In my life, I've always been a somewhat careful person.  Basically, it took me longer to go though certain experiences that most people have at a younger age.  For example, the first time I actually got drunk was when I was 18 years old.  I know that might not sound drastics but when I've seen people my age drinking around me for at least two years before me it feels like a long time.  This brings me to my next point about weed.

Much like alcohol, I have been surrounded by people who use it for a long time.  I had been asked to take part in smoking weed often.  Now, I don't really have a problem with smoking weed, I just never felt compelled to do it whenever I was asked.  I think the main reason behind this is because a lot of the people I saw smoking weed were my brothers and their friends.  My brothers and I have completely different lifestyles and mannerisms so I associated weed with my brothers' lifestyle which led to the lack of interest in trying it.

Well, since I've moved out to basically live on my own for school, my stance on weed still hasn't changed.  I'm still indifferent to it.  But I have no finally tried it on a couple of occasions, the first of which was a horrible one in which many mistakes were made.  I'm going to share that experience with you guys.

The plan was to get me high in order to celebrate my 20th birthday.  My actually birthday was on a Monday so we decided to do it on Saturday, because Clutch was playing on Sunday and I didn't think getting fucked up for the first time for a Clutch concert was the best idea.  Since I wasn't too keen on smoking weed, I decided I'd rather try brownies than smoke.  This led to mistake number one.  When making the batch of brownies, the "recipe" called for about 5 grams for the entire batch.  From what I understand, the resident stoner in our house put the majority of a half ounce in.

So I was sitting on the computer, browsing the internet and the stoner and my roommate showup at my door, big grins on their face and a plate of brownies in their hands.  This led to mistake number two which is completely my fault: I decided that point of making a batch of brownies was to eat the entire thing.  So, the entire batch was split between four people including myself.  Following that, we went into the stoner's room where my three buddies smoked a joint or two and I had a cigarello.  This was when mistake number three was made: Stoner got hungry and made the suggestion that we go to the Korean Grillhouse which is downtown Toronto.  Getting there takes about a hour on the bus and subway.  We agreed to take part.

As soon as we got out of the house and started walking down the street, the brownies started to kick in.  I couldn't even walk straight because my one leg felt heavier than the other and realizing this I started getting giggly.  We had to make a stop at a gas station in order to get money and bustickets.  Once we got on the bus, I could hardly believe I just bought bus tickets, the recollection of buying felt dreamlike and I had to double check my wallet to actually confirm that I did buy bustickets.

Our group got to the subway station without a hitch.  It was when we were taking the subway south to where we needed to go when problems started to show up.  About 4 stations down, our stoner buddy was complaining about being thirsty, so we decided to jump off the subway early to get a drink.  By this point I was pretty out of it and feeling kinda sick and just the act of standing and walking around felt labourous.  Luckily enough we had one sober friend with us and he noticed that I was looking pretty yellow and asked me if I wanted a drink as well.  All I could do was nod and weakly say "Yeah".  We get our drinks and head back onto the subway.

About 3 stops later, stoner throws up directly onto the subway car floor, with some of it splashing against my jeans.  Everyone is now on their feet trying to avoid from steeping in the stuff that looks like dogshit.  The unfortunate thing was that I was feeling sick as well and having someone throw up on and in front of me didn't really help me keep the bile rising in my throat down.  I managed to keep the vomit down between subway stops and as soon as the subway doors opened, I puked right out of them, nearly hitting the person standing in front of them.  I stumbled to a pillar and emptied the rest of my stomach.  After a few moments, my sober buddy comes up to me and asks if I ready to go.  I nod.  We finally made a good choice: we decided to go back home.

Of course, the return trip had a few hitches as well.  As we made our way to get on the side to take us back north we run into the subway patrol officers.  Everyone but me manages to pass by them and I end up having a talk with one of them.  By the way I looked I couldn't blame them.  By the way I was stumbling around, with vomit on the corner of my jacket and a bottle of "iced tea" in my hand they must've thought I was hammered out of my mind.  Fortunately, they just wanted to know if my iced tea had booze in it and once I convinced them it wasn't we carried on.  On the way back north, stoner throws up again, but this time we don't even bother getting of the subway and we just sit with our feet up.  We end up being the only people in the subway car as people tried to enter, find the floor covered in vomit and then they opt for the next car.

On the busride back, the group had to split up since stoner was about to get sick again.  Our sober buddy thought that I was coherant enough to get my roommate and I home on our own.  My roommate and one of my other buddy didn't get sick from the brownies but they were so out of it that we had to drag them around everywhere we went.  I did miss the correct bus stop to get off at, but at least it was only one stop over.  I actually had to hit my roommate in the shoulder to make him realise we were getting off.  Once we did, he had no clue where we were so he just tagged along as we walked home.

Both of us went directly to bed once we got home but several times throughout the night I got up, thinking I was about to throw up again.  Fortunately that didn't happen and after a night of fitful rest, I felt fine in the morning and managed to attend the Clutch concert, which was awesome barring the opening band.

Since that incident, I have taken a few puffs of weed with no noticible results.  I'm not too keen on trying brownies again, that's for sure.

 

Well, based on what I've listened to so far from this year I have to say I'm impressed.  I have a feeling it's going to be hard to narrow these down to 10 as we get closer to the end of the year.

 

1. Pharaoh - Be Gone

While my initial listen to this disk didn't grab me by the balls like "The Longest Night" did, I've found that this album has grown quickly on me.  Definitely a worthy followup to "The Longest Night".

2. Arghoslent - Hornets of the Pogrom

The songwriting capabilities of this band simply stun me.  I can certainly understand why people won't give them a listen though.  Please don't stone me though for liking the musical aspects of the band.

3. The Gates of Slumber - Conqueror

Though I've recently just got this album, it all ready kicks ass.  Definitely like the tightening up on the songwriting as well as the ass kicking heavy metal flavoured songs.

4. Byzantine - Oblivion Beckons

I arrived to the party a bit late with this band.  These guys lay down some wicked guitar solos and catchy, yet complex (to these ears) riffs.

5. Dismember - S/T

This album sounds absolutely philthy and I love it!

6. Zero Hour - Dark Deceiver

Another recent purchase but the sheer power and heft this band uses along with the blindingly amazing musicianship all ready has me impressed.  They also know how to handle melody as well.

7. Nachtmystium - Assassins

This is pretty darn catchy for a black metal album.  I'm digging the experimental parts to it as well.

8. Eluveitie - Slania

With the guitar riffs that remind me of Dark Tranquility plus the addition of pleasant-sounding folky elements, how could I not enjoy this?

9. Heaven Shall Burn - Iconoclast

The first two tracks to this album pump me up every time.  Metalcore done right as far as I`m concerned.

10. Island - Orakel

Dischordant progressive death metal with some nice and calm moments tossed in.  It`s proved to be a very intriguing listen.

 

 

I also have to give mad props to Steve Von Till`s ``A Grave is a Grim Horse`` which if I was including non-metal releases would probably be sitting at spot number two.

 

Can`t wait to see how this year ends folks!

So yesterday was the "big, epic" party that my roommate seemed certain that it would be awesome.  Sadly, after experiencing the entire party (I haven't really slept yet) I can safely say that it was lacking in grandeur and epicness.

First off, my roommate, the one who wanted to have this party and plan for it, decided to work the day of the party making everyone else at my place set up the house and stalk up on supplies.  This led to many repeated trips to grab stuff as we were never fully sure what supplies we were supposed to get.  Next the turnout we were expecting was off by a lot.  We maybe had 15 - 20 people when we needed 45 to break even on costs.  Ohwell.

Then, as I'm sure many house partiers know, drama always tends to bubble up to the surface and in the end causes things like people bleeding on my bedsheets, and holes getting punched into the drywall by angry and drunk guests.  Joy.  And to top off the sundae of misfortunes, the following day my landlords showup to check up on the water or some shit and witness the carnage of the aftermath.  Some of them didn't seem to pleased.

Fortunately, I didn't get a hangover but I am massively tired.  I just really feel like sitting on my ass right now instead of cleaning this place up.