End Of The Day

2006-11-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

Rest In Peace, Donny Barley

I hope you make some other emo kid as happy as you made me these last four years we were together. But alas, I fear no one will love you as much as I did. Giving you up to that man today felt like selling a child for crack. Except crack in this case means a credit card bill.

We had a lot of fun times over the years, Donny. And Spirit Bird will be no consolation. He doesn't measure up to your greatness. You will be the benchmark by which all my other basses are measured.

I love you, kiddo.
Ian Urbanski

2006-11-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

warren quotes:

Ian: 'oh Breaker High.'
Warren: 'yeah. he's going to Break 'er Hy-Men.'

'hate fucking'
'rain fucking'

'the momedians?'

'did they lock the bitch up?'

-the above are all in response to 'The Notebook,' which, yes, we're currently watching.

this is the warren that only i know.

2006-11-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many people watch Smallville, aside from the people who I live with and Mark Little, who doesn't read this blog, but I had to write about one thing that's started bugging me.

It's getting pretty fucking lame how many times Clark Kent uses the excuse "It was just good to have someone around who I can connect with. Who understands what I'm going through/feeling." Come on, Clark. How many times has that line been written for you? It's probably programmed to a macro in the writer's room.

Let's start off with Ryan, the kid who could read minds that the Kents took in as Clark's little brosef. When he died/went away (I don't remember what happened) Clark sobbed to his parents about how he was the only person who understood what Clark was feeling.

There was also all the other superpowers, The Kid Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman and to a lesser extent Green Arrow. Each time, Clark meets people with powers who are good, in some way, and understand what he's going through. But, each time later, Clark forgets. Fuck, Clark needs super memory.

There was also Alicia (?), the girl who broke out of Bellereve and had teleporting powers and was kind of evil, but Clark ended up almost marrying. When she died, Clark once again cried his pretty blue eyes out about how she was the only person he identified with.

Then, the latest one was on tonight's episode, where Clark once again met Raya (who he thought died and already sobbed over their 'connection') and she for real died (at Bow Wow's hand no less) and Clark sobbed to Martha about how she understood what he was going through. To be fair, she was the first good Kryptonian he's met, but nonetheless. Come on, Clark. Remember how many times you fucking cry over these people.

And for God's sake, remember how many people understand you.

I understand you, Clark. Look how pretty Tom Welling is in the picture.

2006-10-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

television i watch regularly to semi-regularly:

studio 60
heroes
veronica mars
boston legal
lost
my name is earl
the office
how i met your mother
the oc (not yet, but i will)
smallville
grey's anatomy
the simpsons
family guy

comics i buy and read monthly:

green arrow
green lantern
batman
wonder woman
spider-man (the amazing)
civil war and most tie-ins
runaways
young avengers
astonishing x-men
casanova
naruto
fell
y: the last man
new avengers
the new 'new avengers' series that's coming out

music i listen to now:

the walkmen
mogwai
interpol
dresden dolls
silversun pickups
tv on the radio
yeah yeah yeahs
the organ
the velvet underground

tickets to shows i've gotten or am getting:
sparta
the album leaf
the rapture

videogames and related i've bought lately:
a nintendo DS lite (white)
tony hawk for the DS
megaman ZX for the DS
soon to buy playstation 2 games because warren got one

tell me, people. why oh why do i spend so much money on pop culture? and why will nothing you say change me?

i am a whore. a big, diseased consumer whore.

2006-10-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

warren ellis reposted a short essay he wrote years ago, but one that i hadn't read before. it was about the pieces of music that he loved, specifically how he loves certain singles and the nature of singles in general. at the time, it was 'maps' by yeah yeah yeahs he likens it to 'soldier girl' by polyphonic spree in the first time you hear them, it punches you in the gut with its... well... depth (?).

i had to partly agree with him. while i may try to be an elitest bastard and listen to only albums (there is only one 'single' song on my iTunes), i do enjoy listening to the one song that sticks out on an album ad nauseum. and it makes me sick. it really does. it makes me hate myself because the artists responsible didn't write that song as a stand alone. they wrote it to fit into the grander works that they slaved away on.

but, regardless, i find myself drawn to 'the rat's and the 'kissing families' and the 'obstacle 1's and, yes, even the 'maps' and 'soldier girl's of the music world. i love them. if they were personified girls, i'd date them only to have them break my heart years from now.

because i'm a sucker for lines.

'when i used to go out, i used to know everyone i saw. now i got out alone if i go out at all.'

i'd like to say that if you knew me over the summer you would've known that was my anthem. but no one did know me in the summer because that was my anthem.

i'm a sucker for lines, what can i say?

2006-10-02T00:25:00.000-07:00

Bitch.

Love it.

2006-09-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Things that've happened since I've moved in with Cam and Warren:

-Played uncountable numbers of NES games
-Bought an acoustic guitar (Wine red. It's lovely.)
-Went to many housewarmings and had a housewarming ourselves. All highly successful and fun.
-Learned to cook new foodstuffs.
-Saw a movie a-splode in the theatre.
-Bought Polaroid film. Some pictures will be up soonish from the Deanna/Jacqui housewarming.
-Biked from Edmonds station to new home.
-Started running again.
-Watched every season primier I've wanted to so far, and one I didn't mean to but ended up being hilarious due to Pina Colada's.
-Bought tickets for (effectively) Zach Galifinakis on Thursday.

More people should come over and see the house, but I think the people who read this have already seen the place, save maybe Dock.

2006-08-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

Link'd.

that's just about the damn sweetest thing i've seen in a long time.

2006-07-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

Rachel Blake at Comic Con

for the 'lost' fans who may read my blog. cam, that's you.

2006-07-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure if everyone read the kevin smith thing after joel siegel walked out on 'clerks II' but here's one of the funniest things i've heard in years:

Kevin Smith vs. Joel Siegel Round 2

2006-07-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Women From Songs and Why I Love Them:

Janine:

-I'm helpless for your smile.
-You'd like to know me well, but your intensity keeps me at arm's length.
-You look pretty in glasses.
-You make me say "Ooooo" "Oh ah" and "Yeah"
-You act sincere even when I don't want you to.

Leslie Anne Levine:

-You were birthed too soon, but I still love you.
-You may have cheated on me with a chimney sweep, but these things happen.
-We both hate your mother.

Maria:

-She's got a hella fine ass.
-You smell like watermelon, my favorite fragrance.
-We both enjoy having sex to porno music while doing kinky shit.
-She's hot enough for even the most faithful niggas to cheat on their women.

Sheila:

-You ride a crashing nightengale, but with blushing brilliance.
-I could bring you into the light and still take you home into the night. Basically I can bring you wherever and you're cool with it.
-You make me real, whatever that means.

Angie:

-While we have no money or loving, you can't say we never tried for those things.
-Angie, you're beautiful.
-You have sweet tasting kisses.
-There ain't a woman that comes close to you, but it's time to say 'goodbye.'
-You might actually be David Bowie, which is pretty awesome.

Isobel:

-In quite the show of solidarity, you married yourself, which is pretty badass.
-You send out your messages by moth courier.

Miss Amanda Jones:

-She's particularly proud of her lineage.
-She gets pretty stoned, but still looks delightful even then.
-You might be a lesbian.

China Girl:

-I'm a wreck without her.
-I have the power to ruin everything you are, so don't mess with me.
-I have the power to change your eye color.
-You tell me to 'shut my mouth' in a manlier voice than I have.

Mary Jo:

-You live alone.
-You dig tea.
-You also get loose while watching t.v. and drinking gin, probably alone.
-You might have the power to make yourself younger.
-You have some pretty kick ass dreams.

Delilah:

-You've been in porn.
-You smell like my mother, for some reason.
-You keep coming back even though I beat you unmercilessly.

Barbarella:

-You play games while I jerk off.
-You dance pretty awesome.
-You come and save me from my misery.
-We both sing quite well, which makes us both happy. Also, we get pretty wasted sometimes.
-You have no qualms about shooting people, as long as they're the bad guys.
-We watch 'Lost in Space' on T.V. which is our favorite show.

Songs by (in order):
David Bowie, The Decemberists, Wu-Tang Clan, Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones, Bjork, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Belle & Sebastien, The Dresden Dolls and Scott Weiland.

This idea ripped off of:
Cameron A. Maitland.

2006-07-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

i went out drinking with my godfather tonight. correction, with my godfather and my brother. correction yet again, with my 60-something year old, super rich, totally awesome godfather and my brother.

my godfather is fantastic. we went to his condo. his wife is currently in germany, so the place was ours. we checked out his wine fridge and killed off bottles of expensive wine and ordered domino's pizza, which was also awesome. then we went to cardero's (because my godfather's place is across the street from there, so imagine that view fuckers. hingston, i can probably see your house from his place) and my brother ate oysters and i drank californian pinot noir.

i got drunk. with my godfather. and my brother. on expensive wine. and domino's pizza. and fantastic views.

the picture here is of essentially the view. i'll take a real picture next time i'm there. and his place is decked to the nuts with fancy things. i'm jealous. you should be too.

2006-07-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

god knows that none of you will read this, except maybe dock, who now and then drops hints in his blog that he wants me to start this one back up. so, well, dock currie, this is for you.

anyways, the picture here is of raleigh. raleigh doesn't have a last name. raleigh is me, or at least as close to me as i've ever identified with a character in any medium (although this may not be true because after reading murakami books, it feels like he's writing about me, just 40 years old and japanese). anyways, raleigh is from a bryan lee o'malley graphic novel called 'lost at sea,' which is 9 different kinds of fantastic. bryan lee o'malley also does the 'scott pilgrim' books, which if you haven't read, please do, 'cos they are pop culture heroin.

further recommendations reach into the aforementioned haruki murakami books (or the ones i've read: "norwegian wood" "south of the border, west of the sun" and most importantly "the wind-up bird chronicle") and warren ellis' "fell."

for music, the walkmen's three albums have been on non-stop repeat. along with scott weiland's solo album, bjork's five albums, thom yorke's "the eraser," and smashing pumpkins' middle couple of records.

for movies, i'd say go see "superman returns" but it seems like everyone hated it. but i don't care what those bitches say. also "match point" has some of the best shotgun death scenes in recent memory. it also features scarlett johanssen's fantastic (albeit constantly covered) breasts.

2005-12-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

i was going to try to do a clever post and have warren's picture up and say "anyone seen this boy?" but (a) i don't have pictures of warren on my computer and (b) i'm now seriously worried. he hasn't been home yet and aside from a zillion text messages, he hasn't contacted me. one text message said, and i quote, "Don't wait up for me i might end up in jail".

seriously people, i'm worried. if any of you know where warren is, phone me.

2005-12-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

so i've been drinking for a few hours now. as you can probably guess, i've been drinking stellas. i also haven't eaten, so i haven't drank that much to warrant what i'm feeling. regardless, i've been drinking so early in the afternoon because i finished finals today. yes, easc 202 finished today. it went fine. physics didn't but that doesn't mean shit. i need to re-do that class again anyways.

i don't think i'm going to do anything today. from the way things are looking, i'm half wearing my socks, wearing boardshorts and watching 'seinfeld'. i feel, so... nothing. i feel nothing at all. it's been a while, but i like it.

i watched 'jay and silent bob strike back' earlier today. so i'd like to leave you all with a quote from that:

"woah, check that shit out. it's the internet."

2005-12-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

this guy. his name is dennis lyxzen. tonight, he staged a war on five-hundred canadian capitalists. his weapons: a shaggy haircut, uniforms, zippers, a microphone and some kick ass rock and roll. his army: five swedes. i think it's safe to say that after seventy minutes of battle, lyxzen's army was victorious.

they are the (international) noise conspiracy. they played tonight at the red room. i went alone. this was one of the best fucking performances i've ever seen. in fact, it was so good, it ranks up as the third best show i've seen this year, putting in the top five for best shows i've ever seen. and it was over at ten:thirty.

in seventeen minutes i'm going to watch alec baldwin host 'snl'. then i'm going to sleep, wake up and go to work. in three days i'll be done this semester. in seven days i'm moving back into my parents' place. in eight days i was s'posed to play a show, but something happened. i don't like it. right now, the only thing i want to do is play some fucking rock and roll.

thank you, dennis lyxzen. you beat me, tonight. capitalism stole my virginity.

2005-12-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

turns out that thirty minutes after dropping his first hit of acid, he finally started feeling something. and to tell you the truth, so did i. it wasn't until the next morning, when i awoke on the beach that i realized what had happened and why i was the better for it.

2005-12-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

so...

turns out there's a movie being made with tim allen, britney spears, cher and bette midler. it's like there's executives sitting around trying to figure out the worst cast of all time ever, and making it happen. in a few weeks, they'll announce that rob schneider and sam jackson signed onto this as well and brett ratner is directing.

god, i hope this doesn't make it past pre-production. or if it does, that it's the best movie ever made. in my own, oft-repeated words: a cinematic masterpiece.

2005-12-03T00:45:00.000-08:00

so it's safe to say she's 'slutty' right?

yeah...

2005-11-28T23:51:00.000-08:00

but this cheered me up:

link'd!

2005-11-28T23:27:00.000-08:00

so...

turns out that while i was at work on friday, dr. chong called my parents and said he had my results. he also said that i should call him back immediately to discuss. he couldn't tell my parents due to legal whatever. my parents didn't tell me until after i was done my shift and dr. chong's office had closed. he wasn't open on the weekend, and i called today to find out what was wrong with me. turns out i don't find out 'til thursday 'cos i had to make an appointment to discuss.

'call back immediately'.

this doesn't sit well with me. and lord knows i don't need this stress right now what with finals, money troubles, work, band playing shows and all other obligations.

and on top of me having a dream where two of my best friends killed each other to get to heaven. i really want to write more about that and get it out of me, but it sounds way too fucked up so i don't think i will. please, someone ask me about this in real life.

also, pray my heart's okay.

thanks,
urbanski

2005-11-26T19:10:00.000-08:00

this is my matt ross themed blog update. he is awesome. this is a picture of matty jumping into black. i need to photoshop this and make it look like matty is jumping into a pile of something funny. help me brainstorm.

this is matty at the pub. he is drinking a beer. this is the one time matty came to pub with me and warren this semester. it was a fun night. we ended up getting baked on the skytrain and pushing over signs at superstore. i've never felt like i was more still in high school.

i know i've posted this before, but this is the matty post, so this is a matty picture. i still love this picture because he represents what i love about vancouver. happy vancouver everyone.

so everyone who reads this, who is essentially everyone i talk to on a regular basis:
i'm playing a show next saturday. it will go down at the pic pub (pender and seymour). i will be playing with the gallows tree. this will be the first show with the original line-up in almost two years. the cover will be about seven bucks. i don't know what time it starts, but i will post a bulletin on myspace once i know.

please make it out if you can. this is my favorite band i'm in, or at least the most accomplished.

much luh,
urbanski

2005-11-22T15:53:00.000-08:00

this is from the night i met amanda. i was going to my brother's place 'cos i had to sleep there in order to have an easier time getting to work in the morning. on my way there from my parents' place, i received a call from cameron maitland informing me of this burlesque party on hastings. i figured i had nothing better to do and armed with a lacoste shirt, polaroid camera and a skateboard i went there. i happened to wait patiently and took this picture of amanda being crazy, but somewhat stoic, with vicky.

2005-11-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

i just came up with an idea for a photography project i'd like to work with warren on.
the last one in which i posed in weird places with a neat suit on worked out quite well, and, if given more time, i'm sure the milkshake-dumped-on-indie-kid project would've been spectacular, but as it stands was simply only awesome.

this new one would either be a holgaroid or polaroid series of photographs of me fighting things i can't win against.

ideas so far:
-ian vs. the hill he lives on
-ian vs. a beer
-ian vs. his term paper
-ian vs. the internet

2005-11-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

Scaring Warren
______________

Ingredients:

1 cup - perfect timing
3/4 L - intimidating phrase
1 tbsp - silent approach
2 servings - headphones w/ iPod
1 whole, unshucked Warren Haas(tm)
1 sudden, forceful grab (optional)

Directions:

1. take your perfect timing (best late at night, preferably after Warren has been talking about getting mugged and/or killed) and stay at a length behind your Warren Haas(tm).

2. ensure that your Warren Haas is fully mixed with the headphones and iPod. slowly add your tablespoon of silent approach.

3. once behind your Warren Haas, quickly add your intimidating phrase. for best results add a sudden and forceful grab adds much at this time.

4. your Scared Warren will be ready immediately.

e-mail this to a friend
print

2005-11-18T00:31:00.000-08:00

this thoroughly convinces me avril tapes her boobs down and moonlights as the singer from 'my chemical romance.' i mean, they both look like fucking raccoons. what the hell?

have they ever been photographed together?

2005-11-18T00:08:00.000-08:00

it's really pervy for me to have such a huge crush on her, isn't it?

2005-11-16T22:23:00.000-08:00

this is my series of cameron maitland photographs. this first one is from cam's 'brb' party from the summer. it was a fine night out at the royal. it was a sunday night, and it was completely empty. kellen wanted to fight me, and it was the first time he and i met. we ended up not fighting, but, in fact, shaking hands. oh, what progress humanity has had. do you 'have' progress? fuck. i don't know.

this is from cam's birthday. it seems the only time i go out and care about things are when cam is involved. *heart*. this night was weird, but beforehand when it was just me, cam, yuka (pictured on cam's lap), warren and jason sitting around watching 'undeclared' and drinking, i was happy.

i know cam is barely in this photo, but it is also from the 'brb' party, but also with matty ross and kelsey pictured. oh matty ross. i haven't seen you in ages. and i miss you. tune in next post for my matt ross-themed polaroid display.

in other news, 'lost' was pseudo-awesome. it was cool for the first half and then got lame and turned out 'supersized' meant extra-advertisements. ugh... it was so balls. i also didn't get to buy comics today. aw burn.

but i'm currently wearing my heart monitor. a picture of which (in which i look mega-effeminate) will be up on this blog soon. i may also submit it to vice. i hope i'm a 'don't.' i look very gay and have a chance of making a 'don't.'

for your viewing pleasure, i will now transcribe the journal i've had to write so the doctors can find out what's wrong with my heart:

date of recording 16/nov/05
recorder s/n # 24-53
time test start 14:20 pm (note it's both 14:20 and pm. brilliant doctors)

2:28 - elevator
2:36 - standing at dr. chongs - felt dizzy
2:44 - sat down
3:00 - started eating
3:20 - stopped eating
3:25 - walking
3:44 - riding in car
4:30 - shopping
4:35 - riding in car - dizzy (4:47)
5:00 - got home
5:02 - bathroom
5:03 - sat down at computer
5:44 - eating
6:00 - laying on couch
6:30 - on couch (dizzy)
7:22 - bathroom
7:55 - started cooking
8:17 - finish cooking and ate
8:55 - got stoked watching t.v. - dizzy/heart beating fast
10:20 - bathroom
10:35 - updated blog on computer - dizzy

awesome hey?
yeah. i know.

everyone pray that my heart is okay.

2005-11-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

doesn't he look like he's doing some illegal right there and just got caught?
yeah. yeah he does.

anyways, in news:

-martin starr (bill of 'freaks and geeks' fame) guest starred on 'how i met your mother' last night. it was oddly hilarious and made me quite happy.

-i apparently killed my physics midterm with a 65%. the average was 41%, so that's cool. i still don't understand how this happened, as i suck at physics, especially this semester, but god bless good luck.

-the organ is playing on the 25th. at richards on richards. everyone: go. seriously. go. it's 15 bucks.

-someone fucking visit our house. i'm going stir crazy. at least i think stir crazy. i'm not exactly sure what that is, but i'd like to think that's what i've got. i'll make dinner for you. just visit.

-flower class corvettes played in residence on sunday. it was pretty awesome. i like this band a lot. playing with mike hingston (for a picture, see below in the entry where i try to berate him) makes me happy.

-writing paleontology papers is bullshit. i hate it.

the picture from above is from the 'abbott street racket' show i went to about a month ago. i figure i should post the rest of the pictures from that night.

i know it's a pretty shitty picture, but that's them playing. they're really awesome. if anyone has a chance to check out their show, i'd highly recommend it.

this is their lead singer courtenay. she's small and highly cute. she dresses well but apparently has a boyfriend. oh burn. regardless, she's indier than all of you and doesn't move on stage. at all. it's her thing.

this is my brother, michal, posing with ryan ogg's (from this post's first picture) girlfriend. my brother apparently looks like me. except he can grow sweet facial hair, and it therefore hunkier than me.

2005-11-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

i'm tired of band names telling me what i'm supposed to do.
right now i have to clap my hands and say 'yeah' and then say 'party' so someone else can say 'die' and then i have to... uhhh.. ok! go?

god, that brings me to the next thing. i refuse to listen to a band with a fucking exclamation mark in their name. it's gone too far:

clap you hands say yeah!
you say party! we say die!
!!!
thunderbirds are now!
ok! go
my! gay! husband!

the last fucking thing this is doing is getting me excited.

in other news: black mountain's self titled is awesome. i recommend everyone go out to zulu and buy it. except for warren, who ripped it from me.

and go see rogue wave on the 29th or something. tickets are cheap and since hingston recommended them, they can be nothing but good. also, noise conspiracy tickets are on sale for 15 bucks. they are playing on dec. 10th at the red room. let me tell you what a good show is going to be.

2005-11-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

this band is awesome. before this band started, the two dudes from it were awesome. so it goes to show, awesome + awesome = awesome. but not awesomer. just awesome. there were few funner times in a summer than getting drunk off of $7 red wine at burnside's place. everyone should do it. not just me and scum.

2005-11-06T22:04:00.000-08:00

i got real drunk one night. i was walking home from incredibly far away and found this sweatshirt. i knew i was either going to (a) wash it and wear it or (b) destroy it and photograph it. i learned something though. burning sweaters cause a lot of smoke. also, don't burn things in liquor store parking lots.

2005-10-31T22:52:00.000-08:00

this guy pisses me off. not only is he sitting at the shittiest bar in town looking all 'i don't give a shit' but he's doing it cooler than everyone else there. no one really wants to be there, so they try to pass it off like it's no thang. he's the only one doing it right. and he leaves with the girl you were hitting on for 2 hours.

2005-10-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

last night i had a dream that jayla from 'america's next top model' was my girlfriend. my parents opposed the whole thing, but we hung out a lot anyways. most of the time at the royal. why the royal? i don't know. this crew was there though, and the guy in the middle was waxing philosophical about the significance of medicine's 'her highness' to the state of current shoegazer while drinking copious amounts of guiness.

i think that's actually happened before.

2005-10-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

this guy encompasses everything vancouver. the headphones, jacket, bag and smile that he wears defines everything i love about this great city. he was smoking weed on the skytrain, listening to autolux and telling me about the wicked pink mountraintops show he saw the week before. in fact, if i didn't know better when he got off the train, he told me, "happy vancouver."

2005-10-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

armed with jack daniels, a bandana and a cell phone, he was ready for whatever the night would bring him. luckily, what the night brought him was more jack daniels and phone calls, so he was adequately prepared. however, we're still not sure what the bandana was for. i'm sure he knew...

2005-10-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

we tracked him for miles. we realized as he was going down richards that this wasn't the car we were looking for. i mean, who would try to make a getaway in a bright red car? assholes, that's who.

2005-10-22T23:32:00.000-07:00

after work i went down to the beach. after sitting on a log for ten minutes and looking at the greying sky, i noticed an old man with a metal detector walking towards me. he kept walking, came within inches of me while looking for things, stopped and then kept going. i hope he found what he was looking for.