some beginner's mind

im here, really i am. just about to wrap up an ugly stretch working 12 days straight. i love the little friday! i really dont know how people do this at the brewery all summer long. i miss just one weekend, and ive been drinking for the last four days straight just to relax to a decent place once i get home.

pic of me riding the wind while in the new z-land. pretty darn fun i gotta say.


i was just thinking the other day that its getting close to time for another dj night with the frousins. i was on the way to work the other day and decided to listen to the playlist of my last session, which was an unplanned one i had with denice one friday morning that extended into the evening. post hardcore galore. my favorite post-dj session list to play. missing the release that music provides. ive been on the prowl for another good show to go to, but i just havent seen anything to go to...im starting to feel out of touch from the current indie-scene, despite my efforts. i hear the "o" word knockin....

brenda made me take a picture of this while we were in christ church, during our first day on the south island. i didnt see the same humor in it at the time, but now, all i can think of is seeing someone actually do that. really, its the perfect endo. the guy is going to break both of his wrists, for sure. all its missing is a silhouette of an oncoming tram behind the rider. classic.

bought a couple of new discs a couple of weekends ago. the new low called drums and guns...and the new ted leo and the pharmacists called living with the living. unfortunately, the low is really not that good. bordering on sucky. makes me sad just thinking about it as it brings me back to the last time i saw them, a year or so ago here in denver. zach had already left the band, and they had a new bass player with them. plus this was after alan's second recovery from some sort of mental disorder. everything was different and everything was wrong. alan seemed off. way off. he was clearly on some sort of medication; he had little facial ticks that were new and he seemed disconnected from the crowd and just a little too lost in the music, and every time i noticed mimi looking over at him there was this deep concern in her eyes as if she was wondering if they were doing the right thing by playing. so sad. brought tears to my eyes a number of times. i still remember the first time i saw them way back in '95 at the original 930 club in dc; there were about 7 of us on the floor, and it felt like the beginning of something good. at this point, low is now the band that ive followed longer than any other band, and have given me the best show that ive ever experienced. but at this last show it felt like i was losing a good friend. it felt like i had to say goodbye, and i did. and now with their most recent album, it seems like they are saying goodbye in return.

following that sad note, if you are into ted leo, you will enjoy this album. after my first listen, i wasnt completely sold. the production is a little crisper, and im really not into some of the instruments theyve put in, but it continues to grow and grow on me. his voice may not have the same range that it did back in the chisel days, but hes a far better songwriter and the lyrics are getting more and more scathingly political as he ages. get it.

brenda in a fruit cup we found on the beach in the fog...

more random-ramblings to come....

-b

good things

1. "angry inch" by sleater-kinney and fred schneider
2. my fantasy baseball team
3. kayaking (things might finally be falling into place)
4. brenda - it appears that i got really lucky here, still not sure how it happened
5. spring - i say it every year, but its true
6. going to shows - i need to find someone to listen to!
7. spidey 3 - at least i hope so
8. pavement - why do the good ones always break up?
9. 23 cds for the price of 3 - emo/indie music from deep elm, worth the look
10. the number "17"