Sunday, November 14, 2010

Lyrics: Take it all back


Can you take back the night that we first kissed
It'll be one less moment to be missed
Can you unsay words that made me melt
I wanna forget the way it felt
(How great it felt)

To fall for you. I fell too soon
You know, you went away
But the memories stayed
Just take it
Take it all back

Would you please erase those mushy texts
Could we unhave all that dirty sex
I'll act as though you're just some guy
While you pretend I never saw you cry
(I never tried)


To fall for you. I fell too soon
You know, you went away
But the memories stayed
Just take it
Take it all back

Let's you and me go back
Way back before this trip began
I'm sorta tripping, stumbling
Trying to regain my story but
Your chapters flood my pages
Can't rip them out
The pictures are just too damn pretty

I would not help
I could not help

But to fall for you. I fell too soon
You know, you went away
But the memories stayed
Just take it
Take it all back

Let's undo and go back
(Just take it all back)
Please leave me and erase your memory
(Take it all back)


Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Lyrics: "I'm Coming To You, This Time"

A song based on a line from "Almost Famous"


To Russel, From Penny. 





Climb in here with me. Away 
From lights that blind your pretty eyes
Its warm in here, the quiet shade. 
An aid to help us sleep at night.

No rocking back and forth. The road's 
No place to rest your head
You call that box on wheels a home. 
But no one shares your bed.

I've made a fort of cigarettes 
And coffee cups to get us started.
The smell alone, instant regrets.
But reminiscent of when we last parted.

I was a little bit tipsy.
You were a little bit 'quiet soul'.
You said your chicken was shitty ,
So I offered some of my casserole. 

Chorus: 
**
I'd travel the world for 
Precious moments spent with you
Yet all you need is here, my darling fool.
And I won't move again, 
These feet stay put until you're mine.
When you sing "I'm coming to you, this time"
**

We measure time like no one else 
I know. It comes as no surprise. 
The two of us,  sad wishing wells. 
Just tossing pennies from the skies. 

How many places have we seen
Through two apposing points of view?
And when you're gone, does it just mean
Your feelings ride that plane with you,
Out of my life again?

Chorus: 
**
I'd travel the world for 
Precious moments spent with you
Yet all you need is here, my darling fool.
And I won't move again, 
These feet stay put until you're mine.
When you sing "I'm coming to you, this time"
**

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Poem: "Little piece of heart for you"

(No title, just some words)

I need a parachute baby
I'm fallin
And I see no end in sight
Catch me if you will
Let me fall into those arms
Lest I crash, burning at your feet
And I will still kiss the ground you walk on.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

San Diego Comic Con 2010

Claudio Sanchez and I at the con
I can't believe I managed to make it out to SDCC this year. Every year I try, and every year I fail, muttering to myself (sigh, maybe next time). And this time it happened! Thanks to my good friend Matt Melvin of Cyanide and Happiness, I was able to get a badge and fly out last minute to join him and many others at the biggest comic book convention EVER!
I ended up flying out alone, and truth be told, I was expecting the experience to be only sub par since I was going to be alone in a new place. However, as soon as I got on my plane, I knew the entire weekend was going to be perfect. Which it was.

The first event that promised good fortune on my trip was the plane ride itself. I ended up sitting next to a nice young lad from England who was at the con for work. We spoke the entire flight and became friends! If that wasn't enough, add realizing Claudio Sanchez and wife Chondra Echert were on the same flight as me! (I spotted them at baggage claim! I said nothing..lol)

Mr. Sanchez, Chonny, Blaze and Miki strike a pose!
I arrive at my hotel and it's BEAUTIFUL! They were ten minutes late in preparing my room so they upgraded me to the business suite with a view of the marina, Sea World (which held fireworks every night), the tropical little forest and pool (WITH WATER SLIDES) in the backyard, all to be seen from my balcony. It was amazing. And the Con hadn't even started!

When it does start, I arrive and meet the wonderful Miki (fellow coheed fan and street team member), Chris Burham (artist for Amory Wars, mentioned in previous posts), Blaze James (Coheed Manager and great human being I have yet to meet until now, after knowing him for over a year..lol) and the entire Boom! Studios gang (Claud, Chonny, Mr. Sheldon, Peter David)
To add a tasty cherry to the mix, my amazing friend Amanda was able to come up from long beach and stay with me for half the trip.
Chris Burnham and Peter David
The entire thing was just more than I could ever imagine. The life and energy at this event was something I will always find so invigorating. In a way, I found myself wishing I had the company of certain people when I was out there, some one to share the adventure with. But on the other hand, I was glad I ventured across the country on my own. I was able to fully appreciate the experience and had the freedom to meet up with all these amazing people who were just waiting to have a good time!



Now, I can go on and on about the wonderful things I experienced, but to sum up:

I had an AMAZING time at the Boom! Studios after party with the gang
I finally met someone I have so much respect for and have been wanting to meet for a while
I spent some time with great new friends and got to see my good good friend Amanda <3
I had a conversation interrupted by Gerard Way (I'm not mad at all.lol)
I saw AMAZING PANELS
I saw AMAZING COSTUMES
I Got A TON OF COMIC BOOKS/POSTERS/TOYS
I took A BUTTLOAD OF PHOTOS!



It was just, perfect.....





Sunday, July 11, 2010

Art: "Dear Ambellina"

Laying in bed at 4am, I had a million things I should have been doing. Sleep being one of them. But I decided to do none of that, and instead played around with a photo I've had lying around for months.
Here's a portrait of the Prise Ambellina. A Character from Amory Wars. An angel of sorts who was forced to burn her wings off before starting embarking on a mission to find and protect the crowing, Claudio Kilgannon.
I really like this because it's a bit abstract and looks like a cool album cover <3


Monday, June 28, 2010

Budgie Does it Again

As some may know, I've recently started a short story challenge of sorts where someone gives me a title and a random word, and I'm to create a 200 word story. Unfortunately, because of hectic running around and lack of schedule, I've only been able to complete 2, with 3 more only half done.

If you're interested:
Challenge 1 "Plague of Hate"
     
Challenge 2 "Savannah on the Moon"




Now, I was inspired to take part in this creative writing challenge by the talented Mr. Lee Barnett

Lee Barnett gave other writers, and readers of his blog, a simple challenge... to challenge HIM. He requested: "reply with a title (no longer than four words) about which you'd like me to write a fast fiction of exactly 200 words, along with a word you want me to include in the tale."

He then took the best 180 short stories and published them in a book called The Fast Fiction Challenge

He's now doing it again, and I stumbled across this and found his stories absolutely genius!
Some of my favorites include "Why is Orange" and "Once Within Memory"


I had to get in and offer him a challenge myself. And of course, he wowed me. I was HOPING he would do something with a science fiction feel and he did <3 Here was my challenge

Title: Autumn Gate Estimate
Word: scandalous
Challenger: @jazminlee23
Length: 200 words exactly


"The starship had taken sixteen months longer than expected to return to its home. The reasons for this were debated for further long months among the crew and other interested parties such as investors, regulators, the news media and the insurers.

Fourteen separate mutiny attempts over a three year period according to the ship’s log had, it was generally agreed, played some part in it, though this was more often put down to the experiment of having members of a single family comprising the majority of the thirty-seven crew complement.

There was also the question of faults in the construction, the later official inquiry revealed; voice activated internal doors that only opened when the word “scombroid” was whispered were found to be less than ideal.

The navigation computer had its third nervous breakdown as it approached the wormhole gate nearest the Autumn Nebula, and made repeated requests of a sexual nature to the crew, most of which were not granted.

The scandalous behaviour of the chief engineer, when it was discovered that he was neither Scottish, nor a drunk, also led to inaccurate conspiracy theories.

Accurate conspiracy theories were so much less fun, the actual conspirators knew, and relied upon."



Awesome right?? For more of Lee's work check out his Live Journal and follow him on Twitter. And bask in the glory that can be found in fast fiction ;)  

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Yay, someone's using my work!

So I'm always making art and posters and fliers and junk for random bands and FINALLY someone is using my hard work! Good lord! I created a flier for an August show featuring two amazing bands. 3 and Terrible Things. Both bands run by the awesome Eppard Bros, Joey and Josh, respectively.

First, some background info on the banda (Thank you facebook <3)

"3 is a band apart: Dark yet uplifting, spiritual without any connection to religion - theirs is a sound that transcends the genre conformity of modern pop culture. Rapid-fire acoustic guitar infused with dynamic percussion, animated drumming and thunderous bass culminate in a listening experience that is at once accessible and unique. Polyrhythms pulse within a symphony of driving metal guitars and melodic vocal acrobatics. 3 offers musicality without pretension." Read more here...



"New Universal Motown band Terrible Things may be hailed as rock all-stars – with ex-Taking Back Sunday vet Fred Mascherino, Coheed and Cambria alumnus Josh Eppard, and Hot Rod Circuit guitarist Andy Jackson forming the powerful triumvirate.

Appetites whetted for the splintering, pointed rock we’ve come to expect from each member of the reserved trio should prepare for added twists to their own reliable brand this time around". Read more here...


Now they have a show on August 8th and I can't wait. I have yet to see these bands live and I would love nothing more than to see the Eppard bros kick ass back to back to back. So you could imagine how excited I got when I was asked by the wonderful Miss Neesh (The First Lady of all things Eppard in my opinion) to design a flier for the show. I, of course, jumped at the idea, creating a few different ones, and this is the one that made the cut.


I was extra thrilled because the dame in the photo just so happens to be me :)
(see pink photo on right)

Just felt like sharing with me 18 followers the little bit of pride I just felt seeing my work being used <3
To check out the event go here




Friday, June 18, 2010

Must Have: Original "Amory Wars" pages by Chris Burnham

"The Amory Wars", as most of my followers know, is a science fiction story behind the music of alternative rock giants Coheed and Cambria. Written by Co&Ca front man, Claudio Sanchez, the story has been told primarily through comics published under Evil Ink Comics. (If you haven't checked out the comics or the story behind the music, I URGE you to now. It's amazing.)

The story of Amory Wars, is told throughout each of the band's 5 albums, usually along with some literature to correspond with each album's story. That is, with the exception of "NWFT", which, aside from fans' own interpretations ( found on Cobalt), still stands at a blur, story wise.
(When are we gonna hear about that one, guys?)

Their last album "Year of the Black Rainbow" was actually released as a full hardcover novel, telling the origin story of Coheed and Cambria, the two main characters for which the band is named.

The comics have not been around as long as the music, so obviously they are lagging behind. The first two volumes of The Amory Wars have been released in single issue and TPB form. THOSE coincide with the band's first album "Second Stage Turbine Blade". We are now up to the second batch of comics entitled "Amory Wars: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3", telling the story of the band's second album of the same name. I got the first issue covers A and B (Signed, thank you very much!)... and they are amazing. The writing and the art flow together so beautifully...


:::WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF THIS BLOG:::

Chris Burnham is an amazing artist who worked on The Amory Wars as well as many other comics. His work is stunning and I'm a big fan to say the least. He has a bunch of his ORIGINAL AMORY WARS PAGES up for sale at www.cadencecomicart.com and I MUST have one.

So to all my dear friends, allies and loves alike, my birthday is in 4 days. <3


Thursday, June 17, 2010

Story Challenge #2 "Savannah on the Moon"

Challenger: Anonymous 
Title: "Savannah on the Moon""
Word: Vonbraun

The day had reached its end. The animals were fed, 
the family asleep, and Khali was finally left to 
watch the sun set just beyond the crater in peace.  

He made his way to a tree that sat a few short 
miles from home with the softest patch of grass 
beneath it. Years of laying in this particular 
patch had created a nook perfectly fit for his 
unique form. The rising mist of the freshly 
developing spring nearby brushed his face and 
cooled his skin with every breeze. 

Looking up he could see the faint glow of the 
Vonbraun as it hovered just above the night sky. 
He wondered if it knew he could see it, or if it 
even knew of his existence. Was it capable of 
learning more than its assigned lessons? Could it 
forget things? Could it lie?   

His supreme honor Oliseo told him and the others 
that the Vonbraun had made a pit stop there on its 
voyage to another planet. 
 
He said it had ventured from an entirely different 
universe, looking for life on this other planet a few 
light years in the other direction..

But we live on a moon..  

Talk about lost.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Story Challenge #1 "Plague of Hate"

Challenger: Joey Nova
Title: "Plague of Hate"
Word: callous

The community was nearing the realms of non existence.

Elder Lee Boyle made it clear that the sudden wave of deaths was more than unfortunate coincidences. He was certain that this was something sent from a higher power to punish their people. To kill off all those actively against what he called "The Deliverance."

"The Deliverance" he explained, was a daily sacrifice to be determined in the form of a lottery. An event that needed to take place in order for their people to reach a state of rich land and morals.

Unfortunately, nobody would believe, or admit, that their god was an angry boy who only wanted a single gift and, when denied, would take a greedy handful to compensate.

He sat in his little crevis in the settlement and spoke enchantments to the winds as those around him dropped like flies. With his callous fingers, he marked on his wall the names of the passing, and proclaimed all should follow his leading in order to avoid the wrath of god.

He cried the words "An agreed end of one, prevents untimely ends of many, the many perhaps, in the end, being more deserving of life than the one."

Short Story Challenge

Following in the footsteps of the talented Lee Barnett, I want to try his fast fiction challenge. Give me a title of 4 words or less, and a word you want me to mention, and I'll write a short story of exactly 200 words.

Also, when offering your challenge, please leave your name and Twitter or facebook id so I can tell you when I've completed your story...

Ready? GO!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Publics Private Mini-stories (Issue 2)

After spending the day in San Fransisco, I was sitting on the plane home to New York and saw a woman sitting in the opposite isle from me... She looked nervous/excited. I myself had just finished a 3rd cup of coffee and started getting jitters so I started writing on my itouch a little story about the woman....


"I'm Gonna Ride This Plane...."


It began on the 11:30 am flight to New York City. She was anxious and the 3 servings of complimentary coffee on the plane did all but help to calm her nerves. She had never been to New York before. Born and raised in San Francisco her entire life, it had never occur to her to venture outside the realms of the place she called home. As far as she was concerned, everthing that could possibly make and keep her happy resided right here.

As it was, she was single and lived alone with a dog she had named Robert. She found a small humor in the irony of giving pets human names. Before Robert, there was Roxanne the goldish. Roxanne didn't last very long, as she met her end by way of a poorly balanced shell lamp placed on a shelf just above her fish tank. When people would ask, however, she simply expained that the fish no longer "went well" with her apartment, in an attempt to avoid being seen as a fish killer...

She started on her fourth cup of coffee, thinking to herself that, in a matter of hours, she would finally meet the boy without whom the trip might never have taken place. She carried a photo of him clenched in her hand the entire flight. His Chrystal blue eyes that seemed to capture the calm yet earie beauty that could only live within the purest of oceans. He had scraggly blond hair that seemed to fight with itself about which direction it wanted to fall.

How could she be so in love with someone she knew so little about? This question was never raised in her mind because she knew it didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was going to see him, her darling Michael. The boy she'd been waiting to hold, who was now ready and waiting to be held by her.

This was her dream, and she knew they would live happily ever after, as soon as she signed the adoption papers all those months ago.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Publics Private Mini-stories (Issue 1)

So while waiting at best buy, I sat and started observing the people around me. There was a couple infront of me, browsing the movie section and I randomly started writing a make up story about them. I've decided that I'll do this as an ongoing thing. Perhaps connecting stories even. This is issue one:

"Best Buy Couple"
 
Clumsyly chasing him through the mall isles just passed the movie section, she instinctively hid behind the romantic comedies display and waited for him to drop his guard. He'd never think to look there. She stood and waited, peaking through the gap that separated 'the break up' and 'he's just not that into you', not realizing the irony of her position between the two. She watched him skim through the horrors and science fictions, eventually making his way to tv shows. He stopped at 'freaks and geeks' and she saw in his face the beat of nostalgia. See, this was there thing. They loved that show and always watched it together. He was her freak and she was his "geek". It wasn't the biggest of "things" but it was theirs. And for a fleeting moment, though it felt much longer than he would admit, he missed her. He missed the late nights of staying in and watching the show and the next days of quoting the most recent episode. And she watched this, the "fleeting moment" that proved to be all she needed to step out from the movie bushes. But she didn't. What would she say? He ended it for a reason after all, said they were "going in different directions" and that he hopes to "someday be friends again". She knew this was bullshit and was convinced there was someone else... Yet there she was, contemplating his fleeting moments, her very reason for following him here today. she looked at me with eyes seeking words of advice. I said nothing. All I could do was look down and tell the story to you. Before my eyes could meet hers again, they were both gone.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Art: Coheed "Guns of Summer"



Art: Coheed "This Shattered Symphony Promo"


This is the latest album promo I did for Coheed and Cambria. With the new album coming out in April and the first shows of the new decade starting next week, excitement is stirring. Coheed and Cambria are a conceptual progressive rock band. (Anyone reading this probably knows of them and my so-called "obsession" with the band) But I have to say, it's more than just music. It's a story. Me being a freak for science fiction and always wanting to create stories from music I hear, Coheed and Cambria fill both buckets with EVERY SINGLE SONG telling a piece of this epic saga surrounding two characters of the same name, their lives, the battle of the worlds around them, even taking an entire album (Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV) to explore the world of "The Writer" and creator of the world the music is about.

I just love that there's a story within a story within a story, as many songs not only relate to the story of Coheed and Cambria, but also to the life of "The Writer" AND the lives of the band members themselves. To learn the true heart behind these songs makes it that much easier to appreciate the music and what goes into making it.

Anyway, I just had to explain that. I'm not just a fan who collects posters and goes to shows and buys t-shirts. I'm truly appreciative of the art and music that comes from Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever, Michael Todd, and Chris Pennie. Even former band member, Josh Eppard (weerd science), added something to the music that can't be touched. All talented men and all deserving of their success.

That being said, of course I am going to support them any way I can. Not just because I'm a fan, but because I respect and admire what they've done and what they will continue to do in the future.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Lyrics: "Breathe (Goodbye)"

This is a free write song. I have images in my head to go with it, but none translate at the moment...lol I'll go more in depth as far as lyrics and what they mean soon.


Breathe (Goodbye)


Arrange these words
Presented cordial from me to you
and breathe them deep inside
Your turning mind
Re-create the message
As your body is built to do
Manipulate the thoughts you come to find

Lie. It's what you do best,
No. Don't you ever mind the rest
Leave the truth to me.
Just use that mouth to breathe (goodbye)
You're a dying man's last request.
Beautiful girl, but a whore, none the less

Bathing in your surprised, wide eyed expression
What did you think was coming your way?
A teller of tales spilled many a confession
Drunken paths led to words you'd later say

Lie. It's what you do best,
No. Don't you ever mind the rest
Leave the truth to me.
Just use that mouth to breathe (goodbye)
You're a dying man's last request.
Beautiful girl, but a whore, none the less

Stand before me now, dear and await my final verdict of
A broken glass, a withered rose, unsaturated love.
Attempt to salvage, fall to failure's hands

Dust causes a shadow to fall
Across the tattered land
with a remnant of the lives that lay here still
You followed them blindly
With a gun clenched
In your battered hands
Never thought you'd be the one I'd have to kill.

In a silent hell, my darling. Try.
No one can you hear you scream
You're better off lying with
Your head between your knees
Be patient.
The night of your end will be creeping soon
The heavy breath of death
Will begin his walk in search of you

Away. Go far from this place.

Lie. (in your grave)
It's what you do best,
No. (one to save you) Don't you ever mind the rest
Leave the truth to me.
Just use that mouth to breathe (goodbye)
You're a dying man's last request.
Beautiful girl, but a whore, none the less

Lie in your grave
No one to save you
Lie in your grave
No one can save you now.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Photo: Wardrobe happy accident



accidentally dressed up as Captain Kirk today. And I ain't mad <3


Set cell phone phasers to vibrate.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Lyrics: "Never was a Bigger Tale Told"

So it's morning time. Again. I'm having trouble sleeping. Again.
I ended up writing a song. Again. I've been so bleh
lately and writing seems to help. I've taken a quick commercial
break from writing epic/story lyrics where I hear crazy
guitar and drums going on... and I decided to write something
a bit more folky. Hope who ever is reading this, likes it.
thanks, xo




























"Never was a Bigger Tale Told"

Thoughts have now escaped
From the grips of this girl's mind
In this here 6:45 am sunrise
The evening fell so quick and harsh
It was really no surprise
Upon this here love affair of mine.

Bliss slipped into ignorance
And promises became wishful thinking
When reality settled in bed with me
And I cuddled along side reminiscing

***
You sang to me "forever"
and I swore to you I'd never
Let you leave from me
Gone from sight or hold
Never was a bigger tale told.
***

Walls had been built to prevent such occurrence
To the heavens' high, angels needed windows.
My heart remained surrounded, awaiting your disturbance
Now it's gone goodbye. Debris flies where the wind blows

Had it been another day, another place in time
What could have been, what should have been
Would have been divine
But here today, ideas of us float further away
In a river flooded with memories
Of the sweet words you would say

***
You sang to me "forever"
and I swore to you I'd never
Let you leave from me
Gone from sight or hold
Never was a bigger tale told.
***
And it's not your fault
The pages in our love story
Were just stuck together
And you and I, we've read too far ahead
Eventually we'll get our
Happily ever after
Until then, I'll just lay here in my bed...
Missing you and all that silly mush you said...

***
You sang to me "forever"
and I swore to you I'd never
Let you leave from me
Gone from sight or hold
Never was a bigger tale told.

***
You sang to me "forever"
and I swore to you I'd never
Let you leave from me
Gone from sight or hold
Never was a bigger tale told.
***