|
|
|
April 8th, 2009
April 6th, 2009
01:50 pm - Reality check
You cannot fake talent nor acquire it over night, but somehow it has managed it make a name for itself by means of fabrication.
There are only a few in the music industry that have true talent. The rest are fakes. The talentless are promoted in such a manner that the music produced does not matter. Their efforts are disguised with flashy clothes, flashy stage conduct, flashy record-production, and so on. At the end of the day, all that flash just turns into a flash in a pan. None of them have true longevity or staying-power in this industry.
Stemming from my previous post, what happened to the music? When people liked bands for the music they made and nothing more! I understand role models and the whole "rock star" stereotype that makes some musicians more captivating than others, but the first thing that people are drawn by is the music.
I know that this will have no impact on anything because I know for a fact that most of the people that read this blog are friends and/or Valencia-listeners. We most likely happen to share the same opinions so I'm preaching to the choir here. The reason I'm writing is to get frustrations off of my chest. You can only imagine how frustrating it is as a musician to put your music out there and have it overshadowed by a world of crap. Unfortunately our approach of pure music is not what the majority the music industry cares about. I'm not admitting defeat of any kind; I am merely admitting reality. Then again, you all probably know and see the same as we do.
|
March 29th, 2009
12:35 pm - Music, like how it was meant to be.
Last night I went to the Gaslight Anthem show and it opened my eyes wider than they've ever been before. Everything about the show was a completely different world than what I was used to. Although I've seen it before, I've never truly experienced it first hand. The music, the people, the feeling in the air... everything about the show hit me like a brick.
It was real, about how dreams can come true, about true feelings and hard work. IT WAS ABOUT THE MUSIC. There weren't crazy stage clothes, ego boxes, special lighting systems, or ipod tracks. It was music like how it was meant to be: Guitar-in-hand, meaningful, raw, pure, driven music. The crowd was the same. They actually cared about the music. There weren't any cliques, there weren't any jealous stares, there weren't any "scene queens," no one in the room was wearing anything remotely close to American Apparel, and there definitely weren't any autographs or pictures with band members to be had.
Last night shed a light of hope on the music industry. There are still real bands out there that play real music and that have real fans.
EDIT:
This is NOT a comparison. This is a perspective of MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. If you cannot understand this then it is out of my hands. I am not denouncing, encouraging, undermining, persuading, etc. I never knew public domain had to be such a controversy or an argument these days. I am not politically correct. This is my opinion. This is my journal. Thank you for ruining anything positive that I experienced and wanted to share with you all.
EDIT #2:
I DID NOT REMOVE ANY COMMENTS nor would I ever. What self-satisfaction would I have over the fact that I removed of comment of someone else's opinion?
I found it amazing that I went to a concert and people were there for just the music.
I did not say people should not take pictures.
I did not say people should not want autographs.
I did not say that anything remotely hypocritical in the sense that I'm comparing my band to theirs.
I am NOT JUDGING ANYONE that goes to shows.
I had a great time at a show.
I wanted to share with the world about my great time.
I had such a great time because I got lost in the music and that's all that mattered. It SEEMED to have the same affect on everyone else that came to that show. No one SEEMED to be there for anything else but the MUSIC. THAT'S ALL I SAID AND IT GOT TURNED INTO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND PEOPLE DECIDED TO TAKE MY WORDS, MAKE THEM THEIR OWN AND THROW IT BACK IN MY FACE.
I am not against your opinion or the fact that people decide to write their opinions on my journal but when you attack or insult me over something that I am not guilty of, then it becomes an issue.
Valencia is in no way involved in this. I did not mention my band once during this blog post or in any of my responses. I am not comparing Valencia fans to GLA fans. I am not comparing Valencia's music to GLA's.
I am done defending myself for no reason. You have several responses on my behalf trying to explain to a select few that they are misconstruing my words. I thank you all for reading and sharing your thoughts.
|
March 27th, 2009
11:39 am - Hello, internet. I've come back.
It's been entirely too long since I've updated this thing. It has a lot to do with being on tour the past two-months and wanting to enjoy my time on the road rather than writing about my it. Less time is spent living when you're huddled behind a 13-inch computer screen hoping that your experiences will translate well onto paper... or um, digital paper. On top of that, my wireless network at home so conveniently stopped working upon arrival. My parents didn't notice because their relic of a PC is hard-wired to our cable modem; after many hours of trail-and-error troubleshooting on my part I finally fixed the glitch, restored some factory defaults, and got myself back online! Ahhhh, it's so relieving being able to type with all of my fingers rather than my thumb-driven iPhone.
So where do I begin? I really don't want to bore myself or others by reciting every little detail since we departed on the "Say No To Neon" Tour on January 29th. It was the longest tour we've ever done in our 4-year career; coming in a close second is the Spitalfield, Punchline, OverIt, BoysLikeGirls tour which was in the fall of 2006. BLG was 1 of 5 on that tour, haha. That was 6 weeks and this had us out for 7, but the added bonus was a 2-week trip to Australia for the Sound Wave Festival. It was actually a vacation more than a tour. We played 5 festival shows and two club shows, which left plenty of days off for flying, relaxing, or both. Coming home was quite the reality shock. Every single aspect of life was arranged for us while overseas, whereas in the states we bite the dust and go through the grind ourselves. It didn't seam real to any of us but it's all the more motivation to one day have such treatment when we tour in the states, not just abroad. That is proving to be a task far more difficult with each passing day. There is little room for failure in my life and although we are tired of asking ourselves "When will it be our turn?," the only way to answer that is to make that turn a reality with continuous hard work.
I have plenty more clutter that's in my head that I need to release but that will come in a later, more defined update. For now I'm just updating for the sake of updating because I'm happy I fixed the wireless. Go me!
|
January 27th, 2009
10:50 pm - 40 Random Facts
Here's what you get when my mind wanders...
1) I'm obsessed with health, diet, nutrition, fitness, and everything that could possibly be involved with it.
2) I come off very intimidating but it's probably because I tend to keep to myself.
3) I'm extremely shy to those whom I am not friendly with, but once you get to know me you will find out that I'm completely out of my mind.
4) My favorite food is Grilled Chicken Parmesan. Hands down.
5) From age 4-18 soccer was my life. I quit to pursue a music career. My parents didn't talk to me during the first two months of that decision because I also gave up a scholarship to a Division 1 school. We're all good now.
6) I tend to put others in front of myself. This usually ends with spreading myself too thin.
7) I am very OCD and have very militaristic habits. My entire day is on a schedule and I size/color order every possession I have.
8) My shoe size is a 10. Hooray for feet!
9) I grew up and still live in Northeast Philadelphia. Yes, I have football player wallpaper in my room. Yes, I am 23 years old.
10) I absolutely love my family. Now that I'm older I do all that is in my power to make that bond stronger.
11) I am the youngest of four. I have two half-sisters (40 and 38) and a brother who is 26.
12) I haven't had what I consider to be a relationship since I was 17-18 years old. I've had a few girlfriends since then but they were all short-lived.
13) I have had at least one cup of coffee every day for the past 6 months, if not longer. I'm addicted and caffeine is healthy (in moderation).
14) I eat 6 whole eggs a day. Sometimes all at once for breakfast or split up as snacks throughout the day.
15) I've trained my body to be hungry every 2-3 hours. This involves 3-4 proper meals, 3-4 protein shakes, and 2-3 snacks.
16) I hate spending money but always offer to pick up the bill when I'm eating out with friends.
17) I rarely watch or read programs that do not benefit or provide me with some sort of knowledge.
18) I really want to go to Italy one day. Business or pleasure.
19) I have the sleeping pattern of a 90-year-old man when I'm not on tour. I hit the hay by 10-11 each night and wake up by 7-8 each morning. My body is programmed to wake up early and I don't remember the last time I slept past 9 am.
20) I hate getting my haircut because it never turns out the way I want. I started cutting my own hair when I was 19 because of this.
21) I find myself giving advice often from personal experiences but who's to say I'm right? But most of the time I'm too cocky to admit I don't know everything.
22) I'm terrible at returning phone calls. I think it really boils down to that I hate talking on the phone and whenever I receive a phone call I'm usually in the middle of something... then I just forget. It's a vicious cycle.
23) No matter how much effort I put into my fitness, I'll never be satisfied with myself.
24) I call my mother every day when I'm on tour.
25) I'm a conservative but growing up in a liberal city and a liberal education has encouraged me to have an open mind.
26) I drink 1 to 1.5 gallons of water a day. I pee A LOT.
27) I have a toothbrush blog but am actually insecure about my teeth.
28) Blink-182 is my favorite band ever. They're the reason I'm playing music today.
29) I have three tattoos on my left chestal region areaish. The reasoning is that they're close to my heart.
30) I am more eager to build friendships through Valencia rather than fanships.
31) I'm allergic to fish but not shellfish. I have no explanation for this because I used to feast on tuna sandwiches as a young lad. Crab is my favorite seafood these days.
32) I refuse to sleep upstairs when I'm home alone so I opt for the family-room couch that I'm too tall for. It's a paranoia/safety thing.
33) I have no patience for people who complain and are too lazy to be the change they wish to see in the world or themselves.
34) I want two boys and a girl when it comes time for a family. (Given my wife would comply with this) First boy named after myself, second boy named Nicholas, and I'd name the girl Raphael after my grandmother.
35) My family's real last name is Paravoti. My Great Uncle changed it to Perry to be more American and allow for better business opportunities.
36) My family calls marinara sauce "gravy" or "red gravy." Yet we still refer to brown gravy as "gravy." We're weird Italians (and Polish, too!).
37) Eating is one of my favorite activities; hence why most of these random facts are about my eating habits. Luckily my passion for weight training is complimented by a proper diet/nutrition plan so it's a win-win situation for me.
38) I wish I was closer with my brother but our lives are on two completely different paths. Right now the only bond we have in common is bodybuilding; I have him and my Father to thank for that inspiration. I grew up emulating pretty much every aspect of his life until we hit college.
39) I started music with the clarinet in 2nd grade because I wanted to be like my brother. He started on clarinet and moved to the sax; I had the same goal in mind. My clarinet days were short-lived, however, and I quit after a year. I then bought my own drum set in 5th grade and took lessons. My first bands had me on drums and George played bass. I then took up the guitar in 7th grade, teaching myself through tabulator.
40) I refuse to take any sort of medication. Aside from family history, we can only blame ourselves for getting sick; therefore we have the ability through natural causes to be healed. For example, headaches are often caused by dehydration, lack of sleep, or stress so my solution would be to drink more water, take a nap, or pinpoint my stress-factor and remove it.
|
January 14th, 2009
01:59 pm - "Frustrations" by JonDom Paravoti
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm only one man.
I have a hard time saying "No."
My time seems to be running out.
My eagerness outweighs the size of my wallet.
I hate making empty promises but everything seems to be leaning that way.
I hate not following through with expectations.
At least I'm trying?
|
January 13th, 2009
08:59 am - Politically Incorrect with JD Perry
I received a message from "MySpace Help" saying that they had to remove one of my toothbrush pictures because it was in "violation of the MySpace terms and agreement."
Here's the picture they removed...
http://toothbrushphotoblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/day-105-old-man-perry.html
There's something drastically wrong with the world. Take the stick out of your asses people.
|
December 31st, 2008
07:39 pm - A revelation for your resolution
Many of us celebrating the turn of the New Year will use today as a one-last-hurrah. We'll go out with our closest friends or family with the mindset of ending 2008 on a "high-note," forgetting about all of our worries and responsibilities for the night. By tomorrow morning it'll be a new day for a fresh start and a reason to start making some changes. My question is, why the hell do we need an occasion or celebration to make those changes? People get so caught up in the "New Year's Resolution" concept; they promise themselves they'll stick to their resolution and use the Eve as an excuse. Maybe it's just me but that should be our mindset on a daily... no, lifetime basis. Americans, especially, are notorious for making excuses because we think we NEED some things in our life rather than viewing them as WANTS.
Instead of using New Year's Eve as a reason to makes some changes in your life, why not start today or yesterday or 12 months ago when the needs for change first sets in?! It's completely absurd that we provide ourselves with excuses because we honestly think we cannot survive another day without the things we want, not need. No one needs a cold beer at the end of a work day to help them relax, no one needs a cigarette to relieve stress, no one needs to eat a triple-chocolate fudge banana cream cake ice cream sundae with nuts, caramel syrup, and whipped cream with a cherry on top to make themselves feel good. Those examples and others of the like are crutches. Why act disabled when we have the power to choose the latter?
I encourage all sorts of resolutions to better oneself. View this as a promise to your livelihood, holding it in much higher regard because we tend to be more forgiving when we break self-promises. We are lucky to have the power of choice; don't ever take this for granted.
Happy New Year!
-JD
|
December 20th, 2008
12:48 pm - Closing Time
I love the holidays. Everything about fall and winter brings back THE BEST nostalgic feelings. October to January have to be my favorite consecutive months of the year; reason being is that I have something to celebrate each month: Birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. It's a cool way to end each year and go out a "high-note," so-to-speak. While 2008 has brought me a bit of a curve ball in terms of celebrating the first three occasions, I still managed to make the most of them. I spent my birthday in the back seat of our van during a 12-hour drive from Pocatello, Idaho to Seattle, Washington; we had a show in Houston, Texas on Halloween; and I got myself sick on Thanksgiving so I missed the entire day because I was asleep/had my head in the toilet.
My music career is to blame for the first two but I use the word "blame" in a positive manner. It's awesome that I am able to celebrate these occasions in an entirely different environment or situation than most stereotypes yield. How many other friends do you know played a show in Houston, Texas dressed as Henry Rollins? Yeah, I would bet money that I was the only person in the world that day to do that. And a birthday spent driving across the country with my best friends? Pshhh, let's make a movie about it! My only regret is being selfish on Thanksgiving.
Since I've been home I've become extremely dedicated to my work-out regime in an attempt to regain all the weight/muscle I lost on my insane low-carb (ketogenic) diet during the past 6 months. My Brother and Father came down with a 24-hour bug in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and sure enough, I woke up that Thursday morning with the same symptoms that they had. Going against my common sense, I forced myself to lift thinking I could "sweat it out." Low and behold I sent my body into more of a chaotic state than it started out as and I couldn't even stay awake by the time my family came over for dinner. I spent a good 10 minutes with my family that day before they all yelled at me, demanding that I go back to bed because I looked horrible. I managed to make up for my lack of common sense in the days to come by catching up with one of my sisters over lunch, dinner with my parents, and phone calls with the rest.
Up next is Christmas and I cannot express how excited I am to revive myself and give back to my family for all they have given me. We agreed to not purchase gifts for one another given the lovely state our economy finds itself in but it just didn't feel right not buying gifts. I threw together some extra cash to buy presents for my parents, three nephews, and niece. Since my sisters started their families the holidays have been all about the kids and making them happy. It's a good feeling to know that a few small sacrifices can go a long way when you see their faces light up as they tear open their presents.
2008 has proven to be an eye-opening experience and I plan on taking full advantage of what's left. I can only hope that next year will hold the same positive path.
-JD
|
November 20th, 2008
05:33 pm - Only Time Will Tell
Since the release of WANARTB we've gotten a lot of "guff," if-you-will, as to why Valencia is not "bigger" than reality displays. The @replies, rebuttals, arguments, comments, and anything of the like "defending" our band are more than appreciated; probably more than you all may know. It's one thing for people to support your band and music but for those to put their support on the line and argue in our corner goes far beyond any expectations we have as musicians or even people for that matter. Seeing such support in person and on the internet is completely mind-blowing to me; it really makes me appreciate those who support our music and also the path we've taken to get to the road we are on now. The reason I'm bringing all of this up is that along with a news post on a popular web zine promoting our video debut tomorrow, it was furthered with a discussion about the popularity of our band and the reasons why we are, well, "not"...
Here is my response as to why "Valencia isn't bigger than they should/deserve to be."
We are who we are, you get what you see, no bullshit, no flash. We are a group of five best friends who have come together to write, record, and tour to the best of our ability, sharing our passion with those who feel the same way. We truly care about our music and the connection it provides with others. Aside from our own sacrifices, drive, and passion for our music, the people that support our band are a huge reason as to why we are able to fulfill our dreams with each passing day.
Valencia has been together for about four years now, coming together in the Fall of 2004, recording our first CD in March 2005, and starting our career that same October with its official release. Since then we've put our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls into this band and are dedicated to the idea to play music for a living. With the help of endless touring, unconditional support, and some song-writing experience we were able to make that more of a reality by our signing to Columbia last December. With such a giant leap it is expected that we are destined to become a popular and "huge" band, comparing us to our peers in the industry that have met or surpassed such expectations. The reality is that no one, no matter who you are or who you're affiliated with, should expect anything to happen. I've always said this, and no disrespect to Rob Hitt, I-Surrender, and anyone who we've worked with at any point in our short-career: "We've always been dealt a shitty hand that we managed to turn into Aces." We are where we are today because of hard work and a never-fail outlook. At the end of the day it is up to the five of us in order to make our dreams come true. We've learned not to expect anything, no matter who's hand is outstretched to nudge us along in the "right" direction. Although I don't think we've truly turned over "Aces," we have made a significant name for ourselves in this fucked up industry that we are all so infatuated with. I used "we are all" in that sentence because the separation of the music industry and fans no longer exists. There used to be a time that no one knew a band's first week numbers or what their birthdays were unless you paid to be in the fan club. The industry is so wide open and public that it almost takes away from the validity of it. This is both a pro and con for bands these days. Some can take advantage of the wall being broken by allowing every aspect of their band to be seen, whereas this could be a formula for disaster, being so vulnerable and out-in-the-open in such a cut-throat industry.
There is no right or wrong answer as to why we are not in a "higher" position than we see ourselves today. To be honest I've never been more happy in my life and I'm proud of what we've accomplished thus far. If this were to all go away tomorrow I will still walk away with a smile on my face being able to experience such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and meeting some of the most amazing people in the world because of our art. Music is such a strong force and the power it holds to bring people together will never cease to amaze me or my band mates. Our goal is to keep doing what we know best, and that is the same thing we've done every single day for the past four years: work hard. We will continue to put 110% of Valencia into Valencia as long as we are together. Will that be enough for us to get to the "next level"? Who knows! This is what makes me happy and I will do all that is in my power to keep my dreams alive.
Thank you to everyone who supports Valencia. You truly mean the world to us; after all, you're the reason why we get to experience it.
-JD
|
October 29th, 2008
10:14 am - "A Change We Need"
I thought the title would suit seeing how the world is infatuated with this joke of an election. My opinion, and this is not to start an argument or to ruffle any feathers, but I think both candidates are out of their minds. No matter who wins this election, every aspect that is the entity of the United States of America is screwed for the next decade. Give or take, there have been six years of mistakes and I don't think the next four in the "right" direction is enough to fix anything that has already made its impact.
With that being said, the change I am quoting needs to happen within myself. Over the past month or so I've seen a change in myself that I have noticed to follow a more selfish, stubborn, and narrow-minded path. I like to stick to what I know, have a specific routine, and rarely stray from a status-quo I have built my life around. This tends to shut any experiences, opinions, or options that I don't see fit/match my idea of standards out of my daily life. At the end of the day I want to make sure I'm happy and this has been the best way to make sure that happens but this "My way or the highway" mindset is, for lack of a better phrase, turning me into an asshole. I need to learn that I'm not always "right" and to let others voice their opinions without my bias getting in the way. I'm taking my friends for granted and this is something I never thought I'd experience seeing how I preach to not look past the important things in life. Nobody is perfect but began to think I was.
Today is a new day.
-JD
|
October 17th, 2008
03:34 am - A very happy birthday to me...
Celebrating my birthday today has definitely helped shed a new perspective on my life. Actually there hasn't been much "celebrating" at all on my part and I don't really plan on following through with any birthday cliches. I'm not jaded, asking for pity, or being an ass, I'd rather have an enjoyable day doing what makes me happy than mimicking lines from a children's book. I've heard countless times to "treat" myself with a food that is not in my diet or to splurge on an article of clothing if I see fit, but at the end of the day I am much happier following my normal routine and path that I have set out for myself. We never know what to expect from any other ordinary day so why should we expect more just because we happened to be born on a given day?
We all naturally have hopes, and with our annual birthdays we tend to get the hopes up in lieu of the fact that this is "my day" and I want all of my dreams to come true on this specific day... or else! When some or none of those hopes fall in our favor, we then get crushed because birthdays are supposed to be this huge, giant party that is built up by society. I've learned not to let my expectations get the best of me, particularly in situations where I'm programmed to expect the most.
I stumbled upon this new perspective through a trait I tend to take for granted sometimes: sincerity. My family and friends mean the world to me but it wasn't until today that I realized that I could possibly mean the same to them. It began last night with a few early birthday texts, myspace comments, and facebook wall posts. I didn't think much of it until I woke up this morning with text, after text, after text. I received, collectively, hundreds of calls, texts, messages, posts, comments, and e-mails from every person I could imagine. My family, of course, friends, peers, an internet zine, random fans, people whom I haven't talked to in over a decade, and so on. It really put me back in my seat to realize that I have had an impact on all of these people in some way, shape, or form for them to go out of their way to wish me a happy birthday. The impact doesn't have to be life-changing but it's obviously enough for people to show their appreciation.
My birthday was spent like any other day on tour. I woke up at 7:30 AM, stretched, brushed my teeth and documented it, made my way to the breakfast room, had my hard-boiled eggs, turkey, oatmeal, coffee, and daily newspaper, proceeded to do my push-up routine, took a shower, checked out of the hotel only to sit in the van for 9-hours while we drove from Pocatello, Idaho to Kennewick, Washington to stay the night. We stopped for dinner at Qdoba and I had my status-quo meal of a grilled chicken salad, got back in the van and a few hours later made it to our hotel. Right now I'm sitting in the laundry room catching up on the internet and making sure I have clean clothes for the next week or so. Just a normal day but it was made special by my family, friends, and peers.
Thanks to everyone for making my birthday something to remember. It's really the little things in life that go a long way and make more of an impact than any of us could imagine.
-JD
|
October 4th, 2008
11:22 am - Excuse me, do you know what time it is?
My life revolves around time. If the concept of time did not exist and clocks were not invented, my entire life would be in complete and utter disarray. It's one of those things I think most people definitely take for granted or we don't put much thought into the idea in the first place. We have clocks in every form: watches, cell phones, home phones, caller ids, on television sets and even on the programs we watch (no pun intended), microwaves that not only tell time but count down time, dvd players, ipods, washing machines, home decor, and so on. The infinite time-telling resources is pretty absurd if you think about it. I'm surprised some idiot hasn't come up with the idea of embedding a clock within our bodies... oh wait, that's called an internal clock. Go figure.
I wake, eat, sleep, arrange, plan, exercise and perform a whole boat-load of other daily activities according to the clock. It brings me comfort and order. My body's internal clock does not let me sleep no-later than 9 AM, and that's sleeping in for me. I tend to wake at 7:30 or 8 every morning and if that doesn't happen sometimes my entire day can be thrown off. The reason being is that I eat every two-three hours and plan my daily tasks accordingly. Those tasks can vary from exercise, to hanging out with friends, to running errands, watching TV, playing a show, etc. Everything is by the clock; once one task is complete, I'm in search for a clock to let me know when that task has ended and immediately has me planning the time in until my next scheduled task.
Although I base my life around the clock and I am that much more content because of it, I do find myself envying those from time to time that just, for less of a better phrase, don't give a shit. A lot of my peers wake whenever they want, eat when they are hungry and not on a fixed schedule, watch a TV show because they happened to turn it on, are constantly late, don't even own a watch, the screen on their cell phone is broken so they have no concept of time, are flabbergasted when they try to read an analog watch, or don't even own one electronic device, let alone an entertainment center filled with them, to convey the time.
Maybe one day I'll eliminate all sources of time and see where the wind takes me rather than the minutes. It'll take some getting used to but I think we all can benefit if we are thrown a wrench from time to time.
"What doesn't kill you will make you stronger."
-JD
|
September 26th, 2008
10:19 am - Toothbrush Photo Blog
I've started a daily-morning Toothbrush Photo Blog due to my love for personal hygiene and the humor that accompanies being half-asleep while brushing my teeth. I'll be uploading them via my Twitter account to two separate albums found on my MySpace and Facebook profiles.
And I encourage you all to reply with your own Toothbrush Blogs. It's more fun than you may think.
Let's start the revolution!
-JD
|
September 23rd, 2008
12:42 pm - My diet
Incase anyone who is wondering what I actually eat, especially how I manage to maintain a health diet while on-the-road:
I purchased a small cooler to store my food for as many days-worth I can fit. To keep everything cold I have a large starbucks plastic cup that I refill with ice twice a day and wrap in a small plastic ball incase any leaks may ensue. I either get the ice from hotel vending machines, gas station stops, or anywhere that doesn't give a hoot that I'm filling a cup up with ice for free.
On top of that I have a plastic drawer that I keep the rest of my non-perishable foods/goodies.
My morning routine has me up early to fit in breakfast, work out, shower, and a local grocery store stop. I gps search "grocery," "market," "supermarket," or that actual store name every morning so I can purchase my food to store in my cooler.
Hotel stays are always accompanied by a request for a fridge/microwave in the room to further store my food.
Here's what I buy:
1) Egg Land's Best "Hard-Boiled" or "Hard Cooked" Eggs. Not every store offers these pre-packaged hard-boiled eggs but occasionally I manage to find them in the dairy section. They come in either packs of six or ten; they're an easy way to incorporate eggs into my daily diet.
-If the store doesn't carry this convenient version of eggs, I will hit up the salad bar where they usually feature hard-boiled eggs or sometimes the cheese/salad section has pre-packaged hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerated isles. It sometimes takes me a couple trips around the store to find the eggs before I buckle down and ask an employee.
-Another alternative is if we are staying at a friends' house and I know I have access to a stove/pot, I will buy raw eggs and boil them myself to stop in a zip-lock bag.
-Otherwise McDonald's EggMcMuffin sandwiches (sans the muffin) are an quick-fix to finding eggs and protein. 7-11, Wawa, and Sheetz also carry packaged hard-boiled eggs.
-I try to eat 8-12 whole eggs a day so I find myself on egg-hunts daily.
2) Pre-packaged lean deli meats. "Healthy Ones" offers low-fat, high-protein turkey, chicken, ham, and roast beef deli meats that comes in great portion sizes that provide my taste enough protein for a meal. Usually the serving size is 50 calories, 1.5g fat, 0 carbs, and 10g protein; the whole package yielding 2.5 servings which translates to 25 g protein.
-I usually consume two-three packs a day.
3) Perdue, Hormell, or Tyson Grilled Chicken Strips. These are a better alternative than the deli meats because they have a considerable smaller amount of sodium. They cost a bit more so I tend to buy these sparingly, but are more preferable. Sodium is a default preservative so it will be involved in any pre-cooked packaged meat so that's the only draw back to this part of my diet; it elevates blood pressure and also dehydrates your body.
4) Vegetables: Spinach Salads, whole tomatoes, broccoli florets, or hit the salad bar and make myself a large salad for the day which I will split in two to use for two separate meals along with my previously purchased deli meats.
5) My solution to diet soda is sparkling water. If I cannot find Perrier or San Pellegrino, I'll opt for a Caffeine-Free Diet Coke.
6) Water and coffee are my be-all-end-all to my beverage intake. Water is the best thing to put in your body and the natural caffeine/anti-oxidants in coffee are great for your health. I absolutely love Cafe Americano's (plain/black) from Starbucks.
7) Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Plain Oatmeal, Alvarado Street Bakery Sprouted No-Salt Multi Grain Bread, and Alvarado Street Bakery Sprouted Wheat Tortillas are up my carbohydrate intake. I avoid bread (or anything for that matter!) that's made with high-fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils so more-pricey, organic breads are the way to go.
8) Naturally More Peanut Butter. This is a peanut butter made with flax-seed, honey, and egg whites. Instead of refined sugar, it's made with natural sugar, has healthy fats, and provides more protein per serving.
9) Protein powder. I have two different types of protein: Whey (post-workout only) and a Complex-blend (whey, casein, and egg that I use as a meal replacement). I have two protein shakes a day, once around noon and another before I go to bed. I buy Dymatize 12-Hour Elite Fudge Brownie Protein. And instead of mixing the powder with 8 fluid ounces of water, I pour a small amount of water, making it a cake-like batter, tossing it in the (if available) fridge for an hour, and I "indulge" as if it were ice cream.
10) Snacks: 100-Calorie Blue Diamond Almond packs, Jacks Link's Original Recipe Beef Jerky, Part-Skim Mozzarella String Cheese.
11) Subway: The ultimate tour food. I order double-meat, over-roasted chicken breast as a salad. Sometimes Subway has spinach, which I prefer over the regular iceberg lettuce. My toppings include tomatoes, green peppers, onions, jalopeno peppers, and I ask for two spoonfuls of marinara sauce from the meatball pot. I LOVE marinara sauce and I've learned to stick with what I know.
That's the jist of it. It tends to be a bit more costly and time-consuming but it allows me to follow my diet as I see fit. At the end of the day I feel better, healthier, and am a happier person.
-JD
|
September 20th, 2008
11:08 pm - Sticks and stones may break my bones
Here's a nice little story:
We set up a few "In-Store" performances at local FYE's that fit into our headlining tour schedule. It's a great opportunity to meet new/old fans and also to give them the chance to see us performance in a small, intimate setting. We managed to do three performances, the last being today in Trumbull, CT; the others in Oklahoma City, OK and Akron, OH. The story I want to share with you all occurred before our Akron performance.
The previous night we played Howell, MI and planned it out to stay in a Toledo, OH hotel that night so we could leave at a reasonable time the next morning to get to the mall by our scheduled 2 PM performance. We managed to make good time despite hitting a rain storm that I braved behind the wheel, during which we witnessed a car skidding off the road, nearly hitting our van at 70 MPH. Aside from that it was an easy drive and we made it to the mall by 1, giving us enough time to wander around and grab lunch before we played. I tend to be a healthy-eater, rarely straying away from my normal diet but that day I decided to dabble in some Chinese food. I ordered some steamed veggies and bourbon chicken, paid for my meal, and turned to spot any other Valencia members sitting down to join them. I eventually found max no more than 50 feet away and began to walk over. I minded my own business as I passed through the isles until I managed to hear a word that literally stopped me in my tracks. I walked passed this kid, I'd say he was about 17 or 18, and as his head was buried in his lunch I heard him mutter the word, "Faggot," when I walked by. I stopped, cocked my head to the side and said to myself "Did I really hear what I think I heard?" I backed up and inquired about his judgement:
JD - "Excuse me?"
Bro - "What? You got a problem?"
JD - "I'm pretty sure you just called me a faggot, I was just wondering why?"
Bro - "You want to take this outside or something?"
JD - "No, I'm just wondering why you decided to call me a faggot."
Bro - "Those pants. Why are your pants so tight? You look like a faggot."
JD - "What difference does that make?"
Bro - "Because you look like gay. They're so tight."
JD - "I happen to like these jeans so I bought them. Why are you wearing those jeans? Probably because you like them."
Bro - "They look normal. Look at mine compared to yours. They're normal."
JD - "You like your jeans, I like my jeans. To each their own my friend. There's no need to call me a faggot. Have yourself a good day."
I eventually made my way to the table and proceeded to tell Max about the ridiculous situation I was just involved. Max laughed aloud and said I should have fought the kid, given my interest in working out and having no tolerance for stupid people. I did not want to make a huge deal about it because it really didn't phase me. I had no desire to fight this person because of his lack of character and false-judgement; that would only bring me down to his level. When I heard him say the word "Faggot," I was genuinely intrigued as to what his motives were. I took it as more of a learning experience than a confrontation. It just proves to me that no matter what efforts or progress society may take in the "right" direction, there will always be a good portion of people that feel the need to hinder that movement.
Some battles are just not meant to be won.
-JD
|
September 7th, 2008
10:59 am - Well I Guess This Is Growing Up...
I decided to page through my older entries for the sole reason as to why I began this blog in the first place: To reflect on older memories and gain a perspective on my personality. To be honest, I am a bit embarrassed with myself. I started this journal in March 2006 at the age of 20; I'm 22 now and my adolescent maturity level is quite prominent during the first two years of entries. My mindset and perspective on life now is completely different than what I held just two years ago. It's amazing how much a person can change in such a short time frame. I like to think I've changed for the better and I couldn't be happier with the person I am today. In my previous entries I would claim I was happy as well, and maybe I was, but I think my definition of "happy" today does not compare to what I considered it in 2006. I remember feeling very lost, wanting to find myself and a balance in my life. I was going through an immense amount of changes due to my high school to college transition, my college to touring transition, and my active-lifestyle to a no-motivation-to-be-healthy-what-so-ever transition. It's all trial-and-error, adapt-and-overcome.
I encourage everyone to start blogging (if you haven't already). Whether it's writing a weekly update on what's going on with your life, a few sentences about your day, or a scapegoat to release your emotions. Although I'm not entirely proud of the person I was, it has helped me learn more about myself than any book or teacher could ever provide.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
-JD
|
August 31st, 2008
09:22 am - overwhelmed
Words cannot even describe how I felt on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008. A day that was two years in the making and it proved to be a day that I will never forget. I can attempt to go on about the steps it took to get here, how many songs we've written and tossed, the thousands of dollars spent, the sacrifices we've all made, and so on... but instead I want to just say thank you to everyone who made this all possible.
I don't know what will come next nor do I want to expect anything; it's been an amazing ride thus far and as I reflect/look ahead, I can't help but to smile with pride.
-JD
|
August 24th, 2008
07:19 pm - Get Snuggie
While sitting with my Mother, eating dinner, and watching VH1's history of rock and roll series this absurd info-mercial comes on about a robe-like blanket to keep you warm in front of the tv, outdoors, or whatever else you may find yourself in need of warmth while entertaining yourself. The product is absolutely ridiculous-looking; it's almost like these product-models are straight out of Star Wars or some sort of cult. Here's the video to see for yourself...
Get Snuggie!
First off, why would ANYONE in their right mind buy this horrendous thing? Isn't civilization and human intelligence supposed to go in a forward direction as time progresses? It's 2008, get with the program people.
In other news, the CD comes out in two days... Woohoo!
-JD
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
jerrydick's journal