shea d'lane

A Salsa day Miracle

2010-05-13T11:53:00.004-06:00

I've been taking salsa classes for the past few months and met a lot of fun, interesting people at the dance studio I've been going to in Houston, but despite having seen some FREAKING AMAZING dance moves, miraculous ons, actually, NEVER have I witnessed a miracle among the folks I dance with which can compare to what happened a couple Thursday ago...

After a dance class a few students meet up at California Pizza Kitchen to wind down, chat, and talk about dancing and whatnot. Eventually a mass contact information exchange ensues. A couple of girls have their iPhones out and of course are smug and elitist about it... at this point I only own a lowly Blackberry. But ONE girl is particularly smug about her iPhone, as we notice it is covered in a lovely pink case with pink jewels.

I find myself thinking, really, iPhone chick? Does it have to be that girly, cool and chic? And apparently it does, because the OTHER girl with the iPhone immediately starts gushing about how much she loves the cover and wants one for her birthday or something like that. Ridiculous, I know, but its the truth. And herein lies the miracle: iPhone girl 1 reaches into her purse and graps a spare iPhone cover she just had sitting there and gives it to iPhone girl 2. The exchange goes something like:

iPhone girl 2 "Gasp! this is so sweet. How much do I owe you?"

iPhone girl 1: "No. you keep it. I insist"

iPhone girls 1 and 2: tears of joy and hugs.

Everyone at the table: rolling eyes while hearts secretly melt, overcome by the generosity and serendipity of the moment.

Thanks Tara, and Ilsa. It was a beautiful moment I won't soon forget.

2010-04-29T11:48:00.001-06:00

The northern foxes hunt the southern coyotes.
The coyotes once foraged for fruit, but now hunger for milk.
It is strange to me how alike they both appear.

2010-04-29T11:45:00.001-06:00

I ask a man why his ranch is empty.
He answers: my sheep had no water, this land is cursed.
Banditos stole the water, and the sheriff joined their fold.

2010-04-29T11:41:00.001-06:00

Approaching the western expanse of America's armpit.

Javelinas raid our campsite, and antelope step gingerly round our tables.

Smoke wafts northward, lazily

So much beauty in dirt...

2009-12-16T18:22:00.001-07:00

Big Bend National Park

I had a dream

2009-11-29T05:05:00.009-07:00

Adam Sandler was playing backup quarterback for the Cowboys - he quickly hurt his arm, which was good because their regular backup guy was pretty jealous that some lamebrain actor could just walk on and take his job as a publicity stunt. To Adams' credit, he was taking the job seriously and had really progressed and done an admirable job learning his role and developing his skills. Then the kid who played AJ in the Sopranos was about 3 years old,and took his car for a joyride. He played a trick on a cop and was able to get away by stealing an old red pickup. It was in some crazy muddy, hilly place in the middle of New Jersey. Then it was my brother Ruben and me in that stolen red pickup and we were in San Antonio/Houston combined trying to get home. We drove through a drainage ditch to get away. We were in some really dirty, poor neighborhoods and driving in reverse until we got to the freeway. We drove way out of town then got back on course. At first Ruben had to make a doctors appointment, but then it was actually an appointment to spray someones house for bugs, or treat their swimming pool with chemicals, I forget which. San Antonio/ Houston had about 90 loops running around the city, kinda like a topographic map.Then we were interviewing a former prison gang guy about personal fitness. Then we were at the prison watching the electoral process - a debate between 'Gabriel' and some other guy trying to be head honcho among the Latino prison gang. Tony Danza supported Gabriel, as well as some old prisoner. Mr. Jefferson liked the other guy, who looked a lot more rugged than Gabriel. I figured if Mr. Jefferson liked him he had to be the obvious choice, even though I had no idea what his name was. I'm going back to sleep now.

Oddity shop in Forth Worth

2009-09-18T21:35:00.003-06:00

Its five oh seven and two pair of shoes lay upon my workspace.

I should probably be getting home, but the guilt of tasks neglected keeps me from leaving just yet.

Anyhow, the traffic is only going to annoy me and I'll get home at the same time whether I leave now or half an hour from now.

Seventeen dogs are barking outside Barkers' corner sandwich studio.

The butcher takes bread and dips it in grease before he throws it to them, and in the ensuing scrum, the dogs begin to question the wisdom of fighting for their bread.

2009-09-09T20:35:00.001-06:00

Tamale stuffed chicken breast... Thank you, Central Market.

2009-04-17T06:06:00.001-06:00

Getting in my car on the way to work- I saw a cluster of balloons, blue and purple, rising, floating away menacingly.

2009-04-16T18:23:00.001-06:00

Dude, I didn't even know text blogging could be done without twitter. Well, maybe I did but was too lazy to set it up before.

I can't stand it anymore...

2009-04-04T13:20:00.003-06:00

Had to share this from the vaults - an old Peter and the Wolf performance from Loralee's place I recorded on my mp3 player. Sorry if the quality isn't up to snuff. You audiophiles will have to forgive me, but I think this song is fun. Marceline Day woulda loved it, SLC'er that she was.

PS - has anyone heard of flute beatboxing? I had no earthly idea it existed, but have to admit, I thought this was pretty cool - especially the second half.

Mellowfied

2009-03-28T18:00:00.002-06:00

Here's hoping ol' Red and the gang make a stop in H-town as they head out east. Have been listening to some of their 'new stuff' lately and i thought it was purty.

music page on myspace

From impromptu sessions at the House of Pies

2009-03-08T20:15:00.000-06:00

A real conversation we actually had

If we start now, in this very moment.

...Okay...

I'm afraid to speak now

I think we have to get over that fear.

Did you say "you" or "we"

"We"

Oh, come on - you're going to have me write "Did you say
you or we a million times".

Come on, this is never going to work if we don't write, or
record our whole conversation.

Okay.

So time to get over the nerves.

But am I supposed to be funny?

I don't care; I think - I think we just need
to write everything down.

Okay, whatever you say. If that's what you say,
then we shall do it.

(awkward silence)

Lol

Yeah, i think it just becomes funny in and of itself.

I think that's a good place to end it.

Okay.

From "Pretty Good Jokes"

2009-02-22T08:12:00.002-07:00

A guy went to the pet shop to buy a singing canary. When he got it home, he discovered the canary had a broken leg so he took it back to the store to get his money back. The pet owner said "what did you want, a singer or a dancer?"

-Doris B., Ft. Myers, FL.

Mr. Spock goes to Dr. McCoy and says,
"Dr. McCoy, I believe there's something wrong with one of my ears.

"Yes, Mr. Spock, you do have a point there!"

-William Dunbar, Ottawa, Ontario

It is Written...

2008-12-18T13:58:00.005-07:00

I think this song was on a Pineapple Express trailer also, but I feel a lot more socially conscious letting it get stuck in my head thanks to Slumdog Millionaire. It has been stuck in my head and has been slapped on to the playlist for my next shindig, whenever that is. May it get stuck in your head as well. Once again, Merry Christmas.

I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner now we're making that fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
And (KKKAAAA CHING!)
And take your money

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bongs
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

No one on the corner has swag like us
Hit me on my burner prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going hell just pumping that gas

Third world democracy
Yeah, I got more records than the K.G.B.
So, uh, no funny business

I had no idea - but MIA samples from this song by the Clash - "Straight To Hell"

I love how much you can learn by wasting time.

You be my Charlie, and I can be your George.

2008-12-17T08:57:00.003-07:00

I'm gonna let y'all in on a little secret - this probably isn't an offical music video for this song.

Ah, yes, the youtube 'music video' - that masterpiece of do-it-yourselfmanship that is the song set to ambient background video by anyone with some time on their hands. (And the desire to get a favorite song on youtube to be shared by all and not feel bad about distributing music for free.)

The CD cover for Low's Christmas CD states something to the effect of "despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider this our gift to you." And I do. I think it's a gift. And I'm happy to regift it to you all. especially since someone (well, at least someone and three or four other do-it-yourselfers) already regifted it by posting it on Youtube.

Enjoy. Merry Christmas. May you find joy via gift, regift or otherwise.

because I like songs that love the sun

2008-12-13T18:23:00.005-07:00

Beulah - Burned By The Sun

High above the bordertown

I can see the golden ground

If I wasn't looking down

I might have lost you in the miles

Ocean blue and foaming white

Surround the body of my flight

As I flew out of sight

You were turning in the stiles

And I know what it means to you

And I know what it means to me

And I know how it feels to be

Burned by the sun, the sun

I love the sun

Now I'm sleeping on the sand

Of an unfamiliar land

And I'm dreaming up a plan

To get you on the breeze

And I'm staring at the speck

Of the map laid on the deck

It's time to make a trek

On forgiving seas

Gardea

2008-11-28T08:36:00.004-07:00

When I was like 6 or 7 years old, my brother Rick was just learning to speak and put words and sentences together. He quickly became a master at stringing funny stuff together, and remains a master of comedic timing to this day. I don't remember when it happened, but one of his best malapropisms ever was combining the words "great" and "idea" to form one of the words I have loved most in my life, "gardea". I think this word should be propagated throughout the English speaking world. I'm perfectly content to keep it within the family, but then again, not really. I felt to share it with all, and there you have it. Maybe the word should have an apostrophe, but I wouldn't know where to put it, since the 'gar' part was a mispronunciation of 'great' by the young Ricky. I guess that would place the apostrphe near the front, rendering it g'ardea, but the word combines before the 'dea' part, so maybe it should have two apostrophes, to make it "g'ar'dea", but nah. To simplify, I'll just leave it with no apostrophe. My brother's contribution to the English language is:

gardea: noun. - A great idea. "Ricky interjected saying, 'I've got a gardea - let's start a shell company in the Cayman Islands and sell bootleg Simpsons gear'."

Sunday Morning Bubble Gum

2008-11-26T11:58:00.005-07:00

One of the great things about going to church at one in the afternoon on Sunday is the chance to listen to A Prarie Home Companion on NPR before I head out. There's always great state fair type acts, and this was no exception. This is Kristin Andreassen, who apparently sings with a group called Uncle Earl from Boston, MA. I read somewhere this song won the "Lennon Award" for best childrens song two years ago. I don't know how big that is, but it's a good thing it finally got to my ears. Hope this player embeds correctly. I think it's called Crayola Maybe I was all ready for bubble gum becasue I watched Madagascar 2 friday night and was all ready for bubble gum and sunshine. In any case, Enjoy.

Don't be like a baby....

2008-11-25T11:23:00.003-07:00

Haha! I live about a block from Yao's restaurant. Who's in?

And also, why is this supposedly funny? I don't get it.

He's Baaaack!

2008-11-25T09:34:00.009-07:00

The stud of the world

Manu Ginobili has rejoined his squadron. The ship is beginning to be righted, and in a major way.

This s#!? is bananas, yo!

George Hill and Roger Mason, two guys whose names make them seem more like CPAs or lawyers than NBA ballas, have been meshing nicely with the team in his abscence, and kept them at .500 while Manu and Tony Parker have been out. Hill, a rookie out of IUPUI of all places, has had three straight 20+ point games and Roger Mason has hit a game winner, is shooting from 3 at something like a 52% (for real??!?) clip, and is fitting into the Spurs' game plan like few first year Spurs have. The guy is a quick study. All this spells good news as the Spurs develop this season - when Tony Parker returns, the Spurs will have the best set of guards they ever have, and I'd dare you to name a team that has a better 1-2 punch at BOTH the 1 and 2 slots. I'm excited. I'm optimistic, and I'm glad I never jumped the gun and thought the season was over. Things are looking good in the backcourt.

Up front, there is, of course, room for concern. Outside of "Spock/Groundhog Day/The Tinman/Greatest Power Foward ever" Tim Duncan, the ranks are looking thin. Ian Mahinmi would be a welcome addition if he could rebound at about 7-8 a game in 25 minutes, with a block or two average a game. he looks like he has the potential to be a servicable weakside defender, and hopefully could get a few off the ball buckets and hopefully average 4-7 points a game. But it looks like that will be a tall order. He's been hurt to start the season and has only really played in the D league. the one NBA game I have seen him play in was pretty OK, but I wonder if he'll be able to provide the help tim needs on the boards. Kurt Thoma and Fabricio Oberto are steady, but that's easy to say becasue they are both like 64 years old. Hopefully Pop is able to utilize what he's got and develop Ian sufficently to give that kid some confidence going into the postseason. Time will tell.

For now, I'm excited for the prospects of small ball with the 6'6" and under crew of Manu, Mason, Hill, and TP around Timmy at some point.

Manu dropped 12 points in 11 rusty minutes on 3-4 shooting, with a nice dunk down the lane. If he can be 4/5 as efficient playing real minutes, I really like the Spurs chances this year, Even though the Lakers look great and Portland, Houston and Utah look to figure into the mix - not to mention NOLA! (wow, they have their work cut out for them) It's going to take a lot of work, and definitely some luck for my team, but still like our chances.

Roger Mason, esq.

Images: © Getty

Intricate Simiplicity

2008-11-12T14:01:00.003-07:00

There are increasingly detailed answers within the increasingly simple.

At least that's what I'm guessing.

tastes like the letter Z

2008-11-06T16:54:00.004-07:00

If wisdom is knowledge rightly applied, I freely admit to a lack thereof.

I took an antibiotic for a persisting illness and kept on forgetting to sugarcoat it. - I don't know what this stuff was made of, but I imagine it tasted the way fermented uranium would.

I'm all better though, so it worked, but every time I took this stuff the pill lodged in my throat and the taste stuck around the back of my mouth.

I guess that's why they call it medicine.

My barber told me that the cause of all sickness is an imbalance of water in our systems. He may be onto something, but I think it's a tad more complex than that.

E Z recipe of the day

2008-10-28T12:12:00.008-06:00

Time: 2-3 minutes, (depending on your microwave settings)

Plus (+) any kind of

Plus (+) any of

OR

Yield Chicken Tortilla Soup!

YUM

And it's something quite peculiar

2008-10-25T08:25:00.002-06:00

The Church - 'Under the Milky Way'

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
Sound of their breath fades with the light
I think about the loveless fascination
Under the Milky Way tonight

Lower the curtain down in Memphis
Lower the curtain down all right
I got no time for private consultation
Under the Milky Way tonight

Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find

And it's something quite peculiar
Something that's shimmering and white
It leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight

Under the Milky Way tonight

I'd rather be playing Calvinball

2008-10-15T16:55:00.004-06:00

So Jessie has tagged me. And It ain't like freeze tag or cartoon tag, at least not to my knowledge.

[So here goes - 5 things about Ram that relatively few people know:]

A) I broke my wrist one day and later that night jumped off a train. 3 days later I went to the hospital to get a cast and a few months later they had to do a bone graft surgery on it.

B) I forgot the ENTIRE Spanish language at age four and learned it again at 20 (That's about when I got over my pre-school teacher making me cry because I didn't know know The Pledge of Allegiance when I was four.) (b/c I only spoke Spanish then).

C) I like to solve the 'Wordy Gurdy' in the daily paper. The crossword puzzle is too time consuming. And usually too vexing.

D) I am sorta friends with Bruce Leroy.

E) I was in the state of Montana for 26 minutes once.

Now I have to tag some people: Tanya, Lee, Elin, Jamie, and Jefe. I bet none of them do this. I kinda can't believe I did. But then again, I seem to be a Nerd.

I'm realizing why the results from the personality test resonated with me...

2008-10-14T14:49:00.003-06:00

hmm...

thanks to lee and lisa, I know thyself

2008-10-13T15:34:00.002-06:00

You Are An ENTJ

The Executive

You are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others.
Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise.
Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow.
You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence.

In love, you hold high standards... for yourself, for your relationship, and for your significant other.
While it's easy for you to impress others, it's hard for you to find someone who impresses you.

At work, you are organized and good at delegating. You understand how to achieve goals.
You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.

How you see yourself: Rational, calm, and objective

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Inflexible, controlling, and overbearing

What's" Your Personality Type?

I never knew I inspired awe. I think those of you who really know me are not in agreement with this canned answer to my snap responses.

I Seem To Be A Nerd

2008-10-02T09:39:00.008-06:00

Wired.

Geekipedia.

Technorati.

These are all things I like, perhaps even love in principle, but haven't spent much time perusing. that's for the best, though, I'm fairly certain of. Far better to be riding my bike or chasing a ball than to allocate ALL my waking hours to the taking in of all things interesting.

I happened upon a post in the dreamhouse blog listed among 'The Links' which led me back to a book which has been sitting on my friends' coffee table in my apartment. "I Seem To Be A Verb"

It's a book I loved instantly, and maybe thought was too weird to read at first. I still haven't read it. I've only looked at a few pages and taped the cover back on to the spine. (I found this paperback in Deseret Industries thrift store In Salt Lake.) I considered it a treasure the moment I got my hands on it.

Someone else has read it and has real thoughts on the book.

Here are the pictures from the blog with real thoughts on the book in case you just wanna see some of what's inside.

Oddly enough, the linernote booklets that have been coming with the Pavement CD re-releases look very much inspired by this. Hmmm...

Walt Whitman in Todays' Tennessee

2008-10-02T08:31:00.001-06:00

Here's a poem from Actual Air, by David Berman - lead singer of the Silver Jews, whose show in Austin 2 weeks ago I will eventually share more about.

Snow

Walking through a field with my little brother Seth.

I pointed to a place where kids had made angels in the snow.

For some reason, I told him that a troop of angels had been shot and dissolved when they hit the ground.

He asked who shot them and I said a farmer.

Then we were on the roof of the lake.

The ice looked like a photograph of water.

Why he asked.Why did he shoot them.

I didn't know where I was going with this.

They were on his property, I said.

When it's snowing, the outdoors seem like a room.

Today I traded hellos with my neighbor.

Our voices hung close in the new acoustics.

A room with the walls blasted to shreds and falling.

We returned to our shoveling, working side by side in silence.

But why were they on his property, he asked.

Uncle Sam is about to pwn Uncle Pennybags

2008-09-30T11:29:00.009-06:00

I'm glad I have 4 cans of canned fruit to my name.

I really don't know how much to care about all this, but I figure either way, if we can't laugh about it, we're in deep 'ish'. Headed for an economic Mexican Standoff, a la Reservoir Dogs. Which, as they say, may not be such a bad thing after the collapse, maybe.

Ok, enough of that.

Houston, we still have breakfast tacos

2008-09-26T10:47:00.022-06:00

Nice try, Ike. Budjoo kent keep de brown down, meng. Still here, Still strong.

Reports that the entire second story of the home/corner restaurant/store which is home to Houston's best yes, BEST (subjectively and quantitavely) breakfast tacos/burritos were overblown. See, it's still there.

Turns out the top floor is only severly damaged. Which is terrible, but not the worst news ever. they are still open for business, and still have the best product out there. My full belly and content palate agree, as do those of my co-workers. It'll be rough for them as they re-build, they have taken a big hit, but they're still kicking, and really do still make the best breakfast taco out there. Ike took a bite outta H-town, and a bite outta Porras, but they both are still kickin'!

See? I took about 4 bites outta this before I remembered it needed to be shared with the world. The tortillas are hand made on site, and are nothing short of fantastic. The salsa is made in house, and the fillings are simple and delicious. This one was bacon and egg.

They also make Mexican style sweet bread there. And have wood carvings of Betty Boop and the Virgin Mary, as well as Jesus, of course.

Porras Prontito
6301 Market
Houston, TX

Chronicle review - which if you read, you'll see I very much agree with and pretty much plagiarized 'cept for the crepe thin tortilla part. the reviwer musta been comparing them with central american tortillas, which can be more like patties of cornmeal masa. But that's just semantics. This place definitely is 'la mera Houston'. A belly filling, mouthwatering slice of it.

maybe some if this will become a metaphor for the economic situation of our fair country... who knows?

Just make sure yo get to try this place if you ever happen upon Houston.

Lisa posted a great pic of her neighbor's place post-Ike on her blog.

It was for real, y'all.

First Morning back after Ike was Monday

2008-09-24T15:18:00.003-06:00

A dragonfly flew in front of my face as I entered my car for work. Its body was green and black, like a constructicon. It hovered shortly in front of me and flew away into the southern sky

Live. Play.

2008-09-15T11:28:00.013-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXfDwEhc_gk
embedding is gone for now.
Song: Alone Again, (naturally)
the next video is like 15 seconds of the best propaganda ever.
taste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoKSC3rLlEs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P-v1BVQn8

the lyrics have been lost somehow.

Put my picture back on your fridge.

2008-09-08T17:00:00.010-06:00

Ok, so it probably never was on there. Never will be. So be it. Do yaself a favor and figure out when the Silver Jews are near your locale. Here's a taste If you've never known 'em. (In the biblical sense, musical, or otherwise.) Incidentally, the film 'Silver Jew' - about the Joos, is set for release on the 23rd of this month. Make a half hearted attempt to shuffle over to the show and maybe try and get your hands on the movie sometime. (If you can spare the time)

Not an official video:

Radio's on...

I don't know if this song is a cover or just an adaptation. different sources indicate both - it certainly sounds just as Bermanesque as it does Whitmanesque, in any case I hope to hear it live.

Not affiliated with the Silver Jews or IKEA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9fffXnSYdo&feature=related

nothing better than bagpipes on your way to work

2008-09-04T08:12:00.007-06:00

I don't think I have seen anything better than this while heading to work before. Except maybe a 50-foot tall hot air balloon of Mickey Mouse. That isn't the real guy, of course. But it's a pretty close representaion of what I saw as I headed in today.

I'm really not happy about the word mesothelioma ever having been invented. There is a huge billboard in Houston with that word on it and it just is a sinister word. Now there are commercials with some guy blurting it out ad nauseum.

A haiku derived from a modified failed song lyric. Courtesy of 'The Slow Century':

you were a glint with-
in my eye. But then a mote;
and later a stye.

-S.M. Jenkins

Credit where it's due.
I'd never steal a haiku
Unless it's clever.

and now, an American history refresher.

2008-09-03T09:26:00.005-06:00

What hath Christopher wrought?

one of my favorites.

My arithmetic skills suffered at 13

2008-08-29T08:03:00.006-06:00

If a picture paints a thousand words, does a picture of a picture paint 2000 words, and a picture of 3 pictures make 4000? Or is there some algebra involved to make it more? Is it squared to make it a million and a quadrillion words, respectively? Or does composition play into the equation? In which case it would be like 1500 and 423,676 words. Can a photorapher determine how many words his pictures paint? Maybe I should start shooting pictures and charge by the word.

Plus, if you did a web search of the first two sentences of this post in their entirety, how many hits would there be? How many people in the history of life (well, at least since pictures have existed, and the cliche about them being 1000 words) have asked the exact same question which I just posed? I bet at least 6 or 7.

Update: 92 hits, and I'm still not sure how many have asked the same thing yet.

Help me out, guys. It's Friday.

Is it bad if I still have 'Rehab' stuck in my head?

2008-08-28T09:22:00.002-06:00

A sham, a mockery of what music is supposed to do - urge and inspire.

And I love it.

I'll say it's the horns that hook me, but that's only part of it.

here it is

'embedding disabled by request'

probably for the best.

Oh, what a tangled web...

2008-08-26T08:07:00.003-06:00

After watching the 'Fire truck' video Dainon posted earlier, I stumbled upon this. It takes some time to build up, but I just loved seeing this kids resolve and determination to see his situation through. My favorite part is when mama tells older brother to tell little bro. he loves him. Sibling Rivalry/Revelry at it's best.

Wiki Quote:

there is an Arabic saying: "I against my brother; my brother and I against my cousin; I, my brother, and my cousin against the stranger".

your dog ain't lived till he's been basejumping

2008-08-25T10:18:00.003-06:00

In Norway

A strange fascination/A bait and switch

2008-08-20T09:34:00.008-06:00

I recently got my hands on 'Tell Me Do You Miss Me", that documentary on Luna. It's been great going back to their music, that melodic guitar pop that seems to capture and repaint all those themes that a soundtrack to one's life should. The documentary has been critically praised, much like their music was, (take that for what it is) It's seemingly flown under the radar (or maybe I've just been out of the loop).

I was fortunate enough to be at one of the performances on the DVD - in Boulder, CO. I won't hesitate to say it was an amazing show, one I made sure to write in my little journal about. There was smoke in the air, and maybe a little magic as well. I always felt their music had a watery, smooth and shadowy quality. Here's the song that the DVD title is based on, '23 minutes in Brussels" - (don't worry, it's only a 5 or 6 minute song, I think) Happy Wednesday.

a few more if you're so inclined:

4000 Days - an appearance on the late show w/ Craig Kilborn.

California

Weird & Woozy - from the Kilborn show again.

E-coustic version: Beggars Bliss
(Pay no attention to the terribly synced audio. - that's a youtube effect)

O Bleeding drops of red....

2008-08-10T19:17:00.008-06:00

Heard during the Minnesota State Fair broadcast on NPR: "I think ketchup brings out our animal instinct. Because it's red, like blood."

Also: " You can't eat foods that you eat with your hands in the winter and fall - only summer food, for summer is when food is plentiful. In the winter months, when food is scarce, you need to eat it with a fork and knife to protect it from other animals."

I think with all these NBA players leaving to Europe to get big money, maybe Kobe bryant would consider going to Japan for his next big contract. It could totally work. He gets a clean slate, as far as public image is concerned. Also, his name is Kobe for crying out loud, it just seems right for some reason. And if he brings Philip with him as coach, he'd already have a Zen master their to help him get acclimated, although I have a hunch the Kobester would fit right in.

Are there even any Japanese basketball leagues?

gem of wisdom from la churcha today: "never trust anyone who ovulates"

A friend's blog showed just how and why it's so true with this post just a few days later.

I'm seeing double -

2008-08-07T09:56:00.003-06:00

four Watson twins! This has been on repeat AND shuffle for a bit now. Enjoy.

68.5%

2008-08-05T22:08:00.013-06:00

I picked this book up Saturday and have both laughed and been a little embarrassed by how much I fit the profile presented in this book. Not that there's anything wrong with being white - or more specifically the brand of white person portrayed and profiled in this book. Mainly, I'm just mad because I KNEW ALL THIS STUFF A LONG TIME AGO, AND THIS SUCKER IS THE ONE GETTING RICH OFF OF IT! sheesh

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780812979916.html

about this book
They love nothing better than sipping free-trade gourmet coffee, leafing through the Sunday New York Times, and listening to David Sedaris on NPR (ideally all at the same time). Apple products, indie music, food co-ops, and vintage T-shirts make them weak in the knees. They believe they’re unique, yet somehow they’re all exactly the same, talking about how they “get” Sarah Silverman’s “subversive” comedy and Wes Anderson’s “droll” films. They’re also down with diversity and up on all the best microbrews, breakfast spots, foreign cinema, and authentic sushi. They’re organic, ironic, and do not own TVs. You know who they are: They’re white people. And they’re here, and you’re gonna have to deal. Fortunately, here’s a book that investigates, explains, and offers advice for finding social success with the Caucasian persuasion. So kick back on your IKEA couch and lose yourself in the ultimate guide to the unbearable whiteness of being.

about the author
Christian Lander is the creator of the website Stuff White People Like. He is a Ph.D. dropout who was the 2006 public speaking instructor of the year at Indiana University. He has lived in Toronto, Montreal, Copenhagen, Tucson, Indiana, and now Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife, Jess, a photographer who contributed many of the photos in the book.

More proof of my own whiteness directly below. (as if having a blog isn't proof enough in and of itself)

Until the mother...

2008-07-31T19:18:00.003-06:00

Leaving the parking lot at work today I saw a beat up tercel with vinyl lettering on the back windshield - MEXICANO HASTA LA MADRE - 100%. It was almost as cool as the car with huge old english (now 'gangsta') style lettering I had seen weeks ago declaring "COROLLA".

Found it

2008-07-31T08:08:00.003-06:00

My favorite T-Shirt ever. My uncle gave me this when iwas 3 or 4 years old. I'm totally having this made again, for adult Ram.

Reunited, and yeah, it feels so good.

2008-07-31T00:14:00.014-06:00

Well, after a couple of miserable months of misery my baby and I are back together. It was a rough time for me, but it feels good to know that once again, things are as they should be, and we will never be parted again.

Yes folks, I got my Scout back, and that my friends, is a good thing. It had been stuck for two months, all by it's lonesome in the wasteland and wilderness they call Grants, New Mexico. The only saving grace for that town is it's proximity to about the nicest U-haul franchisee around, (but she's actually in Milan, so it really doesn't even improve Grants' case) I think the U-haul lady was named Dottie. In any case, while completing my move from Utah to Texas, the ol' Scout decided to take a little break and commune with the common folk in NM for a while. But this weekend I went back to pick it up, and it truly hasn't been happier- it's running like the beast it is.

My brother, Rick accompanied me on this mission, and we had a heck of a time. Truth be told, we raised hell, and ain't apologizing fer it! One of our stops was at the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, NM. We communed with the Kid and let the outlaw spirit pierce us to the very core.

We headed to Lubbock, TX for a meeting with renowned International Shaman/Renaissance man 'Mike' to talk shop and get some some ideas on how to help the Scout last forever. Believe me, his knowledge was expansive. I was sad I only had a few minutes in town to swap ideas, but I did get some panels to replace the parts that had rusted out on the Scout, so at some point, that baby WILL look like new again. We passed through some strange sounding towns on the way, like Zuzax, Muleshoe, and Texico, where across the state line in Farwell, TX, gasoline could be purchased for 3.62 a gallon. It made me proud to be a Texan again. Rick noticed a town called Taiban, NM and while I thought it sounded like some newfangled workout program, Ricky made the astute observation that it would suck if someone were to stick an 'L' between the A and the I on that town's signs.

"That was the ugliest horse I've ever seen"

Was what I thought as we drove into Mason, TX. It was so orange looking, and shaggy. And it was just waddling around in the middle of the road.

Until I finally swerved to miss hitting it and realized I was evading contact with a llama! It was like 1:30 in the morning and this llama is just kickin' it on the streets of Mason, TX. I didn't know if it was cool or sad that this was occurring , and finally decided it was probably both.

Later that night we had to stop and ask for directions as highway 87 promptly turned into a neighborhood and came to a T intersection. When we asked the rather toothless gas station attendant the way to go, she gladly obliged with directions and added " Y'all better watch out fer them cops, they's jerks. - They see a license plate whu don't say Brady on it, they, gon' stop you an give ya ticket, say yer tailights out." Fortunately no such thing happened, but at least we heeded the warnings of the local folk and drove within the permissible speed limit. If I had to guess, the young lady's name, I'd say it had to be Starla or Brandine. No offense to any Starlas or Brandines perusing this blog, of course.

I finally made it home and then to church to find out that a guy at my local church congregation has a man-crush on me. He went so far as to tell me in the few times he had talked to me that he thought I was an "amazing guy". It was a little weird, and I don't know why, but hearing that made me want to reciprocate a bit. Takes one to know one, I guess.

I went to a meeting on emergency preparedness tonight. It's good, because it is now officially hurricane season in Houston. We listened for ways to stock up on supplies, and how to properly evacuate town and how to subsist off of household furniture and fixtures after the food is gone. For correctly answering a question about wildfires, I won my choice out of a grab-bag of emergency preparedness goodies - I chose a 5 to 7 day supply of toilet paper (depending on your average usage,) and attached to it was a chapstick size container of advil. Yippee!

As I left to my car to leave, I found this Alonzo Mourning basketball card from 1995 on the ground in nearly mint condition. I'm trying to figure out what it means still, but I'm having trouble coming up with anything, so I guess I'll just pray about it.

peace out, yo

The truth about Junkyard Dogs

2008-07-22T13:59:00.010-06:00

I took a walk this Sunday morning around my old neighborhood. Birds were chirping. A slight, cool breeze could be felt, and the whole place just seemed somewhat, and oddly enough, natural.

The sky was beautiful, and the air was slightly misty and cool. As I turned the corner eastward, toward Randolph Air Force Base, a pair of dogs charged the fence toward me, snarling and growling at the potential intruder.

But I was perfectly calm. Not even a bit frightened, or nervous. I walked up toward them with amusement in my face, knowing fully well they were capable of doing some damage to my digits. I reached my hand out to them, because I felt, and knew for some reason, that they would not harm me. And sure enough, they simply wanted to make friends - now, they kept barking, and snarling and generally sounding like they wanted to rip me apart. But they didn't so much as snap at me. You know this is true because I am able to type this, and I assure you, I am not typing with my feet.

Inside every junkyard dog lives the spirit of a puppy, who wants to play and be friends with everyone he meets. Even if it is now his job to scare the daylights out of everyone who dares to approach their fences.

I wouldn't reccomend just offering your hand to any old dog, though.

Suicide Stinkbomber

2008-07-20T17:08:00.003-06:00

So I was sitting at church the other day waiting for basketball to start and a lady siting there with three kids has to go into an interview as she is preparing to join the church. She is a Spanish speaker, and I offer to watch the kids so the interview can be done in relative peace and quiet.

The kids turn out to be an interesting bunch. The oldest, Jennifer is 11 and very intelligent and reserved. The youngest, Melvin, is mischievous - 5 years old and full of energy. The middle child happens to have something in common with me as his name is Armando. He tells me he is from outer space, and I sorta believed him. It takes about 30 seconds to establish some trust with them.

Turns out that was the worst mistake I made that night. As I'm busy telling the kids how much fun they'll have going to activities, and playing volleyball and soccer in the churchs' gym area, Armando was busy preparing a stink-bomb, which he threw in my direction right as momma was heading out from the interview and all had to get up. I see the kids rush toward her, smell rotten eggs, and hear Armando giggling, and the jig was up. I was ready to wallop the little hellion right in front of the future member of the fold. I shook my fist at him and couldn't help but grin. He had won the battle, but when he's stuck being a donkey in the church Christmas play, I'll be the one having the last laugh.

'Good luck is with you this month"

2008-07-15T18:21:00.004-06:00

That's what I pulled out of the pocket of some long forgotten jeans. - Jeans I have absolutely NO recollection of ever having eaten chinese food in. Right as I was dealing with the fallout of what at the beginning of this month, I thought was the worst thing that could have happened to me. crrrazyyy!.

I talked to this guy the other day who was a former minister, active head of habitat for humanity in his community, head of the kiwanis group of the same community, 80 yrs. old, and who had a PhD in gerontology. Absolutely one of the most engaging people I've ever met. I just wanted to talk more to him after that conversation. It was a joy. and I thought, if anything, that's a goal in life to shoot for- to be a joy to talk to.

I also struck up a conversation with Blanca, a Colombian neighbor who lives with her brother here in my apartment complex. She offered to help as I moved a bookshelf down stairs I must have looked pretty ridiculous trying to move that thing, because It felt like it was wrapped right around me. I have to admit I tried several different ways to carry that thing down, so she must have had a good laugh before offering to help. It felt good (and weird) to actually talk to a neighbor.

taking a Prince of Persia to the apothecary....

2008-07-14T09:36:00.003-06:00

I'm driving home from church this Sunday with all kinds of questions in my head:
What should I make to eat?
Why is it so hot out here?
Why haven't I got my air conditioning in my car fixed?
What is that old guy doing? - Man, is he old.
Why is his left arm all crooked?
Is he waiving me over? Is he having a heart attack?

Nah, he wasn't waiving me over. Oh well, I thought - I hope he's ok.

I proceed, only to look in my rear view mirror and see that yes, indeed, he was waiving me over. I thought to myself, this guy has got be having a heart attack. I pull back toward him, open my window, and ask if I can help. One word was his reply, in a thick, labored accent.

"Pharmacy"

OH CRAP, I think, this guy who doesn't know any English is going to die right in my car! What a Sunday! What mess! It sure will be tough to enjoy my grilled chicken and steamed broccoli and carrots now, knowing that this guy just died on me.

But I was overreacting - He continued on and said, "Need medicine"

I opened the car door and let him in, and he promptly asked my name - His happened to be Ahmed. I don;t know if I'm spelling it right, but that's how it sounded. He asked where i was from, and told me he was from Iran. I tried not to make a big deal about the arm, it turned out that it was just an old injury at second glance. There was a pharmacy a couple blocks away, and he decided it was just too hot to walk the whole way. In trying to make small talk, I mentioned having read A Thousand Splendid Suns, which at least partly took place in Tehran, from my recollection. He totally ignored my attempt at connecting with his background and asked my family name. Then he offered up this gem - "I used to be mayor of Tehran"

'Great', I thought 'he's positively insane'.

I offered to stay and take him back to his home after he got his medicine. He offered a hearty handshake and wished well to me and my family.

It's not everyday you get to chauffer around a Babylonian king, so I decided to google it, and now I wish I would have asked his family name.

This is a list of Mayors of Tehran:

Gholamreza Nikpey
Gholamhossein Karbaschi (1988-1998)
Morteza Alviri (1999-2002)
Mohammad Hasan Malekmadani-(2002-2003)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2003-2005)
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (since 2005)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Tehran

Having read that, i can only assume he was the guy right before Gholamreza Nikpey.

Fare thee well, ad box

2008-07-12T06:07:00.005-06:00

I have decided to disavow myself of my TV. Getting ready to get back to studying, and remembering the fact that I don't really want a TV in my living room have spurred this decision. It's funny how important it seemed to have full resolution imaging and 9000 channels to watch, but man, I suspect that everyone just watches one or two things once in a while and the rest of the time we watch mildly interesting stuff that edifies us in no way - except for Jeopardy and Run's House, of course.

But it's long been time to put away the toys and put the tools to work. My books have been sitting in storage, and that just isn't right. I'm guessing it might be tougher for me once a tad bit of boredom sets in, especially since I have forgotten to make any friends since my move to Houston, but that's the breaks. I think I might come out better for this. In any case, between youtube and whatnot on the web, I don't rightly think I'll miss anything.

But, uhhh. let me know if anything good is on, K?

The 'I's' have it...

2007-11-02T20:48:00.000-06:00

The Spurs handled the Kings today, putting the game essentially out of reach in the first quarter. The Kings made a nice run thorughout the third quarter to cut the lead to 13 and make it a game, but the Spurs were able to dig their heels in the ground, stop the run, and extend the lead. Particularly impressive for me was the debut in a Spurs uniform of Ime Udoka, brought in from portland, and Ian Mahinmi, the French import. Ime played extended minutes, while Ian was in for just the last five. However he had an immediate impact with a three-point play, and two quick blocks, and ended up with five points. Most impressive was Ian's athleticism, and the effort the bench guys like Mahinmi and Darius Washington are bringing. It's going to allow them to maintain sustained defensive intensity down the road. I like what I'm seeing so far in this early part of the season.

february, 2007

2007-10-28T20:00:00.001-06:00

Sunday, February 11, 2007
there is no substitute for victory
-General Douglas Macarthur

from the 'other blog' archives: May, '06: Near death near Laramie, Tony remembered

2007-10-28T19:41:00.001-06:00

May 26
Off to Wyoming to escape the Life...
I need to lay off the sopranos for a bit or not eat wendy's before sleeping - I had this dream that I killed two guys - they were soprano type characters and then Silvio from the sopranos was there too helping me and another guy who was 'on my side'. I had agreed to do a hit on one of the guys but one guy saw me about to kill the other, and then I had to kill him too. It was in a motel room and the guys were pretty much asleep in front of the TV. I knew I had condemned myself to hell afterward, but still talked to the Silvio character to get help in hiding the evidence. He showed me that what I thought was dried blood was actually leaves or something. That was it. I don't like these dreams. I remember in my dream I almost tried to rationalize what I had done since they were criminals and it might have been self defense because they would have killed me had they had the chance, but I knew that justification was false. I also tried to convince silvio to let me out of the 'family' although i didn't remember having ever been 'in' but he told me you never could. Any melfi's out there who want to analyze this? I think i just was replaying parts of past episodes including myself as a bit character. But it was interesting to me.

I'm going to Star Valley this weekend. I haven't been camping since flaming gorge last year, so this is exciting. I just hope it doesn't rain, and that the trip is better than my last trip through Wyoming:

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/2527701.htmlThat's what I barely missed. I was literally minutes behind the accident. I was cursing myself for not being ahead of the accident, but realize now that I was really blessed to have missed it. I hit some bad patches on I-80 retreating eastward to Denver, also - and before that hit a zero visibility area just past a small bridge along RT. 130 near Laramie - I had to make a blind stop and to be honest - I was fortunate I didn’t hit anything or slide into a ditch, as abruptly as I had to stop - it went from bad wind with a fair amount of snow to "pitch white" - (I couldn't see the hood of my car) almost instantly.- don't ever try Rt. 130 as a detour if I-80 is closed!! I thought for sure i was gonna drive right into a tree or another car - fortunately there was noone else around b/c the road was technically closed for the season - the crazy thing is i called AAA before i took that route, to make sure it would be safe and that the roads wouldn't be closed, and the guy was like 'go for it - you'll bypass the closed section of I 80 and be on your way' - the detour was 10 times worse!!!

At least this trip won't go through Laramie, and it's May, so, hopefully there will be no blizzards.

from the 'other blog' archives: may . '06: Series end, mickey at work

2007-10-28T19:37:00.001-06:00

May 23
Fin
Well, the series is over now. The Spurs lost to Dallas, and things seem just a little off kilter for us Spurs fans. I have nothing to write about the owner. I will only say this: I feared the departure from Spurs basketball was too great a risk, and it has turned out to be so. It almost worked out - albeit not perfectly. the Spurs almost out-Dallased Dallas with a four guard attack, but i think they ran out of gas and made a few too many mistakes. I do the same things in my own life, so i'm not going to curse Pop and die, but it wasn't fun to see them struggle in OT last night and go back for more. Meanwhile, digging yourself into a 20 point hole and allowing Dallas to shoot 83% from the field in a quarter is inexcusable, though credit must be given to Dallas for coming out with that blistering shooting. I really felt like a few different looks here and there could have gone a long way towards helping the spurs cause. But now we'll have to wait and see what adjustments are made for the upcoming season.

Soon I will be in Texas. I'm going to go down for the month of July and I'm really looking forward to it, although it will pretty much be a month of work. It will be great to be out in the sun, though, and spend time with family. Then a weekend in Chicago for pitchfork and off to wyoming for a campout. It will be fun.

I've taken to archiving old famly pictures on my computer, and its turned out to be a pretty rewarding process. I hope I can put together a good little family album or collage for everyone's viewing pleasure.

Interesting roadblock on my way to work: a 50 foot tall hot air balloon of Mickey Mouse right in the middle of the road leading to the building i work in - next to the City Library in Salt Lake City. Apparently it's Disney's 50th anniversary or something like that, hence Mickey was sporting gigantic golden ears. Talk about a surreal sight to see as you turn the corner at 6:30 in the morning. Here's some more info about Hot Air Mickey:
Balloon facts: - Mickey's giant gold ears span 53 feet - If Mickey's body were added to the balloon he would stand over 200 feet tall! - Pupils: 6 feet wide - Nose: 5 1/2 feet wide - Weight: Approximately 410 pounds - Thread Used: Approximately 9 miles - Gold Fabric for Ears: Approximately 750 square yards - The balloon fits in a bag 1,400 times smaller than the fully inflated balloon. The Happiest Celebration on Earth continues throughout the summer at Disneyland, where guests can experience all new attractions, including "Turtle Talk," "Buzz Lightyear" and a faster, darker "Space Mountain." source: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2006/02/c9827.html
whoo hoo - really. I wish I had my camera with me at the time.

Vicente Fox will be at my favorite local eatery today. I guess he means 'beansness' with this trip. If you're reading, Foxy, I highly suggest the carne asada, whether in a burrito or stuffed in tacos. My grandpa liked it, and he's a mexican chef (and American Business owner, as well as my grandma)....

from the 'other blog' archives: may . '06: A note to Pop, and the Davinci code?

2007-10-28T19:17:00.002-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euBQ7cwpHL8

May 18
On the cusp of something great
So my mighty spurs kept pounding away at the rock last night and pulled out a win, this one ultimately decided by the players, and not on the free throw line. Michael Finley showed us again why he was signed, throwing a ridiculously vicious dunk down on Erick Dampier, already having blown by former mate Dirk Nowitzki. I feel good about their chances for friday nights game. A chance for two game 7's in the first round? Maybe 3? The league should be salivating at this. I hope Pop lets nazr and rasho come in to contribute on the defensive end sometime - it seems that may be the cause of the Spurs not being able to stop Dallas as before. Maybe he's trying to force Timmy to take over, or prove that he can out Dallas- Dallas,what with the small ball and all that. But I really feel they need to get back to spurs basketball and rely on their defensive model that got them to where they are. Nevertheless, I trust his leadership.

After the game i went on a late night hike with some friends to Red Butte Gardens just to the east of the U. We were supposed to end up at this place called the living room, which is supposedly a bunch of large rocks which were nice for sitting on and enjoying the breezy summit, but ended up on a wild goose chase which ended up about a quarter of a mile away from said living room, with half a mountain to climb before we could actually get there. So we decided to call it a night since everyone had stuff to do... Ah well. At least the view was good from where we were, albeit the rocks that we sat on were a lot pointier than we had hoped. At least we didn't have to have a chopper airlift us outta there. It was scary though, going downhill in the dark seemed a lot harder, though physically less strenuous than up. And I snagged my shorts on a tree, losing half my left pocket. I felt like a kid again trying to run ahead on the way down and hide in the bushes to make my friends have to find me. I had a great spot too, but was foiled when a smart thinking friend called my cell phone and unceremoniously revealed my location. I should have known to set it to silent. (See, that type of thing never happened when I was six.)

I've been reading the DaVinci Code, and it's true what they say - the book moves lightning quick. I'm kind of excited to see the movie in spite of the negative press its been getting. I've always loved wordplay and brainteasers and have been fascinated with certain fraternal organizations (which shall remain unnamed) for a while, so this book is a nice melding of the two themes for me so far. I'm kinda wary about Tom Hanks playing the lead. all I can think about when i see him in movies is Him playing the giant floor piano in 'Big' or the wacko eponymus suburbanite in 'the 'burbs'.

from the 'other blog' archives: Feb, '06: scrabble

2007-10-28T18:58:00.000-06:00

February 14
66 points for 'quiz'
anybody remember 'Cliffjumper' from the transformers? kinda looks like this thing..so yeah - i was the scrabble champ on Sunday.yippee.

from the 'other blog' archives: Dec . '05 granny's carpet

2007-10-28T18:56:00.000-06:00

bananaman and danger mouse

Sometimes its hard not to wish to be back in those days where a plastic palette with a set of markers and watercolors included made for a more than ample prize... i find myself becoming way too demanding, maybe even needy with this life we got here and it just ain't right. Went to the hillside village convalescent home and caroled to the residents with a group of fellow twentysomethings - it was grand, ya know, (all i want is to be happy man,) n' i wondered why it was so tough for that to happen, but of course, i already know everything and realized (remembered) that it's because it's so worth it, right? The trouble and fuss we make to be happy invariably makes us stronger or more fulfilled, or maybe it just helps us realize that it ain't so bad to not be happy all the time and enjoy everything this existence brings. Or maybe enjoy the thought at what the next one surely will. whatever...
all will be well when I'm reading the K chronicles and 'I saw you' ads in the next leftist weekly...

All of you should be priviledged to meet Nanette Richardson one day. (for those of you who don't know I am Mormon) and Nanette (Sister Richardson) was my Sunday school teacher for some 8 years and has just been an amazing influence on my life. My mom and Dad instilled truth and indoctrinated the basic right and wrong which I needed in my life. Sister Richardson helped me learn to assimilate those things into my life and character... she helped me learn to learn and do those things for myself... not just because they were right , but because, I knew they were right and it wouldn't reflect who I truly am to not live those beliefs. And if you follow the previous link, you will see her art gallery (ies?) in San Antonio. It's rare to have afriend like Nanette, and she has done me and my family a huge service by expecting a lot out of us.

As i mentioned before, my family is really tight. My Mom and Dad were both born in Eagle Pass, TX and despite moves to Moorehead, MN (adjacent to Fargo North Dakota, where me an' my sister were born); and subsequent moves to San Antonio, and later Universal City, TX, I don't think Eagle Pass ever left us. My grandparents on my mom's side still live and work there, as a chef, and beautician, both running their own business from add-ons to their home. I could go on forever writing about my memories there, and I think I will, soon enough. It was in the bedroom across from theirs that i was introduced to Calvin and Hobbes, thanks to my uncles' appreciation of fine comics. I remember how cold that room would get with the little wall unit air conditioner they had there, and the weird red carpeting they had with a yellowish triangluar tesselation design. (I think the triangles had some strange paisley effect to them? ) I loved that strange carpet for some reason, and felt particularly sad when i almost ruined it after swallowing a whole package worth of gigantic globs from a package of big league chew. Strange little boy i was... I 've been far too random in these little blurbs, and hopefully i'll learn to be more cohesive in this online thingy, but hopefully if anyone ever reads, this, it can be enjoyed by a few of you. I gotta feeling I'll be writing to myself a lot with this thing.

I cant Believe People Deep Fry Turkeys!
I know it's supposedly really good and all, but I just cant fathom that much grease content in an already detrimental feast. I found out this thanksgiving that walk the line twice during my stay in san antone, and wondered if ol' johnny had good mexican food while doing basic training down here. I wondered if vivian's family was still in San antonio and what they thought of ginnifer goodwin's portrayal of her... I thought it was a good love story, and given the constraints of having to appeal to a pop audience the movie was good. It was understandably not an exploration of the weighty matters of Cash's life and pretty much romanticizes his problems and makes him a hero almost because of them... (I still liked it.)

Anyways... i gotta head off to school - i didnt mean to ramble but hanging out with my family was awesome, if all too short.

originally posted to MSN spaces blog : 'shadylane' december 2005
4:19 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

from the 'other blog' archives: Nov. '05

2007-10-28T18:52:00.003-06:00

November 23
I can track a single bee to the hive...
Yeah Boy....so i'm going down to TEXAS tomorrow to see my family for thanksgiving and this is a trip long overdue. It's been like 4 months since I've seen the fambly and seriously, i'm just jonesin' to be back in San Antone... Wer'e gonna sit around eat, and go to a spurs game, and thats pretty much it. It's going to be great...

from the 'other blog' archives: Nov. '05

2007-10-28T18:50:00.002-06:00

my gourd is two shaded
Back in the days when boys were green with purple or brown hair, it was so much easier to say what was what. I don't know if your debts are deserved but there's no question that my interest payments have been accruing and deservedly so. Sitting inert hurts more than that dart to the chest sometimes, and I can't share the blame when none's been passed on to me. What'll happen when I can' t find the hiding spots? Heaven knows I can barely find them as it is, and don't know where to go once they've been uncovered. You move on to your own cave, and it's a womb ripe for increase that maybe I can see. But I just don't know if I'll ever be a good part, or just a lamented orange peel, all chewed up without any more juice. Maybe I'll get moldy and green, and dust away like spores on a dirt brown carpetbagger. But I told that aborigine that I'd soon remove myself from the fray and cook dinner for two from here on out. It's a step slower than that octopus walking through your department store hallway. When he looks in the curio, he's sad he gets laughed at, but heaven help him if he doesn't get the last laugh wrapping all eight arms around a fresh coconut martini. Umbrella shields him from those rays which fed him. Why is the source that feeds so deadly to his surface? SPF 45 and RPM 78 - listen to the frayed tunes as the sunrays bend the tones. You threw your arms to celebrate and dropped the tear that seared me. I thought I'd bake a nice loaf of banana bread, but all I did was burn the thing, and now it's not making sense, I guess I'm not looking hard enough, or maybe my eyes just aren't what they used to be.

from the 'other blog' archives: Nov. '05 Steinbeck and George Herriman

2007-10-28T17:41:00.001-06:00

Nov 22 2005

The Log from the sea of Cortez
So I've been reading the log from the sea of cortez, by John steinbeck, and I'll admit it, i am pretty much in love with steinbeck. He's like the johnny cash of literature, his stories are full of truth and are sometimes dark , but long for redemption. I think (part of) an apt description of this book would have to include that it's 'steinbeck at his crotchtiest'. He just rings true to me, (as to so many others of course), but i sit here as one who has hardly experienced life as such, and to that end, i can say very little. I may be verbose, but those words cannot ring quite as true - i dont know if my depth of experience can ring toward anyones' perception of truth.

Read the book though. Think about where you stand in this ecosystem, and where this ecosystem stands in the scheme of this universe. and forget about whats on tv tomorrow. cause it ain't gonna ring as true as experience. just ask the guy who got to photograph that eel from so close.

tell me i'm trite - it's okay, as long as it's true...

later that day:

November 22
George Herriman: Genius
I don't know if i have made it obvious enough that i love cartoons and cartoon art. I probably haven't since this is like my third entry, but i want to make that obvious first and foremost. Soon enough I'll be publishing my work musings on the diving board: my poolguy life. And i think i have to acknowledge a huge debt of gratitude to john porcellino who wrote diary of a mosquito abatement man, among other excellent works. (thank Low's Rob Sally for introducing that to so many of us.) But i digress. Calvin and hobbes is a lifework approaching genius. bill Watterson is far too modest in writing to admit this but his work is that good. Calvins life is so shared in this work that Bill connects to each of us and we feel his influence in our lives whether laughing at life and it's hyperbolic fancies, or shaking our heads at its oddities and frailties. Alan and Mimi of Low put it nicely when they sang Sometimes I could just choke my self with laughter, sometimes everything's so true... the comic strip medium introduces those feelings to us. buy yerself a compilation book. Go to goodwill to find one if you have to. just make sure that several of those make it into your collection.

from the 'other blog' archives: Nov. '05

2007-10-28T17:27:00.001-06:00

This is an effort to consolidate. Trite, I know, but Heaven forbid anyone should have to miss out on something I wrote.

November 21
why do army men stay standing?

I've always wondered why it's so quiet sometimes, and i realized that maybe I should just shut up and enjoy that.

this pic is done by leia bell - i got it from ken sander's rare books in salt lake city

thanks for the highlights, MJ and Spurs. plus, Governor Ann Richards waiving the rowdy rag!

2007-10-21T17:14:00.000-06:00

This is from one of the best games ever of my young Spurs fanhood. Just what I wanted to see back then. Incredible games from MJ, the greatest, and a Spurs win. Too bad the Spurs could never make it past their Western Conference competition to make it to the finals back then. They were always ultra competetive with MJ's Bulls.

This game is just packed with highlights for both teams - a steal and dunk right past MJ for David Robinson, and a spinning, reverse alley-oop dunk by same. We see MJ throwing a couple down on David, and getting blocked on a couple by David as well. A couple of sweet dunks,including a great follow jam by my all-time favorite sidekick, Sean Elliott. There are a couple great plays by the original Big Dog, Antoine Carr, and then SCOTTIE PIPPEN almost jumping right over the Big Dog for a Vince Carter-like dunk in the first half. Why this game isn't available on NBA.com digitally remastered, I don't know. Maybe because it's a meaningless regular season game from 1992. Ah, well.

and here's the second half.

Thank you, Yo la Tengo...

2007-07-25T18:21:00.000-06:00

for always being in rare form. couple a thursdays ago,(maybe just last week) they played in SLC. After they play I find myself thinking about the songs for weeks on end. Constantly. This last time, they reminded us all just how great the music of The Zombies is, with a cover of 'You Make Me Feel Good.' Ira signed the blankie we brought to sit on, and a good time was had by all - dancing, rockin' out, and just enjoying the show. Here's a little taste of the Zombies:

let's not forget YLT themselves, however:

Baseline Bums, SLC chpt. 393 unite!

2007-05-28T02:31:00.001-06:00

OK after a weekend in Coconino county, it's time to get back to what matters, and that's watching my beloved hometown Spurs pick apart their competition and send them fishing. I need to get a sign ready for tomorrows game and also to get myself emotionally ready to represent amidst the throngs of salivating Jazz fans here in Utah. I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I wasn't into the game like these Jazz fans were. - I mean, these guys are INTO IT. They want blood. They are happy when a Spurs player appears to be injured. While watching the game at the Dam Bar in Page, Arizona they were whooping and yelling at every Jazz score/steal/smile, while I was quietly thinking "okay just string together a couple of stops and we can chip away at this thing" or, "man that rotation was a little late - he should be cheating over a couple of feet". They seriously act like they haven't been there before, what with all their heavy breathing and whooping, and I've found myself thinking maybe that's not really a bad thing. Maybe it's OK to act like a blithering, myopic idiot sometimes.

Case in point: There should be no empty seats in the playoffs, and yet it happened in my beloved hometown. We Spurs fans have got a major problem, and it's this 'acting like we've been there' business. It has to stop. We have to hearken back to '99 or even 2003 when winning in the playoffs meant something every step of the way, and we loved our team like they were our tall, rich uncles. Utah has the little team that could right now, and while logic dictates that the Spurs take this thing, our fans are getting their fannies handed to them by PHOENIX and UTAH. Are you kidding me? Who'd a thunk that Phoenix and Utah would throw a better party in their respective barns than us folks down here in San Antonio? A sea of baby blue, who looks like they should be holding a bunch of signs that say "It's a Boy' is doing a better job of representing than my fellow flour tortilla and BBQ brisket loving townspeople.

This is a town that started the tradition of the Baseline Bums, we've been doing the drunken idiot rowdy fan thing for a lot longer than those guys, and it's time to show what our experience has taught us. I'll be there for game four. I'ma go there and represent, y'all! Get out there for game 5, folks! Show 'em whatcha got. Drool and slur your epithets at the opposition. Jump around with some clever sign. Curse at the refs and the squadron from otta town. And for heavens sakes, act like you haven't been there.

2006-08-08T22:06:00.000-06:00

Hotel California - Rodriguez Style

Best 4th of July in a while for me - I was finally home again in Texas and with family. We ate a ton of meat, watched Italy beat France - or was it Germany? and then excercised our vocal cords. First on the list were Sweet Home Alabama and a couple of other favorites, and then this attempt at Hotel California gave everyone the giggles. It was more fun than I can remember. I'll always love hearing my Dad shout the lines in advance to remind everyone what was next, at least when he was able to remember. I'll remember my cousin's buddy and bandmate doing his best to keep the song respectable, and I'll just remember all of my family and relatives laughing and enjoying each others company. Can't beat that.

Okay enough of the sappiness. Click on the video and laugh at our attempts to bring the eagles into our fourth of july party.

2006-06-26T07:52:00.000-06:00

Circus Rock at its Finest

And in no way is that a slight against this beatiful music. This is a group of guys who tried to make the world a better place with their craft. Some may think enjoying this requires an ear for the dissonant, (I don't think so) but the message is congruent with much that's good, in my humble opinion. Just, listen, is all I'm saying.

2006-06-26T07:39:00.000-06:00

For Sale:

I applied for a scholarship. I didn't get in, but got a warm rejection letter from the school.

2006-06-23T06:11:00.000-06:00

DeVotchKa - Required Listening

And I mean it. Everybody needs to own DeVotchKa's CDs. They are incredible musicians whose songs evoke a true emotional response. watch Little Miss Sunshine, know that they are the trailer music for Everything is Illuminated, and find out when they are playing near you. And go, for heaven's sake. This is an incredibly talented group of musicians. I dare say that they compare favorably to Radiohead not in musical style, as they are vastly different but in the magnitude of emotional response their music generates. They have a fun gypsy wedding style and a somber 'howling at the moon' style and are just very versatile. I wish I were eloquent enough to properly describe the spectre of their craft. Do yourself a favor and add them to your collection. Do yourself an even bigger favor and attend a live show. With a Christmas lit tuba and a Theremin a'whirring, a violin named Juan Pablo and an accordion named Tommy, they will deliver with great energy and precision drumming, and leave you exhausted.

2006-06-23T06:10:00.000-06:00

DeVotchKa - Venus In Furs at Bonnaroo

So I made it Bonnaroo last week and it was nothing short of amazing. I am still trying to recover from the haze and dust, but I cannot complain. I knew what I was in for and the music was grand. I got to start out by seeing DeVotchKa twice in short succession. They offered this Velvet Underground cover as part of the package.

Trucker's Delight

2006-05-31T11:34:00.001-06:00

I'm OK today. A little tired out. I feel like I was driving all day Monday, but I guess that's because I was. Star Valley wasn't ideal weather-wise, what with the snow, rain, and hail but we made the best of it and had a good ol' time. We slacklined in a barn and and watched a movie on a projector in a hay bale fort. I was proud of myself - after hours of trying, I was able to stand up and balance on the slackline and then actually took a few steps. Some of the guys and girls were absolutely amazing on the slackline. They were all finding their centers and harnessing their chi and all that, and just tore it up on the line, dancing around and practically doing backflips on them. Ok, no backflips, but they had mad skills, yo! We also hiked and when we could, played some catch. I saw lots of cows and talked to some local farmers who were passing by on the road. Sometimes we were lazy and just played games or watched movies. Most noteworthy among them was Danny Deckchair, featuring one of the girls from Lord of the Rings. We laughed, I tells ya - all 15 or 16 of us.

We also hiked in Teton National Forest Sunday after church. It was freezing at the parking lot, but very nice when we climbed up some, and the scenery was gorgeous. I had no idea Wyoming was so green in some places. I'll tell you - the town of Freedom, WY had this inexplicable quality of taking you back home no matter where you're from. And maybe that's cliche, but it's true. Amidst the smell of cattle and convenience stores full of fried food and fishing gear, I was 6 again. It was great. When we drove back we stopped at a park in Logan to rest and eat and play some catch. They have a great park! Big swimming pool with super fun happy slides, shady area and big sunny area, and a nice little skate park so the kids can rebel against the system in clean, well kept environs.

My youngest brother Rolando graduated from high schol this weekend. Congrats, Bro! I missed the webcast, but you know I love you.

Today is also Ricky's 23rd!! Happy Brithday!

Then I call home, and this is the first item of news from my mom:
Harm, but no Foul

Fresh from the Too Little, Too Late Dept. comes word that the NBA rescinded the technical foul against San Antonio's Michael Finley in the second quarter of Game 4 in Dallas. Finley was called for a technical with 4:44 remaining in the half, and it appeared to be borderline at best. ``You can imagine what I wanted to say when I heard that," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who found out about the decision Thursday. ``Does that mean we win the game by 1 point?" Game 4, which was played May 15, went into overtime, and the Mavericks prevailed, 123-118, so the technical was huge. (Dirk Nowitzki made the free throw.) For Finley, it means he won't have to fork over $1,000 to the league. For the Spurs, it means yet another tough break in a series they just as easily could have won.

grrr...

After stopping by a couple of friends places, my friend Josh and I get word from another friend, Molly that we have free tickets to a show in Provo. Now the fact that it was in Provo, put me a bit on edge, but even more daunting was the fact that it was AIR SUPPLY. Yes, Air Supply, as in one of the progenitors of glam rock Air Supply. After some deliberating, we think what the heck, it should be fun and lighthearted and decide to go. I figured they'd do anything but take themselves seriously, being like 60 and knowing that they were Air Supply. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The ampitheatre was filled about 4000 strong all waving their hands, mostly middle aged, or just plain old, but with a smattering of youth here and there. I couldn't believe I found myself there. I'll attribute that fact to being delirious after a full day of driving. The lead singer was the creepiest old man ever. He looked like an 80 year old lady in his silk shirt - kinda like one of the Golden Girls. He couldn't stop bellowing 'YOOOOUU ARRRRE BEAU-TI-FOLL!!' He finished the show with a small girl in a headlock, wishing the audience a 'safe walk or ski home' and then planted one on said little girls face. Poor girl looked absolutely terrified. Earlier he had dropped this gem on the little girl: 'If Air Supply thinks your pink braces are cool, believe me THEY ARE!' It was stinkin' hilarious, and I'm ever so grateful that they got me into that show. It was a surreal way to end a weekend in the pristine beauty in Star and Cache Valley. Surrounded by thousands of adoring Air Supply fans waving their arms and wishing they were on stage with the girl with the cool braces. I secretly loved it, but am still haunted by it all the same.

Test Dream

2006-05-31T08:21:00.000-06:00

My clock resides on a castle-like building. Knowing the time involves a five minute walk. Is it that worth it to know?

commence

2006-05-31T07:41:00.001-06:00

I will probably not post too much to this blog. I only did this to be able to post to friend's blogs - but I will post the link to my 'other ones'. Maybe I'll just copy and paste into this, but probably not. I'm far too lazy to Ctrl+C , login in n' Ctrl+V.

www.myspace.com/spastic_arizona

www.spaces.msn.com/4down