how about an update

Well, here I am finally writing an actual blog update. I've been tweeting a lot, and posting code/geek stuff on codeboxer.com, but not a lot of personal updates. I'm still preparing to release some new music, but I don't have an album cover yet. I am completely out of touch with almost everyone I know, due to a pretty long string of bad phone experiences (theft, not working, etc.) and some tough times at work that leave me feeling a little too angry about the world to reach out at all. But that seems to be changing, bit by bit. Of course I am still completely enamored with my beautiful wife and next year sometime we are going to start a family, so there is a lot to look forward to.

I have been slinging database code for 10 years now, and Ruby on Rails for over 3. What a life this has been so far. In a horrible economy, I managed to pick a career that is still woefully short on good talent and I am very grateful for that.

Tomorrow, I start working from home which is basically a dream come true.

I know I have been slacking a little in terms of releasing music, but I still have some new tracks available that are new and most of y'all haven't heard.

I am also really excited about 'Pain & Joy', which will be my newest release once I can get someone to do an awesome album cover for me.

Finally, you can hear a sneak preview from the upcoming release at my podcast - here .

later!

Jackson Browne kicks ass

Last night a great thing happened, Joel Eckels put together an amazing benefit for Haiti relief. I think about 30 songwriters performed and the quality of artist was truly outstanding. I was honored to play two songs - the first was "Celebrate Tonight", linked here from my wedding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW89kW5TX-w

and then both Mike Freas and Marlon Grace played with me on "I'm the Gun". When I got off stage, Jackson Browne gave me a compliment about my songs and I was stunned. I still am. Jackson played a really great song called "All Good Things Come To An End" and that was one of the best nights of my life.

Room 5 next week

Hey, I'm doing my first show in FOREVER at Room 5 on Feb 12th (next Friday). You should come because it's a benefit for Haiti relief and I will play at least one new song.

http://room5lounge.com/
323.938.2504

Krister Axel performs at Room 5.

Friday, Feb. 12

I don't know exactly when I'm playing because lots of people are going to be there to perform but if you want you can call them day-of-show and ask. Either that or just show up at 9pm and get a few hours of awesome.

map link

prehistoric beer

Lacking any knowledge of chemistry, prehistoric humans eager for the intoxicating effects of alcohol apparently mixed clumps of rice with saliva in their mouths to break down the starches in the grain and convert them into malt sugar.

These pioneering brewers would then spit the chewed up rice into their brew. Husks and yeasty foam floated on top of the liquid, so they used long straws to drink from narrow necked jugs. Alcohol is still consumed this way in some regions of China.

from: http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,668642,00.html

jesus rifles

Say it isn't so! Crusades, anyone?

from: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-military-weapons-inscribed-secret-jesus...

quoted:

The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

John 8:12, referred to on the gun sights as JN8:12, reads, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Trijicon confirmed to ABCNews.com that it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military.

a funny little blog post comment not written by me

Posted by: dsf3g | 05/18/09 | 5:44 am

Back in the 7th grade for a time my friends and I got into Dungeons and Dragons. Our DM made the mistake of thinking that it could be cool to give us a magic book that contained all the spells of all levels that we could read and cast at any time. I admit, it was kinda fun, since we basically became invincible. But it became a huge headache for the DM since we could disintegrate anything he threw at us, and he eventually found a way of taking it away from us. Sigh.

Read More http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/05/misson_architect_abuse#ixzz0cRO4pc73

Empty

Sometimes I'm empty
and I'm waiting for the sound of a friendly voice
sometimes I think I know better
that true passion lives alone
I make motions in the desert
I assemble my defense
like a brittle mountain
as the earth begins to shake

I am at war now
with the cold tyrants of mediocrity
I see that I've fallen
where my instincts led and left me
I am shaking in the desert
I assemble my beliefs
These little soldiers
marching through the heat

My sweetest friend
your heart is always pure
I imagine life through your eyes
and I wish that I could give more
I only have one chance
to build some blessed destiny
with these words of mine
this voice and these dreams

I am unraveled
the walls of my heart are scoured clean
I feel the seasons
raw and hungry for completion
the world is patient
I am frantic in my lust
for a perfect diamond
some piece of god that I can touch

as long as i have you

you were always out of town
i was always on the way
i could barely see the light
but you could blind me just the same
no one ever knew the truth
but you were always on my mind
all i saw was you
i was waiting for a sign
we were lovers then
we were lovers all the time

you could never stay too long
because you always had to work
but i did the best i could
and you showed me what it's worth
i never rushed a thing
i was careful just like you
you took my only heart
and kept me for your fool
we were lover then
even if you made the rules

i could find your heart
in the pitch black dark
when the colors run
and the night has just begun
i will never stray
i won't lose my way
as long as i have you
as long as i have you

we're here with all our friends
this night will never end
now we stare across the sea
now your love is here with me
now we'll never be apart
now I know just who you are
you're the one I'd hoped to find
I was searching all the time
so let's celebrate
let's celebrate tonight

as long as i have you
i will never be afraid
i will never lose my way

as long as i have you

haiku one fifteen am april 2009

Hollywood is a
bunch of memories now. sigh.
all the billboards suck

Open Arms

It was all for you
The long expensive road to nothing new
These unappreciated lines for you
Falling on this tough love crowd, it’s true
I did it all for you
Open arms
There’s nothing better than those ample charms
Somewhere waiting for the world to start
Somehow afflicted by a broken heart
Looking for those open arms

When I was a prince of the world
All I had was a long list of words
All I saw I could touch with my hands
All I needed was
All I needed was a chance

Those days are gone
I think I see your yesterdays moved on
They left behind that dirty smile you’ve got
Younger than your timeless ways
Your yesterdays
I know all your tricks
I know the way your heart can hurt like this
I hate the way my plan can miss like this
But there’s no changing what my future is
I know all your tricks

When I was ahead of it all
And I could see what was coming along
Everybody knew the way to get home, but me
All I needed was
All I needed was a dream

words to weighty ghost by wintersleep

I got out of bed today
swear to god I couldn't see my face
I got out of bed today
staring at a ghost
who forgot to float away
didn't have all that much to say
wouldn't even tell me his own name
and where'd my body go
oh where'd my body go
africa or mexico
where'd my body go
where'd my body go
oh have you seen my ghost
staring at the ground
oh have you seen my ghost
sick of them goddam clouds

are you some kind of medicine man
get the demons out of my head
you can't kill the thing that's already dead
so leave my soul alone
don't need no surgery
take those knives away from me
just want to die in my own body
a ghost just needs a home

nananana

old old old poem

To all my friends
All my muses
Washed up dreams
And lonely blueses.

Before you turn away

I left my broken down in Texas
the road has never felt so long
along the way I start to wonder
who will miss me when I'm gone?

if you don't mind waiting
for the news to break
before you turn away
before you turn away
if you don't mind waiting
for the news to break
before you turn away

Some say there's nothing after dying
that all we have is in this world
I don't know much about tomorrow
but right now I feel pretty good

if you don't mind waiting
for the drugs to take
before you turn away
before you turn away
if you don't mind waiting
for the drugs to take
before you turn away

it's a life worth saving
and a chance worth taking
before you turn away
before you turn away
it's a life worth saving
and a chance worth taking
before you turn away

I wrote this 12 years ago

just this little stash of survival
never had a moment to think
radio voices sound like someone I know
moonlight makes me want to have a drink
I listen to the rhythm of the traffic
hiding in the silence I project
push me through the womb of the future
bear me as an infant to protect
an island on the ocean planet 'solo'
wailing of the unborn tragedy
wiping from my eyes the mess of martyrs
the burden of my passage through the freeze

lyrics to Rain On Me

When I was old enough to dance
when I was high enough to see
anywhere the sky is dark
it rains on me

and I race
just to fall
just to be where you are

all we are is all we are
what we learn is what we teach
anywhere the sky is dark
it rains on me

and I race
just to fall
just to be where you are
I race
if there's nothing in this world
you put something in the dirt
and rain on me

it don't matter what you do
it don't matter what you eat
if you don't know the truth
you won't be free

don't wait
don't wait for me
I race
if there's nothing in this world
you put something in the dirt
and rain on me

from the album Fast Train (2008)

I would answer you with 2am

I would answer you with 2am
With opinions about my state
Staying up late

I don’t know where I am
This voice beneath the hum
I spend my nights alone with words
The echo of a drum
I love the way we talk
This language of the soul

I want to thank you for saying my name

Some thirst for perfection
guides my days. Like noise
in long breaths of scented smoke
the poison of poetic lust
grows in my blood like a weed
I accept this. Every hour
Pushing with what strength I have
Against yesterday

Where once was a child is now
A fool. He follows heat
And questions what is fire
I am this champion of doubt
Against what can’t be named
I accept this. With my words
Construction of simple color
The unknown voice

Never seen. Decides what is real

And the sad eyes of exhaustion
ever wise. In this life will be