Peg Life Vol. 20

I'm sitting alone with no particular desire to do much of anything, even write this. I don't really have anything better to do at this moment, however, and I'm bored. Or maybe I just think I'm bored cause I haven't smoked any pot today. It's the first day that's happened in a while. It seems boredom is really the only significant withdrawal symptom of marijuana. But then that could just be by comparison. Being stoned makes it much easier to ignore or at least tolerate boredom, so when it comes during times of sobriety it is more apparent. I know I don't really have any reason to be bored. There are plenty of things I could do. I could read a book, I could watch a movie, I could play video games, I coud jerk off, I could clean my apartment, I could make and/or eat food, I could buy some booze and get drunk, I could sit in the dark listening to music, I could go to sleep, I could fold my laundry, I could videotape myself naked flexing my muscles, I could take a bath, I could make a list of things to do to not feel bored, I could rearrange my furniture, I could poke holes in my arm with a pin and pretend I'm a heroin addict, I could name and catalog all the insects that live in my bathroom, I could drink milkshakes until I vomit, I could shave all the hair off my body, I could go out and ride city busses for a few hours, I could get high for a few minutes off the weed crumbs I just found on my desk, or I could write my twentieth Peg Life. Obviously I decided to go with the latter. I mentioned heroin back there somewhere and that reminds me of something cool that would have been a great way to cure my boredom if it had been available at this time of day. There's a new exhibit at the Manitoba Museum right now about opium. Being that drug culture/lore/history is one of my areas of interest I'm very keen on seeing this exhibit. I've also been wanting to go to the museum anyway for quite some time so it only increases my desire to go. The problem is, no matter how good any particular exhibit is, going to a museum alone is not nearly as enjoyable as going with someone else. That's not to say it isn't enjoyable at all. I've done my share of solitary museum exploration, but these were primarily in distant cities where I didn't know anybody to go with. Here in Winnipeg it's slightly different as I know plenty of people with whom I could go to the museum, many of you among them. Therefore, I'm asking anyone who is in the city and available between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, between now and March 19th to send an email telling me why you think you shoud be the one who gets to accompany Peg Life author and internet superstar Tony Hawkins to Opium: the Heavenly Demon at the Manitoba Museum. Don't delay! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for one luck Peg Life reader. It could be YOU! *No purchase necessary. Winners will be selected from qualified entries. See in store for details* Ok, so now that we've heard from the newly established Peg Life Contest Department let's see what's new in the Recommendations Division. Music is the item of the day as there are many albums that I have acquired recently that warrant recommending. Here they are:
Rogue Wave - Descended Like Vultures (Contrary to what All Music Guide says, I think this album is superior to their previous Out of the Shadows, which was actually more of a solo project of singer/guitarist Zach Rogue)
Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs (The latest from a former member of Squirrel Nut Zippers which, instead of sounding anything like the swing revival of that band, is much better)
The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (The third album that was brought to my attention by The Onion AV Club's year end music review, this is quite possibly The Constantines best album yet)
Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love (Bill Callahan's latest is a fantastic low key country/folk affair that gives Red Apple Falls stiff competition for the title of My Favourite Smog Album)
Red House Painters - Songs for a Blue Guitar (I downloaded the album because my sister wanted a song off of it and the whole thing turned out to be great)
Cat Power - The Greatest (No, it's not a greatest hits compilation but it is great [maybe not quite the superlative, cause that would have to go to Moon Pix])
The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (A few issues ago I recommended their first album Almost Killed Me and at the time I was afraid to listen to this one for fear that it wouldn't live up to the awesomeness of that album. It does)
Lifter Puller - Half Dead and Dynamite (This was Craig Finn's band before he formed The Hold Steady and while I think The Hold Steady's albums are superior, both this and Fiestas & Fiascos are excellent as well)
Well, that's it for this issue. I was able to successfully defer my boredom and that's really what's important. So until next time, keep fit and have fun (I know that's your line Hal Johnson, but ParticipACTION shut down five years ago so you can kiss my ass with your $5000 fee for a one hour appearance at a corporate event).

Tony Hawkins never thought Joanne Macleod was hot enough to fantasize about