My playlist

Who and what I've been peeping, of late:

• Mash-up kings Girl Talk and Wick-it
  
• Hip hop galore -- I already wrote about the Grouch and Zion I; don't forget about super chill old timers like Digable Planets and Seattle favs Tulsi, THEE Satisfaction and illest-in-town Champagne Champagne
  
• Brainy mixmeister Nosaj Thing
• OC Notes' un-douchey remix of the Fresh Espresso "Glamour" album
• My homies: DJ Limerence's mesmerizing mixes, and whatever thad wenatchee's spinning on Hollow Earth Radio Sundays at 2pm
• Glam disco! Scissor Sisters and Holy Ghost!

What am I missing? Leave a comment and point me to some new beats!

Before, I never understood

I get some things now, that before, I didn't.
For instance, the power of music. The Grouch/Zion I show at Nectar last night made me extraordinarily happy. I wasn't in the best of moods going in--I was tired from a trip, and cranky about some perceived injustice--and it wasn't just that I hearted the beats, although they were expectedly tight.
There's just something amazing about a sold-out show, a skillful groove, a club packed with (mostly) happy people eagerly singing along and getting their swerve on. I drank cheap beer and crowd-surfed, met a guy just out of jail, a slew of Canadians ecstatic about scoring backstage passes, danced crazily with a wasted friend-of-a-friend.
~
All this and yet--I'm lonely sometimes. A lot of times. I wish for an amour and realize that it's no one's concern but my own. We are all alone, no matter who is with us.
And so, confusion becomes understanding, and beneath flows the same undercurrent as before.

I am the sail

A new batch of pictures, courtesy of BusySmartyPants Tumblr.

Through -- thru -- threw

This picture's from a Ballard pizza joint I'm not crazy about so I won't link to it. I loved how the light came through the glass dividers in the bar.
*
A friend and I talk a lot about the qualities we look for in a guy or girl. My list is pretty short -- I've met a United Nations mishmash of people this past year -- but the ones I'm drawn to are funny, confident, and have style. Boy do I love a pal with style, sass, an urban sensibility, their own way of combining smart kicks and a hoodie, a pink polo with a track jacket, skinny pants with a tuxedo vest and tats. I'm about to head out into the second part of my day -- dinner with a pal, writing, later on drinks -- but first stop is my closet, to undress a little, reclothe, arm myself. In order to disarm.

Tighten the screws

A friend wrote "tighten the screws" on his work desk.
As in: buckle down. Work harder. Make it happen.
This bit of graffiti reminds me of the same thing.
I've been playing a lot lately. Writing some, but not enough.
Taking pictures, and not doing much with them.
Not taking time to wander the city, to slow down and look around.
Something's scaring me and I want to confront it.
I can jump off a Zambian bridge but I can't confront my own timid mind?
Tighten the screws. Rejoin the universe of friends doing cool creative things.

Lite Brite

At my friend's painting studio the other night, we beheld magic generated by light and sweat.
Lights out-->beats up-->go.

Good looking out

Two of my friends are showing art today.
You can see fellow church-goer and super-talented David Jo's bold, vibrant paintings at Source Salon in Ballard (check out the salon site if you're not on FB). Things kick off at 6pm; the show is also a part of the Ballard Art Walk.
And I'm pretty sure my pal cesario is an artistic genius, if you have wheels or any other legal way to get to Lakewood, check out the Veterans Art showcase.
Rock on friends, I'm proud of you both.

One way ticket

As a kid, I never wore my favorite shoes or read the new Nancy Drew right away because I was scared the fun would be over, that things would wear out or get used up and then what would I do?
I still have that fear. I keep thinking things will slow down, that I'll stop running around so much and staying out til three a.m. and having so much fun.
So far it hasn't really happened.
I scooped up a one-way ticket to crazytown.
I plan less and yeah, sometimes things overlap (an upcoming Sunday is already triple booked with stuff going on ). But now there's room for the last minute dash to happy hour, for happenstance, for wandering, for the kinds of things you can't really plan for.
It's not comfortable. Hell no. But, it's the thing. The only thing.
*
(h/t to my pal Clif for the cool pic)

If frogs had Justin Bieber bangs

A super c00l kid I know turned 17 today.
I'm probably biased but she's going to do amazing things.
Heck, she already aces school, makes money off an internet upcycle business and manages to find time for powder blue hoodies, video games and Johnny Depp movies.
Happy Birthday J!