the blog

((TimeBandit WEIRDNESS)) Jen from TBTL was in Spokane Thursday. Which means… interestingly, we passed on I-90. Weird, and interesting, and small worldly.

How to start, is it like a school report, ‘What I did on my summer vacation’ or perhaps just jump on it. I am sometimes a jumper. Especially when I am writing it out. As I am doing now.

I decided that I needed a journey, movement. Generally this is born with me driving somewhere. Because I could walk somewhere but that means
                      1. I would actually be walking ergo exercising which is meh.
                      2. I am all sorts ‘americana’ and as such I love my car and love driving.
                      3. Length of distance versus time. I don’t think I will be spending a week to walk 263 miles one way. Until such time as there is a catastrophic event in which case the world becomes Mad Max -ian and we have to walk. (and battle zombies).

So I pondered my journey, over the course of 30 seconds. It was easy. North – nope. Parental guilt issues. South – naw, I was just in Portland at the beginning of the summer. West – I didn’t feel like running across mad packs of tweens in their quest for Twilight characters. East – huh… interesting. Been a while since I’ve been over there, and BONUS! A special nummy treat at the mid point of the journey. So. Decision made, I headed east, destination Spokane. Though, this was really all about the journey.    

“Home is beautiful, and Spokane is where things go to die”  Which sounds SO much meaner than I mean it to. It’s just that once you drive over the Cascade Mountains and you see all the trees suddenly gone, and the road gets flat and dry and… well, dead. It really feels like you are in a totally different state, possibly even country. It just feels different. Not bad, just different.  I, being me, and having been grown up in Western Washington and the greater Silicon Valley area in California. So I know the different realities of trees and green in contrast with flat and brown. And I know what feels right inside my guts. That would be Western Washington. God’s country. *smirk*

After working half day on Wednesday, and getting the NEW HD Comcast Cable installed (sweet jesus it is awesome!!!) I headed out, jumping on I-90 East and just going. If you are someone who also feels the need to take a journey every once and awhile, like me, then you understand ‘just going’. The drive was… long… and cathartic. And then I was BAM in the middle of Spokane.

Spokane is interesting. It was once a massive city, then it deteriorated, and now it seems to be coming back. A urban revival if you will. Still cleaning off the past, but working forward. And I noticed that it is pretty snazzy feeling, and I love the old buildings. I also noticed a HUGE amount of college aged young people. Expanding slightly to add a lot of WHTE college aged young people. (aka posers, ponces, douchers, etal) Interesting. I always get nervous when there are a large group of any one peoples. It’s a me thing. OMG. Funny little snippet. At my fun little hotel I was staying at, they had a sign “Welcome Ministries of the Light.” LMAO.I was staying there with a massive group of very religious people (I so thought about finding some loud girl to bring back to my room to have loud inappropriate lesbian sex with… but then I thought more about it, and me being me, that’s just not what I do… any more. lol) who always walked around in groups of three. Which, weird. And also weird, I could only think about that religious wacko group from TruBlood. So hilarious. To me.

I did have a good night in Spokanistan, got to see Bee Simonds playing at Zola, with Canadian Radio. Now. I am sorry but I have to say this. The service at Zola SUCKS if you aren’t a big tittie college girl, UNTIL after you tip them well. Then they are great! As in they are very attentive. Though by the time they were attentive, I as drunk as a skunk and didn’t need more than a soda. Also there was a deep learning curve, that bars in college towns get INSAENLY packed with people, as in 4 deep to the bar, for… an HOUR. Then it clears out, as they all get back to their dorm before lights out. Something like that. Sounds bitchy. It happens. The show was a good one, and nice and long. I got my thrill and fill of seeing Bee performing, along with her new set of ‘boys’. We all know I adore Bee, and her voice puts me in this emotional place that I like being every once and awhile. Plus I’ve had a bear sized crush on her for years (she knows it and so do I) it’s harmless. Move on. I have.

Waking up on Thursday morning in my hotel room, and looking out the window, and seeing the older buildings looking dusty and the homeless guy walking down the alley… Spokane sort of felt like… like a strange twisted rabbit hole from which some people have never returned.
…But that could have been my hangover.
 
I got back home Thursday afternoon. And over the journey, the just going, I learned a lot about myself. And learned that road trips that go longer than 3 hours I get a little antsy. (the drive was 4 hours each way) This is either a sign of the coming Apocalypse or I am just getting old(er).  *apocalypse because I used to be the driving girl. I drove from CA to Seattle for a coffee once. Okay Okay, it was to have coffee with a girl. ;p… there has been a whole lot of me driving long distances for girls…. and I did see a girl in Spokane… oh dear. But but! oh well. I am consistent.

What did I learn? That life is good, and I am good, and a whole slew of other really deep things that I don’t feel like sharing right now. What I can share with you, is that my Zune is awesome! It is like smart, or is connected to the greater universe. Let me explain. I set up a playlist, a play list that is 16hr 16 min; which did not happen on purpose!! So I started the play list on a specific song, and then I had it on random, but it began to connect song after song in some amazing, touched by the hand of god, sort of way. It really made it an emotional and cathartic journey. Which is what the whole point of the trip was. A journey.

here’s a sampling of some of the 234 songs:

200.8 – bee simonds
1693 – new order
drifting – recoil
4 minutes – madonna
40 miles from the sun – bush
adrenaline – rosetta stone
age of consent – new order
alive and kicking – simple minds
all you need is me – morrissey
american made – jack off jill
the antagonizer – sister machine gun
apocalypse please – muse
are you the one? – miranda sex garden
ask – the smiths
ashes to ashes – david bowie
assimilate – skinny puppy
author unknown – jack off jill
away from here – uh huh her
baby get lost – queen latifah
be near me – abc
beat goes on – madonna
beauty fiend – my ruin
beloved – vnv nation
black hole – she & him
the mercy seat – nick cave
more – the sisters of mercy
most of me – mandy moore
murderous – nitzer ebb
my eyes – dr. horrible
no ordinary love – deftones
no one knows i’m gone – scarlett johansson
one hundred years – the cure
passionate regret – bee simonds
passive – tool
pop goes the world – gossip
road to nowhere – talking heads
run like hell – kittie
roads – portishead
run/hurt – canadian radio
scars – my ruin
shadows – au revoir simone
she sells sanctuary – the cult
sick muse – metric
these boots are made for walking – kmfdm
traffic – dj tiesto
truth no.2 – dixie chicks
video killed the radio star – buggles
wish – nick cave
you remain – imperative reaction
you’re my thrill – billie holiday
zombie – trucks

…and that is just a random sampling. You wish you were in the car with me for the drive. Admit it.

My End of Summer trip was needed, and it was good, and I am glad I went. I saw the world through clearer eyes, and while I am tired as hell today, it was worth it. And the world is a good place.

So apparently, in the realm of logic, one must maintain their vehicle in ways, such as changing the batteries every handful of years. You see, I being me, never ran into this before, because, well, hehe, I used to have this bad habit of getting a new car every 4 years or so… you know, right when all the major maintenance was about to start happening. As I have decided to keep my faithful little truck Hank, for the duration, I guess I should have thought about keeping up on more than oil changes. Silly me. (and I am aware that was a massive run on sentence, bite me.) All of this logic came raining down on me yesterday in the parking lot of a certain fast food mecca, where once lunch was consumed I tried to turn on the truck… and nope. Nothing. Aw shoot. After a jump all was well enough to get home, and now this morning I was really hoping to have just enough juice to turn over the engine and get to the dealership… but no such luck. So I wait for AAA, who rocks, and their magic box of jumper cables. I am becoming aware that one must service their vehicle, *eye roll* instead of buying a new one. And I know me, if my credit was better I would be buying a new car today versus getting a battery. I am serious. That is how my girlie mind works. But shhhh don’t tell Hank that, ’cause that bitch can get moody. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mini suv / truck despite what the media tells me to feel. He wasn’t my first choice the day I bought him (I was so wanting that all black, tinted, souped up engine on the 2004 Chevy Blazer… but no. I got the nondescript little Tracker.) He is a reminder to me that I used to knee jerk react to things, and make decisions on what I thought the now was, versus what i wanted and what my future could be, if I made it so. But, what are you gonna do? Me? I am going to start to take better care of my truck, and thus, myself. Or something like that. (update of note: Hank needed a jump them 5 HOURS at the local dealership and all my tattoo savings spent, BUT! He has a new 6 year battery. So there!)

Speaking of Hank, have you been watching Son’s of Anarchy? You should be. It is good TV. And I know it seems like I talk about all these shows that you should be watching as ‘good tv’ and there are two reasons for that.
                      1. I watch a lot of TV
                      2. I only watch GOOD TV
So, SOA,you should be watching it. Because it is good, heart pounding entertainment with an actual plot line that is interesting. While there are a LOT of half naked women, and not in an empowering way, it is still a damn fine show. And this year they add a new element, as if they knew I wanted to emotionally invest in a show with someone on it that I adore. I am speaking of course of Henry Rollins (there is the Hank tie in, for those playing along at home). Henry Rollins is an amazing writer, and I adore him mostly for that side of his creative octagon. His music has been good, but (i admit) I am not a huge fan of it. I prefer his styling and prose. His acting has been eh, and I am not sure if that has to do with him or the roles he takes. He is one of the hardest working people (i.e. celebrities) I know; him and Juliet Landau. But back to Henry and SOA. I have to say, I HATE his character. Hate HATE HATE. Which is what I am supposed to feel. And the character is so NOT who Henry is, which is how I can appreciate the craft, and probably how hard it is for him to go to work each day and act out these things, or say the things in the script. Because it isn’t him. The addition of this evil element to the show is interesting, and I am looking forward to seeing where they are going to go with it. This show isn’t going to change the world, it is going to be merely a good story, and interesting story and one I am tuning in for. And if you look at Henry and think, that dude is totally a Nazi… I beg to differ. Just pick up one of his books and have a read. This is one of the purest (albeit melancholy) humans alive today.

And more on TV. Did you catch the Emmy’s? If not you should have. It was actually pretty good. I have heard some anti Emmy talk, and to that I give you the two fingered salute. You are not paying attention. Neil Patrick Harris was AMAZING as the host, and for someone like me (not just a whedon-ite nerd) but as a gay person I will say it makes me very happy that he has been hosting all these award shows. Sort of like a round about way of saying IN YOUR FACE HATERS. And I have wanted to use this picture for MONTHS. It will pop again. I have a feeling.

Bring on the seasons of excellent TV!

House premier was Monday, and it was ooookay. I am not feeling the love for House that I used to. Hopefully it will pick up. And last night Castle was on!!! I DVR it. Will watch and comment later.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I woke up and rolled out of bed and looked out the window and saw this.

I blinked once or twice and sure enough the vision was the same. A little heavy ran over night and the dead tree limb that was hanging directly over my truck had fallen. And no i didn’t hear it, even though I sleep with the window open – i sleep the sleep of the medicated.  When I went outside I saw this

and this

so clearly my truck Hank is a super truck and the truck gods watch over him. For some crazy reason the gravity pulled the limb of the tree to the side, missing my truck completely, and so I was only dealing with lots of leaves, and critters (bugs and spiders gallor! UGH!) And added plus, no one parks next to me, so no worries there either. Exciting. And anti-climatic in a good way!

I am totally grooving out to 80’s New Wave music…. aaaahhhh the memories!

“Every ounce of energy, you try and give away,
As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play”

Welcome to Wednesday! While there is a little blinking weather alert on my computer, I find it a little interesting that it is cooler at the moment then it was this time yesterday (by a couple degrees at any rate) Interesting…

Hank just finished getting his new windscreen, and this makes me (and him, and any passengers in my truck) happy. It only took 1.6 years to do. LOL. Sometimes I am the QUEEN of procrastination. Word.

Spent the morning listening to trading voices with Bee Simonds. If you know me you know I am a bee-ophile. This endeavor, like Yoke is a kick ass off shoot of her ‘regular’ work. (You should check out C-Lebas well). Have to say though ‘She’s Had Enough’ is eerily/ scary / reminiscent of my old life. Makes my bear fur stand up.  the only problem I have with all these great indie bands and the amazing music they are putting out; I CANT BUY IT OR DOWNLOAD IT. Come on peeps. there has to be a way we can fix that. I would pay the going rate to download 98% of the music out there. I know I have some super smart homies out there in the music biz – we need to find a way to make this happen. Independent of iTunes. There has to be a way! *jingles my change*

There are at least 7 songs I want to download at this very moment. UGH! I am totally serious. Someone hit me up with a solution or an idea. I don’t want to be all sniveling to musicians asking for free downloads. This biotch will pay. So come on now. Keep making the music, and let me take it with me when I go out on life’s journey.

Mad love, and looking for joy amid the sun rays.

As I trip the lite fantastic of mental gymnastics (i am learning css) and getting flabbergasted with my slow personal processor (mind) I am faced with wondering if I should chicken out and use a oswd template or something similar, to stop my mind from imploding. Problem is I have a muddled idea of what I want, hence the grr argh of the whole thing. The majority of free templates I see would be fine for a blog or something, but not for what I am working on! I can design a blog css in 30 minutes, that’s not the problem! The problem is getting something slick and user friendly. I may just have to drop the Benjamin’s… For a hobby this is getting on my nerves. More my indecisiveness. Maybe it is because I am sick (stomach flu any one) and my body and mind are just not doing as they should. And I am mostly grrr argh because I know what I want the site to feel, but… unless I buckle down and buy a certain software program I am forced to write all the codes (css & xhtml & html) by hand. This is a tad mind numbing. With the way work has been as of late, mind numbing is not what I need. I am turning into a zombie.
Bah. I am on the fence, and apparently even blogging about it isn’t helping me make up my mind.
In other news… Hank is legal again! I was waiting and waiting for my renewal papers to come, but they didn’t and so, I called the D O L and found out I had to get a emissions test. WHAT!? This is new for me, as I have the bad habit of buying brand new cars, and trading them in at the 5 year mark. well, Hank I have had now for 5 years and three weeks (lol) so he got his test and thanks be to whomever he passed. (yes I was worried) and so I ran over to the D O L, paid them a whole lot of money (sort of) and tada! I am legal again. *note, that pic isn’t Hank. Just a cousin*
In TV news…. did any one else watch Bones last night? It was like a AU Fanfic come to life! How surreal. And the end… OMG the end. *sniffle*