I want a confetti canon

(thanks to NESF for the find)

It's a good time for Superman

Sometimes in life there is absolutely nothing that you can do to change a situation. It's hard. Even harder when you want nothing more than to make it right, maybe not perfect, but at least better. However we only have so much influence on the actions of others. No matter how much we try to direct people in the right path they are always free to make whatever decision they want regardless of the impact those actions may make have on you or anyone else. It's one of the most frustrating aspects of life.

If I don't have any choice in the matter I just wish it wouldn't effect me at all. But I guess that's where fate plays into this whole thing...

But logic broke...

On Saturday, after I got back from my sisters, I went to Half Priced Books in the District with NESF. We took the bus there and bummed about the store for a while. As we were leaving we just barely missed a bus. Instead of just waiting for the next we decided to walk for a while. We crossed I-5 and started the trek through Wallingford. It was a great winter day that seemed more like spring. As we closed in on the old Hollywood video a strange encounter fell upon us. With out any warning a man appeared behind us, as if he had just materialized there. He was a short man, wearing a black leather coat with a waist band and a black hat. As he moved forward he decided to pass right between us, his gaze constantly focused on me. For some time he stared directly at me. I felt vulnerable like he was about to attack me when he spoke, "Sorry, you look like someone I haven't seen in a very long time." "Oh," was all I could think to say. As he sped off ahead of us I could still see his eyes staring at me. Neither myself nor NESF could figure it out at first and then it came to us. Time Traveler. We were encountered by a man taught free of the future. I'm still not sure what his mission was, but I think it was very clear that he was supposed to initiate that interaction. It was so nice outside that we continued walking all the way back to Ballard.

The Flaming Lips get even more festive

This is awesome. I wanna a holiday sweater with skulls on it too!!!

"She forgets about the fear"

"When she's high"...

Speaking of hats. I was on the 7 after work last night and there was a younger guy wearing a teal green trucker hat. In permanent marker the words "NO MONEY NO HONEY" were written on the front of it. I wanted to take a picture of him, but thought that might be a little strange. I also have long thought it a bad idea to photograph anyone on the 7, there's no way to gauge how violent the response might be...

I have to stop this for a moment, even though I just started. Time for lunch with pops...

Got back from lunch and stared a crossword. I've never done one with so many zzzzzz's. I'd also like to point out that I haven't got the friendly little "SOLVED" message from the NYTimes puzzle in a while. I know that I solved it right, it just doesn't recognize it. It's a little disappointing...

It's a marvelous 54 degrees here in Seattle today. This is exactly how it should be all winter. Cool and rainy. Not a lot of rain. Just that nice drizzle....

I want one!

The Flaming Lips are the greatest American band recording today.

I originally wrote that title with the phrase "quite possibly", however as I looked at it and started to think more I couldn't find another band that I would place higher than the Lips at this point. (Modest Mouse is close though).

They've had one of the most interesting careers. The Flaming Lips were making music when I could barely walk (1983). I'm going to breeze through their early career. It's not that it was bad so to speak, but when compared to their later works, well it's like comparing Pablo Honey and Kid A.

While they started in the early eighties it was well into the nineties before they ended up seeing some commercial success with the track "She Don't Use Jelly". It's a decent track from the album Transmissions From the Satellite Heart, but by no means my favorite. With the amount of radio play that song was getting I am flabergasted that they didn't shoot up into the spotlight immediately with follow ups like "Be My Head" and "Turn It On". The only reason I can think of is that none of us were ready for them yet, I guess thats the problem with always being ahead of your time.

Then there was Clouds Taste Metallic, which contains one of my favorite "older" Lips tracks "This Here Giraffe". You should all know how much I love Giraffes. However the album as a whole was not as solid as it's predecessor, causing them to slip further into obscurity.

Next they came out with what was to be known as Zaireeka. This is one of the most bizarre albums of all time. A collection of 4 discs that are all intended to be played simultaneously. I've had the privilege of hearing Zaireeka multiple times and each time it was great. Most notably was for the anniversary when they played it a the Crocodile. It's a fantastic experiment in sound whose ambition is matched only by the musical talent of the Flaming Lips. The greatest part about Zaireeka for me is more what it represents and that is a change on the horizon greater than anything that could be expected. The Soft Bulletin.

This is where I was introduced to the Flaming Lips. I believe it was 2002. The Soft Bulletin had slipped past me for 3 years, but no more. NESF came to me one day with the CD. I listened to it once. I hated it. "I can't stand that guys voice," I remember thinking. But I trust NESF's opinion and gave it another chance. It was about the fourth go around when my world came crashing down around me and I realized that "a spoonful weighs a ton" and there was only one answer to the questions "Is it gettin' heavy?", yes.

While I was still honeymoonin' with The Soft Bulletin I was introduced to a new lover, Yoshimi. "Oh Yoshimi" where do I begin. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is an amazing album full of violence, love and ultimately death. It was with this album that the Flaming Lips took on the concepts of death and how beautiful it can really be. "Do You Realize?" is by far the biggest hit that they've had to date, and with just cause. However that shouldn't over shadow the pure genius that is present throughout this album as a whole. There is a good reason I placed it as #3 of the decade. To quote myself, "I think that even Alfred Tennyson may agree that there has never been a finer expression of love and loss than Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots."

At War With the Mystic followed in 2006 and it was evident they weren't happy. No one was happy in 2006, however the Lips took their hatred of GW and turned it into some fine music. I will forever associate this album with the end of GW and the election of 2008. I remember walking to the school down the street from my house listening to "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" on my way to caucus and then leaving feeling great as I listened to "The W.A.N.D." This album didn't quiet hit the high mark of Yoshimi save one track, "Vein of Stars", which may very well be my favorite of theirs.

At this point I feel I'd be doing you all a huge injustice if I didn't mention the live show that the Lips put on. It's amazing. It's a complete affirmation of the greatness of life. Anyone who has a chance to see them live HAS to do it. You'll leave with pockets full of confetti but never disappointed. Here's some shots from the most recent show I was at...





Now I've been starting to spent a lot of time with the new album Embryonic. At first I wasn't the biggest fan. The first time I heard it I sat back in my chair and said, "meh, don't love it, don't hate it." Fear started to take over. Had the Lips lost it? Would they ever produce something that rivals The Soft Bulletin? Little did I know that with that first introduction a small ova had been placed in my brain.

Over the course of the last few weeks the egg has grown. We've now reached the embryonic stage. It's starting to consume me. I have yet to discard everything else from my iPod but I have a feeling that may happen in the near future. I can't even begin to imagine what is going to happen when my incipient growth is fully mature.

Now I don't know what else I can say to convince those of you who don't already know that you need to check out the Flaming Lips so I'm going to leave you with a youtube clip from the new album...

Cheers to better days

Today is much better than yesterday for many reason...

The Flaming Lips new album is streaming at www.colbertnation.com I recommend you all take a listen. It's great. Once I get it on my iPod I doubt that I'll listen to anything else for about a month.

Also came out that Pavement is going to be doing a reunion tour in 2010. I'm stoked! I never got to see them before they broke up because I wasn't privy to their existence. I just hope that they don't make this a festival tour. Oh how I hate festivals.

I've also drank about a pot and a half of coffee and am hyper-caffeinated. So even if things are shitty I'm too hyped up to care.

I might post another Unmonitored Outlet post...I can't decide right now.

I know that I've asked this before, but I feel that it's just as valid now as ever: Did you just rub honey all over yourself???

Let them know you realize

An old friend of mine just told me that her father passed away last night. My heart felt condolences go out to her and her family. Just always try to remember the good times and he'll always live on in your memories.

It's been a while

Well that might have been the longest break in blogs since I threw an ax in my foot. I guess I've been busy, probably not though...

I saw the Flaming Lips on Friday (thanks again P). The show was amazing. I got some great pics. You can check em all out on my flickr...



I've been looking at some apts. Saw one yesterday out near 70th and 24th that seemed promising. I've got an email into them now to get a final verdict on a couple things. Hopefully it all works out. I really hate this whole process. I still have to figure something out about my cats...

















I want to give a shout out to Casey, Joseph and Cat for hosting a fabulous house warming party. I hope the new place brings you all much happiness...

All we have is now - All we ever have is now

I can't stand it anymore

I'm going to costco today. I'm going to buy so much food and then sit at home and eat it all in one long continuous sitting. Maybe I should schedule a colon cleaning now...

I'm going impatient for new Flaming Lips and Circulatory System...

I love random on my iPod. When would I ever think to follow up 2pac's "Fuck the World" with Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man"?...

I'm also going to hit up home depot. Get some wood. Make a picnic table. Hopefully it turns out well. I've never build one before. I think I can do it though...

I have the best Dad ever. He's driving me all these places tonight...

I got the next disc of Lost to watch tonight. I can't wait. Actually if they have a good price on it at costco I might just buy the first season, maybe the second one too...

I was warned this morning that today was going to be hellish, but I didn't think it was going to be this bad...

West side...

I'm suffering from urban overload

If I had my way I'd plan a concert at the pier. It would feature Deerhunter, Wolf Parade, the Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, Blur and the original Elephant Six (in that order). After which I think that my life would be complete and I could fade away into the sunset...

Stitches came out yesterday. Doc said all was well. Once I get it all cleaned up I'll post a pic for your viewing displeasure. It's pretty gnarly...

Farmers market is tonight. I'd be more pissed about missing it if it was later in the year. But I'd still like to go...

Here's an excerpt of a project that I've been working on forever. I think it fits here:

Another Drull Sunday

I woke up,
a cool gray haze
hung sulking in the view
from my kitchen window.
A pigeon
perched on the sill.
I studied it blankly
with exonerated eyes
as if to say I’m sorry
but I don’t know for what

Maybe someday I'll post a link to the whole thing. Just not today...

The city is bearing down on me. Memorial Day is coming up quickly. I have no idea what I'm going to do. I need to do something. If nothing else I'm going to catch a bus to Centralia and get a hotel, just to be away. Or Bellingham is nice this time of year. The buildings are all close to the ground...

Too many thoughts

I feel older everyday. I understand that I get older everyday, but I'm not sure at what point I became fully aware of this. At what point did the little things start to build up to the point that they now reveal my aging? Is there some event that occurred or is it that I just have more time to think about such things? I'm starting to think that it may have to do with knowledge. The more you know, the older you feel. I kind of like that...

It's completely acceptable to be different...

Every time that I've tried to get coffee today something has gone wrong. Maybe I'll try again. Maybe I'll quit trying. No. I'll try again. Failure isn't an option...

We're supposed to have thunder storms today. I hope so. There is something about them I've always loved. It might be the electricity in the air. Maybe the raw power put on display for all to see and fear. Actually, its probably the rain...

I need to make it to the SAM. I haven't been to see the new exhibit yet. I'm debating whether or not its a good idea to go with the broken foot. I really want to go though. To go back to an earlier thought: would going to the art museum make me feel older? Or does art not count? Art usually makes me feel younger for some reason, so I don't think it counts...

I'm going into the doctor today. They're supposed to take out the stitches. I'm really hoping that means I can put my whole body in the shower while I bath. It's not the easiest to do with one foot out. I've found it easier to wash myself with a rag on a stick, but it makes me feel like a invalid...

The Flaming Lips are working on a double album. I'm so excited that I have wet myself more times than I can count. Pitchfork has a blurb about it here. The best news was the inspirations, "thinking Beatles White Album, Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti and even some of the longer things that the Clash have done". I can't wait. Damn. I just wet myself again...

Trade Show is this weekend. I'm not really looking forward to it. Its the only weekend that I have to work. I wish I didn't have to...

I'd rather be in the woods. Preferably near the ocean. Somewhere like Forks. I love Forks. When I get old I think that's where you'll find me. Tucked away in a little cove along the coast. Looking out across the angry blue expanse and up into the chaotic crossing of evergreens. At this point I'd even settle for this...




I forgot to mention, I finally got some coffee..