1976
Born Michael Paul Curreri, Jr, January 28, 1976 in Seattle, WA.

1977
Still no walking. Brother Matt in California.

1978
Still no talking. Only says the sound merdaloy.

1979
Talking, but drooling. South Bend, Indiana. Sleds on the back hill and watches the snow mobiles go by. Father builds snow tunnels for Casey the dog.

1980
Stares at the cover of Santana's Greatest Hits. Sister Maria in Virginia Beach. Learns to ride a bike, but retains big-wheel gang. Santa Claus steals his shoe and a leak in Papa's roof makes the bed wet.

1981
Writes stories about rock chicks, chickens who rock and make livings. In love with Heidi down the street. Pictures her when hearing "Hello" by Lionel Richie. Begins break-dancing till the break of dawn on cardboard. Only boy in dance class. Stops going to dance class.

1982
In love with Debi who plays Cinderella in the school's production. Paul plays a worm. Lies about "naked ladies" in girls' restroom, so sent to the office by lunch lady. Made to stand in corner during music class for insisting, "Mrs. Williams, I am the best musician here, and if I want to play the xylophone, I think I should be allowed to."

1983
Moves to Reston, VA. Falls out of love with Sara when she won't lend him a pencil. Dalloune from Laos gives Paul sharks teeth for his birthday, says, "rocks from my country." Sylvester steals his break-dancing book, but his mother sews him Jams shorts.

1984
First job: trailblazing the bike paths round the neighborhood pool. Learns to do a one-and-a-half off the diving board. Eats Spree candy till his eyes shake. Hands a drawing of a puppy to his father who is driving, then no more maroon Volvo. Gets 1984 for Christmas despite smoking baby on cover.

1985
One of only three students in the school to spell the shit out of all the Super Stellar Speller words. Asteroid. Mathematics. In love with Cara. A.J. explains how to tell her in a note with flowers drawn in the corners. Cara reads it and runs away crying.

1986
Paper route on skateboard. Begins playing cello because Mrs. Edwards says "too small for string bass." Desperately collects string bracelets from the girls, but forgets to be in love with them. Even Cara, who plays violin.

1987
Second Vice President of Hunters Woods Elementary, though Mrs. McLean tells his mother Paul is a "glass half empty." Physically forced by Troy to ask Ginger Bennett to "go with." Later, the “couple” wins kissing contest at Nicole's hot tub party (nine straight seconds). The report: "Paul Curreri kisses soft and gentle." Punches Leroy for making fun of that.

1988
President of Hunters Woods. "Vote Little Man for Big Office." Dresses up like Principal Foreman for Halloween. Punches Michael for spitting on Ginger. Punches Chris for making fun of cello vibrato. Writes first song, "Girl, Come With Me." Mr. Clark says, "Not bad. Don't stop when you move to Richmond." Ginger, saying goodbye: "Don't be sad. Be glad. That rhymes," walks away with beach ball under her arm.

1989
Moves to Richmond, VA. Eyes water in new middle school. Doesn’t make the soccer team. Armpits sweat while trying to roll pants after gym. Punches Louis and Lindsay for making fun of his teeth. Wins Best Artist Award from Mr. Gotzchalk.

1990
No love from Beth, and Dwight takes her to the dance. Picks Alicia flowers out've the front yard and hands them to her. Punches Will for making fun of his mother. Accidentally erases two years of keyboard compositions from crap computer. Beth can't find the cassette, the only other copy of the music. First band: The End.

1991
Begins new group with Drew Gibson, P.A. Loyalties. Watches U2 videos and writes of the world “turning and burning.” Puts show posters on upper-classmen's cars, & moms drive the boys to the gigs. Ping-pong champion at the pool. Traci dodges kiss and leaves the movie. Takes Hillary to the dance.

1992
No more braces. Starts terrible band, Cross-eyed Grandma. Girls leave his surprise 16th birthday party to go drink round the corner. Boys leave to "go yell at them." Senior Anna Witt shows up out've nowhere and kisses his cheek. Gets license, crashes six days later.

1993
Finally beats Andy Nguyen in regional wrestling. Takes Shannon to the dance. New band 21 Sun storms the Jewish Community Center and rocks. Principal decrees "no more dressing like a lady at pep rallies, Paul," and then later, "no more dance-humping the floor at pep rallies, Paul." Spends summer in Hobie's Suzuki Samurai, the river, the best summer of his life.

1994
Quits wrestling and grows hair and a tree morphs into Jesus. Takes Molly to the dance. Aunt Jacki accidentally leaves a guitar at the house, one string missing. Six months later, gets a new string. Following a horrible mistake, Talent Show board takes back 1st place prize from his brother, Matt, and hands it to Paul.

1995
Enters Rhode Island School of Design and begins shooting "famous photos" with Andy Friedman. Becky says dreadlocks look good. Gets acne, cuts dreadlocks. Loses Talent Show to a juggler and a dancer in a diaper. Jumps from 4th story window across alleyway during boring class and enjoys short burst of popularity.

1996
Leaves painting behind, & registers as a film major. Hates film within minutes. Poetry professor Tom says, "Start small and go big." Drinks worm and hears a roar, falls asleep in snow.

1997
"Sock Puppets of Generation X" final video. That summer, counts how many cars go by and gets paid by Henrico County. Beats sister in a race despite cigarettes. Parents gift a Martin guitar from Fredericksburg's Picker's Supply.

1998
Graduates from RISD, moves to Brooklyn. Telemarkets for Rent for four days. Temps at British Telecom for eight months. In mailroom, punches Peter in face for asking "famous yet?" in front of visiting Brits. Breaks toe kicking a taxi. Loses shoe in subway door. Open-mic scene till sick, then joins The Holy Childhood on piano.

1999
First sees the beauty of NYC in the rearview, and moves to Knoxville, Tennessee. Wood floors and cheap rent. Fifteen jobs in eight months. Blows clutch on Chuck Brodsky's mountain driveway, and he says, "Go to Kerrville." Grows a beard and general dislike for bluegrass, but starts feeling good again. Writes article for paper saying, "Knoxville, you don't care about your gun-slinging past."

2000
Moves to Charlottesville, starts writing children's poems for work. Jumps on Devon Sproule's stage, sings Johnny Cash backing vocals with her. Later shakes hands and seeks forgiveness. Decides to sit when playing, like Danny Schmidt. Writes "Senseless as a Cuckoo" and loves himself.

2001
Flies to play with Kelly Joe Phelps trio. Turns out San Fran and Portland are far from one another, so finds out which plane Kelly's on, locates him at baggage claim, spends three days at his house recording Water Monkey LP. Such a hero.

2002
From Long Gones to Hawkmoth. Over-pressured, completely blows sold-out hometown release concert, two people write asking for money back. Tours with slideshow poet Andy Friedman and "The Make A Living Tour." Meet some more heroes.

2003
Songs for Devon Sproule. Kelly Joe Phelps produces. Shakes hands with Spider John after opening in Minnesota, watches his feet beneath the curtain as he takes the stage, and promises to never forget a lick of the light. Records the sounds of bumble bees in the Mississippi brush before Thacker Mountain, and promises to never forget a lick of the light.

2004
The Spirit of the Staircase. First UK tour. Buys Devon Sproule a ring in Waynesboro, and she says yes. Buys lawn mower and exercise bike. Wins the Park City Film Music Festival jury prize for best soundtrack for his work on Clean.

2005
Marries Devon Sproule. Laughs with Devon Sproule. Makes love to Devon Sproule. Loves Devon Sproule. Still, starts taking anxiety medicine.

2006
Are You Going to Paul Curreri. Produces records for Andy Friedman, Danny Schmidt, and the Birmingham, England trio Don’t Move. New York City steals $8,000 worth of gear from Paul and Devon, including their Martin guitars.

2007
The Velvet Rut. Buys new Martin guitar.