Tonight I choose nothing, and you get to read about it.

This is all I want to do tonight. Yup I sleep on the floor. It's a personal choice.

It is Earth Hour tonight. I have decided to stay at home.
As I was laying here I figured I would blog about what I do during my time of not doing anything.
I thought about starting to make a couple of gig posters.
I've got some upcoming gigs around southern Ontario. Since I'm not doing any major touring until he summer (all of Canada, that's the plan anyway) I decided to send out some emails to surrounding coffeehouses. And so far looking good. Heading back to Toronto, and then I'll be playing a few cities I've never played before. Oakville, St Catherine's, and South River. Plus, I'm hitting New York in May as well it's supposed to be a vacation, but...
Anyway the shows are not for a while and I've basically got 3 weeks to get them done.
So, no.
Posters will not get worked on.

Ah hell. I said last time I would talk about art shows.
Ok so first thing I'm doing tonight is blogging.
Blog.
I've been able to take part in an art show called Focus on Art for an Optometrist.
Chris Schell brings in a new artist every 2 to 3 months has an opening and there they will hang for a while.

It starts next month. I've got  6 canvas plus 3 or 4 framed photo's. One of my pieces I'm not too pleased about.
It's this one.

I did some shorts for a restaurant in Barrie, ON and they liked this series of a brick wall. Yup I took pictures of a wall. 

But every time I printed them they would not come out like this image. They would be too dark so I tried brightening them up a bit and then too bright. It was costing me money to experiment. 

When I started printing on canvas the pictures were coming out exactly like the images in the computer. I thought I would give this one another chance but it came out to dark. I like the pic. A lot of people think it's a painting, I just wish I could get it out exactly like I see it here.

If you are so interested head to www.neilcrowe.com for more art pieces. 

Needless to say I'm looking forward to the opening. Will I sell any? Who knows. I'll be showing it off plus during the opening I'll be playing some tunes as well. 

I'm also part of a Barrie Spring art tour in June.  I'll have a banner hanging downtown Barrie, ON with this image, for a few months.

it's around 5 feet long 2 and a half wide. 

That's pretty cool I thinks.

Anyway the Spring tour is a two day art show at various venues around the city. 

Just a little more exposure for Mr. Crowe.

Ok back to my lazy day. as of 8:08pm

I've got 22 min until it's lights out for an hour. I will close the computer and resume the excitement of what happens in 24 Weymouth Rd. 

But I've got just enough time to watch The Daily SHow with John Stewart. American Politics is like a soap opera to me. Everyone involved is two faced. How can you not watch!

Trump 2012! interesting.

Is that the year the US will get rid of all unions?

9:30 pm For the past hour I helped save the world.

So Earth Hour I wanted to do some looking around to see what the people have to say about you.

It does not assist with Global Warming. It seems it's more about sending a message. Which I support. I sat here in the dark. (had to turn on the lights to go to the washroom though, didn't want an accident.) Also Candles are actually even worse in creating carbon emissions than electric lights.

That I didn't know. 

I think maybe that Earth hour supporters should not suggest using candles. 

People who don't believe in Earth Hour seem to come off as jerks. Not because they don't want to be a part of it. But for the one s who say I'm turning on everything electrical in my house to protest it and calling everyone who takes part hippies and tree huggers. You could just not turn off your lights and ignore the whole hour of the one day of the year. 

I'm drinking a Killkenny. It's made in Ireland. It's got some niceness going for it, namely the alcohol content.

When I first decided to stay in I was very tired and did not want to move. Now I am somewhat awake and getting a little bored. 

Problem. 

My car is not here. The lady is using it.

I read a bit. 

What am I reading? So kind of you to ask.

Ken Follett's World Without End

It's interesting lots of things happening. It will also be the second or third longest books I've read.

Added some info to the art website about the shows.

Contemplating Mario Galaxy. 

Yes that's it Here I come Wii.

Darn.The batteries for the remote are dead and need charging. 

and in 20 min the Roommate is watching UFC. 

No Wii for me. 

Book and another beer. 

I'm going to watch In The Name of the Father again. I like Daniel Day Lewis so I Imbd'd him. 

I can't say I have any interest in watching his past movies outside of the 2000's except for in the name of the father. 

it's 1045 I think I will end this experiment of the doing nothing blog. 

until next time. 

-Neil 

www.eyeswide.ca

I blame Gina and Denis Leary.

I had big plans I tell you.
Big Plans!
It seems they have been all for naught.
I'm so dramatic.

                                              The banjo guitar from Casa Del Sol in Barie, ON

As of Friday 3:30pm I have been off work for March Break.
My last day of work was  a grade one class.

There was a girl who, before the class started, came into the room all smiles and sat down on the carpet, turned to me and said "Fuck." 

I nod my head, An interesting day is ahead of me.
I had one girl head butt another girl.
"It's not like I hit her like this," Shows me a punch in the air, "I hit her like this." Shows me a quick head butt, also to the air.
Also a young boy made a plastic chain noose type thing put it around a girls neck and yanked.

Needless to say I was looking forward to my break.

I had these grand plans that I was going to get a whole mess of work done and do some more writing.
Set up my music equipment, test out some song layering, work on photo's book more shows, work out... All this kid of stuff I get to tired to do after a day of teaching.

I blame Gina and Denis Leary (just like the title)
Gina Bought me a Wii and I have been playing that quite alot. Just the Mario games.
As Well, Mr Leary, I have discovered your show Rescue Me. Very entertaining, sir.
Allas the combination of these two things have taken up much of my time.
I get up in the morning, go for a run. (I'm not as fast as I was) piddle on the internet, send emails update this and that, whatever. then end up watching the show or playing my game. Usually both.
Horrible.
Maybe I need this break?
I've been pushing myself quite a lot do the paying job, research for touring, find gigs, find places to show my art, write a blog, work out. I kinda miss being 14. I didn't do anything when I was fourteen, and the day lasted forever! Now the day is over in two hours and I never get everything done.

Enough of that.
So the yearly celebration for March 14th just happened, If you don't know what it is look it up.

                                            Here's a hint though. it's from the Keg and that is my desert.

           That's also a delicious double rye and coke.    

Continuing on.

I talked Gina out of a week in Cuba, and because of this I am currently booking a very short New York tour, last week in May.
"No baby, I swear New York will be way more fun that a week in an all exclusive resort. We'll stay in hostels, eat sparingly, drive long hours. It's going to be awesome!"
And to help out with my booking I've been using this site.  http://www.indieonthemove.com
It's pretty good but only deals with the US. has a pretty extensive list of venues per state with comments by people who have played there. It's saved me a lot of time for finding venues. But now I've got to play the waiting game, and see if I get any responses. I've got one gig booked in New York City so far.
hoping to get something on he way down as well as the way back in Buffalo, Rochester, or Ithica,  something like that. We shall see. If I don't end up with anything. That will be ok. Since it is a little holiday for us I don't need to "work" every night.
I have a pet peeve. It's those showcases that some miscellaneous  promoter will put on. The rules are: buy 10 tickets  for $7 or $8 a piece and sell them, then you can play our venue, What a profit for a band.
"You mean we get to promote for you sell your tickets perform at the show AND get $20? (if we sell all the tickets)"
I sent off an email to a bar called The National Underground and they responded with "We'd love to have you play here.... then.... Just so you know you have to buy these tickets and sell them."
I'm a touring act. I'm not from the city let alone the country, and you want me to sell tickets?
Needless to say I will not be playing at The National Underground Downstairs.

I have done this type of show before in Toronto. The one I did was called Hotboxxx it's run by a guy named Dante. I didn't sell all my tickets (only 2) so my set was cut I only got to play 3 songs.

It's more of a entity for bands that have not played anywhere before, and haven't figured out how to book a show. 

I think these types of shows could be et up better. For one The promoter should not take 70-80% of the earnings from the band. They are selling the tickets and playing the show. Plus $10 for 10 unknown and sometimes terrible bands is not appealing to the public. Either bring in a known band for all these  newbies to play before or charge $5 dollars and get some kind of drink special so that we may get drunk while listening to the out of key solos that go on too long. 

Well enough of this. 

I've got some art shows coming up that will be the next blog topic. Mario is a callin'!

-Neil
www.eyeswide.ca
www.neilcrowe.com

Title Choice: Bonjour. Comma C'est va? Bon! or Justin Beiber was in Harry Potter.

I was bombarded with the French language this week.
3 days straight teaching the language to grade 7's and 6's, plus there was a French baby running around the house during those days.

Hard at work, with perfect hair.

I can't speak French very well but I taught it....kinda.
I passed out work booklets and told the kids to look up the words they don't know in the French/english dictionary.
I am a motivator.
I knew a good chunk of the words and could have easily told them what they mean. But as soon as they write their answer down, it would leave their head.
At least with them taking the time to look it up themselves they may have a better chance of remembering it's meaning.
I don't know if that's true or not, but that's what I'm going with.
I brought my guitar to each class the end of the period play them a song. I learned Dynamite by Taio Cruize

here's why I decided to learn that song. Sarah Winters does a very unexpected, haunting version, my version is slow as well, I may make a youtube video of it as well some day.
and barely got through Bruno Mars Grenade. Kids like that stuff so you know.....

I find that although the boys tend to dislike Justin Beiber quite vehemently, (what's a word like that doing in my blog?) they are the ones talking about him the most. Also they get his hair cut and wear the same clothes as him, soooooooo, Most likely teenage boys are closet Beib fans.
Apparently the Beib got a hair cut.  It's quite the news amongst the teens.

Lets have a look.... google search.....and

 

Well that's kind of underwhelming. 

I thought there was going to be some shocking new style. There he is. Along with this vigorous search I learned that the hair that was cut off, sold for over $40,000.

I actually think he looks like the girl from the Harry potter movies.Let's see,  google search.....

Holy Hell that looks just like him!

I think I discovered some thing.

                                                         Enough about Beiber. Beiber out.

So there was a little French Baby running around the house. 

I didn't know that at first. 

I'm speaking to him and getting no response. 

A little later in the day i hear his mother speaking french to him.

"Oh, " I say, "he only speaks French."

"no he speaks mainly french,some English and Spanish too."

um so this kid is 2 maybe coming on 3, and he's got a more worldly tongue than me. 

It wasn't that he didn't understand me he sensed his linguistic superiority and chose not to respond to a simpleton. 

Well I'll show him, I start speaking French to him whenever he's around, just the words I know Pomplamouse, Mecredi, un chein, just whatever pops in my head.  So far nothing.

On Thursday I come home after work, pretty tired go up to my bedroom  take off my pants, (pants can be so cumbersome) and get into bed. 

Shortly after the door opens and closes. I assume it's Gina, 

turn over, and there is the French baby staring at me. 

"Bonjour." I say

I get a nonchalant "Bonjour." in return

Success! the beginnings of a conversation.

"Comma C'est Va?"

nothing.

"Ca'va mal?" 

shakes his head. 

He walks over, lays down and grabs my dogs tail and rubs his face all over it. 

The French baby, turns out is not a dialectical arch nemesis, it is a dopey baby. 

His mother comes to the door, without opening it and calls for him to come out. 

He lift his head and yells "Non!" and resumes brushing his face with the dogs tail.

That was the last I say of the French baby, they all headed out friday morning to impose the sassy french, spanish english baby upon other mono-linguistic persons. 

This blog has no music info unless you count my rant of the Beib, which some may not. 

I guess that will happen time to time. 

I'm calling today music sunday, I feel like playing some old Jamiroquai tunes on the bass, and may start developing some song ideas I've put on the back burner.

Another day.....

-Neil

www.eyeswide.ca