the 785

Been hanging out in the 785 for a few days. My grandma's turning 90 this year and the fam decided to party. I'm out of my element here--my schedule isn't my own, it's hotter than hell and the music and food and culture are decidedly different--but I'm with sisters and nieces and cousins and aunts and grandma and most importantly, sometimes it's good to be off balance.
Not good--necessary.

206 up and comers

so much freshness to share:
*new-to-me GMK's "Up Up Down Down Left Left"


*keep up with the hip hop haps in the 206 at Raindrophustla

*and peep this graffiti short by local filmmaker Jesse Lomax

Getting Over from Jesse Lomax on Vimeo.

I keep on trying

The reality is I haven't gotten a single story accepted yet this year.
Partly because I've sunk dozens of hours into this recording project, which is a slap and a holler away from being born.
Partly because getting a story published is a matter of timing.
And partly because I've lost my focus. I've been distracted and self-destructive.
I'm losing myself again. I know it. Well, now we all know it. It's not a good feeling. And yet I can't seem to find my stride anywhere else.

i am you are

More graffiti conversations, from August 2010.

paint can conversating

The graffiti conversation continues around and under the University Bridge.
*
I haven't been posting much. I've been crazy busy, busier than usual, which for me is saying something. I've been taking chances and saying yes more but also sometimes no and not only has the world not ended, it's spun a little faster. More risk means more hurt. I know this. The higher the jump, the harder the landing. And yet, it's worth it, I think. Better pain than regret.
*
The other night I looked at my clock and it was 3 a.m. and I still had shizz to do, not to mention getting myself to work in 6 hours. It's only sleep, I thought. Now can't wait.

Heard around town part--um--well yeah baby it's been awhile

All y'all wearing headphones are missing out on some prime eavesdropping.
Here's what I been hearing on Metro, down at the corner, and all around:

• Well c'est la fucking vie
• Now that the swelling's gone down, it's not so bad...
• I wanna be the big spoon
• Are my teeth as big as my muscles?
• Like shoving a marshmallow in a parking meter
  
• I'm an accidental hedonist
• Sponsored by: Wong-Doody-Crandall-Wiener (h/t siff)
  
• Shut up and cuddle with me

Now if only I can write what I hear and see.

hbd yula

Today's my lil sis's birthday.
We've had some crazy times together.
Raiding her piggy bank to stock up on snacks at the corner market.
Baptisms in the red wagon.
Mall bangs and Russian class (zvordy znak) and puppet show misfires ("flo!").
I'm pretty sure she coined the word foofy.
Today at SIFF, Elmo and Kevin sang happy birthday to her.
Now, she's all grows up.

simple

Keep it simple. Live simply. The simple life.
So go the cliches.
Who can argue with the beauty of simplicity?
But nobody has love for the simple person.
Clueless, we pronounce, after we're done snickering. Out of it. Simple.
$
Me, I want to be simple. To laugh and be silly and light-hearted.
To take pleasure in graffiti birds. To partake in my nieces' goofiness.
To know about the darkness but somehow always find the light.