I have been having some issues with mattbunk.com so in order to save my old posts, I am posting them here. Enjoy the look back on the last few years of my life. Some big milestones in there.
11/27//07:: It's hard. It's hard to slow down. To turn my mind off. It could be a disease. I think a lot of people think there's something wrong with me. I don't know, I think I'm normal. I care about things. Obsessively care. But now I feel old. Older than I did. I always say myself as 12 in my mind. Now, I don't know. Maybe closer to my actual age. I think it's from caring about everything too much. I over analyze, under appreciate, and it's getting old. I'm so happy and I don't look it. My family is amazing. My whole family. I him and haw, but I love them so much. So much.
7/27/07 :: This made me smile today. Don't know why. Probably because it's a simple idea executed well. If you look through the pages, it almost tells a story. Especially when he meets a girl. This is going to be a good commercial someday and that's just like me to take something so innocent and figure out a way to sell something with it. Anyway enjoy. (click here to be magically transported to another website)
5/17/07 :: I finished a book today. Having a job, having a home, having a wife, having a baby does not lend itself to finishing books. So when I finish one it's sort of a big deal (especially when I finish one in under a week). It's even more rare that I finish a book that actually makes me change the way I look at things. I mean, sure, I read good books. Great books in fact. Books that the average 18-34 year old would typically not even glance at. And those books are great. They educate. they entertain. They make me feel...satisfied. However, this book, the one I just finished, has left me...questioning. It did educate. It did entertain, but more importantly it made me periodically stop reading and think about what I believe, what I know as truth, what I believe about myself. It made me realize, I don't know that much and that that's not always a bad thing. More impressively, it has made me even more hungry to learn. More resilent. More excited to try and understand. Understand everything. Be better than I was yesterday. Yeah...it was a pretty good book.
2/20/07 :: There's nothing like the feeling of wearing a nice shirt for no reason other than to just feel important (and to celebrate your daughter turning 3 months). If you're looking for a nice shirt, here's who I recommend. Thomas Pink
12/3/06 :: Well, tomorrow Madeline will be two weeks old. Wow. Time flies. I'll be heading back to work tomorrow and Nina will be flying solo with Maddy. We're both nervous. It's been nice to be home and I'd be lying if I said it isn't easier with two people, but Nina will do great. I on the other hand will probably just sit at my desk and stare at the wall, wondering what my daughter is doing "right now." Should be fun. Madelines been doing really great. It's mostly eat, burp, sleep, repeat. Which sounds monotonous, but it really is quite fascinating. Thanks to everyone whose stopped by over the last two weeks, or brought us a meal, or bought Maddy an outfit. You have made our first weeks as parents something we'll never forget. We love you.
11/24/06 :: The baby has landed. She loves her new room. Especially the crown molding. At least that's what I think she was saying. I put up more pictures. Included some of the amazing gift that awaited us when we got home. Thank you Aunt Diane, Angie, and Jeanette. The house looked too adorable. A little trip back to the hospital today for a check up and then feeding, crying and cuddling until tomorrow.
11/22/06 :: Another great day of parenthood. Madeline makes it easy. After a whirlwind day yesterday (Lots of excited visitors who Madeline loved to see), Madeline got a much needed slow day, with just a few people stopping by, which was great for her and Mom. Nina is doing really well and really appreciates the emails that she's been getting. I have to come down the hospital lobby to get a wireless signal, but I'm copying the emails for her to read once I get back to the room. Nina is recovering well and all signs point to going home tomorrow. So, we'll have our own little Thanksgiving Day parade down M-59 and bring home our (now) 7 lbs. 5 oz. turkey. I've posted some new pictures and went ahead and added a little line that tells you when I updated, so you won't have to keep checking. Also, I've posted a link to a video that Papa Tony put together. It's really beautiful and if you watch really close you get to see a really precious moment right after I came out and announced it was a girl and then announced for the first time that her middle name is Jeannine. You'll see me turn my head and look right at Nina's Mom, who had no idea. It was great. Also, Madeline has the pleasure of sharing her initials with my father, MJB. We're so glad we could honor two people we love so much and who love Madeline so much. That's not to say we or Madeline don't love the rest of you - we do. But she only had two names. Ha. Well, we'll see you all soon, thanks for finding room in your hearts to love one more little family member.
:: P.S. :: A little special thank you to Kyle and Mom G for giving us that hour of sleep this afternoon. You don't know how much it meant to us.
11/21/06 :: Madeline Jeannine Bunk arrived Monday, November 20, 2006 at 6:02 p.m. She is a perfect 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 19 3/4" long. Her mother was a superstar yesterday, braving through 2 days of labor, before they decided on a caesarean. Nina couldn't have done better and was more patient in delivery, than I am on my best day. Madeline is beautiful. She loves to sleep and yawn and make funny faces and make her parents really happy. She also loves to show off her plump little cheeks and to look at her Mommy. Nina slept well last and was enjoying a Cherry Italian Ice when I left the room. She'll be off solid food for a while, but I don't think anything couuld keep her from Turkey and Mashed Potatoes from her Nana's on Thursday. I'll have to run and get her some. I've put up some more photos and will continue to post, probably late at night, after the girls fall asleep. Madeline is here and none of us will ever be the same.
11/20/06 :: Baby Watch '06 - Day 2 - Pitocin is a go. Nurses say everything is looking good. Things should be "favorable." That's their favorite word around here. Been lucky with nurses, all have been nice. We say luck, they say "we're all nice." Have started posting pictures. Check the link on the right side of the page under the poll.
11/19/06 :: Baby Watch '06 - Day 1 - No sightings of Baby Bunk yet. Nina is doing great. Induction has started. Being told that maybe in the morning they'll bring in the heavy stuff. We'll put up pictures when we have them. Get some sleep it's going to be a long (and exciting) night.
8/3/06 :: Today is Lee Clow's birthday, which means a lot to anyone in advertising, but probably nothing at all to anyone who reads this site. Today also happens to be my birthday, which probably means a lot to anyone who reads this site but little to nothing to anyone in advertising. Maybe one day they'll write articles about me in Ad Age when my birthday is coming around. Happy Birthday Lee. You're probably surfing right now.
7/30/06 :: I don't usually link to a lot of other sites. But inspired by Russell Davies (who is, in my opinion, the web's finest example of what blogging can be), I have decided to do it more often.
So I direct your attention to an article I found from another blog (I don't remember which), which I feel gives a pretty decent summation of the interpretation of value in today's youth. And I use youth in the most interpretive sense. I don't think this article is referring to teens or tweens. In fact, it clearly isn't from the scenarios it uses. The odd part is, since when is a 25 year old considered a youth. I mean, come on, I think this article speaks to a bigger issue - the adult child. The group of "adults" who have decided that finding the next "cool" beats wearing a suit everyday. OK, I'm all for not conforming to "big blue", but find a respectible way of doing it. Start a business, write a book, but for the love of capatalism - grow up. You can only claim to working on your degree for so long.
This article uses the word cool a lot and maybe more than anything made me question the falability of the word itself. It also swears inappropriately, which is probably appropriate for the type of people it's speaking of and it has one major flaw, which is that it says it's credible to have a rock band as a friend on myspace when everyone knows rock bands accept anyone as their friends.
Oddly enough, I actually visit the links it reference, which makes me question if I'm one of the people it's catagorizing. I do value obscure knowledge, I can tell you where to find that rare Nike Air Force One, but then I remember, the blue and gray suits hanging in my closests and realize that I in fact have grown up, as much as I've tried not to. Ciao.
7/4/06 :: Never argue with someone who knows they are right or with someone who doesn't know they're wrong.
6/28/06 :: What determines great artistry? Greatness (as a descriptor) is trite. The mental awarding of talent has become much too frivolous. If you ask me, the sign of a true artist, is the ability to know when to stop. Anyone can just ramble. Be it an author, a painter, a chef, an architect. Add, add, add. A cacophony of good ideas does not make a great idea. Simplicity is brilliance and perceptivity of overkill is mastery. Just like the word “mastery” ruined the last sentence, knowing when not to flex your muscle is more important then flaunting it awkwardly. A real artist makes it look easy, makes you say, “I could do that.” But you couldn’t. Because you can’t help yourself. You can’t say no to a good idea based solely on the fact that it’s just that – good – and nothing more. Next time you underestimate an artist’s work, because it looks too plain, keep in mind that it’s a complex process to find simplicity and it all starts with knowing when and where to stop.
4/23/06 :: Nina is going to be the best mommy ever. That's right. We're having a baby. Due date: Nov. 26. My excitement level: Off the charts. We can't wait. We lie awake just throwing out names and thinking of color schemes for the baby's room. And no we won't find if it's a boy or a girl. One of life's few good surprises. I can't stop smiling. This is going to be the best.
11/14/05 :: I used to be in a band called One Save All. It’s been a few years and you know what – I really miss it. We never played that many shows or recorded more than one song, but to me, it was one of the best things I can remember. I really liked (and still like) the people who were in the band and I really liked spending time with them. Whether they liked spending time with me is debatable, but I really enjoyed the time we spent together. I don’t know why I’m writing about this. It’s 1:04 in the morning and I’ll be up at 5:36, but I came across an old live recording and it just made me remember how much fun I used to have. Not that I don’t have fun now. Believe me, I have fun. But different fun. Not basement rock and roll practice fun. Not trying to lower an upright piano down a flight of stairs fun. So why did the band stop. I don’t know. People grow up. I’m sure you could blame one guy or another, but as I look back at it, it wasn’t built to last. I wish it would of, but c’est la vie. Just wanted to say I love you guys. Thanks for having fun with me.
8/27/05 :: Tonight's the night. G-BABY AND FRIENDS. Paychecks Lounge. Be there. No excuses for missing this once in a lifetime show. Doors at...well the doors are probably open now. But G-Baby takes the stage at midnight. I'll be singing throughout. Click here for a map.
8/2/05 :: Leaving for California tomorrow. Never been. Should be great. Tomorrow I also celebrate the anniversary of my mother doing something truly amazing - giving birth to me. Thanks mom.
7/7/05 :: Have you ever heard a song so ripe with emotion that when you hear it you want to run out of your house, get in your car, go to an exotic pet store, buy 500 doves, leave the store, climb a mountain and then release the previously purchased doves into the sunset while a single tears runs down your right check eventually falling to the earth in a silent thud. Yeah me too. It's those songs that are so real you're almost embarrassed to listen to it because it feels like you're eavesdropping on someones actual life. For some reason, that song for me is Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." I hear that song and immediately i feel down. It's like I can see the the leather-skinned cowboy walking through the desert. He's down. He's out. He's out of options. So, what does he do? He goes home to his mother and one by one he asks his mother to destroy everything that he thought was important to him. His badge. His gun. Remove them. Bury them. He's done. Tell St. Peter he's coming home. It's brilliant. The melody dances with the lyrics perfectly. When Dylan's voice comes in it sounds like a symphony or maybe it's the angels welcoming the cowboy home. Originally record in 1973 for the motion picture "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" it times in at a paultry 2:29. Just long enough to wash over you but just short enough where you can never get sick out. It was a travesty when Guns N' Roses butchered it. I feel sorry for the generation who never heard the original first. They'll never truly comprehend what that cowboy actually went through. Peace.
5/30/05 :: Today, a list of some great things that I like very much (in no particular order). Flip-flops, non-fiction, Jaime Oliver, American Stratocasters, a breeze, cut grass, worn-in t-shirts, Brits, mail, Nathaniel Philbrick, taking a 12-minute shower, BBQ chicken salads, new car smell, holding hands with Neens, analog, loud music, q-tips, honey mustard, american flags, babies, automatic watches, Karmen Ghias, exposed brick, Wes Anderson, advertising blogs, 90's rock, diet vanilla cherry Dr. Pepper, BP, heavy filing cabinets, MTV Cribs, Khakis, Lists.
4/29/05 :: Good intentions. The desire to do something different. The idea that one day that shirt in your closet will fit instead of making it hard for you to breath. Get real. Talk is cheap. Acting is hard. We all want to be better. Better friends. Better spouses. Better co-workers. Stop having conscious revalations at 2 a.m. Start being the person you know you can be. It's hard to be the best...have the best...be seen as the best. The neighbors car will always be shinier. The office next to yours will always have a better view. Get over it. You're good at being you. Start being you. The real you. Come on - you remember him. The guy that got you where you are today. Smile more. Yell less. Hug more people, like you mean it. You can do this. It's more natural than what you're doing know. I'm talking to you...Matt.
3/5/05 :: Why do hardcover books have to be so pretentious? It's like they have some huge ego problem. Always in the front of the bookstore, right when you walk in. They even get those little plastic stands that make them stand up on display like they're some kind of prize. Well, I'm here to say hardcovers are lame. I'm tired of paperbacks taking a backseat to the sterile, rigid blandness of the "all-powerful" hardcover. Sure, hardcovers look better on the shelf, but the functionability of a larger format paper sandwiched between to sheets of plywood wrapped in a delicate dust cover (don't even get me started on dust covers) just seems a little dated. So...I'm declaring 2005 to be the year of the paperback. Here's to form and function; books that don't have to be larger than a TV dinner and that don't mind a little wear and tear. The End.
1/1/05 :: Happy New Year. Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable year end celebration. I sure did. Since we are in Chicago, Nina and I celebrated at 1:00 a.m. EST. It's kind of lame to watch New York partying and it's only 11 in Chicago. On a entirely different note, the worst place in the world is fitting rooms in stores, ie: the Gap, H&M, etc... Is there some unwritten rule that says those little rooms have to be 800 degrees. It's like a sweat box in those things. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. I'll be back in Michigan tomorrow, so stop on by the house and welcome me home. Peace.
12/31/04 :: Matt Bunk checking in from Chicago. I'm in the apple store right now with about 200 other people all professing our disdain for Bill Gates. Chicago is great so far and not that windy. It's about 55 degrees here, which is amazing, but not a record for New Year's Eve. Apparently, it was 58 degrees around 1870. Man, they must have partied like it was 1900 in that weather. Well, I'll catch you in the new year. Enjoy the rest of 04. Peace.
12/22/04 :: Man, Christmas snuck up on me. Maybe it's because it's on a weekend, but I didn't even see it coming. It's probably better that way. If I had been thinking about it, it would have never come. Anticipation has a way of doing that. In fact, if anticipation had a tag line it would probably be something like - "Anticipation: the great time stretcher." I know that's not very good, but you get the point. I actually have a week off and I'll be spending four days in Chicago for New Years. I'm looking forward to some quiet time with my wife. Wow, I like how that sounds. I've never said that before. Has a nice ring. Well, to you and yours, Merry Christmas and may all your New Year's resolutions at least last to February. Peace
12/13/04 :: Finally. Our first real snow fall in southeast Michigan. I mean it wasn't anything to write home about, but just enough fluffy stuff to cover the dying lawns and depressingly shriveled plants that have plagued suburbia for the last month or so. And most importantly, it was just wet enough to pack into the perfect spericals of death know as snowballs. I practically gave a tutorial on how to rule a snowball fight at the cousin's house last night. Just ask George's right eye. My right arm has been officially classified a Weapon of Mass Destruction. And while I was all geeked to shovel my drive for the first time with the mother of all shovels I just purchased, a steady, spitting rain did the work for me. Well, here's to snow on the 24th. Peace.
12/6/04 :: It’s been too long. Like a child returning home from college for Christmas break, I have returned to my own website to update. Too much has happened. Too many great things. The post would be too large. So I’ll hit the big one. I’m married. That’s right - married. On October 16th, I entered into holy matrimony with the most wonderful woman on the planet. What a great day. Everything was perfect. Mattbunk.com even got a plug during the ceremony thanks to the preceding pastor. Nina was beautiful. How did I look? It doesn’t matter. Nina looked beautiful. After the wedding it was down to the Bahamas for the honeymoon and then back to our little slice of heaven in Sterling Heights where we laugh away the hours watching Viva La Bam and planning our next trip to Costco. Christmas is just around the corner and our first non-honeymoon trip together – a New Year’s jaunt to Chicago. Should be fun. Peace.
9/2/04 :: What's this? A post? Why yes it is. After what seems like an eternity, I am finally getting back to updating the site. So much has happened since my last post that any attempt to catch up would be foolish and a waste of time...but I'm going to do it anyway. Well, mattbunk.com official celebrated it's first birthday on 8/18. It seems like so long ago that I wrote that first post. Scroll down and read it again. I was so immature. Not a care in the world. What was all that malarky about posting all the time? Well, another day another dollar. I'm a lot wiser now, so you can expect only level-headed, rationalized statements from now on. Moving on. My fiance, Nina and I bought a house in July. I wouldn't classify it as a mansion, but it's definitely awesome. We're having a good time moving my stuff into it and finding places for all of the things Nina got at her shower. Nina won't be moving in until after the wedding, so if you want to come by and play video games or cut my lawn, it's totally cool. I'll try and post some pictures, although I've been having trouble with my gallery lately, going to have to get my tech support team to check that out. Last but certainly not least, Two of my favorite people in the world, Mike and Kristen got married last Saturday. I had the extreme honor of standing up in the wedding and I can't express how truly happy I am for them. It's not even a happy I can describe, but by far the best part was watching them smile at each other. Smiling like they we're really happy, not the cheasy smile you put on when someone is taking a picture. Nina has a theory that everybody smiles differently for the person they love. That only your true love ever sees your special smile. When Kristen and Mike were reciting there vows , everyone got to see the special smile they have for each other. I can't wait until October when Nina comes smiling down the isle. That's it for now, I'll try and post again soon. Peace.
6/11/04 :: Alright, so this theory is from way back. I kinda let up on it, but now it's back with a vengeance. You know how people use the terms "on accident" and "on purpose." ex: So and so did that on purpose. We'll, what I propose is that the terms should actually be "on accident" and "by purpose." Hear me out. The preposition "on" can be assumed to be short for "on account of..." Similarly, the prepostion "by" can be interpreted most commonly as "by way of..." if that is understood, then it's only logical that "purpose" would be married to "by" forming the prepositional phrase "by way of a purpose." Likewise, the expression "on accident" would represent the phrase "on account of an accident." That's the theory and I'm sticking to it. I know my explanation may be confusing, but I did that by purpose. Peace.
4/30/04 :: You have to look at life like it's a book. Each individual moment of living represents a word. A minor accomplishment is like the end of one paragraph and the beginning of another. But a major accomplish is like turning a page or starting a new chapter. So what turns your pages? Maybe, it's when you finally built up the nerve to talk to that cool indie-chick who works at Starbucks. Maybe it's realizing that voting is a privelage, or maybe it's walking out of your last college class and knowing that you finally made it. So, what emotions are linked to your page turns? Are they marked by laughter, crying, uncontrollable joy? I would have to say, mine are marked by silence; quiet contemplation as the leaves of my life turn green with the anticipation of a new season. We're all authors, we write our lives with the language and grammar of our individual being. We can't deny that our lives are full of prolouges, build-ups, climaxes, and conclusions. Here's to the next Chapter. Peace.
4/19/04 :: We're always looking too far ahead. When it's Tuesday, we're thinking about Friday. When it's Spring, we're thinking about Summer. We live in a time where nobody likes the present. The future is much cooler. But the future is tomorrow's present. Nobody can sit still and smell today's roses because they're convinced tomorrow's will smell better. We'll forget that stuff. Look around you, the present is pretty awesome, whether you want to admit it or not. I was looking at magazine from way back in 1999 when the internet was "booming" and people were so excited about the future. Well guys, you should have partied like it was 1999, because now most of you are baristas. Bet you didn't see that coming in you crystal ball. So to all those dwelling in 2004, stop looking at 2005 or next month or tomorrow for that matter. Enjoy now. Enjoy today's roses. Yes, tomorrow will probably be better - somedays it feels like it couldn't get much worse - but your stuck in today with the rest of us. Now get back to your life. Peace.
3/17/04 :: Suprise - A post...and it's not even a major event in my life. Just normal stuff like...I'm leaving for Colorado tomorrow. Yeah. A whole week away. It's been a while since I've had a real vacation. It's sorta exciting. I mean wouldn't you be excited - 11,000 feet up in the freezing cold barreling down the side of a mountain - it doesn't get much better. We're actually driving. 4 guys in a car for 24 hours with only our instincts (and a mapquest map) to guide us to our destination. Fortunately our best friend, XBox, will be riding with us. "What's that you say? XBox? I thought you dissed XBox by placing it on your 'overrated' list?" Well, I did. But, when the XBox is combined with other dudes and a long car trip it moves up. Maybe not all the way to "underrated" but definitely into "rated." Alright, watch out for frost bite. Peace.
2/29/04 :: What is the happiest day of your life? Think about it. Does one immediately come to mind? For the longest time I would hear people talk about how a particular event or occurrence made a single day the best they had ever lived and I would think to myself, "why don't I have a best day?" Maybe everyone else was just over exaggerating their days. Well, last week I finally found my "best day". Because, on February 22nd the most beautiful, caring, loving girl I have ever met or could ever dream of said "yes" to my marriage proposal. And now I know what it feels like to have a truly great day. It kind of feels how you’d imagine. Like you did something right. Like you took a major step, but you know it’s in the right direction. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. And I’m the type of person who will go back to a store four times before I buy a pair of pants. Nina thank you for helping find my (our) day. I love you.
12/29/03 :: First comes love…then comes marriage. A perfectly logical order that has been occurring since the beginning of time. With roughly 6 billion people walking the planet, the mere fact that two soul mates would find each other is one of God’s greatest miracles. Michel de Montaigne once said, “If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.” I can’t help but smile when I see an 85-year-old couple holding hands and giggling like they just got married. That’s how a marriage should be. There are good times and bad, but the fact that two people experience them together is what makes it a truly incredible institution. I said all that to say this… Congratulations George and Bree. I couldn’t be happier for two of my friends. I thank God that I have friends like you and that you have found each other. Good luck to the other 5,999,999,998 people out there. Peace.
12/26/03 :: The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. - W. Stekel
12/11/03 ::
ne·glect (n-glkt) tr.v. ne·glect·ed, ne·glect·ing, ne·glects
1. To pay little or no attention to; fail to heed; disregard: neglected their website.
2. To fail to care for or attend to properly: neglects his posting.
3. To fail to do or carry out, as through carelessness or oversight: neglected to perform his web duties.
11/26/03 :: Be patient for there shall come an update of epic proportions. One that will shake the very foundations of the internet.
11/22/03 :: Michigan 35 / Ohio State 21
Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant!
Here they come with banners flying.
In stalwart step they're nighing.
With shouts of vict'ry crying.
We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now, Hail!
Far we their praises sing
For the glory and fame they've bro't us,
Loud let the bells them ring,
For here they come with banners flying
Far we their praises tell
For the glory and fame they've bro't us,
Loud let the bells them ring
For here they come with banners flying
Here they come, Hurrah!
Hail! To the victors, valiant,
Hail! To the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! To Michigan the leaders and best
Hail! To the victors, valiant,
Hail! To the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! To Michigan the champions of the West!
11/17/03 :: No time to write. So, today's post is provided in list form. Enjoy.
OVERRATED
1. Anyone (famous) named Britney
2. Buying Christmas gifts early
3. TV shows about how rich other people are
4. X-Box
5. The night life
UNDERRATED
1. Reading
2. T-shirts
3. Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencils
4. Burritos
5. Not having a cell phone
11/8/03 :: So I was in Kmart yesterday. Yes Kmart. You might be thinking, “Matt, you went to a washed up, low-culture, struggling, retail distribution outlet?” To that I say, “No, I went to a classic icon of American culture that has sadly fallen victim to a tough economic down turn and is now struggling to restore itself to its former glory.” Really I don’t even like Kmart. But I feel bad for it. I really think that it never recovered from the now-immortalized lambasting it received when Tom Cruise uttered the truly daunting phrase, “Kmart sucks Ray. Kmart sucks,” in the 1988 Academy Award Winning Best Picture – Rain Man. I mean, come on, does anybody really stand a chance if the most popular actor in the world is telling the moldable youth of America that something is lame? No amount of marketing or positive PR work can undo the damage caused by those 5 cutting words. Anyway, back to my main point. So I was at Kmart buying 8 lbs of candy to help battle the 3:00 sugar lows at my office (I’m not kidding I actually bought 8 lbs of candy), when I notice that every person around me looked miserable. No one was talking to each other. They were each in their own separate worlds, looking miserable. I thought to myself, “is that how I look?” Hmm, I hope not. I mean, what do I have to be in a mood about? And I’m not saying that I’m never in a bad mood. Believe me, I am. But on the whole I have it pretty darn good; a lot better than Kmart right now. So. Attention everybody. Cheer up. It’s not that bad. The sun will come out tomorrow…and all that jazz. Find someone you like and give them a hug. Then maybe you’ll realize that you don’t have to look miserable the next time you’re in Kmart…or anywhere for that matter. OK, this has been your mattbunk.com motivational speech of the day. Now, back to work. Peace.
:: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE ::
10/29/03 :: Music is a big part of life. So therefore, music has just become a big part of mattbunk.com. Introducing...MY CD CHANGER. If you look on the right, under the survey, you can see what CD's are currently in my car's CD changer. When I change a disc in my car, I'll change it on the list. So you'll always know what's in the mix. Maybe you have some suggestions of what I should be listening to. Just click feedback and drop me an email with your suggestion. Maybe you'll see it in my changer one day and then you'll feel like you've made a difference in the world. And that's what it's all about.
10/23/03 :: The programming on TV today is horrible. It seems like there hasn't been an original idea pitched to a network in the last 5 years. Really. How many shows can MTV do about teenagers going on blind dates. And let's be honest, is Punk'd really all that original. The show revolves around people being caught candidly on camera. Hmm, where have I seen that before? I think MTV should have a show called "Stupid Executives" where we watch the head honchos at MTV sit around and actually justify to each other why giving Tom Green another show is a good idea. And I must be a sucker for punishment because I actually watch some of those stupid shows. What's wrong with me? Actually, I probably watch them because these shows are the most accurate portrayal of a generation who, sadly, have no regard for common sense. Let me furthur my point with an example. Say you're at the zoo and you walk by the monkey cage. Nothing exciting happening. Just monkeys being monkeys. You're about to walk away when one monkey walks into a wall and falls down. He gets up and again walks into the wall only to once again fall down. He continues to do this for several minutes. There is a slim chance that anyone who witnessed the occurance will walk away while the monkey continues to slam himself into the wall. It's really sad that we sit and watch people and especially teenagers "walk into walls". So, who's to blame? The stations for putting the show on the air or us for watching? It's a tough question. One that even I am embarrased to answer. So what's the solution? Is there one? Let's hope. Alright, I have to go. There's a good episode of "American Chopper" on. Peace.
10/22/03 :: Well I'm back. From where you ask? Well, a foreign country. That's right, Matt Bunk and his merry band of street teamers (the Girgenti family) took a road trip to Canada last Sunday to further the message of mattbunk.com (and to pick apples and drink cider). It was really great to be on the road armed with our new bumper stickers and t-shirt (singular). I took a ton of photos which will be posted soon, I promise. Being in Canada always seems weird to me. The people there drive like they have nowhere to be and no concept of time. When you walk the streets it feels like you're in some sort of slow moving TV show and that everything should be in black and white. Kinda like Leave it to Beaver but with curling and Tim Hortons. And I won't even talk about their money because our new twenties aren't all that better (but at least our money doesn't have hockey players on it). But, for all the ragging on Canada I do, I really enjoy the few times each year I go there. Anyway, GO CAPITALISM. Peace
For all my new Canadian viewers, here's today's post in French.
Puits je suis de retour. Où de vous demandez? Bien, un pays étranger. C'est exact, la couchette mate et sa joyeuse bande des teamers de rue (la famille de Girgenti) ont pris à un voyage de route au Canada le dimanche passé à autre le message de mattbunk.com (et aux pommes de sélection et au cidre de boissons). Il était vraiment grand d'être sur la route armée avec nos nouveaux autocollants et t-shirt de butoir (singuliers). J'ai pris une tonne de photos qui seront signalées bientôt, je promets. Être au Canada semble toujours étrange à moi. Le peuple là conduit comme ils ont nulle part pour être et aucun concept de temps. Quand vous promenade les rues que cela ressemble à de vous soyez dans une certaine sorte d'exposition mobile lente de TV et ce tout devrait être dans noir et le blanc. Un peu comme le laisser le soin au castor mais avec se courber et Tim Hortons. Et je ne parlerai pas même de leur argent parce que nos nouvelles années '20 ne sont pas toutes qui meilleur (mais au moins notre argent n'a pas des joueurs d'hockey là-dessus). Mais, parce que tout le ragging sur le Canada je , j'apprécie vraiment les quelques temps tous les ans que je vais là. Quoi qu'il en soit, DISPARAISSENT LE CAPITALISME. Paix
10/15/03 :: Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm just so wrapped up in the "Newlyweds" on MTV. I just can't stop watching the sheer intellectual awesomeness that is Jessica Simpson. OK, I made all of that up. Now, on to business. You have to check out this website. Wayback Machine. Type in any web address and it will show you what that website looked like at any time since it was created. It's really cool to see what sites looked like "back in the day." In a time before Kazaa and scrolling wheels on your mouse. Check out eBay in 1996. Who knew that one day it would become the only functional use for the internet (besides google and mattbunk.com). Well, have fun. Peace.
P.S. :: Big thanks to my sister Kyle for the excellent pregunta del dia (question of the day).
10/8/03 :: Alright, I'm really proud of myself. I've already added new pictures to the Gallery. This time you'll get a small look into my work life. Exciting I know. In other news, if anyone is wondering what I'm listening to of late, it's The Beatles. I just picked up two of the three anthology albums and they're really awesome. I know it's stupid of me to be all jazzed about an album that came out in '96 but I think The Beatles might just be "the next big thing." Some standout tracks: Rocky Racoon and Glass Onion (both early recordings). That's all for now. Peace.
10/5/03 :: Woah, its been a long time. Quick apologies to anyone who can't live without their Matt Bunk updates. I neglected my duties as a website owner and I'm sorry. However, it will probably happen again, so you might as well get used to it. Now, on to business. The wonderful world of mattbunk.com can now be viewed in breath-taking 2-D. click on the Gallery link on the left to see pictures that I post. Right now, it's just some shots from the bands last gig. We usually don't rock that many blue tarps, but rain threatened the gear, so we had to do what we had to do. In other news my new business cards are in. If you see me on the street, ask for a card. They're very detailed and informative. All right, have a good week, don't take life for granted, and go see "School of Rock." Peace
9/24/03 :: I really like the people I know. I think that too often I overlook what great friends I have. It's really awesome to know people who get excited about the same things I do, who laugh at the same things I do, and who really know when its time to go buy a new record. So today, it's big props to anyone who am I am lucky enough to call friend (That includes my wonderful girl-friend). Thanks for making my world go round. (Sorry about all the sentimental stuff. I'm sure that I'll be back to my cynical-self tomorrow.) Peace.
9/21/03 :: Ahh, the sweet frustration that is golfing. A perfect day yesterday to hit the links. My first official golf outing (golf clap). Big props to my team, for playing that course like nobody's business and for putting up with me. Even bigger props to JG who always seemed to pull through in the clutch. And don't be mistaken, Matt Bunk pulled his weight. (Sorry for the third person, I try to avoid it in my posts) In the end, some balls were lost, some clubs were thrown, some carts were hit (read Nick's submitted post, below, for more details on that one), but everyone is still alive. Have a good weekend and keep it on the fairway. Peace.
SUBMITTED POST :: TEAM MATTBUNK.COM Alright... so we're at the golf outing. Matt Bunk approaches his ball for a shot at the green. Well what happens next is classic... he shanks one off to the right past the green (not the one we were shooting at might i add) over some guys heads and nails their cart with his ball. It was great, and yes we went on to win the 13th annual Zoe Golf Outing or maybe we just ended up +6 and in 28th place... i don''t really remember. But we did have a great time.
NickC
9/12/03 :: Locusts and honey...not since John The Baptist has there been a voice like that crying in the wilderness...Every man knows he is a sissy compared to Johnny Cash.
-Bono
SUBMITTED POST :: Well, I must say that I was truly shocked when I received a phone call at work this morning. The saddened voice of none other than Matt Bunk rang in my ear as he informed me of the passing of a legend. I must first admit that I am not what you would call a country/western music fan. But, I do not believe that any person that calls themselves a musician can deny the greatness of Johnny Cash. Though some may say that he had a horrible voice and couldn’t even play his instruments, which on a technical level I will agree with those critics, I believe the heart and soul of his music transcended the sounds themselves. He was a man that truly opened himself up to the world and taught people how to feel his music rather than simply listen to it. There are but a handful that have accomplished this; Bono, Dylan, Lennon etc... But sadly we can now only wait and see what will become of the unfinished American 5. Will it be released in the spirit that Johnny intended or are they going to try and make a buck off of his death. The only thing I have to say about that is: The Man In Black's body may be dead, but that record better be right, because if anyone is tough enough to get you after he's gone, it's Johnny Cash.
Please take a moment and say a prayer for the Cash family. And check out this web page, There's a link to his video for hurt, if you've never seen it, watch it now, it rings truer than ever.
Peace Out Ya'll
David Brady
Studio07.com
9/10/03 :: It seems like I can't get anything done anymore. And I think the reason is because I plan to get things done. Hear me out. When I tell myself, "tonight I'm going to finish that civil war romance novel I've been writing," (sidebar: I'm not writing a novel. It's just an example.) it's almost certain that I won't get to it. And then I kick myself the next day for being a slacker. Now the way I see it, there's two ways I can deal with this problem. 1) Stay up all night and force myself to accomplish things that are only important because I tell myself they are. 2) Lower my expectations of what I can actually get done in any given time period. This second method is by far the easier of the two. Let's face it, lower expectations equal higher accomplishments. However, being stupid and lazy is no way to go through life. What to do? I'll figure it out someday, but right now I've got to go, I think I just thought of any ending for my novel. Peace.
:: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE ::
Hey everybody, I am adding a new feature to mattbunk.com today. Since I don't always have a lot of time to keep the content on this sight fresh, I'm going to need your help. YOU CAN NOW POST YOUR OWN STORIES. Just click on "Submit News" on the left. Then type in a great story. Maybe it's about the time you and Matt Bunk totally rocked the casbah or maybe it's your thoughts on how mattbunk.com has made the internet a better place or maybe it's just a rant about something that annoys you. Whatever. Send me your stories I'll check 'em out and if I like 'em I'll put 'em on the page. VIVA MATTBUNK.COM
9/4/03 :: Not much happening in the world of Matt Bunk. Just trying to get my ducks in a row (figure that one out). On a recommendation side, go out and buy Jeff Buckley's - Live at Sin-e. Hauntingly Beautiful. If you looked up "songwriter" @ dictionary.com it would show his picture. Only the good die young. In other news, I am highly anticipating the arrival of fall or as I like to call it "goodbye to humidity time". Peace.
9/1/03 :: We had a great time at our (last) show yesterday. We had fun, We got rained on, we got lost. A great time was had by all. Welcome to all of those who are visiting the site for the first time. What up, Melissa (Dave). Check out the survey on the right and drop me a line by clicking feedback on the left. Thanks to all the girlfriends/wives who roadied yesterday. The best looking guitar techs I've ever seen. Peace.
8/30/03 :: SO, COLLECTIVE SOUL WAS LAST NIGHT AT THE ARTS, BEATS, AND EATS. NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. Oh, sorry for shouting. My hearing is still a little messed up. We were pretty close to the speakers. They did a great cover of "Personel Jesus" and "Oops, I Did It Again." Ok, I made that second one up. Seeing a great band makes me even more excited for the gig this Sunday. I pity the fool, who isn't there. Directions and info are listed above. Have a great holiday weekend. Hope everyone is having a good time in Boston, Courts. Peace.
8/27/03 :: Today, I am going to use my post to tell you a little fact about myself. I love to read. I think that reading is the backbone of literacy. (profound - I know). But as much as I love to read, I think that I love owning books more. Sometimes, I feel that owning a book is as good as reading it. I know, it sounds crazy, but there's just something to purchasing a really great book. How great would it be if I had my own library - only awesome books allowed. Forget Oprah's book club - join the Matt Bunk Book Club™. That would be rad. As a matter of fact, if anyone is looking for a good book to read, drop me an email by clicking "feedback" on the left and I'll send you my recommendation for what you should be reading. Who am I to be giving literary advice? Nobody special. Just a guy with a website and a dream. So remember, Left to Right - Top to Bottom. Peace.
8/26/03:: It's going to be one of those days. I never really understood that expression. It must have been made up by a person who had a really monotonous life. And as we know - monotony stifles creativity. (I just made that up, but it sounds cool). Quick shout out to my proofreader, Courtney. She isn't a writer by trade, but she says it looks easy enough (right?). By the way, not a lot works on the sight yet besides surveys, but if you want to send me an email click feedback on the left. Thanks for caring. Peace.
ps :: If you haven't had a McGriddle yet, stop whatever you're doing and go and get one. The sausage/egg/cheese McGriddle should win the Noble Peace Prize for stiffling the war that is my hunger.
8/25/03 :: What an amazing weekend. I had the honor of attending a 10th anniversary party at my old place of employment - Deebe's Coffee Bar. Big Congrats to George and Peggy for being so awesome and for taking a chance on a high school red head with no work experience and too loud of a mouth. My first real job and it was hard to leave. Good to see some of the people I used to work with. Also, this weekend I was able to get my pedalboard in order. Nothing like rocking out with a well-organized pedal board. The band is getting it in gear for the gig this weekend (details will be posted soon). Practice has been nothing but awesome. It feels good when everything comes together. On a different note - Don't subscribe to InStyle magazine. It's a scam. Just buy it on the newsstands. One of the only reasons anybody would subcribe to anything is because you know you're going to get it before it is available to the general public. Well, Instyle has a different idea. They apparantly think that people want to receive their magazines weeks after they could go to the store and buy it. (just for personal information, I do not subscribe to InStyle. This rant is in response to the treatment my girlfriend, Nina, has received from the aforementioned publication). Wrapping up the weekend - Saw some movies...watched some TV...Hung out with Nina. Good weekend. Be sure to check out the new survey. Peace.
8/22/03 :: Is it wrong for me to pray for snow in the middle of summer. I can't stand walking outside and feeling like I'm swimming. Humidity has got to go. I'm going to send humidity an email this weekend demanding that he let up a little...or else. Anyway, the sight is a huge success and by "huge success" I mean that I like it and more than five people have seen it. If your looking for something to do next Friday, Collective Soul is going to rocking one of my favorite yearly events - Arts, Beats, and Eats. It's been a long time since C-Soul has rocked the masses. Guaranteed to be off the chiz-ain. Whatever that means. peace.
8/20/03 :: So, I'm officially done with spanish. 4 years. It would be nice if I could write this post in Espanol, but sadly I can't. Maybe that speaks to the current status of the educational system on the whole...or maybe it speaks to how well I paid attention in spanish. Either way, I'm just happy it's over. On a different note, my band is gearing up for a show next Sunday (31st). We are breaking in a new drummer. A good friend of ours, John D., agreed to help out with the beats in our time of need. On another note (a lot of notes today) my mother is cooking up a garage sale. So, if you want to own a piece of Bunk history, swing by the house...err...garage. You could pick up a old neon ski jacket or maybe a pair of "used" (the brand) jeans. And then you too can pretend that you're a Bunk. Peace.
8/19/03 :: I've realized that staying up late is really over rated. When you're young that's all you think about - partying 'til the sun comes up. But as you get older you wish you could get to bed before the sun goes down. And I noticed that when I determine to get to bed before 1 a.m., without fail, at 1 a.m. I'm wide awake. I think God gave me the internal clock of a night watchman. Oh well, my favorite animal has always been the nightowl. Peace.
SOTD (site of the day):: www.tapetrader.com :: great live music and it's free
8/18/03 :: My first post. Lots of room to move around on this big empty site. Big thanks to Mr. G for making it happen. Be sure to check back often and when I say often I mean once every 15 minutes. If I've got the power to post believe me I'll use it. I have a feeling that surveys are going to be changing all the time. Check out the current one on the right. It's a tough call, but I know you'll make the right choice. My Site Of The Day (SOTD) is www.mattwertz.com. A)because it's another site that starts with matt B)It was designed by Pixelgrazer. C)Because he makes good music. (that's actually two links, but I won't charge you for the second one) Peace.
11/27//07:: It's hard. It's hard to slow down. To turn my mind off. It could be a disease. I think a lot of people think there's something wrong with me. I don't know, I think I'm normal. I care about things. Obsessively care. But now I feel old. Older than I did. I always say myself as 12 in my mind. Now, I don't know. Maybe closer to my actual age. I think it's from caring about everything too much. I over analyze, under appreciate, and it's getting old. I'm so happy and I don't look it. My family is amazing. My whole family. I him and haw, but I love them so much. So much.
7/27/07 :: This made me smile today. Don't know why. Probably because it's a simple idea executed well. If you look through the pages, it almost tells a story. Especially when he meets a girl. This is going to be a good commercial someday and that's just like me to take something so innocent and figure out a way to sell something with it. Anyway enjoy. (click here to be magically transported to another website)
5/17/07 :: I finished a book today. Having a job, having a home, having a wife, having a baby does not lend itself to finishing books. So when I finish one it's sort of a big deal (especially when I finish one in under a week). It's even more rare that I finish a book that actually makes me change the way I look at things. I mean, sure, I read good books. Great books in fact. Books that the average 18-34 year old would typically not even glance at. And those books are great. They educate. they entertain. They make me feel...satisfied. However, this book, the one I just finished, has left me...questioning. It did educate. It did entertain, but more importantly it made me periodically stop reading and think about what I believe, what I know as truth, what I believe about myself. It made me realize, I don't know that much and that that's not always a bad thing. More impressively, it has made me even more hungry to learn. More resilent. More excited to try and understand. Understand everything. Be better than I was yesterday. Yeah...it was a pretty good book.
2/20/07 :: There's nothing like the feeling of wearing a nice shirt for no reason other than to just feel important (and to celebrate your daughter turning 3 months). If you're looking for a nice shirt, here's who I recommend. Thomas Pink
12/3/06 :: Well, tomorrow Madeline will be two weeks old. Wow. Time flies. I'll be heading back to work tomorrow and Nina will be flying solo with Maddy. We're both nervous. It's been nice to be home and I'd be lying if I said it isn't easier with two people, but Nina will do great. I on the other hand will probably just sit at my desk and stare at the wall, wondering what my daughter is doing "right now." Should be fun. Madelines been doing really great. It's mostly eat, burp, sleep, repeat. Which sounds monotonous, but it really is quite fascinating. Thanks to everyone whose stopped by over the last two weeks, or brought us a meal, or bought Maddy an outfit. You have made our first weeks as parents something we'll never forget. We love you.
11/24/06 :: The baby has landed. She loves her new room. Especially the crown molding. At least that's what I think she was saying. I put up more pictures. Included some of the amazing gift that awaited us when we got home. Thank you Aunt Diane, Angie, and Jeanette. The house looked too adorable. A little trip back to the hospital today for a check up and then feeding, crying and cuddling until tomorrow.
11/22/06 :: Another great day of parenthood. Madeline makes it easy. After a whirlwind day yesterday (Lots of excited visitors who Madeline loved to see), Madeline got a much needed slow day, with just a few people stopping by, which was great for her and Mom. Nina is doing really well and really appreciates the emails that she's been getting. I have to come down the hospital lobby to get a wireless signal, but I'm copying the emails for her to read once I get back to the room. Nina is recovering well and all signs point to going home tomorrow. So, we'll have our own little Thanksgiving Day parade down M-59 and bring home our (now) 7 lbs. 5 oz. turkey. I've posted some new pictures and went ahead and added a little line that tells you when I updated, so you won't have to keep checking. Also, I've posted a link to a video that Papa Tony put together. It's really beautiful and if you watch really close you get to see a really precious moment right after I came out and announced it was a girl and then announced for the first time that her middle name is Jeannine. You'll see me turn my head and look right at Nina's Mom, who had no idea. It was great. Also, Madeline has the pleasure of sharing her initials with my father, MJB. We're so glad we could honor two people we love so much and who love Madeline so much. That's not to say we or Madeline don't love the rest of you - we do. But she only had two names. Ha. Well, we'll see you all soon, thanks for finding room in your hearts to love one more little family member.
:: P.S. :: A little special thank you to Kyle and Mom G for giving us that hour of sleep this afternoon. You don't know how much it meant to us.
11/21/06 :: Madeline Jeannine Bunk arrived Monday, November 20, 2006 at 6:02 p.m. She is a perfect 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 19 3/4" long. Her mother was a superstar yesterday, braving through 2 days of labor, before they decided on a caesarean. Nina couldn't have done better and was more patient in delivery, than I am on my best day. Madeline is beautiful. She loves to sleep and yawn and make funny faces and make her parents really happy. She also loves to show off her plump little cheeks and to look at her Mommy. Nina slept well last and was enjoying a Cherry Italian Ice when I left the room. She'll be off solid food for a while, but I don't think anything couuld keep her from Turkey and Mashed Potatoes from her Nana's on Thursday. I'll have to run and get her some. I've put up some more photos and will continue to post, probably late at night, after the girls fall asleep. Madeline is here and none of us will ever be the same.
11/20/06 :: Baby Watch '06 - Day 2 - Pitocin is a go. Nurses say everything is looking good. Things should be "favorable." That's their favorite word around here. Been lucky with nurses, all have been nice. We say luck, they say "we're all nice." Have started posting pictures. Check the link on the right side of the page under the poll.
11/19/06 :: Baby Watch '06 - Day 1 - No sightings of Baby Bunk yet. Nina is doing great. Induction has started. Being told that maybe in the morning they'll bring in the heavy stuff. We'll put up pictures when we have them. Get some sleep it's going to be a long (and exciting) night.
8/3/06 :: Today is Lee Clow's birthday, which means a lot to anyone in advertising, but probably nothing at all to anyone who reads this site. Today also happens to be my birthday, which probably means a lot to anyone who reads this site but little to nothing to anyone in advertising. Maybe one day they'll write articles about me in Ad Age when my birthday is coming around. Happy Birthday Lee. You're probably surfing right now.
7/30/06 :: I don't usually link to a lot of other sites. But inspired by Russell Davies (who is, in my opinion, the web's finest example of what blogging can be), I have decided to do it more often.
So I direct your attention to an article I found from another blog (I don't remember which), which I feel gives a pretty decent summation of the interpretation of value in today's youth. And I use youth in the most interpretive sense. I don't think this article is referring to teens or tweens. In fact, it clearly isn't from the scenarios it uses. The odd part is, since when is a 25 year old considered a youth. I mean, come on, I think this article speaks to a bigger issue - the adult child. The group of "adults" who have decided that finding the next "cool" beats wearing a suit everyday. OK, I'm all for not conforming to "big blue", but find a respectible way of doing it. Start a business, write a book, but for the love of capatalism - grow up. You can only claim to working on your degree for so long.
This article uses the word cool a lot and maybe more than anything made me question the falability of the word itself. It also swears inappropriately, which is probably appropriate for the type of people it's speaking of and it has one major flaw, which is that it says it's credible to have a rock band as a friend on myspace when everyone knows rock bands accept anyone as their friends.
Oddly enough, I actually visit the links it reference, which makes me question if I'm one of the people it's catagorizing. I do value obscure knowledge, I can tell you where to find that rare Nike Air Force One, but then I remember, the blue and gray suits hanging in my closests and realize that I in fact have grown up, as much as I've tried not to. Ciao.
7/4/06 :: Never argue with someone who knows they are right or with someone who doesn't know they're wrong.
6/28/06 :: What determines great artistry? Greatness (as a descriptor) is trite. The mental awarding of talent has become much too frivolous. If you ask me, the sign of a true artist, is the ability to know when to stop. Anyone can just ramble. Be it an author, a painter, a chef, an architect. Add, add, add. A cacophony of good ideas does not make a great idea. Simplicity is brilliance and perceptivity of overkill is mastery. Just like the word “mastery” ruined the last sentence, knowing when not to flex your muscle is more important then flaunting it awkwardly. A real artist makes it look easy, makes you say, “I could do that.” But you couldn’t. Because you can’t help yourself. You can’t say no to a good idea based solely on the fact that it’s just that – good – and nothing more. Next time you underestimate an artist’s work, because it looks too plain, keep in mind that it’s a complex process to find simplicity and it all starts with knowing when and where to stop.
4/23/06 :: Nina is going to be the best mommy ever. That's right. We're having a baby. Due date: Nov. 26. My excitement level: Off the charts. We can't wait. We lie awake just throwing out names and thinking of color schemes for the baby's room. And no we won't find if it's a boy or a girl. One of life's few good surprises. I can't stop smiling. This is going to be the best.
11/14/05 :: I used to be in a band called One Save All. It’s been a few years and you know what – I really miss it. We never played that many shows or recorded more than one song, but to me, it was one of the best things I can remember. I really liked (and still like) the people who were in the band and I really liked spending time with them. Whether they liked spending time with me is debatable, but I really enjoyed the time we spent together. I don’t know why I’m writing about this. It’s 1:04 in the morning and I’ll be up at 5:36, but I came across an old live recording and it just made me remember how much fun I used to have. Not that I don’t have fun now. Believe me, I have fun. But different fun. Not basement rock and roll practice fun. Not trying to lower an upright piano down a flight of stairs fun. So why did the band stop. I don’t know. People grow up. I’m sure you could blame one guy or another, but as I look back at it, it wasn’t built to last. I wish it would of, but c’est la vie. Just wanted to say I love you guys. Thanks for having fun with me.
8/27/05 :: Tonight's the night. G-BABY AND FRIENDS. Paychecks Lounge. Be there. No excuses for missing this once in a lifetime show. Doors at...well the doors are probably open now. But G-Baby takes the stage at midnight. I'll be singing throughout. Click here for a map.
8/2/05 :: Leaving for California tomorrow. Never been. Should be great. Tomorrow I also celebrate the anniversary of my mother doing something truly amazing - giving birth to me. Thanks mom.
7/7/05 :: Have you ever heard a song so ripe with emotion that when you hear it you want to run out of your house, get in your car, go to an exotic pet store, buy 500 doves, leave the store, climb a mountain and then release the previously purchased doves into the sunset while a single tears runs down your right check eventually falling to the earth in a silent thud. Yeah me too. It's those songs that are so real you're almost embarrassed to listen to it because it feels like you're eavesdropping on someones actual life. For some reason, that song for me is Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." I hear that song and immediately i feel down. It's like I can see the the leather-skinned cowboy walking through the desert. He's down. He's out. He's out of options. So, what does he do? He goes home to his mother and one by one he asks his mother to destroy everything that he thought was important to him. His badge. His gun. Remove them. Bury them. He's done. Tell St. Peter he's coming home. It's brilliant. The melody dances with the lyrics perfectly. When Dylan's voice comes in it sounds like a symphony or maybe it's the angels welcoming the cowboy home. Originally record in 1973 for the motion picture "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" it times in at a paultry 2:29. Just long enough to wash over you but just short enough where you can never get sick out. It was a travesty when Guns N' Roses butchered it. I feel sorry for the generation who never heard the original first. They'll never truly comprehend what that cowboy actually went through. Peace.
5/30/05 :: Today, a list of some great things that I like very much (in no particular order). Flip-flops, non-fiction, Jaime Oliver, American Stratocasters, a breeze, cut grass, worn-in t-shirts, Brits, mail, Nathaniel Philbrick, taking a 12-minute shower, BBQ chicken salads, new car smell, holding hands with Neens, analog, loud music, q-tips, honey mustard, american flags, babies, automatic watches, Karmen Ghias, exposed brick, Wes Anderson, advertising blogs, 90's rock, diet vanilla cherry Dr. Pepper, BP, heavy filing cabinets, MTV Cribs, Khakis, Lists.
4/29/05 :: Good intentions. The desire to do something different. The idea that one day that shirt in your closet will fit instead of making it hard for you to breath. Get real. Talk is cheap. Acting is hard. We all want to be better. Better friends. Better spouses. Better co-workers. Stop having conscious revalations at 2 a.m. Start being the person you know you can be. It's hard to be the best...have the best...be seen as the best. The neighbors car will always be shinier. The office next to yours will always have a better view. Get over it. You're good at being you. Start being you. The real you. Come on - you remember him. The guy that got you where you are today. Smile more. Yell less. Hug more people, like you mean it. You can do this. It's more natural than what you're doing know. I'm talking to you...Matt.
3/5/05 :: Why do hardcover books have to be so pretentious? It's like they have some huge ego problem. Always in the front of the bookstore, right when you walk in. They even get those little plastic stands that make them stand up on display like they're some kind of prize. Well, I'm here to say hardcovers are lame. I'm tired of paperbacks taking a backseat to the sterile, rigid blandness of the "all-powerful" hardcover. Sure, hardcovers look better on the shelf, but the functionability of a larger format paper sandwiched between to sheets of plywood wrapped in a delicate dust cover (don't even get me started on dust covers) just seems a little dated. So...I'm declaring 2005 to be the year of the paperback. Here's to form and function; books that don't have to be larger than a TV dinner and that don't mind a little wear and tear. The End.
1/1/05 :: Happy New Year. Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable year end celebration. I sure did. Since we are in Chicago, Nina and I celebrated at 1:00 a.m. EST. It's kind of lame to watch New York partying and it's only 11 in Chicago. On a entirely different note, the worst place in the world is fitting rooms in stores, ie: the Gap, H&M, etc... Is there some unwritten rule that says those little rooms have to be 800 degrees. It's like a sweat box in those things. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. I'll be back in Michigan tomorrow, so stop on by the house and welcome me home. Peace.
12/31/04 :: Matt Bunk checking in from Chicago. I'm in the apple store right now with about 200 other people all professing our disdain for Bill Gates. Chicago is great so far and not that windy. It's about 55 degrees here, which is amazing, but not a record for New Year's Eve. Apparently, it was 58 degrees around 1870. Man, they must have partied like it was 1900 in that weather. Well, I'll catch you in the new year. Enjoy the rest of 04. Peace.
12/22/04 :: Man, Christmas snuck up on me. Maybe it's because it's on a weekend, but I didn't even see it coming. It's probably better that way. If I had been thinking about it, it would have never come. Anticipation has a way of doing that. In fact, if anticipation had a tag line it would probably be something like - "Anticipation: the great time stretcher." I know that's not very good, but you get the point. I actually have a week off and I'll be spending four days in Chicago for New Years. I'm looking forward to some quiet time with my wife. Wow, I like how that sounds. I've never said that before. Has a nice ring. Well, to you and yours, Merry Christmas and may all your New Year's resolutions at least last to February. Peace
12/13/04 :: Finally. Our first real snow fall in southeast Michigan. I mean it wasn't anything to write home about, but just enough fluffy stuff to cover the dying lawns and depressingly shriveled plants that have plagued suburbia for the last month or so. And most importantly, it was just wet enough to pack into the perfect spericals of death know as snowballs. I practically gave a tutorial on how to rule a snowball fight at the cousin's house last night. Just ask George's right eye. My right arm has been officially classified a Weapon of Mass Destruction. And while I was all geeked to shovel my drive for the first time with the mother of all shovels I just purchased, a steady, spitting rain did the work for me. Well, here's to snow on the 24th. Peace.
12/6/04 :: It’s been too long. Like a child returning home from college for Christmas break, I have returned to my own website to update. Too much has happened. Too many great things. The post would be too large. So I’ll hit the big one. I’m married. That’s right - married. On October 16th, I entered into holy matrimony with the most wonderful woman on the planet. What a great day. Everything was perfect. Mattbunk.com even got a plug during the ceremony thanks to the preceding pastor. Nina was beautiful. How did I look? It doesn’t matter. Nina looked beautiful. After the wedding it was down to the Bahamas for the honeymoon and then back to our little slice of heaven in Sterling Heights where we laugh away the hours watching Viva La Bam and planning our next trip to Costco. Christmas is just around the corner and our first non-honeymoon trip together – a New Year’s jaunt to Chicago. Should be fun. Peace.
9/2/04 :: What's this? A post? Why yes it is. After what seems like an eternity, I am finally getting back to updating the site. So much has happened since my last post that any attempt to catch up would be foolish and a waste of time...but I'm going to do it anyway. Well, mattbunk.com official celebrated it's first birthday on 8/18. It seems like so long ago that I wrote that first post. Scroll down and read it again. I was so immature. Not a care in the world. What was all that malarky about posting all the time? Well, another day another dollar. I'm a lot wiser now, so you can expect only level-headed, rationalized statements from now on. Moving on. My fiance, Nina and I bought a house in July. I wouldn't classify it as a mansion, but it's definitely awesome. We're having a good time moving my stuff into it and finding places for all of the things Nina got at her shower. Nina won't be moving in until after the wedding, so if you want to come by and play video games or cut my lawn, it's totally cool. I'll try and post some pictures, although I've been having trouble with my gallery lately, going to have to get my tech support team to check that out. Last but certainly not least, Two of my favorite people in the world, Mike and Kristen got married last Saturday. I had the extreme honor of standing up in the wedding and I can't express how truly happy I am for them. It's not even a happy I can describe, but by far the best part was watching them smile at each other. Smiling like they we're really happy, not the cheasy smile you put on when someone is taking a picture. Nina has a theory that everybody smiles differently for the person they love. That only your true love ever sees your special smile. When Kristen and Mike were reciting there vows , everyone got to see the special smile they have for each other. I can't wait until October when Nina comes smiling down the isle. That's it for now, I'll try and post again soon. Peace.
6/11/04 :: Alright, so this theory is from way back. I kinda let up on it, but now it's back with a vengeance. You know how people use the terms "on accident" and "on purpose." ex: So and so did that on purpose. We'll, what I propose is that the terms should actually be "on accident" and "by purpose." Hear me out. The preposition "on" can be assumed to be short for "on account of..." Similarly, the prepostion "by" can be interpreted most commonly as "by way of..." if that is understood, then it's only logical that "purpose" would be married to "by" forming the prepositional phrase "by way of a purpose." Likewise, the expression "on accident" would represent the phrase "on account of an accident." That's the theory and I'm sticking to it. I know my explanation may be confusing, but I did that by purpose. Peace.
4/30/04 :: You have to look at life like it's a book. Each individual moment of living represents a word. A minor accomplishment is like the end of one paragraph and the beginning of another. But a major accomplish is like turning a page or starting a new chapter. So what turns your pages? Maybe, it's when you finally built up the nerve to talk to that cool indie-chick who works at Starbucks. Maybe it's realizing that voting is a privelage, or maybe it's walking out of your last college class and knowing that you finally made it. So, what emotions are linked to your page turns? Are they marked by laughter, crying, uncontrollable joy? I would have to say, mine are marked by silence; quiet contemplation as the leaves of my life turn green with the anticipation of a new season. We're all authors, we write our lives with the language and grammar of our individual being. We can't deny that our lives are full of prolouges, build-ups, climaxes, and conclusions. Here's to the next Chapter. Peace.
4/19/04 :: We're always looking too far ahead. When it's Tuesday, we're thinking about Friday. When it's Spring, we're thinking about Summer. We live in a time where nobody likes the present. The future is much cooler. But the future is tomorrow's present. Nobody can sit still and smell today's roses because they're convinced tomorrow's will smell better. We'll forget that stuff. Look around you, the present is pretty awesome, whether you want to admit it or not. I was looking at magazine from way back in 1999 when the internet was "booming" and people were so excited about the future. Well guys, you should have partied like it was 1999, because now most of you are baristas. Bet you didn't see that coming in you crystal ball. So to all those dwelling in 2004, stop looking at 2005 or next month or tomorrow for that matter. Enjoy now. Enjoy today's roses. Yes, tomorrow will probably be better - somedays it feels like it couldn't get much worse - but your stuck in today with the rest of us. Now get back to your life. Peace.
3/17/04 :: Suprise - A post...and it's not even a major event in my life. Just normal stuff like...I'm leaving for Colorado tomorrow. Yeah. A whole week away. It's been a while since I've had a real vacation. It's sorta exciting. I mean wouldn't you be excited - 11,000 feet up in the freezing cold barreling down the side of a mountain - it doesn't get much better. We're actually driving. 4 guys in a car for 24 hours with only our instincts (and a mapquest map) to guide us to our destination. Fortunately our best friend, XBox, will be riding with us. "What's that you say? XBox? I thought you dissed XBox by placing it on your 'overrated' list?" Well, I did. But, when the XBox is combined with other dudes and a long car trip it moves up. Maybe not all the way to "underrated" but definitely into "rated." Alright, watch out for frost bite. Peace.
2/29/04 :: What is the happiest day of your life? Think about it. Does one immediately come to mind? For the longest time I would hear people talk about how a particular event or occurrence made a single day the best they had ever lived and I would think to myself, "why don't I have a best day?" Maybe everyone else was just over exaggerating their days. Well, last week I finally found my "best day". Because, on February 22nd the most beautiful, caring, loving girl I have ever met or could ever dream of said "yes" to my marriage proposal. And now I know what it feels like to have a truly great day. It kind of feels how you’d imagine. Like you did something right. Like you took a major step, but you know it’s in the right direction. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. And I’m the type of person who will go back to a store four times before I buy a pair of pants. Nina thank you for helping find my (our) day. I love you.
12/29/03 :: First comes love…then comes marriage. A perfectly logical order that has been occurring since the beginning of time. With roughly 6 billion people walking the planet, the mere fact that two soul mates would find each other is one of God’s greatest miracles. Michel de Montaigne once said, “If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.” I can’t help but smile when I see an 85-year-old couple holding hands and giggling like they just got married. That’s how a marriage should be. There are good times and bad, but the fact that two people experience them together is what makes it a truly incredible institution. I said all that to say this… Congratulations George and Bree. I couldn’t be happier for two of my friends. I thank God that I have friends like you and that you have found each other. Good luck to the other 5,999,999,998 people out there. Peace.
12/26/03 :: The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. - W. Stekel
12/11/03 ::
ne·glect (n-glkt) tr.v. ne·glect·ed, ne·glect·ing, ne·glects
1. To pay little or no attention to; fail to heed; disregard: neglected their website.
2. To fail to care for or attend to properly: neglects his posting.
3. To fail to do or carry out, as through carelessness or oversight: neglected to perform his web duties.
11/26/03 :: Be patient for there shall come an update of epic proportions. One that will shake the very foundations of the internet.
11/22/03 :: Michigan 35 / Ohio State 21
Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant!
Here they come with banners flying.
In stalwart step they're nighing.
With shouts of vict'ry crying.
We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now, Hail!
Far we their praises sing
For the glory and fame they've bro't us,
Loud let the bells them ring,
For here they come with banners flying
Far we their praises tell
For the glory and fame they've bro't us,
Loud let the bells them ring
For here they come with banners flying
Here they come, Hurrah!
Hail! To the victors, valiant,
Hail! To the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! To Michigan the leaders and best
Hail! To the victors, valiant,
Hail! To the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! To Michigan the champions of the West!
11/17/03 :: No time to write. So, today's post is provided in list form. Enjoy.
OVERRATED
1. Anyone (famous) named Britney
2. Buying Christmas gifts early
3. TV shows about how rich other people are
4. X-Box
5. The night life
UNDERRATED
1. Reading
2. T-shirts
3. Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencils
4. Burritos
5. Not having a cell phone
11/8/03 :: So I was in Kmart yesterday. Yes Kmart. You might be thinking, “Matt, you went to a washed up, low-culture, struggling, retail distribution outlet?” To that I say, “No, I went to a classic icon of American culture that has sadly fallen victim to a tough economic down turn and is now struggling to restore itself to its former glory.” Really I don’t even like Kmart. But I feel bad for it. I really think that it never recovered from the now-immortalized lambasting it received when Tom Cruise uttered the truly daunting phrase, “Kmart sucks Ray. Kmart sucks,” in the 1988 Academy Award Winning Best Picture – Rain Man. I mean, come on, does anybody really stand a chance if the most popular actor in the world is telling the moldable youth of America that something is lame? No amount of marketing or positive PR work can undo the damage caused by those 5 cutting words. Anyway, back to my main point. So I was at Kmart buying 8 lbs of candy to help battle the 3:00 sugar lows at my office (I’m not kidding I actually bought 8 lbs of candy), when I notice that every person around me looked miserable. No one was talking to each other. They were each in their own separate worlds, looking miserable. I thought to myself, “is that how I look?” Hmm, I hope not. I mean, what do I have to be in a mood about? And I’m not saying that I’m never in a bad mood. Believe me, I am. But on the whole I have it pretty darn good; a lot better than Kmart right now. So. Attention everybody. Cheer up. It’s not that bad. The sun will come out tomorrow…and all that jazz. Find someone you like and give them a hug. Then maybe you’ll realize that you don’t have to look miserable the next time you’re in Kmart…or anywhere for that matter. OK, this has been your mattbunk.com motivational speech of the day. Now, back to work. Peace.
:: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE ::
10/29/03 :: Music is a big part of life. So therefore, music has just become a big part of mattbunk.com. Introducing...MY CD CHANGER. If you look on the right, under the survey, you can see what CD's are currently in my car's CD changer. When I change a disc in my car, I'll change it on the list. So you'll always know what's in the mix. Maybe you have some suggestions of what I should be listening to. Just click feedback and drop me an email with your suggestion. Maybe you'll see it in my changer one day and then you'll feel like you've made a difference in the world. And that's what it's all about.
10/23/03 :: The programming on TV today is horrible. It seems like there hasn't been an original idea pitched to a network in the last 5 years. Really. How many shows can MTV do about teenagers going on blind dates. And let's be honest, is Punk'd really all that original. The show revolves around people being caught candidly on camera. Hmm, where have I seen that before? I think MTV should have a show called "Stupid Executives" where we watch the head honchos at MTV sit around and actually justify to each other why giving Tom Green another show is a good idea. And I must be a sucker for punishment because I actually watch some of those stupid shows. What's wrong with me? Actually, I probably watch them because these shows are the most accurate portrayal of a generation who, sadly, have no regard for common sense. Let me furthur my point with an example. Say you're at the zoo and you walk by the monkey cage. Nothing exciting happening. Just monkeys being monkeys. You're about to walk away when one monkey walks into a wall and falls down. He gets up and again walks into the wall only to once again fall down. He continues to do this for several minutes. There is a slim chance that anyone who witnessed the occurance will walk away while the monkey continues to slam himself into the wall. It's really sad that we sit and watch people and especially teenagers "walk into walls". So, who's to blame? The stations for putting the show on the air or us for watching? It's a tough question. One that even I am embarrased to answer. So what's the solution? Is there one? Let's hope. Alright, I have to go. There's a good episode of "American Chopper" on. Peace.
10/22/03 :: Well I'm back. From where you ask? Well, a foreign country. That's right, Matt Bunk and his merry band of street teamers (the Girgenti family) took a road trip to Canada last Sunday to further the message of mattbunk.com (and to pick apples and drink cider). It was really great to be on the road armed with our new bumper stickers and t-shirt (singular). I took a ton of photos which will be posted soon, I promise. Being in Canada always seems weird to me. The people there drive like they have nowhere to be and no concept of time. When you walk the streets it feels like you're in some sort of slow moving TV show and that everything should be in black and white. Kinda like Leave it to Beaver but with curling and Tim Hortons. And I won't even talk about their money because our new twenties aren't all that better (but at least our money doesn't have hockey players on it). But, for all the ragging on Canada I do, I really enjoy the few times each year I go there. Anyway, GO CAPITALISM. Peace
For all my new Canadian viewers, here's today's post in French.
Puits je suis de retour. Où de vous demandez? Bien, un pays étranger. C'est exact, la couchette mate et sa joyeuse bande des teamers de rue (la famille de Girgenti) ont pris à un voyage de route au Canada le dimanche passé à autre le message de mattbunk.com (et aux pommes de sélection et au cidre de boissons). Il était vraiment grand d'être sur la route armée avec nos nouveaux autocollants et t-shirt de butoir (singuliers). J'ai pris une tonne de photos qui seront signalées bientôt, je promets. Être au Canada semble toujours étrange à moi. Le peuple là conduit comme ils ont nulle part pour être et aucun concept de temps. Quand vous promenade les rues que cela ressemble à de vous soyez dans une certaine sorte d'exposition mobile lente de TV et ce tout devrait être dans noir et le blanc. Un peu comme le laisser le soin au castor mais avec se courber et Tim Hortons. Et je ne parlerai pas même de leur argent parce que nos nouvelles années '20 ne sont pas toutes qui meilleur (mais au moins notre argent n'a pas des joueurs d'hockey là-dessus). Mais, parce que tout le ragging sur le Canada je , j'apprécie vraiment les quelques temps tous les ans que je vais là. Quoi qu'il en soit, DISPARAISSENT LE CAPITALISME. Paix
10/15/03 :: Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm just so wrapped up in the "Newlyweds" on MTV. I just can't stop watching the sheer intellectual awesomeness that is Jessica Simpson. OK, I made all of that up. Now, on to business. You have to check out this website. Wayback Machine. Type in any web address and it will show you what that website looked like at any time since it was created. It's really cool to see what sites looked like "back in the day." In a time before Kazaa and scrolling wheels on your mouse. Check out eBay in 1996. Who knew that one day it would become the only functional use for the internet (besides google and mattbunk.com). Well, have fun. Peace.
P.S. :: Big thanks to my sister Kyle for the excellent pregunta del dia (question of the day).
10/8/03 :: Alright, I'm really proud of myself. I've already added new pictures to the Gallery. This time you'll get a small look into my work life. Exciting I know. In other news, if anyone is wondering what I'm listening to of late, it's The Beatles. I just picked up two of the three anthology albums and they're really awesome. I know it's stupid of me to be all jazzed about an album that came out in '96 but I think The Beatles might just be "the next big thing." Some standout tracks: Rocky Racoon and Glass Onion (both early recordings). That's all for now. Peace.
10/5/03 :: Woah, its been a long time. Quick apologies to anyone who can't live without their Matt Bunk updates. I neglected my duties as a website owner and I'm sorry. However, it will probably happen again, so you might as well get used to it. Now, on to business. The wonderful world of mattbunk.com can now be viewed in breath-taking 2-D. click on the Gallery link on the left to see pictures that I post. Right now, it's just some shots from the bands last gig. We usually don't rock that many blue tarps, but rain threatened the gear, so we had to do what we had to do. In other news my new business cards are in. If you see me on the street, ask for a card. They're very detailed and informative. All right, have a good week, don't take life for granted, and go see "School of Rock." Peace
9/24/03 :: I really like the people I know. I think that too often I overlook what great friends I have. It's really awesome to know people who get excited about the same things I do, who laugh at the same things I do, and who really know when its time to go buy a new record. So today, it's big props to anyone who am I am lucky enough to call friend (That includes my wonderful girl-friend). Thanks for making my world go round. (Sorry about all the sentimental stuff. I'm sure that I'll be back to my cynical-self tomorrow.) Peace.
9/21/03 :: Ahh, the sweet frustration that is golfing. A perfect day yesterday to hit the links. My first official golf outing (golf clap). Big props to my team, for playing that course like nobody's business and for putting up with me. Even bigger props to JG who always seemed to pull through in the clutch. And don't be mistaken, Matt Bunk pulled his weight. (Sorry for the third person, I try to avoid it in my posts) In the end, some balls were lost, some clubs were thrown, some carts were hit (read Nick's submitted post, below, for more details on that one), but everyone is still alive. Have a good weekend and keep it on the fairway. Peace.
SUBMITTED POST :: TEAM MATTBUNK.COM Alright... so we're at the golf outing. Matt Bunk approaches his ball for a shot at the green. Well what happens next is classic... he shanks one off to the right past the green (not the one we were shooting at might i add) over some guys heads and nails their cart with his ball. It was great, and yes we went on to win the 13th annual Zoe Golf Outing or maybe we just ended up +6 and in 28th place... i don''t really remember. But we did have a great time.
NickC
9/12/03 :: Locusts and honey...not since John The Baptist has there been a voice like that crying in the wilderness...Every man knows he is a sissy compared to Johnny Cash.
-Bono
SUBMITTED POST :: Well, I must say that I was truly shocked when I received a phone call at work this morning. The saddened voice of none other than Matt Bunk rang in my ear as he informed me of the passing of a legend. I must first admit that I am not what you would call a country/western music fan. But, I do not believe that any person that calls themselves a musician can deny the greatness of Johnny Cash. Though some may say that he had a horrible voice and couldn’t even play his instruments, which on a technical level I will agree with those critics, I believe the heart and soul of his music transcended the sounds themselves. He was a man that truly opened himself up to the world and taught people how to feel his music rather than simply listen to it. There are but a handful that have accomplished this; Bono, Dylan, Lennon etc... But sadly we can now only wait and see what will become of the unfinished American 5. Will it be released in the spirit that Johnny intended or are they going to try and make a buck off of his death. The only thing I have to say about that is: The Man In Black's body may be dead, but that record better be right, because if anyone is tough enough to get you after he's gone, it's Johnny Cash.
Please take a moment and say a prayer for the Cash family. And check out this web page, There's a link to his video for hurt, if you've never seen it, watch it now, it rings truer than ever.
Peace Out Ya'll
David Brady
Studio07.com
9/10/03 :: It seems like I can't get anything done anymore. And I think the reason is because I plan to get things done. Hear me out. When I tell myself, "tonight I'm going to finish that civil war romance novel I've been writing," (sidebar: I'm not writing a novel. It's just an example.) it's almost certain that I won't get to it. And then I kick myself the next day for being a slacker. Now the way I see it, there's two ways I can deal with this problem. 1) Stay up all night and force myself to accomplish things that are only important because I tell myself they are. 2) Lower my expectations of what I can actually get done in any given time period. This second method is by far the easier of the two. Let's face it, lower expectations equal higher accomplishments. However, being stupid and lazy is no way to go through life. What to do? I'll figure it out someday, but right now I've got to go, I think I just thought of any ending for my novel. Peace.
:: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE :: NEW FEATURE ::
Hey everybody, I am adding a new feature to mattbunk.com today. Since I don't always have a lot of time to keep the content on this sight fresh, I'm going to need your help. YOU CAN NOW POST YOUR OWN STORIES. Just click on "Submit News" on the left. Then type in a great story. Maybe it's about the time you and Matt Bunk totally rocked the casbah or maybe it's your thoughts on how mattbunk.com has made the internet a better place or maybe it's just a rant about something that annoys you. Whatever. Send me your stories I'll check 'em out and if I like 'em I'll put 'em on the page. VIVA MATTBUNK.COM
9/4/03 :: Not much happening in the world of Matt Bunk. Just trying to get my ducks in a row (figure that one out). On a recommendation side, go out and buy Jeff Buckley's - Live at Sin-e. Hauntingly Beautiful. If you looked up "songwriter" @ dictionary.com it would show his picture. Only the good die young. In other news, I am highly anticipating the arrival of fall or as I like to call it "goodbye to humidity time". Peace.
9/1/03 :: We had a great time at our (last) show yesterday. We had fun, We got rained on, we got lost. A great time was had by all. Welcome to all of those who are visiting the site for the first time. What up, Melissa (Dave). Check out the survey on the right and drop me a line by clicking feedback on the left. Thanks to all the girlfriends/wives who roadied yesterday. The best looking guitar techs I've ever seen. Peace.
8/30/03 :: SO, COLLECTIVE SOUL WAS LAST NIGHT AT THE ARTS, BEATS, AND EATS. NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. Oh, sorry for shouting. My hearing is still a little messed up. We were pretty close to the speakers. They did a great cover of "Personel Jesus" and "Oops, I Did It Again." Ok, I made that second one up. Seeing a great band makes me even more excited for the gig this Sunday. I pity the fool, who isn't there. Directions and info are listed above. Have a great holiday weekend. Hope everyone is having a good time in Boston, Courts. Peace.
8/27/03 :: Today, I am going to use my post to tell you a little fact about myself. I love to read. I think that reading is the backbone of literacy. (profound - I know). But as much as I love to read, I think that I love owning books more. Sometimes, I feel that owning a book is as good as reading it. I know, it sounds crazy, but there's just something to purchasing a really great book. How great would it be if I had my own library - only awesome books allowed. Forget Oprah's book club - join the Matt Bunk Book Club™. That would be rad. As a matter of fact, if anyone is looking for a good book to read, drop me an email by clicking "feedback" on the left and I'll send you my recommendation for what you should be reading. Who am I to be giving literary advice? Nobody special. Just a guy with a website and a dream. So remember, Left to Right - Top to Bottom. Peace.
8/26/03:: It's going to be one of those days. I never really understood that expression. It must have been made up by a person who had a really monotonous life. And as we know - monotony stifles creativity. (I just made that up, but it sounds cool). Quick shout out to my proofreader, Courtney. She isn't a writer by trade, but she says it looks easy enough (right?). By the way, not a lot works on the sight yet besides surveys, but if you want to send me an email click feedback on the left. Thanks for caring. Peace.
ps :: If you haven't had a McGriddle yet, stop whatever you're doing and go and get one. The sausage/egg/cheese McGriddle should win the Noble Peace Prize for stiffling the war that is my hunger.
8/25/03 :: What an amazing weekend. I had the honor of attending a 10th anniversary party at my old place of employment - Deebe's Coffee Bar. Big Congrats to George and Peggy for being so awesome and for taking a chance on a high school red head with no work experience and too loud of a mouth. My first real job and it was hard to leave. Good to see some of the people I used to work with. Also, this weekend I was able to get my pedalboard in order. Nothing like rocking out with a well-organized pedal board. The band is getting it in gear for the gig this weekend (details will be posted soon). Practice has been nothing but awesome. It feels good when everything comes together. On a different note - Don't subscribe to InStyle magazine. It's a scam. Just buy it on the newsstands. One of the only reasons anybody would subcribe to anything is because you know you're going to get it before it is available to the general public. Well, Instyle has a different idea. They apparantly think that people want to receive their magazines weeks after they could go to the store and buy it. (just for personal information, I do not subscribe to InStyle. This rant is in response to the treatment my girlfriend, Nina, has received from the aforementioned publication). Wrapping up the weekend - Saw some movies...watched some TV...Hung out with Nina. Good weekend. Be sure to check out the new survey. Peace.
8/22/03 :: Is it wrong for me to pray for snow in the middle of summer. I can't stand walking outside and feeling like I'm swimming. Humidity has got to go. I'm going to send humidity an email this weekend demanding that he let up a little...or else. Anyway, the sight is a huge success and by "huge success" I mean that I like it and more than five people have seen it. If your looking for something to do next Friday, Collective Soul is going to rocking one of my favorite yearly events - Arts, Beats, and Eats. It's been a long time since C-Soul has rocked the masses. Guaranteed to be off the chiz-ain. Whatever that means. peace.
8/20/03 :: So, I'm officially done with spanish. 4 years. It would be nice if I could write this post in Espanol, but sadly I can't. Maybe that speaks to the current status of the educational system on the whole...or maybe it speaks to how well I paid attention in spanish. Either way, I'm just happy it's over. On a different note, my band is gearing up for a show next Sunday (31st). We are breaking in a new drummer. A good friend of ours, John D., agreed to help out with the beats in our time of need. On another note (a lot of notes today) my mother is cooking up a garage sale. So, if you want to own a piece of Bunk history, swing by the house...err...garage. You could pick up a old neon ski jacket or maybe a pair of "used" (the brand) jeans. And then you too can pretend that you're a Bunk. Peace.
8/19/03 :: I've realized that staying up late is really over rated. When you're young that's all you think about - partying 'til the sun comes up. But as you get older you wish you could get to bed before the sun goes down. And I noticed that when I determine to get to bed before 1 a.m., without fail, at 1 a.m. I'm wide awake. I think God gave me the internal clock of a night watchman. Oh well, my favorite animal has always been the nightowl. Peace.
SOTD (site of the day):: www.tapetrader.com :: great live music and it's free
8/18/03 :: My first post. Lots of room to move around on this big empty site. Big thanks to Mr. G for making it happen. Be sure to check back often and when I say often I mean once every 15 minutes. If I've got the power to post believe me I'll use it. I have a feeling that surveys are going to be changing all the time. Check out the current one on the right. It's a tough call, but I know you'll make the right choice. My Site Of The Day (SOTD) is www.mattwertz.com. A)because it's another site that starts with matt B)It was designed by Pixelgrazer. C)Because he makes good music. (that's actually two links, but I won't charge you for the second one) Peace.
