Oh yeeeaaaah

Oktoberfest in Duluth. AKA: duh.

Back home

Out for the evening in Minnesota again. I'm enjoying the stellar vocals of one coworker while laughing hysterically at another's jokes and bonding with a third that reminds me of one of my brothers. Good segue indeed.

Departure

Keeping in fashion with my last minute moments with Damien before leaving for Minnesota, we started shooting ridiculous stuff an hour before I headed for the airport. Pics to come, it turned out pretty great.

State of the Household

Currently surfing the web near the new bride herself as the new groom is passed out in a bed on the floor above us. The tracks posted earlier play in the background and I'm enjoying what are likely my last brews of the trip. This afternoon I said goodbye to one of my best friends and his lady while this evening saying goodbye to a handful of new friends and theirs. Now, after sharing my fake speech and reviewing yesterday's photos the new couple and I are in a State of Relax. I have a revived interest in visiting NYC as well.

Tomorrow I return a pricey lens, grab my last Detour brunch of 2011 and prep my leaving. Usually I'm completely soured by impending departures but I feel as content as a customer after a solid brunch; the platter was so good I wish I could keep consuming it but I'm also completely & pleasantly full. Everything was so great that I simply can't complain.

Reminiscences related to previous posts: Two nights ago upon returning to the fancy hotel near the wedding everyone began the cocktail hour proper, singing a cappella standards on the smoking porch, then helping the sole bartender pack up for the night which led to said bartender offering a free round of shots to the group, followed by shenanigans in individual hotel rooms consisting of multiple introductions to the same folks and more a cappella shouts on the back porches of random rooms (I'm not so bad at Beyond the Sea it turns out, at least I don't think I am under certain circumstances).
It's been said I have a great DJ voice since yesterday's performance, yet it's negated due to my intentional hamming/imitation-ing it up. Or maybe it's justified because of it. Regardless, I will never seriously use that weapon for monetary purposes. Hot dog, we have a wiener.

Okay. Bride headed up to bed and groom came down to help with pics, though he's since passed out. Once again I am the man of the evening, if only strictly due to my personal dedication and endurance.

And to that I say adieu.

Noted

If I die suddenly in the next few weeks, it's prolly due to this very trip.

Donut'd

So you know, I just enjoyed my first Voodoo Donut. Not too shabby.

See me rollin...and hatin'

So much driving this week! After a mostly bland breakfast and checking out me bear and Mel headed up the coast, played in the ocean (see: gingerly touched the frigid water with our toes), ate some seafood and walked around the cheese factory. A pretty good closing to their trip I figure/hope.

Between each location I spent my time explaining how I hoped the bad drivers along the way would die. It was pretty fun.

"Cheeeese!"

No trip to the Northwest is complete until you've visited here.

Coastal flavor

DJ Tanner

Playing tunes at the wedding. I like to think I'm making my dad proud.

Bam

This wedding is on like Black Swan!

Chapel

D&M are to be married at this quaint little schoolhouse in about an hour. Thank goodness all the seats are in the shade.

90s

I am doing a hell of a job staying hydrated this trip. Additionally, I just had a phenomenal smoked salmon omelet at this sweet little cafe in town.

Just about got a picture of myself with this awesome middleschooler pimping apples at the farmers market but I chickened out. He was just too cool.

Cheers

Goats

Day at the farm setting up the reception. Also, goats.

I did not know their pupils were horizontal. Bizarre.

Hurry up and wait

So get up, run, then head out for a quick breakfast. Then get the meat around noon and head out from there to the wedding grounds.

Wait.

The meat has to be picked up AT noon because it won't be in a freezer, because the place above is the pickup spot. B-line it home, grab everything and jet to the bbq stand.

Wait.

The meat hasn't been delivered yet. Get the groom on the road and promise to wait and pay for eventual said meat delivery. Meet the guy handling the meat transactions so we both know who to deal with.

Wait.

Same meat purveyor you just met now pulls up next to you in his big white meat van explaining ever so softly why he is now leaving, wherein you understand maybe four key words in his soft paragraph on why you wont see him again.

Sit on curb.

My unnecessary speech.

When it comes down to it, there isn't that much that requires us to deal with one another. Yes, there are jobs and what are at least initial forced interactions, but politics and family can both be easily manipulated and/or dissolved over time if and when necessary. What truly matters, I believe, are the relationships which we choose to enter in to; those that we deem worth the endurance.

I have only been back in Portland for all of five days, but in that time I've experienced so many aspects of this privilege -- from meeting and bonding with what I now consider new friends (those of my current ones) to greeting some of my oldest and dearest, to even introducing myself to some I've known for many years yet never had the opportunity to actually meet. And now here I am, about to witness the most devoted version of these decisive connections: two friends publicly pledging - before most everyone who matters to them - to never allow that core of pure friendship to be compromised.

While I admit I may not know my two friends better than many of the people in attendance, what I do know is enough to confidently state two crucial things: 1.) These are two people I would individually trust in caring for me if I were to suddenly suffer a massive coronary, and 2.) They are both truly two peas from the same pod. I knew this when I first met them as much as I do today.

What we are attending here is not what many concede as the next logical step in their lives; it is what it should be - and is - the next logical step in their Life.

And to this I say, raise a glass. You both kick ass.

Wish You Were Here

Last time I was here I believe Chris negotiated himself behind the counter. The place is still the same, which is reassuring.

Spending a good afternoon sightseeing with the old roommate and his special lady friend.

Only in OR

Stopped by Clinton street, asked to be extras in an older white male (wearing a wool-lined winter vest)'s rap video.

Yep, that's about the size of it.

Addendum again-dum

In addition to this quiet evening the late afternoon was spent cruising downtown, where I found the *local* brewery and commenced to spend a little on souvenirs and dinner. Their Red Dawn ale is great, by the way, as are their wings. Also I got lost again in Powell's Books but not only did I find the exit, I also came across a great book by a favorite author/artist.

I'll try to spruce this place up with pics when I get a moment, promise.

Towel thrown in.

So it's come to this - after several straight days of late nights and celebrating, I'm finally taking a personal evening and staying in. It's pretty nice, too. Everyone is out having a good time and I'm able to relax in the house alone while I monkey with wedding dinner playlists.

I may create a mix up here in the near future if I get the urge, but for now I think I'll fall asleep to an episode of Community. Tomorrow starts part 2 in the trip, wherein my good pal Casey and his lady fly in. Fine ham abounds.

Status Update

Currently doing copious amounts of Arts & Crafts with a PBR and Darius Rucker in the background.

Wet wet wet

Come hell or high water, one day I will attend a wedding where Crocodile Rock will be played. Mark my words.

Like clockwork.

Five hours of sleep and I'm still wide awake by 7:30. Time for a run.

When your body screws you, screw it right back.

In Summation

Before I forget/conk out.

Today was a busy one -- I have successfully crossed something off my life's "To Do" list by finally meeting a friend I've known for about seventeen years, I visited (albeit briefly) a rad little town and had one of the most sublime musical experiences ever courtesy of Ray LaMontagne in a peculiarly wonderful performance setting: a large outdoor amphitheater which simultaneously felt like a concert set at a day camp.

Fist bump, ladies.

Safe!

That was the quickest three hour drive I have ever had - mad gratitude to Rachum for her contribution.

As I parked D&M were just returning from the airport with Mike- perfect timing. And even though I can barely walk, we fire up Jungle Love on the car stereo and head to Taco Bell. Then a Twilight by Deschutes which will never again taste correct since a friend of a friend of a friend shared some fresh-from-the-tank brew with me. I have never tasted a beer with that texture or flavor. And it was amazing.

Now I only hope that I will sleep a full eight tonight. My body is so kittywhompus right now it should be on display in a wax museum. Actually it's so jacked that that sentence makes perfect sense.

The Return

Have you ever seen the movie Joy Ride? I'm willing to bet the truck driver behind me has.

Ducking A

Middle-aged woman rocking out to Ray LaMontagne in front of me. I'm about ready to rechristen this day of the week to "Cheersday".

Bender

The organization at biffys for concerts in Bend are the best I've ever seen. The lines have lines. No prompting and everyone knows what to do for maximum peeage.

Well, pt2

Jackson>Folsom

Testosterone achieved.

Additionally, I don't think any artist has ever covered Folsom Prison Blues with the lyrics fully in tact. Tonight continues this occurrence.

Well.

Although I enjoy Brandi Carlile and this isn't literally true,  I feel like I must be the only dude here.

So there's that.

Acceptance

6pm or no, I am going to get sunburned at this show.

Toast

Cheers.

Deschutes

Gorgeous trip south today even though I skipped Hood on my way (as well as plenty of photo opportunities). No big loss there as I have plenty of time for additional sightseeing left.

For now however I am taking in the air conditioning of the Deschutes Brewery restaurant before a double-header concert this evening.

Tuesday

I can't quite put how driving a rental car makes me feel; it's somewhere between "how can anyone allow me to do this" and "I am SO awesome right now". That said, I'm driving a Dodge Caliber.

Today I am heading a bit southeast in hopes of winding up at the Deschutes Brewery by day's end. First, though, I get to enjoy another round of Detour's delicious breakfast. Also, I am currently savoring my first cup of coffee in months.

Sensory memory is a funny thing. Literally after my first sip of Stumptown coffee I'm returning to my early twenties and what it felt like to live way out here. Though I'm sure that calm reminder will be abruptly derailed by my body's reintroduction to caffeine.

So far it's a hat trick of awesome days on this vacation. Cheers.

Star of Bethlehem

I plan on closing every night here by spending several minutes enjoying the Northwestern sky. So far, so good.

Unnecessary handshakes

Earlier: We enjoyed conversations from poorly growing facial hair to the ways in which Tim Burton had/has obliterated the Batman mythos.

Now: mad beats from the likes of Santogold>Beasties>Arcade>XX

American Love

What you're looking at is a project of love. American Love.

Couple's First Dance Suggestions

Day #2 wherein driving around includes blasting hits from the 1980s, slowly and in front of people. Tonight's top pics: 'Jungle Love' by Morris Day & the Time along with Huey Lewis' "Stuck With You", "Power of Love" & "Back In Time".

Labour Day

Currenty at a barbecue where the hot button topic is who would win in a fight, Ryan Reynolds or Dane Cook?



A: Dane Cook because he would steal all of Ryan Reynolds' best moves.

Afternoon'd

We are currently shopping for rings. Yep.

Title

I still don't buy that seesawing works your abs well but I won't deny it's completely awesome to do.

Also I can't bust into a game of hopscotch in the middle of a run successfully.

Test run

Somehow I was able to cram a pair of running shoes into my (barely) overhead-approved carry-on. Not knowing exactly how the week would unfold I wasn't sure if an opportunity would present itself to take them out. But waking up I'm really amped to get out and sightsee on foot. With no clouds and a breeze it looks like perfect weather to go exploring.

Happy Labor Day.

One more thing

F*ck this guy.

Nordling

I don't know why I hadn't anticipated this but since my arrival this morning it truly feels like I've simply been away for an extended vacation to the midwest and have finally returned back home. Visiting old haunts and spending time with D&M is as comfortable as it ever was.

Rhythm of my Heart

There's an unbridled joy in blasting Rod Stewart as you circle the Safeway parking lot. It's also nearly impossible to keep a straight face while doing so.

Next up: the man, the myth, Eddie Money.

...

My favorite part on my flight to PDX was the seven year old girl asking her dad out of nowhere how Michael Jackson had died. As he tried to put that fire out by simply stating he was sick, she proded him further asking, "Sick how? Like did he have pneumonia? The flu?"

I wondered how he'd reply but, finally stumped, he chuckled "That's a pretty dark question!" She gave up after that. And I wanted to high five them both.

Dahlia Farms

Common sense

Pretty things tend to turn ugly real quick once you've named them wrong.

The Temporary Tat Family

Bonus: guess which one is the Minnesotan.

First stop

Perfect.

Progress

I can buy wine in this airport. Copious amounts if I like.

Minnesota, get your act together.

Upright position

Just landed. I am currently what you would call 'giddy'.

Boarding

Can't tell if my hands are shaking from the lack of a breakfast this morning or that I just managed to board luggage that is several inches larger than the TSA's allowed dimensions.

L'areroport

Of all the things things that went under redesign the past decade in airports, the standard payphone has kept resilient. There are a TON of them. Everywhere.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, I start drinking PBRs like they're coming back in style.

Cheers

Arriving in the Twin Cities I arbitrarily gravitate towards Minneapolis even though I haven't heard from anyone just yet. Shortly after parking in Uptown I realize a trip to my Saint Paul stomping grounds is in order. One quick stop in Fifth Element later, I'm on my way.

Near the exit for Grand Ave the radio is slathered with Minnesota State Fair celebration. Being unable to justify battling that parade for such a short time I decide on a beer at Sweeny's followed by a walk along the main road. But *just* as I exit my car I notice a message and missed call from Austin. Thirty seconds later it's back towards Minneapolis.

Eventually I find my destination and commence enjoying good company and tasty brews with great friends. Conversations lilt from food poisoning to movies to fencing. And once again I feel grateful to have made it to another random meet-up.

The Moses Turtleneck Experience

Getting the band back together. Gonna be huge.

Shh

Tonight on display: The Art of Listening.

Prelude to the West

Here's a little playlist of some tracks I've been enjoying lately.

Pancetta

Okay, stay with me here.

Say, long ago, you knew this sentient saucepan.

And for a while you had the pleasure of cooking with it. In fact, you found that in doing so it handled really well - better than a lot of your previous, non-sentient saucepans ever had before. During that time you had some great conversations with this saucepan, all the while creating some really bad ass dishes including this jam which you never bothered attempting before because you just assumed you couldn't do it in the first place. Besides, how often do you use jam? Well it turns out pretty darn often once you've achieved the I Just Made Some Goddamn Jam merit badge of cooking with your new friend. And on top of that, jam is delicious. But I digress.

Even though you're both pretty proud of your jam and all those other concoctions, you and the saucepan soon lose track of one another. Nobody's fault, just that the pan had some pre-existing plans at a French cooking school and you forgot where your favorite apron had gone one day and never went any further than that because that thing had perfect sized pockets and you simply trailed off afterwards as you do when you can't complete Step One of any project you're working on. These things happen.

So a while later you and that cognizant saucepan cross paths again. You catch up, learning of its escapades riding on the chunnel, prospecting for gold, its brief stint in being a hat for some child, cooking with Emeril, etc. In turn you share your own experiences - about your new talents in voice-throwing, how you wound up with that pair of wooden toes or that one time you cooked with Emeril, etc. All the while you start remembering how great it is to be interacting with this oxymoronically unique talking saucepan.

However, you tell yourself it's entirely possible that the time for really good jam has come and gone, no matter how great you think it'd be to try again. You figure your best bet is to simply let your old Metallic Friend with Teeth know how much you admire it, but you're going to forgo cooking as it's probably not in the cards anymore or just simply not the right time. This, because you assume it'd let you know otherwise.

Now how dumb are you for not simply asking your old conscious saucepal if it'd be up for cooking again in the future? I'm guessing pretty damn dumb.

I mean come on - it's a talking pan.

All I Wanna Do

I simply want to take a nap. Seriously.

Everybody

I am Wang Changing the hell out of this.  car tonight.

Crawlies

Is it really crawling if that's your only mode of transportation? I suppose so but it doesn't make me sound respectable at all. Not that I mind much, I'd simply enjoy a better verb.
My favorite terrain has got to be moss, that stuff feels great and mostly I don't get stuck in it. Even when I do it only lasts a few brief moments. Sometimes it even sets me in a better direction than I was originally headed! Yeah, moss.

The other day it was raining out and I was sheltered like I always am; this time by part of a candy wrapper. Well, at the end of it - where it's all wavy and neat looking - all the rain built up to these super huge drops. No big deal in a rainstorm, right? Well sometimes if the rain hits the wrapper at just the right time in the perfect spot those collected drops swing underneath my shelter and make a really great pool! You may think that's nothing but let me tell you: when your only options for such things are the streams these downpours make and bodies of water like lakes, this type of luck is amazing!
Anyway I played in it for the better part of the storm after that, switching between my several tiny pools like I was rich and indecisive until the inevitable Destroyer Drop came by and soaked the sanctuary up.
Which reminds me of my least favorite part of rainfall: moving. It isn't so bad when the rain starts and you're scrambling to find dry space...often there's still plenty of open paths (I pretend they're timed mazes) to run through. But once you're planted, that's that. Everything in your island's little radius is presumed soaked as soaked can be.

What did I do then? I hope you don't think of this as unthoughtful or selfish (I know there's plenty of folks like me that could use such advice), but I'm pretty proud of my escape plans. And while I haven't had to use them all that often, I'd like to keep some secret advice for my kids one day - you know, stuff that not everyone else could tell them. See, I don't have a lot of those so I want to save up what I can. Sometimes I don't even remember stuff I figure out in time to write them down when I get back home! And you know I can't keep a pencil and paper with me when I'm out and about. But wouldn't that be great if I could??

I'll tell you what. If I ever figure out how to do that last part I promise that I'll tell everyone about it. Think of all the neat stuff we could share about crawling around and all the cool places we get to see!

BANG

Currently watching The Thin Red Line while most of the city is igniting bags of stuff right outside my window. Choreographed War is Hell amidst cheers for state-sanctioned explosives.

It's kind of weird.

Fact# 253

Run Around Sue is the best song ever recorded.

Continuing education

Last night I learned that there is such a thing as "Teen Wolfing a beer." Of course, Charlie introduced me to this.

Brilliant

I'm getting the GREATEST breakdown of drunk girl profiling I have or may ever hear. And it is borderline BRILLIANT.

Casual conversation

Dan G: "Hey, gas is 3.59 here."

Dan D: "My god, they're practically giving it away."


Well, I smiled.

Buffett Ho!

And now we drive. We drive until the sun bakes the grass and hot dogs sell next to smores.

Oddities in a gas station sales bin [pt 2]

After a familiar drive through the western portion of Mpls - near the now defunct Down in the Valley records and the location of a memorable test drive with my younger brother - we arrived at the friend of my friend's apartment.
I met cats, I leaned against siding. We made jokes amidst smoke as friends spoke between tokes.

At one point I ransacked the internets for a flick we hoped was hilarious (it wasn't), while my buddy talked up the night's show. Being there, among friends, I then vividly remembered old weekends in The Cities where me and mine would hang out, simply excited & yammering about music...not that I miss loving music, but I do miss times with friends sharing such stuff.

Anyway.

I happily offered Sober Cab duties to the delight of my friends, and soon we were heading out for dinner and the show. Everyone packed into my car and the comments about me taking turns like a commercial came both fast and furious.


to be continued...

Waits, Seven's & whiskey [pt 1]

Last weekend I had the great pleasure of visiting an exceptional friend in the Twin Cities. Although we rarely see one another, when we do it warrants significance...Last Friday proving no different.


When I first arrived he was mid-cigarette, strangling the neck of a steel guitar as the owner of the garage he occupied accompanied him via a worn out acoustic. I was encouraged to join in, soon plucking away at (what I considered to be) a remarkable washtub bass.
It may have been the simplicity of the instrument but I found it easy to - for lack of a better description of my dull assault - 'jam' with them. In fact, as they continued to work through a song - pausing to discuss the details - I'd continue on with my beat, secretly memorizing the specifics of my bass' construct so I could mimic it at home. Like the hopes of a compact treadmill, I envisioned myself using it while watching television or even reading a magazine: somehow earning a new layer of skill or attraction in the midst of zoning out; In short, the modern man's dream.

We exchanged comments on artists ranging from Neil Young to Snoop Dogg, playing samples periodically throughout the session. Time skipped by rapidly enough and in no time we were saying our goodbyes, my car trailing his out of the small community's side roads.

to be continued...

Rule Proven

I really should have bought her a drink, all things considered. She was the bassist.

Win/Lose

For the first time in years, I have successfully out-awaked every member of my party. Although I'm not exactly sure what that outcome may mean, HOORAY!

Mini Vaca, Part 1: Intake & Output

Support local physical media

Pick up a local musician's new album at Fifth Element, get the cashier's new album as well.

Hell yeah.

Plastic Bag

This is beautiful. And not in a 1999 Oscar-winner sort of way.

Smatters of life & death

There are - I'm fairly certain - some significant changes coming on my end.

I am equally certain they won't be popping up on here any time soon.

We're done here.

That was fun.

I couldn't have asked for better weather for my day-trip down South; the sun was out and temps were cozy enough to justify substituting my jacket for a hoodie.

Mainly I just loved walking around, taking everything in. There's character in everything here: Downtown exudes the hip local flavor of Bozeman while other areas harness the quirk of tinier towns like Rosalyn, WA.

Many things have changed - from locales to the places which no longer exist - and it's weird that for as short as I'd lived here (six months, maybe?), I still have instincts as to where certain things are and how to get around.

Seeing how the city has adapted over time is interesting but I was surprised and exhilarated by the resurgent feelings of freedom & adventure that I'd had while living down here. This place holds a special spot in my memory bank.


That said, after an afternoon of milling around & heavy coffee intake, I'd say I'm good on visiting here for maybe another decade or so. I'm having trouble imagining what the hell I kept busy with when not either working or hanging out with at least one of my brothers in town...I don't know how I'd last after even a few days anymore.

Well, it didn't help that I finished my tour with basically a bucket of soda & a behemoth hot dog which itself looked malnourished.

I still ate it, though.

Mattget

Ten years gone and this place is still basically the same.

Used to work overnights around here...I remember coasting down the roads back home at six in the morning on my bike. That and watching Cheers in the break room at 1am.
Good times all around.

The hip slip

I get the feeling that slip-ons (specifically the 'vans'-type) never really go out of style. They simply cycle through social circles.

2 out of 16: it's time to buy a ladder

At some point you should probably just turn the switch to 'off' and pretend they all don't work, right?

And why do all these style of buildings have practically the same ceilings? Curious, not complaining.

On an unrelated note I really miss mom and pop video stores. I'd be willing to work at one for pocket change and on weekends just for the experience again. Must find lucrative way to resurrect that business model...

Got to be a better way to say this.

Avoid sharp, jabbing motions towards your throat hole people.
Specifically while brushing.

Fresh coffee is no better than a fresh pita when nursing a fresh scar.

Luvurly

This cafe & the Blockbuster Video are about the only things that haven't changed a bit (although SOMEthing tells me one will soon outlive the other). All it needs is a pair of brothers, a scrabble board & minidisk player then I'll be all set.

Moved

No worries, guys, I found it. Leaner than I remember it, but still in good shape.

Know your customer base.

Smart.

PSA

The enjoyment of my pita gyro is lessened by the sharp pains in the back of my mouth - the result of stabbing myself there with a toothbrush yesternight.

Always pay attention when brushing your teeth, folks. This could be you right now.

Holy crap

I found a Pita Pit.

Antiquing!

I dunno about y'all, but when I down malt liquor I do so in a mug.

RIP

It'd been said Ernie November closed its doors years ago...I had assumed that myself anyhow.

It still sucks, though.

In its place, a head shop has opened. We'll see how long that lasts.

Worthless Detours, courtesy of Google

Dear google maps/City of Jordan: update your information.

1. No hours posted.

2. Not a Premiere Video.

3. Actual store closed down eons ago.

How am I supposed to relive employment when you insist on inconsistencies like this?

great oldies

ha! almost immediately out of city limits I see signs for ruby tuesdays.

Fun Fact: I once worked at one for about half a shift. I have never cooked again.

maps

no clue how I made this trip before mapquest. I suppose the first few times I wasn't driving and after that I had memorized the route anyway.

regardless I have this feeling like I'm going to the renaissance fair and I don't like it.

Step two

Okay, I've packed my Live @ San Quentin, Winners Never Quit and Four Cornered Night. Gonna be a decent drive I bet. Lessgo.

Y'all ready fur dis?

I feel like going on a mini trip today. Won't you join me?

All right but give me, like, half an hour. I gotta shower first.

Venture Brother

Now I've seen everything.

I have now seen everything.

The thing about stuff.

Here is my problem with news aggregates.

Most often I will default to one for my interneting needs on a given day, which - while convenient - has led to a level of laziness that I apparently am not ready to admit I'm capable of.

Tonight, for example: Rather than let a feed serve me up some info (a feed which oddly enough has become remarkably predictable and boring as of late), I went on an internetted-adventure which took me from 1930's cartoons to ukulele cover songs to read-along reminiscences.

...and while these aren't exactly out of the realm of such accumulative one-stop sites, they are closely tailor-made to my interests. Such rabbit holes are often the best of what this medium has to offer.

Ugliness, beauty? Same thing.

Ever put something off that, once you finally get to it, connects so many frayed synapses (I'm guessing thirteen myself) that it's as though an entire chunk of your consciousness just made a whole lot more sense?

It's like I've discovered an attic full of stuff from my childhood I never knew existed, all because I never bothered looking under some big, old duvet.

This really only needs to make sense to me...I'm just pretty delighted at the moment. Satisfied.


Also this has little to nothing to do with Last Action Hero.

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED

Arrive home at 9 after a full work day and minor surgery. Find all off street parking is taken.
Do you continue driving around and then give up, parking many blocks away? No, you do not. Instead you grab a mother hugging shovel and you make your own parking spot.

Boys of Summer, meet Man of Winter.

Whirling Dervish

I am grateful for two truths in my life:

1. Kids seem to like me.
2. My friends are Good People.

The first is a plus because I believe children are skilled at detecting phoniness, and if they enjoy having you around - even (or especially) when the promise of gifts is nil - then that bodes quite well for you.

The second occurs to me after virtually every outing with friends. Knowing those you spend your free time with are all folks who

• would never cheat you
  
• would have your back in a fight and
  
• generally aren't shitty people
  

is not only reassuring, but also reflects on the kind of person you yourself must be.

So cheers to that. Carry on.

Half a zillion & counting

Woke up earlier than preferred so's I could get my teef cleaned today. Still a champ in the brushing department, it seems. I enjoy my little victories.

My dentist was a cutie, too. And now I sit, reading while nullifying my annual cleaning by sipping coffee before work. Sitting by yet another cutie.


One of these days I'm actually going to date one of them, I recon.

clowns'll eat me

It's four in the morning and I still haven't fallen asleep yet - most recently because the showtune "Under The Sea" is stuck in my head.

I'm seriously considering cancelling tomorrow morning's dentist appointment.

Coffee, comics & CDs

It's a Lazy Saturday in these parts I'm enjoying catching up on little things.

After some overly blackened catfish in the early afternoon, I headed to the Fetus in order to pick up The Reluctant Graveyard by mutual Minnesotan Jeremy Messersmith (recommended).

Then with that as my background I meandered Uptown a bit before returning "home" where I have since been playing with Garageband, writing and reading.

I had forgotten how good Optic Nerve always was. Fine media abounds!

manageable exhaustion

What with waking up all early yesterday morning and staying up 'til at least 1am, subsequently I slept like a comfy rock last night. Now, though, I'm up feeling like I slept off a night of hearty partying yet am arguably more tired than any time yesterday.
My yawns - for example - are the stretched-out tear-inducing kind. So while it's good in a 'getting it out of your system' way, secretly I worry it will last all day long. Well boo to that!

That was worth reading, right?

Advice from the broken

Considering an eReader? Chalk this up in the 'against' catagory:

Never having to accept you can't read something, simply due to the fact that your book is malfunctioning.

Oh, that agent.

This must be where pies go when they die.

Shucks

It's rather difficult.

When you know what you know
yet
irrationality will not let you go.