At this moment...
12.31.05:
Song:
Swedenborgske Rom - Jaga Jazzist (Jaga Jazzist are an amazing jazz collective from Norway. Possibly my favorite piece of music to be released in 2005. Somehow this song simultaneously captures sorrow and joy, which is rare.)
12.28.05:
My last day in Maine until probably March. I spent the day out in Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park with my mom. Here are some photos:
All in all it was a really nice way to end my too brief of a vacation out in Maine. From here on out it'll be weird not having easy access to my parents, but it'll be a new adventure for them, as well as their kids. I know that they're going to be successful running their B&B.
Tonight we ate dinner at Cafe Miranda. Quite good. In a weird way it reminded me of Bite and Leo's (RIP?) in Chicago. The food, wine, and company were excellent.
Listening to:
Michigan - Sufjan Stevens (On the ride back from Bar Harbor to Camden we listened to Michigan. Every time I listen to it I'm blown away.)
12.27.05:
Song:
Your Silent Face - New Order (It's amazing how fragile Bernard Sumner sounds on this song, actually the entire album.)
12.25.05:
Merry Christmas and happy birthday to those who were also born on this day.
Last night we went to church and in his sermon the pastor mentioned Jack London, E.E. Cummings, and some college football player. Strange combination considering it was Christmas Eve.
Woke this morning to the sound of the foghorn. As I type the foghorn is going off (it's 9:45 PM.)
Some photos of Christmeas Eve dinner (I had tuna, not lobster)...
Spent the afternoon watching The Man Who Fell To The Earth along with a few episodes of The Adventures of Pete & Pete from season two. Tonight we played Monopoly. I lost.
Listening to:
Tangos & Tantrums - Sylvie Lewis
Song:
Rock & Roll Suicide - David Bowie ("You're not alone...")
12.22.05:
I woke singing Portastatic's Don't Disappear. But I don't have the album that it's on with me, so instead I'm listening to Portastatic's latest album Bright Ideas. So now I have Through With People lodged in my head.
Does every person that we ever meet in life hold some key to our lives? Or are we all just passing ghosts who offer up a brief hello and then a wave goodbye?
Song(s):
Don't Disappear - Portastatic
Soon After Christmas - Stina Nordenstam
Song for a Secret - Jim Reid and Sister Vanilla
12.21.05:
Another day, another run by the sea. Slightly colder today. Yesterday, for lunch I had some excellent clam chowder and mulled cider with rum. I could go for a glass of cider about now.
Today is Caffrey's birthday. She turned five.
Song:
Eve, the Apple of My Eye - Bell X1
12.20.05:
This morning I went for a five mile run. Here are a few photos from my run.
I love running up here. Thankfully I'm here until the end of December.
Yesterday I finished watching The Office (BBC) again. The scene when Dawn opens her Christmas present from Tim just kills me. Rarely do happy endings feel this real and genuine.
Song(s):
National Steel - Kathleen Edwards
The Coast Is Always Changing - Maximo Park
Take It Back - Loquat
On Falling - Stina Nordenstam
Big Star Baby (Demo) - Mojave 3 (The one band that always breaks my heart... "Everyone I've ever loved / Has been some kind of fucker..." Damn that's harsh. Makes me wanna throw on a pair of headphones and go for a long walk, or call up a friend and tell them I'm missin' em, or find a pub and have a whiskey on the rocks...)
12.19.05:
Karma's kicking my ass. I guess I deserve it. There are times when I think I'd be better suited as a monk.
Song:
Circle - Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians
12.18.05:
I didn't plan on running until tomorrow, but it was gorgeous outside, so I went for a 5.5 mile run. My run started at the B&B, took me through Camden, past the ocean, past a cemetary, past the Oreo cows, but the cows were hiding, past the town of Rockport, past the local garbage dump, and back into town. A near perfect run.
I was thinking about growing a beard, but decided against it after looking at some photos of my last beard growing experiment. I just don't look like me.
12.17.05:
Back in Camden, Maine. Tired as hell. I didn't get to bed until 1 AM. Traffic on the Kennedy came to a standstill at midnight due to construction. 8 AM flight. Even at 6 AM O'Hare was a mad house, and I ran into an old friend and her husband. Bizarre and I'm sure a bit uncomfortable for my friend's husband. My guess is that I was the last person they thought they'd see at the airport on a Saturday morning. Last night KK and I went to Pops For Champagne to see Jazz Conspiracy. I had a great night. It was quite nice to see Callie and Robert twice in a week, too bad I'm missing their party tonight. KK, Robert, and I had quite a hilarious discussion about permanent waves, and I've decided to get one (when monkeys fly.) Thank you Ms. Kyle for the wonderful and thoughtful Christmas gifts (and excellent mix CDs), especially the fantastic little book called How To Make a Hit Record. I will put it to use. I would have read it on the plane, but I was too sleepy. I'll offer up a complete book report when I finish reading it. I can only hope that this little book will bring me just one step closer to my dreams of writing and recording a hit record.
Thank you to all who came out to see Zerostars on Wednesday night. Big thanks to Garret for playing drums for this show. I'm always blown away at Garret's talent, so it's been a thrill to get a chance to have him sit behind the kit for us for a bit. Garret will play one final show with us on January 20, 2006 at The Viaduct in Chicago.
Joining Zerostars as our new permenant drummer is Derek Crawford. A few weeks back Derek stopped by and impressed us all, so a big welcome to Derek. These are exciting days for the band.
Song:
What Child is This Anyway - Sufjan Stevens (Possibly my most favorite Christmas song followed closely by Silent Night. Sufjan makes this song his own. Beautiful.)
12.12.05:
<--IMPORTANT UPDATE-->
Upon returning home from work I felt like something was amiss in my apartment, as if something had died. Now, as everyone knows, I have no pets that I take care of. No dogs, no cats, nothing. So the fact that I sensed a death was odd. I also noticed a strange odor. I put don't my bag and strolled into the kitchen. And then I noticed what I thought it might be...
Now check that out. There's poison, a regular mouse trap and a cruel sticky mouse trap. Here's my theory. The mouse ate some poison, started to go into a drug coma of sorts, wandered onto the sticky mouse pad, came to the conclusion that he was going to die, so he thrust his head into the trap to end his life. Mouse suicide.
I feel bad that I killed another mouse. Since I hadn't caught one since early August I thought the problem was solved. I'll be moving out once my lease is up.
Ever since returning from Maine after spending Thanksgiving out there life has been busy. It's a good busy. I feel like I'm behind on some things, like Christmas shopping, which I've barely begun. However, I seem to be making up for all the time I sacrificed to train for the marathon. That makes it sound like all the training wasn't worth it, but it was so worth it. Hell, that's probably my biggest accomplishment for 2005, and I'll run it again next year.
Yesterday it was dinner at El Nandu and then Calexico/Iron & Wine at the Congress Theater. Quite good. I could have done without seeing Red Red Meat. Last time I saw them they opened for Jeremy Enigk at the Metro. That seems so long ago. They bored me then and they bored me last night (Enigk was amazing and hasn't been able to capture the glory since those days). The Calexico cover of 'Alone Again, Or' was outstanding, and the cover of 'All Tomorrow's Parties' featuring both bands (Calexico/Iron & Wine) was amazing. I'm surprised that they didn't close the show with that song as it would have been a perfect closer.
Song(s):
Love and Some Verses - Iron & Wine
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Dark Cab For Cutie
And Then So Clear - Brian Eno
Tuesday Morning - The Pogues
It Makes No Difference - The Band
I Thought You'd Fall For Me - Hope Sandoval
In Real Life I'm Useless - Kim Hiorthoy
12.10.05:
Zerostars have booked yet another show, this time for January 20, 2006 at The Viaduct in Chicago. Garret will be playing drums with us for this show as well. Hopefully we'll have some good news about a full time drummer soon.
Last night I got my ass kicked in a game of Scrabble. Why was I obsessed with the word 'fire'? One of these days I'm going to triple score some 21 plus point words, but until that day I shall let you beat me graciously (did you win by over 100 points?) as long as you supply alcohol and let me pick the music.
Song:
I Need Love - Sam Phillips
Album:
Feels - Animal Collective
12.09.05:
For the third time in about a month the fire alarm went off in my apartment building. The first time I was getting ready for work, so I was just about to leave. I was the only person who exited the building. It was a false alarm. The second time was this past Saturday. Turns out there was a small grease fire in the restaurant below me. And now for the third time. At around 5 AM the buzzer to my apartment started to buzz, which woke me from my slumber. Then I heard the fire alarm going off, so I figured something must be wrong. I hastily threw on some pants, and a shirt, grabbed a pair of shoes and my coat, and started to walk out into the hallway. As I exited into the stairwell I saw what appeared to be smoke and I said, "Oh shit, this is real." Then as I walked down the stairs I saw two firemen and said, "Fuck." They pointed at a blown radiator that was pouring out steam and said nothing was wrong, just steam. The radiator was gushing an insane amount of steam. So I went back to my apartment and crawled into bed. Such a nice way to wake on a Friday morning.
On a positive note, Zerostars are going to be on NPR. One of our songs, expertly written by Jason, called Smoking in Bed, will be on their Open Mic segment. Once I know the details I'll post them for those of you that might want to listen in. A podcsat on iTunes will be available as well.
Also, as a reminder, Zerostars play Martyr's on Wednesday, December 14th. We play at 9.
Listening to:
If You're Feeling Sinister (Live at the Barbican) - Belle and Sebastain
Des plumes dans la tête (bande originale de film) - Sylvain Chauveau
12.06.05:
How cold is it? Cold enough for ice to form on my ski cap when I'm out running, that's how cold it is. But I don't mind running when it's cold, and I've run in colder weather. Tonight I ran four, and last night I ran three.
What I don't like is how cool my apartment is. Old buildings have drafts, and this building is full of drafts.
And there's nothing worse than feeling lonely on a cold winter night.
Song:
Western Sky and Sick of Food - American Music Club (Probably the last two songs I should listen to tonight, but I needed to hear them.)
12.01.05:
Tele-marketers and their automatic phone dialing machines need to be strung up from trees or fed to hungry lions. Last night some automated dialing machine kept calling my number. By 12:30 AM I had enough so I pulled the plug on my phone.
Listening to:
Coming on Strong - Hot Chip (If this kind of stuff made it on the radio I'd be willing to give the airwaves another listen. Until that day I'll only listen to NPR. This album is damn good.)
S/T - Serena Maneesh (Their next album will be genius...)