| new blog |
[Mar. 26th, 2008|11:24 am] |
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For anyone keeping track, I now have a new blog home. It's going to be a part of my whole website which I'm still working on. Anyways, to get to the blog directly, go to www.erikmichaeleklund.com/blog/ |
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| Aging |
[Jul. 21st, 2007|01:41 pm] |
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I'm now 27. FUCK!!! |
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| I see light! |
[Aug. 22nd, 2006|11:41 am] |
Well, after two whole months of being relatively unemployed, I have a job interview tomorrow. It's for this company called carspot.com that my buddy's cousin runs. The job isn't really related to my major, but it's still super-cool anyway. I get to drive around in the carspot VW bugs, go to different dealerships, collect some info on the new used cars, take some pics, and then drive around some more. That means I get to listen to music pretty much constantly at my new job, and it's not crappy top 40 shit. Awesome! So I'm pretty sure I have that job. If not, I also have a backup waiting in the wings. It's a catering job with no relation to my major, but at least I'd get to speak spanish with the cooks, so that almost makes it all worth it. Oh yeah, and the best part about the carspot job is that there's no shitty uniform, and I get to wear jeans and stuff. Double plus good!
In other news, I might be getting a car very soon, as well. That would really help me out right now, even though gas is ridiculous. I'd have to use it sparingly, but that shouldn't be a problem for me.
Well, I have to go take a shower now. Hey, it's before noon! I think that's a new record for the summer. Anyway, take care. |
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| Useless update. |
[Jul. 27th, 2006|12:29 pm] |
I'm not really sure how exciting this update will be for anyone to read, but I'm a little bored and just needed to see my life put into perspective through words on the internet (what the hell is wrong with me???). Anyway, here goes:
So I work part time at Blockbuster Video in Shorewood and it's a super-sweet job. Minimal responsibility, free rentals (movies AND games), an alright uniform, my boss is super-cool and relaxed and loves me, and I get along really well with all of my co-workers. So I have that going for me, but it's only a part time gig and I have hella bills to pay (and student loans will have to begin being paid soon, as well...argh!). To remedy this situation, I've begun looking for a big people job. It's going slowly, probably due to my lack of effort. There are a lot of things I should be doing and a lot of people I should be talking to in order to facilitate my job hunt, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Sleeping 'til noon probably has something to do with that. Anyways, so I went to the Chancery on Downer Ave. the other day to fill out an application, since the restaurant's only two blocks from my new place. I figured I could use that job as a stop-gap between now and getting a real job. They called me back for an interview, which I had on Tuesday. The manager liked me and said I got a "thumbs up" but that I would also have to meet with the assistant manager, which I will be doing today in about 3 hours. I'm sure it will go fine and that I'll get the job and everything, but they're pretty strict on having to work certain shifts. So if I do get that job, I might have to leave Blockbuster, or at least have to do some heavy-duty juggling of shifts between the two places. I don't know if I'm down for that. So I guess I'll just have to tell the assistant today that I need a set schedule and see if that's possible. If not, I guess I will remain poor for a little while longer. Oh well, maybe that'll be good motivation for me to wake up earlier and send out my resumes and writing samples.
And now after all this, I'm going to play Resident Evil 4. I just got it for my birthday and never played it before. It seems pretty sweet. Alright kids, see ya later. Oh, and if anyone is 21+ and around Milwaukee, I'm playing a show on Saturday, August 5 at the BBC on Farwell and North (that's the East Side, if you want to go and need directions, let me know). It's gonna be a kick-ass show and we're playing with one of our best friend's new band who are really good. So yeah, see ya there? |
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| Why life? |
[Jun. 30th, 2006|02:22 pm] |
Okay, so once again I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I was so sure I had it all figured out, but here I am again. So yeah, I would still like to go to grad school, get my masters, and then teach writing/composition at a college. But I don't know if that's what I want to do for real. I'm really digging Spanish right now and I would either like to (a)teach Spanish to English speakers (high school???) or (b)teach English to native Spanish speakers (adults. clearly a more important job, but probably less pay). I'm leaning toward teaching English because I think the Latino community needs a lot of help in this area. There is such a vital part of Milwaukee that struggles with the language and I'm sure it holds them back in daily life. I'd like to help these people get comfortable enough with the language that they can go on to find better jobs and, in turn, make more money for their families. But at the same time, I'd really like to teach Spanish. The language is just facinating to me and I think the next generation is really going to need to know it. More cooperation between the USA and Mexico is going to be crucial in the next few decades, and I want to facilitate this cooperation. I know, I know, I'd just be a small part of it, but I think it would help. But then again, high schoolers can be a pain in the ass. Hmmm. All I know is I need a real job quick so that I can start paying rent and student loans. Fun, fun, fun.
On a different note, anyone going to Summerfest? |
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| Holy crap! An update! |
[Jun. 29th, 2006|10:21 am] |
Hey, so I'm actually writing in this thing! Umm...things have been happening, which is good. I've picked up more hours at my Blockbuster, which is actually ok with me. The job isn't so bad now that I'm just a peon again. I've got a couple of friends that might get jobs with me, too, so that would be good. I'll never understand why EVERYBODY has to come in when there are only 15 minutes until close, though. Seriously! Every Wednesday night I can count on a huge rush at 9:45. Oh, and they're not all good customers, either. There's always at least one who needs to sign up for a card or some other random crap that makes me hate them. But I digress. Work is going alright, but I still need to find at least another part time gig so that I can start paying rent on my new apartment. That's right, my brother, Ryne, and I got the place that we had looked at. He found it while I was in Mexico and when I came back he took me to see it. It's a really awesome place, big kitchen, big front room, nice landlord. Really, I'm just waiting for something to be horribly wrong with it just because everything about it seems perfect right now. Except the guy doesn't want pets there, so I have to leave Shady with my parents again. Apparently I'm destined to never live with that cat again for any extended period of time. Oh well. He can be a bitch at 3:30 am.
My band's going pretty well, too. I'm still waiting on our new CDs to come in the mail, but we've got a show lined up for July 15 in Waukesha and we've started talking to people at Mad Planet about getting on some All Ages bills there. That's gonna kick ass when we start playing those. Teenagers actually appreciate the music I play, whereas other groups our age like our "energy." Not the same thing. At all. Anyway, that's all good.
I should probably finish apply to grad school in Madison. I kinda left that half done when I went to Mexico. Speaking of Mexico, if anyone wants to see pics, they're at erikeklund.multiply.com. There are a lot of them. Also, my friend Jess put some up at jammergirl99.multiply.com (I think that's where they are), so if you're ever super bored and you want to see pictures of mountains and convents and such, head on over and check them out.
Alright, that's it for now. I'm hungry and I need to shave. |
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| He regresado |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|09:30 am] |
So I'm back from Mexico and I must say I miss it like crazy. Even on the plane ride home, about 100 miles outside Chicago I missed it. There are so many reasons why that I don't even know where to start. I guess the most important one is that everything feels so much more relaxed down there. The general attitude of everyone I met down there was very open, accepting, and...well, just relaxed. I can't think of a better word for it. I don't know. I'm pretty sure I could live down there for the rest of my life and be very happy.
In any event, right now I'm watching the US-Ghana World Cup game and the US is losing. Did I mention that I'm watching it on Univision? Yeah. It all seems so much more exciting in Spanish. Anyway, the US is getting manhandled by Ghana. They're definitely a much more physical team and they're not afraid to use it. There were two yellow cards issued in the first 10 minutes!
I've started looking for jobs to fill the gap until grad school. I applied for one two days ago, so we'll see if I hear back from them today. If not, I'll look for a different one. I'm also looking for apartments with my brother, Ryne. We saw one on Tuesday that was really great. It's right on Downer, about a block from where it's all happening, and the place is just perfect. I really hope I get it, because that would just be one less thing to worry about. But then I'd have to worry even harder about getting a job in order to pay rent. Hmm.... I seem to have a lot of worries. I should stop doing that.
On the girlfriend front, it couldn't be better. Els and I have started working things out and I'm soooooo happy. I learned a lot about myself and my attitudes/habits in the past 2 months, and those things have allowed me to finally be an honest person who's not afraid to talk about things or hear criticism. Whatever. I'm just really happy and have never been more sure that I'm goin to marry this girl. I spent all day yesterday moving her into her new apartment, which was weird, but it's a really nice place and it will be good for us to be close to each other (her apt is right near the place I looked at) but not exactly in the same apartment.
Is there any bad news? I'm trying to think of some, but I'm not coming up with any. If anyone wants to see my photos from Mexico, check them out at your leisure at erikeklund.multiply.com. |
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| 9/11 |
[May. 20th, 2006|05:43 pm] |
Hey kids. Just a brief update telling you all to check out this video called Loose Change. It's pretty liberal, but I don't think that overshadows the facts. It's like an hour and a half long, so you may need some time. But yeah, everyone needs to watch this at least once.
www.seeloosechange.com |
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| So it's been a while. |
[May. 17th, 2006|10:27 am] |
| [ | music |
| | Panic! at the Disco | ] |
Wow. I guess I haven't updated this thing for many moons. I've been soooooo super busy with school that I've been neglecting my inner computer nerd. Shame on me, I know.
ONE MORE DAY!!!! That's right, one more day until this whole "school" thing is over with. At least for a year. Anyway, I just remembered that I forgot to do one little part for David's portfolio, so I'll get to work on that in a second. Today will be heavily devoted to studying for Nancy's American Lit II final. It's gonna be a terrible test, because I'm not good at remembering specific things from books. I'm more of an "overall theme" guy. Why couldn't I just write another paper? I'd much rather do that than take some crappy-ass final. Oh well.
I still can't get over how much fun Senior Reading was. I was sooooo super nervous, but when I got up there, it was all good. I've gotten some really amazing feedback from everyone, even people I didn't even know. Like last Thursday when I went to Brad and Shawn's theatre thing, as soon as I walked in the door someone's like "Hey, is that Erik from last night's reading?" I turned around and it turned out to be David Oswald. I'd never met him before. Then at intermission, another teacher took me aside and started sharing his story about standing up to his father with me. I never caught his name, but I think he's an art teacher. You've all probably seen him. He's got a Georgian accent and he's skinny with a beard. Anyway, like I said, great compliments all around from faculty and friends.
As most of you know, I moved out of my apartment that I shared with Els, my girlfriend, almost three weeks ago now. We seem to be on some sort of weird hiatus from our relationship. But we've been "talking" (emailing, but same dif for me) a lot lately, which is something I was never really good at, and it seems like we might be able to salvage this whole thing. Once I get back from Mexico we're going to have a really big face-to-face talk and see where we are with things. I love her so much, and I know she loves me back, so I'm pretty optimistic about the whole thing. It's just hard to have to wait another month until I can see her. But it's for the better, and I think our relationship has greatly improved by taking this little break. Anyway, I'm probably boring you. Okay, now to finish up Dave's portfolio. |
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| A Lighthearted Poem |
[Apr. 28th, 2006|11:07 am] |
So I wrote this poem after watching episode one of this sixth season of The Sopranos. It's styled after Frank O'Hara's poem that goes like this:
Lana Turner has collapsed!
I was trotting along and suddenly
it started raining and snowing
and you said it was hailing
but hailing hits you on the head
hard so it was really snowing and
raining and I was in such a hurry
to meet you but the traffic
was acting exactly like the sky
and suddenly I see a headline
LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED!
there is no snow in Hollywood
there is no rain in California
I have been to lots of parties
and acted perfectly disgraceful
but I never actually collapsed
oh Lana Turner we love you get up
So here's my version. Erin should get a huge kick out of this. If she doesn't, I have failed.
Tony Soprano has been shot!
I was halfway through
a bowl of popcorn extra butter
trying to pry a pesky seed
from between my teeth
and suddenly I hear
CAZZATA MALANGA!...BANG!!!
there is no crew outside Satriale's
there is no meeting in the office of the Bing
I have seen him fight off
an assassination attempt
and collapse from panic attacks
but never actually get shot
oh Tony Soprano we love you get up
Yeah. What do you think? |
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erik_emergency's journal