"All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but with within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, and what they lived we dream."

-T.K. Whipple

Hell is Coming, Hell is Here.

This is a post I started in December when I thought my life was coming to and end. I found it(the post not my life)and decided to post it. It's a little incomplete.

If you don't here from me after Friday its because I'm dead. I'm not sure if I'm going to survive through the end of the week. I'm battling two different things right now; finals and bedbugs. If I had to face just one of those I think I could survive, but the two of them at the same time might be too difficult. Bedbugs won't leave me alone and finals have ruined everything decent in my life.

Regurgitation

"Well, My teachers, they built this retaining wall memory, all those multiple choices I answered so quickly. And got my grades back and forgot just as easily, but at least I got an A. And so I don't have them to blame."

I felt this way yesterday and today.

Zach & Christina's Favorite Music of 2010

Favorite Music 2010

1. Sufjan Stevens- Age of Adz & All Delighted People E.P.
2. Matt Pond P.A.- The Dark Leaves
3. Girls- Broken Dreams Club E.P.
4. Band of Horses- Infinite Arms
5. Eels- End Times
6. The National- High Violet
7. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
8. The Tallest Man On Earth, The Wild Hunt
9. Vampire Weekend- Contra
10. Circa Survive- Blue Sky Noise
11. Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More
12. Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows(A Tribute to John Pryne)- Various Artist
13. Drew Danburry- Goodnight Dannii
14. Broken Bells- S/T
15. Steel Train- S/T
16. The Avett Brothers- Live Volume III

Favorite songs(in no particular order)

1. The Dreamer- The Tallest Man on Earth
2. Happy Accident- Bright Eyes
3. Laredo- Band of Horses
4. Specks- Matt Pond P.A.
5. One Day- Sharron Van Etten
6. Broken Dreams Club- Girls
7. World Sick- Broken Social Scene
8. Out Go The Lights- Spoon
9. Terrible Love- The National
10. I Think Ur a Contra- Vampire Weekend
11. Turnpike Ghost- Steel Train
12. Stranded- The Walkmen
13. Wedding Day in Funeralville- Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
14. Spanish Pipedream- The Avett Brothers
15. The Cave- Mumford and Sons
16. Airplanes- Local Natives
17. Ready to Start- Arcade Fire
18. ヒーロー見参 (Hero Kensan)- Drew Danburry
19. Vesuvius- Sufjan Stevens
20. The Mall and Misery- Broken Bells

THE BIG CARL!!!!

I'm in econ right now and all I can think of is this:


THE BIG CARL!!!

I'm to the point this semester where I don't want to do anything but listen to music, keep track of my fantasy football, and play on my computer.
Who ever invented Thanksgiving break is an idiot.
I've lost all motivation.
I think I'll start eating Snickers bars again.
I wish I played and was good at World of War Craft and made lots of money by sitting at my computer all day.
JUST THREE MORE WEEKS!!!!
IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. . . do dwo do do da dodo do

This an EP not an album, but it's probably one of my favorites of the year.

R.I.P. Snickers Bars

I'm trying really hard to quit Snickers bars. It's really hard for me. I love Snickers Bars. I don't care that they'll make me fat, but I do care that they could probably give me type II diabetes and I'll have to wear those funny compression socks, or lose my foot. I want neither of those things.
I've tried to quit Dr. Pepper probably over 100 times. I gave up on that a long time ago. Since I know I'll never be able to quit drinking soda pop I have to eliminate other sources of sugar in my life. With that being said, So long Snickers bars. It was a good run. We had a lot of laughs and good times. We practically saw almost all of America. You kept me awake(thank you Snickers Charged, the Red Bull of candy bars). You kept me company in Portugal. You were there when I needed you and that's why I love you.

R.I.P Snickers Bars
Born: August 1988(approximatively)
Died: Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Age of Adz (pronounced Odz)

Friday night we bought Age of Adz, the new Sufjan album at Best Buy. We waited until we were done at the mall and then put it in on the drive home. We listened to it the whole way home. We took a small break, got some Dr. Pepper, then drove to the park and finished the album.
It was one of my favorite first listens of an album probably since Dog Problems. I've been waiting for a new Sufjan album for years and it didn't disappoint.

Also, We're going to Salt Lake this weekend(kinda). We're leaving Friday afternoon and coming back earlyish on Saturday. I'm excited to see Meghan and Brady. They're are best friends. I'm also going to get a Big Carl.

Also, call me a party pooper, but I'm not very excited for Halloween. Last year me and Christina did laundry and watched the World Series. It was really great. Who knows maybe we'll dress skanky and crash DJ Matt Hoffman's Halloween dance bash or maybe we'll just bob for apples.

I hate economics.

I'm getting old. I can't stay up late anymore. Twice this week I've tried to stay up past 2 and I can't do it. The old me would start homework at 1am and go until 3am or so.
Both times I've fell a sleep sitting strait up, typing! I'm turning into my dad(minus the snoring. . . I think).
It's been a crazy week as far as school goes. This weekend is much needed. Christina and myself are going to buy the new Sufjan album tonight. I feel like this album is going to change my life or something. It probably won't, but still, I haven't been this excited for an album in a while.
Also, I'm glad I'm marrying Christina and not someone else. I really liked waiting in the drive through line with her at Jack in the Box for almost twenty minutes last night. I really like the Ben Kweller song 13 too.

Sorry I'm posting an insurance commercial,

But it's pretty good

My Trip to Oklahoma in Pictures

"Salina, I'm as no where as I can be. . . "






"I don't shoot innocent animals, only the ones that look guilty"

Unlikely But True

Elder Gibson or As They Say in AZ, Elder Jed

Tomorrow Jed comes home from his mission in Tempe, Arizona. I really miss him. I'll be in Oklahoma on Friday and I'm staying until Sunday. We'll all be together for the first time in 2 years.

My Dream Car

This is my dream car. I'm not joking. I really want a PT Cruiser with wood paneling. It would be perfect if it were a convertible. I really want one.

Joshua James

Saturday we went to the Joshua James concert. I really love his shows. The guy might be weird or a jerk or whatever, but the he really puts a lot of heart into his songs and I can really feel that when I listen to his music, especially live.

This is a link to his daytrotter session. It's really good.
http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/joshua-james-concert/20030922-37382044.html

Rambling

What's up Dawgs. Long time no blog. If you're worried about me(you're probably not), you shouldn't be. School starts tomorrow. The end of this semester will complete year number five. I'm kinda ready to be done with all of this(school that is).
Jedidiah Aaron "AP" Gibson will be home in two weeks. I really miss him. I'm looking forward to at least one night of tennis, cheese burgers, and spooning when he gets back.
I'm getting married in six months. I'm pretty excited about that. She's(Christina) pretty cool :)
I love the Eels and the Avett Brothers, oh and apparently Sufjan. That dude is starting to take over my life.

Good night.

i suck but christina loves me anyway.
she sucks too.
yay.

I have jobs.

Today I noticed there are lots of people in Rexburg who can't find work. I feel pretty lucky(blessed) to have not only one but two jobs. If I complain slap me in the face.

Phantom Hat

The last part of this week I've felt like I've had a hat on my head. I look up to see the bill, or I'll reach up to adjust it and nothing is there. Weird, huh?
Also, I haven't blogged in a really long time. I'm sorry, mostly to myself. It was a very busy semester, very good, but very busy.
I'm in Salt Lake right now. I'm sitting in Meghan and Brady's living room. Brent is on the couch playing his guitar. I came down for Bryce and Nadia's wedding.
Christina is home in San Francisco. I'm taking a train to see her in two weeks. I'm pretty excited about that.
I'll have a scooter for the next 4 weeks. I'm pretty excited about that too.

This is the real me.

Free Mexico.

Conor Oberst for The Sound Strike from Producciones Cimarrón on Vimeo.

This is cool.

"Blow up your TV
Throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try an find Jesus on your own"

Today was her birthday (in the picture below). I hope it was really great. I think she's pretty cool. I'm in love with her.

R

Hiked a mountain today. Tina fell on her butt. Sat around. Went to Red Robin. Sat around some more.

ways to be cool

(click to enlarge)

I Win

I've been playing the lottery lately(the scratchers kind, not powerball). I'm mostly good at it. Two weeks ago I won $10. This weekend I won $2 and tonight I won $3. I buy them and Christina plays (unless I buy more than one then I scratch one).
We're probably going to hell.

"you're the spark on the sun"

Christina Matekel has been my girlfriend (and I've been her boyfriend) for one year today. I think she's pretty neat. She does things like be vegan, read books, write poetry, enjoy doing grammar homework, get scared when she drives, pack to leave weeks in advance, drink DDP, sit on couches with me and make dinner with me (this excludes soup ad frozen dinners). We've seen some cool stuff and too. Sasquatch was my favorite weekend. Big Sur was cool. Outlet shopping not so cool, but still ok. We drove all over Tulsa. We shopped at thrift stores. We ate at vegan restaurants and Red Robin. We read magazines and books at Barnes and Noble. It's been a great year, probably my favorite(it was my favorite).

"You hurt your foot roller-skating down by the bay
You lost your voice singing along to ‘Raspberry Beret’
So I’ll do my part not to break your heart
And baby don’t break mine
Because I adore you and I know for sure
You’re the spark on the sun

In the barrel race you cracked your rib and skinned up your knee
You lost a tooth in the Earthquake of 73
So I’ll do my part not to break your heart
And baby please don’t break mine
Because I want you and I want to just let you know
That I adore you and I know for sure
You’re the spark on the sun"

Cinco de Mayo, I guess. . .

I'm pretty disappointed in the state of Arizona. I have a handful of friends who are not legal citizens of the United States. I'm really glad they don't live in Arizona. What if one of them got pulled over for speeding and then got shipped back to a country that they've never known. I think its pretty bogus, racists, crappy, etc.

Bon Iver

Bon Iver has changed my life forever. This is a video from last years Sasquatch Muisc Festival at the Gorge in Washington. This night will always be very special to me.
Watch the video.

"Hopelessly Devoted To You"

I love the Format. I always will. I listened to Interventions tonight at work and it brought back a ton of great memories. It used to be the album within our group of friends. I loved it then and I still do.
So here's to you, The Format. I'm sorry you had to break up and become fun (pun intended).

I Like This A Lot

Wilco - Country Disappeared - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

I love Wilco.

The Second Amendment

matt pond PA

If you haven't listened to matt pond PA you should. He has a new album coming out next month. I might already have it. I might have already listened to it on repeat for the past week. I might like it a whole lot.
If you're new to his music listen to the album "Several Arrows Later".
Also. . .
I'm subbing for World History right now. I'm here for the rest of the week. Next week will be my last week subbing. I think I'll miss it. Especially my little homies at the middle school. They're good kids.
I will miss home too.
Also. . .
I'm really excited to see Christina. I'm excited to go back to Big Sur. I'm excited to drive in a car for a long time with Christina.
I'm not excited to start school again.

Dr. Pepper Makes the World a Better Place

Each June, the town of Dublin, Texas renames itself to Dr Pepper, Texas to celebrate the 1891 opening of its Dr Pepper plant. This June I will rename myself for the month. I will go by Dr. Pepper Gibson.

Just a few more weeks.

I'm With Coco

Conan Obrien is coming to Tulsa. The name of his tour is "The Legally prohibited from being funny on Television Tour". I think that is funny

Happy Birthday, Chuck Norris

70 years ago today actor and Internet sensation Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. Happy birthday Chuck. oh! and Amy Doll too.

Art

I'm no artist . . .

At The Beach

"Summer, summer, summer time to help us forget, nine to fives
We have got to leave all that behind"

I Hate People That Can Whistle

I've never been able to whistle. I've tried and tried.
I get tired of people telling me to tighten my lips and blow or suck air in or this or that. I'm never going to learn how to do it people, so give up on telling me how.
It's not that I don't want to learn how, I just don't think I'm meant to do it.

I and Love and You

I picked up my dad from school at 3:25 p.m. and headed for Oklahoma City to see our favorite band, The Avett Brothers. Not only was I really excited to see the band but I was excited to see them with my dad.
It was such a good show. They played for nearly two hours.They played such a variety of songs too, songs from every album. My dad knew more songs than I did. The whole time my dad really wanted them to play the song "Bella Donna" and finally for their encore they played it and it was beautiful.
I introduced him to The Avett's about 2 years ago and ever since they've become somewhat of a family band. Every road trip, every evening in the living room is filled with the soothing sounds of the Avett Brothers.
I had such a great time.
Thanks, Pops

My Life as a Substitute Teacher: Part III

Today has been a day in substitute teacher heaven. I'm a math teacher today. If I were a real math teacher this would be bad, but being a substitute math teacher is a really, really good thing. The teacher probably knows that most subs can't teach or explain 1/4 of what these kids are learning, so all I have to do is pass out work sheets. And all the kids today are either seniors or honors students which = really well behaved quiet classes.

Today I've:
-Finished a book
-Started another book
-read (almost cover to cover)two magazines
-tried to figure out the new method of registering for classes at BYU-Idaho
-Internet shopped for things I won't buy
-Randomly surfed the WWW

All that and I still have a class and a half to go. Days like today make me happy to do what I do.
Also I was thinking. . . There are very few days that I wake up dreading work. I hope to one day be a teacher so I see this as a good sign.

"I ate too much butter and drank too much rum"

If you haven't listened to the Elected I suggest you do so now. When I first started getting into them I was living in Jackson Hole. I would come home at night after work, play Gameboy and listen to The Elected.
The lead singer is Blake Sennet of Rilo Kiley, Boy Meets World and Salute Your Shorts. They have two LP's. The First is "Me First" and the Second, "Sun, Sun, Sun".
I love them both but the second is my favorite.
I'm not a reviewer of music. I can't tell you all of the components that make Sun, Sun, Sun such a great album.
Every time I share this album with someone they really don't seem too impressed, which I guess is okay with me. Maybe it was the was the perfect album for me at the moment I needed it. A lot of the lyrics related to the way I was feeling at the time. I think its great, maybe you will too but probably not.

Ageism is Racism

In the last sentence of my last blog I wrote, "I feel really old today". I would just like to confirm that statement.

After my day of substitute teaching my day has gone as follows:
-Checked my email
-Watched PTI
-Watched Sports Center
-Watched the news (I've become quite fond of Diane Sawyer and World News Tonight on ABC. I've kind of had a crush on her since I was a little boy. DTC.
-Thought about what I would make for dinner

The rest of the night will probably go this way:
-Make Dinner (pork chops, cabbage and some kind of frozen vegetable)
-Idol is on tonight!!!!
-Watch Olympics
-Watch the news
-Watch David Letterman
-Listen to music
-Talk to the girlfriend (Christina :)
-Read a little
-Fall asleep watching ESPN, which doesn't take long.

I feel like Seth Cohen on the last episode of season 4 of the O.C. When him and Summer just sit in recliners with TV guides. Only I don't have a Summer (at the moment she's in San Francisco) and I'm no Seth Cohen (I guy can wish, right?)

My Life as a Substitute Teacher: Part II

My dad's been sick the past two days. This bad and good. Bad because my old man is sick but good because it means I've got work for two days.
My dad teaches the Technology Education class (TECH ED) at the middle school. His class is kinda hard to cover. I can't really teach kids how to make CO-2 cars or build airplanes or balsa wood bridges, so I'm resigned to reading a book/internteting while they play games on the computers. I've got to constantly monitor what the little jerks are looking at too. Today I banned Google Images and Yahoo! Music.
There is however a bright spot. In about 30 minutes I get start to Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom. The 6th and 7th graders get to watch a movie instead of having free reign over the computers. I'm all for it!
Its really sad to me that hardly any of these kids have seen any of the old Indiana Jones movies. Bob Dylan was right.
I feel really old today.

My Life as a Substitute Teacher

I'm really liking this substitute teacher stuff. I'm starting to get to know all the kids in the middle school and the high school. I really like them.
This week I was the substitute chorus teacher in middle school and the high school. What are the odds of that. I've never watched the TV show Glee but I would assume that my life was very similar to the chorus teacher on that show.
Middle school chorus was crazy. I had over 60 kids in a few of my classes. They really behaved, which really surprised me. We sang a 1960's medley that started with Rollin on The River and had some Bob Dylan and Beach Boys in the middle then ended with that Dawning of the Age of Aquarius song. Those kids really love to sing.
The high school wasn't as amusing. We just watched Mamma Mia, which I may or may not have liked.
Last week my baby girl (boo, sugar mama, hot mamma, GF, breezy, home skillet, main squeeze, old lady) came to visit. It was pretty great. We're like in love and stuff so I don't think either one of us felt like we had to go be tourists or anything. We just hung out. We thrift stored, hiked a little, visited the grandma, made amazing food, listened to Vampire Weekend and Dustin Kensrue, went to Whole Foods twice, bowled. It was the best. It couldn't have been better. I can't wait to see her again in San Francisco.
Oh and I really like this song.

Hey Friends,
I really like this song, a lot. You should listen to it.

Valentines Day, Twenty-Ten

A facebook status Christina Rose Matekel will never have.

"My man fed me steak, shrimp and lobster tail last night...and then dessert♥ ;)"

For Emma, Forever Ago

I'm sitting in my room listening to Bon Iver. I really love it.

And a Little Battered Radio

I'm a substitute teacher. I'm not sure very many of you know that. It's turned out to be a cool job. I've lucky to be able to do it everyday too. I sit in a class room and tell kids to be quiet and read a book or play hearts on the computer.I really like the reading books part. I've been able to read books I've been wanting to read for a while now.
The telling kids to be quite part isn't so bad either. For the most part I've been really lucky. Besides the freshman classes that I've subed for they've been good kids. Was I that squirrely when I was a freshman? I don't remember.
I've perfected my hearts skills too. Love that game.
Today is Thursday. I have the day off Friday (parent teacher conference) and I'm subbing for a math class Monday.
I'm excited for Monday. Why? Christina Rose Matekel will be here! I do miss her a lot. I've been looking forward to next week since Dec. 20th and now its finally (almost) here.
Also, I'll be in Salt Lake for Spring Break 2010. It's gonna be crazy. Maybe as crazy as Spring Break '99. I'm excited to get back to my city. I'm sorry I won't be able to make it up to the Rexburg, but if you wanna come down we'll go clubbing and get crazy in SLC!
Also, I really love Vampire Weekend right now. Especially after I read the article about them in the latest issue of Rolling Stone. They're cool guys, not yuppies like I thought.
Also, I'm excited for the Super Bowl. I think its going to be a helluva game.

Girls

"Oh I Wish I Had A Sun Tan
I Wish I Had A Pizza And A Bottle Of Wine
I Wish I Had A Beach House
Then We Could Make A Big Fire Every Night
Instead Im Just Crazy Im
Totally Mad"

Yesterday: The Beatles?

Yesterday was a good day.
Not this past Christmas but the Christmas before I got a book from my aunt. This book is called The Road. It took me almost year to start reading it. I regret not having read it sooner.
I started the book yesterday and finished it today. It was an amazing book. I couldn't wait to turn the next page.
It's about a post apocalyptic earth. Very few people are alive. There is no food. The sky is dark. Ash is every where and makes it hard to breath. A father and his son are trying not to starve and fight off the remaining people who are trying to survive too.
My description doesn't do the book justice. It's a great book. Just read it.
Also. . .
Christina pre-ordered Eels new album, End Times, for me for Christmas. Every Eels album gets better. I've listened to it all day. There's nothing better than hearing great new music from your favorite band/artist. Thank you, girlfriend.

It's really fitting that both the book and the album are about the end of the world

Good Old Mr. Barnslow. He's Silly

I'll never forget the time I got caught stealing watermelons from old Mr. Barnslow's watermelon patch. I was with my friend Wayne. We were giggling so hard I thought I'd wet my pants! At first we tried to steal two watermelons each, but they were too heavy and we dropped them, and that made us laugh even harder. Finally, we each picked out a good one, and we were just about to sneak back through the fence when we heard a low, deep voice behind us. "Just where do you think you're going with those watermelons?" I gulped and turned around. It was old Mr. Barnslow, pointing his shotgun at us. Wayne dropped his watermelon, then pulled out the .38 revolver he kept in his waist, turned, and fired. But the turning must have thrown off his aim, because the shot only hit Mr. Barnslow in the thigh. Mr. Barnslow immediately fired both barrels at Wayne. One blast of buckshot missed entirely, but the other tore into Wayne's shoulder. He tried to fire back, but his shoulder was so torn up he couldn't raise his arm. Just as he was trying to switch to his left hand, Mr. Barnslow ran up and cracked him across the face with the butt of his shotgun. Wayne fell to the ground in a heap. Mr. Barnslow raised the butt of his gun to finish him off, but just then Wayne pulled out his hunting knife and plunged it into the farmer's big white belly. After that, I don't think I stole watermelons for at least a year.

One for me, One for my hommies

Lately I've been making little raps. I've become quite good at it. I want to share some with you. They've all been to Christina. I'd like to call them freestyle text raps. Before I share I want to give a special thanks to Eminem, Tyler Wonnacott, Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Rap #1
Name: Fox

Girl, You're not a squirrel,
You're a fox!
Meet me at the box,
jack in the box.
When we get there we'll get some fries
And hope they don't have flies. . .
You wanna know why?
So we don't DIE
WORD. . .

Rap #2
Name: Night On The Town

Yo Gurl! you like the sun.
Lets have some fun
and then we'll run to the store and I'll buy us some more chips and dips
and I'll whips this car around
and go on down to another town
Gurl, don't frown
And I won't drown!
Peace!

Too Cold For School?!

Today school was cancelled in Miami, OK. Why, you ask? Because it was too cold. How cold was it? Good question. It was only -2. I was really dissappointed in Oklahoma today(The whole state closed schools because of wind chill advisories). The state that brought you Toby Keith and OU Football closed schools today because it was a little chilly outside.
There are two reasons why this is bad for me.
1. I don't get paid. I've been substituting at the high school. If there is no school. I don't get money.
2. I don't get paid.
Although I am pretty upset about the whole not making money thing, I have had a good day. I. . . .
-Slept in till 9
-Listened to some music
-Read my book
-talked to the girlfriend
-took pictures on Photo Booth with Anna and her friend Alexa (see pic above)
-watched PTI
-filled a bird feeder
-drank Dr. Pepper
-went to the store and bought turkey, wheat thins and fig newtons
-ate some banana cake
-cleaned my room very thoroughly
-did some laundry
-prepared myself to watch the big game tonight

I like home. I like being with my family. But I also need money! School starts up on Monday and seriously doubt there will be more cancelations in the near future. That's good.

Pt. II

She's so silly.

My Moon is Blue Not

I was more than displeased to find out that a blue moon has nothing to do with the color or tint of the moon. All it means is that there are two full moons in a month. That sucks! Shouldn't they call it a double full moon or something else besides blue.
On New Years Eve Anna and my cousin Bryce asked me what a blue moon was. I told them it was when the moon has a bluish tint and that it's a very rare occurrence.
Later that night I went outside to see if the moon was blue. It wasn't, so I went to my good friend Google and looked it up. That's when I read the sad news/truth about the blue moon. Man! did I look like an ass. In front of little kids too! That's the worst. I should have just kept lying to them.