birthdaze & black lights

My trip to Long Beach/Los Angeles was a whirlwhind of goodness. I got to see so many people that I love and miss, I ate at MOST of the places on my list (Berth 55 and Disneyland will have to wait for the next trip), and I got to sing Karaoke at the Prospector...not once, but twice. Yes, I am a lucky lady.

I came back to Portland and I hit the ground running.
We had an impromptu BBQ & game night last Monday because I was craving hot dogs. Weird craving, I know. But it made for a really fun night.
Lauren went to the ER last week and found out she has Gall stones. :(
Krispin's birthday was Tuesday, and we played black light mini golf. It was weird and awesome.
We saw Dr. Dog & Delta Spirit at the Doug Fir on Tuesday. Dr. Dog puts on a darn good show (that is an understatement), and the Delta kids were delightful (as usual).
Nich's birthday was Wednesday. I was slightly stressed about pulling off the perfect present / birthday because I'm a little bit rusty at this girlfriend stuff. In any case, his birthday was wonderful...we ate wine & cheese, watched Battlestar Galactica, and then joined up with the gang for Project Runway.
Nich's official b-day party was Friday night, which was also awesome. Danielle made Jell-O cake, we had drinks at the Tanker, and attempted to watch the Presidential debates.
Paul moved to Portland on Saturday. (yeah!)
Tick Talk recorded Saturday afternoon.
The Cold War Kids were in town Saturday night and it was really good to see them.
Stephen (Candyce's friend from Sudan) is in Oregon! I met him last night, and he is awesome. He made me miss Africa terribly.
My stomache troubles have returned and are worse than ever.

And then, of course, there are the matters of the world and our nation and this economy. It makes me tired and ill, and yet I persist in reading about it - because, well, I am a glutton for punishment. Or maybe it is that I am searching for a little understanding. But the one thing I know is that I think we've all had it wrong for a long time. And I am starting to realize that our nation is no more 'blessed' than another. And nations come and nations go, but Christ remains the same.

I don't know what will happen with the economy, I don't know who will (or should) be president, but I am done worrying about it. Honestly, I think I'm ready to go move to the woods and live in a commune and grow corn and strawberries. I should probably learn how to grow vegetables before I attempt that, but I'm sure it'll all work out. Right?

In the words of my wise younger sister, Danielle..."I'm voting for Gandalf."

No, seriously. I am.
Gandalf for President.

happy friday

musical happiness!

I have two musical gems to share with you today. They bring me great happiness and I hope they do the same to you.

1. My friend & one of my favorite musicians - Denison Witmer - is releasing an album on November 11. He's been covering songs and posting them on his MYSPACE for free download. Currently, Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" is available for downlaod and it is rather heart-wrenching. Last week, he posted "Have You Forgotten" by the Red House Painters - you can download that at MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG.

2. Bon Iver made an EP available for free download via Myspace. Its mostly songs from his most recent album, but they are re-arranged and rather amazing. Check it out and/or download it HERE.

Enjoy the musical happiness!

T Minus Two Days.

I'll be in Long Beach on Saturday.
Holy moses, its hard to believe I've been gone for 6 months.

How does that happen?!?

I miss the people, I miss the places, but I definitely don't miss the person I was before I moved away. I felt like a crazy person when I left. I was tired, and burnt out, and I was in dire need of rest and the peace of Christ. I am happy to say I don't feel that way anymore. Portland has been a great place for me, and I am finally excited to go back to California and see the people I love.

In any case, there are lots of people to see and lots of food to be eaten and lots of karaoke to sing!

Here are the places I plan on hitting up:
Vientos Y Aguas (every morning)
Taco Surf (Veggie Taco & a Dos Equis and lots and lots of chips and salsa)
Berth 55 (Clams and Scallops plate)
The Old Prospector (karaoke at LEAST once).
The Creperie (probably monday night for 1/2 priced bottles of wine)
The Magic Lantern show on the 14th!
Fingerprints Records (and I really really really hope Star is working)
The Secret Spot (Surround Sound Burrito, I have been dreaming of you!)
The Park Pantry (Breakfast on Saturday, the 20th. PPBBE! For those of you who dont know, that means Park Pantry Best Breakfast ever which is the combination of the El Gringo Omelette and a short stack of pancakes.)
Two Umbrellas! Dollar Breakfast!
Disneyland. Probably on Tuesday.

LA Options: Canters, Fred 62, Amoeba, John Brion, Versailles, Cafe 101, Cha Cha's, Ginger Grass, The Red Lion, etc.

And yes, I realized that would require me eating like 8 meals a day -- but BRING IT ON! I'm ready. This is vacation, for crying out loud...

So, September 13-20th. California, here I come (right back where I started from. Californiaaaaaaaaaaaaa, here we comeeeeee....).

Yep, I just did that.
See some of you very soon.
See some of you (Portlanders) in a week.

***To Joey, and Peter, and Lauren, and any other Portlanders that read this: Take care of Nich for me. We are such wrecks when we have to spend time apart! So, distract him with bicycles and PBRs and Project Runway and anything else you dream up.

my mom makes cute/awesome things.

My mom makes recycled journals, under the moniker of "Sparrow Tracks".

They are all hand-crafted, made from recycled books and old paper.

Seriously, they are awesome.

Take a lil look-see right here!

1. Sorry, folks, Project Runway and Top Model won out over Mogwai. However, I believe this decision was due to sheer exhaustion, poor health, and the amount of energy Mogwai requires to watch (and adequately enjoy).

Which brings me to #2...I'm sick. My throat hates me. My stomach hates me (but that is normal these days). I don't like it.

3. I saw Battles last night. My oh my. They are a good band.

4. Tonight is Alela Diane, Langhorne Slim, and The Builders and the Butchers.

5. Tomorrow night is Ratatat (yeah!!!!), Fleet Foxes, and Menomena.

The moral of the story: Music Fest Nortwest is awesome. Being sick is not awesome. I'm gonna put my head down and power through.

decisions, decisions.

Tonight I have to choose between the following:

The Season Premier of America's Next Top Model and the next episode of Project Runway (8 and 9 pm, respectively).

OR

Mogwai at the Roseland (its part of Music Fest NW, but more on that later).

Why is life so cruel?

In any case, Mogwai wins. Live performances (that will make your ears bleed) > television shows. But they just hardly won out. My dedication to Project Runway runs deep. Oh the woes. I shouldn't have to make these kinds of choices.