Puget Sound Pilgrim
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Today's toast
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sound confession
- Blink 182 (an outing with a couple of besties – c’mon, give me a break, they're tatted and pierced and loud and rebellious and they were super fun to see live)
- Moby + The Roots (the outlier… I think I got these tickets for free)
- Incubus (as a young teen listening to Incubus pre-huge international pop-like fame, I was obsessed with Brandon Boyd. I feel fortunate that I was at least lusting after a pseudo-rocker and not a Backstreet Boy)
- Hoobastank (“stank” is actually incorporated in the band name. Need I say more?)
- Linkin Park (But, you guyssss, I saw them before they were totes famous! Wait, what? Doesn’t matter? Yeah, you’re right. It doesn’t)
- Taproot (inexplicable)
- Deftones (le sigh)
- 40 Below Summer + Ill Nino (Jersey heavy metal phase? Um, yikes. Shows like this did, however, allow me to frequent CBGB’s before it was dismantled, so, win)
- Coheed and Cambria (this required a 3-hr trip to Poughkeepsie, which I was happy to make at the time)
- Cursive (this was early on in college, and also during that weird phase when every indie chick got into knitting, often bringing it to shows and sitting off on the side to complete some monotone scarf or something. Sadly, I was not immune).
- Decemberists (Awesomesauce)
- Shins (kinda dicks. Just saying)
- Andrew WK (freaking fantastic show)
- Rilo Kiley (a college favorite. Salute Your Shorts, kids, and Troop Beverly Hills!)
- The Mountain Goats (this is the first of three times that I’ve seen them, and I remember absolutely nothing. Damn you, Bacardi Raspberry, damn you!)
- !!! (Chk Chk Chk) (This show was particularly memorable as Nic Offer not only called me to the stage in my absence – I had left early - but then took an article of mine that I had left behind and shoved it down his pants in protest)
- Minus the Bear (notable as, like the other shows, I did the artwork for their promotional poster and it ended up looking like “Minus the Bean”. I still call them this)
- Ellis Paul (le sigh)
- Ratatat (two dudes, two electric guitars, a Mac, some flashing lights, and a bottle of Jack)
- David Dondero (I recall nothing of note)
- The Unicorns (disbanded)
- Sleater Kinney (Feminist riot grrrls still rocking)
- Ted Leo (sans Pharmacists, I would later live in the same neighborhood as him in Cambridge. Apparently he’s all about Hollywood Express)
- Jennifer Gentle (bizarrely high-pitched, but catchy tunes nonetheless)
- Elf Power (oddly just saw them a second time, as they opened up for Jeff Mangum)
- Chromeo (sexy – totally sexy – le swoon. A tall, dark and handsome French professor at Barnard College? C’mon, it’s not even fair. A handshake was almost too much to bear)
- The New Pornographers (never really liked them, still don’t, and yet thanks to a friend and an ongoing music exchange throughout graduate school I have more music of theirs than I know what to do with)
- The Avett Brothers (Paradise Rock Club was a super fun venue, although I was nearly overtaken by the suffocating aroma of body odor – plaid, beards, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise)
- The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle is phenomenal! I’ve seen him multiple times and I will see him again! Any time he comes to town! And there is a good chance I would travel to him as well!)
- Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel (fucking. amazing)
- No Age (looooOOOOOOuuuuuuddddddDDDDDD)
- Feist (beautiful, beautiful voice)
- Ellis Paul (I’ve seen him more times than I can count, at this point. One of the most wonderful singer-songwriters continually touring – all should attend at least one show of his)
Personal Musings on Public Space
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Chicken Coop Construction
*City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment:
http://www.seattle.gov/environment/food.htm
In short, I’ve abandoned my dream of construction due to a fear of band saws and impatience with calculated measurements and geometry. I did, however, quite enjoy my role digging, leveling, and surveying. And, the final result is nothing short of AWESOME. It’s official; my friend’s an artist and a bit of a genius. Erected from nothing more than her sketches and vision, it’s made entirely from repurposed doors (screen and otherwise), hardware cloth, plywood and plastic. These are shots of the various stages of coop, from start to finish.
a.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Making It Work (well, kinda)
Even in my escalating desperation as impending unemployment rears it’s ugly head, there are a few positions that I can not, will not, ABSOLUTELY REFUSE, to apply for. They are, of course, compliments of Craigslist, the once virtual hippy trading post turned resident (national, international, even?) catchall. These include:
Veterinary receptionist and assistant: I really don’t like animals all that much*. Period.
*However, I do love cats, which reminds me of an amusing little anecdote… On one of the two interviews I’ve had since graduation, I was greeted not only by my prospective employers but also by a large, mangy black lab, apparently the coveted office pet. As our little chat wrapped up (throughout the entirety of which I tactfully tried to keep the dog’s snout out of my crotch - charming, I know) I simply couldn’t lie when they asked if I was “alright” (their smiles suggested I should be positively thrilled) with working in an office with a dog. My response? “Quite frankly, I’m more of a cat person.” Ta-ta.
Diamond retailer customer service representative: I have been wearing the same jewelry (all two rings of it, both silver, both possibly from a kiosk located in a Long Island mall) since 1997. Clearly, I’m not your gal. Lorelei Lei, the only way I’d agree with you is if I could pawn them down on Rainier in order to pay my rent.
Depression study seeking participants: Seriously? In my current state of mind, I’m afraid of what I would find out.
Gymnastics instructor, children ages 4 months – 12 yrs: The only thing worse than being surrounded by Labrador retrievers all day (see number one) is the thought of having screaming children running around and literally bouncing off the walls. Also, with all those moist blue gym mats, ringworm is sure to be lurking out there somewhere.
Online fitness and weight-loss coach: Training provided, you say? And, no experience needed, to boot? Well, what a shame; I’m running low on motivation and have to preserve the sparse remains for myself and my thankless job hunt. Plus, I’m a firm believer in making sure that some things simply remain tangible and retain the archaic attribute of human interaction. I’m now adding “fitness coaching” to that list, snuggled right underneath book buying and enjoying literature (boo, Kindle).
Well, I’m sure I could go on and on, but I’m going to draw the line here. The more I procrastinate, the less time I have to sprinkle my resume from Columbia City to Shoreline. In the words of Tim Gunn, “carry on”.
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Summer of Leisurely Literature Consumption
The merits of reading transportable paperbacks* for pleasure:
1) Once purchased and/or borrowed (remember when libraries actually had those removable slips to stamp when books came in and out? Time warp!), it’s free.
2) It’s a great way to bulk up your vocabulary (sure, this depends on who and what you’re reading, but odds are you’ll come upon the errant unknown word, here and there, no matter what)
3) It helps pass the absurdly long hour and a half you spend waiting for and sitting on the 48 bus every single day, cruising in un-airconditioned style from work, the gym, and your current house-sitting locale in the charming Mt. Baker/Seward Park neighborhoods.
*Down with the Kindle and everything else threatening tactile literature.
I’ve had more time over the past two months to read fiction of my choice than I had over the past two years. Luckily, I’m having a hell of a time finding a fulltime job, so what with my 15hr a week position saving the universe, I have ample time to catch up from the grad school famine. I’m devouring fiction, one used novel* at a time.
*Shout out to Half Priced Books; what a gem.
Freedom - $9
Jonathan Franzen
God dammit, TIM!* Look, I love you Franzen. I fell in love with you on May 29th, 2005, a naïve 21 year old, sitting in Swarthmore’s tree-laden outdoor amphitheatre on a brilliantly sunny afternoon, listening to you poetically rail against the horrors of the current presidential administration while elegantly congratulating that year’s graduating class (my adorable twin included). But, I don’t think I love this novel – wait, wait for it – I don’t think I love this novel quite as much as The Corrections, or even Strong Motion. Maybe I’ve read you too religiously but, the thing is, I feel like I’ve heard it before; the odes to 80’s post-punk, the Midwestern suburbanites trying to do right by their illusion of happiness and ultimately stumbling, ridiculously complex characters that muddle the lines between redemption and ruin, the strategically interwoven critiques of the present socio-political economy and the retelling of Swarthmore's idyllic rolling greens (obvi)… So, needless to say, yeah, this book was awesome. It had everything I appreciate about your writing (please see above). However, it was JUST shy of the awesomeness of your previous genius. I still love you, though.
-Verdict? Yeah, I still love you, but maybe we should see other people for a while?
*If one person gets this reference, it’ll be well worth it.
Chronic City - $7
Jonathan Lethem
I’ve heard good things about you, Lethem, and you don’t disappoint. Granted, this moved slow at times, but I was ultimately entertained. You’re a good writer, sir, and I especially love reading about New York City, when written by someone who’s obviously lived and/or is living in said metropolis. And, either Lethem’s research or his knowledge about his topics is quite admirably in-depth. Following the ins and outs of an about town-washed up child star, Lethem totally flexes his pop culture muscle to the extent that I couldn’t actually make out what was regurgitated fact or manipulated for fiction. Evidently, I know next to nothing about Marlon Brando. Good story (though it dragged just a smidge about three quarters through) and even better writing. Oh, and I'm naming my first born (if I choose to breed, that is), Perkus.
-Verdict? Next time I read him Wikipedia will be close at hand.
The Secret History - $3
Donna Tartt
Uh, boo. Yeah, I said it, a big-time boo. Much to my chagrin, as this is the only summer choice to boast a female author (and not have a first name featured in the New Testament), ugh, I really just didn’t enjoy this at all. As this month’s bookclub choice, I powered through, but I was ultimately disappointed. Following the twisted tale of a half dozen lib arts college students studying the Classics, I found the plot dull (look, we all who went to college understand that it can be as much as 70% boozing and napping, but good lord, it seems that’s all that went on), the characters dislikable (which sometimes works but in this case I just wanted them to do away with themselves) and the writing style, eh, merh.
-Verdict? The $3 used to purchase this would have bought me a very tasty happy hour drink.
A Month of Sundays - $1.50
John Updike
So, since this isn’t my first time at the rodeo (I read Rabbit, Run a few years ago), I had an inkling of what to expect but man, this was fabulous. As per usge, Updike uses this novel to explore familiar themes: the political, social and domestic changes that came with the 1960’s (religion, marriage, monogamy), the Northeast, the rise of suburbs. Told through the retrospective journal entries of an excommunicated pastor, the book weaves a tale of infidelity and confused faiths. I’m simply in awe of his vocabulary and his ability to manipulate it into subtly hilarious sentences (especially through the lens of this particular man of the cloth). Like most sane folks, while sitting in a coffee shop or on the bus, I often found myself sporadically chuckling aloud much to the dismay of my nearby neighbors. Oh, and the story lines aren’t too shabby either. Ultimately, I’m going to keep plowing through Updike’s work until I put a dent in his extensive repertoire.
-Verdict? Bargain of the summer.
Marry Me - $6
John Updike
Finished one Updike and on to the next. Thus far (I’m about half way), there’s discussion of Lutherans and Unitarians, off-handed (but always spot on and perfectly convincing) mentions of the “new fad, the Twist”, the “young Irishman in the Whitehouse”, and the rise of white, upper-middleclass NYC suburbs in Connecticut, daiquiris, Rum Collins’ and gin daisies. Much like Rabbit, Run, this book is clearly a product of its times; men court women, work in the office, and shoulder the burden of “breadwinner”; women make the home, shuffle their children around town and ultimately defer to the men; basically, marriage is the end goal and, once achieved, the at first anxiously willing participants are left to ponder their supposed domestic bliss. While at first I found this archaic standpoint interesting (albeit despicable) in the insight it provides to a very different time, it’s beginning to get a wee bit old. Maybe it’s because this novel, unlike the others I’ve read, is exclusively centered on marriage (surprise, surprise), but I’m actually having a difficult time stomaching the excessive chauvinism of this particular Stepford-esque Connecticut suburb. We’ll have to see how it wraps up…
-Verdict? I don’t like gin, and I don’t like this… Well, I guess the jury’s still out on the book. Next time I pick it up, maybe I’ll try it with a daiquiri in hand.