is reality TV setting unrealistic standard?

now,  i have to admit, i got roped into watching the first season of Flavor of Love during a marathon day years ago.  but i refuse to watch 5 seconds of Jersey Shore, and so far have been successful in doing so.  I had to run out of a room once, but I made it.  true story.

but, are these horrible reality shows setting unrealistic standards for members of our society.  take two-and-a-half minutes to find out!

unrealistic standards?

Tales From Sherwood (concerts, not the forest)

OK, so I’m still getting used to this whole maintaining a blog thing, and I know you’ve all been waited with bated breath for some new posts.  I’ve been wanting to share some stories about the past two times I’ve gone to see one of my favorite bands, SHERWOOD.

If you’re not familiar, I highly recommend you learns yourself quick.  A little mellower than the punk-stuff you all know I love.  But, I did first come across this band on the WARPED TOUR back in 2005.  Check them out here:  www.myspace.com/sherwood

OK, so the stories I want to focus on are the last two times I saw them in concert here in San Francisco.

November 5th, 2009

They were on a tour listed as the first band of the night out of four.  Not where I feel they should be billed, with how good they were and all, but the Headliner had some inexplicable appeal.  Now, I wasn’t fully convinced I was going to go to this show, being a work night, a slightly more expensive ticket cost than usual, and the fact that they were the first band of the night.  But, my coworker had some connections at the venue (The Regency Ballroom) and after a phone call on my behalf, I am proud to say that…

I WAS PUT ON THE GUEST LIST TO A HANSON CONCERT!!!

Yes, somehow Sherwood found themselves on tour with Hanson, HelloGoodbye and Steel Train.  So, I go to the show, check in with my super-sweet guest list status, and totally rock out to my boys.  They opened with “Not Gonna Love” , which at the time held some significant relevance for me.  It’s a great song regardless, but at the time I could exceptionally relate.  Anyways, they’re great as always.  The boys are technically from San Luis Obispo, but have recorded their last two albums here in the Bay and they spend a lot of time up here now.  I believe they have some family ties up here too and there’s always their song “Lake Tahoe (for my father)”.  Another highlight was when they sung “Worn” with the female vocalist who sang on the album.

But, the story is about my interaction with Mikey, the keyboardist, after I’d stood about all I could stand from Steel Train.  This once great band from Drive-Thru Records just doesn’t do it for me anymore.  The lead singer/guitarist would break into these 80′s style guitar solo/riffs that had no place being in the mellower songs they are now playing.  They’re a bunch of Jersey boys, and I hate to be stereotypical, but you could totally tell.  And I’m not talking about Jersey Shore D-bags, just, Jersey Boys.  (much love to my Penn State Jersey folk)  So, I head to the merch tables to see if they’re selling  their first self-titled EP which is now out of print and I can’t find anywhere, and I start chatting with Mikey.  I have to make the comment, “So, on tour with Hanson. What’s that like?”  Before he replies, he asks me if I’m a Hanson fan, which I admit that I am not, though the song “where’s the love” has a good message, and is hilarious to say to people when they’re being haters.  Try it some time.  In a plain speaking voice ask, “where’s the love? it’s not enough.  it makes the world go round and round and…” (and make sure you make circles with your arm/hand at that point)  So, Mikey laughs and says, “Yeah, we’re not the biggest fans of their music either.  But I tell you what, they are really cool guys and we have been having a blast with them on this tour.  Their fans have been super-supportive and this has been one of our best tours and we’ve reached a lot of new people.”

So, I liked that and I think there’s a lesson to be learned.  Always give everything and everyone a chance.  Life is all about the experiences and often times it’s what you make of them.  So, STAY POSITIVE and DO IT FOR THE STORY.

Wednesday, April 7th 2010

Sherwood headlining show at the Rickshaw Stop with Seabird, blackgold and Reece.

So, this was just one week ago and turned into one of the more fun concert experiences I’ve had in a while.  I had my ticket in advance and convinced my good good friend Gail to come with me the day of the show.  So, she meets up at my place and we head down to the show early, because we both enjoy checking out new opening bands and neither of us were familiar with any of the support.  We get there about half an hour after doors, but the first band hasn’t even taken the stage yet.  So, we’re checking out the merch and chatting up the guy behind the table, who is super-friendly and helpful.  I was asking if they had this one sweatshirt I had been wanting, but was under the impression they were discontinued and out of stock but a recent twitter-photo showed them up on their merch set-up.  Yeah, sometimes I geek out on my music and follow bands I’m really into on their tours when I know they’re coming the SF soon.  Anyways, the guy was super-helpful and actually texted the band to see if they still had my size (no such luck).  Turns out, the guy at the table was the guitarist of Seabird.  So we chat him up for a bit and when the first band took the stage, we told him we were looking forward to their set and went up to check out Reece.  Young guys, but on the whole I was fairly impressed.

So, Gail and I refill our tasty beverages during the set-break and head upstairs to check out what the Rickshaw Stop is all about.  That’s when we find it, in a dark back room, a sticky, lopsided, FOOSBALL TABLE! After a rousing round of foos we head back down to check out blackgold, but were not nearly as impressed with these guys.  To me, they were all decent musicians but they totally seem like they were thrown together because of that.  Like a label put them together.  Little to no stage presence and no sense of cohesion, but I digress.  So, we head back to the merch table to chat up our new guitarist friend and we meet the lead singer/keyboardist and drummer of Seabird as well.  So, in chatting them up, Gail and I challenge them to a game of fooseball and they accept.  We head upstairs and it’s on.  Me and Gail vs. the lead singer and drummer.  They start off strong and score two goals quick (while my eyes adjusted to the light), but Gail and I got on our game and started taking it to them.  With the score 7 – 3 I joke that when we win, they have to dedicate a song to Gail.  Well, we won and they went to get ready.

Turns out, I actually really like Seabird.  A perfect fit for direct support to Sherwood.  The singer/keyboardist actually tours with a baby grand piano and I was really digging their songs.  Even mellower than sherwood but they definitely had their rock-out moments and it totally worked.  Anyways, they’re about to go into their last song when the lead singer, Aaron, goes “this last song goes out to Gail, who totally showed us what’s up on the foosball table upstairs.”  Good musicians.  Good songs. and Good People.  I recommend you check them out.  Looking forward to them coming back through SF in about a month.

So, Sherwood takes the stage and they are just killing it.  This is the second to last show on the tour in their second home San Francisco with the final night of the tour in San Luis Obispo.  So their all in great moods, the crowd is loving it.  They play one of my all-time favorite songs, “Home” we’re all just having a blast.  Now, I’ve had a drink or two in me at this point and I’m in good spirits and I want to hear the first Sherwood song I ever heard, which got me into the band.  So after they finish one of their songs, I shout out “SUMMER SENDS IT’S LOVE!”  Lead singer is like, “wow, you guys have either been with us from the start or you just downloaded our albums off iTunes.”   To which I reply, “FROM THE START!” He smiles, asks the guitarist’s dad, who happens to be in the crowd, if they should play it.  Then he asks the crowd if it’s OK they play an old one and tear into summer sends it’s love.

So, we’ve got Seabird dedicating the last song of their set to Gail and Sherwood playing “summer sends it’s love” for me.  I also managed to give the guitarist’s dad a high five for giving the nod to my song, and thanked him after the show for his support.  Turns out he lives in Los Gatos, not too far from SF.  Needless to say, Gail and I both were in great moods and thoroughly enjoying the show.  That’s when Sherwood told us it was our National duty to Party in the USA and ripped into probably the only version of that song I will ever dance to.  It was pretty bomb bomb.

Anyways, sorry for the long music-geek post, but I just wanted to share some fun stories of situations I have found myself in at the last two Sherwood shows.  I promise, I’ll start posting more frequently and keep the posts a bit shorter.  I’d tell you about our wine tasting shenanigans at the SF Vintners Market on Sunday, but suffice it to say that it’s all a little red wine induced blurry.  Suffice it to say that it looks like all the stains will come out of my anchor shirt, and I won a magnum of wine from one of the wineries.

DO IT FOR THE STORY,

Dan

because this is just too great not to share!

this picture will forever make me smile.  maybe even LOL!  yeah, i said LOL.

My first ANGRY post!

ok, sure there are plenty of stories regarding where i’ve been and what i’ve gotten into tonight.  the quick recap is: Hukilau is not quite as good as it used to be.  540 Club is always a good time and Philo makes a pretty good basil gimlet.  congratulations Brandon on your job!  good to see some friends like Nick-All-The-Time, Chris (wheels!), Evan, Scoots/Bosner, etc.

i just need to vent on what just happened at safeway.  now, for those of you who may or may not know, i live directly across the street from a safeway. a 24-hour safeway.  quite convenient.  however, while i was trying to check out tonight, there was only one stand open and more than enough clientel to qualify a second lane.  well, when i got into line there were a few items on the edge of the checkstand, but no one in sight.  so i start putting my items on the conveyer belt and when turn back to grab the last of my belongings, a middle-aged awkward woman is staring, wide-eyed, at me.  i ask, “can i help you?”  she responds, ” are you going to let me back in line?”

now, i was a little afraid that this was going to be the case, but after waiting almost 5 minutes in line with the “customer” not returning, i thought i was entitled to my attempt to check-out.  so, i respond to this ex-hippy, random-ass woman who has challenged me, “oh, i’m sorry. the fact that no one was here, i thought i was ok to check out.”  she says, “well, my things were there.”  i say, ” yes, but you were not and the cashier was ready.”

bottom line, i let her check-out in front of me.  but this pisses me off.  f’reals.  only one lane open, what’s stopping everyone from putting one item on the edge of the counter and saying that they were “in line” and hopping in front of everyone?

grrrrrrr….

anyways, that’s my two cents.  HAPPY EASTER everyone!!!!

potluck at my place.  come on over.

Dano

Explain.

let’s raise a toast from coast to coast for all the things we’ve done.

Hello World!

Now, I know you all are excited for me to get started sharing some stories.  But, I’d like to take this opportunity opportunity to say, thank you for your support over the years and your support and encouragement over the years.  Because without you this “forum” for us all to share and enjoy my stories, my thoughts, insights and rediculousness with, would not have come to fruition so rapidly.  It’s true, I have been avoiding the blogging for a while, but the people (Iverson and J) have spoken.  So we’re all in this together now.

There are a few different ways we can approach this.  We can all share absurd stories about me from over the years.  I can use frequent posts to keep you up-to-date about the latest shenanigans and rediculous situations I have found myself in.  Because, it’s a true story.  I can’t make this stuff up.  But I think we all deserve a little more.  Now don’t get me wrong, you’ll get your fair share of absurdities.   But, as the “Danokablamo should start a blog Advocacy Group” mission statement and/or Erik’s first post on this page states, we’re here to enjoy the endless progression of me as a work in progress.  and as for the current song i’m listening to or cryptic lyric that may or may not refer to you, see my twitter-feed to the right, or just follow me for yourself!  @dankalin

So, I’ll leave you with a little story before I call it a night.  What’s today, Monday?  Do I talk about wine tasting our way through Sonoma for my good friend Gail’s birthday on Saturday?  Or the attempt to enjoy Domingo de Piña at Smuggler’s Cove (hands down one of my favorite bars, www.smuggler’scovesf.com ) on Sunday, but ending up at Suga and eventually at Mel’s Drive-In after an unsuccessful stop at Hukilau?  How about a quick re-cap of the story I started on Friday as a post on the Advocacy Group page.

Thursday.  I should have stayed at NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, as I had several friends attending that evening and it was the second largest pre-sale night we have had since we started over a year ago.  But no, I was talked into a happy hour at Mr. Smith’s in the Soma with some good friends.  So, after a couple hours and a couple drinks, our buddy Ken gets the idea to go chat up a group of girls.  But something about one of the girls made his roommate Nick tell him to slow his roll.  Then we all start looking around, and we come to the conclusion, we’re 98% sure, that we are smack in the middle of a lipstick lesbian happy hour!  Even on our A-game, I’m not so sure any one of these girls would have given any one of us the time of the day.  But we stick it out, free Absolut Berry Acai shots from the moderately attractive, but because I used to deal with these types of girls during my radio station promotion days I knew better and wanted nothing to do with, girls and we started considering what’s next.

Now, I should have gone home.  I knew this at the time.  But I let Ken talk us into moving to Green’s in the North Beach.  Soma to North Beach.  Half across town and totally not in the direction I’m trying to go.  Well, long story short, a bus ride that took way too long later, we get to Green’s.  A sports bar in North Beach, were everyone is watching the NCAA Tournament Cornell game.  It’s a Cornell bar.  Now, Upstate New York REPRESENT!  But we did not know this is what we were getting into.  And we were annoyed from the bus ride.  And everyone was watching the game, which me and my buddy Nick were just not prepared for.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the NCAA Tournament, but after Georgetown shit the bed in the first round, the whole tournament lost a lot of appeal to me.  So, Nick “all the time” and I pound our beer and roll out.  I walk Nick to his street and start making my way home.

I get side-tracked while walking by Tommy’s Joynt ( www.tommysjoynt.com ) , a long-time favorite of mine and recently featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and I get a craving for their pickles.  But these they offer free with a purchase.  So, an order of Buffalo Chili, a pint of Anchor Steam, and a plate-full of pickles later, I walk my way several blocks to the bus stop.  I check the schedule and start to relax while waiting for the bus.  That’s when I start to wonder why I’m not wearing my jacket.  My sweet new Famous Stars & Straps windbreaker ( http://www.famoussas.com/storefront/store/guys/jackets/the-right-thing-mens-windbreaker.html?SID=5rfun1vgf2lsrs3fvj63hpcqa5 ) .  Oh yeah, left it at Tommy’s.  So I briskly start the hike back, up hill.  Finally make it back to Tommy’s, and the server had the jacket set aside for me.  I end up hopping on a different bus home, closer to Tommy’s, but then have a decent hike home from the bus stop there.  Now, this story isn’t that exciting, except for the fact that Nick “all the time” and I had stopped at a Subway and gotten subs about 20 minutes before my stop at Tommy’s…  I shoulda just gone home after Mr. Smith’s.

Hmmmm… Dave Timby said I should only write in this blog after a night of drinking.  I’ve had a couple glasses of wine after a long day of working, running my mouth, watching 24 and working damage control, and now I’m wondering if that’s a good idea after re-capping the story I just wrote/shared with you all.   In hindsight, it’s not much of a good story.  But another night in the life of Dan.

and by damage control, I mean LOB!!!

Alright folks, it’s about time for me to finish this vino and call it a night.  I fully support the sharing of stories, tales and lore on here.  I live my life out loud for your amusement.  I’ll start posting more frequently and eventually get this whole blog thing down.  Until then…

Do it for the story,

Dan

Danokablamo on a tandem bicycle…it was a great day!

In the absence of Dano himself sharing stories, I wanted to add a story of my own from the summer of 2006.  Here it goes:

There we were, standing on Navy pier on a bright and sunny Chicago summer day. The four of us were staring at the “Bike Chicago” bicycle rentals sign with a craving for speed and the wind in our hair. I’m with Steph and Dan is with, well at that point, Pat. We were two lovely couples ready to roll on our shiny blue tandem bicycles up the Lake Michigan coast. We paid our money, and we pushed off. Pat and I each took the front seats, Dan and Steph took the back seats. It was trouble at first, balancing was a difficult act with two people on a bicycle. Never mind the amount of people around us, if we went down, we were going to go down hard.

After awhile, we got the hang of it. The bikes started to gain speed, and we weaved and bobbed in and out of the crowds of runners and walkers. We reached North Ave, and we had finally hit our stride. I look at Pat, and he looked at me. Not a word was said, but we both knew. It was time to race.  We pulled to the side, lined up our wheels and we were off. Pat and I were going as fast as we could, we were neck and neck, and we were leaning as far forward as the upright handlebars would let us. As we dash closer to our agreed upon finish line, I look over and there is Dan with his legs high in the air and the pedals spinning rapidly below him. His grin is as wide as the ocean, and he looks at me with a smirk like I should have known what he was going to do.

It was a great day with Danokablamo, filled with great memories and a great moment.

Dan on Dan. With some help.

This blog is all about Dan. But it’s also bigger than the Danokablamo we’ve all come to know and love.

This isn’t your traditional, sleepy blog discussing what the author is ordering at Starbucks, where he’s going on Thursday night, or what lyrics most closely approximate his mood at the moment (If you’re interested in those things, please see Dan’s Facebook or Twitter feeds).

No, this blog is about Dan as a work in progress. Not only will Dan take you “behind the music” to understand what happened BEFORE the seventh round, he’ll open a window into his very soul. What makes Dan tick? What ticks Dan off? Why is emo better than punk rock?

Yet, perhaps the best part about this blog is that it is an opportunity for those who know Dan to critique his every thought, motive, and move. This is an interactive blog that doesn’t just encourage comments, it solicits regular guest posts. If you think Dan needs some helpful (or entirely unhelpful) advice, then you should feel empowered to share it publicly. It’s Dan’s life, but it’s our blog.

Hello world!

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