girlfriend in the world, Miss Kristen Law, is coming to London. She is accompanied by one of my best buddies in the world, her boyfriend, Senior Dax Matthews . On top of that, another best buddy of mine, Mister David Craig, will be coming over from Germany to make it one crazy time for sure. Dave has been in Germany based there in the Army. At some point I will visit him there, you can count on that. He is an Abrams Tank Commander. Not only does he command the most badass tank in the world, but he commands four of them. Four. To give you an idea of what these things are all about; they shoot depleted Uranium shells, and they take somewhere around 3 gallons of gasoline just to start. Crazy shit! Will keep you posted on how this weekend goes for sure.
Another kick ass thing that is in the future for me is my first travels. I will be going to a shit ton of places for 3 weeks with a guy I’ve known since he was born. I just got my tickets courtesy of EasyJet.com and man am I stoked. Zach Mannon and I will be traveling all over Europe right near Christmas, and let me just say, they will not know what has hit them (Europeans that is). You will definitely hear about this one.
For now, I feel as though I have written enough. Let me know what you thought. See where it says comments right under here, click on it. It is a simple button you can press that instantly makes me happy. Missing you all sooooooo much it hurts. I thought I could just get over all you people, but not the case.
Love You All I’m Sure,
Blakalicious
OK, now for a crazy story…short, but crazy. So the first week I was here my roommate Ben and I were trying to find a place to live still and we decided to go check out this part of London called Camden Town. When we got off the tube we were immediately approached by this crazy looking lady who started asking us if we could help her. She said that nobody had stopped for her and she had been trying for a while. Now being a nice guy, I decided to see what it was she needed help with. She was extremely grateful I said I would stop, all the while saying, “God bless you! God bless you for stopping!” She then proceeded to take her hat off and show us a huge gash in her head that looked pretty fresh. She said that she had been hit in the head by someone, who knows really what had happened, but I know this much for sure, she was crazy. Really really crazy. She asked us if we knew where a woman’s shelter was, and we both had no idea, so we weren’t much help. Then she asked us if we had any pounds we could spare, and neither of us had that either. Again, not much help at all. At this point she started yelling at us. Yelling at us, when we were the only ones that actually stopped and listened. As we walked away the sweet crazy lady had turned into the princess of darkness, screaming obscenities at us as we walked on in disbelief. Yea, wild story, huh? Just remembered that, thought I would share.
So I have begun reading since I’ve been here. For all you people who know me, you know that I am NO reader. I never have BEEN a reader. Never WANTED to be a reader. Never THOUGHT I would be a reader. But now, I AM a reader, and I love it. As my best buddy Allen so eloquently put it, I have just recently become literate. I started reading my first book about 2 weeks ago. The book is called “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, and let me tell you, if you haven’t already heard about it, you will. This book rocked my socks off to say the least. My one fear at this point is that I will never learn to love another book for as long as I live, due to the fact that this book is perhaps the best book ever written. Now, I am definitely no authority in this field, but I could not stop reading this book. Well, in the end I had to stop, because I finished it, but, that was such an awesome feeling that I decided to combine it with the feeling you get from having a beer. Now you might be saying, “He celebrated finishing the first book he ever read all the way through by having a beer? That crazy bastard!” And I would then respond to your inner monologue with this simple reply, “Yes, yes I did. And yes, yes I am crazy.” So now I cannot stop telling people about this book and I think I might be getting a bit annoying with it. But, I don’t seem to care, so I’m not going to stray, I’m just gonna keep it up. Now I have begun reading the second book I have ever read. This reading thing is way under rated. This next book is known to many as “The Celestine Prophecy.” And if your name is Allen Banick, and your reading this right now, isn’t that a weird coincidence. You see, my friend Allen is in Cameroon West Africa (the armpit of Africa as he puts it), and he has just finished reading the same book. This book is a doozie ladies and gents. It is about this manuscript written some where around 600 BC that was recently discovered in Peru. The manuscript describes the history of human evolution, and more specifically the next levels that the human specie will come into, in terms of their evolution. The manuscript refers to these levels as insights. One of these insights is being aware of energy fields, and at one point, being able to actually visually see them. Now this is mind boggling to me, and quite interesting at the same time. I have been having dreams about it ever since I read the first 100 pages. Anyone who is curious about the meaning of life should check this book out though. A word of caution: I have yet to finish this book, so as of right now, my opinion of this book means little. Also, having recently become literate, my opinion should be questioned outright. OK.
Now for a word about dental care; People over here need it. No, but seriously, they do. Seriously. I have recently been downgraded to using a regular toothbrush again after a few years of living the high life, similar to that of the Queen, with a Sonicare Elite 7300. For all of you who have never used a Sonicare Elite, you are missing out on one of the best experiences of your life. In all seriousness, this has been one of the toppers of my whole life. The subsonic bursts this thing can contain within its minuscule head are astonishing. Now, as I said before, I have been downgraded to a regular toothbrush. This is due to the fact that when I went to charge my poor “out of work” Sonicare Elite, I didn’t plug the charger into a converter first. Big, big mistake. You know, in London they have one type of toothbrush…a crappy one. Hard, not soft, bristles. This is something I hope none of you ever have to experience. My brother has been kind enough to dust the cobwebs off his scammer past and buy a new Sonicare Elite for me. You see for you inexperienced “Corporate American Bastard” scammers, you first take the newly bought charger out (which is now your working charger), put the broken charger in the box, and return the newly purchased Sonicare Elite with a charger that doesn’t work. Now to avoid some other person getting this broken charger accidentally, eventually taking its toll on you psyche, when you return the broker charger, you kindly inform them that the charger didn’t work. School is now out.
Now for a story of this weekends drunken rants. On Sunday morning I attended what some might call mass, and others might refer to as a huge strip club and bar. Now that comment might have caught you a bit off guard, but to me it made perfect sense. You see, I found myself at this place called The Church. This is the sorta place you should avoid by any means. The “so called” fun begins at around 11:00 am. You show up at the front door, pay 6 pounds to get in, and buy a bag full of beers for yourself that you promptly tie to your belt loops, as to not stand out in the crowd. Now, this place is extremely packed, even though it is 11:00, and I doubt any of the people here have said any sort of prayer in the last few years. Funny, they still gather to worship at the church though, but instead of God and The Bible, its booze and strippers. Full of mostly Kiwis (New Zealanders), Auzzies, and Saffers (South Africans), this place had quite an eclectic look at the subcultures that dominate the London area. So after a few hours of this, I had experienced enough. I left and came back to my flat in Shepherds Bush to continue drinking for some reason. Still trying to figure that one out. I took a coveted “Beer Drinking Shower,” and then got ready to go out again, for the second time in one day…all before 5:00 pm. So now I found myself at a bar called the Walkabout. This place is a trip as well. Full of mostly the same types of people (actually, most of the people there had actually been at The Church earlier that day), they play all American music here except for one song they play at least 5 times a night. I’m not sure what its called, but you all know it I’m sure. “We live in a land down under.” Nuff said. And for some reason, these people can’t seem to get enough of this god damn song. You think that after they went through the 80’s, like us, they might have written some new music. But no, not the case. This is the only song they have ever written (aside from that Kyle Monoge chick.) I stayed at this place way to late. At one point I thought of looking at the time, and by now I was completely trashed. Beyond trashed actually. I thought it would be somewhere in the realm of 11:00-11:30, but in actuality it was only 7:30. That’s right kids. Trashed on a Sunday night at 7:30, after spending the earlier part of my day at church. Weird day.
This weekend coming up is going to be one of the best times of my life, I can already feel it. My best girlfriend in the world, Miss Kristen Law, is coming to London. She is accompanied by one of my best buddies in the world, her boyfriend, Senior Dax Matthews . On top of that, another best buddy of mine, Mister David Craig, will be coming over from Germany to make it one crazy time for sure. Dave has been in Germany based there in the Army. At some point I will visit him there, you can count on that. He is an Abrams Tank Commander. Not only does he command the most badass tank in the world, but he commands four of them. Four. To give you an idea of what these things are all about; they shoot depleted Uranium shells, and they take somewhere around 3 gallons of gasoline just to start. Crazy shit! Will keep you posted on how this weekend goes for sure.
Another kick ass thing that is in the future for me is my first travels. I will be going to a shit ton of places for 3 weeks with a guy I’ve known since he was born. I just got my tickets courtesy of EasyJet.com and man am I stoked. Zach Mannon and I will be traveling all over Europe right near Christmas, and let me just say, they will not know what has hit them (Europeans that is). You will definitely hear about this one.
For now, I feel as though I have written enough. Let me know what you thought. See where it says comments right under here, click on it. It is a simple button you can press that instantly makes me happy. Missing you all sooooooo much it hurts. I thought I could just get over all you people, but not the case.
Love You All I’m Sure,
Blakalicious
posted by Blake J. Nolan | Wednesday, October 06, 2004
16 Comments:
Blaker Flaker,
It's about time that you posted again. I felt so warm and fuzzy to see your new addition. Great stories Blake and you're living them. I don't really get the bag of beers thing? Guess it works. Have a great and always safe weekend with your pals. Love from your one and only MOM
Blakers u are sooo cute! I am so happy u posted again. I wish you had a picture of that crazy head wounded lady! Mike and I miss you and we hope to make it out soon. TTYL!
Sam
This whole posting thing is really hard to figure out but my dog buddy did a little troubleshooting for me and we are up and running. Anyways sounds like you are having a great time I feel like I have been with you the whole time, with all of your pictures and stories. This is JOCU coming to you live and direct from the AZ over and out
Blakalicious...I love it. I'm so glad to hear you're having such an incredible time. Have I told you how jealous I am? I loved hearing all your stories and thought it was hilarious that you called your brother out on his "scamming" past! You are so funny. We miss you so much and hope to get over and see you before you come back. I'll make sure you get your new sonicare so you don't have to brush London style anymore :) Keep writing it is so entertaining. I am living vicariously thru your stories. Love you,
Marci
Blake,
You book reading bastard... remember when I lent you a book and you got through one page and then spilled wine all over it and then gave it back to me with the pages all stuck together and stained with the wine you spilled on it? How is that for warm and fuzzy ya asshole! I hope you get cataracts from reading. (admit it, you've missed my constant psychological abuse).
T-Funk
Blano-
This Jules giving you a shout out from SD and I just wanna say hey! I got really drunk last night and somehow my friend and I picked up two English dudes while crusin' the street. Made me think of you. And also, weirdly enough, I went to have dinner the other night with a bunch of kids from Boulder, and they happed to bring along....Aaron, you know, Sean's old roommate. Crazy, huh? Any ways, I was surprised to say the least. Keep up the good blog work, and keep scrub-a-dub-dubing your grill so you don't get the British teeth syndrome.
Love you and miss you!
always,
Juicy
"There is no such thing as a coincidence" - that first insight will change your life forever. I can promise that. I can't believe you made it to the Church, Melinda and I go there once every few months. It is really good on 3 day weekends. Hope you got my voice mail about flash mobbing. See u on Saturday.
Chip
Blake,
I've been enjoying reading about your European Adventures. Asking people to give you comments really worked for you! Anyway, right now I'm reading Angels & Demons. It's the book Dan Brown wrote before the Da Vinci Code. It's great also and has the same character, Robert Langdon. You should check it out when you feel ambitious enough to start a third book. Have a great weekend!
~Heather Nowatzki
Blake,
Awesome photographs - they never cease to amaze me. I read the Da Vinci Code while in Europe too..and quite frankly I'm sick of hearing about it. I mean how long has that book been a fad? Glad you're catching up though :) Sounds like you're having a great time. London is the best place to party. I'm really jealous, especially since for some reason I now have a blog account and nothing to write about. Take care of those teeth and keep writing. Miss you.
Love,
Sophia
Hey Hey Blake, ahhh the coveted beer shower, one of the best things in the world!! Sounds like you are still having some crazy adventures so keep it up. If you liked Da Vinci that much you will probably like "Angels and Demons" as well since it is the first installment of the Robert Langdon adventures. Anyway keep on livin' and keep in touch.
Brody
Yo Blanker!
Holy shit, where to start. This cameroonian that runs the internet cafe wants to kick me out because he is closing in 5 minutes which is wierd because nobody, and I mean NOBODY cares about time here, and i want to say so much to you, but SHIT I forgot what you wrote.
Let me start by: FUUUUUUUCK YOU
Yeah, thats really nice. You did it to me, I hope your grandparents arent reading, and if they are hello, I love you too.
I'm glad you learned how to read, reading is great. I just read the best little book in the whole wide world, and you should read it after the celestine prophecy because it is totally different than that and more funny and because the celestine prophecy actually sucks once you are through being mesmerized by the powers of our energy fields and what have you.
The book I am refering to is called: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" I forget the damned authors name but he is british so you should find it. It is funny, your and my kind of funny, guy, just really funny and simple for us beginner readers.
And I have to go because this TIME CONCERNED one of a kind cameroonian dude is looking at me funny.
I LOVED your blog entry this time guy, it is awesome. Tell dax, kris and the lieutenant that I say FUUUUCK YOU and that I love them and miss them and have fun and I wish I was there and I gotta go.
ABAY
Hi Blake!
Da Vinci code! I read it too! holy shit! it was like, fucking awesome!!! then i like, read the book that came out before that with the same main character!! WOW!! and the celestine prophecy??? fuggheddaboudit!!!!
wooohoooooo!!!
Yo Blakers!
I too enjoyed the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons (I highly recommend it.) If you still want more book suggestions, then check out William Gibson’s Pattern Recognition. If, however, you ever want a break from reading, check out the Harry Potter books. When reading them, it felt more like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book.
Abrams, they are the gas guzzlers. If my numbers are correct, the cost per mile to operate 4 Abrams is more expensive that the cost per mile to fly the space shuttle. (It sure makes the Abrams sound expensive, but the space shuttle does fly ~27,000 mph during a mission.)
Anyway, it’s always great to read your blogs, and view your work. Keep living it up!
-Hartung
Blake,
We are really enjoying your journal and your photos. Keep up the great work and do be careful. Next stop, BJNrock.com. Love you, Auntie Katy
I read everything on a regular basis. Youre as animated and entertaining on the computer as you are in real life. I miss you and hope you are doing as well as you say you are. You'll find some comfort in knowing that your bubble picture was reframed and hanged on my wall. Needless to say. It looks great. Thanks.
Miss you homie.
christopher
Blake,
yea, this is the first time I have posted anything, dont make too big a deal of it. Your so funny. The crazy people always seem to find you. Just learning how to read, Im really proud of you right now (tear). I hope you have fun with dax and kris. Say hey to dave for me. I've been working alot lately. Sometimes more than twelve hour days. Adam and i are getting more and more business. hopefully it keeps up. hope your not spending all of your money on booze, but if you did, it wouldnt surprise me. your right, europe has no idea of whats about to hit them. I feel like your one of those locust that stows away on an airplane or something, lands in a foriegn land, then destroys everything. I checked out your bjnrock site, good work. Emily and i have a bet whether or not racoons live in sewers or not. I say yes, a dollar is on the line. she calls me today and tells me she printed out some stuff to prove her point. so I look up some stuff and print it out proving my point. when I told her this, she claimed that you made the website. i told that that would be impossible b/c I couldnt even get you to turn on the tv to play vids let alone make a racoon website. raccoons live in the sewers right? sorry, trying to get all the support I can. other than that, i've played texas holdem at troys the past two sundays. got third place the first time and second the second time. I had cody down to five dollars, I had 35 and I fucking lost! but, i guess thats no real big surprise. glad your having fun and give them europeans hell, and when they ask, tell them sean collins sent yea. thats right, later guy.
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