Checklist

I’m feeling pretty accomplished this week. I finished the seventh in a series of annual T-shirt designs I’ve been doing, finalized a logo for an upcoming project, made some headway on a webpage I’m working on, and gave some critiques on an essay and a live electronic set. In between all of that, I managed to fit in a BBQ in the beautiful Seattle weather on Saturday, meeting some cool new people and their cool dogs (and hanging out on a rooftop overlooking downtown), brunch, too much coffee, and a football game (of the European kind). I even managed to fit in a little reading and a little BSG.

That is what weekends were meant to be.

Welcome to the Apocalypse

IMG_5172, originally uploaded by successless.

This photo doesn’t really do it justice, but the end of the world took place on Saturday night.

My house was overrun with fallout refugees, zombie killers, and plague victims. The only recourse was to drink copious amounts of alcohol and hone our survival skills through minigames.

When it was determined that we were skilled enough to survive, we left the comfort of our temporary shelter and descended upon the nearby Buckaroo Tavern for more supplies and reinforcements, paying no mind to the curious stares of the poor unfortunate souls who didn’t realize it was all over.

Armageddon ended with yellow cake (the edible kind, not the radioactive kind), cartoons, and much needed sleep. Then we woke up, and everything was back to normal. Mostly.

A Week In The Dark

I just finished my first week of work at my new job. It was hectic and stressful, but not because of the job itself. More so because my key broke off in my ignition on what was supposed to be my third day. What seemed like a simple matter for a locksmith to deal with turned into an ongoing ordeal involving a new ignition, a $1000 bill, a bus trip from Redmond on Friday night, and a lost day of work. Things start looking up, and something has to come along and rain on the parade, I suppose. Hopefully I’ll get my car back today.

On a more positive note, I’m really enjoying the new Hot Chip album. Almost as much as the new Why? album. And I’m still wrapping my head around the new Autechre. Every time one of their albums comes out, it takes repeated listening over several weeks to really get inside it and understand what’s happening, musically and technically. By the time my copy of the limited edition version arrives, I should be ready to take on the bonus disc…just in time to go see them in April.

As for now though, I’m gonna watch some participatory democracy in action at the Central Library, then do some relaxing and try to forget the whole car ordeal. Music will probably help. So will red wine.

*Headdesk*

Oh man, this is probably the most astute takedown of Sony’s plan to renounce DRM you could possibly read. I mean, you see a headline that reads something like “Last Major Label Holdout Ditches DRM” and think it must be a good thing, right? Then you read their actual plan, and it’s like your forehead is involuntarily drawn towards your desk at an excessive velocity. Thud! Idiots! Is it even physically possible to have a lesser understanding of your market?

Ich Sein Nicht Ein Berliner

I shouldn’t be here right now.

I should be approximately 5,050 miles away, in Berlin. I should be staying at the Backpax hostel, preparing for a completely debauched and raucous celebration of the New Year. I should finally have a stamp in my new passport, the one that was supposed to be stamped in France earlier this year, on the trip I never ended up taking. I should be visiting the Bauhaus Design Archives, Checkpoint Charlie, the Gainsbourg Lounge, The Holocaust Museum, Karl Marx Allee, Potsdammer Platz. I should be taking notes on cool records shops, cafes, bars, and clubs in my Moleskine City Notebook that I got for Christmas. I should be buying a train ticket to Poland, for a trip through the Polish countryside into Krakov.

This year was apparently not my year to visit Europe though.

I’m disappointed for sure, especially since the reasons I couldn’t make it are so banal and stupid. But it just gives me extra reason to make my way over there during 2008. Look out…

Best News I’ve Heard This Week

I really hope this story is true. I saw the stage production of C.D. Payne’s Youth In Revolt back in Santa Rosa, after reading the book (multiple times). It was a tiny little show that only touched on the first chunk of the rather large and engrossing story, and the no-budget production with age-inappropriate actors didn’t exactly leave me thrilled. But  Michael Cera would be perfect for the part of Nick Twisp, so as long as there’s a decent director involved, this should be good. Hopefully Hollywood doesn’t fuck this one up.

Fear of a Black MacBook

IMG_4956, originally uploaded by successless.

I think that my first foray into the realm of Consumer Credit has been fruitful indeed. Merry Xmas to me.

The People’s Republic

I’m finally getting settled in (and leeching some wireless from the nearby Cafe Vitta) to my new home in the People’s Republic of Fremont…

Oh wait. I suppose I should back up and tell my loyal audience I’ve moved. That’s right. I actually signed the lease the night before the Maui trip, and finally moved in my bed and other possessions last weekend. It was the easiest move ever in terms of physical labor, in case you were wondering. And yet it was rather difficult in other ways.

You may have noticed I didn’t say “we” moved, or “our” new place. That’s because Serene is still living in our old place in Capitol Hill, with the erstwhile Freckles to keep her company.

Now don’t get your hopes up, potential suitors. Nobody broke up with anybody, and nobody’s planning to. Though the most common reaction is skepticism, we’ve embarked upon this experiment as a way to fix the parts of our relationship that are in need of a little fixing. It’s the “catastrophe keeps us together” school of problem solving, I suppose. And yes, it’s working quite well so far. Thanks for asking.

Not that it’s necessarily any of y’alls business. But there you go.

The new place though, is coming along great. It’s in a perfect location, with all amenities within walking distance. Neighborhood dive bar? Check! Coffee shop? Check! Indie grocery? Roger that! Eclectic video store? Loud and clear! All that, and my roommate and I are both an amazingly short distance from our respective places of employment. You couldn’t ask for a lot more from a home.

Anyhow. That’s the current events. Stay tuned.

Discontent

It feels like Seattle again suddenly. Meaning, of course, that the slightly damp, often gray film of precipitation that we live with for 2/3 of the year has made it’s return, almost immediately after a run of abnormally high temperatures. We’ve gone from sleeping with the sheets thrown off and the windows open, to huddled under a comforter in a matter of days. But on the upside, that means more excuse for afternoon tea and comfy sweaters. And scarves, soon enough.

So this winter has been dubbed the Winter of Discontent, for reasons I’ll leave alone. Though I will say that it involves a lot of tumult and discord and struggle, mostly in immediate social circles, but seemingly in the world at large as well. If I were into astrology, I’m sure I could point to celestial evidence of some great unraveling, puring entropy down upon us. I’m not, so I can’t.

Before we hunker down for a dark winter, there are some bright spots. Decibel Festival is this weekend. I’m not sure if I’ll end up as a volunteer again or if I’ll have to shell out for the festival pass, but either way it’ll be worth it. A little escapism will be nice, and the four on the floor beats and ambient soundscapes should provide plenty. Then there’s Maui. Soon, just a short little hop over and a how-you-doing, drinking Mai Tais on the beach before returning to the Seattle gloom.

Naturally, all of this is just preparation for an even colder and more far flung New Year. But more about that later. Layer up and keep your kettle ready, kids.

Labourious

Despite missing Bumbershoot entirely this year (and thus missing out on festival crowds and overpriced food, at the cost of missing the Wu-Tang Clan), I actually had a pretty good Labour Day weekend.

Friday started off on a tense foot, with our Southwestern friends going through an extended labour before bringing a beautiful baby girl into the world. And what better way to relieve the tension of waiting for those short little Twitter updates from the delivery room than to catch some improv comedy? And what goes better with improv comedy than PBR? Well, I can probably think of several things, actually. And I did hear two of the absolute worst pick-up lines ever. Thankfully, they were part of the show, and not directed at anyone in any seriousness.

Saturday found us picnicking at Discovery Park with some friends before heading out to Ballard for good Mexican food (a coveted rarity here in Cascadia) and cocktails. I have to say that the Hazlewood is one of the coolest bars to visit when you’re in the classy but not stuck up mood, and I’m sure I’ll be back there soon.

And then, for something completely different, Sunday was  the third birthday of one of the most adorable and fiercely independent girls I’ve ever met. Naturally, we followed up that wholesome cake-and-ice-cream affair with our second viewing of the decidedly unwholesome Superbad. Highly recommended. That and Knocked Up (from the same creative team) are the only movies I’ve seen twice in the theater in recent memory.

The extra day of weekend afforded to us in celebration of the American worker (and their ability to organize) was mostly squandered, at least by me. Although I did manage to finish up a remix I’ve been working on for way too long. But now the final file is off for mastering and should be out as part of a remix compilation soon.

Is it the working week again? Already? Well fuck me.