My Olds 88 and the Devil on a Leash

four-twenty-two

2006-04-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today, Klover and I went to the Maker Faire in San Mateo. Put on by make magazine, the Maker Faire was like a big science fair that promoted self-expression, invention-making, and general dorkiness. We had fun taking pictures of ballons popping in the dark, making LED color graffiti on a school bus, watching the Mad Scientist perform with the Thimbletron, gawking at the iPod + Record player combo, watching the eggbot make graphic designs on eggs, playing free pinball, eating Vegan breakfast and lunch (NOT!), taking pictures in Penninsula Grille, and playing in the constellation light beams. I think that people now (more than ever) are more interested in putting their personal stamp on things. Technologies and products that do best are the ones that are open and give us the freedom to modify them to our own liking, whether they be cars, computers, software, art, whatever. Maker Faire was a celebration of both the creative freedom that technologies and products are giving us, as well as the creative spirit that is currently promoted in society. Though I am not personally interested in making a jambox with a PSP screen in the speaker, I am interested in looking beyond the normal use and accepted beliefs about things and trying to find ways to extend them and/or make them my own. That night, the SF Int'l Film Festival was taking place at Kabuki Theatre. Jer got us two tickets to see Factotum, the film based on the Charles Bukowski novel (which is the only Bukowski novel I'd read.) It starred Matt Dillion, Lili Taylor, and Marisa Tomei, and was showing in two theatres. Both theatres were packed, but Jer and I saw two seats together in the aisles. In the middle of the film, the actual film reel caught on fire and blazed through the actual film strip, so we had to take a brief intermission while the spliced the film together. Then, and the end Matt Dillion himself actually came from the back of the room and stepped up to the stage to do a live Q & A session with the audience. Though none of the questions or his responses were particularly earth shattering, I still got a charge from the event.

Other than that, lots of shows -- had dinner in North Beach and a French | Spanish Tapas restaurant, then saw Pinback on Friday, which wasn't bad. Saw Umphrey's McGee 2 nights at the Fillmore last week, and before that, saw Jerry Joseph & Dave Schools at the Independent, then Ming + Ping at Rickshaw (which was SO much fun!!!) Work has been getting better, and I'm getting more and more excited about what could be coming up for us. While I've waivered in my belief about the company, I feel more compelled than ever to stick around right now. And the rain has FINALLY taken a bathroom break.

four-one

2006-04-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

Noise Pop! The fun continues. Every show I've been to has been sold out, so the venues have been packed to the gills. Caught Feist on Tuesday at Bimbo's, Tommy Guerrero at Cafe Du Nord on Wednesday, and Rogue Wave at Bimbo's on Thursday. Aqueduct, the RW opener was my favorite new find. Tonight, catching Wolfmother at Bottom of the Hill -- another sold out show. That's after the Sarah Silverman / Jimmy Kimmel / Patton Oswald comedy showcase for 826 Valencia AND an in-store w/ Band of Horses this afternoon at Amoeba. Whew!

three-twenty-five

2006-03-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

Have stayed buried at the office for the last week, but work is getting better. We've fallen into an opportunity to become a major content supplier for fields outside of technology, and I'm very happy about that proposition. I've gone full force back into the workout schedule and while its a ridiculous time suck, its amazing what it does for my state of mind. Up up up!

The SXSW music festival was in Austin, TX last week, and after seeing & hearing all of the news from the event, I've decided that not going next year is not and option. They podcasted some of the Keynote speakers at the SXSW festival, and its been amazing to get a chance to listed to some of the folks who started 37signals, Craigslist, etc. talk about their experiences. Craig Newmark made the comment that one thing he's learned from running Craigslist is that everyone everywhere wants pretty much the same things (he went on to say that in San Francisco, however, they are just more vocal about it!) The guy from 37signals had an interesting take on starting your own business, and made the memorable comment that you should do less rather than more. Give yourself less time, and you'll get more finished. Promise less features and do those really really well. I'm trying to incorporate this into my own life without getting plain lazy.

Duke lost to LSU, making it only one place further in the NCAA tourney than the Heels. Thank goodness.

Thursday night, I took Trish to Rickshaw Stop to see the Double, a new band on Matador Records. Trish has a V8 engine in here throat, running her mouth on overdrive. But she's also extremely energetic and being around here makes you want to accomplish more more more. I could never be like that, but you need to be around creative, energetic people so you can get your own mind flowing. Speaking of that, I've started a third story and put the second one up for awhile. The new one will take place here in SF ~ it will be the first one I've set here. I keep thinking about Jack Kerouac's quote about short stories being like his children that he brought up and nurtured. I used to just knock these things out, but lately, I've found that I ponder the details of the stories much more than I used to, making them more difficult to get down on paper. But they're coming.

Last night, I took Tran to see V for Vendetta at the iMAX theatre (the HUGE screen), then drinks at Blur. Its been raining everyday, but today, the sun is finally bringing everyone outside.

three-nineteen

2006-03-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

The weekend was incredibly relaxing, and I think it was a long time coming. Saturday started at a friends house to watch the first of the NCAA games. Kasey picked me up around two o'clock, and we did a nice long run / hike through the TVA, to the beach, and then up to a peak where you could see both the ocean, Marin, the city, and GG Bridge. Beautiful day, and I was glad that I skipped going to the Tourist Club in Muir Woods with everyone. That evening was spent over at Brock's apartment in Richmond after chowing down at the new Green Chile Kitchen on Fulton. Sunday, I woke up thinking I had to go to work, so realizing that all I had to do was watch Tarheel basketball was a relief. If only we had won the damn game!

three-seventeen

2006-03-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

saw one of my favorite authors, Michelle Tea, do a reading at the Varnish Art Gallery on Natoma b/w 1st and 2nd street. She was proceeded by authors Tara Jepsen (who was quite funny), Stephen Elliot (not as funny), and Beth Lisick (funny, but not as funny as she thinks she is). Michelle was only partially humorous tonight, and I wonder if that speaks to the levity of her new book, Rose of No Man's Land. She is an inspiring human being, so much that I'm actually staying home to work on my own story instead of going out to brave the St. Patrick's Day shenanigans. Had I not been by myself, I would have stayed longer ~ it was a really interesting venue. However, going solo, plus seeing a girl there that I (sort of) went out with several months ago...with her new girlfriend...enticed me into cruising back towards MUNI and checking the Tarheel game score. The week was mostly average, with a brain-busting / leg-destroying work out on Thursday. The weekend looks to be lower than low-key, since I took a minor hit from the Montreal plane ticket. It will be worth it!!!

2006-03-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

That yellow jacket makes me look pregnant. Beautiful view though!

2006-03-09T23:27:00.000-08:00

Four feet of snow and eight avalanche blasts later, we finally made it across the Carson Pass.

three-nine

2006-03-09T23:03:00.000-08:00

snow!!! it snowed 2 feet both days we were skiing Kirkwood. Almost like water skiing! It took me 20 minutes to retrieve my ski after busting in 8 feet of snow on the Sentinel Bowl. Visions of hiking back up the mountain sans one ski kept me digging through that snow till I found the other one! If I ever had any thought of hiking Mt. Everest, it was dashed once I used my coat as a sail to help me traverse the top of Kirkwood! Heavenly didn't hold a candle to our Kirkwood adventure, but we got a couple of nice pictures. I might need a new coat. Oh, and we also made like obnoxious frat boys at the Hard Rock Cafe in Harvey's Casino that night while we watched the Tarheels put the smackdown on Duke. Nothing finer.

The weather in SF has been schizo. Raining, sunshine, more rain, then clear skies. This weekend, more UNC basketball action, Sarah Silverman movie at the Red Vic, Commander.Commander disco-punk show at Rickshaw Stop, Vegan brunch on Sunday at The Buddhist Temple in Berkeley, and hopefully a little free time to get some writing done.

2006-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Nely, DK, Tim, Kyle, and Jer back in the caves of Lynmar

2006-02-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

Nely, Jer, myself, and the syphon

2006-02-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

Lynmar at the end of the day

two-six

2006-02-06T21:42:00.000-08:00

Sonoma has a different feel to it than Napa. Its more quaint. More small town. After laying low on Friday night, a group of us headed up to Sonoma for a day of wineries. The forecasted rain never showed up, and we enjoyed a beautiful day of going from tasting room to tasting room. My two favorite wineries were Papapietro (amazing Pinot Noir) and Nely's own Lynmar (great wine & terrific tasting room!) They both deserve a return visit... Nely took us behind the scenes at Lynmar to see how they fermented each of their wines. You haven't really done Sonoma until you've had glass of Pinot that was syphoned directly from the oak barrel. Outstanding! Here are all of the pictures from the Sonoma Coma!

2006-02-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

The Great 8 outside of Little Star Pizza for Klover's Birthday

two-three

2006-02-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Monday was a struggle after the Calexico show on Sunday night, but fortunately the Umcka that my project manager recommended kept me from falling into a full-blown cold. That stuff is the wonder drug of the world. Watched Dave Hinkle get sliced & diced on American Idol, which was highly disappointing. Television is such a black hole. Klover's birthday dinner was Wednesday night, and I had my first visit to Little Star Pizza, where they serve pizza with the cheese on bottom and the sauce / toppings on top?!? Odd, but certainly tasty. I think I saw this girl Jessica who I sort of went out with when I first moved here... Thursday night was a blast ~ went to see the Greyboy Allstars at the Independent. REALLY wish that'd been on a Friday! Today, the eye doctor told me that my vision had gotten slightly worse, but not too bad. whew! So I ordered some stylin' new specs and will hopefully have them in time to read the signs in Sonoma when I'm driving Mom & Papa around to guzzle the local flavors! Speaking of which, the scouting mission in Sonoma starts tomorrow... pictures (hopefully) to come soon!

2006-01-30T21:43:00.000-08:00

First ones here! First ones here!

one-thirty

2006-01-30T21:30:00.000-08:00

Incredibly low-key weekend, considering the usual activities. Finally got a house booked in Tahoe for skiing the first weekend in March. Ryan Walsh & Parker are slated to make an appearance. Unfortunately, this could be the first & last weekend of skiing for the season. Sunday night, we all caught Calexico at the Make-Out Room, which was a real treat. They were outstanding, their new songs were outstanding...I can't wait for the new record to come out! Totally worth waiting in line for nearly 4 hours outside the Make-Out Room to get tickets! (See above...) Next up, David Hinkle on American Idol and Greyboy Allstars at the Independent!

one-twenty-six

2006-01-26T23:12:00.000-08:00

Ended up helping Megan move furniture and calling it an early night last Friday. Which was good, because Saturday was anything but. Ended up going with Aaron to Cha Cha Cha's in the Mission and chowing down on Spanish tapas before catching Seismic at the Connecticut Yankee, then venturing to 12 Galaxies for the second set of Phix. Called it a night after that let out, and Sunday was a wash. Got a lightning bolt idea for another story, so I'm trying to get that one down on paper. Work is still too much, but looking forward to a laid back weekend culminating in Calexico at the Make-Out Room.

crawling back

2006-01-26T23:11:00.000-08:00

Okay. I'm going to start posting again. But they are going to be shorter. like this one.

2005-06-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

DK, Sandi, Jer, and Brock ~ the early birds.

2005-06-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

Post-mimosa lounging before the concert started.

Stern Grove...sorry, Lucinda!

2005-06-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Thinking. Consideration. Strategizing. Calculation. Self-Reliance. This should really come a bit easier. Last night, I was at the second worst bar in San Francisco, called Butter. Having exhausted all social outlets at Mezzanine during the Moving Units / Film School show, I took Jer up on his invite to a friend of a friends birthday party at Butter. In indie-rock havens, even with its manufactured sloppiness and posturing, I feel a hell of a lot more at home than in Spring Break-reincarnate factories like Butter, which have kept the manufacturing of beer bongs and roofies a profitable line of business. Outgoing and gregarious are adjectives I don't necessarily include in my Friendster "about me" section. But I didn't have a fucking clue how to act in that joint. And in the ascent through Maslow's H of N's, I found that examining my total discomfort in a place like Butter should not really be considered.

On the other hand, I was absolute chatty-cathy at Stern Grove last weekend! The thread of determinism which led to a Court & Spark show followed by a long night at a house party in the Mission, alternately kept me fatigued Saturday night, which was perfect for getting out to the Lucinda Williams show early on Sunday morning. Six blankets, five bottles of wine, three hunks of cheese, and LOTS of friends elevated a normal hangover recovery day to one of the best days I've had since moving to San Francisco. I felt bad for not giving Lucinda my full attention, but it was futile to even try. Too many things to talk about!

2005-06-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Andrew and Chris at the reception. This was the first time the three of us had hung out together in nearly seven years!

2005-06-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

Best Man's Toast - Laura's Matron of (dis)Honor, Laura, Shawn, and Eric at the reception. (The weird colors are due to my complete inability to take indoor photos with backlight...)

Laura & Shawn's Wedding

2005-06-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

The flight from Florida back to San Francisco was one I'd planned on sleeping through completely. With only four hours of sleep under my belt, and a belly full of beer from the previous evening's excesses, I was quite surprised by my utter inability to slumber. But my new acquaintance, Tom, had injected some words of wisdom into my head the evening before. Tom was a road manager for Whiskeytown back in the day, and currently tour manages Train. He used to be in this old-school NC punk band The ANTiSEEN. Some kid had come up to him after a show and asked, "How can I do what you do?" To this, Tom answered, "I can tell you, but you're not going to like it. You are going to have to wake up in the morning and start thinking about what you want and how you can get there. Then, you have to work on that all morning, noon, and night. Then, at night, go to bed, and think about it some more. The next day, repeat. That's going to happen for two years. Then, tell me where you are." Advice is something I usually discard with little consideration. But Tom barely spoke at dinner, and it struck me that he was as full on intention as anyone I'd met. Thus, his word resonated with me the entire way home.

The wedding was a gorgeous indie-rock fairy tale. The ceremony took place outdoors under a huge oak tree. Laura arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, and followed two little rose bearers to the alter. Lacking my glasses, I couldn't really see Shawn's expression, but I'll bet he was beaming. After the first prayers, Rosie Thomas sang October. More prayers and ceremony-speak, then Sam Beam of Iron & Wine sang Naked As We Came. It was one of the single most beautiful scenes I've ever seen in my life. My friend Andrew Paynter got a two-shot of Laura & Shawn standing, smiling together, looking on as Sam was singing the song to them. Unbelievable. The ceremony ended with their vows, and everyone pressed on to the reception.

But it was the late-night at the Topaz Motel pool that was the most fun. All of the old-school Mammoth Records peeps, bunch of Shawn's Sub Pop friends and colleagues, Chapel Hill friends, Laura's family, Rosie, Shawn's best men Blake & Eric Bachman (Crooked Fingers, Archers of Loaf), Sam, Laura, and Shawn. Such a stew. Listening to what everyone was doing now was intriguing. There were Chapel Hill indie-rockers who were now doctors. There were record label folks who now owned restaurants or sold real estate or were librarians. It made me ponder my own situation at length. Mostly, I feel like it re-aligned me with feelings that had been stirring inside for a long while. And the long talk with Andrew and Tom did a lot to bring those feelings to light.

2005-05-24T00:40:00.000-07:00

Halo, random Caddy, and Klover in South Park, posing for post-fireworks pre-salsa party promo pictures.